Pilot Study to Evaluate Ear Acupressure Effects in Treating Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

N/ATerminatedNCT01921348

University of Mississippi Medical Center18 enrolled

Overview

We hypothesize that ear acupressure will be effective in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis by changing the immune parameters and the psychological impact factors are associated with ear acupressure treatment outcome.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the clinical potential of ear acupressure in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. We hypothesize that ear acupressure will be effective in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis by changing the immune parameters and the psychological impact factors such as expectation, stress, depression, and anxiety can moderate the ear acupressure treatment effectiveness in allergic rhinitis by influencing the immune parameters.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Interventions

acupressure pelletsDEVICE

The treatment group will have acupressure pellets placed in pre-determined acupressure point on the ear that relates to rhinitis.

acupressure pelletsDEVICE

The sham group will have acupressure pellets placed in a pre-determined non-specific acupressure point on the ear that is not related to rhinitis.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Seasonal allergic rhinitis was diagnosed both by history and clinical examination and by the presence at positive skin prick tests * All participants need to have at least 2 years of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms and a positive skin prick test to one or more pollen allergens Exclusion Criteria: * use of systemic corticosteroids within past 3 months period, * active asthma, * hearing aid usage, * history of adhesive tape allergy, * history of metal allergy, * HIV, * hepatitis B or C, * history of hematologic, autoimmune, or malignant disease, * pregnancy or lactation, * ear acupressure (EAP) or acupuncture for respiratory disease within the last 6 months

Locations (1)

University of Mississippi Medical Center - Allergy, Immunology and Asthma Care Clinic

Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Nasal Symptoms Domain Only)

RQLQ is an instrument that has 28 items in 7 domains (sleep, non-rhinoconjuctivitis symptoms, practical problems, nasal symptoms, eye symptoms activity limitations and emotional function). Participants are asked to recall impairments experienced during the previous week and to respond to each item on a 7-point scale (0=no impairment; 6=maximum impairment). In this protocol, we used the nasal symptoms domain only; 4 questions, total scale ranges from 0 minimum to 24 maximum. Longitudinal changes of nasal symptoms domain total were reported from baseline to 8 weeks.

Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Psychological Measures

Effects of ear acupressure on immune biomarkers based upon psychological differences including perceived stress, anxiety, depression and worry.

Time frame: 8 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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