Better Than Antihistamines Alone?
Allergy season is upon us once again. With tree and grass pollen counts already scoring high, springtime in the Yakima Valley can be a miserable experience for those of us with respiratory conditions such as allergies and asthma. The usual over-the-counter remedies, a smorgasbord of antihistamine medications, work well sometimes and not at all others. And despite the claims that many of the second-generation antihistamines (Zyrtec, Claritin, etc.) do not induce drowsiness, a lot of people do report feeling lethargic after using these medications. So, is there a better way of managing symptoms? A recent study suggests there is.
Researchers in Germany have been able to demonstrate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments for the relief of allergies and related sinus problems. The eight-week clinical trial indicated that patients who received sessions of acupuncture required their less of their medications over the course of time. Their ability to function and enjoy a better quality of life were also noteworthy as compared to patients in a control group (who primarily used only antihistamines to manage their symptoms).
These findings coincide with previous studies that have been conducted which also indicated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments versus usage of antihistamine drugs alone. The benefits are often longer-term relief rather than a temporary fix. One study, Brinkhaus et al., concluded that “In patients with allergic asthma, additional acupuncture treatment to routine care was associated with increased disease-specific and health-related quality of life compared to treatment with routine care alone.”
If this allergy season has you feeling miserable and you’d like to learn more about how acupuncture might be of benefit to you, contact us for a free consultation.