Acupuncture Helps Hayfever
By Carole Dumenil

While most of us welcome the arrival of spring, the longer evenings, better weather, the fresh shoots and flowers in gardens, the blooming nature is dreaded by those suffering from hay fever as the arrival of the sneezing season. Hay fever affects 15 to 20 % of the population in Britain, where it is mainly caused by grass pollen. It varies from mild forms, which are relatively easy to cope with to a severity which is crippling during the season.

Common symptoms of hayfever include:

- sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, itching in the nose, throat, and deep in the ears
- headache due to sinusitis caused by swelling in the nose
- red and watery eyes. itchy eyes
- tightening of the throat and chest
- lethargy, loss of concentration

In a study performed on people suffering from hay fever, acupuncture was as effective as antihistamine therapy in improving symptoms and the beneficial effects appeared to last longer. Research published in the journal Allergy (1) , has shown that acupuncture is an effective way to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as a runny nose and itchy eyes.

Acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis is likely to include needling and moxibustion (the burning of an herb called mugwort is used to enhances the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture needles).

Through the stimulation of specific acupoints, acupuncture promotes the body's natural healing abilities, strengthens the body's resistance and regulates the body's reaction to antigens.

(1) Brinkhaus, B., Hummelsberger, J., Kohnen, R., Seufert, J., Hempen, C.-H., Leonhardy, H., Nögel, R., Joos, S., Hahn, E. & Schuppan, D. (2004) - Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial. - Allergy 59 (9), 953-960. - doi: 10.1111/ - j.1398-9995.2004.00540.x

Carole Dumenil is a Licenced Acupuncturist practising in London, UK and is a fully insured Member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC). She trained at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (Reading, UK), where she was awarded a Licenciate in Acupuncture and went on to complete an apprenticeship in Five Element Acupuncture with Gerad Kite. She has used acupuncture in the treatment of addiction at the Core Trust, and participated in the Sri Lanka Project organised by Acupuncture Sans Frontieres in 2006. For more information visit http://www.london-acupuncture.com .

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