Sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes, nasal congestion and pain, itchy rashes and food intolerances: allergy symptoms can be very annoying and disruptive. Sufferers will try pills, nasal sprays and shots, often with little desirable effect. Have you been around the allergy block and now seek something different? Try the ancient Chinese method: Acupuncture.

Both eastern and western medicine agree: allergy symptoms, be it sneezing, running nose, nasal or sinus congestion and headaches, or even allergic skin reactions and digestive conditions, such as hives, atopic eczema and food intolerances are due to poor immune function. Western medicine tries to block hyper-immune response with sprays and pills, and overload the immune system circuits with allergy shots. Chinese medicine takes a different approach to treating allergies.

Traditional Chinese Medicine such as acupuncture Cleveland uses a two-pronged ‘root and branch’ approach to treating allergic reactions. ‘Root and branch’ treatment means separating the allergic disease process into two different treatment strategies by addressing ‘branch’ symptoms and the ‘root’ cause or condition separately. First, the acupuncturist focuses on alleviating the branch symptoms of the disorder: sneezing, running nose, congestion, hives, and digestive problems. Then, after branch symptoms are contained, or between attacks for seasonal allergies, the treatment strategy changes to treating the ‘root’ problem: weak immune system and function.

TCM sees the weakened immune system as the crux of the problem. The immune system is not strong enough to fight allergens: dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, chemical or food. In order to fully resolve symptoms, tonification is necessary to build or strengthen immune function so that the system will no longer be overwhelmed by the allergic response to pathogens. However when symptoms are present (running nose, congestion and pain, rashes), treatment must be directed to addressing and containing the branch issues: drying up and opening the nasal passages, alleviating pain, improving digestion, returning skin to normal appearance and texture.

This two-sided approach is very effective at eliminating symptoms for allergy sufferers, but it does take some time to achieve. During the height of allergy season, weekly treatments are usually needed to address branch symptoms. As the season comes to an end, and symptoms abate, root tonification begins and can continue for three to six months or more, depending on duration and severity of symptoms indicating the degree of weakness in immune function. When new attacks occur, treatment reverts to focusing on branch symptoms. Treatment continues until the root condition, the weakened immune system, is fully strengthened and functioning normally so that allergy symptoms no longer occur.