Combating the Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies with Traditional Chinese Medicine

As the fall season approaches, one of the most common complaints that patients have is 

the onset of seasonal allergies.  During this time pollen counts are high triggering many 

of us to have allergy attacks, otherwise known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis

(AR).  The main culprit of these attacks of seasonal allergic rhinitis is ragweed pollen,

which affects 85 to 90 percent of Fall-allergy victims.  

Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) include nasal congestion, watery nasal 

discharge and sneezing, red and itchy eyes.  These symptoms are commonly treated with

medications such as antihistamines, steroid inhalers, and over the counter decongestant 

sprays.  While these medications may temporarily relieve the symptoms of seasonal 

allergic rhinitis, they do come with several side effects including sedation, dizziness, 

fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, and gastro-intestinal disturbances.  

Many patients are turning to complementary medical treatments such as Traditional 

Chinese Medicine (TCM) to relieve these symptoms of seasonal AR.  TCM, which 

includes Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture, dates back over 2000 years.  

It is a unique, holistic form of medical treatment that looks at the entire constitution of a 

patient to determine the underlying imbalances within the patient’s body.  By identifying 

these imbalances, acupuncturists are able to simultaneously treat the root cause of the 

problem as well as alleviate the symptoms.  

Symptoms of seasonal AR have been treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbal 

medicine for centuries in China.  Clinical trials have shown that acupuncture and 

CHM are an effective and safe treatment option for patients with seasonal AR.  For 

example, a recent randomized-controlled study demonstrated that acupuncture can result 

in a 66 percent reduction in symptom severity of seasonal AR and that the use of Chinese 

herbal medicine can reduce the symptoms of seasonal AR by up to 63 percent without 

adverse side effects.

Acupuncture stimulates self-healing mechanisms allowing the body to process and filter 

out the allergens.  In acupuncture, fine needles are inserted superficially through the skin 

at specific points along the body stimulating the dispersion and flow of energy or “Qi”.  

Qi is the TCM concept for acupuncture-related stimulation of the nervous system, which 

has been shown to mediate physiological changes associated with this therapy.  Some of 

the points chosen for seasonal AR are located around the sinuses and nose, while other 

points are located on different parts of the body.  Upon insertion of these needles, most 

patients feel immediate relief of the allergy symptoms.  Sinus pressure is decreased, nasal 

passages are unblocked, itchy eyes subside and the patient is able to breathe more easily 

through the nose.


In the treatment of seasonal AR, the best time to receive acupuncture treatment is one
month prior to the usual time of the seasonal allergy attack.  Ideally, a patient should seek
acupuncture treatment before the start of the symptoms.  However, if the symptoms have
already begun, treatment(s) will bring symptomatic relief and will support the immune
system, thereby preventing future allergy attacks.
Ways to avoid seasonal allergy attacks in the fall are to keep windows closed whenever
possible, use air conditioning to keep you cool when necessary, shower and change
clothes immediately after being outdoors, avoid going out between 5:00 am and 10:00 am
when pollen levels are highest.  Limit the use of a humidifier since they can actually
cause mold to accumulate in the house making allergies worse.  Eat a healthy diet that is
limited in milk, processed sugar and yeast containing foods.  Sugar, dairy products, and
yeast containing foods create an overabundance of dampness in the body which will
aggravate the symptoms of nasal congestion and nasal discharge.  These foods also can
contribute to the severity of seasonal AR and affect the duration and persistence of its
symptoms.  Lastly, take a multivitamin to help maintain your body’s defenses and get
plenty of rest.  Optimizing your immune function helps your body resist the allergens that
cause seasonal AR thereby preventing the allergy symptoms from reoccurring year after
year.
For more information on how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help prevent
and relieve seasonal allergic rhinitis, please call 949-646-4325.

References:
1.  Xue CC, Thien FC, Zhang JJ, Yang W, Da Costa C, Li CG. Effect of adding a Chinese herbal preparation to acupuncture for 
seasonal allergic rhinitis:  randomized double-blind controlled trial.  Hong Kong Med J 2003;9:427-34.
2.  Xue CC, English R, Zhang JJ, Da Costa C, Li CT.  Effect of acupuncture in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis:  a 
randomized controlled clinical trial.  Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(1):1-11.
3.  Brinkhaus B, Hummelsberger J, et al.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic 
rhinitis:  a randomized controlled clinical trial.  Allergy. 2004 Sep:59(9):953-60.
4.  G. Maciocia. The Practice of Chinese Medicine: The Treatment of Diseases with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs.  Churchill 
Livingston; 1994.
5.  Lau BH, Wong DS, Slater JM. Effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis: clinical and laboratory evaluations.  Am J Chin Med 
(Gard City N Y). 1975 Jul;3(3):263-70.
6.  Magnusson AL, Svensson RE, Leirvik C, Gunnarsson RK. Related Articles, The effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis: a 
randomized controlled clinical trial.
Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(1):105-15.
7.  Ng DK, Chow PY, et al.  A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of childhood 
persistent allergic rhinitis.  Pediatrics. 2004 Nov;114(5):1242-7.