HAY FEVER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING EARLY
In Chinese Medicine, the cyclical patterns of the seasons have what is called the ’18 days of Earth’ following the end of one season and the beginning of the next. It is a time of transition between seasons, a resting time for the Earth, and is a particularly good time to strengthen the immune system in preparation for what may come in the next Season.
The transition between Winter and Spring which we are currently in, is a key time to strengthen the immune system to help alleviate the symptoms of Spring and Summer time conditions, especially Hay Fever. The Spring energy is already starting to move - the delicate stems of snowdrops have already burst through the ground and there are even some daffodil’s blooming already! This upward force from the stillness of Winter is the energy of Spring. With all the beauty of the coming Spring, however, the flowers and trees will start to release their pollens, and perhaps your child is one of the many who suffer with Hay Fever.
Hay Fever is more common to Spring and Summer as it is a reaction to pollen in the environment. Typical symptoms include runny nose, watering and itching eyes, skin rashes and general discomfort. In Chinese Medicine it is a form of hypersensitivity (atopy) and mostly attributed to a deficiency of Qi (often described as the body’s energy) and an invasion of Wind-Heat in the Lung.
The key root to treatment is to build the Qi, making your child more robust to manage different environmental pathogens - in this case pollen, but the overall immune system will strengthen to resist anything that comes its way. The other aspect of treatment is to open the Lung Qi (energy) to help expel the pathogen, which in the case of pollen hypersensitivity and its symptoms, is called Wind-Heat in Chinese Medicine.
By stimulating different acupuncture points, the scientific explanation is that it stimulates the nervous system and triggers chemical reactions which help regulate the internal systems. This activation and improvement in the biochemistry in the body has a wide range of affects, from easing pain to easing allergic reactions and it has been shown to be a very effective treatment for allergies. It helps strengthen both the body’s resistance to outside pathogens such as pollen, regulating the pollen-antibody reaction, and easing symptoms of both allergies as well as asthma.
A series of three treatments is recommended and particularly at the time before symptoms usually start, and especially in those transitional times between seasons. Lifestyle and dietary advice is also given to help support your child, as well as specific techniques to support treatment that you can do at home for your child.
In the Chinese Calendar this year, the last day of Winter was on the 16th January and the first day of Spring is on the 3rd February, so we are already within the 18 days of Earth and at a great time to support the body’s resistance.
If your child suffers from Hay Fever, book them in to the Acorn Children’s Clinic next week or as soon as possible for a Paediatric Acupuncture session to support their immune system before the pollen rises and symptoms come.
Rebecca has specialised training in paediatrics, and uses a number of different Paediatric Acupuncture techniques depending on the child. These can include one or more of the following – moxa (mugwort which brings warmth and nourishment), hair thin needles for those children happy to receive needles, use a very high-quality laser pen as an alternative to needles, shonishin – a gentle paediatric technique stimulating the meridians through stroking and tapping, paediatric tuina (massage of primarily hands and body) for those under 7, and the use of essential oils.