Hay fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
As temperatures rise and we shed our heavy jackets to bask in the sun, we welcome Spring. It’s a beautiful season, but it also marks a peak time for seasonal allergies. As plants release pollen, you’ll likely notice many people sneezing and sniffling from hay fever symptoms.
Hay fever is quite common, it affects 1 in 5 people in Australia. And despite its name, it is not cause by hay and doesn’t trigger up a fever. Typical symptoms may include blocked or running nose, itchy eyes, sneezing or congestion and sometime sinus pressure. While there is no cure for it, there are ways to manage the discomfort.
What Happens in the body?
When pollen enters the body, the immunes system can sometimes mistakenly identify it as a threat, and hence release antibodies and histamine. This response leads to inflammatory chemical reaction which are the typical symptoms of hay fever- essentially an overreaction of the immune system.
Minimising Exposure to Allergens
Understanding the cause of Hay Fever helps us to find solutions. One of the simplest methods is avoidance. Wearing a standard face mask can reduce pollen particles range from 10 to 100 microns (µm). Surgical masks block particles as small as 3 µm, and N95 mask can block up to 004 µm. However, while outdoors enjoying fresh air, wearing a mask might not always be feasible, and it won’t protect your eyes from allergy reactions.
In addition to conventional medications like antihistamines that suppress histamine release, acupuncture is a natural alternative.
Acupuncture: A Natural Remedy for Pollen Allergy
Acupuncture may alleviate hay fever symptoms by stimulating energy points in the body, helping to reduce histamine release and the inflammation that follows. One notable effect of acupuncture is the release of endorphin (natural chemicals produced by the body that help relieve pain and reduce stress) and other anti-inflammatory neurotransmitters, which can reduce the body’s over–reaction to allergies.
Clinical Studies on Acupuncture for Allergy Control
Research demonstrated that acupuncture has shown acupuncture modulate the immune system. (1 S Joos et al, 2000). Also, studies have indicated that acupuncture treatment may help to regulate mucosal and cellular immunity. It was observed after receiving acupuncture treatment, there is a significant reduction in IgE (Immunoglobulin E, is a type of antibody which plays a crucial role in the body’s allergic responses and reactions) concentration. (2 Yang, et al,2013). More recent studies have shown that acupuncture can help asthma patient by alleviate symptoms, to improve quality of life, alleviate symptoms, and reduce frequency of exacerbation in asthma patients, which is another allergy induce problem. (3 Pang et al, 2000)
(1) Immunomodulatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic asthma: a randomized controlled study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11152056/
(2) Considerations for use of acupuncture as supplemental therapy for patients with allergic asthma
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22661215/
(3) Clinical evidence for acupuncture for adult asthma: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised sham/placebo-controlled trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37257728/