Acupuncture For Allergies

Get Relief of Allergies with GoldStar Acupuncture | Modesto, CA

Woman with allergies having a reaction to allergens and about to sneeze.

Allergies

Are you experiencing sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, and other allergies symptoms and having trouble getting relief? At GoldStar Acupuncture in Modesto, CA, we offer 100% drug-free all-natural acupuncture treatment for allergies.

Learn more about how this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) procedure can help identify and treat imbalances at the root of allergies, activate the body’s self-healing abilities, relieve symptoms, and promote healing:

Discover How Acupuncture Can Help Promote Natural Relief of Allergies

Itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, a runny nose, fatigue, swelling, and other uncomfortable symptoms of allergies can make life miserable. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter aids for allergies are abundant but almost all work to only temporarily mask symptoms without much concern for long-term relief and underlying causes and factors.

Without proper treatment, allergies can become more severe and persist indefinitely, causing year-round havoc on health and diminishing quality of life. Lack of proper treatment also increases the risk of further serious health problems such as asthma, respiratory infections, chronic sinusitis, autoimmune disease, long-term systemic inflammation, cardiovascular strain, fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances, depression, and other issues involving digestive, skin, ear and nasal pathways.

Do you know acupuncture offers a holistic approach that helps provide natural relief from allergies, including those that have remained unresolved using conventional means?

Acupuncture is a time-tested method well-known for its ability to naturally relieve congestion, itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and other symptoms of allergies. Not only is it a proven method of helping relieve allergies symptoms, but it also excels at targeting the root cause of allergies, using the body’s own healing mechanisms to correct imbalances of the immune system, prevent the occurrence of infection, and encourage healing. By naturally regulating immunity, blood circulation, metabolism, digestion, and other vital processes at the root of allergies, acupuncture helps put the body into natural self-healing mode and get you on the road to finding permanent relief.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Allergies

  • Reduces inflammation

  • Alleviates itching, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing & congestion

  • Boosts immunity

  • Increases energy

  • Improves blood circulation

  • Regulates hormones

  • Improves poor sleep

  • Improves mood & well-being

  • Reduces pain and discomfort

How Acupuncture Treatment Works for Allergies

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that stimulates a person’s own self-healing mechanism. It involves the insertion of ultra-thin therapeutic needles into specific points along the body’s energy meridians. Acupuncture helps promote healing by balancing and restoring the flow of energy, known as Qi, in the meridians.

While acupuncture has been recently popularized for its effectiveness in treating pain conditions, it has been used to treat allergies and promote overall well-being for thousands of years.

Closeup of woman's tummy during preventive health acupuncture tuneup.

In acupuncture, allergies result from an imbalance within the functioning of organs and body systems, namely the Lungs and the digestive, endocrine, and immune systems. Acupuncture for allergies works by stimulating specific points on the body that are related to these organs and body systems that help balance and strengthen their fundamental functions and interactions to relieve allergies symptoms, support healing, and promote well-being.

Acupuncture helps regulate fundamental vital processes that support functional health and strengthen the body’s ability to cope with allergens and other external pathogenic factors. It is also used to reduce inflammation and boost immunity, as well as alleviate fatigue, a runny nose, sneezing, congestion and other symptoms that commonly result from allergies. Some key acupuncture points for allergies include:

  • GB 14 (Yang Bai 陽白): Clears nasal congestion, eases watery eyes, alleviates sinus headache, runny nose and sneezing.
  • GB 20 (Feng Chi 風池): Boosts immunity, clears nasal congestion, eases watery eyes, alleviates runny nose and sneezing.
  • Lung 3 (Tian Fu 天府): Enhances lung function, alleviates congestion, balances mood and emotions.
  • Lung 9 (Tai Yuan 太淵): Supports lung function, alleviates congestion, regulates blood circulation, balances mood, promotes healing.
  • LI 20 (Ying Xiang 迎香): Clears nasal congestion, eases runny nose and sneezing, promotes healing.
  • GV 21 (Qian Ding 前頂): Boosts immunity, calms inflammation, alleviates stress, balances mood, alleviates allergies symptoms, promotes healing.
  • Large Intestine 4 (He Gu 合谷): Boosts immunity, relieves pain, and supports the elimination of toxins.
  • Stomach 36 (Zu San Li 足三里): Boosts metabolism and immunity, enhances circulation, increases energy, promotes healing.
  • TE 3 (Zhong Zhu 中渚): Boosts immunity, clears nasal congestion, eases watery eyes, alleviates runny nose and sneezing.
  • TE 16 (Tian You 天牖): Boosts immunity, clears nasal congestion, alleviates sneezing.
  • UB 2 (Zan Shu 攢竹): Clears nasal congestion, alleviates runny nose and watery eyes, relieves sinus headache, stops sneezing.
  • UB 67 (Zhi Yin 至陰): Clears nasal congestion, alleviates runny nose, itching, stops sneezing, and other allergies symptoms, boosts immunity.

