Acupuncture can help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever, according to a large, placebo-control study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The 422 people who took part in the trial were grass- and pollen-allergy sufferers. Those who received 12 genuine acupuncture treatments over eight weeks experienced fewer hay fever symptoms than both the control group, who received no treatment, and those who received the sham acupuncture treatment. Unfortunately, however, eight weeks after treatment had ceased, the positive effects were no longer discernible.