What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient healing tradition started in Asia thousands of years ago. It is one of the core parts of Chinese traditional medicine, which seeks to balance the body's yin and yang to achieve and maintain health. Two inseparable human aspects, yin is the passive principle and yang is the active principle. Imbalance of these properties results in vital energy, known as qi, being blocked and causing disease. To unblock energy, ultra-thin metal pins are inserted in points on the body that connect to meridians, the channels through which qi flows. According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, there are between 14 and 20 meridians that create a network of channels throughout the body that are accessed by over 2,000 acupuncture points. Depending on the ailment, specific points are stimulated, allowing energy to flow again, balancing the yin and yang and improving health.
Allergy Practices
Acupuncture's treatment of allergies differs from treatment with Western medicine in that Western medicine tends to focus more on the symptoms--runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes--rather than diminishing the body's reaction to allergens. With acupuncture, symptoms are treated when they occur, but allergies are not forgotten once the symptoms dissipate. When there are no symptoms, the focus changes to strengthening the immune system so that next year allergy sufferers will not be as sensitive to the environment. Diagnosis and treatment in Chinese medicine are individualized. Acupuncturists follow the patient's pattern of suffering and differentiate the nature of the allergy as either heat or cold. Once this diagnosis has been made, specific pressure points are stimulated relative to the type of allergy in order to relieve symptoms and strengthen the body.
Effectiveness
In a study published in "Allergy" magazine, people who received acupuncture for their allergy symptoms benefited from the practice. When compared to the control group, their physical activity increased, psychological wellness improved and allergy symptoms related to the eyes and nose were less severe. Individuals involved in the study received 20-minute acupuncture treatments for six weeks. Pressure points stimulating the gallbladder, liver, large intestine and lung meridians were stimulated as well as meridians determined by personal needs, and they were given herbal supplements. As with any medical procedure, those interested in receiving treatment should consult their primary doctors first. Though complications are rare, infection and organ punctures can occur when practitioners are not trained properly. Acupuncturists should be state-certified, use a fresh, packaged needle at each acupuncture point and sterilize all injection sites with alcohol.
