By Eeka King (Chinese Medicine)

The review of all Systemic research reviews by the Acupuncture Evidence Project, places Acupuncture for the treatment of Allergic Rhinitis in the highest evidence of positive effect category (1). Acupuncture is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a safe and effective natural option to help assist with the frequency and severity of symptoms for hay fever and/or allergic rhinitis without any associated side effects like drowsiness.

Allergic rhinitis is also known as hay fever or allergies.

Presenting symptoms include:

  • Nasal congestion or;
  • Profuse watery nasal discharge.
  • Sneezing.
  • Itchy nose or eyes.
  • Sinus pain, pressure or headaches.

 Can Acupuncture Help your Hay Fever or Allergic Rhinitis?

McDonald et al. conducted a study between patients who received acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no treatment. The results revealed a significant reduction in IgE in patients who received Acupuncture opposed to sham or no acupuncture. IgE is an antibody produced by the body’s immune system in response to a perceived threat i.e. a allergic reaction (2).

Patients who received Acupuncture, resulted marked improvements in:

  • Nasal obstruction.
  • Runny nose.
  • Nasal itch.
  • Sneezing.
  • Itchy eyes.
  • Unrefreshed sleep.

These marked improvements continued over the course of 12 weeks of treatment and patient symptoms continued to improve once the course of treatment ended.

Causes of Hay Fever or Allergic Rhinitis:

Seasonal factors:

  • Pollens from grass, flowers, trees or weeds (known as hay fever).

Perennial factors:

  • Inhaled antigens derived from;
  • House dust.
  • Fungus spores.
  • Animals.

There is a correlation between people that experience allergic rhinitis or hay fever may also have asthma. Results suggest that better control of allergic rhinitis has been shown to result in better asthma control. Emerging evidence is also recognising that untreated allergic rhinitis may also increase a higher risk of developing asthma (3). Non allergic triggers from cold air, dry atmosphere, perfumes and chemicals can still trigger a response in up to 87% of allergic rhinitis patients (4)

Treating the symptoms
Many of the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis 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. All the yang meridians flow from the hands up to the head, or from the head down to the feet. We need to open the channels in the neck and shoulders and allow the energy to flow.

Acupuncture can also treat the symptoms very 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.

Treating the root cause
Secondly, though most importantly, acupuncture helps balance the body in general. Acupuncturists treat very specifically and individually, making sure to address the underlying organ imbalances and pathologies. When the body is in balance, symptoms disappear and health is restored. This is the main benefit of acupuncture: bringing a person into balance so that the body may heal itself of any ailment physically, mentally or emotionally.

While allergies can put a damper on enjoying the best the season holds, there is natural relief for allergy sufferers. And the relief need not be temporary. In fact, when the body is brought to a higher level of health, we enjoy renewed energy, flexibility and joy of living.

1. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/acupuncture-scientific-evidence/

2. McDonald, J.L., Cripps, A.W., Smith, P.K., Smith, C.A., Xue, C.C. &Golianu, B. (2016) Effect of acupuncture on house dust mite specific IgE, substance P, and symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (Article in Press).

3. https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-and-sinusitis/allergic-rhinitis-or-hay-fever.

4. McDonald, JL, Cripps, AW, Smith, PK, Smith, CA, Xue, CC & Golianu, B 2013, ‘The anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture and their relevance to allergic rhinitis: a narrative review and proposed model.’, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, vol. 2013, p. 591796, <http://www.hindawi.com>.

Phone the clinic on 02 66851 088 or email heal@baysideacupuncture.com to make an appointment with Eeka.