Acupuncture for Allergies
Every year millions of people battle with seasonal allergies. The symptoms for seasonal allergies can range from person to person, but they often cause significant discomfort that can affect daily life. There is an abundance of over-the-counter medications available for allergies, yet many people find these medications to be ineffective or insufficient at relieving their symptoms.
If you experience seasonal allergies and need a new treatment option, consider acupuncture. Acupuncture’s benefits extend much further than relaxation and can treat a variety of symptoms. At Gainesville Holistic Healthcare, we provide acupuncture Gainesville, FL, residents can experience to lessen the effects of allergies.
Seasonal Allergy Treatment
Through Acupuncture
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a form of misplaced immunity. Seasonal allergies occur because the immune system overreacts to a certain outdoor allergen, such as pollen, that is more common during certain seasons, typically spring and fall. When the immune system is exposed to these allergens, it releases large amounts of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that attach to white blood cells referred to as mast cells. Mast cells are mostly located in the lungs and upper respiratory tract, the lining of the stomach, and the skin. Stimulation of these cells causes the release of various chemicals, such as histamine, that cause the almost immediate allergy symptoms.
Symptoms of Allergies
People can experience different allergy symptoms and at varying intensities. The most common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:
- Coughing
- Ear congestion
- Headaches
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Itchy throat, sinuses, or ear canals
- Postnasal drainage
- Shortness of breath
- Sneezing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Wheezing
Those who have asthma and experience seasonal allergies can sometimes be at risk of asthma attacks.
How Acupuncture can Help your Allergies
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is based on the belief of balancing the energy that flows throughout the body. When a complication interferes with the flow of energy to a certain area of the body, symptoms develop.
Acupuncture uses thin needles to stimulate the specific affected areas of the body. Some of the most common acupuncture points for seasonal allergies stimulate the stomach because mast cells can be found in the lining of the stomach and the stomach is indirectly related to the sinus.
Acupuncture also helps to control the production of chemicals and hormones, specifically the chemicals that are released due to the reaction of allergens coming in contact with the immune system. Through this, acupuncture is able to greatly reduce or alleviate the symptoms experienced from seasonal allergies.
Benefits of Acupuncture Over Medication
The most common way of treating allergy symptoms in Western medicine is through the use of over-the-counter medications. However, these medications can create several issues and many people often don’t find them effective enough. Medications can cause people to build up a tolerance, leading to the need for higher dosages until the effects of the medication are no longer felt. Medications can also cause side effects leading to other complications apart from the allergy symptoms.
Unlike medications, acupuncture is natural and uses the body’s own healing properties. The result is little to no side effects and no increased tolerance. Acupuncture also targets the root of the issue to help alleviate symptoms, unlike medications that simply mask the individual symptoms.
Acupuncturist in Gainesville, FL
At Gainesville Holistic Healthcare, we believe in helping people to live a more comfortable and enjoyable life by alleviating the allergy symptoms that they experience. Contact us today for Gainesville acupuncture for seasonal allergies.