Spring is here and allergies are in the air.
Seasonal allergies are caused by the body's hypersensitivity to substances in our environment like mold, pollen, pet dander, dust, etc. Symptoms primarily include a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus inflammation and pressure, red eyes, irritability and fatigue.
While there are many prescription and over-the-counter Western medications to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, these treatments can cause unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness and immune system suppression as well as an over-reliance on medications. These side effects have motivated many people to search for alternative approaches like Traditional Chinese Medicine which uses modalities such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and food therapy to support your immune health and manage allergy symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to treat seasonal allergies for over 3500 years.
Chinese Medicine will treat the imbalances within the body function that are allowing for the allergy symptoms. Our providers customize a treatment plan for each patient specifically, treating the root cause while also providing relief for the acute symptoms of allergic rhinitis and decreasing the inflammatory response - the body's reaction - to allergens. Treatments often include dietary modification, the use of specifically chosen herbal formulas, and acupuncture.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are wonderfully successful for treating seasonal allergies; however, it is not a quick one and done treatment. You will need to commit to coming 1 to 2 times a week until your symptoms have decreased by 85%, then you will come bi-weekly or as needed.
Head on over to our New Patients section to learn more about what to expect your first few visits as a new patient with our providers.
Give us a call here at the clinic or hop online to book with us at EastWest Acupuncture and we will help you enjoy Minnesota Spring!
See you soon!