A Case Report of Chronic Allergic Rhinitis Treatment in A 29-Year-Old Woman Based on Iranian Traditional Medicine

Abstract

<strong>Introduction</strong>: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most commonly diagnosed allergic diseases, the prevalence of which is increasing globally. The purpose of this case report is to outline the Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) approach to diagnosis and treatment of chronic allergic rhinitis.<br /> <strong>Case presentation</strong>: A 29-year-old woman with a long history of symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and itchy throat was diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis and treated with antihistamines. Since 9 years ago, the disease pattern changed from seasonal to a year-round state and the patient referred to the traditional medicine clinic due to inadequate response to conventional therapies and reluctance to consume oral corticosteroids. Initially, the six lifestyle essentials and prohibited foods were explained to the patient, followed by drug therapy to cleanse the head region and body and to eliminate the underlying causes of the disease. The post45-day treatment assessment showed a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of symptoms.<br /> <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Clinical decision-making in ITM is based on a holistic view of the patient rather than the disease, which is the case in conventional medicine. This case report is an example of a patient-based treatment protocol in the Iranian medical system. The systemic approach of ITM in dealing with a patient with allergic rhinitis and simultaneous attention to brain and whole-body cleansing along with the six essentials of lifestyle modification resulted in significant improvement.