Research shows that acupuncture can help regulate the release of inflammatory markers and promote the production of anti-inflammatory substances in the body to reduce the severity of symptoms associated with allergies such as runny nose, sinus congestion, itchy and watery eyes, coughing headaches, poor sleep, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and others. It also helps regulate blood circulation, hormones, metabolism, and immunity to activate the body’s natural ability to heal from allergies and strengthen resistance to disease. Additionally, acupuncture has been found to enhance and balance the secretion of digestive enzymes, regulate the absorption of nutrients, improve gastric motility, and promote the healthy elimination of waste to help restore and support functional health.

Acupuncture Treatment for Allergies Uses Herbal Medicine Formulas

Assortment of Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs arranged on a black stained wooden table.

Acupuncture treatment for allergies also includes the use of medicinal Chinese herbs. Chinese herbal medicine is well known for its excellent ability to restore synergy to body systems, expel disease-causing toxins, and optimize the fundamental processes that promote health and well-being. It is an effective natural choice in both supporting a wide range of health benefits, as well as treating many different types of allergies symptoms.

Chinese herbal medicine formulas are commonly used to help ease inflammation and pain, improve blood circulation, alleviate fatigue, regulate digestion, eliminate pathogenic toxins, strengthen immunity, repair damaged intestinal mucosal barriers, and maintain healthy gut flora balance. Common Chinese herbs used in acupuncture treatment for allergies include:

  • Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi / Radix Angelicae Dahuricae): Reduces inflammation, alleviates watery eyes, runny nose, sinus congestion, eases headaches, strengthens immunity.
  • Astragalus (Huang Qi/ Radix Astragali Membranaceus): Strengthens immunity, tonifies blood, boosts energy, promotes healing.
  • Atractylodes (Bai Zhu/ Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae): Boosts energy, strengthens immunity, promotes blood circulation.
  • Codonopsis (Dang Shen / Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae): Boosts energy, strengthens immunity, tonifies blood, promotes healing, expels pathogenic factors.
  • Liquid Amber (Lu Lu Tong / Fructus Liquidambaris): Reduces inflammation, alleviates watery eyes, runny nose, stops itching.
  • Magnolia flower (Xin Yi Hua / Magnolia Liliflora): Alleviates watery eyes, runny nose, sinus congestion, eases headaches.
  • Siler (Fang Feng / Radix Ledebouriellae): Relieves inflammation, eases headaches, alleviates watery and itchy eyes.
  • Xanthium (Cang Er Zi / Fructus Xanthiam Sibricum): Alleviates watery eyes, runny nose, sinus congestion, eases headaches, stops itching.

Acupuncture Treatment for Allergies Uses Nutrition Therapy

Acupuncture for allergies also uses dietary modification and nutrition as part of treatment. Nutrition therapy in acupuncture promotes eating a diet consisting mainly of fresh plant-based foods that are the most vital and free from chemicals, preservatives, and over-processing, in combination with the use of herbs and other nutritional supplements as needed. Studies have shown that eating a high-fiber, nutrient-rich diet consisting of more whole, plant-based foods helps restore important biological function that support health and aid in alleviating allergies symptoms and reversing poor health conditions.

Natural supplement bottle icon

PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE HERBAL & NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AVAILABLE

What to Expect During Your First Acupuncture Treatment for Allergies

Closeup of new patient filling out paperwork for first acupuncture appointment
  • Plan for your appointment to last from 1 to 2 hours.
  • Please make sure to shower and clean your body before your visit.
  • Eat a hearty meal and drink plenty of fluids 1-2 hours before your appointment.
  • Plan on wearing loose, comfortable clothing that can be easily rolled up or removed.
  • Plan on removing your shoes and socks, and clothes that may interfere with examination and treatment. For your comfort and convenience we offer a clean medical gown and clean athletic shorts.
  • Arrive 10-15 minutes before appointment time to check in, complete New Patient Forms, and use the restroom.
  • If you’re taking any medication or supplements be sure to include this information in the forms you fill in and let your acupuncturist know.
  • You will be asked to remove your shoes and socks, and any clothing that may interfere with examination and treatment (if necessary a clean medical gown and clean athletic shorts are offered to change into).
  • We will ask you about the nature of your visit and follow up with you on the information you provided in the forms.
  • We may ask you a series of detailed questions about any health problems or symptoms you might be having.
  • We will examine your health using a wide variety of acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine diagnostic methods including facial, tongue, and pulse diagnosis.
  • We will determine if treatment is appropriate, and discuss treatment options and frequency, financial arrangements, and any other concerns you may have.
Acupuncture for shoulder and neck pain.
  • If acupuncture treatment is decided, it will be provided during the same visit.
  • Your acupuncturist will select specific locations on your body, such as points located on your hands or feet, or your arms or legs, or the head, the face, abdomen, the chest, or on the back of the torso, and place needles there.
  • While receiving treatment your acupuncturist may consult with you about changes to your diet and lifestyle that can best suit your situation, and they may also prescribe herbal medicine or vitamins and minerals, and guidance for meditation and exercises, as needed.
  • Lay back and relax, it’s okay to fall asleep!
  • Avoid overexertion and plan to take it easy afterwards to give the mind and body time to adjust to the treatment as it can produce strong shifts.
  • Follow all instructions for diet and lifestyle modification, meditation and exercise, and dosing with nutritional and herbal medicine supplements.
  • Schedule your next appointment according to the treatment plan established for you.
Arrangement of supplements from Pure Encapsulations brand.

