Effect of adding pranayama yoga exercises to laser acupuncture on inflammatory markers in elderly with allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled study

<b>Objectives:</b> Laser acupuncture (LA) is used to improve inflammatory markers in chronic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR) but the effect of pranayama yoga exercises (PYE)–as an add-on therapy–was not investigated. This AR study aimed to investigate the effect of adding PYE to LA on inflammatory markers in sufferers aged > 65 years old.<br /> <b>Materials and methods:<i> </i></b>In this complementary interventional randomized trial, elderly with AR who were randomly recruited from a university hospital were randomly assigned to one of two eight-week interventional groups. The first group (n = 20 elderly with AR) received a 1-hour PYE daily plus LA (3 sessions/week). The second group (n = 20 elderly with AR) received LA only. Measurement of serum immunoglobulin E, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total eosinophil count, interleukin-1β, and C-reactive protein was performed.<br /> <b>Results:</b> The protocol of LA alone or combined with PYE produced a significant improvement in the parameters studied within the two AR groups studied. In favor of the first group (PYE plus LA), there were post-treatment significant between-group improvements in AR patient’s parameters.<br /> <b>Conclusions:</b> Positive effect of LA on inflammatory markers in elderly with AR can be magnified by adding PYE.