Prevention and treatment of
seasonal allergy by acupuncture
massage and Cupping
Xuefei Wu
M.D., Ph.D
Xuefei clinic in helsinki, Finland
www.xuefei.fi
seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever or allergic
rhinitis/conjunctivitis )
symptoms:
sneezing, runny nose, fatigue, sinus pressure and congestion,
red itchy eyes, dry and scratchy throat and headache,
stressful, depressive, poor appetite, sleepless, irritable,
Allergic reaction
when first exposed to an allergen, produces a type of antibody
called immunoglobulin E (IgE)
When sensitized people subsequently encounter the allergen,
the basophils (one kind of white cells ) and mast cells with IgE
on their surface release substances (such as histamine,
prostaglandins)
Treatment
Nasal Symptoms: Antihistamines are usually
used first, Sometimes a decongestant,
is orally taken with the antihistamine
corticosteroid nasal spray
Eye symptoms: Eye drops
containing antihistamines
and corticosteroid
Allergen Immunotherapy:
When symptoms are severe
When the allergen cannot be avoided
When the drugs usually used cannot control symptoms
If asthma develops
Western treatment of allergies treats only the symptoms and
not the root cause, meanwhile, giving rise to many side effects
In Chinese medicine the strategy behind treatment is alleviating
the acute symptoms as well as correcting the root energetic
imbalance causing those symptoms.
The symptoms of allergies are most often related to underlying
disharmonies involving wei qi, or defensive energy, phlegm or
dampness, and the lung, spleen, and kidney energy systems
Concept of “organ” is not confined to its anatomical structure,but more to
do with all the functions ascribed to that organ by TCM
Viscera/organs theory(脏-inward property,象outward presentation)
Zang-viscera
(solid,Yin)
Fu-viscera
(hollow,Yang)
Lung
Heart
Liver
Kidney
Spleen
Pericardium
Large intestine
Small intestine
Gallbladder
Bladder
Stomach
Triple warmer
TCM Lung Physiology
• Governs Qi & Respiration
Inhales “clear” Qi and Exhales “stale” Qi
Stagnation of Lung Qi leads to cough and asthma
• Dominates Ascending & Descending
Distributes defensive (wie) Qi and body fluid to entire body
Helps maintain normal descending function,
while receiving the ascending water vapor from the kidney
• Control the Body Surface
Distributes body fluid to the tissues which in turn helps regulate skin
moisture and sweating
Provides Wei Qi
• Opens in the Nose
Lung is a canopy over the other organs and very delicate and vulnerable
Easily affected by pathogens (wind, heat, cold or dryness)
Wei Qi and Lung Qi(Lung’s function):
In TCM, illness prevention begins with a protective layer around the
exterior of the body called wei qi, or defensive energy. A strong and
healthy wei qi is the body's initial protection against all external
pathogens. If the defensive energy is weak, "wind pathogens“ will
enter the body, so a combination of a wind-born pathogen and a
deficiency of the protective wei qi is a recipe for illness.
People with wei qi deficiency catch colds easily, and allergy symptoms
may be particularly bad in the spring or fall seasons which are
generally windy. Patients with seasonal allergies, chronic cough
and/or recurrent colds and flu are also likely to have Lung deficiency,
since wei qi and immune function are part of the lung energy.
Lung qi controls the domain of skin, lungs, nose, sinuses, and
respiratory passages.
TCM Spleen Physiology/function
• Governs Transportation & Transformation
Distribution, digestion & absorption of nutrients and water
• Controls Blood
Keeps blood in vessels & prevents extravasation
• Dominates the Muscles
Weakness, Muscle atrophy, Emaciation
• Opens in Mouth(lips and Gums)
Chewing and appetite are related to Spleen function
Poor Spleen function, poor appetite
Spleen Qi:
Behind every weak immune system is a deficiency of
the spleen qi, part of the digestive system. It is the job of
the spleen to make healthy qi from food. If the spleen qi
is weak, it is not able to efficiently digest food and make
a healthy quality of energy to distribute to all systems of
the body.
