The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of yoga training on rhinitis symptoms and cytokines in allergic rhinitis patients. Twenty-seven allergic rhinitis patients, aged 18-45 year old, were randomized into 2 groups: control group (CON; n=14) and yoga group (YOG; n=13). The control group had normal life and the yoga group was required to complete protocol with yoga training for a period of 8 weeks, 60 minutes, 3 times a week. Physiological variables, lung function variables, allergic rhinitis symptoms variables, and cytokines level in nasal secretion variables were analyzed during pre-test and post-test. The dependent variables between pre-test and post-test were analyzed by a paired t-test. The dependent variables between groups were analyzed by independent t-test. One way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables among pre-test, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks. Differences were considered to be significant at p < 0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis diseases
• Clinical symptoms of persistent rhinitis (nasal congestion, sneeze, nasal itching, and running nose) for more than 4 days per week.
• Positive skin prick test (wheal diameter>3 mm.) to house dust mite (D. pteronyssinus) and using normal saline as the negative control.
• Stopped taking all medicine before the study such as antihistamine for at least 3 days, oral steroid and nasal steroid for at least 2 weeks and luekotriene receptor antagonist for at least a week prior to the study, but the patients could take pseudo ephedrine.
• Subjects were not to have participated in a regular exercise program for at least 6 months prior to the start of the study, and to avoid taking any form of dietary supplement during the course of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Asthma
• Chronic rhino-sinusitis
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular diseases
• A smoking habit