The Effects of Acupuncture on Mucosal Immunity in the Upper Respiratory Tract

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Cripps, Allan

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Smith, Peter

Xue, Charlie

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2015
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Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in Australia, with an estimated 3.17 million Australians affected. Allergic rhinitis represents a significant burden to the community in quality of life and wellbeing, impaired performance, loss of productivity and health care costs. A review was undertaken firstly of the research literature on the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, then secondly of the research into the mechanisms of acupuncture in allergic rhinitis. A total of 4 systematic reviews, 15 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and other non- randomised studies on acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis were reviewed. Acupuncture was reported to significantly reduce signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis in both children and adults. Evidence of acupuncture efficacy for persistent (perennial) allergic rhinitis was reported to be stronger than for intermittent (seasonal) allergic rhinitis. Multiple physiological pathways appear to mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture including the hypothalamic-pituitary-arenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic pathways, descending inhibitory pathways and possibly parasympathetic cholinergic pathways. Studies have also suggested that acupuncture may down-regulate pro- inflammatory neuropeptides and neurotrophins and may shift the Th1/Th2 balance in T helper cells and hence alter allergic status, however the evidence for these actions is inconclusive.

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Thesis (PhD Doctorate)

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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School of Medicine

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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.

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Public

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Subject

Allergic rhinitis

Acupuncture

Hypothalamic-pituitary-arenal (HPA) axis

Upper respirarory tract

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