Spleen qi deficiency is usually accompanied by
dampness; fluids fail to metabolize and often end up
turning to excess phlegm and mucus.
Spleen Qi weakness/vacuity with Dampness is a
common underlying condition with allergy symptoms
TCM Kidney Physiology
• Stores Essence
Inherited Essence DNA from parents
Acquired Essence From food via the Spleen
• Governs Water
Gate that regulates water
Separates clear from turbid water
Clear water is boiled to Lung
Turbid water is sent to Bladder
• Controls Reception of Qi
Holds down Qi received from the Lung
Kidney deficiency leads to asthma
• Dominates the Bones & Marrow
Teeth, Brain & Spinal Cord, Bone Marrow (Blood)
• Opens in the Ears Associated with hearing and deafness
• Controls the 2 Orifices Urination, defecation, reproduction
Kidney Qi:
Since kidney energy is the root of constitutional and all
other energy systems in the body, it is usually related
to imbalances involving deficiency. Especially when
allergies, asthma, or frequent or chronic respiratory
illness are problems since childhood, the kidney
energy must be addressed.
It is also important to note that kidney energy is
damaged by long-term medication use
Balance and harmony, Chinese perspective
Inside,outside,all around
Knowing that Chinese Medicine treats the entire person
and not just a condition, all of this information is crucial
for finding an appropriate diagnosis. For symptoms of
allergies these can be patterned, such as Lung Qi
Deficiency, Kidney Qi Deficiency, Wind Cold, Wind Heat,
etc.
The important part of these names is that they allow you
to tailor a treatment to each person which is why
acupuncture, properly applied, can be so effective for
allergies.
Self massage for seasonal allergy
LI 20(Ying xiang, welcome fragrance)
Location: On the Large intestine meridian
located on either side of your nose about 1/8 of an inch
back from the tip (where your nose and your face meet).
Uses: Any sinus issues
UB2 (Zan Zhu)
Location: On the Bladder meridian
located directly above the inner corner of the eye on the inside
end of the eyebrow (you will feel a little notch in the bone there
and it will be quite sore).
Uses: Sinus congestion, red, watery eyes...
LU 7(Lie Que), also known also Sweet point for quitting smoking
Location: On the Lung meridian
located about 1.5 fingers width above your wrist crease, just after
the styloid process of the radius. Generally found by sliding your
finger from the thumb side of your wrist crease over the radiostyloid process and press where sore.
Use: cough, sore throat, cold symptoms(sneezing, running nose ),
neck pain.....
LI 4
Location: On the Large intestine meridian
located in the middle of the web between your thumb and
forefinger.
Use: one of most commonly used acupoint all kinds of pain
headaches, toothache, pain anywhere, cold symptoms such
as runny nose, sneezing, etc.
ST 36
Location: On the Stomach meridian
located on the anterior lateral side of the leg,3 cun below
Dubi(ST35) ,one finger breadth (middle finger)from the anterior
crest of the tibia.
Use: one of the most important acupoint for wellbeing
Tonify deficient Qi and/or Blood.
Tonify Spleen and stomach qi.
All issues involving the Stomach a/or the spleen.
Enhanceing the function of immune system
KI 3 (Tai xi)
Location: On the kidney meridians
Located at the medial border of the foot, posterior to the medial
malleolus, in the depression between the tip of the medial
malleolus and Achilles tendon
Use: one of most important point for reinforcing Kidney
qi(reproductive function) and immue system
Dry and sore throat, tinnitus, dizziness, dyspnea, diabetes,irregular
menstruation, lnsomnia, emission, impotence, lumbago.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
The best time to receive treatment for seasonal
allergies is before they show up.
6-8 weeks before they typically start for you,
helps boost the immune system and hence
prevent symptoms
However, if allergy symptoms are already
bothering you, start treatment as soon as
possible for best results.