Scientific Research

In 2023 Janneke’s promotion research ‘Acupuncture for Nasal Congestion in Allergic Rhinitis: An Open-Label, Randomized, Monocenter Trial (ANCAR Trial)’ has been conducted. The effects of a 6-weeks acupuncture treatment protocol are compared to the usage of Carelastin^® azelastine nasal spray. This  research is designed because of Janneke’s PhD study at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (NJUCM) in China. Supervisors from Janneke are Prof. Tianshu Xu in Nanjing, China, and Prof. Peilin Sun in Belgium. The independent medical expert of the ANCAR Trial is Dr. Menno Gaastra, medical director and dermatologist for Skin Medical Center in Amsterdam, in the Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep and Centrum Oosterwal in Alkmaar, the Netherlands (also diving medical doctor and medical director of Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe for the Netherlands). Dr. Kazem Nasserinejad, statistician at Erasmus University Medcial Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has analysed the research results. The research protocol is examined positively by METC Brabant and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov in the USA and the CCMO in the Netherlands. The thesis is currently in the blind review stage.

The ANCAR Trial is partially funded by the Dutch Acupuncture Association (NVA) as their opinion is that this scientific initiative contributes to acupuncture in the Netherlands. Docsave^® supplied the required Cloud & Dragon^® acupuncture needles, acuBox^® needle containers and NonDolens^® disposable medical gloves free of charge.

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