Spring is in the air, and so is allergy season!
So many of my patients are already feeling the shift in weather through allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and even skin symptoms like itching, dry patches, redness and hives.⠀
Both eastern and western medicine both agree that allergies tend to stem from an overly sensitive immune system. They can be caused by anything under the sun, including the sun itself. Over 50 million people suffer from allergies in North America.
How can you manage these symptoms? Or prevent them if you’re prone to allergies but not experiencing them just yet?⠀ Here are 3 things I recommend.
1. Get Acupuncture
You knew I was going to say that, right? Acupuncture is outstanding at both preventing seasonal allergies and helping manage annoying allergy symptoms if they’ve already started.⠀ While most western doctors address allergies by suppressing the immune response, eastern medicine works to address the immune system’s allergic response to an allergen. We essentially “reprogram” your immune system to stop over reacting to allergens.
And it’s backed by research. A study in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that acupuncture was effective at reducing allergy symptoms with no side effects. You can read the full article here.
Ideally you’d start acupuncture a month before your symptoms usually start, in order to prevent them from being severe. But even if your symptoms have already kicked in, acupuncture can still help quite a lot.⠀
I use a specialized technique called Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) which makes use a of a tiny needle in the ear that stays in place for 3 weeks. From our experience in doing this treatment, we can clear some allergies completely, while others are reduced considerably. In most cases, this treatment is just a one-time treatment. Read more about SAAT here.
2. Take a Probiotic
Seasonal allergies are an excess immune reaction in your body. ⠀
A huge portion of your immunity is regulated by the nerves in your gut, so good gut health is essential for a balanced immune response. ⠀ Choose a probiotic with multiple strains to keep your gut flora diverse, and start a month in advance of anticipated allergy symptoms if you can. (Or just start now!)⠀
3. Try Nettle Leaf Tea
Nettle leaf can help naturally reduce the amount of histamine in your body, which is the cause of many allergy symptoms. [Reference] Of course, consult your doctor before beginning any new supplements.
If allergy symptoms are creeping up on you, schedule an acupuncture appointment today to keep them from progressing this season! Please call us at 678-871-9642 to schedule
As always, feel free to respond to this email with questions!