Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (commonly known as hay fever) is an immune system overreaction to airborne allergens like pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and pet hair. It is a common problem affecting (on average) 10% to 30% of adults and up to 40% of children across both the USA and Europe, with 1 in 5 Australians suffering.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy, sore eyes
• Itchy or sore throat
• sometimes with Fatigue, poor concentration or sleep issues

Types of Allergic Rhinitis

Two main types of Allergic Rhinitis

• Seasonal: most commonly in the spring, triggered by pollen
• Perennial: year-round, triggered by dust, dust mites, animal hair, mold spores etc

Treatment

Modern medical treatment may involve:

• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroid sprays (anti-inflammatory)
• Immunotherapy
• Nasal irrigation

In Traditional Medicine it is treated according to its presentation.

• Wind-type: excess sneezing, itchy nose, eye and throat, maybe white or greenish mucus
• Heat-type: yellow mucus, red eyes, sore throat, red tongue, fast pulse, maybe with fever
• Cold-type: copious pale or clear mucus, pale tongue, slow pulse

Most used TCM Herbs & Formulas for Allergic Rhinitis in Taiwan

According to the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan, the following Herbs are most used (in descending order):

The following were the most prescribed Formulas (in descending order):

Network Pharmacology showed top 14 Herbs for Allergic Rhinitis

Korean researchers found the following 14 TCM herbs to be most important in Allergic Rhinitis. (see here)

Western herbs with proven efficacy:

Black Pepper
–The protective role of Piper nigrum fruit extract in an ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis by targeting of NFκBp65 and STAT3 signalings
Coltsfoot
–Petroleum extract of Farfarae Flos alleviates nasal symptoms by regulating the Th1-Th2 cytokine balance in a mouse model of Allergic Rhinitis.
–Tussilagone inhibits allergic responses in OVA-induced allergic rhinitis guinea pigs and IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells.
Licorice
–Nasal irrigation with Glycyrrhiza glabra extract for treatment of allergic rhinitis – A study of in vitro, in vivo and clinical trial.
Nettle
–Efficacy of Supportive Therapy of Allergic Rhinitis by Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) root extract: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled, Clinical Trial.
–Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis.
–Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis.
–Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Violet
–Efficacy of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) flower oil on the symptoms of adults with allergic rhinitis: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Special Formulas:

Research:

–Anti-Allergic Rhinitis Effects of Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Metabolites via Suppression of the Immune System: A Mechanistic Review.
–Medicinal plants for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
HERBS
–Ginger extract versus Loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial.
–Efficacy of Supportive Therapy of Allergic Rhinitis by Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) root extract: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled, Clinical Trial.
–Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases.
–Effects of nigella sativa oil on allergic rhinitis: an experimental animal study.
–Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology of Xanthium strumarium L.: A Review.
–A metabolomics research based on UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS coupled with metabolic pathway analysis: Treatment effects of stir-frying Xanthii Fructus on allergic rhinitis in mice model.
–Anti-inflammatory effect of dictamnine on allergic rhinitis via suppression of the LYN kinase-mediated molecular signaling pathway during mast cell activation.
–Exploration of the Molecular Mechanism of FUZI (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) in Allergic Rhinitis Treatment Based on Network Pharmacology.
HERB PAIRS
–Network pharmacology analysis of the Huangqi-Gancao herb pair reveals quercetin as a therapeutics for allergic rhinitis via the RELA-regulated IFNG/IRF1 axis response.
FORMULAS
–The prescriptions frequencies and patterns of Chinese herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis in Taiwan.
–Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang alleviates allergic rhinitis by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization and modulating the TRPV1 channel.
–Traditional Chinese medicine, Xin-yi-san, reduces nasal symptoms of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis by its diverse immunomodulatory effects.
–Investigating the mechanism of Tongqiao Huoxue decotion in the treatment of allergic rhinitisbased on network pharmacology and molecular docking: A review.
–EVALUATION OF A COMBINATION OF A UNANI PHARMACOPEAL PREPARATION (ITRIFAL USTUKHUDOOS) WITH CLOVES (QARANFAL) IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS – A PRELIMINARY CLINICAL STUDY
OTHER:
–Effectiveness and safety of ear acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A protocol of randomized controlled trial.
–Efficacy and safety of Tian moxibustion in treating allergic rhinitis: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.