Loading...Rated Acupoints
Acupuncture treatment for Allergies
Rated Acupoints
2
Rated Acupoints
4
Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are a number of conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to something in the environment that usually causes little or no problem in most people.1 These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, etc. Symptoms may include red eyes, an itchy rash, runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling.2 There are many causes that trigger our body’s immune system to over-react. The causes of this disorder are usually called allergens. Common allergens include pollen and certain food. Metals and other substances may also cause problems.3 Food, insect stings, and medications are common causes of severe reactions. Their development is due to both genetic and environmental factors.4
Allergies are quite common. In the developed world, about 20% of people are affected by allergic rhinitis, about 6% of people have at least one food allergy,5 and about 20% have atopic dermatitis at some point in time.6 Depending on the country about 1–18% of people have asthma. Rates of many allergic diseases appear to be increasing.7 The Allergic rhinitis (AR) and its impact on asthma (ARIA) 2008 document estimated that over 600 million patients from all countries, all ethnic groups, and of all ages suffer from AR.8 Although allergic rhinitis comprises the classic symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction, it is associated with impairments of patient function in day-to-day life.9 Complementary and alternative treatments are now being extensively used for allergic rhinitis and appears to yield satisfactory results.10 Among these interventions, acupuncture is widely accepted as an easily available and affordable treatment choice in China and other countries, to relieve the symptoms of AR.11 In summary, an allergy is our immune system over-reaction to a foreign substance that enters our body.12
CONTENTS
SYMPTOMS
CAUSES
TREATMENTS
SYMPTOMS
The reaction of our immune system to a foreign substance that enters our body ignites the release of histamine.13 This substance called histamine is actually the cause of symptoms that emerge thereafter. Symptoms and its severity experienced by people with allergies disorder will vary from person to person. You will most likely experience some or all of the following symptoms: skin rash, headache, sneezing, runny nose, swelling, nausea and diarrhea, nasal congestion, coughing, and also itchy throat.14
CAUSES
There are many causes that trigger our body’s immune system to release histamines. The causes of this disorder are usually called allergens.15 Examples of common allergens are pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold (Airborne). Certain food like peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs, and milk can also act as an allergen. Bee stings or wasp stings can also trigger an allergic reaction .16 In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), allergic rhinitis is stated as Biqiu, which is in close correlation with the Taiyin lung meridian of the hand and Yangming large intestine meridian of the hand as well. The ancient Chinese also believed that Yangming is a meridian abundant of blood and qi (life force) and is the acquired foundation. Four of the five acupoints employed to treat AR are on the Yangming Meridian, namely, Yingxiang (LI-20), Zusanli (ST-36), Hegu (LI-4), and Quchi (LI-11). Hegu (LI-4) is the source-point of the large intestine meridian of the hand. the qi of the visceral is input at this point.17 Based on TCM, the lung opens at the nose and the large intestine which is interior-exteriorly related. Therefore, Yingxiang (LI-20) and Hegu (LI-4) are important acupoints for improving lung air (qi) deficiency syndrome. Zusanli (ST-36) and Quchi (LI-11) are sea points of Yangming large intestine meridian of the hand and Yangming stomach meridian of the foot. These acupoints are used to fortify the spleen and replenish the qi. At the same time, stimulation of these points could reinforce earth to generate metal and regulate asthenia-cold in the remission stage of allergic rhinitis.18
TREATMENTS
The acupuncture treatment for this disorder is aiming to cure both qi and blood inactivity, in the nasal and paranasal area combined with lung deficiency.19 Catgut implantation at acupoints is a subtype of acupuncture. Catgut is a type of cord, that is prepared from the natural fiber found in the walls of animal intestines.20 In this treatment, approximately 1- to 1.5-cm-long catgut are embedded in the acupoint by a special needle. The catgut can be completely absorbed by the tissue in 2–4 weeks. Then, the continuous stimulation caused by the catgut at the acupoint produces a therapeutic effect. Therefore, catgut implantation at acupoints may help treat chronic diseases such as AR.21
Five acupoints are known for treating AR on the basis of previous studies. One treatment employs Yingxiang (LI-20), Yintang (EX-HN-3), and Hegu (LI-4). For the second treatment, Zusanli (ST-36) and Quchi (LI-11) are stimulated. Subjects receive one session of catgut implantation at acupoints once every two weeks.22 In both treatments, swabs with 75 % alcohol and dry sterile cotton wool should be used when withdrawing the needles. After treatment, the skin of the acupoints should not be touched with water or any cosmetics for three days.23
Here, five acupoints are chosen for the treatment: Yintang (EX-HN-3), Yingxiang (LI-20), Zusanli (ST-36), Hegu (LI-4), and Quchi (LI-11). The selection of acupoints is guided by traditional Chinese medicine.24
Another related acupuncture points for AR:
Footnotes
- The Nature of Disease: Pathology for the Health Professions – McConnell – 2007, https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Disease-Pathology-Health-Professions/dp/1609133692
- Allergy – wikipedia.org – 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy
- The Nature of Disease: Pathology for the Health Professions – McConnell – 2007, https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Disease-Pathology-Health-Professions/dp/1609133692
- Overview of ‘allergy and allergic diseases: with a view to the future’ – Br.Med.Bull. – 2000,
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article-lookup/doi/10.1258/0007142001903481 - Overview of ‘allergy and allergic diseases: with a view to the future’ – Br.Med.Bull. – 2000,
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article-lookup/doi/10.1258/0007142001903481 - Atopic dermatitis: natural history, diagnosis, and treatment – ISRN Allergy – 2014,
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2014/354250/ - Is the prevalence of asthma declining? Systematic review of epidemiological studies’ – Allergy – 2010,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19912154 - Allergy – wikipedia.org – 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy
- Allergy – wikipedia.org – 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy
- Overview of ‘allergy and allergic diseases: with a view to the future’ – Br.Med.Bull. – 2000,
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article-lookup/doi/10.1258/0007142001903481 - Overview of ‘allergy and allergic diseases: with a view to the future’ – Br.Med.Bull. – 2000,
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article-lookup/doi/10.1258/0007142001903481 - Definition of Allergy – medicinet.com – 2017, http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2201
- Allergy Symptoms – ACAAI – 2014, http://acaai.org/allergies/symptoms
- What are Allergies and Its Symptoms – pollen.com – 2017, https://www.pollen.com/allergy/what-is-allergy
- Allergy (Allergies) – medicinenet.com – 2017, http://www.medicinenet.com/allergy/page2.htm
- Disease And Condition: Allergies – mayoclinic.org – 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/basics/causes/con-20034030
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Acupuncture Treatment of a Patient with Persistent Allergic Rhinitis Complicated by Rhinosinusitis and Asthma – NCBI Resources – 2010, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3139975
- Roenigk & Roenigk’s dermatologic surgery: principles and practice – Library of Congress – 1996, https://www.amazon.com/Roenigk-Roenigks-Dermatologic-Surgery-Principles/dp/0824795032
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized, sham-controlled trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2016, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1400-x
- Rhinitis – yingyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/conditions-treated/alternative-natural-options-for-rhinitis