How Acupuncture Provides Relief from Seasonal Allergies
ACUPUNCTURE BOOSTS IMMUNITY AND HELPS ALEVE ANNUAL SYMPTOMS
As the seasons begin to change and many Chicagoans welcome the renewed energy that Summer can bring, we have noticed that allergy season in 2021 often feels more severe to many people who haven’t spent much time outside without a mask in more than a year due to the COVID pandemic.
In fact, due to the added impact of climate change, allergy season may be getting longer (and worse) for many people. Warmer temperatures in the atmosphere lead to an increase in pollen production, so 2021 may just be our most intense allergy season yet. And due to COVID-19 quarantine, children may be in store for an especially rough year.
Thankfully, acupuncture can help!
Allergies: A TCM Perspective
In its simplest form, an allergy is an excessive reaction by the immune system to a substance that is normally harmless. Such a substance is called an "allergen." The primary allergens are pollen, ragweed, dust, mites, pet hair, and certain chemical products.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work by rebalancing the body’s systems, regulating the body’s healing energies and enhancing the immune system. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are safe, natural and effective ways to support the body’s innate healing systems.
When acupuncture is used for allergies, several meridians on the body may be targeted, including the lungs, colon, stomach, and spleen. These meridians circulate defensive qi, a type of energy linked to immunity. A body out of balance and exposed to allergens leads to traditional allergy symptoms such as swelling, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, allergic eczema, and conjunctivitis. Stimulating specific acupuncture points on the body helps to restore balance to the body relieve symptoms.
“Allergies are all about inflammation. It’s the body’s way of responding to a stimulus like pollen, animal hair or other common irritants,” said Dr. Amy Wolf, L.Ac., DACM and founder of Herb + Ōhm. “Irritants and inflammation often create a scenario where people’s symptoms become intolerant and impact the ability to carry out daily activities without being distracted. Fortunately, we know acupuncture can help with short- and long-term relief.”
Top 3 ways Acupuncture Provides Relief from Allergy Symptoms
BOOSTS IMMUNITY. At Herb + Ōhm, the acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine modalities we use not only help to improve immune system functionality, but the needles also help to decrease inflammation to open up passages so fluid can flow and pressure and pain dissipate.
CALMS MIND AND SPIRIT. Acupuncture treatments often represent the only time our patients have to unplug from the stressors of day-to-day life, which can exacerbate allergy symptoms caused by environmental factors.
RELIEVES PAIN. When the mind relaxes, the body relaxes too, and pressure is removed from the head, sinuses, neck, and chest. This release restores balance to the body and alleviates pain.
“When we treat allergies, we look not only at the external symptoms, but the root cause within the environment too,” added Wolf. “If you want someone to feel better you have to address both.”