The effects of nasal massage of the "yingxiang" acupuncture point on nasal airway resistance and sensation of nasal airflow in patients with nasal congestion associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine whether nasal massage of the "yingxiang" acupuncture point in patients with nasal congestion had any effect on nasal airway resistance (NAR) measured by posterior rhinomanometry and sensation of nasal airflow measured on a visual analog scale (VAS). Twenty patients were randomized into two groups; one group self massaged the yingxiang point for 30 seconds, while the other group acted as control group without nasal massage. NAR and VAS were measured at baseline, and at 2 and 10 minutes after massage. At the end of the study, patients were asked to score any change in their nasal congestion. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in percentage change in NAR or VAS from baseline at any time during the study, although the massage group showed trends toward decongestion and relief from congestion. At the end of the study, more patients in the massage group than the control group felt their nasal congestion was improved (p < 0.005). It is interesting that all three measures (NAR, VAS, and end question) showed that the nasal massage group had greater relief from nasal congestion than the control group. The results of this study, when taken together, indicate that nasal massage may provide some relief from nasal congestion and that further studies involving a larger patient population are warranted to determine whether nasal massage has a significant effect on NAR.