Across the United States, allergies are a common problem for a lot Americans especially during spring and early summer. This is the time when pollen counts are at their highest. At the least, allergies can be extremely bothersome for a lot people and when an allergy becomes severe, it can become a major hindrance to the person’s quality of life and greatly impact his/her normal daily activities; it can even become life-threatening if it becomes really extremely severe.

What triggers an allergic reaction is the presence of an allergen which causes the immune system to manufacture Immunoglobulin E or IgE, a form of antibody. Immunoglobulin E attaches itself to basophils, mast cells, and immune cells and when the allergen is confronted, these cells set off an immune response like releasing certain chemicals such as interleukins, leukotrienes, cytokines, prostaglandins, and histamines that modulate inflammatory response resulting in various side effects such as breathing difficulty, sneezing, red and itchy eyes and skin, and increased mucus production in a person. In Western medicine, allergy treatment is typically aimed at reducing the immune response by hindering the function of the immune cells as well as the consequent allergic reactions through the use of anti-leukotrienes, glucocorticoids, and antihistamines and by avoiding the allergen at all times, if possible. While providing significant symptomatic relief Western conventional therapies, merely serve as palliatives to the symptoms. Chinese medicine and acupuncture, on the other hand, are natural alternative forms of treatment whose aim is to beef up and balance the immune system itself that ultimately addresses the root cause of the problem.

Allergies, from the perspective of Chinese Medicine, are caused by a weakness in the zhen qi and wei qi of the body. Zhen qi and wei qi means righteous energy and protective energy respectively. This weakness is usually accompanied by a build-up of damp inside the body resulting from digestive weakness and/or an unhealthy diet. The cause of these weaknesses can be acquired or congenital although, most of the time, both lifestyle and congenital factors are involved. Zhen qi and wei qi weakness usually means there is weakness in the energetic systems of the kidneys, spleen, liver, and/or lung. And because each person has a unique pattern of disharmony that underlies his/her allergy symptoms, the diagnosis and resolution of the symptoms and their underlying cause within the context of Chinese Medicine is also unique per individual. Correct diagnosis is always the most effective way Chinese Medicine and acupuncture in Reading treat allergies. The best outcomes can only be achieved through appropriate customized treatments that are in accordance with a patient’s unique constitution. Specific Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture treatment are applied based on an exhaustive diagnosis to rectify any weaknesses within the organ systems resulting in the strengthening of the overall energetic and immune system of the patient.

When it comes to treating allergies, most licensed acupuncturists achieve very good clinical outcomes through the use of multidisciplinary approaches such as dietary therapy, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and a procedure known as Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique or NAET. A NAET procedure involves muscle testing to identify the allergens. The treatment then focuses on strengthening the immune system of the patient through the use of acupuncture while the allergens are present. This reinforcement of the immune system requiring also the reinforcement of the patient’s underlying energetic weaknesses is a very powerful way to help eliminate or even totally cure allergies.