If you or your children have ever suffered from allergies you may not be particularly looking forward to autumn.
Allergies are often overreactions of the immune system to things in the environment, such as dust, pollen, and foods. When an allergic person’s immune system is triggered by an allergen, it causes inflammation. The severity of an allergic reaction can take the form of simple itching eyes, sneezing, and runny nose (rhinitis); or even skin reactions such as eczema or hives; and, in rarer cases, even life-threatening constriction of the airways.
While there are many medications available via prescription or over the counter, this may not offer an ideal solution, particularly if you are committed to embracing natural alternatives for your health.
Did you know that acupuncture is a very safe, effective and quick-responding alternative to nasal sprays, allergy injections and medicines? In fact, acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been used for centuries to address seasonal allergies. Acupuncture works because it treats the person as a whole, and not just isolated symptoms. Traditional Chinese Medicine can help bring relief of symptoms, correct imbalances of the immune system, prevent the occurrence of infection, and allow healing of tissues of the sinuses.
For many people, results are visible after the first treatment and in fact, some see results even as they lay on the table during the treatment. When acupuncture is viewed as part of a broader lifestyle change, the results can be quite significant. Generally speaking, where clients incorporate a regimen of Chinese herbs as well as dietary changes such as eliminating dairy and sugar based products from their diet, they see a further improvement in their symptoms.
In a study published in the November 2004 Pediatrics it was found that children with hayfever who received acupuncture experienced better allergy symptom scores and more symptom-free days, both during the treatment period and during the months that followed. In some cases, these effects lasted about 10 weeks after the treatments ended.
Acupuncture is certainly a treatment option that parents and children should explore in treating allergies.
Contact the Haberfield Naturopathic Centre on 02 9797 0422 for appointments
©Rosa Ghidella, 2006
