Acupuncture for Allergies
Between the sneezing, the itchy, runny nose, and the watery, bloodshot eyes, seasonal allergies can be a nightmare. So why continue to put up with them?
If you’re tired of relying on allergy meds that make you feel sleepy or wired and on edge, consider using acupuncture for allergies to rein in your uncomfortable symptoms.
So many people give up hope that there is a real solution for their allergy symptoms. They oscillate between taking over-the-counter antihistamines that make them feel drowsy, prescription allergy medications that make them feel restless and geared up, and simply coping with the symptoms because the “cures” are sometimes worse than the affliction itself.
But the fact is, allergies are entirely treatable — and not just with medications.
Acupuncture has long been used to help patients overcome their annoying allergy symptoms. This non-invasive, 100% natural therapy is a fantastic alternative to antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness and make it difficult to meet the demands of work, school, and other personal responsibilities. But why is acupuncture for allergies so effective in the first place?
How does acupuncture benefit allergy patients?
A holistic therapy, the goal of acupuncture is to address underlying dysfunction and restore harmony to the body. When your bodily systems fall out of balance, this can manifest in a variety of ways. For some people, it’s digestive disorders, for others, it’s musculoskeletal pain. But for many, it’s allergies, which can make simply breathing comfortably a challenge.
Acupuncture isn’t just sticking needles into random points across your body and hoping that makes things better.
Acupuncture is a strategy for healing. It’s the process of identifying which of your body’s systems are out of whack. Determining which parts of your body are hypoactive, and which systems are in overdrive, is the basis of a successful acupuncture session. Once the dysfunction has been identified, it can be addressed by placing needles into the corresponding pathways, or meridians, to restore balance.
Of course, acupuncture doesn’t just unblock your energy channels. It also works on a cellular level to relieve your allergy symptoms.
It’s not uncommon for allergy sufferers to struggle with sluggish immune systems. During an acupuncture session, as hair-thin needles are inserted, this stimulates an underperforming immune system and supports a healthy immune response, enabling your body to fight off allergy symptoms naturally. You’d be surprised how quickly allergy patients can find relief after a single acupuncture appointment. The results are incredibly fast.
But acupuncture doesn’t stop there!
In addition to promoting a healthy immune system response, acupuncture also displays powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation plays a significant role in seasonal allergy symptoms. When sensitive individuals come into contact with pollen, pet dander, and dust, these allergens cause inflammation by stimulating the release of cytokines. These pro-inflammatory cells are designed to help the body neutralize perceived threats. But, left unchecked, they can contribute to the allergy symptoms many patients live with on a daily basis.
Acupuncture stimulates blood flow to the needle site. This increase in circulation is profoundly beneficial to the body, clearing out those damaging pro-inflammatory cells while simultaneously ushering in oxygen and other building blocks your body needs to repair damaged tissues and fight free radicals.
It’s worth mentioning, too, that acupuncture has a beneficial effect on our neurotransmitters, the hormones in our brains that influence how we feel and how our bodies work.
It’s believed that acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, the same feel-good neurotransmitters that are released when we do something we really enjoy, like eating our favorite dessert or laughing with our friends. Endorphins give us that “I’m on top of the world” feeling that makes us think we can handle whatever life throws at us.
Endorphins have the added advantage of modulating our pain response. What that basically means is that endorphins can raise our pain threshold, making it easier to cope with our symptoms.
The increase in endorphins is also thought to be accompanied by a boost in serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that we need to feel happy, motivated, and fulfilled. By triggering the release of all of these beneficial neurotransmitters, acupuncture helps us fight stress, which, for many people, is actually an underlying cause of allergy symptoms!
Which types of allergies can acupuncture help treat?
But maybe seasonal allergies aren’t your problem. Maybe you have food allergies instead. No problem! Acupuncture can help you deal with those issues, too. Acupuncture fights food allergies in the same way that it fights seasonal allergies — by reducing inflammation, supporting a healthy immune response, and balancing neurotransmitters.
One of the many benefits of acupuncture is that it supports healing all the way around, regardless of which conditions you’re currently facing.
That’s because acupuncture is not a band-aid fix. It’s a supportive measure that works with your body by enhancing its ability to heal itself. Acupuncture has a broad application and the potential to benefit any and every patient because it’s so great at restoring balance.
Acupuncture for allergies is so effective that a single session can provide results that last for weeks. But it’s important to schedule regular appointments, especially at the start of your treatment. Weekly sessions help to “retrain” your immune system, so it continues to perform at an optimal level and provides you with long-lasting relief.
Regular acupuncture sessions can help you stave off the sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat, itchy, watery eyes, and stuffy nose that those annoying seasonal allergies cause. And, as if that wasn’t cool enough, acupuncture can make you feel better without causing a slew of other undesirable symptoms, as allergy meds often do.
If you’ve finally had enough of fighting off those allergy symptoms, and you’re ready to take back control of your health, contact Beth Conroy Acupuncture to learn more. We believe in putting the power in our patient’s hands, and we’ll work with you to get to the bottom of your symptoms so you can finally put a stop to them.
Located at the heart of Union Square, NYC, Beth Conroy Acupuncture has helped hundreds of patients overcome their symptoms, allowing them to take a more active role in their lives.
With a keen understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, we treat our clients with compassion and professionalism that allows them to achieve real results fast. So don’t wait — book an appointment today and experience the healing powers of acupuncture firsthand.