Hay Fever (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis)

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• Sneezing
• A blocked or runny nose (rhinitis)
• Itchy eyes, nose and throat
• Headache

How does Chinese medicine therapies help in treating hay fever?

• Strengthening and regulating the immune system is the key to sustainable hay fever relief

Chinese Medicine addresses the hay fever condition using a two-pronged ‘root and branch’ approach. The ‘root’ cause of hay fever is a weakened immune system which allows pathogens to penetrate the external layer of the body and cause disease. The ‘branch’ is the manifestation of hay fever symptoms. By using this approach, a Chinese Medicine treatment program for allergies effectively regulates and strengthens the immune system, and calms the hyperactive immune response to achieve symptomatic relief.

• Maintenance treatments essential to prevent future attacks

When the allergic condition is successfully resolved, maintenance treatments every six weeks are necessary to sustain the treatment results. At this stage, patients may have minor or no symptoms at all. The maintenance treatment programs are beneficial for sustaining treatment outcome and balancing the energies for those with genetic predisposition toward allergies. Repeated treatment programs may be needed to keep the normal functioning of the immune system.

Who benefits from Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment programs for hay fever?

• Those who get allergy symptoms in nose, throat and eyes during pollen season, characterised by  itchiness, with accompanying symptoms of congestion and excessive mucus discharge.
• Those who get mild hay fever symptoms whenever outdoor or in grassy areas, has a history of eczema and asthma, and has a family tendency of developing allergic conditions.
• Those who get hay fever like symptoms all year round, when exposed to dust and fungi, for example during house cleaning (i.e. perennial rhinitis)

Chinese medicine treatment plan for hay fever

The hay fever condition responds very well to Chinese Medicine treatments. During the cold winter months preceding the allergy season, the treatment program focus on strengthening and regulating the functioning of the immune system through a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment protocols. During the height of an allergy season, treatment program focus on the relief of symptoms through frequent short acupuncture sessions and taking of herbal medicine as and when necessary. A visit to the clinic once every three to four weeks is encouraged while the ‘root’ of the condition is being treated, in order to reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks.

• 6 to 8 weeks prior to pollen season: strengthen and regulate the functioning of immune system – acupuncture (60-minute session) once fortnightly plus herbal medicine for 10 days use
• during pollen season: treat acute allergy symptoms – acupuncture (30-minute session) 2 to 3 times per week or acupuncture (60-minute session) once per week; herbal medicine to manage symptoms between acupuncture sessions
• Maintenance treatments (any time of the year): acupuncture (90-minute session) every 6 weeks; or herbal medicine for 10 days use once or twice monthly.

To achieve the best treatment outcome, active treatments preceding and during pollen season should be repeated yearly until the hay fever symptoms become mild and self-manageable. Maintenance treatments are essential for those who has a family background of allergies. Allergic conditions such as hay fever, eczema and asthma to run in the family originate from a deeper level of the body system, therefore taking longer to become successfully treated.