Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, & Allergies
By Anne Cabrinha, L.Ac.
Needles for Allergies?
Yes. If you are tired of nasal sprays and popping pills for those itchy eyes and runny nose acupuncture can help. It has been used safely and successfully for thousands of years to treat seasonal allergies and is a great alternative to conventional treatments that often have unwanted side effects.
Acupuncture treats the root of the problem, not just symptoms. The root of the problem is an overly sensitive immune system and acupuncture balances the immune system so that it has a proper response to things in the environment, such as dust, pollen, animal dander and foods.
The goal of acupuncture is to change the landscape of the patient’s immune system such that treatment is no longer necessary or only minimal intervention or maintenance is needed.
The treatment plan for allergies depends on the individual. Typically, to turn the immune system around in a short amount of time, acupuncture twice a week for a couple weeks to a month is necessary and then we re-evaluate. Treatments are scaled down to once a week and then less as symptoms disappear and the immune system calms down. Lifestyle factors such as diet and stress greatly impact the immune system and affect the course of acupuncture treatment.
Start now. I see patients begin a course of treatment at the height of their allergies, but coming in before their typical allergy season will help prevent symptoms from going into over-drive in the first place.
