Acupuncture Helps Hayfever
By Carole Dumenil
While most of us welcome the arrival of spring, the longer evenings, better
weather, the fresh shoots and flowers in gardens, the blooming nature is
dreaded by those suffering from hay fever as the arrival of the sneezing
season. Hay fever affects 15 to 20 % of the population in
it is mainly caused by grass pollen. It varies from mild forms, which are
relatively easy to cope with to a severity which is crippling during the
season.
Common symptoms of hayfever include:
- sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, itching in the nose, throat, and deep
in the ears
- headache due to sinusitis caused by swelling in the nose
- red and watery eyes. itchy eyes
- tightening of the throat and chest
- lethargy, loss of concentration
In a study performed on people suffering from hay fever, acupuncture was as
effective as antihistamine therapy in improving symptoms and the beneficial
effects appeared to last longer. Research published in the journal Allergy (1)
, has shown that acupuncture is an effective way to reduce symptoms of allergic
rhinitis such as a runny nose and itchy eyes.
Acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis is likely to include needling and
moxibustion (the burning of an herb called mugwort is used to enhances the
therapeutic effect of the acupuncture needles).
Through the stimulation of specific acupoints, acupuncture promotes the
body's natural healing abilities, strengthens the body's resistance and
regulates the body's reaction to antigens.
(1) Brinkhaus, B., Hummelsberger, J., Kohnen, R., Seufert,
J., Hempen, C.-H., Leonhardy, H., Nögel, R., Joos, S., Hahn, E. & Schuppan,
D. (2004) - Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of
patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical
trial. - Allergy 59 (9), 953-960. - doi: 10.1111/ - j.1398-9995.2004.00540.x
Carole Dumenil is a Licenced Acupuncturist practising in
and is a fully insured Member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC). She
trained at the
where she was awarded a Licenciate in Acupuncture and went on to complete an
apprenticeship in Five Element Acupuncture with Gerad Kite. She has used
acupuncture in the treatment of addiction at the Core Trust, and participated
in the Sri Lanka Project organised by Acupuncture Sans Frontieres in 2006. For
more information visit http://www.london-acupuncture.com
.
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