Spring is just around the corner, and that means for thousands of people their seasonal allergies are about to flare. Acupuncture has proven over the years to be very effective in helping people cope with hay-fever and other seasonal allergies. However, the key to lasting results is to strengthen the body before the symptoms begin. In Chinese medicine, conditions like hay-fever are due to a seasonal weakness, usually in the organ which it corresponds to (spring is Liver). So in the weeks leading up to spring, acupuncture and herbs can be used to strengthen and soothe your Liver so your allergies don’t flare when spring is in full swing. This principle is also applied during autumn, when we tonify your lung energy so you avoid those dreaded winter colds and flu’s.
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) or hay fever as it’s commonly called, is becoming an ever increasing problem. Recent surveys have shown that common allergies are costing the government billions of dollars each year in treatment. In Chinese medicine there is actually no such thing as an allergy, it is instead explained as a weakness between organs such as the Liver, Lung and Spleen, which are aggravated by the changing of the seasons and extremes in weather and temperature. Several studies have been performed using Acupuncture to treat SAR, as it has been viewed as a very cost effective and safe alternative to pharmaceuticals. Results have shown that Acupuncture is quite effective in resolving the nasal and non-nasal (itchy eyes, etc) symptoms associated with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. For more information, here is a direct link to A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial on the Effect of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis(60kb)
