Allergies can be unpleasant. They can make it difficult for you to enjoy summer and springtime activities by potentially putting you at risk of becoming ill. When your seasonal allergy is severe, it might put you down for an entire day, and the only treatments that seem to provide some relief will possibly leave you feeling drowsy. If you're anything like most allergy sufferers, you're probably seeking to find a better solution to stop the itchiness, sneezing, and other unpleasant symptoms that come with allergies.

Acupuncture has been proven to help with allergy problems for a long time. This has been demonstrated in scientific research and numerous patient testimonies. However, is acupuncture for allergies worth a shot? In this blog, we'll discuss how acupuncture helps as an allergy treatment as well as what you can expect when you choose to give it a try.

Your Immune System and Allergies

An allergy occurs when your body's immune system creates an antibody reaction to a substance; this could be insect venom, flower pollen, or even food. The alien material is perceived as a threat by the body, which then produces antibodies to combat it.

Sneezing, a running nose, watery eyes, itchy skin in different areas of your body and head, are all signs that your body is attempting to get rid of the allergens that are causing the symptoms. Asthma is another condition that can be caused by allergies. Here the body responds to stimuli by inflaming the bronchial tubes and lungs, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and breathing problems.

Each year, many people suffer from allergy problems, and the numbers keep rising. More individuals are developing allergies as the number of additives in foods, environmental contaminants, and other irritants in the environment continue to rise. The WHO has long acknowledged Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) like acupuncture as treatment options for respiratory problems such as seasonal allergies, sinusitis, and rhinitis.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where thin needles are put into the skin at specific spots that are said to be linked by a web of energy channels known as meridians. These meridians are pathways for the flow of qi (which is pronounced as "chee").

TCM associates each meridian with a particular system in the human body. For this reason, needle placement is dependent on the body organs involved with the illness being addressed.

Acupuncture for allergies may target various meridians positioned at the front of the body, such as the stomach, lungs, spleen, and colon. The meridians are said to transmit defense qi, which is a form of energy associated with immunity.

Inflammation, runny nose, watery eyes, allergic eczema, sneezing, and conjunctivitis are all indications of a blockage or deficit of the defensive qi. The concept is that by activating these regions, defensive qi would be recovered and symptoms relieved.

Acupuncture's mechanism of action is the subject of various scientific notions. One idea suggests that the technique influences sensory receptors directly, impacting signals sent to the brain or the body's autonomic nervous system, as well as the transfer of various signals throughout the body, such as the immune system.

A further theory suggests that acupuncture affects cell activity in certain ways, such as bioactive mediator clearance, transport, and breakdown. These activities, together with the stated effect of hindering an overactive immune response, are supposed to reduce inflammatory illnesses including allergic rhinitis, often known as hay fever, whereby the nose becomes irritated and inflamed after exposure to allergens.

Most Common Allergies

Allergies manifest themselves in several ways. Seasonal allergies usually manifest themselves during certain seasons of the year, when certain pollen or any other environmental trigger is prevalent, however, chronic allergies often manifest themselves at any moment.

Pollen Allergies

Seasonal allergies, also known as "hay fever," are caused by naturally occurring pollens released by plants, grass, trees, and flowers, mold spores, or pet dander. The allergies produce sneezing and runny noses, also called rhinitis, as well as itchy, watery eyes.

Insect Allergies

Bug bites or stings from wasps or bees can cause this kind of severe allergic response. This can indicate respiratory or cutaneous reactions caused by dust mites and cockroaches within the home setting.

Skin Allergies

This would include severe skin allergies such as rashes or hives induced by poison ivy, poison oak, or latex. Eczema is a much more severe kind of skin allergy whereby inflammation leads to itchy spots on the skin that dry up and become scaly. Eczema is a common childhood condition. Foreign irritants, such as specific detergents or soaps, fabrics, chemicals in skin lotions or creams, or smoke, can cause flare-ups.

Food Allergies

Allergies to specific foods are particularly prevalent in children. The most typical food allergies include allergies to wheat, nuts, shellfish, dairy, and soy. Food allergies can sometimes be so acute that they cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction whereby the blood pressure drops drastically and a patient has trouble breathing.

Drug Allergy

Antibiotics, ACE inhibitors, anti-inflammatories, anti-seizure drugs, or even aspirin cause adverse responses in a large number of people. The most typical indicators of a drug allergy include rashes or hives, stomach discomfort, fever, or asthma-like wheeze. Serious drug allergies could also trigger anaphylaxis.

How Does Acupuncture for Allergies Work?

As stated before acupuncture, which involves the placement of thin needles slightly beneath the skin at specific places, has been administered to treat medical issues for centuries. This practice began in China and is now practiced all around the world. Modern medical acupuncture presently integrates traditional acupuncture with a modernized knowledge of how human bodies work.

Advanced medical research has attempted to unravel why and how needles inserted into a body may relieve unpleasant symptoms. Acupuncture, according to researchers, may cause the human body to generate endorphins (often known as "feel good" hormones) as well as serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter involved in digestion and linked to emotions of euphoria.

Acupuncture also appears to reduce inflammation, which is a crucial feature of allergic responses. Acupuncture has also been shown to enhance the flow of blood and influence the nervous system's performance.

Acupuncture is used by some allergy patients as a substitute for conventional treatments like oral medicines, nasal sprays, or immunotherapy. Other patients are looking for ways to improve the efficacy of drugs they are already using, like antihistamines and nasal sprays, or perhaps to reduce the length or frequency with which they utilize them.

For all instances, the treatment plans of allergies with acupuncture often consist of weekly or bi-weekly treatments spread out over some weeks or even months, based on the intensity of your symptoms. This could be succeeded by yearly booster procedures or additional treatments when necessary.

