OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of moxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection and simple moxibustion for allergic rhinitis(AR) withdeficiency of lung and spleen and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSBy random number table,75 patients who matched the criteria were assigned into a moxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection group(a combination group,37 cases) and a moxibustion group(38 cases). In the combination group,moxibustion was used at bilateral Yingxiang(LI 20) and injection bila-teral Feishu(BL 13),Pishu(BL 20) and Zusanli(ST 36). In the moxibustion group,moxibustion was applied bilaterally at all the above acupoints. Acupoint injection was given twice a week,and moxibustion once a day,seven days as a course. The patients were observed for four courses and followed up half a year after treatment. Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire(RQLQ) was compared before and after treatment and at follow-up. The short-term and long-term effects as well as the changes of interferon-(IFN-),interleukin-4(IL-4) and immunoglobulin E(IgE) were observed in the two group.

RESULTSAfter treatment,the obviously effective rate of the combination group was 75.68%(28/37),which was higher than 52.63%(20/38) of the moxibustion group(<0.05). But at follow-up, the obviously effective rate of the moxibustion group was 47.37%(18/38),which was better than 24.32%(9/37) of the combination group(<0.05). Life quality of the two group in all aspects after treatment and at follow-up were apparently improved compared with the baseline(<0.01,<0.05). After treatment,the life quality,sleep condition,non nasal-eye symptoms,behavior issue of the combination group were superior to those of the moxibustion group(all<0.05),and at follow-up,the above outcomes,the eye and nasal symptoms as well as emotional response of the mo-xibustion group were better(all<0.05). There was statistical significance in the two group about serum IFN-,IgE,IL-4 before and after treatment(<0.01,<0.05),and significance existed between the two groups(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMoxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection can effectively improve the short-term quality of life of AR withdeficiency of lung and spleen. The mechanism may be related to balancing the immune response of Th1 and Th2.