Health Tips | Hay Fever

Allergic Rhinitis or Hay fever and Chinese Medicine

Reduce your itching, nasal congestion, sneezing and clear discharge.

While the cherry blossoms bloom creating a pink canopy around the streets of Vancouver, people with spring allergies to tree pollens are suffering with itchy nose, mouth or eyes, tearing, sneezing, nasal or ear congestion and discharge. Some also experience headache, irritability, loss of appetite low spirits and lack of sleep. Coughing and wheezing may develop in those with more severe allergies.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can work wonders to both reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever and address the root imbalances in your body that create the sneezing, runny eyes, itchy nose, plugged ears, itchy throat.

Ideal treatment starts before the tree pollens blossom to treat the root which includes strengthening the immune system and the digestive system. The digestive system is responsible for the transformation of fluids in Chinese Medicine. When the digestive system is weakened, phlegm accumulates and is stored in the lungs, when the lungs are full, it overflows to the sinuses. The itching comes from the wind-evils; airborne pathogens (the pollen) irritating the upper orifices.

During an acute attack, treatments include acupuncture, Chinese herbs and essential oils to reduce the itching, nasal congestion, sneezing and to clear watery discharge.

Acupuncture is very effective for treating symptoms of allergies. Many allergy symptoms are located above the neck, that is, in the head (stuffiness, headache, itchy eyes, etc.) This means the energy is not flowing smoothly from the head into the rest of the body, and vice versa.

Acupuncture treats the symptoms locally by placing small, sterile needles right on points of pain or symptoms like the head or side of nose, allowing the stuck energy to dissipate and move more smoothly throughout the body.

Chinese herbal blends for adults and children are available to both address individual symptoms and eventually strengthen the root, so that next seasons symptoms are less severe.

Diet Therapy

Appropriate diet is essential, since it is the digestive system that needs to be strong. This means avoiding uncooked, chilled or hard to digest foods including sugar, wheat and juices.

Choose well cooked soups and stews, steamed or slightly sauteed greens and veggies. Keep consumption of chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs to a minimum

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