Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Hay fever alternative therapy

Introduction

Alternative Therapy

Alternative Therapy

Homeopathy

It has been claimed that homeopathy provides relief free of side-effects. However, this is strongly disputed by the medical profession on the grounds that there is no valid evidence to support this claim.[1] The list of suggested medication includes:

  • Arundo mauritanica
  • Qalphimia glauca
  • Luffa

Acupuncture

Therapeutic efficacy of complementary-alternative treatments for rhinitis and asthma is not supported by currently available evidence.[2][3]

Nevertheless, there have been some attempts with controlled trials[4] to show that acupuncture is more effective than antihistamine drugs in treatment of hay fever. Complementary-alternative medicines such as acupuncture are extensively offered in the treatment of allergic rhinitis by non-physicians but evidence-based recommendations are lacking. The methodology of clinical trials with complementary-alternative medicine is frequently inadequate. Meta-analyses provides no clear evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in rhinitis (or asthma). It is not possible to provide evidence-based recommendations for acupuncture or homeopathy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Honey

Eating locally produced unfiltered honey is believed by many to be a treatment for hayfever, supposedly by introducing manageable amounts of pollen to the body. Clinical studies have not provided any evidence for this belief.[5]

References

References

  1. ↑ Susan O’Meara, Paul Wilson, Chris Bridle, Jos Kleijnen and Kath Wright (2002). “Effective Health Care: Homeopathy” (PDF). NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Retrieved 2007-06-10. There are currently insufficient data … to recommend homeopathy as a treatment for any specific condition
  2. ↑ Passalacqua G, Bousquet PJ, Carlsen KH, Kemp J, Lockey RF, Niggemann B, Pawankar R, Price D, Bousquet J (2006). “ARIA update: I–Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine for rhinitis and asthma”. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 117 (5): 1054–62. PMID 16675332.
  3. ↑ Terr A (2004). “Unproven and controversial forms of immunotherapy”. Clin Allergy Immunol. 18 (1): 703–10. PMID 15042943.
  4. ↑ World Health Organisation (2002). Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials. N Engl J Med. p. 87. ISBN 9789241545433.
  5. ↑ TV Rajan, H Tennen, RL Lindquist, L Cohen, J Clive (2002). “Effect of ingestion of honey on symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis”. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology. 88 (2): 198–203. ISSN 1081-1206. PMID 11868925. This study does not confirm the widely held belief that honey relieves the symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]