A normal group of 30 healthy persons was established as a control.2) The following procedures were performed before treatment and after the first and second courses:(1) Clinical symptoms and signs scoring;(2) Observation of nasal mucosa: Rhinoscopy was performed to observe the color of inferior turbinate mucosa and to see whether the inferior turbinate swelled, whether the middle turbinate was visible and whether polypoid changes in the middle turbinate existed.

An enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay was used to measure supernate interleukin,interferon) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor contents following peripheral blood monocyte(PBMC) PHA induction and culture in the allergic rhinitis patients before and after treatment and in the healthy persons.Results and levels were significantly higher and was significantly lower in the acupuncture-moxibustion group than in the normal control group level had a positive correlation with and a negative correlation with in the acupuncture-moxibustion group.3) In the acupuncture-moxibustion group,IL-4 and GM-CSF levels were significantly lowered and level was significantly raised after treatment compared with before,and posttreatment IL-4,GM-CSF and levels were all not significantly different from those in the normal control group Conclusion .

Acupuncture and moxibustion of points Shangyingxiang,Shangxing and Zusanli has a marked relieving effect on the symptoms and signs of perennial allergic rhinitis patients and increase bodily immunity. Acupuncture and moxibustion of points Shangyingxiang,Shangxing and Zusanli may produce a therapeutic effect on perennial allergic rhinitis through regulating the expressions of cytokine Th1 and Th2 and rectifying unbalanced Th1/Th2 cytokine network in the patients.