Stop & Smell The Roses

With the start of warm sunny days, birds chirping, and flowers blooming, most of us want to run outdoors and enjoy the spring and summer seasons. However, for some, avoiding Mother Nature is seemingly more appealing. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in New York, environmental allergens are now worse than ever. Many allergy sufferers rely on over-the-counter oral antihistamines for temporary relief of allergy symptoms. Over time, these medications lose their efficacy and include a host of side effects; drowsiness being the most common.

In our practice, we’ve had excellent results in treating patients with asthma and allergies of all types. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to things in the environment, such as pollen, mold, pet dander and dust. When the immune system is triggered by an allergen, it causes some degree of inflammation. Acupuncture stimulates the immune system to help the body heal itself more efficiently, diminishing the frequency and severity of allergic reactions.

Typically, we recommend between 5-10 treatments at the beginning of each allergy season to eliminate or significantly reduce the reliance on allergy medications. The combination of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine offers allergy sufferers a way to strengthen their bodies and significantly reduce their symptoms, without unpleasant side effects. Often, chronic allergy sufferer may even ‘stop and smell the roses’! So, go out and enjoy the seasons!

Andrea Cohen, M.S., L.Ac.