Studies have shown that some people who undergo allergy shots for pollen allergies will experience relief in oral allergy syndrome, Wood said, but at this point no one should get shots just for that reason, since they don't work on most people's food allergies.

CNN: Oral allergy syndrome may explain mysterious reactions

But if the treatments are providing some type of relief, then acupuncture's potential role in treating allergies should be investigated further, the authors say.

CNN: Acupuncture may be antidote for allergies