Acupuncture for Allergies: Alternative System of Relief

There are millions around the world who suffer from one or the other kind of allergies, especially with the onset of spring and summer seasons. Swollen red and teary eyes, rashes, sneezing, allergic rhinitis etc are some of the allergic reactions that trouble such people and they take help of over the counter drugs or prescriptions to get symptomatic relief in their allergies. However, proponents of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believe that acupuncture could be a natural relief in cases of allergies as it looks into the causes of allergies and tries to remove the root causes, thus bringing long term health benefits apart from removing the allergy. One problem with OTC drugs is that they bring in many side effects in the bargain without solving the underlying cause of allergies.

Acupuncture tries to remove the root cause of the symptoms
Scientists agree that allergies are extreme reactions to stimulants found in the atmosphere that are harmless to most of us. Acupuncture is an ancient alternative system of healing which involves insertion of thin needles into some specific pints in the body of the patient in a bid to remove obstacles to free flow of life force or vital energy. As long as this life force is flowing smoothly without hindrance, the immune system of the person is working in an optimum manner. But when this delicate balance gets upset, the immune system of a person does not provide the required levels of protection causing various allergies. Acupuncture aims to restore balance to the immune system of a person by stimulating meridians or the points through which vital energy flows.

Runny stuffed nose, cough, bad throat, headaches, sneezing, tearful eyes, redness in eyes etc are some of the symptoms of seasonal allergies that afflict millions of men, women, and children in different parts of the world. These symptoms are sought to be controlled, rather removed, by treating the underlying causes through insertion of thin needles in the body of the person at points that are specific to his symptoms and physical condition. There are many meridians carrying vital energy inside the body of an individual. When there is a crisscrossing of meridians, there is a chance of balance of energy getting upset. Stimulating these points to remove obstacles to the passage of Qi, or the life energy, is the major objective of acupressure.

Restoring balance in immune system by rectifying energy flow
Acupressure believes that allergies are a result of weaknesses arising in wei Qi, which is called protective energy, and zhen Qi, the righteous energy of the body. In addition, there is something wrong with the digestive system of the body because of poor dietary intake which results in allergic reactions exhibited by a person. The weakness in the protective and righteous energies is reflected in the defective energy system of the major organs of the body such as liver, kidneys, spleen, lung etc.

There is a great variation in the points in the body of a person chosen by a therapist as well as the area covered by needles. This is because same allergic reaction can result from a different underlying cause.

Sanjay Tandon is a graduate engineer from a premier engineering college in India. Currently he is engaged in his own profession. He has been writing as a hobby for quite some time now and of late has been working as a freelance writer.