The Present State of Korean Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine in Nasal Disease

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesZZAlternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular and is frequently used for treating patients with nasal diseases. While western medicine and operative treatment are proven treatments, herbal medicine and alternative medicine are widely used without any supporting evidence for treating cases of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and hypertrophic rhinitis. So, we have tried to assess the present state of Korean traditional medicine (KTM) and alternative medicine for treating nasal cavity diseases. Materials and MethodZZWe surveyed 204 patients who visited our department and were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum and/or hypertrophic rhinitis. The questionnaire included questions about whether or not the patients had tried KTM or alternative medicine, the reason for using KTM or alternative medicine, the frequency, kind, duration, effectiveness, cost and satisfaction and side effects. ResultsZZAmong 204 patients, 14% of the patients had used KTM and 18% of the patients had used alternative medicine. The percent of those who had used KTM or alternative medicine in each of the allergic rhinitis patient, the sinusitis patient and the deviated septum with hypertrophic rhinitis patient groups were 46, 41, and 24%, respectively. The satisfaction rate for KTM was 47% and that for alternative medicine was 40%. The satisfaction rate for western medicine was higher than that for KTM and alternative medicine.