Seasonal Allergies and Hay Fever

Seasonal Allergies and Hay Fever

Seasonal allergies are usually treated reactively: the pollen arrives, the symptoms begin, the antihistamines come out, and treatment continues until the season passes.

Chinese medicine gives us another way to approach the problem. Some of our most useful work happens before allergy season begins, when there may be no symptoms at all. Rather than simply treating congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes once they appear, we use this time to address the underlying tendency toward an exaggerated allergic response.

In our clinical experience, patients generally do better when they begin treatment six to eight weeks before their usual allergy season rather than waiting until symptoms are already severe. We can certainly treat symptoms once the season is underway, but whenever possible, our goal is to get ahead of them.

We have treated seasonal allergies here since 1999. Over the years, we have seen many patients who once relied heavily on allergy medication get through their season with substantially fewer symptoms and less medication. For some, the improvement becomes more established with successive seasons of treatment.

What we treat

• Seasonal allergic rhinitis — tree pollen in spring, grasses in late spring and summer, and ragweed in late summer and fall
• Perennial allergies — including dust mites, pet dander, and mold
• Sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion
• Itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
• Itching of the palate, throat, and ears
• Postnasal drip and associated cough
• Fatigue and difficulty concentrating during allergy season
• Sinus pressure and headaches associated with allergies — see our sinusitis page
• Skin symptoms that flare seasonally — see our eczema and skin page
• Allergic rhinitis in people who also have asthma

How treatment works

Acupuncture has been studied for allergic rhinitis and is included as an option in the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s clinical practice guideline for allergic rhinitis. It is also one of the conditions for which patients in our practice frequently report a noticeable response to treatment.

Before allergy season, treatment focuses on reducing the underlying tendency toward an exaggerated response when pollen levels rise. In Chinese medical terms, we are treating not only the symptoms of allergy but the constitutional pattern that makes a person particularly susceptible to them. Chinese herbal medicine may be incorporated during this phase and, when prescribed, is generally taken consistently over a period of weeks. We may also recommend dietary changes before the season begins when they appear relevant to the individual pattern. These are tailored to the patient rather than based on a standard allergy diet or a long list of foods everyone is expected to avoid.

During allergy season, treatment shifts toward the symptoms themselves — nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, postnasal drip, sinus pressure, and headache. Some patients notice a change in congestion or eye symptoms during or shortly after treatment. During the height of the season, weekly treatment is often useful.

Timing

If you know when your allergies usually begin, we recommend starting treatment approximately six to eight weeks beforehand. For spring tree pollen in New York, that often means beginning in January or February. For late-summer ragweed allergies, treatment generally begins in early summer.

If your season has already started, come anyway. We can work on the symptoms you have now and, if seasonal allergies are a recurring problem, plan to begin earlier the following year.

Common questions

When should I start?

Ideally, six to eight weeks before your usual allergy season. For spring allergies in New York, that generally means January or February.

How many treatments will I need?

A pre-season course is often six to eight treatments, usually beginning weekly. Some patients also use Chinese herbal medicine. Once allergy season begins, treatment frequency depends on the severity of your symptoms and how you are responding.

Will I be able to stop my antihistamine?

Many of our patients find that they need less allergy medication as their symptoms improve, and some eventually find that they need very little or none during their usual season. There is no need to stop medication simply to test whether treatment is working; medication use can be adjusted according to symptoms and individual need.

Do I need herbs?

Not everyone does. We often consider Chinese herbal medicine during the pre-season phase, particularly for people with significant or longstanding allergies. Whether herbs are appropriate depends on the individual presentation.

Does acupuncture help the eye symptoms?

Itchy, watery, and swollen eyes often respond particularly well in our clinical experience, and some patients notice a change quite quickly.

I’m allergic year-round, not seasonally.

We treat perennial allergies as well. In that situation there is no distinct pre-season period, so treatment is organized around the ongoing pattern of symptoms and the allergens involved.

Will it work for my child?

We do treat children with allergies. Treatment can be adapted to the child’s age and comfort level, using fewer needles when appropriate and, for some children, non-insertive techniques.