What seasonal allergies are
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is the familiar run of sneezing, a running or blocked nose, itchy eyes and an itchy palate that arrives with a trigger. Along the coast of San Diego County the grass, tree and weed seasons overlap and run long, so many people here feel it for much of the year. Antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays and allergy shots from your allergist are the standard tools, and they stay in place.
Watery or thick, cold or hot
The classical reading starts with what comes out of the nose and how you feel when it does. A clear, watery drip with sneezing fits in the morning or in a cool breeze points toward cold at the surface and a Lung that cannot hold the surface closed. Thick, sticky drip down the back of the throat, with a heavy head and a foggy afternoon, brings in the Spleen and damp. Red, itchy eyes and a hot, raw nose lean toward heat. When symptoms never take a season off and the hands, feet and low back run cold, the Kidney is usually part of the picture.
The difference matters because formulas pull in different directions. For a weak surface that catches every change of season, a practitioner might consider Jade Windscreen (Yù Píng Fēng Sǎn, 玉屏風散) between seasons; a damp, phlegmy picture or a hot one calls for something else.
How we work with it
A visit pairs acupuncture at points around the nose with points chosen for your pattern, and a classical formula when one fits. Cold-natured cases may get moxibustion across the upper back. Food advice follows the reading: a damp picture usually means going lighter on dairy, sweets and iced drinks, part of dietary therapy.
Allergy rarely stays in one place. If it shows up on the skin as itchy welts, see hives; if congestion settles in the face, see sinusitis; if pollen season brings wheezing, see asthma. The wider picture sits under breathing and allergies.
Through the season we keep track with you of sneezing days, nights of broken sleep and how your eyes and nose hold up, and adjust the plan as it goes.
Formulas here illustrate how pattern diagnosis shapes treatment. They are not recommendations; a practitioner selects and adjusts formulas for the individual.
Questions people ask
Can acupuncture help hay fever?
Acupuncture has been studied as a supportive therapy for allergic rhinitis, and many people find their season easier to get through with it. We treat the pattern behind your symptoms and work alongside whatever your allergist or physician already has you using.
Do I have to stop my antihistamines or nasal spray?
No. Keep taking what has been prescribed or recommended for you. Any change to an allergy medicine is a decision for you and your physician, and we never ask you to make one.
Are needles placed in my nose?
No. A few points sit beside the nose and between the eyebrows, and the rest are on the hands, arms, legs and upper back. Most people find the sinus area feels clearer and lighter while the needles are in.
Can I take Chinese herbs with allergy shots?
Usually, yes, but we check every formula against your medications and your immunotherapy schedule first. Bring a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter products.
This is general wellness information, not medical advice.
