Hay fever arrives with spring

Dr Tiejun Tang

Weather is getting warmer. Trees and grasses turned to green. Flowers come into blossom. Nature tells us spring is coming. However, not every people can enjoy such a beautiful weather. They always have same symptoms every year at this season, which is frequent sneezing, stuff and running nose, itch and watery eyes. This means you probably have got hay fever.

Hay fever refers to allergic reaction of the nasal mucosa due to excessive sensitivity of the certain part of body to the allergen. It might occurs all year round but mostly happen in spring because the pollen is the commonly allergen. It affects 2 in 10 people in population of the United Kingdom.
Western medicine use antihistamine tablets and nasal spray to treat this disease. It can ease most of the symptoms but may not be so good at relieving nasal congestion. It also makes patient feels sleepy after taking antihistamine tablets.
Chinese medicine believes hay fever is due to the deficiency of Defensive Qi and Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat invades the lung. Acupuncture and Chinese herb medicine can help a lot to cure hay fever from the root.
Acupuncture points selection is varied from case to case. But basic points are Yingxiang (LI20), Hegu (LI4), Yintang(EX-HN3), Baihui(DU20), Shangxing (DU23). In most of the case the nasal obstruction can be released immediately after the needle had been inserted to the certain points.
A total of 61 patients diagnosed with hay fever were randomly allocated to either the acupuncture or the sham acupuncture group, after a 4 weeks treatment the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was significantly lower than in the control group [1]. The efficacy of acupuncture in allergic rhinitis and other allergic diseases, such as asthma or allergic eczema, appears to be due to the cytokine profile regulation of Th1/Th2 cells and particularly in the expression of IL-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ. [2]

Bi Min Gan Wan is kind of herb pill which has a function of expel Wind and ease the nose blockage. Di Tong Biyan Shui is a spray which is made of Chinese herbs. It can be selected to treat hay fever. These herbs didn’t have any side effect like antihistamine and steroid.

Chinese herbs Yupingfeng San (Jade Screen powder) can build up the immune function of patient^[3]. It can prevent the hay fever occurred. Prevention is a clever choice for people whom have history of hay fever. Treating your disease before it happen, you can keep hay fever away and enjoy a lovely spring.

Reference 

1. Jiaoping Mi. Treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis via acupuncture at the sphenopalatine acupoint: a randomized controlled trial.  Trials. 2018; 19: 28. Published online 2018 Jan 11. doi:  10.1186/s13063-017-2339-z
2. Bettina Hauswald, et al.  Acupuncture in allergic rhinitis A Mini-Review.  Allergo J Int. 2014; 23(4): 115–119.
3. Jian Gao . Antiinflammatory and Immunoregulatory Effects of Total Glucosides of Yupingfeng Powder.  Chin Med J (Engl) . 2009; 122(14):1636-41.

Say Goodbye To Your Period Pain

Dr. Tiejun Tang

Period pain is an unavoidable nightmare for a large number of girls and women. Statistics show that over 50% of menstruating women suffer from dysmenorrhoea. (Dawood, 1993) In most mild cases the pain lasts approximately 24-48 hours. Many girls do not realise more can be done to alleviate period pain. Most accept that their period should always be painful and do not seek treatment. In some severe cases the pain can be much longer and worse, which can result in absenteeism, fainting, or even shock.

Usually, conventional medicine use painkillers, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors or oral contraception pills to treat period pain. These types of medications can temporarily relieve the pain, but if used long term it can cause side effects in the digestive system and central nervous system.

Is there any method that can release the period pain from the Root without causing side effects? Traditional Chinese Medicine is a very good choice for period pain.

Chinese Medicine believes that period pain can be due to Qi Stagnation, Blood Stasis, Cold Coagulation, and Kidney and Liver Deficiency. Different cases may have a different pathology change and so different treatment principles are applied in various conditions.

If the pain often begins before the period, it indicates more Qi Stagnation. In this condition we can use: Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), Zhiqiao (Fructus Aurantii), and Chaihu (Bupleurum chinense DC). If the pain often occurs during the period with some clots, it indicates more Blood Stasis. In this condition we can select: Chishao (Red Peony Root), Danggui (Chinese Angelica), Taoren (Peach Seed), and Honghua (Safflower). If the pain often occurs after the period, it indicates more Blood Deficiency or Kidney Deficiency. In this condition these herbs are called for: Danggui (Chinese Angelica), Jixueteng (Caulis Spatholobi), and Xuduan (Radix Dipsaci). If the pain can be relieved by warmth and gets worse by cold stimulation, it indicates Cold Obstruction. In this condition we can use: Xiaohuixiang (Foeniculum vulgare), Wuyao (Lindera aggregata), and Rougui (Cinnamomum cassia).

As well as the use of Chinese herbs, acupuncture is also very effective if the correct points have been selected. Commonly used points are: Guanyuan (RN4), Zhongji (RN3), Guilai (ST29), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LV3), Shenshu (BL23), and Ciliao (BL32). Moxibustion is applicable for pain due to the Cold Obstruction.

The ideal time to begin treatment is few days before the period. After 2-3 cycles most cases will see a significant improvement or total alleviation of the menstrual pain. The lower abdomen and lower back must be kept warm during the period, as it is very important for the prevention of period pain.

Women do not need to tolerate the terrible menstrual pain every month. Chinese Medicine can help say goodbye to period pain.


Reference

Dawood, M. Y. (1993). ‘Dysmenorrhea’. Current Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 3, (4), P, 219-224.