Spring is near, and with its arrival comes longer days and warmer temps. For some of us, Spring’s arrival also means the dreaded return of allergy season. Cherry blossoms and flowers be damned, it’s hard to enjoy the beauty in bloom with itchy, watery eyes and sinus congestion!
Antihistamines can be helpful, but they don’t address the underlying root cause of seasonal allergies. During an acupuncture treatment, not only are acute symptoms addressed, but also the underlying cause in order to rebalance the body and provide long-lasting relief.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understanding of seasonal allergies relates to a deficiency of our body’s defensive wei qi. In order to support and strengthen the wei qi, points along the Stomach, Spleen, Lung and Large Intestine meridians are selected. The TCM approach to treating allergies dovetails nicely with the Western medicine (WM) understanding. From a WM perspective, seasonal allergies are a form of hypersensitivity that occurs when anti-bodies are produced by a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes in response to airborne particles, like pollen. In addition to the bloodstream, lymphocytes are also found in Peyer’s patches located in the large intestine and spleen.
Acupuncture treatments for seasonal allergies will include needling points along the arms, legs and face, as well as some very powerful points in the ear. Patients often experience immediate results of symptoms like sinus congestion and stuffy nose, and over the course of 3-5 treatments, see long term resolution of their symptoms.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Acupuncture can help resolve your seasonal allergies, book an initial consultation with one of our Registered Acupuncturists at A Balanced body today.