Hay fever is defined as a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to air-borne substance usually pollens – which tend to spread more in springtime and thus lose its appeal for chronic sufferers. When hay fever hits, you can get very uncomfortable symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and red, itchy eyes, painful sinus headache. These can make it difficult to sleep and therefore you feel very tired.
Avoiding allergens can keep the symptoms at bay. But as it is pretty hard to stay away from pollen in the air, Acupuncture does a good job at alleviating the symptoms, mostly via local points on the face and also those that address the reason for the tendency to be allergic.
The imbalance that is seen to cause this allergic tendency can be caused by poor diet, stress, sluggish digestion and lack of rest. TCM always takes these factors into consideration so treatment – and lifestyle advice – can be given that will correct the imbalance.
Changing one’s dietary habits, such as reducing dairy products, improving sluggish digestion through this and also acupuncture and Chinese herbs, can reduce this allergic tendency. Reducing stress levels through meditation for example can help. Getting the appropriate amount of rest and exercise and relaxation help as well.
Chinese herbs – in convenient capsule form, have definitely been shown to bring relief from unpleasant symptoms and also reduce the tendency to get it again by strengthening and balancing the system.
Written by Life Source acupuncturist Clare Donnelly
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