Hay fever / allergic rhinitis

This is when antibodies react to pollen particles in the nasal mucosa. If antibodies react to dust, house mites, fungal spores and cat or dog skin (yes, not fur) then it is perrenial rhinitis. The reaction with the antibodies increases the levels of histamine and inflammation of the nasal passage. This is most common during spring or summer.

The signs and symptoms are

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• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Itchy, red, watery eyes

• A runny or blocked nose

• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears

• Loss of smell

• Pain around your temples and forehead

• Headache

• Earache

• Feeling tired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) uses these symptoms and others to help with diagnosis. This will help determine the root cause and treat the presenting symptoms.

 

Wind is seen as an exterior pathogenic factor that enters the body. Modern medicine has identified this as pollen and other airborne allergies. TCM refers to this as an invasion of wind. This could be either wind combined cold or heat.

 

Wind cold

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• Sneezing

• Profuse used runny nose with white-watery discharge

• Pale complexion

• Stuffed nose

• Slight headache

• No thirst

 

Wind heat

 

• Sneezing

• Runny nose with white and watery discharge

• Itchy throat

• Itchy red eyes

• Slight thirst

 

The root cause is a weak immune system in TCM this is called wei Qi. Wei Qi is determined by the strength of the lungs, kidneys and governing vessel. The best time to treat the root cause is the beginning of autumn or 6 to 4 weeks before the start of the spring or summer depending on which season affects you.

 

Lung and kidney deficiency, wei Qi and governing vessel

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• Pale complexion

• Weak back

• Easily catches colds

• Pale tongue

• Weak deep pulse

During the hay fever seasons then the best form of treatment is the presenting symptoms.

To treat perennial rhinitis then the best method is to treat the root cause and presenting symptoms together.