Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Here in the Lowcountry, there are subtle signs of spring creeping in. The first daffodils have bloomed! Bees are a-buzzin’! Watch out for fire ants! At the clinic, we’re already treating stuffy sinuses and itchy eyes due to seasonally early pollen.

This transitional period between winter and spring is the ideal time to use acupuncture and herbal medicine to address your spring allergies. Both can decrease pain and inflammation, build the immune system (we refer to this as our “defensive Qi”), and regulate the body's histamine response to its various offenders. The sooner you start treatment, the easier your pollen season will be, ideally. Here are some tips that will help bolster your immune system in preparation for those spring blooms!

🌸 Get acupuncture (you knew this would be our top recommendation!). Acupuncture is very effective for regulating the immune system, decreasing inflammation, and boosting the lung qi in preparation for allergy season. And it’s backed by science- studies show acupuncture is effective in reducing allergy symptoms without side effects. Ideally, you start your acupuncture routing at least a month in advance of anticipated allergy season.

🌸 Try Chinese herbal medicine. There are a number of classic formulas that help to treat allergies and alleviate symptoms- ideally before they start! Ask your acupuncturist about which formula is best for you- and your kids!- as this is an individualized medicine.

🌸 Sip on nettle leaf tea. Nettles is a bright green plant containing compounds that act as antihistamines, making it effective for treating hay fever (check out this study!). The plant is also abundant in nutrients and antioxidants and great for reducing inflammation.

🌸 Have chrysanthemum (ju hua) on hand. This bright yellow herb enters the lung and liver meridian systems to clear heat, disperse wind, and clear the eyes and nose. Ju Hua is a great herb to use as a tea or eye compress when allergy symptoms like headaches and hot, dry itchy eyes hit.

🌸 Use essential oils. Our favorites for allergies include eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint. Niaouli MQV is also an excellent choice to decrease your histamine response. It’s most effective when used preventatively - that is, before you anticipate an allergy attack. All oils help clear phlegm and mucus, which can complicate our allergy symptoms and defenses.

🌸 Take your supplements! As always, discuss with your practitioner before starting any new supplement regimen. Our favorites for allergies is this anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, allergy relieving trio: vitamin C, and quercetin with bromelain (a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables). We also recommend starting a probiotic at least one month prior to anticipated allergy season. A major portion of your immunity is regulated by the nerves in your gut, so good gut health is essential for a balanced immune response!

🌸 Start a gua sha routine. This scraping technique helps to release tension, clear heat, and stimulate the immune system to relieve allergy symptoms. Facial gua sha could be very helpful for sinus issues, as well. Gua sha techniques are specific but easy to learn and use at home- ask your acupuncturist to learn more.  A few minutes of gua sha goes a long way to make you feel better!

🌸 Enjoy local, raw honey! Eating local honey may provide some relief from seasonal allergies due to the small amounts of pollen in the honey. Honey is also soothing for the lungs and is an excellent remedy to stop a cough. Our favorite local honey is from Queen and Comb- available in our shop!

We hope you find success with some of these natural remedies! Please contact your acupuncturist to learn more about which tools and techniques are best for you, and how you can use them to relieve those sniffles and sneezes. We are accepting new patients! Call (843) 790-4295 to schedule, or book online.

Seed Cycling for Hormones + Fertility

Seed cycling is a gentle method of balancing hormones during the two phases of your monthly cycle using nutrients found in seeds. The seeds used for seed including include: flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds.

Download our free seed cycling guide and get all of the details!

Chinese Medicine + Seeds

In Chinese Medicine, seeds represent our Essence (“Jing”) and deeply nourish the kidney yin and blood. These substances are the foundation of a women’s cycle and they are essential for reproduction and fertility.

A tiny seed is so powerful, in that it contains the entire potential and blueprint for what that little seed will become. For this reason, it resonates with the constitutional (“Yuan”) level of our own body, and therefore has an impact on our hormones, rhythms and cycles. In Chinese herbal medicine, seeds are often included in formulas when we need to supplement the Yin in cases of menopause, infertility, or menstrual irregularity.

THe hormones

Estrogen and progesterone are two essential hormones that help regulate your menstrual cycle.

Estrogen levels rise during the first half of the cycle, and progesterone levels rise (as estrogen levels decline) during the second half of your cycle.

The first half of your cycle is the FOLLICULAR PHASE and begins with the first day of your period (day one). The second half of your cycle is the LUTEAL PHASE and begins the day after ovulation (day 15).

A hormonal imbalance can contribute to irregular cycles, infertility, PMS, and acne, for example.

Using seeds, we can help to regulate hormone production in the body and hormone excretions from the body. Seed shells contain lignans, which help bind up excess hormones. Seed oils contain essential fatty acids that help make hormones. . 

Benefits

In addition to reaping the health benefits of eating nutrient-dense seeds daily, seed cycling may help to:

• ease the transition of coming off of birth control

• alleviate PMS

• treat painful or heavy periods

• regulate an irregular cycle

• stimulate menstruation if absent

• boost fertility

• heal from conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts

• Bonus: eating seeds can increase dietary fiber and protein intake!

As always, we recommend speaking with your practitioner before beginning any new health regimen and to see if seed cycling is appropriate for you and your health concerns.

If you experience symptoms of PCOS, irregular bleeding, painful periods, infertility, or irregular periods, it’s worth getting checked out by your healthcare provider.

Those with allergies to the seeds involved in seed cycling—flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds- should avoid seed cycling.