MARCH ALLERGY SEASON IN FULL BLOOM
By Nancy Sencil, Founder/Acupuncturist at 5 Points Acupuncture
Why did you become an acupuncturist?
This is a question that I am asked at least once a week in the clinic!
The short answer….
Acupuncture made a big difference in my health when I was in my 20’s. The long answer…. I was in a seemingly endless cycle of antibiotics to treat repeated bouts of strep throat. Growing up, I was often sick with upper respiratory infections and plagued by allergies. Just miserable!
In my early 20’s, I had two children under the age of 3, was in the middle of student teaching and my husband was in school and working full time. I was stressed out to say the least! My husband convinced me to try acupuncture which was a stretch for me, growing up in the deep south, and it was the early 80’s.
After acupuncture treatment, my health improved, I finally got over strep throat, my environmental allergies eased and I had enough energy to complete my internship. I have only had strep throat 2 times since then.
I began reading about Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture and a whole new way of looking at health, wellness, disease, aging, and longevity opened up for me. I fell in love with acupuncture and started a journey which led to Acupuncture school and continues to this day.
Acupuncture and Allergies
In Georgia, the pollen season is increasing in length and starting two weeks earlier. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), allergic sensitivity to airborne pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds are the cause of most allergy symptoms.
Tree pollen is responsible for spring time seasonal allergies from March through May. Grass pollen appears later in the spring and continues into the summer. In some regions in the South, trees may produce pollen as early as January!
As a result, as high as 25 to 30 percent of adults suffer from seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis. That is, at the high end, as much as one out of four, or one out of three of us! It is one of the most common diseases affecting adults. The most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever, allergies) are:
Sneezing
Nasal congestion / irritation
Runny nose
Red/watery eyes
Itchy nose, ears or mouth
Swollen eyes
People suffering with allergies can have associated conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, sleep disordered breathing and ear infections. Chronic fatigue and autoimmune diseases can worsen during this time as the body fends off the perceived foreign invader pollen.
Even if you don’t suffer from a diagnosed immune system dysfunction, chronic allergies can wreak havoc on your happiness and quality of life, with constant fatigue, disturbed sleep, and general lack of wellbeing.
One ancient and effective solution is acupuncture. Acupuncture can help reset your body’s responses so it treats pollen and other allergens as the innocent part of the environment that they are, not as a threat to wellbeing that requires an immune system DEFCON 3 counterattack.
Even the American Academy of Otolaryngology, (that’s Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists), recognizes and recommends acupuncture for allergies as non-pharmacologic treatment. Why? Because it works. Treating allergy patients is one the more gratifying parts of our practice at 5 Points Acupuncture. A course of treatment usually eases the acute phase of allergies, then with maintenance treatment, each season of allergic misery lessens and for many happy patients, it disappears!
If your allergic symptoms are interfering with enjoying Spring to the fullest, let us help you. Acupuncture helped me feel better, I’ll show you how! You can call our office at 706-549-3176 to set up an initial consultation or visit our website at 5pointsacupuncture.com for more information.