When performed by a qualified acupuncturist, acupuncture is regarded as safe. To administer acupuncture, most states demand that you have a certification, license, or accreditation, however, the regulations differ by jurisdiction.

Find an acupuncturist or a qualified professional who is accredited by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A directory of acupuncturists who also practice as medical doctors may be found on the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture's database.

Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergy, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, is an allergic response to a triggering element that's only prominent for a certain period of the year, like fall or spring. Seasonal allergies are mainly caused by pollens that have been dispersed by wind.   As per the National Center for Health Statistics, some 26 million Americans suffer from acute seasonal allergies, with another 40 million experiencing moderate symptoms.

Seasonal allergies can impact sensitive people at any age, although they are most common in the adolescent years. Seasonal allergies affect both men and women equally, according to statistical research, and no race or culture is more susceptible than another. Seasonal allergies, however, often run in families and thus have a high hereditary element.

Common symptoms appear within 5 – 10 minutes of being exposed to the irritants and often induce sneezing, dry coughing, itchiness on the mouth's roof or back, wheezing,  a runny nose, enlarged sinuses causing a stuffy nose as well as headaches, itchy, watery, irritated eyes owing to a subsequent illness known as allergic conjunctivitis, impaired sense of taste and smell, among others.

Even though many Modern drugs exist to address the effects of seasonal allergies, they might have undesirable side effects like sleepiness, suppression of the immune system, as well as an over-reliance on medications. The majority of people are turning to alternative therapies like acupuncture to control their allergies as a result of these negative effects.

Acupuncture is used to help both adults and children restore body balance, improve immune system performance, relieve pain, reduce stress, improve blood flow, and promote general health. It's a drug-free natural treatment that's highly successful when administered by a skilled practitioner.

Acupuncture for Food Allergies

TCM remedies are effective in preventing acute reactions in people with food allergies, according to the latest research. A unique combination of Chinese herbs has proven to aid persons with several forms of food allergies, such as dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, and fruits, and reduce their risk of anaphylaxis. When used routinely throughout therapy, herbal creams or herbal bath treatments can also assist to prevent adverse reactions.

Patients suffering from Celiac disease, food allergies, or food intolerance can benefit from an acupuncturist's extensive understanding of nutrition. When managing allergies, it can be difficult to figure out what has to be avoided because it isn't always evident to a patient what foods or any other external conditions are causing the unpleasant effects.  A TCM practitioner will take the time to examine the lifestyle choices involved and offer suitable treatments to help eliminate underlying triggers.

What to Expect During Your Acupuncture Procedure

Before your first session, you will be required to fill out a health history form. The acupuncturist will begin by inquiring about your medical issues, diet, stress levels, sleep, and other lifestyle patterns. You may also be questioned about your appetite, emotions. food preferences, and reactions to temperature as well as seasonal changes.

Your acupuncturist will then carefully evaluate your appearance, observing your complexion,  voice, color, and coating of your tongue. He /she will measure the strength, consistency, and rhythm of your pulse at 3 different locations on your wrists. In traditional Chinese medicine, tongues and pulses are said to indicate the condition of your body organs as well as meridians.

Acupuncture treatments often involve 6 to or more twenty small needles (the number of needles used does not signify the treatment's strength). Typically, the needles are placed in for ten to twenty minutes. For increased efficacy, the acupuncturist might twirl the needles slightly.

Throughout the session, the acupuncturist can employ additional procedures such as:

  • Moxibustion

Moxibustion, often known as "moxa," is a technique that includes holding heated sticks (prepared from dry herbs) close to the needles to heat and activate them.

  • Cupping

Here a suction sensation is created by placing silicone or glass or silicone on the skin. Cupping is utilized in TCM theories to ease qi and blood stagnation.

  • Herbs

Teas, tablets, and capsules could all be used to administer Chinese herbs.

  • Electroacupuncture

2 to 4 acupuncture needles are attached to an electronic device that provides a weak electric charge to activate the needles.

  • Laser Acupuncture

Acupuncture points are supposed to be stimulated without any need for needles in this procedure.

Acupuncture sessions can last anywhere from several minutes to more than an hour, but the average treatment time is 20 – 30 minutes. The first appointment could last for approximately 90 minutes, which includes time for admission and recording of your medical information.

Some patients may feel relaxed or sleepy after the procedure, while other patients feel energized. If you have any abnormal symptoms, you ought to contact your specialist.

Does the Acupuncture Procedure Hurt?

When the acupuncture needle is inserted, you might feel a faint sting, pinch, aching, or discomfort.  Some acupuncturists may also move it by rotating or twirling it, or employing a device with a mild electrical current or pulse.

Acupuncturists believe that the accompanying numbness, tingling, heavy feeling, or discomfort (referred to as "de qi") is essential to achieve the healing effect. However, if you feel any pain, stiffness, or irritation during your acupuncture session, you should inform the acupuncturist right away.

Acupuncture vs. Other Allergy Treatments

Patients must seek allergy treatment since untreated allergies could cause the body to enter into a permanent state of inflammation, increasing your chances of getting sick. (If your body's immune system is continually fighting allergies, it has fewer resources available to help it cope with other health risks).

So, how will you know which treatment, or treatment combinations, is best for you? The good news is that acupuncture can be used alone or in combination with modern treatment. When you're using allergy medications daily but aren't getting the results you want, you can opt for acupuncture treatments while taking your regular medications.

Acupuncture has the added advantage of being a natural allergy treatment. There aren't any long-term negative effects (like drowsiness), or any additional chemicals introduced into the body.

Find Acupuncture Services for Allergy Relief Near Me

If you are suffering from allergies, you can find relief by trying acupuncture treatment today. Call Trinity Acupuncture today at 310-371-1777 for a consultation with one of our acupuncturists in Torrance.