Relieving Hay Fever with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Written by Barry L. Gommer Jr. L.Ac.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are a very common problem. More than 50 million Americans suffer from various types of allergies. One out of every eleven visits to a doctor’s office is somehow connected to allergy symptoms.  Out of the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies, 35 million of that population has allergic rhinitis, also known as Hay fever.  Allergic rhinitis is the single most common chronic disease experienced by Americans today.  One third of all people in the U.S. have at least one type of allergy.

Fifteen million Americans, seven percent of the population, suffer from asthma, and the most common cause of asthma is allergies.  Asthma is also the number six cause for hospitalization in the U.S., and the number one cause for hospitalization among children.  The U.S. economy spends an estimated $4.5 billion per year and as many as 5,000 Americans die from Asthma each year.
Allergies are caused from the immune system overreacting to certain antigens, called allergens, in the body’s system.  An allergen is the main trigger of an allergy.  Typically, an allergen is the reaction of one’s immune system to something that is harmless to other people.  People who have allergies are often sensitive to more than one thing.  Allergens that often cause reactions are pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, food, insect stings, and medicines.