Treating Allergies with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

With the much welcomed warm weather and spectacular show of spring flowers begins, for many, the allergy season. The biggest culprits for those runny noses and burning eyes are the prolific tree pollinators. These are followed by grass and weeds in late spring and summer. Add to this mold, animal dander, dust, dust mites and spores which are abundant year around and it’s a wonder we can breathe at all.

Available are a slew of over-the-counter medications promising temporary relief. Wouldn’t it be nice if the relief wasn’t temporary? Traditional Chinese Medicine treats not only the symptoms of allergies but the underlying imbalance of the immune system that leave the body exposed to allergies. Ever wonder why some people never have a reaction to the environment? Treating the whole body, the symptoms and underlying deficiency, in this way leads to long-term health benefits.

What are allergies?

Allergies are abnormal immune response to substances that are harmless for most people. In people with allergies, the immune system believes that a substance such as pollen or animal dander is harmful to the body. In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to the allergen. These IgE antibodies attach themselves to white blood cells known as mast cells which are primarily located in the lungs, upper respiratory tract, the lining of the stomach and the skin. When these cells are stimulated they release a number of chemicals including histamines. Histamines are the cause of the symptoms of allergic reactions. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this antibody response again. This means that every time you come into contact with that allergen, you'll have an allergic reaction.

Allopathic Medicine

Basic allopathic medications rely on inhibiting the allergic reactions. Anti-histamines work in this way. Others target the central nervous system (Alubterol or Epinephrine), cortico-steriods (prednisone) or work as de-congestants. This approach is combined with avoiding the allergen all together. When avoidance is not possible, small amounts of the allergen are injected into the patient. The amount of allergen is increased over time in an attempt neutralize the antibodies and desensitize the patient.

While allopathic medicine helps many to manage their symptoms it is usually not without side effects. Some people experience drowsiness, immune suppression, over-reliance on medication which sends many allergy sufferers in search of other alternative therapies to manage their symptoms. Many turn to their acupuncturists for advice and treatment.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM often views allergy symptom as related to Wind in that they come and go rapidly and cause. Wind is the term for any exterior pathogen or syndrome that can infect a person. This Wind often coexists with a Protective Qi Deficiency (Wei Qi) which can be loosely translated as a weakened or abnormal functioning immune system. People with Protective Qi Deficiency usually are prone to catching colds.

The acupuncturist also looks for constitutional or more deeply-rooted signs in each person who presents with allergies. TCM is a circular medicine in that all body systems rely on each other and are affected by each other. The principle here is treating the whole person. Often people with chronic allergies show signs of Spleen (loosely translated as metabolic/digestive) or Kidney (loosely translated as endocrine) Deficiency as well as Lung signs according to TCM. The goal of the acupuncturist is to develop a plan which addresses the person's acute symptoms and provides relief, while addressing the underlying immune system imbalance which is thought to be at the root of the person's allergies. Treatments often include dietary modification, the use of specifically chosen herbal formulas, and acupuncture. The length of treatment depends on the severity of the allergies and the constitution of the person.

About Bina

Bina Jangda is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. She has a practice at 7th Heaven Yoga in Berkeley, CA and at Stillpoint Wellness Center in San Francisco, CA. She can be reached at www.binajangdalac.com, email: bina@binajangdalac.com or by phone at 510.393.7565

Perfect vs. Ideal

How many of you know someone who accepts themselves just as they are?
How many of you know people who are far too critical of themselves?

When I ask this first question in class, very few people raise their hands. Some think of their pets. Some have a friend or mentor. What is it we are waiting for?

If we held ourselves as perfect, I'm sure we'd have no problem accepting ourselves. So what is between us and perfection? What does perfect mean to you? What do you have to accomplish in order to be perfect?

PERFECT
Right now: In the taoist sense - everything is perfect just as it is. The world is playing out perfectly. We are now and always have been experiencing exactly what we need to experience to foster our growth in this life.

IDEAL
What we're growing in to. What we'd like to become. What we'll eventually be.
I have seen myself and too many other people I come across beating themselves up for not being ideal yet, and letting that beating slow their growth towards that ideal.

This plays into content vs. complacent. Content is being okay with what is now. Complacent is not taking the actions to improve where we can, in ways that would serve us.

IN PRACTICE
Here's how it worked for me:
I was working on pressing up into handstands. I'd press into the floor with my hands, toes on the ground going nowhere, feeling frustrated. I got to the point where I could lift my toes off the floor, but that was it. Frustrated again. Suddenly I realized what an incredible feat this already was! I accepted myself for what I'd done. I pressed my feet off the floor and congratulated myself. My body relaxed and my feet lifted higher! I accepted myself again. In that acceptance I relaxed more, and they went higher still. On and on till I got up all the way.

For a second: Rats! I couldn't stick the handstand.
Then: That was amazing.

Bring that same self acceptance to your edges: move close to your edge and ask yourself:

* Are you perfect enough yet?
* Do you know what your ideal is?
* Are you okay with the amount of strength, flexibility, endurance that you have?
* Are you open to more?
* Does accepting your practice as it is shift anything, allowing you to grow to your ideal?

Let's rise together as a group of people willing to accept ourselves, to be some of the rare people who do actually accept ourselves, and others, exactly as they are, encouraging growth from there.

David Schlussel
yogidavid@gmail.com
http://www.vidanda.com/
http://openhere.ning.com/