Acupuncture for Allergies

Acupuncture for Allergies

Allergy drugs keep sneezing, itchy eyes, and other allergy symptoms under control, but the medications do have a few side effects. If your allergy medication keeps you up at night or makes you feel nauseous or dizzy, you may want to consider acupuncture. The all-natural therapy offers plenty of benefits without the side effects of over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Treatments Ease Allergy Symptoms

Allergies make the simplest things much more difficult. When your head feels like it's about to explode and you can't stop sneezing, it's difficult to pay attention during a meeting or even follow the plot of your favorite TV show.

Whether your symptoms occur seasonally or are a problem year-round, acupuncture treatment can help you feel better. Treatments relieve many common allergy symptoms, including:

  • Sneezing and Runny Nose
  • Water or Itchy Eyes
  • Nasal Congestion and Pressure
  • Sore Throat
  • Clogged Ears
  • Itching in your Throat, Nose, Mouth, and Skin
  • Difficulty Concentrating or Sleeping
  • Cough
  • Wheezing
  • Reduction in Sense of Smell or Taste
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

Acupuncture Treatments Target the Source of Allergies

Acupuncture treatment relieves Qi blockages by inserting thin needles at strategic locations on your body. Qi is a life force essential for good physical and mental health. When it becomes blocked, you may experience a variety of unpleasant consequences, including allergy symptoms.

Blockages can result in too much or too little Qi circulating throughout your body, which may make it more difficult for your immune system to counteract the effects of allergens. Allergens are harmless substances that your immune system misidentifies as potential dangers. They can include pet dander, tree and grass pollen, dust mites, and certain foods.

Once your immune system detects these allergens, it produces histamines in an attempt to protect you. Histamines are natural chemicals that help your body get rid of allergens. Unfortunately, histamines cause your eyes to itch or redden and your nose to run. Taking medications that contain antihistamines can control your symptoms, as long as you continue to take the drugs.

Luckily, acupuncture treatment does more than just block histamines temporarily. It may actually alter the ratio of the Th1 and Th2 cells that play a role in immune system response. The cells are a source of cytokines, proteins that affect the way cells act. Acupuncture can alter the production of the cytokines, causing an improvement in allergy symptoms, according to an article published in the Allegro Journal International.

Studies Show Acupuncture is an Effective Treatment for Allergies

Several research studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is a good alternative treatment for allergies. In a study published in Acupuncture in Medicine, researchers discovered that participants with seasonal allergies who received acupuncture treatment for eight weeks used significantly fewer antihistamines than those in control groups.

Health CMi examined several studies that explored the effect of acupuncture on nasal allergy symptoms and determined that the treatment was effective in both long and short-term management of allergies. Placing needles at the Yangmich stomach meridian, which begins near the side of the nose, or at the Yingxiang point, located on the nasiolabial groove, were particularly beneficial.

Stimulating these points not only eased nasal congestion but also improved blood circulation. In addition to acupuncture, participants in some studies also used herbal or Western medications or were treated with moxibustion, a Chinese medical technique that involves burning the herb mugwort close to the skin. Moxibustion stimulates Qi flow and can make acupuncture treatments more effective.

If you're tired of popping pills to handle allergy symptoms, you may want to consider trying acupuncture treatments. Thanks to hair-thin needles, the treatments are virtually painless and offer real relief for annoying allergy symptoms. Contact us to schedule an appointment for your first acupuncture session.

Sources:

Allegro Journal International: Acupuncture in Allergic Rhinitis, 6/21/14

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4479426/

Medline Plus: Allergic Rhinitis, 2/27/18

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000813.htm

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine: Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergies

https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/12/13/acupuncture-seasonal-allergies

Acupuncture in Medicine: Impact of acupuncture on antihistamine use in patients suffering seasonal allergic rhinitis: secondary analysis of results from a randomized controlled trial, 6/18

https://aim.bmj.com/content/36/3/139

HealthCMi: Acupuncture Relief of Nasal Allergies Confirmed, 4/26/18

https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1846-acupuncture-relief-of-nasal-allergies-confirmed

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