Seasonal allergies, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, are no joke. The coughing, sneezing, and itching that these allergies produce causes great discomfort and lost productivity for millions of Americans each year. Almost everyone has experienced, or knows someone who has experienced both the frustrating physiological and mental effects of Allergic Rhinitis. Allergic Rhinitis works by forcing your immune system to overreact to seasonal environmental stimulants, such as pollen. In turn this causes symptoms which range from a stuffy nose and sneezing to mental irritation.
People are often unsure as to what mode of treatment is right for them. Most allergy medications which treat Allergic Rhinitis are antihistamines and have a chance to produce drowsiness, making their use problematic for people who expect to be driving or operating machinery throughout the day. Other drugs which are occasionally recommended to treat seasonal allergies are corticosteroids, which come with their own risks due to the hormonal disruption that they create. All of these medications can produce many different side effects which occasionally outdo the original allergy symptoms in severity. Moreover, individual drugs tend to treat only specific symptoms associated with Allergic Rhinitis, such as stuffy nose or sneezing and itching. However, there is a simple, holistic, natural, and drug-free alternative which has been scientifically shown to help treat seasonal allergy symptoms.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice which involves painlessly inserting needles into vital points of the body, has been consistently found to alleviate allergy symptoms without the many harmful and disruptive side effects that prescription drugs may cause. Acupuncture has been shown in numerous peer reviewed studies to effectively manage seasonal allergy symptoms, leading to less congestion, sneezing and general irritation. For instance, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a peer reviewed journal, has recently indicated that patients treated with acupuncture show significant relief of allergy symptoms such as runny nose and itchiness. Acupuncture works off of the belief that the human body is lined with meridians, rows of vital points which can be penetrated by needles in order to soothe various ailments. Trained specialists can locate the meridians associated with the underlying causes of the patient’s symptoms and then treat these causes using acupunctural techniques. Acupuncture has been consistently shown to be low risk, with little to no negative side effects reported. Licensed professionals administer the treatment painlessly using sterile, single use needles. Sessions typically last for half an hour or less and the ensuing allergy relief can often be felt after the first session. Weekly sessions are often recommended for maximal benefit. Acupuncture is natural and doesn’t use any medications, though it can serve to complement your allergy medications if necessary.