Hay fever alternative therapy

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

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

↑ 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
↑ 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.
↑ Terr A (2004). “Unproven and controversial forms of immunotherapy”. Clin Allergy Immunol. 18 (1): 703–10. PMID 15042943.
↑ World Health Organisation (2002). Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials. N Engl J Med. p. 87. ISBN 9789241545433.
↑ 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)

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[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)

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