FAQs

Unfortunately, there is no straight easy answer. Insurance coverage for acupuncture varies widely among insurance companies both statewide and nationally, with plans requiring certain criteria to be met before coverage is applied. This criteria is not standardized, and insurance companies all make their own policies, including exclusions, limitations and restrictions, regarding acupuncture coverage.

As a result, even when insurance companies advertise they offer acupuncture coverage, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will actually pay for all of it, or even some of it. Most people with an acupuncture-friendly health insurance plan that want to try to use it to pay for acupuncture should expect to accrue at least some out-of-pocket costs, anywhere from co-pays and deductibles to paying for uncovered procedures and products such as herbal medicine and nutritional supplements. It is also not uncommon for acupuncture-related claims to be entirely denied by insurance companies, leaving insured patients responsible for paying the total amount billed.

Fortunately, our office is well-versed on these details to help you understand how and when it is possible to use your insurance to help pay for acupuncture. For more information, or to begin the verification process and request prior authorization for using your PPO insurance with our office, please send us a message.

No, you do not need a referral to receive acupuncture treatment. California acupuncturists are primary care providers and can provide you treatment independently without referral. Some people may seek a doctor referral for acupuncture to try and use their insurance to cover expenses or for help finding a practitioner, but this is not required.

Acupuncture itself is very safe in the hands of a competent practitioner. It generally presents little to no side effects and rarely makes a condition worse. If these do occur it’s usually indicative of the healing process and any ill effects disappear within days of treatment.

However acupuncture is not for everyone, and there are times when precautions must be made. For example, people who are not eligible for acupuncture include those with hemophilia or contagious skin diseases. On the other hand, people on blood-thinning medication, or who tend to bruise easily, or who are pregnant, can receive acupuncture but should disclose their medical history to their acupuncturist prior to treatment so that certain precautions are made.

Where severe danger exists is in the inappropriate application of acupuncture by poorly trained and unskilled non-acupuncture therapists and physicians, many which do not receive the same instruction and training as licensed acupuncturists. To ensure safety when receiving acupuncture, it is highly recommended to use a practitioner who has received proper education and schooling in acupuncture, and is certified and licensed to practice acupuncture by an official governing acupuncture board, agency, or organization.

In general, acupuncture will not minimize any treatment or medication you have used or will use. Recent studies suggest acupuncture may actually enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of other treatments and reduce some of their adverse reactions.

However because acupuncture and some herbal and nutritional supplements prescribed by acupuncturists can sometimes diminish or potentiate the effects of other treatments, it is advisable that you disclose all of your medical history to your acupuncturist, especially if you’re taking medication or are undergoing other types of treatment, or have recently undergone other treatments, so that any precautions can be made prior to treatment. For more information, send us a message.

Depending on the type of service, total visit time is between 60-90 minutes, with 20-75 minute acupuncture treatment time.

Everyone responds to acupuncture differently but in general the approach we use is so gentle and the acupuncture needles we use are so thin that most people won’t even be aware when the needles are inserted. If they feel anything at all, it may be a slight pinch at the site of needle insertion followed by a brief dull ache that dissipates within seconds. Other common sensations felt during treatment include slight tingling, subtle muscle twitching and spasms, heaviness, extreme relaxation, and warmth in the hands and feet.

Comparison chart of acupuncture needles to matchstick, hypodermic needle, and sewing needle.

Most adults looking for a natural approach to health and overall wellness are candidates for acupuncture. But if you have a specific health condition and you’re not sure if acupuncture is right for you, the best way to find out is to request an appointment for an evaluation and consult.

Request Appointment

Ready to get started With Integrative Wellness? Fill out the form below to request an appointment.