Objective To investigate the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of “Fuyang Guben”(supporting yang and consolidating root) acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on perennial allergic rhinitis(PAR)

and to explore its functioning mechanism. Methods The patients with PAR were randomly divided into acupuncture + western medicine group(n=30) and western medicine group(n=30). In the western medicine group

fluticasone propionate nasal spray was administered

one spray in each nostril in one treatment

once a day

for 6 weeks. On the basis of the western medicine group

fuyangguben acupuncture-moxibustion therapy was supplemented. Acupuncture was applied to Shangxing(GV23)

Yintang(GV24

+

)

and bilateral Yingxiang(LI20)

Shangyingxiang(EX-HN8)

Sibai(ST2)

Hegu(LI4) and Chize(LU5); warm needling was applied at Dazhui(GV14). The patients of this group received 30 min of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy 3 times weekly during the first 4 weeks and twice a week in the last 2 weeks

totally for 6 weeks. Before treatment

after treatment

in week 10

18 and 30 of follow-up visits

the reflective total nasal symptom score(rTNSS)

the total non-nasal symptom score(TNNSS)

the total ophthalmic symptom score(TOSS)

and the score of the rhinitis quality of life(RQLQ) scale were compared in the patients of the two groups separately. Using ELISA

the serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin E(IgE) and interleukin-4(IL-4) were detected before and after treatment. Results After treatment

the rTNSS

TNNSS

TOSS

as well as RQLQ score were lower in comparison with those before treatment in each group(P

<

0.05).The rTNSS

TNNSS

TOSS and the score of RQLQ in the week 10

18 and 30 of follow-up visits were reduced when compared with those before treatment in each group(P

<

0.05)

and these scores in the acupuncture + western medicine group were remarkably lower than those of the western medicine group(P

<

0.05). After treatment

the serum contents of total IgE and IL-4 were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment in the acupuncture + western medicine group(P

<

0.05)

and these indicators in the acupuncture + western medicine group were lower than those of the western medicine group(P

<

0.05). Conclusion On the base of treatment with fluticasone propionate nasal spray

“Fuyang Guben” acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is safe and effective on PAR

presenting a remarkably long-term efficacy. The functioning mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of total IgE and IL-4 in serum.