1. Modern Medicine Understanding of Allergic Rhinitis

The human immune system is designed to identify and combat matter that is foreign to the body. In most circumstances it performs this duty very well, protecting you from bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful substances. But throughout the last century, our immune systems have been overwhelmed with chemicals and pesticides, not to mention the stresses of modern life. As a result, our immune systems have become oversensitive.

When the immune system overreacts to a pathogen or particle, it mobilizes with full force, producing severe inflammation and allergic symptoms. Allergies were first identified in Western medical literature at the turn of the twentieth century when doctors began to notice that some people were more sensitive to dust or pollen than others. Today allergies in various forms affect over 50 million Americans, and that number is on the rise. In addition to respiratory symptoms, allergies may show up as eczema, rashes, and digestive disturbances.

Allergic rhinitis, or allergic sinusitis, is the most common seen allergic condition. There are 2 kinds of allergic sinusitis. One occur throughout the year and the other is seasonal. The main causes are airborne inhalants, food, and bacteria that can cause an allergic reaction in the human body. The symptoms include itchy nose, sneezing, congestion, decreased sensitivity to smell, headache, sore throat, ringing in the ear, teary eyes. These symptoms can begin and end quickly.

2. Chinese Medicine Understanding of Allergic Rhinitis

In Chinese medicine, the immune system relies heavily on the lung network or respiratory system. The lungs are responsible for managing the defensive energies of the body, which protect you against foreign invaders and nourish the skin. If the lung network is not nourished properly, or if its energy is weak, the immune system becomes debilitated. Nourishment for the lung network comes from the spleen or digestive system, so an appropriate diet is critical for treating allergies. When treating allergies, we focus on getting the immune system to work properly by restoring balance in the digestive and respiratory systems.

3. How Do We Treat with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy are essential for achieving a healthy functioning immune system.

1) Chinese Herbal Medicine:

Te Xiao Huan Fen Guo Ming Wan, Bi Yan Kang Wan serves to control the symptoms.

Yu Ping Feng Wan serves to improve the immune systems function.

2) Acupuncture Treatment

2 to 3 times a week for 1- 2 weeks..

Acupuncture can control the symptoms almost instantly is many cases.

Either Chinese Herbs or acupuncture quite well for allergic rhinitis, but it use together work better and faster. Chinese herbs and acupuncture may cure allergic rhinitis for some patients but require quite long time treatment. Most of patients with seasonal allergies, they come for treatment as needed. for those patients have allergies all year round, we recommend them to take herbs and reduce the frequent outbreaks and reduce the symptoms.