[A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Treatment of Moderate and Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis of Spleen Deficiency Pattern by Herbal Cake-partitioned Moxibustion Combined with Rhinocort Nasal Spray]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication in the treatment of moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) patients of spleen deficiency pattern.

Methods: Sixty patients with moderate and severe PAR of spleen deficiency pattern were randomized into medication (Rhinocort) group and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication group (combination group, n=30 cases in each). Medicinal cake-partitioned moxibustion was applied to Yintang (GV 29, for about 20 min), Shenque(CV 8, about 50 min), bilateral Zusanli (ST 36, about 40 min)and Hegu(LI 4, about 40 min)once every other day for successive 8 weeks. All the patients received treatment with Rhinocort nasal spray, 2 jets/day for each nostril (64 µg/jet) for 8 weeks. The patients' conditions (symptoms of nasal sufferings, sleeping, sniffle, eye, emotion, etc.) were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and rhino conjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ, 24 items of 7 aspects, 0-6 points/item), respectively. The spleen deficiency syndrome score was determined according to "Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of New Drugs of Chinese Materia Medica" (2002). The therapeutic effect was assessed by referring to "the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Principles and Recommended Schemes for Allergic Rhinitis" (2004).

Results: Following the treatment, the scores of VAS, RQLQ, spleen deficiency syndrome were significantly decreased on the 4^thand the 8^th week of treatment in both groups in comparison with those of their own individual pre-treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). Four weeks' follow-up survey showed that the VAS score and RQLQ score of the combination group were obviously lower than those of the medication groups (P<0.05), suggesting a better post-effect of moxibustion. Of the two 30 cases in the medication and combination groups, 9 and 9 experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 16 and 17 were effective, and 5 and 4 ineffective, with the effective rate being 83.3% and 86.7%, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the VAS and RQLQ scores on the 4^th and 8^th week during treatment and in the effective rate (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with hormone (Rhinocort) nasal spray is effective in relieving symptoms of moderate and severe PAR patients of spleen deficiency syndrome, and has a better post-effect.