Don't let sniffles stop you from enjoying spring!

As an acupuncturist, I hear it every spring: My eyes won't stop itching, my nose runs like a faucet, and I'm exhausted from sneezing day and night! Seasonal allergies don't just irritate; they drain your energy and disrupt your daily living.

Traditional East Asian medicine looks at it a little differently—focusing not just on symptoms, but on strengthening your body’s ability to respond.

Here’s how you can start finding relief at home:

Local raw honey - One teaspoon daily may help your body adapt to local pollens! It's best to start a few weeks before allergy season.
Steam inhalation - Add a drop of peppermint and eucalyptus oil to hot water, lean over the bowl with a towel, and breathe deeply for 5 minutes.
Consume pungent, dispersing foods - Ginger, garlic, green onion, and peppermint can help open the nasal passages and support circulation.
Cold compress - Chill green tea bags! Place the bags over your itchy, puffy eyes. Tannins found in green tea act as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Another thing you can do on your own is acupressure. The acupressure point Bi Tong is located at the highest point of the nasolabial groove (the line from your nose to the corner of your mouth), right beside the nostrils. This is a go-to point for nasal congestion and sinus pressure.

1) Push on both sides with your index fingers and then gently pull outward and upward

2) Take deep breaths through your nose and do this for 30-60 seconds

You should feel a gentle opening in your nasal passages almost immediately!

To take it up a notch, I highly recommend ear seeding. In TCM, the ear is a microsystem of your entire body. Stimulating the apex point in the ear is known to have an anti-inflammatory reaction in cases of allergies, hay fever, asthma, and inflamed eyes. This auricular point is located in two spots and can be used on either the outer or the inner side of the helix. You can buy pre-made ear seeds online, or ask your acupuncturist to place them for you. The seeds stay on for 3-5 days, providing steady, continuous relief.

At-home care is a great start, but if you’re finding yourself reaching for tissues every spring, it’s time to go deeper. Acupuncture works by regulating your immune response, reducing inflammation, and addressing the root imbalances that make you more reactive to allergens in the first place. Instead of just managing symptoms, you’re training your body to respond differently.

Book an acupuncture treatment with us today, and let's address the root cause and not just the sneeze.