It’s barely April, snow is still on the ground, and we’ve already had a few patients coming in with allergy symptoms. Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose…so we thought this would be a good time to recycle our spring allergy blog from last year.

SSCA Blog from March, 2014: With this recent bout of frigid weather, it’s hard to imagine that spring is just around the corner. Some of us see spring as the beginning of warmer weather, a revived spirit and trees and flowers in bloom.  For others, it means the beginning of relentless sneezing, itchy eyes, runny noses and congestion.  If you do suffer from spring allergies, acupuncture may help ease your symptoms and get you back to smelling all of the blooming flowers without needing to have a tissue close.

Acupuncture is based on the theory of 14 channels that run head to toe throughout our bodies.  Within these channels are energy (qi), blood and other fluids (yin). When things move through the channels easily, the body operates in a healthy manner. When there is imbalance in how the energy, blood or other fluids (yin) are moving, symptoms may manifest. This is the same for every condition and pathology possible. When discussing allergies and all of the symptoms that arise with them, acupuncturists look to maintain the body’s immune system in addition to effectively processing excess fluids like phlegm and mucus.

When coming in for allergy treatments, the acupuncturist may ask what makes symptoms better or worse. Do you find that consuming dairy makes your post nasal drip worse? Do you find yourself more thirsty than usual? Are there certain times in the day that you feel free of symptoms? Is your digestion off? All of these questions may seem unrelated but they allow the acupuncturist to see which systems may need more support than others.

Each person may experience seasonal allergies with a different severity. The acupuncturist will discuss your treatment plan to adequately treat your symptoms. You may find that Chinese herbs or dietary recommendations will be beneficial in addition to regular acupuncture treatments. We have also found that it is helpful to start treatment BEFORE your allergy symptoms start to appear, thus helping to minimize any suffering when spring is in full bloom.  One of our favorite quotes from Lao Zi: “Deal with the Big while it is still Small.”