Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

Summary

This protocol details the procedure for acupoint burrowing and demonstrates its effectiveness in treating allergic rhinitis.

Abstract

Acupuncture Point Embedding Therapy is a comprehensive treatment method that combines modern biomaterials with acupuncture techniques. Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) not only avoids the adverse reactions associated with Western medicine but also incorporates the benefits of traditional acupuncture, extending the duration of its therapeutic effects. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a condition known for its challenging treatment and tendency to persist. This randomized controlled trial included 128 AR patients to evaluate the effectiveness of ACE for AR management. Data were collected at baseline, four weeks after treatment, and eight weeks after treatment. Baseline analysis was performed, and the visual analog scale (VAS) was used as a clinical observation index for this method. The rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) served as a quality of life index. Specific IgE (sIgE), IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 were used as laboratory observation indices. The results of the experiment validate the clinical effectiveness of ACE in treating AR. Although this technique is efficient and commonly used in clinics, its invasive nature poses risks of hospital-acquired infections. Based on this experiment, this protocol refines traditional techniques, providing detailed instructions on patient preparation, operation techniques, and postoperative care to ensure the safe and effective administration of therapy. By standardizing this therapy, ACE is anticipated to become an important non-drug treatment option for alleviating symptoms in AR patients, thereby significantly enhancing their quality of life.

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic condition mediated by specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) and involving multiple immune cells^1,2. In recent years, the average prevalence of allergic rhinitis has continued to rise³, and untreated AR can lead to complications such as asthma, sinusitis, otitis media, and snoring. Its persistent adverse effects can negatively impact daily activities, including work and study^4,5,6. Western medical treatments primarily include nasal glucocorticoids and oral antihi....

Protocol

This randomized controlled trial involved patients from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The study protocol received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-12002191). Patients were informed about the study's purpose and procedures, and consent was obtained for the use of images and videos during the experiment.

Discussion

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases, and there are many challenges in current treatment, such as the short duration of drug effects, relapse after discontinuation, the high cost of immunotherapy, and the risk of serious adverse effects from surgery. Its inability to completely cure the condition has a significant impact on patients' lives^34,35. In acupuncture treatment, buried threads at acupoints play an important role in impro.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
7 G buried needle set	Taizhou Luoan Medical Co.	20240103	none
Embedded Thread Body No. 4-0	Hangzhou Aipu Medical Equipment Co.	20231227	none
Ethanol	Sichuan Yinjieshi yil Technology Co.	231206	none
HYA-15 disposable dressing change kit	Zhende Medical Supplies Co.	202308021B	Includes: gloves, suture removal scissors, tweezers, dry cotton balls, povidone-iodine cotton balls, gauze, plastic tray, pad sheet
IBM SPSS Statistics	IBM	R26.0.0.0	For analysing data.
Image Editor	Mac OS X	C02GM7ZGQ6L7	Used in pictures for black and white masking.
MEITU app	China Xiamen Meitu Network Technology Co., Ltd.	10.16.0	This is a beautiful drawing tool software with powerful algorithms. In this study, I used this software to stitch small graphs, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4. This software can freely stitch pictures without damaging the image quality.
XingTu app	Shenzhen FaceMeng Technology Co.	version number：9.7.2	This is a very professional retouching software developed in China.Used in pictures for writing and outlining text and lines.