The cause of allergies is not very well understood by any field of medicine, yet most people claim that they have an allergy to some item, be it a food, animal dander, or environmental factors. Allergy symptoms become prominent for one of two general reasons: over-exposure to specific substances which cause an immune-system response or an irregularity in the immune system which causes sensitivity to a substance that ordinarily would not cause a problem.
Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itching, and eye problems are the most commonly seen symptoms of environmental and animal allergies. Food sensitivities can cause everything from digestive disruption to skin problems to mood disorders. Many people suffer through seasonal and other allergies year after year using medication after medication that is only effective while it is being used regularly. In other words, the problem comes back once they stop taking the medication.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be very beneficial in reducing the effects of allergies by regulating the body’s immune response to allergens. Any disharmony in the body is seen as an imbalance in the organ-systems and channels of qi (pronounced “chee” – the body’s finest matter, function, or substance). Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and associated modalities are used to correct imbalances by strengthening the integrity of the organ-systems, removing blockage from the channels, and stimulating function of the body’s natural resources.
TCM targets the root cause of allergies so that, eventually, the body will self-regulate to function properly on its own, ideally without the use of medications* or any other intervention (including TCM!).
*Medications should never be discontinued or reduced without your medical doctor’s and/or primary care practitioner’s counsel and advice. Shen Shen Health & Harmony and the practitioners in its facility do not advocate self-medicating, unregulated usage of medicinal substances, nor discontinuance of a prescribed medication. Shen Shen Health & Harmony does not take responsibility for patients/clients who choose not to follow the advice of their medical doctors.