Ancient Chinese Medicine Could Provide Allergy Relief
CLEVELAND CLINIC-- It's ragweed season and if that stuffy nose and sinus pain are making you miserable, you might find relief in ancient
Chinese medicine.
Jamie Starkey is an acupuncturist at
Cleveland Clinic. She said stimulating different points on the body with tiny
needles, or your even fingertips, may provide some quick relief.
"Clinical studies
in the acupuncture field are showing that stimulating these various acupuncture
points help to promote an antihistamine effect," explained Starkey.
Acupuncture is a practice where hair-thin
needles are inserted into "acu-points" on the body to treat
or prevent illness.
Starkey uses acupuncture to treat
allergy symptoms like a stuffy nose, sinus headaches and sinus pressure.
As part of a treatment
plan, she also teaches "acu-pressure," an off-shoot of acupuncture
where you use your fingers, or another small object, to apply pressure instead
of needles.
She said acu-pressure is easy to
learn and you can do it anywhere.
For allergy relief, there are two
places on your face where you apply gentle, firm pressure.
The first spot is at the base of
your nose and you use your index fingers to press and hold to relieve sinus
pressure.
The second spot involves pressing at
the top of each inner eyebrow to help relieve pressure in your forehead.
Gently press and hold each spot for
about three minutes. Starkey said many people feel instant relief.
"You'll feel your nose opening
up if you have some nasal congestion.
You'll feel the pressure relief in your head, oftentimes headaches will go away
so sometimes patients will often feel immediate relief," Starkey explained.
Starkey said most people don't experience any side effects from acupressure and it's generally considered very safe,
however there are certain points that pregnant women should avoid.
Expecting mothers should consult
with a professional before applying treatment themselves.
Source of the report is here.
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