Acupuncture for Allergies
 by Leslie Droege LAc, RN

"Achoo!"

This is a familiar sound in South Central Texas much of the year.  But nothing approaches the sheer misery caused by a ubiquitous shrubby tree known as "mountain cedar" or Juniper Ashei.  The obnoxiousness of cedar pollen makes it the most dreaded of all for those of us in this part of the country.  Not only do we sneeze, but our eyes itch and burn, and noses run like a faucet from November to February.  And the exhaustion that follows the incessant sneezing makes for a miserable winter. 

Allergy statistics show  that countrywide, 8% of adults have hay fever and allergies, while 10% of children do.  Meanwhile, 13% of adults experience sinusitis.(1)  Those numbers sure seem a lot higher in our neck of the woods, where many people have trouble with winter allergies! 

What's the best way to battle this formidable enemy, mountain cedar?  Most of us are familiar with the use of antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids.  Some people even opt for allergy shots which desensitize your body to the allergen over time.  Sometimes people need antibiotics if they have a sinus infection that isn't going away, including severe headache and a fever, or if the infection goes to the lungs as bronchitis.

There is another, more natural  way to get ready for cedar season, and that is through Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and herbs.  As an acupuncturist,  I recommend seeing allergy sufferers about one month out from the offending allergy season.  November is a good time to get ready for the peak of cedar season in December and January.  For people with severe allergies, I may see them weekly during the height of the season in late December and January.  Together, we will work on your immune system to get you ready for the onslaught.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the immune system is seen like a suit of armor. If you have holes in your armor, things get in and bother you with allergy symptoms.  During the visits, we will also look at your digestion, since a healthy digestive tract is a key factor in being able to tolerate allergens in the environment.  There is a wonderful herbal formula known as "Jade Screen" which helps strengthen the immune system.  A German study showed after two months of treatment that 71 percent of the patients who received acupuncture reported improvement in their symptoms and used less antihistamines than those in the other two groups that received "sham" acupuncture or no acupuncture (2). 

If you do unfortunately get a sinus infection during cedar season, the focus will change with your treatment.  We will work on opening up your nasal passages, help decrease mucous production, and strengthen the lungs so the infection doesn't turn into bronchitis.  Herbal formulas are geared towards ridding your body of the infection.  Based on thorough evaluation of your signs and symptoms, your acupuncturist will know if you need to see a doctor if your infection is too severe for herbs alone. 

There are also numerous websites that give advice on getting through cedar season such as staying inside on days when the pollen count is very high  (pollen.com is a good place to check).  Also bathing your pets frequently, washing your hair just before bedtime if you've been outside in the wind, getting a HEPA air filter for your house, and removing the male cedar trees in your yard will all help.   

In addition to acupuncture and herbs, another excellent adjunct is the use of Cedar X®, a homeopathic immune systems to recognize cedar but not overreact to it.  Applied to the skin, this is a great addition to helping yourself stay healthy in the winter. 

Winter can be a trying time for those of us who suffer from allergy symptoms.  Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and herbs can help make this time of year more tolerable by reducing the uncomfortable signs and symptoms.  All of us at the Integrative Healing Institute wish you a healthy winter in South Texas.  "Achoo!"  "Bless you..."

Resources

1:  http://www.strmc.com/south-texas-regional-medical-center/health-library/allergy-and-asthma-statistics-29703.aspx

2:  Benno Brinkhaus et al, "Acupuncture in Patients With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized Trial," Annals of Internal Medicine, doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-4-201302190-00002

About Leslie Droege

Leslie Droege, LAc, RN first became interested in Chinese Medicine after a trip to China during her 20 year Air Force career as a nurse. She has a BSN (Nursing) from the University of Kansas, MA from Webster University in St Louis, and a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) from the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine at AOMA in Austin in 2008. She is currently working on the Applied Clinical Nutrition Certification from Parker University in Dallas.