Acupuncture for Allergies
Did you know that winter is a good time to start treating your spring and summer allergies?
This is the ideal time to address some of the underlying root imbalances that are creating your problems in spring and summer.
In Western medicine we understand that allergies are due to the body over-reacting to ‘external pathogens’ like pollen and dust with a strong histamine reaction.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, the underlying problem lies with a weakness in the Spleen and Lung systems. Together these two are responsible for providing a strong defense against external pathogens and spreading ‘Defensive Qi’ throughout the body. When the Spleen and Lungs are weak, they are not able to ‘secure’ the body against outside invaders (pollen or other allergens), and cold-like symptoms are the result.
The Spleen also has the special function of regulating water metabolism, and when this function is weak, it generates ‘dampness’ and eventually phlegm, which is stored in the Lungs and sinuses. When your allergies present with a lot of sinus congestion and phlegm, it is sign that there is a lot of dampness in the system.
When we begin treating allergies in the winter, the focus of the treatment is on overcoming the underlying weakness that leads to your problems. The strategy is tstrengthen the Spleen and Lungs to support a more robust ‘defensive Qi’.
Once the allergy season begins, any residual symptoms will be less severe, and we would add the treatment strategies of:
expelling external pathogens
and transforming and dispelling dampness and phlegm
In addition to acupuncture, there are herbal treatments we can add to speed up the healing process, and several home remedies to incorporate to lessen your symptoms:
Start eating an anti-inflammatory, alkaline diet to reduce your risk for allergies
Consume local raw honey or bee pollen products
Drink apple cider vinegar - diluted with a little honey makes for a yummy drink
Eat probiotics and probiotic rich foods
Nasal flush with a neti pot and distilled water
Use eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree, peppermint & frankincense essential oils
Feeling sick for weeks on end while the weather is finally turning, and all you want to do is get out and play outdoors, is miserable. I’d like to help you not be in that position this year and encourage you to start your course of treatment now.
