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Attacking the Root of Allergies with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (PDF)
As quickly as spring’s new life appears on trees and other plants, so do seasonal allergies. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates that 20 percent of the US Population suffers from allergy symptoms on a regular basis. And according to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 26 million Americans endure chronic seasonal allergies, while the number of people with milder syptoms may be as high as 40 million.
Commonly called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergies are a reaction to a trigger that is present seasonally, such as the plethora of pollen carred by the wind each spring and ragweed’s pollen in the fall. People who are allergic to pollen are often sensitive to dust mites, animal dander and mold as well, making them vary familiar with the gamut of symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, asthma, headaches and watery, itrritated eyes.
Unfortunately, many Western medications available to treat these common symptoms come with side effects such as drowsiness, immune system suppression and an over-reliance on medication.
More than ever, people are turning to natural therapies to manage their allergies, and several studies incdicate why so many of them choose acupuncture and Oriental medicine …
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