News & Articles Articles Hay Fever | Hay Fever |
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The medical name for hay fever is Allergic Rhinitis. It occurs during spring and early summer each year. Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder affecting 2 in 5 people at various degrees in Australia and New Zealand (Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy). Whilst hay fever may seem like a trivial and insignificant illness it can actually have a significant impact on the mood, work performance learning and sleep.
Hay fever is caused by the air-borne substances that float in the air. During spring and summer time, flowers, trees and grasses produce pollen, which can irritate the sinus area. People who suffer at this time of the year are classified as seasonal allergic rhinitis. Others that react to dust mites, moulds or animal fur around home or work will have the symptoms all year around
The degree of severity and symptons range between mild and severe, and vary for each individual. There are some conventional treatments (over the counter prescription) which include antihistamines, decongestants, corticosteroid spray, eye drops and desensitization therapy. However, possible known side-effects and inconvenience of treatment can be more troublesome than the condition itself. Antihistamine for example may initially provide temporary relief but long term usage will make this treatment less effective. Side effects of the above prescriptions include drowsiness, a bad taste in mouth after use and dryness of nose and throat. Desensitization therapy also called immunotherapy or allergy shot can alter the body response to the allergen. Chinese medicine perceives hay fever as an imbalance in our organ systems. The person must have underlying causes of imbalance due to excessive stress, poor diet, sluggish digestion or abnormal hormonal changes leading to low immunity. When the pollen season comes, the person then suffers from hay fever. Acupuncture, often combined with herbal medicine, seeks to treat not only the manifesting symptoms, but also the underlying conditions. When the person’s underlying condition is treated, one will find they react less when encountering the allergens, such as pollen. Furthermore, acupuncture has no reported side-effect in treating hay fever. Peace of mind. The scientific explanation is that acupuncture can stimulate the nervous system. It enables the body to release the chemicals which possess influences on the body’s internal regulating system. Performing acupuncture according to differential diagnosis corrects the imbalance and actually boosts the body’s natural healing abilities. This means that the body’s ability to resist and deal with allergens is strengthened. As a result, acupuncture can both relieve and manage hay fever. The following research show’s us the positive action acupuncture has on hay fever management. A study consisting of 52 hay fever sufferers aimed at determining the effectiveness of acupuncture & herbal medicine in treating hay fever has been conducted. After 6 weeks of treatment, the results show 85% of the treatment group have reported improvement of welling compared to only 40% in the placebo group. This show’s that receiving acupuncture treatment can reduce hay fever symptoms quiet substantially. Good News! Acupuncture use can acutely stop the symptoms of hay fever. Alternatively it can be used as prevention for hay fever management. A few sessions of acupuncture will be required and is best carried out before hay fever starts. What it means to you is that you now can do something; don’t have to wait for it to happen. By: Richard Yang |
which is known as perennial allergic rhinitis. These allergens enter the nose, where they trigger the inflammation of the sinus area, giving rise to a series of signs and symptoms. As the sinus are situated around the eyes, ears and nose the most common symptoms include:
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