Unveiling the Potential of Acupuncture for Asthma and Allergies
Asthma and allergies are unfortunately common chronic conditions. Over 25 million Americans have asthma, and 4.6 million of them are children under 18. As for allergies, almost 1 in 3 adults have an allergic condition of any kind, with 1 in 4 experiencing seasonal allergies.
While the runny nose, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes of allergies are very inconvenient, the inability to breathe in asthma can be dangerous. Both conditions can become less severe with time, but what if they never improve? And what if medications aren’t always effective or cause side effects?
To reduce or even eliminate symptoms and improve their overall enjoyment of life, many patients are seeking acupuncture for asthma and allergies at Life Balance Clinic.
Acupuncture for Asthma and Allergies
One of the best alternative treatments for allergies and asthma is acupuncture. The therapy uses tiny needles to stimulate points on your body’s meridian channels, which regulate functions ranging from cell communication to blood flow.
A study on acupuncture for asthma found that patients enjoyed an 81% lower risk of suffering from another episode of their symptoms. It was five times more likely to be effective than conventional treatment alone, and dramatically improved lung function. Immune cell counts were more balanced, too.
A trial testing acupuncture as an allergy treatment against rye grass pollen demonstrated significant benefit. Overall symptom severity, itching of the mouth and general quality of life were improved after just four weeks of treatment. These benefits were even stronger in the month afterward, showing that acupuncture can give you long-term health benefits. For example, while runny nose scores fell to 3.32 after the course of acupuncture, they were even lower, at 2.53, at the end of follow-up.
Benefits of Acupuncture at Life Balance Clinic
Choosing an acupuncturist for asthma and allergies can help you address the underlying cause of your symptoms, instead of just relieving them. With clinical and laboratory studies showing that acupuncture is able to reduce symptoms now and prevent long-term tissue damage, it’s well worth adding to your current treatments. Even better, with a reduced risk of flares, you can cut down your reliance on medication.
But how does acupuncture work? Chinese medical theory discusses how acupuncture stimulates the body’s energy channels to address deficiencies, excesses, and dysregulated processes. Modern lab studies now show this in more detail.
For example, acupuncture can increase levels of protective antioxidants in the lungs that are known to protect against inflammation. As a result, acupuncture was found to dramatically reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent tissue damage. All of this shows that acupuncture can benefit your long-term health, instead of just covering symptoms.
Another paper describes how certain acupuncture points can increase activity of immune cells that prevent overreactions to asthma triggers. Acupuncture may also increase stress hormones in a healthy, moderate manner to calm an overactive immune response. As this works with your body, you won’t have an excessive increase in the hormone.
Best Acupuncture Clinic Near Me
If you’re looking for the best acupuncture doctor in Chicago near you, you’ve come to the right place at Life Balance Clinic. Dr. Vadim Dekhtyar (DACM) has over 30 years of experience in treating a range of conditions including immune disorders such as allergies and asthma.