Evidence-based phytotherapy in allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most important medical conditions; with around 10–25% of the global population suffering from allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis also increases the risk of bronchial asthma, chronic sinusitis, and otitis media. While allergen-specific immunotherapy, antihistamine drugs, cromones, and topical and systemic corticosteroids are commonly used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, phytotherapy for allergic rhinitis as alternative treatment is not commonly employed world-wide. Furthermore, like conventional therapies, specific plants may demonstrate adverse effects as they may possibly act as sources of allergens, which can cause immediate or delayed-type allergic reactions resulting in unexpected clinical manifestations.

Despite the prevalence of a generally critical and sceptical attitude towards the use of phototherapy for treatment of allergic rhinitis, the search for herbal drugs for the treatment of this disease is underway. In this regard, some studies confirm a lack of efficacy for some herbal medicine, while other trials provide evidence for relatively high efficacy of phytodrugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Despite the shortcomings of many of these trials, the findings of efficacy and safety from these trials for the different preparations appear to be promising, and have encouraged an increasing number of studies to search for new medical herbs or their combinations for allergic rhinitis therapy.

This article reviews the available evidence-based information on the experience of phototherapy for allergic rhinitis employed in oriental and European medicine.