Most people love when spring finally shows its beautiful colors, as flowers and trees start to bloom, but that's not the case for everyone. A lot of people associate this time of year with coughing, red eyes and runny noses, because it is the hay fever season.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen from plants such as grass, trees or weeds. When pollen comes into contact with our nose or eyes, it causes an allergic reaction, resulting in runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and a feeling of congestion. Symptoms vary from person to person, but for those who have a severe form of hay fever, it can negatively affect their everyday life. People with hay fever may also have symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, reduced sense of smell and coughing. The ones with very severe hay fever may also be at risk of developing asthma, especially if they are exposed to high levels of allergens.
There are many treatment options for hay fever, such as over-the-counter medications like antihistamines, nasal sprays and more. In most cases, many people rely on allergy pills and other medications to relieve their allergies, but common side effects of medication can be very annoying, such as drowsiness, sleepiness and fatigue. This greatly affects work and studies.
What if an alternative treatment like acupuncture, which doesn't have these side effects, can provide more effective relief over time?
Acupuncture treatment for hay fever
Acupuncture is used to treat hay fever, because it helps regulate the body's immune response and reduce inflammation. This is achieved by stimulating specific acupuncture points on the body, which helps relieve symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. Acupuncture can contribute to the body's overall health and immune system, which can reduce allergic reactions over time. More research is still needed on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments, but many people have found relief from their hay fever allergy through this treatment.
Acupuncture uses a holistic approach when treating hay fever, by addressing both symptoms and underlying causes. Acupuncture can improve overall wellbeing and it strengthens the body's natural defense mechanisms against allergens. It's important to have a conversation with a professional acupuncturist so that an individualized treatment plan can be developed to suit your specific needs.
Experiences from Akupeng clinic
In early May 2023, a 12-year-old boy came to the clinic with his mother. The boy had suffered from pollen allergies since he was in kindergarten and his symptoms had gotten worse over the years. The regular anti-allergy medication wasn't having much effect on the little boy, so they took a chance and tried acupuncture treatment for his hay fever. The little boy loved playing soccer and played 2 to 3 times a week, but the side effects of the medication always made the little boy drowsy on the field, and every time the grass was cut, the boy had a runny nose and his eyes itched. It was the first time the boy had acupuncture treatment, and I was very impressed with the maturity and courage he showed. I carefully diagnosed and used acupuncture on the boy, and a week later he came for his second follow-up appointment. His mother happily told me that her son did not have any symptoms of pollen allergy all week and was not unwell at all.
On the third visit, he said his eyes itched a little when the grass was freshly cut, but he didn't feel the need to take medication. The treatments continued until the end of June and the little boy had 5 visits in total. His hay fever was under good control. Every year in the past, his hay fever always started at the end of April and lasted until the end of August, and he did not show up at the clinic since the fifth treatment in late June 2023. In early May 2024, his mother took him to the clinic again. I thought his hay fever had returned, but to my surprise, not only did he not have any hay fever symptoms, he looked stronger than ever. His mom was just afraid he would get hay fever again, so she took him for preventive treatment.
The little boy even referred one of his friends who had the same symptoms as him. When the boy's friend first came in, his eyes were very red and swollen and his nose was running. I stuck two needles in his back and waited two minutes before taking them out. I then asked him to lie on his back and prepared to stick needles in on the front of his body, and I realized that in just two minutes the two needles on his back had brought his red, swollen eyes completely back to normal and they were no longer itchy. His mother and I were shocked that the treatment worked so well on him. That's how quickly acupuncture can work for children. Although I have not treated many children so far, I am always impressed with how quickly children respond to acupuncture treatments.
If you have a child with hay fever, make sure you get your child treated with acupuncture as soon as possible. Due to your child's sensitive constitution, the earlier the treatment takes place, the better the results.
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