Hay Fever: More than a Runny Nose
Spring is a beautiful time of year, but for many Australians it also means the return of hay fever — sneezing, itchy eyes and a nose that just won’t stop running.
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, happens when the immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances in the environment.Common triggers include pollen, dust mites, mould and animal dander.
When exposed to an allergen, the lining of the nose becomes irritated and inflamed. This can cause:
- Frequent sneezing
- A runny or blocked nose
- An itchy nose or throat
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Post-nasal drip
Some people experience hay fever mainly during pollen season, while others have symptoms throughout the year.
How does Chinese medicine understand hay fever?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Lungsystemis closely connected with thenose and the body’s interaction with the external environment. When this system is not functioning well, a person may be more prone to symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and watery discharge.
But Chinese medicine doesn’t consider every case of hay fever to be the same.
Different people, different patterns
A practitioner may look at:
- Whether the nose is runny or blocked
- Whether the discharge is clear, watery, thick or coloured
- Whether the eyes are itchy, watery or red
- Whether the person tends to feel hot or cold
- Energy levels and sleep
- Digestion
- How often symptoms occur
- Weather and seasonal changes
- The tongue and pulse
This is called pattern differentiation, and it helps guide an individual Chinese medicine treatment plan.
What can make symptoms worse?
From a biomedical perspective, symptoms tend to worsen when exposure to the person’s allergens increases — for example during high pollen periods or with exposure to dust mites, mould or animals.
Chinese medicine also considers how symptoms change with the person’s environment and overall presentation.
For example, a practitioner may ask whether symptoms become worse with windy weather, sudden temperature changes or particular seasons, or whether they are more noticeable when the person is tired or run down.
These observations are used to understand the individual’s TCM pattern rather than to identify the medical cause of the allergy.
How may acupuncture help?
Acupuncture has been studied as a complementary treatment for allergic rhinitis.
Treatment usually involves selecting acupuncture points according to the person’s symptoms and overall Chinese medicine pattern. Points around the face may be combined with points elsewhere on the body.
What about Chinese herbal medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine also uses pattern differentiation.
Traditionally, different herbal approaches may be considered when symptoms are dominated by clear watery discharge and sneezing, compared with presentations involving more congestion, heat or irritation.
Chinese herbal medicines contain active substances and can cause adverse effects or interact with medications. For this reason, herbal treatment should be individually assessed by an appropriately qualified practitioner, particularly for people who are pregnant, have other medical conditions or take prescription medicines.
Looking at the whole picture
Hay fever may look simple from the outside, but the way it presents can be very different from person to person.
Chinese medicine takes these differences into consideration when developing an individual treatment plan.
At Diamond Bridge Clinic, our registered Chinese medicine practitioners can assess your symptoms, general health and individual Chinese medicine pattern and discuss whether acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine may be appropriate as part of your care.
