TCM for Allergies, Asthma and Hay Fever: Evidence
What reviews found for acupuncture and Chinese herbs in hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and asthma, why asthma is not a self-treatment condition, and herbal safety points.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Asthma first: this is not a do-it-yourself condition
An asthma attack, with severe symptoms and difficulty breathing, can be life-threatening. [1] In the US call 911. The NHS says to call 999 in the UK if you or someone else is having an asthma attack and gets worse, does not improve after the maximum reliever inhaler dose, or has no inhaler. [1] Asthma cannot currently be cured, but when it is well treated symptoms should not cause problems. [1] Never swap prescribed asthma medicines for herbs or acupuncture, and keep carrying your reliever inhaler. See your doctor about any breathing problems that are new or getting worse.Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a different, milder matter. The NHS suggests speaking to a pharmacist, who can advise on treatments such as non-drowsy antihistamines, and seeing a doctor if symptoms do not improve. [2] See allergies vs colds for the everyday picture.
How TCM describes allergies and asthma
TCM often discusses these in terms of "wind", "defensive qi" and "lung" or "kidney" weakness; see wei qi and defensive qi. These are traditional frameworks, not immunology. The research below measured nasal symptoms, lung function and quality of life.Hay fever and allergic rhinitis
| Intervention | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | A 2022 meta-analysis of 30 trials (4,413 people) found acupuncture beat sham acupuncture for nasal symptoms and quality of life in adults, but trial sequential analysis did not confirm the results, and bias was serious in most studies. [3] | Promising but limited |
| Acupuncture (NCCIH summary) | A 2015 evaluation of 13 studies (2,365 participants) found acupuncture may help relieve nasal symptoms. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Oral Chinese herbs | A 2021 meta-analysis of 18 trials against antihistamines suggested better nasal symptom scores, but the authors cited few studies, poor trial design and large heterogeneity. Only mild transient adverse events were reported. [5] | Insufficient evidence (low-quality trials) |
NCCIH notes that a 2014 US clinical practice guideline included acupuncture among options clinicians may offer for allergic rhinitis. [4] The formula Yu Ping Feng San is often used for allergy in TCM; see its page for formula-specific evidence. Details on acupuncture methods are on acupuncture.
Asthma
| Intervention | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture vs sham | The 2004 Cochrane review (11 studies, 324 people) found no statistically significant or clinically relevant effects compared with sham acupuncture; trial quality was inadequate. [6] | Insufficient evidence |
| Acupuncture vs sham (newer) | A 2023 meta-analysis of 16 sham-controlled trials found improved FEV1% (lung function), quality of life and symptoms, with other lung and medication measures not significant, and high heterogeneity. [7] | Mixed to promising |
| Acupuncture added to routine care | NCCIH reports a 2017 German study in which acupuncture plus routine care gave better quality of life than routine care alone, and an earlier review that found improved symptoms but not lung function. [4] | Mixed; non-blinded designs |
| Herbs added to usual drugs | A 2016 review of 29 studies (3,001 adults) found better lung function and asthma control with herbal add-ons, but participants were not blinded and quality was low to moderate. [8] | Promising but limited |
The newer reviews are more positive than the Cochrane review, but they combine small trials and many Chinese-language studies with known quality problems; see publication bias in Chinese trials. Non-blinded comparisons (acupuncture plus usual care versus usual care) cannot rule out placebo and expectation effects.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture cure asthma?
No. The Cochrane review found no clear effect versus sham, and newer reviews suggest possible benefit that needs better trials. [6] [7]
Should I stop my inhaler for herbs?
No. Keep prescribed medicines and use your reliever inhaler as directed. [1]
Does acupuncture help hay fever?
It may help nasal symptoms, but one meta-analysis could not confirm the results with trial sequential analysis. [3]
Are Chinese herbs good for allergies?
Evidence is insufficient; a 2021 review cited poor-quality trials. [5]
When is an asthma emergency?
When symptoms are severe, you struggle to breathe or the reliever does not help; call emergency services at once. [1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Some Chinese herbal products contain sulfites, which NCCIH notes could cause asthma or severe allergic reactions, along with contamination by undeclared drugs and heavy metals. [9]
- Ephedra (ma huang) is a herb with serious safety concerns that appears in some traditional formulas; see Ma Huang Tang and ephedra safety.
- If you are allergic to plants, tell the practitioner and check ingredient lists.
- Herbal products can interact with medicines; ask a pharmacist before combining them with any asthma or allergy treatment.
References
- NHS (UK), Asthma. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS (UK), Hay fever. Read 2026-10-22.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis, Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis. Eur J Med Res 2022. PubMed record PMID 35462555. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, US), Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis, Oral Chinese herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res 2021. PubMed record PMID 33533107. Read 2026-10-22.
- Cochrane review, Acupuncture for chronic asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004. PubMed record PMID 14973944. Read 2026-10-22.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis, acupuncture for adult asthma in sham-controlled trials. Complement Ther Med 2023. PubMed record PMID 37257728. Read 2026-10-22.
- Systematic review, Herbal medicine for adults with asthma. J Asthma 2016. PubMed record PMID 27172294. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, US), Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.