Non-Pharmacological Treatments of Allergic Rhinitis (Neglected Treatments)

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is the most common diseases affecting people in industrialized society. However, this is not a new disease and it was clinically described and treated for the first time by Rhazes (865-925 CE). The disease was also mentioned in “The Canon of Medicine” by Avicenna (980–1037). METHODS: We searched in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for “allergic rhinitis”, “interactions”, “non-prescription”, “prescription”, and in electronic copies of ITM sources the “canon” and “Al-Havi”. RESULTS: Both Persian pioneers of Medicine recommended non-pharmacologic management as an important phase of the therapy. Their recommendations consisted of avoiding overeating and polydipsia, massage of the lower extremities, adjusting the duration and time of sleep, sleeping in the supine position, avoiding exposure of the head to cold air and taking a shower early in the morning. CONCLUSION: Although some aspects of their recommendations, such as massage of the lower extremities, avoiding of overeating and adjusting of sleep pattern were approved, but further cross-sectional and prospective studies are needed to confirm other non-pharmacological treatments.