How do we use acupuncture for sinus congestion and hayfever?
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Restoring Circulation
In Chinese medicine, pretty much everything comes down to the quality of circulation. When the circulation does not move through the areas of the body as it was designed, it can cause stagnation and congestion in the body’s physiological processes. When we’re looking at issues with sinus allergies or general nasal congestion, your acupuncturist’s job is to figure out how to help restore healthier circulation to the head and sinuses so that things can clear away properly and become less irritated and reactive.
At the same time, we will always treat you as a whole person and not just a stuffed up nose. There are many other factors that can contribute to inflammation and phlegm production, so it’s important that we get an overall snapshot of your health, looking at diet, lifestyle, sleep, stress and other relevant details.
At Acupuncture Grove in Bondi Junction Sydney, we use acupuncture for sinus congestion and hayfever tailored specifically to you. Typically if it’s going to be helpful for you, we will know very early on within the first 4-6 treatments (often earlier). That doesn’t mean that you will be stuffing your face in freshly mown lawn and you might not be breathing clearly all the time, but you should feel some early signs of improvement from the acupuncture if it’s going to help.
Once we know how you’re responding to the acupuncture, we’ll then work out a treatment plan for you. The ultimate goal would be to get you to a place where you don’t need acupuncture anymore, or it’s just something you do for maintenance.
If you're interested in learning more about the specific acupuncture techniques I specialise in, you can take a look at our dedicated acupuncture page for more details.
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Tailored Treatment for Each Individual
Chinese herbal medicine may also be a useful adjunct when working with sinus congestion or hayfever as it helps to keep the treatment going each day. It’s the same idea as acupuncture, we use it for a period to help address certain imbalances, but as you improve, we aim to get to a point where it’s no longer necessary. If it’s something that we feel will help you along, we’ll discuss it as part of the treatment plan.
If you would like to try acupuncture for sinus congestion or hayfever in Sydney, then book your appointment now, or contact us with any questions.
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Chinese Herbal Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
There is certainly research to support acupuncture’s ability to significantly reduce nasal symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and improves quality of life compared to no treatment or sham acupuncture (see here). Individual results will vary depending on a variety of different factors. The most reliable way to find out if it will work for you, is to try a series of treatments.
The same mechanisms that help in cases of hayfever can also potentially help with other sinus issues. Each case needs to be assessed individually and an appropriate course of treatment trialled to assess whether it will be effective for you.
This can vary greatly from person to person, but a good starting place would be 6-12 sessions. Within those initial treatments, you should start to experience improvements, giving you tangible feedback as to whether or not it will be useful for you. From there, further treatments may be advisable. For seasonal issues occurring in Spring for example, it can be useful to undergo a series of treatments in late Winter, before the symptoms have become aggravated.
When performed by a registered and experienced practitioner, possible side effects are minimal (e.g. chances of bruising or some soreness) and serious side effects are very rare. Acupuncture is a non-pharmaceutical alternative to consider if you are looking to avoid unwanted side effects of long term medication use.
Modern research suggests that acupuncture can balance the immune system by reducing overactive Th2 responses, lowering IgE and inflammatory cytokines, and activating neuroimmune pathways that soothe allergic reactions. See more here.
Absolutely. Simple acupressure techniques (e.g. pressing the area between thumb and index finger or alongside the nose) can help ease congestion and reduce itchiness temporarily, offering a handy complement between treatments. Your practitioner can demonstrate points more specifically for you as needed.
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LOCATION ADDRESS
2/15 Bronte Rd,
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Located across the road from Westfield Shopping Centre
OPENING HOURS
MON: 9:00am - 6:30pm
TUE: Closed
WED: Closed
THU: 9:00am - 6:30pm
FRI: 8:00am - 1:30pm
SAT: Closed
SUN: Closed
Professionally Certified Acupuncture For Sinus & Hayfever in Bondi Junction, Sydney
Understanding Sinus & Hayfever Issues
Some may only experience this yearly around Spring time when the pollen is in the air. For others, there may be allergies to things like dust that keep your sinuses trapped in a constantly reactive state. Then there are those who have chronic sinus congestion, maybe lingering after an infection or just a long term issue.
Antihistamine medications and nasal decongestants can be useful for symptomatic relief, but when it’s a chronic issue, people will tend to just put up with it or seek out alternative treatments
Meet Your Acupuncturist
Hi, I'm Gavin from Acupuncture Grove Bondi Junction, Sydney.
It’s an awful feeling when you can’t breathe properly and your airways feel irritated. You can’t think properly and the irritation shortens your fuse. When it’s bad it will affect your quality of sleep which then impairs your body’s ability to heal, creating a vicious cycle.
If you would like to try acupuncture for sinus issues & hayfever in Sydney, then reach out below and book your initial consultation.
Gavin Martin-Rentz
Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist