For many individuals, acupuncture already provides natural pain relief for life’s aches. And now, new research suggests that those suffering from allergies may find relief with acupuncture as well. Traditional antihistamines are being passed over in favor of the ancient treatment in which specific points are targeted with tiny needles to yield symptom relief.
In a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, sufferers of pollen allergies who were also experiencing nasal symptoms were examined in three separate groups. The first group received 12 acupuncture treatments and could take antihistamines as necessary, while a second group received 12 fake acupuncture treatments while also taking antihistamines as needed. A final control group only took antihistamines for their symptoms.
The experimental period lasted for two months, after which researchers interviewed participants about their symptoms and antihistamine use. Among those receiving real acupuncture treatments the symptoms showed the most improvement, coupled with the lowest use of antihistamines. While the participants receiving the false acupuncture did not see the same results, they did report some symptom relief which could indicate a placebo effect. Following up after another two months, the symptomatic difference between the groups was even smaller. Participants may have expected results from the acupuncture that influenced their reports of their symptoms.
Regardless of some placebo effect, any positive impact acupuncture may have on allergies is worth investigating. Comparing acupuncture more directly with currently available allergy treatments would help tease out the subtleties of its benefits from placebo effects. If the benefits are real, acupuncture would be incredibly beneficial to those unsatisfied with traditional medication or who suffer from serious side effects of such medication. But for now, if you’re looking for allergy relief you may find it with acupuncture, but there is a chance that relief could be all in the mind.
Read the entire article here: Acupuncture May Be Antidote for Allergies
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