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Get Acquainted with Acupuncture and Defeat Allergies
Get Acquainted with Acupuncture and Defeat Allergies
Naturopathic doctors and health experts are generally known for their interdisciplinary strategy and willingness to consider all avenues when treating a patient. However, in my experience, I have generally found that there still exists a division between Naturopaths and Acupuncturists that practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Although natural doctors respect and uphold acupuncture as a legitimate practice, they generally don't have much of an understanding of how it works. There are probably several causes for this; however, one major reason is that acupuncture is rooted in ancient Chinese practices and philosophy. A quick glance at an acupuncture website is enough to show you that TCM is a completely different world of understanding when it comes to the human body.
But doctors of all kinds in the West are beginning to take note of some of the astonishing results of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. One of the conditions that acupuncture treats is seasonal or chronic allergies. This article is meant for people who suffer from allergies and are interested in acupuncture, but who are also largely unfamiliar with it.
Why Acupuncture for Allergies?
Like all natural medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on the body’s overall health rather than specific symptoms. Acupuncturists and naturopaths alike believe in the body’s ability to heal itself and that when it functions efficiently, it can overcome any disease—even so-called incurable diseases. Here’s a great definition of acupuncture:
Acupuncture is defined as a method of preventing and treating disease, illness, injury or pain by allowing the body to heal naturally and improve the way it functions. This is done by stimulating biologically significant points on the surface of the body.
This stimulation is created by inserting needles in specific points on the body. The ancient Chinese believed that there are certain lines or avenues on the body where energy or ‘chi’ flows. These meridians contain specific points or intersections which, when stimulated, can redirect and rebalance energy in the body.
Although that explanation may seem far removed from our current understanding of the body, results and studies are beginning to validate the effectiveness of TCM. The 2004 issue of Allergy Magazine released a study showing that a controlled group of allergy sufferers experienced diminished symptoms after receiving acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment. The study included 52 patients, and the treatment spanned over a 6-week period. The first group received a weekly 20-minute acupuncture session along the proper meridians according to TCM. The second group also received acupuncture; however, the needles were inserted in points that were not along the meridians. The first group reported lower allergy symptoms in the eyes and nose as well as higher physical activity.
By redirecting the patient’s ‘chi,’ the body’s overall immune response is strengthened. As the ‘root’ or immune system grows stronger, so does the body’s ability to resist or fight off allergens.