Dealing with Seasonal Allergies, Part 1: Acupuncture in Scottsdale

It’s a wonderful time of year when the temperatures finally start to come down and you can spend more and more time outside. But if you’re like many allergy sufferers, this time of year can also spur congestion, itchy eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. While there are many over the counter and prescription medications to help combat these symptoms, WholeSelf Acupuncture in Scottsdale can naturally help resolve the underlying issue and restore balance within your entire system.

Causes of Allergies

It may be surprising to find out that your seasonal allergies can be caused by a number of different elements, and often multiple elements working in combination. It is not actually the allergen that is the problem – it’s your system and its reaction to the allergen that causes symptoms. And people react differently. So what makes you react to allergens while your spouse or friend is not bothered by them? Often the reactive person has several allergies and the sensitivities increase in number and/or severity over time.

But the allergic reaction is a symptom rather than the root problem. What is the underlying cause for this reaction and why does the problem seem to get worse?

If I am treating you for allergies, the first thing I will look at is the health of your immune system. Essentially, your immune system is overreacting to a foreign body. Why? From a Chinese Medicine perspective, your immune system is controlled by a number of systems in the body: the lung organ and meridian; the digestive tract (i.e. how it functions and the health of the microbiome); the kidney meridian; your mental and emotional state; how much stress you have; and how much sleep you are getting. Understanding and correcting imbalances in any of these systems is a challenge.

Acupuncture in Scottsdale for Seasonal Allergies

Acupuncture in Scottsdale is effective at mitigating allergy symptoms relatively quickly, but tackling the source of the problem and achieving some level of resolution requires rebalancing these systems. This process takes time and in some cases, trial and error. Some immune systems need fortifying. For example, the digestive and kidney area, which makes you better able to manage foreign invasions of any sort, including allergens, bacteria and even viruses. Then other systems need reducing techniques. So excess mucus, heat or cold in the body would need to be reduced as they hinder your body’s strengthening efforts and have their own set of symptoms. Acupuncture for seasonal allergies seeks to balance your systems.

Unfortunately, there’s no simple or immediate answers when it comes to resolving allergies. Chinese Medicine treatments like Scottsdale acupuncture can be effective in relieving some symptoms almost immediately, then relieving other symptoms and the underlying cause over time and a series of treatments.

In part 2 of dealing with seasonal allergies, we’ll look at how Chinese herbs can be a great complement to re-balancing your system to deal with seasonal allergies. If you’re curious in how to deal with your own reaction to season allergies and how Scottsdale acupuncture may help, contact me for a complimentary consultation.