Acupuncture for Allergies
March 16th, 2009
As spring nasal allergy season arrives, individuals experiencing nasal allergies should take precautions to ward off allergens and manage their symptoms by incorporating acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine into their treatment plan.
An estimated 40 million nasal allergy sufferers develop allergic symptoms during the spring allergy season. Those diagnosed with indoor and outdoor allergies often don’t feel like themselves when they are suffering from nasal allergies. Often, outdoor activities may be avoided due to nasal allergies. Through proper treatment, nasal allergy sufferers can manage their symptoms.
High pollen counts during the spring allergy season exacerbate symptoms, which may be mild or debilitating. Symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sinus congestion, pressure, post nasal drip, and sneezing often result from the immune system reacting to pollens, molds, dust, pet dander, and grasses.
These immune responses indicate the inability of the immune system to distinguish between pathogens and environmental particles.
Antihistamines can effectively reduce the body’s response to allergens, but often have adverse side effects, including insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, dizziness, gastro-intestinal disturbance, and nasal dryness. These medications can aid in symptom management but do not treat the underlying cause of the allergies.
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can help nasal allergy suffers prepare for the spring allergy season. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can balance the immune system, which produces more accurate immune responses to environmental substances and particles.
As a primary therapy modality or in combination with conventional medication, acupuncture effectively addresses the root cause of perennial allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergies, by correcting the underlying immune system imbalance.
A comprehensive treatment program combining acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, diet modification, and supplements can decrease inflammation, congestion, constriction of bronchial passages, and reactions to allergens.
Acupoints selected during treatment can decrease pressure, reduce excess mucous and aid in sinus drainage. Chinese herbal formulas can treat the fungal, viral or bacterial infections that may accompany allergies.
When combined with acupuncture treatment, Chinese herbal medicine can successfully treat chronic cases of nasal allergies and can open nasal passages without the adverse side effects of antihistamines.
A series of acupuncture treatments over a period of four to six weeks prior to the arrival of spring allergy season can produce improvements in eye and nose allergy symptoms, increase energy, and reduce dependence on conventional medications.
For more information about acupuncture for the treatment of allergies call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500. Mar.15.
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