Acupuncture for Allergy Relief

Rebecca Ness is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and the owner of Monarch Acupuncture & Herbs. To learn more about relieving your allergies holistically, visit www.monarchacupunctureandherbs.com

Spring is such a delight as the weather starts to warm and buds on trees start to blossom. For people with seasonal allergies, this time can be challenging to enjoy. The pollen that is released in spring can cause significant nasal, eye, skin and throat discomfort while also interfering with sleep. Fortunately, there are natural remedies like acupuncture and herbs that can be effective for relieving seasonal allergies.

Since I started treating patients with acupuncture two decades ago, I have often seen a strong tie between digestive weakness and seasonal allergies. By strengthening the digestive system, which strengthens the wei qi, allergies are alleviated. Wei qi, or defensive qi, is a type of energy that is linked to immunity. You can think of your wei qi as the ability to close your windows and lock the doors to your house. A deficiency of wei qi can cause allergy symptoms seasonally and through out the year. I use a combination of acupuncture, moxa, herbs, cupping, supplements and nutritional suggestions to help people alleviate allergies.

Where you live can also make a big difference in the amount of pollen in the air. Ohio sits in a spot where high pollen and pollution intersect, ranking it one of the worst states in the country for allergies. When one young patient moved to Ohio from the coast, she had never had allergies until moving here. This patient drank Chinese herbs roughly 5 days per week for several months and has not had seasonal allergies since. This was four years ago.

Other patients find relief with acupuncture and supplements. There are many roads to the top of the mountain! Starting acupuncture treatments before the start of allergy season is recommended as it can take some time to build your digestive system and strengthen your wei qi.