Drs Martin & Sue Allbright Classical Acupuncture
'Blending an ancient medical approach of mind and body with modern health'
This site was last updated on 14.7.10
The Art of Acupuncture in helping 'Ailments and Conditions'
Softness
Nurturing
Sensory
Alchemical
Hayfever - Allergic Rhinitis
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this site is accurate. It is not the intention to mislead or misinform anyone.
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Other terms for hay fever include "seasonal allergic rhinitis" or "pollinosis.
The nature of pollens -
Hay fever can occur at any particular time of the year when specific plants are releasing pollen.The pollens that are light enough to be airborne become the main problem because they can disperse anywhere, indoors and out and everyone in the surrounding area is exposed to this release of pollen.
Pollen only becomes labelled as an allergen if we begin to react to them. Certain pollens are more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others and we are more likely to react, if there is a larger amount released from the plants.
The pollens that cause the problem for most hay-
Spring hay fever is related to tree pollen, summer to grass pollen and autumn to
weed pollen or spores-
The other pollens that are heavy are carried from plant to plant by bees and by other insects. These pollens can also become allergens but usually when a person comes into direct contact with them in large quantities and regularly.
There is a wider range of non-
For people with this pattern it is reasonable to say that their allergic response (or energy imbalance) is more deeply entrenched and often they will require more treatment.
Electro-
In allergic rhinitis our natural and immune defence mechanisms around our nose, throat
and eyes start to over react -
The eyes can start to itch and the conjunctiva becomes red and swollen. The back of the mouth, throat and nose can itch and the eustachian tube to the middle ear may block causing ear problems. Breathing difficulties may develop at night due to the obstruction of the nose and this may interfere with sleep.
Symptoms will vary from person to person. You get more prolonged bouts and periods of hayfever in relation to the concentration and the length of time the pollen or spores are around. Your symptoms will differ in severity and type according to your individual circumstances and your present state of health.
More information is being compiled to be added soon. In the mean time if you are wanting to find out more information contact Drs Martin and Sue Allbright, contact us
This page is still under development
Acupuncture treatment for hayfever -
In Chinese medicine, (described earlier in 'Acupuncture & moxibustion' ) when you are full of chi or energy and that the energy flows around you freely, then you are healthy. When it does not flow we are prone to developing ill health. In simple terms hayfever is seen as a signal that your energy is not flowing properly. In this case resulting in an area of your defence mechanisms becoming inefficient and at the same time becoming overreactive.
Acupuncture points are used to help restore this flow of chi. As a result of this your defences should become stronger and that your immune response should become more balanced.
In Chinese medicine the effect of the seasons on your energy is very significant, in that during one season you may find your energy levels become weaker than at any other time of the year and this may be a predisposing factor to the development of hayfever.
We have found clients who have come for acupuncture treatment for another complaint sometimes discover that when it comes to their time of year for allergic rhinitis they do not suffer the symptoms at all or only mildy. We as acupuncturists have not focussed our treatment on the allergy but focussed our treatment on the person and getting the chi balanced and flowing.
The more you have suffered with hayfever, (by that we mean hayfever for instance inducing asthma or making you produce nasal yellow mucous), then the more likely there will be a significant energy imbalance which may take longer to correct with treatment. Some improvements in your hayfever may be seen in the first season of acupuncture treatment, but some times major improvements will be seen only in the second season of treatment.
Other important factors that we have observed that can effect the outcome of your treatment can be weather conditions, dietary considerations and emotional stress. These factors can still be helped and we include them in the overall treatment plan.
Fungi, releasing spores
Mild sneezing is usually the first symptom, as the nose is becoming irritated and trying to get rid of the irritants. Then the mucosal lining of the nose starts to try and flush the irritants off the inside surfaces with a watery secretion. As the lining of the nose becomes inflamed it swells and with the secretion the nose becomes stuffy. If the mucous production from the nose becomes yellow that may mean that in defending yourself lots of white blood cells have come to the surface of the mucosa and died releasing defensive proteins.
Silver birch releasing pollen
"In controlled studies, it has been shown that acupuncture is more effective than
antihistamine drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Acupuncture's lack of
side-
World Health Organisation: Analysis of controlled trials of acupuncture: Allergic rhinitis (hayfever):
What are the defence mechanisms around your nose and eyes?
The nose is not only used for smelling but the hairs inside the nose help to stop large dust particles from passing down into our lungs and the moist mucosa inside the nose helps to trap other smaller particles. If anything does get caught on the mucosa or hairs the natural response is to 'sneeze' it out. This process may also trigger a response to 'wash' the inside surface of the nose. So we produce clear mucous and flush and blow the foreign particles out.
The front of the eye has many roles, one of which is the production of a fluid film to help nourish and protect the eye. This is needed in part so it can wash any foreign particles off the surface of the eye.
Advice on controlling Hay fever
Avoiding the allergen source that causes the reaction is an important way to control hay fever. But moving to a different part of the country is drastic and expensive. And unfortunately it may not be the whole answer because if a person has a sensitivity to one allergen then moving away from one location to a new one may just mean you develop a different version.
Air conditioners and air filtering devices may reduce the air bourne allergens when used during the peak time of year. This may mean better sleep and the more likelihood of being able to work. Face masks which filter allergens and dust could be used as a barrier if you have to work outside.
Antihistamines reduce the histamine released by the allergen-
Decongestants may help, however, they don't affect the underlying sensitivity that you have. They aim to reduce the amount of mucous you produce.
You probably know already that to some degree you have had to depend on your doctor to try various drugs or combinations of drugs.
Acupuncture does not interfere with your body’s natural balance, instead it helps to restore it.
