Allergic Rhinitis (Hay fever)

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould or flakes of skin from certain animals. It's a very common condition, estimated to affect around 1 in every 5 people in the UK.  It causes cold like symptoms such as sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. Some people are sensitive to seasonal allergens, such as tree or grass pollen (known as hay fever). Other people get allergic rhinitis all year round. For some people symptoms can be severe and persistent, causing sleep problems and interfering with everyday life. Read more

Allergic rhinitis is caused by the immune system reacting to an allergen as if it were harmful.  Histamine is a chemical released when the body detects something harmful, such as an infection. It causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell (known as inflammation), which helps protect the body.  In people with allergies, the body mistakes something harmless, such as pollen, for a threat. It then produces histamine, which causes symptoms such as rashes, a runny nose and/or sneezing.  

Antihistamines help stop this happening if you take them before you come into contact with the substance you're allergic to. Or they can reduce the severity of symptoms if taken afterwards.

In Five Elements Acupuncture any ‘allergic’ reaction is indicative of imbalance. We need to identify the precise cause of the imbalance that might in turn be triggering the reaction and once balance is restored the symptoms would likely diminish.

Eczema

Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin. The most common is known as atopic eczema which causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked, sore and red. Although atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp.  It is usually a long-term (chronic) condition which starts in childhood, although it can improve significantly, or even clear completely with age.   

The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown.  "Atopic" means sensitivity to allergens and atopic eczema often occurs in people who get allergies.  It can run in families, and often develops alongside other conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.  It can be triggered by soaps, detergents, stress and the weather. Food allergies can play a part, especially in young children with severe eczema.

There is currently no cure and severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life, which may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally. There's also an increased risk of skin infections. 

In Five Elements Acupuncture eczema is treated as a symptom of an energy imbalance, indeed any ‘allergic’ reaction is indicative of imbalance. Once the precise cause of the imbalance that might then be triggering the reaction is identified and treated the symptoms would likely diminish.