Seung-Ug Hong – Ph.D., Prof., Dal-lim Jung – K.M.D.
Korea
Introduction
Acupuncture and moxibustion at Yingxiang (迎香, LI20) is clinically used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Aim
This study is performed to prove the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment on allrergic rhinitis.
Methods
Fifty mice were divided into five groups : No-elicited group (normal group), allergic rhinitis eliciated group(control group), the Xyz group (Xyzal treated group after allergic rhinitis elicitation), the Mox group (moxibustion treated group after allergic rhinitis elicitation), and the Acu group (acupuncture treated group after allergic rhinitis elicitation). Except the normal group, other four groups (Control, Xyz, Mox, Acu) sensitized intraperitoneally and then topically with OVA. After that time, for 7 days, Xyz group was oral administraion treated by Xyzal, Mox group was treated with moxibustion for 5 seconds a day at Yingxiang and Acu group was treated with acupuncture at same acupoint for 30 seconds a day.
To determine the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects, eosinophil, goblet cell, itching and sneezing intricate neurotransmitter (substance P), signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT-6), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) positive reaction were measured.
Results
The number of eosinophil, substance P, STAT-6, NF-κB p65 and iNOS positive reaction reduction were highest in the Acu group, followed by the Mox group and Xyz group (p<0.05).
Conclusions
This study shows that moxibustion and acupuncture treatment at Yingxiang(迎香, LI20) have anti-allergic actions through control of Th2 cell differentiation and also have anti-inflammatory actions via suppressing NF-κB p65 activation in mice with allergic rhinitis. And compared with Xyzal, moxibustion and acupuncture treatment could decrease the intranasal mucosa damages more significantly.