Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the mucus membranes of your nose become inflamed in response to allergens, resulting in a variety of sinus-related symptoms, including:

• postnasal drip
• congestion
• runny nose
• headache
• swelling
• pressure in your face, around your sinuses

How Does Acupuncture For Sinus work?

Acupuncture was initially introduced as a treatment modality thousands of years ago and is since used in Chinese Medicine for a number of health conditions. This treatment involves the use of special fine needles which are carefully penetrated into the patient’s body at specific acupuncture points. The main benefit of Acupuncture is that it can be used for a wide variety of conditions due to its holistic approach, and, has a number of beneficial effects for the body, and has a high safety profile. Acupuncture helps both the symptoms and causes of sinus by stabilizing body energies. Acupuncture may have a number of beneficial effects on the body due to its ability to:

• Regulate the functions of the nervous system. This allows it to boost the activity of endorphins which are biochemical with pain-killing properties, along with the essential immune cells at particular sites in the body.

• It may also be able to change the brain chemistry slightly, allowing it to alter the release of neurohormones and neurotransmitters. It has been reported that anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture include an antihistamine action and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines which can enhance and prolong inflammatory.

• The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Acupuncture for sinus allow it to reduce the inflammatory activity in the sinus cavity and decrease the overall pain levels experienced by the individual. Studies have reported that it does this by vagal modulation of the inflammatory activity found in the internal organs of the body. It may also help break down the congested mucus and allow smoother movement of fluids.

What Does Research Say About Acupuncture For Sinus?

Allergic Rhinitis is found to have a high prevalence in the population.

A study in 2018 found that Acupuncture to be considered a valuable, additional treatment option for patients with Seasonal allergic rhinitis.

According to multiple randomised controlled trials published in 2014. acupuncture may provide some relief from allergy symptoms.

In addition, studies conducted within the last ten years have found the specific immune cells known as Th1 and Th 2 to play an important role in the development of allergic diseases, as they produce the cytokines that promote inflammation. Patients suffering from Bronchial Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis were found to have improvements with Acupuncture for sinus due to its ability to inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors like Interleukin B, Serum Ig E, and Tumour Necrosis Factors Alpha.

A randomized controlled trial conducted by Serkan Sertel et al. in 2009 included a total of 24 participants who had a history of chronic Sinusitis and nasal congestion. These participants were initially asked to score the severity of their nasal congestion using a measurement scale known as the visual analog scale. These scores were measured 15 and 30 minutes before and after the Acupuncture. The results of the study showed a visible improvement in the Visual Analog Score in the individuals who had undergone Acupuncture therapy.

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture For Sinus

In Chinese Medicine, the lungs are believed to be the first defense against foreign particles in the body. When a foreign pathogen enters the body, the lungs are the first organs that are weakened. This leads to certain imbalances in the respiratory tract, which causes an excess accumulation of phlegm.

Chinese Medicine believes that phlegm is produced in the spleen, and it is merely the job of the lungs to store it. Hence, unhealthy eating habits and irregular dietary activity can also lead to excess phlegm production, as it causes the weakening of the spleen. This phlegm is then stored in the lungs and expelled in the form of mucus.

 Other than allergen and unhealthy eating habits, negative emotions are also believed to be associated with weakening the lungs. This is because stress and negative emotions may have a negative effect on the liver system, which in turn affects the spleen – causing higher dampness in the body and thickening of phlegm over time.

Another factor that is important to a Chinese medicine practitioner is the color of the phlegm, as yellow color is often associated with a greater amount of heat and disharmony in the body. Hence, they believe Acupuncture should be used to once again establish the right balance and harmony in the body, which is required to prevent the occurrence of conditions like Sinusitis. 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.