Spotlight on Hay Fever and 4 helpful acupuncture tips

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to dust, pollen and other airborne allergens.

In response to these otherwise harmless floaties the nasal sinuses become inflamed which causes sneezing, runny nose, watery and itchy eyes and headaches. Hay fever is most common during spring time when the wind is strongest. Wind is an important aspect of nature as it picks up pollen and propels it across the landscape to propagate natural fauna. According to Chinese medicine the elements of nature can become a cause of disease and hay fever is referred to as 'wind obstructing the nose'. In a healthy person the body's innate defences will protect them from wind attack but in a person with an underlying deficiency of the lung or digestive system wind will overpower these defences and cause nasal obstruction. According to Chinese medicine the lung is in control of producing and disseminating immune energy by incorporating oxygen into the blood and circulating it throughout the body. If the lung is weak so too will the body's ability to ward off external invasion of disease. The digestive system is in charge of extracting nutrients from food that become the building blocks for all of our body systems, including the immune system. If the digestive system is weak the capacity to build an effective immune system will be impaired. In addition to this, consumption of foods that cause excessive mucous production will further obstruct the lungs. Foods that put pressure on the lung and digestive system should be avoided particularly in spring time. Foods to avoid include dairy products, wheat and sugary foods. In clinic, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be used to improve symptoms and to strengthen the lung and digestive function over the long term. At home you can use these acupressure points to help with symptoms.  

Large intestine 20 (Yingxiang L.I-20) Massage this point to dispel wind from the nasal sinuses. Bladder 2 (ZanZhu BL-2) Massage this point to dispel wind from the eyes to relieve itchy, red, watery eyes. Large intestine 4 (Hegu L.I-4) This point can be used for all diseases of the head and face particularly those caused by invasion of external wind. Herbal medicine For acute cases of hay fever herbal pills are used but for chronic cases that tend to be more stubborn herbal granules that are tailored to the patient are preferable.