From a Chinese medicine point of view Hay fever is often a result of “wind heat invading the lungs” To lessen the effects of hay fever one can try to reduce the amount of wind heat (pollen) getting into the lung system, try to clear the excess wind heat from the body but most importantly try to support the Lung Qi so the lungs can easily repel the invading wind heat. To help reduce pollen in one’s environment the HSE website suggests: changing clothes and showering as soon as getting home; keep windows and doors closed (especially on high pollen count days); vacuum often and use a damp cloth for dusting; use pollen filters in the car and a HEPA filter in the hoover; avoid cut grass; avoid keeping fresh flowers indoors Tonify Lung Qi with apples and pears and foods with white centres – as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Other foods that can benefit the lungs include Almonds, Beets, Blueberries, Citrus, Garlic, Onion, Pumpkin, Tomato, Turmeric. Tonify Lung Qi with lemon tea – black or green tea and add either fresh lemon, peel or juice. Add a little honey if it is too bitter rather than sugar – the honey can ease irritation of the throat and also benefits the earth element Tonify Lung Qi with Deep and relaxed breathing exercises – breathe with the diaphragm and belly rather than just the chest to allow to enter the lungs Qi gong – A simple Qi Gong exercise to strengthen lung qi is as follows. Breathe easily and softly. Raise up hands to chest height, with palms facing together. While exhaling move arms horizontally outwards. On inhalation, bring the arms back in front with the palms turned towards the chest (as if hugging someone) helping the Qi move into the chest and lungs. After nine repetitions finish by resting hands on the sternum and allow the Qi to radiate then exhale while lowering hands with palms facing the ground. There is a good video on qigong to strengthen the lungs here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv7IvgwR6hk Acupressure points either side of the nose and at the inner ends of the eyebrows can help with the symptoms of hay fever, and rubbing the middle of the elbow crease can help tonify the lungs while clearing out some of the heat causing the symptoms. Acupuncture is an excellent way to clear the symptoms of hay fever and tonify Qi, with many people experiencing almost immediate relief from symptoms. Of course the best time to strengthen the Lung Qi is before irritants invade, but even in the peak of the pollen season simple things can make a difference. If this article raises any questions, or if I can be of any help please feel free to get in touch here, by message, by calling 0864059898 or by emailing rory@roryryanacupuncture.ie
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