Acupuncture for allergies: how to get the most out of treatment.
If you are a seasonal allergy sufferer, it’s time to take action to stop the suffering. While antihistamines and OTC allergy medications can provide great relief for allergy symptoms, using them chronically often creates unintended consequences. Namely, they become less and less effective, and are often associated with side effects that are as annoying as allergy symptoms.
Patients who rely on allergy medication daily often experience very limited effectiveness on peak days of pollen, which is how they ultimately end up on my doorstep.
The great news is, acupuncture is effective at mitigating sinus pressure, post nasal drip, sneezing, itchiness, irritation and red eyes. Ideally, you will want to begin getting acupuncture 2-3 times per week at the start of the offending season; you may also have to take some evasive action to avoid flare-ups in between sessions.
Build resistance early. Getting ahead of allergy symptoms is a better strategy than chasing them once the inflammation has set in.
Allergies are understood in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) to be the result of a weakness in your body’s defense system, also known as Wei Qi (say Way Chee). The Wei Qi is the product of healthy lungs, healthy liver and healthy digestion. If your digestion isn’t great, this may be a contributing factor to seasonal allergies. Likewise, if you have a history of lung issues, such as frequent bouts of bronchitis, asthma, smoking, and even unexpressed grief, this may be a cause of your seasonal allergies.
Lastly, stress can be a major player in the condition of seasonal allergies. All of the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies are the result of acute inflammation. The liver is the primary organ in charge of keeping smooth and even movement of energy between all systems of the body.
The liver is most vulnerable to emotional, mental and chemical stress. These stressors may cause energy to slow down, congesting the free flow of liver qi. When the liver becomes stagnant, it typically gets hot and angry and tends to attack the lungs and spleen/stomach. Why does this happen?
The spleen/stomach are next door neighbors anatomically to the liver and they are by nature vulnerable to the liver….TCM describes the Liver as “A General” disseminating and organizing the fluid movement and dynamics of all systems of the body. Under pressure and stress, The liver can become an angry tyrant and instead of orchestrating a symphony of harmonized activity, it attacks it’s own dominion.
When the liver becomes congested and stagnant, heat is generated as a byproduct. Stress is fuel to a fiery liver and due to the laws of thermodynamics, this heat will rise, irritating the lungs.
Here are 3 tips to getting the most efficacy out of acupuncture.
Start acupuncture before your symptoms start. You have to build resistance and strengthen the lungs BEFORE the assault happens.
Make dietary changes to reduce the stress load on the liver and digestive organs.
Netti pot and face washing frequently. Especially after spending any extended amount of time outside, rinse nasal passages with a netti pot and wash your face to get the pollen off of eyelashes and skin.
You don’t have to suffer this spring. Start taking small action steps every day to limit chemical stress on the body, stop eating refined and processed foods, and set yourself up for success with acupuncture.