Allergies
Allergies and “hay fever” are two more common situations often treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine or “TCM.” Symptoms vary from mild rhinitis or “runny nose” to debilitating headaches with severe sinus infections and even fever and chills. Treatment strategies vary depending on the severity of symptoms and how long the patient has suffered these symptoms. Therefore, effective treatments may be as simple as acupuncture to as complex as a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, pharmaceutical-grade nutritionals, and an incredible device known as the “Neti Pot.”
Allergies and “hay fever” in TCM are seen as “Wind” pathologies and a deficiency of the “Wei Qi,” or immune system. Allergens are brought into the body by the “wind” and depending upon how strong or weak the person’s immune system may be, these symptoms may be mild, moderate, or even very severe. During examination, the TCM practitioner will feel the person’s pulses feeling for “phlegm,” or “slipperiness,” perhaps a weakness in the “Lung Pulse” itself (the lungs “open” into the nose and throat (and sinuses,)) and “fullness” and speed (faster usually means infection) often indicating infection or “heat.” The practitioner will then examine the tongue for signs of redness, phlegm coating, “quivering,” and color of both the tongue body and the coating, (yellow or green coating, for example, often indicates infection.) Also, an extensive history of symptoms is taken to include many questions related to the symptoms mentioned above as well as other things such as color of nasal discharge, coughing up phlegm, etc.
Acupuncture is employed many times as a means of clearing the sinuses of mucous, expectorating congestion from the lungs, and bronchiodilation (opening the airways of the lungs.) The treatment is virtually painless as the needles are micro-thin and extremely sharp. Points along the “Lung Meridian” as well as others are used and the client usually experiences a sense of relaxation as the nose and lungs begin to “open” and breathing becomes much easier and more regular.
If the symptoms are more severe, Chinese herbal formulae are most often employed and extremely helpful. Formulae with names like “Pe Min Kan Wan,” “Bi Yan Pian,” “Bi Tong Wan,” “Gan Mao Ling,” and “Bi Qiu Tang Jia Jiang” may be used depending upon the symptoms at the time the patient is seen. Additionally, all-natural Xyletol-based nasal sprays may be recommended. And the “Neti Pot” is ALWAYS an invaluable asset in any case of nasal allergies. This simple but effective device uses saline solution modified with herbal liquid to hydro-mechanically cleans the entire sinus system and protect against infection. Lastly, it is often recommended that the client use pharmaceutical-grade vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for at least 3-6 months in order to boost the immune system and help prevent future occurrence of allergy symptoms.
