The Season of Sneezing: Rhinitis Remedies and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Spring is a miraculous experience. The whole world comes alive after the winter in which it seemed that everything was dead. The world comes filled with color and the scent of delicious greenery. However, not everyone enjoys spring. When spring is in the air, we know allergy season is fast approaching. The allergic symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and red, itchy eyes.

Rhinitis is the medical term for runny nose. It may manifest either as seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever, pollen or leaf mould allergies that come at a certain time of year), or perennial rhinitis which is year-round and more likely to be triggered by dust, indoor moulds, animal dander or other inhaled pollutants. Conventional medicine typically prescribes antihistamines, decongestants, or drugs that act on the nervous system. While these may be effective in treating the allergic response, they often have undesirable side effects, such as drowsiness, immune system suppression or over-reliance on medications. [Read more: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Allergic Rhinitis]

Why is it some people suffer from allergies and others don’t? It’s not luck.

Allergies are a sign from your body that one or more systems are imbalanced or have an energy deficiency. The most common misconception about allergies is that they are just caused by external factors like pollen, dust or mold. The reality is that allergies are actually a sign of a malfunctioning immune system which is an internal issue. In this case, the body overreact to the allergens causing excessive inflammation. This can cause itchy watery swollen eyes, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and in some cases even hives and rashes. [Read more: Qi deficiency: What is it and how do you manage it?]

Typical course of treatment

Antihistamines are widely used to combat allergies but side effects such as drowsiness, increased heart rates, immune system suppression, or over-reliance on medications often result. Another approach is avoidance. However, unless you live in a bubble, this is basically impractical and impossible to rule out all the possible exposure to allergens.

What makes the Eastern approach different?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) not only offers an alternative approach to conventional medicine in relieving the allergic reaction, it also targets treating the whole person to achieve a long-term and all-round prevention. [Read more: Your Body as a Garden] [Read more: TCM vs Western Medicine]

How TCM understands allergies?

People who have a healthy amount of energy and a well-balanced system do not overreact to pollen or other allergens. TCM believes that one must first be internally weak then easily affected by external factors. Sometimes symptoms can show the relation to a specific system. For example, issues with sneezing and coughing--- TCM relates the nose and throat to the Lung so this type of allergy is rooted in the poor Lung function; issues with itchiness and redness in the eyes, this type of allergies are rooted in overactive Liver function. The season in which your allergies act up also offers clues to which system is the culprit. Allergies in spring are related to the Liver system while allergies in autumn relate to the Lung system. [Read more: The Flu Season And The Causes Of Infection From A TCM Perspective]

TCM treatment plan

Ideally, treatments with a TCM practitioner begin about six to eight weeks before the start of the allergy season. This allows time to build immunities to allergens. Of course, if your allergy season has already begun or if you are allergies all year round, then starting treatment immediately can still provide great relief. And if you are currently taking allergy medications, then acupuncture and herbs can help wean you from them. [Read more: Acupuncture for Sinusitis]

So suffer through sneezes no more — with an Eastern approach to a common Western problem.

[Watch how to perform a self-help rhinitis massage]