An External CAM Therapy (Tian Jiu) versus Placebo in Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Pilot Single-Blinded, Three-Arm, Randomized Controlled Study

Table 3

Baseline characteristics.

Characteristic	Tian Jiu; (N=46)	Sham; Tian Jiu; (N=46)	Waitlist; Tian Jiu; (N=44)	P Value
Sex, n ()
Female	23 (50.0)	25 (54.3)	20(47.8)	0.502
Male	23 (50.0)	21 (45.7)	24 (52.2)
Age, Mean (SD), y	45.6 (15.1)	40.4 (15.6)	38.6(14.4)	0.807
Weight, Mean (SD), kg	64.9 (19.7)	64.8 (21.3)	59.8 (15.0)	0.878
Height, Mean (SD), cm	165.2 (11.3)	161.6 (23.6)	160.1 (15.9)	0.400
BMI, Mean (SD), kg/m2	22.5 (3.2)	23.1 (3.0)	22.2 (3.9)	0.704
Duration of AR, y	17.1 (11.8)	15.0 (8.1)	14.6 (10.1)	0.280
TNSS, Mean (SD)	10.37(3.4)	9.25(3.05)	9.38(2.57)	0.664
Rhinorrhea	2.52(1.04)	2.36(1.08)	2.03(1.07)	0.118
Nasal itching	2.78(1.06)	2.52(1.17)	2.6(1.06)	0.357
Nasal obstruction	2.33(1.22)	2.18(1.08)	2.48(1.09)	0.803
Sneezing	2.74(1.17)	2.18(1.06)	2.28(0.99)	0.504
RQLQ, Mean(SD)	2.32(1.35)	1.91(1.48)	1.49(1.13)	0.349
Sleep	2.48(1.46)	2.23(1.81)	1.92(1.59)	0.491
Non-rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms	2.44(1.27)	2.05(1.55)	1.65(1.11)	0.103
Practical problems	2.83(1.27)	2.48(1.49)	1.96(1.26)	0.413
Nasal symptoms	2.77(1.32)	2.41(1.33)	1.81(0.97)	0.317
Ocular symptoms	1.89(1.59)	1.36(1.31)	0.99(1.07)	0.771
Activity limitations	2.06(1.13)	1.62(1.29)	1.19(0.90)	0.096
Emotional function	1.82(1.38)	1.23(1.60)	0.91(1.00)	0.646