Being that we’re an acupuncture clinic located in Washington, DC, many of our patients struggle with allergies. We hope you will find this information helpful as you strategize holistic and integrative ways to keep allergies at bay.
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Allergy Strategies
Effective allergy management starts with a proactive mindset. By taking deliberate steps to minimize exposure to allergens and support your body’s natural defenses, you can significantly reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. The following strategies combine practical tips with time-tested wisdom to help you regain control and feel your best, no matter the season.
1. Reduce Physical Pollen in your Home
The most important thing is to make your bedroom pollen-free so your body can recover during the night. Giving your immune system a rest during the night can help it fight off allergies better during the day.
Invest in HEPA Air Filters for Cleaner Air
We also recommend you get an extra air filter, even if you have filters in your HVAC system already. Depending on the size of your apartment or house, it can be hard to find one air filter to cover the whole space. At the very least, get a filter that can cover the size of your bedroom. Make sure the air filter has a HEPA filter and run it on high for at least an hour before going to sleep.
Keep Pollen-Carrying Items Out of Your Bedroom
It’s best to hang your jacket far away from your bedroom, and put it in a closet to keep pollen particles away from you. Adopt a “shoe free” house so pollen isn’t tracked into other areas of the house as well.
Wipe Down Pets Before They Come Indoors
If you have any pets that go outside, then make sure to wipe them off before they come back inside. Pollen can stick to their fur and if they sleep in the same bed as you then that pollen will come too.
2. Physically Remove Pollen from Your Body
If you’ve been outside during the day, it’s a good idea to rinse off in the shower before going to sleep. Pollen can stick to your clothes and hair, so it’s important not to bring it into your bed. Here are some simple and effective ways to stay pollen-free.
Shower Before Bed
After spending time outdoors, pollen sticks to your clothes, hair, and skin. Rinse off in the shower before going to sleep to avoid bringing these particles into your bed.
Wash Your Face and Blow Your Nose
Once you’re inside for the night, wash your face and blow your nose to remove any lingering pollen that could irritate you overnight.
Use a Neti Pot or Q-Tip for Nasal Cleaning
Run a Q-tip gently inside your nose or use a saline rinse with a neti pot to physically clear out pollen from your nasal passages.
Clean Your Eyes and Hair
Pollen can settle in areas like your scalp and eyelashes. Wash your eyes, and if necessary, rinse your hair.
3. Use Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and TCM Wisdom for Prevention
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can also be very effective in treating allergies. The best way to treat allergies is by prevention. If you have allergies that happen seasonally, then coming in for treatment in the off-season can help lessen or even eliminate symptoms when the pollen comes back.
The following tips can help you prevent and manage seasonal allergies.
Start Acupuncture Treatments in the Off-Season
Seasonal allergies are best addressed before symptoms begin. Off-season acupuncture treatments can help reduce the intensity of your symptoms or even prevent them altogether when allergy season starts.
Build Healthy Routines to Support Your Immune System
Stick to Regular Sleep and Meal Times. Going to bed, waking up, and eating meals at consistent times can strengthen your immune system and keep it functioning optimally.
Manage Stress Levels. Stress can worsen allergy symptoms by increasing histamine release. In addition, cortisol, a stress hormone, can suppress the immune system. Incorporate activities like yoga, meditation, light to moderate exercise, and acupuncture into your routine to promote relaxation.
Avoid Extreme Indoor–Outdoor Temperature Differences
Sudden temperature changes can aggravate your sinuses and immune system. Keep your home’s temperature closer to the outdoor temperature to help your body adjust more easily and reduce allergy triggers.
4. Use TCM Therapeutics to Feel Better
Coming in for acupuncture is still helpful when you are symptomatic too! Acupuncture can always help your immune system function better and can open up the sinuses.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, diet is also very important to help your immune system deal with allergies. Certain foods can cause your body to make more mucus, such as dairy and refined sugars.
Here’s how you can manage allergies from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective:
Acupuncture for Symptom Relief
- Boosts immune system function to help combat allergies.
- Opens up the sinuses to alleviate congestion.
Dietary Considerations
- Limiting dairy and sugar can help reduce phlegm and nasal congestion.
- Drinking plenty of water can help reduce eye itching and inflammation.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is an amazing tool to use in the treatment of allergies. Formulas can be taken either alone or in combination with over the counter anti-histamines, like Zyrtec or Claritin. The customized formula prescribed to you by your acupuncturist will depend on your symptoms, constitution, and several other factors.
Putting it all Together
Managing allergies holistically involves reducing pollen exposure in your environment and on your body, utilizing acupuncture, herbal medicine, and TCM for prevention and treatment, and making lifestyle adjustments to support your immune system. These strategies can significantly alleviate allergy symptoms and improve overall well-being because you deserve to feel better!
Ready to Feel Better?
If you could use some support for your allergies or immune system, then give acupuncture and herbal medicine a try. Your acupuncturist will use your tongue, pulse, medical history, and current symptoms to create a completely customized treatment plan that’s just for you — because you deserve to breathe, see, and feel better.
To get started, head to our booking page and schedule your first appointment. If you’d like us to check your insurance benefits, we’d be happy to take care of that for you. Many insurance plans cover acupuncture for the treatment of allergies. Our acupuncture clinic in Washington, DC is in-network with CareFirst/BlueCross and Aetna.
About the Author
I find working as an acupuncturist to be truly inspiring, and am excited to come to work each day. I consider myself to be an integrative practitioner, and while I focus on Chinese medicine, I also incorporate Western medical concepts to best serve my patients.
Hi! I’m Elyse, the go-getter who founded Cherry Blossom Healing Arts. I’m 100% a healer who loves to help people feel better! I absolutely love practicing acupuncture in Washington, DC.
