OBJECTIVETo find out an effective acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for allergic rhinitis.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five cases were randomly divided into a treatment group, a control group I , and a control group II , 45 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Hegu (LI 4), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13); the control group I with Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Hegu (LI 4), and the control group II with oral administration of Biyankang tablets, 4 tablets each time, thrice each day. Acupuncture was given one session daily, 10 sessions constituting one course. Their therapeutic effects were compared after treatment of 2 courses and were followed up a half year later.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.1% in the treatment group, 71.1% in the control group I and 46.7% in the control group II, with a significant difference among the 3 groups (P<0.05), and with a significant difference in the recurrence rate one year later among the cured cases of the 3 groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on allergic rhinitis, with a better result by acupuncture with the anterior and posterior acupoint association method.