Are you suffering from pollen season woes this spring?  You're not alone.  According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, nearly 50 million Americans are affected by nasal allergies - and the numbers continue to increase.  To date, allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. Anaphylactic reactions are typically triggered by medications, food and insect stings, with pharmaceuticals causing the most allergy-related deaths. The cost of allergies exceeds $18 billion per year! 

There are ways to deal with allergies though. Obviously with life-threatening allergies, a person needs to know what they are allergic to and be very adamant about avoiding those substances.  For others who deal with seasonal allergies, things aren’t as typically as dire and the inconvenience of allergies can be navigated using many natural remedies, including Traditional Chinese Medicine.            

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a medical system that has been around for thousands of years. The general theory behind Chinese Medicineis to treat the patient holistically, taking into account all aspects of the patient’s needs. Traditional Chinese Medicine theory utilizes many modalities to support the patient, including acupuncture, acupressure, herbs, formulas, cupping and nutrition.

For addressing pollen season woes like scratchy eyes, sneezing, etc., there are some wonderful herbs and formulas that can be implemented. Here’s a short list of items that can be used to treat non-life-threatening allergies.

1. Reishi or "Medicinal Mushrooms": Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries to help with everything from balancing blood sugar to decreasing inflammation. But they are also well-known for their immune-boosting properties. Reishi mushrooms are adaptogenic and they help regulate stress in the body. This is great for allergy sufferers because allergies can be exacerbated by stress.
2. Huang Qin: This herb is frequently used to treat acute respiratory infections and bronchitis. Two key components of Huang Qin are particularly good at relieving allergic asthma attacks.
3. Fang Feng: Fang Feng is used frequently by Chinese Medicine practitioners to expel and prevent wind pathogen invasions. So for allergies that prompt headaches and nasal symptoms, this is a great herb to have on hand.  
4. Magnolia Flower or Xin Yi Hua: Flowers are used a lot in Chinese Medicine due to their aromatic nature. Xin Yi Hua is another great herb to have on hand when seasonal allergies flare up. This herb is great at relieving nasal congestion, sinus headaches and the runny nose that frequently accompanies spring pollen season woes.
5. Cang Er Zi San: This is an herbal formula frequently prescribed for people who are suffering from allergy attacks. Cang Er Zi San works to open up the nasal passageways, helps expel congested mucus, decreases sneezing and helps to alleviate red itchy eyes. It is a go-to herbal formula for Chinese Medicine practitioners during spring season.

Herbs can be very beneficial and help keep the body healthy. The herbs and formulas mentioned above are just a few examples that would be good to have around if you suffer from allergies. Ask us to find out more about these herbs, we can help you navigate the world of medicinal herbs and find the exact combination right for you.

Lydia is a heart-centered healer and a music-loving mother of two adventurous boys who practices acupuncture with Wellness Within Acupuncture in Orange, CA. She received her BS in Health Science at Purdue University and studied Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ. She graduated Summa Cum Laude at South Baylo University with a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2009.  Lydia is grateful to be apart of each patient’s healing journey and assisting their progress. 

Dr. Lydia Au, DACM is the founder of The Beauty Within in Southern California. After practicing as an acupuncturist for a decade, her interest in holistic facial rejuvenation began when she started experiencing issues in her own skin. Experimenting with different holistic skin care modalities, she was astonished at the amazing results she yielded without invasive procedures. She has trained with cosmetic acupuncture experts such as Dr. Martha Lucas or MeiZen, Amanda Shayle of Acuregen and much more. She has also obtained certifications in various modalities such as guasha, cupping, facial sculpting, microneedling and LED light therapy. At The Beauty Within, experience a collective of ancient beauty rituals with modern technology to bring forth holistic yet effective results.