If you suffer from seasonal allergies you’ll know that the moment the flowers start to bloom is the moment that your nose gets stuffy and your eyes start to water. With symptoms like these, it can be difficult to enjoy the change in season. Luckily, there is hope. Turns out you may be able to stop dreading the season and get some symptom relief from the comfort of your own home with acupressure.
Unlike acupuncture which uses needles to relieve stress, acupressure employs your fingers to gently apply pressure to particular places of the body in order to release stress. According to Asian medical philosophy, these points are located on specific channels, also called meridians, which connect life-energy, or “qi”. By applying pressure to these pressure points, we can improve blood flow, release tension and promote healing throughout the entire body.
We can thank the East for bringing acupressure to us. It’s a practice that began over 5,000 years ago in Asia and has recently made it’s way to the Western world, helping many people to feel calmer and more balanced in their lives.
What are Seasonal Allergies and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
If you sneeze, cough, or have a runny nose and itchy eyes during certain times of the year than you may be experiencing seasonal allergies. Allergies are hypersensitive responses from the immune system that either enters into or come in contact with the body[1]. Grass, pollen, and mold are the most common triggers for seasonal allergies[2]. The timing and severity of an allergy season can vary depending on where you live, and also your response to the allergen.
Allergy symptoms can interrupt your life in various ways, none of which are pleasant, so people will spend a great deal of time and money trying to get rid of them. There are a number of remedies on the market, and the way that each individual reacts to them is different.
Over-the-Counter Medication
There are a vast amount of over-the-counter drugs on the market that do not require a prescription. Many of these come in pill format and the individual is instructed to take one when they are experiencing allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter medication is good for people who experience mild symptoms, but the downside is that is can sometimes cause drowsiness, especially in higher doses.
Nasal Drops
People who experience a stuffy or a runny nose during allergy season may choose to apply a nasal drop. These drops are typically a prescription, acquired at the doctor’s office or at an allergy specialist[2]. The individual will place the pump bottle of nasal spray at the nostril, and press down on the canister, releasing the spray. The individual will then breathe in through the nose, allowing the spray to work its magic by clearing the nasal passage. The issue that many have with nasal drops is that they need to be constantly re-applied in order to be effective, and many people dislike the hassle of the constant spraying.
Injections
Another popular way to treat allergies caused by pollen is immunotherapy or allergy shots. These shots will gradually, over time, expose you to the allergen so that your body learns to tolerate it. These injections do need to be administered by a medical professional, so several visits to the doctor’s office are required, which can be inconvenient for some people.
A Natural Approach: How Acupressure Can Relieve Your Allergy Symptoms
While using acupressure for allergies will not cure your allergy entirely, it may give you relief from your symptoms, so that you can continue to live your life uninterrupted by a stuffy nose or itchy eyes.
Acupressure stimulates hundreds of “acu-points” along the bodies 14 energy-carrying channels. In this case, stimulation comes in the form of a firm but gentle pressure from the fingers being applied to these “acu-points”. The process of doing this helps to treat stress and anxiety, diminish allergy symptoms, alleviate migraines, nausea, vomiting, pain, and more[3].
It’s all a matter of learning where to press.
The Pressure Is On: Acupressure for Allergies
You can perform acupressure on yourself, or get someone to do it for you. Here are a few important tips to remember:
- You should use deep, firm pressure, going slowly over each point
2. You can apply pressure in a circular or up and down motion for several minutes at a time
3. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and try to stay relaxed as you go through the motions
4. Repeat the process as often as you’d like, there is no limit
5. Perform acupressure regularly and consistently for best results
Massaging these particular points can help relieve your allergies. Of course, you don’t have to massage all of the points on the list, even just one or two can do the trick.
Elegant Mansion – Point A
Doesn’t an elegant mansion sound wonderful? That’s how you’ll feel when you massage this point located in the hollow spot between your collarbone and breastbone (See diagram).
Stimulating this point can help relieve chest congestion, breathing difficulties, asthma, coughing, and a sore throat.
Crooked Pond – Point B
A crooked pond sounds like it might be located in a bad part of town, but it’s actually on the outside of your arm just above your elbow crease.
Applying pressure to this point is great for inflammation like hives, rashes, and itching more generally. It can also help bring down a fever.
Sea of Energy – Point C
The sea of energy is usually found in a large pot of coffee, but it can also be located about an inch below your belly button.
This point is good for relieving any allergies that might be causing digestive issues like constipation and gas. It can also work well for fatigue, weakness, and insomnia.
Three Mile Point – Point D
The three-mile point might sound like a cool hangout spot, but it’s actually located on the outside of your leg, four finger widths below your kneecap.
Stimulating this point will help to strengthen your immune system and prevent allergies before they hit.
Bigger Rushing – Point E
You’ll be rushing to find this point, which is located on top of your foot right between your big toe and second biggest toe.
Applying pressure to this point can help with allergic reactions and is particularly good for relieving bloodshot eyes and neuromuscular disorders.
Heavenly Pillar – Point F
Rubbing the back of your neck can be heavenly, so the location of this point should come as no surprise. More specifically, it’s about half an inch below the base of your skill and half an inch out from your spine on either side.
You can pressure this point to help with allergy symptoms like exhaustion, headaches, and swollen eyes.
Outer Gate – Point G
This point will hopefully allow you to open the outer gate of your home without worrying about your allergies. You can find it on the top of your forearm, two and a half finger widths up from your wrist.
Again, this point is good for your immune system in general, so is best used to prevent allergies.
Joining the Valley – Point H
The valley, in this case, is located in the webbing between your thumb and index finger.
Warning: Pregnant women should not use this point because it can cause premature contractions.
For allergy sufferers, however, it can help relieve headaches, hay fever, sneezing, and itching.
Acupressure treatment has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine, but it is a fairly recent development in Western society. Because of this, there is a need for more research studies to be done to scientifically support the connection between acupressure and allergy relief. Talk to your doctor about incorporating acupressure for allergies, and see if it works for you and your body.
Source:
http://www.herbalshop.com/Acupressure/Acupressure_04.html
http://exploreim.ucla.edu/wellness/acupressure-and-common-acupressure-points/
[1]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264419.php
[2] American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Common Seasonal Allergy Triggers. Retrieved from http://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies
[3] Jamie Starkey. (2015, April 7). Try This Easy 6-Minute Acupressure Exercise for Allergy Relief. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/04/try-this-easy-6-minute-acupressure-exercise-for-allergy-relief-video/
