Trial of Tian Jiu Therapy for Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic Rhinitis (AR)
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Allergic Rhinitis (AR)
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Positive skin prick tests
- High circulating levels of allergen-specific IgE antibody detected by a specific blood test for allergy called radioallergosorbent test (RAST)]
- Clinical history or allergen to have been identified
- Nasal provocation (test)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Allergic asthma, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, autoimmune disorders, severe chronic inflammatory diseases, history of anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity to cetirizine or related drugs, specific immunotherapy during the past 3 years or planned in the next 2 years, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sites / Locations
- Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Sham Comparator
No Intervention
Tian Jiu group
Placebo-control group
Waitlist-control group
The TJ group will undergo a 4-week treatment with herbal patches one session per week and a 4-week post-treatment follow-up, of one assessment session per week. Participants in the TJ group will be treated with herbal patches of Tian Jiu group on five acupoints on the back.
The placebo-control group will undergo a 4-week treatment with placebo patches one session per week and a 4-week post-treatment follow-up, of one assessment session per week. Participants in this group will be treated with placebo patches of placebo-control group on the same acupionts as the TJ group.
The waitlist-control group will receive no treatment during the first 4 weeks but, beginning with the 5th week this group will receive TJ treatment for four weeks as compensatory.