Effects of Acupressure on Symptoms Relief and Improving Sleep Quality in Pediatric Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Current pharmacological management of allergic rhinitis cannot completely provide relief from the symptoms and is usually accompanied by undesirable side effects. Complementary and alternative medicine approach has been evaluated and applied for allergic rhinitis frequently. We aim to investigate whether acupressure could be used as daily nursing care practice to reduce the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms and improve sleep quality in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis. Patients were divided into the acupressure and control groups randomly. Acupressure on 6 the acupoints was administered at home every night for 4 weeks in the acupressure group after attending a training program. Participants in the control group maintained their daily routine. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics, and to assess the symptom scores and sleep quality at baseline, week 2, and week 4 after intervention. Results of the generalized estimating equation model showed there were significant group effects on the total nasal symptom scores, sneezing, nasal congestion, itching of nose and palate, and watery eyes over the study period (all Ps < .05). From baseline to 2 weeks, all the aforementioned symptoms and red eyes, sleep quality, and allergic rhinitis classification more improved in the acupressure group than in the control group and the effect in the acupressure group was maintained through 4 weeks after intervention. Our results showed a significant reduction in the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and improvement in sleep quality after acupressure treatment with no adverse effects. Acupressure could be used as daily nursing care practice for this chronic, lifetime disorder.

Pediatric tuina for allergic rhinitis in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…The literature included in this study all implemented pediatric tuina on common nasal acupoints (such as Yingxiang, Bitong, Yintang, and others) to improve nasal redness, hot flashes, and local qi and blood circulation. Lei et al also confirmed that the pediatric tuina of Bitong and Yingxiang significantly improved the nasal symptoms of children with AR ( 42 ). The included literature applied distal acupoint selection to treat children with AR, particularly the special acupoints below the elbows and knees of the limbs, including the lung meridian and spleen meridian ( 29 , 30 ).…”

“…Forest plot for the treatment of nasal itching symptom. Yingxiang significantly improved the nasal symptoms of children with AR (42). The included literature applied distal acupoint selection to treat children with AR, particularly the special acupoints below the elbows and knees of the limbs, including the lung meridian and spleen meridian (29,30).…”

Efficacy and safety of self-administered acupressure on symptoms, quality of life and nasal mucosal function in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: study protocol for a randomized controlled exploratory trial

“…Mechanisms of acupuncture for AR have also been extensively studied. Lei RL and colleagues [ 19 ] demonstrated that acupuncture exhibits anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic effects by effects by downregulating proinflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides. A recent review [ 42 ] summarized that acupuncture modulates anti-inflammatory actions in AR through various pathways, including upregulating Th1 cytokines, downregulating Th2 and proinflammatory cytokines, and affecting proinflammatory neuropeptides and neurotrophies.…”

“…It is a well-established complementary and alternative therapy with a long history of use in use in treating various diseases in China. As a subtype and noninvasive alternative to acupuncture, which has been demonstrated to be effective and safe for PAR [ 8 ], acupressure is easy to administer and has been widely used for clinical treatment in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany, and Australia [ 15 – 19 ]. Two meta-analyses [ 16 , 17 ] have indicated that acupressure for AR is both safe and effective.…”

“…Two meta-analyses [ 16 , 17 ] have indicated that acupressure for AR is both safe and effective. Previous studies have shown that acupressure is effective, safe, and well-tolerated in alleviating AR symptoms [ 18 , 19 ]. Our research team has identified a specific combination of acupoints for AR, which is simple to apply and easy to learn.…”