Stellate Ganglion Acupuncture's Effect on Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating rhinitis due to allergic reaction to housedust and mites was tested by inducing an allergic response through a nasal mucosa test and observing the influence of acupuncture stimulation in the stellate ganglion. Stimulating the ganglion of the same side as that nasal passage which was most strongly blocked obtained suppression of nasal drip on that side with improvement in clearance of the nasal air passage in four out of five subjects. This is thought to be due to the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system in the cervical region.
Next, acupuncture therapy was coupled with conservative therapy to test their usefulness in combination. Seven subjects were treated for allergic rhinitis and of these, six subjects' subjective symptoms (such as nasal obstruction) improved immediately after the acupuncture stimulation. Of these six subjects, two subjects' improved condition continued while the other four subjects' relief lasted only one day.
Then five of the subjects were given long term acupuncture treatment with all five subjects having a complete improvement of their nasal allergy symptoms to housedust and mites.