Seasonal Allergies
Commonly called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, a seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically only present for part of the year, such as spring or fall. Pollens that are spread by the wind are usually the main cause of seasonal allergies. People who are allergic to pollen are also often sensitive to mold, ragweed, dust mites, and animal dander. About 26 million Americans endure chronic seasonal allergies, while the number of people with milder symptoms may be as high as 40 million, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Sensitive persons may develop seasonal allergies at any stage of their lives but they typically develop in the preteen years. Statistical studies indicate that seasonal allergies are equally present in males and females and that no culture or ethnicity is more prone than any other. However, seasonal allergies tend to run in families and therefore have a strong genetic factor.
Most symptoms become apparent within 5 or 10 minutes of exposure to the allergens and typically include sneezing, dry and unproductive coughing, wheezing, itchy sensations on the roof of the mouth or at the back of the throat, swollen sinuses leading to a stuffy nose and headaches, a runny nose, itching, watery and reddened eyes due to a secondary condition called allergic conjunctivitis, reduced sense of smell and taste, and disturbed sleep.
While there are many Western medications to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, these treatments can cause unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness and immune system suppression as well as an over-reliance on medications. These side effects have drawn many people to search for an alternative approach, such as acupuncture and Oriental medicine to manage their allergies. One study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that acupuncture can significantly relieve allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Acupuncture focuses on restoring balance to the body, improving immune system functioning, helping to relieve pain, reducing stress, enhancing blood circulation, and promoting overall health and well being in adults and children. It is a natural therapy that does not requires any drug and is highly effective when performed by an experienced practitioner.
Indigestion & Bloating
Acupuncture Treatment for Digestion Relief
How’s your digestion? Get relief for your digestion with acupuncture! Do you have digestive problems such as gas, heartburn, or feelings of nausea after you eat? Do you experience occasional digestive symptoms such as indigestion or bloating? Sometimes digestive difficulties happen when you overindulge or eat the wrong foods. Perhaps you suffer from more chronic, serious digestive problems such as acid reflux, colitis, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These issues impact your daily life and often require medication in order to not cause damage, such as in the case of acid reflux causing GERD (Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease).
Whatever the digestive complaint, acupuncture can help! In fact, treating digestion is one of the most successful and sought after treatments at my office! I have successfully treated patients with the following conditions with outstanding results. Patients report experiencing significant symptom relief within their first 5 visits.
Acupuncture Digestive Relief
Love Your Digestion…Get Acupuncture!
- Acid Reflux
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Blching
- Crohn’s Disease
- Colitis
- Diarrhea
- IBS
- Nausea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS)
The primary symptoms related to IBS include:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas (rumbling, flatulence, or wind)
- Bloating or abdominal distension
- Abdominal pain
Origin of IBS
The origins of IBS are not well understood. The symptoms can arise from various combinations of the following factors:
- Abnormal contraction and relaxation of the intestinal muscles that move food through the gastrointestinal system. This may cause intestinal muscle spasms to occur.
- Low pain threshold for distention in the intestines of affected individuals, known as “visceral hypersensitivity”.
- Miscommunication between the gut and the brain, possibly relating to a nervous system dysfunction. Stress may be a factor in this.
- Low-grade inflammation and immune activation by foods or food components, for example non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
- Imbalance in the community of normal gut bacteria perhaps in the wake of gastroenteritis, food poisoning or antibiotics.
Using Chinese Medicine to Treat IBS
At Eastern Currents Acupuncture & Herb P.C., the treatment of IBS includes a number of different therapies:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese herbs
- Chinese nutritional therapy
- Abdominal acupressure massage
The combination of these four healing modalities treat not only the symptoms of IBS, but address some of the root causes associated with IBS. In Chinese medicine, we treat all medical conditions based on what we refer to as “patterns”. A pattern is usually a group of symptoms that occur in the body. The foundation pattern that is most commonly seen in patients with IBS is called “Spleen Qi Deficiency”. Imbalances in the spleen can be caused by excessive worry, poor dietary and lifestyle habits, and over-consumption of sugar, dairy, and fat in the diet.
Case Study
Bob is a 54 year old man that came in to see me for the treatment of a number of different conditions. He was diagnosed with IBS and was also pre-diabetic, had elevated cholesterol levels, suffered from fatigue, and was overweight. He was treated two times per week for approximately 3 months using the above therapies. At the end of three months, he went back to his doctor and had another round of blood tests done. All of his blood work came back normal! His IBS symptoms completely disappeared and he lost 40 lbs. during the course of his treatment. Bob was very compliant with all of the nutritional recommendations I gave him, received his treatments regularly, and took his herbs as I prescribed them for him. He still does not feel completely rested after a night’s sleep, but we feel that is due to his lengthy work hours – up to 72 hours per week.
Proper Diagnosis
Before receiving Chinese medicine for the treatment of IBS, you should be properly diagnosed by your medical doctor. You should not diagnose yourself with IBS. If you experience symptoms suggestive of IBS, seek a thorough medical evaluation to rule out other potentially serious conditions.