You knew I was going to say that, right? 😄 Acupuncture is outstanding at both preventing seasonal allergies and helping manage annoying allergy symptoms if they’ve already started.⠀

And it’s backed by science. A study in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that acupuncture was effective at reducing allergy symptoms with no side effects. You can read the full article here.

Ideally you’d start acupuncture a month before your symptoms usually start, in order to prevent them from being severe. But even if your symptoms have already kicked in, acupuncture can still help quite a lot.⠀

Seasonal allergies are an excess immune reaction in your body. ⠀

A huge portion of your immunity is regulated by the nerves in your gut, so good gut health is essential for a balanced immune response. ⠀

Choose a probiotic with multiple strains to keep your gut flora diverse, and (like acupuncture) start a month in advance of anticipated allergy symptoms if you can. (Or just start now!)⠀

Nettle leaf can help naturally reduce the amount of histamine in your body, which is the cause of many allergy symptoms. [Reference] (Of course, consult your doctor before beginning any new supplements.)

If allergy symptoms are creeping up on you, call for an acupuncture appointment today to keep them from progressing this season!

Erica Nabers is a board-certified acupuncture physician who helps patients from her clinic in North Port. She’s a graduate of the East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota. She specializes in a personal and compassionate approach to helping you feel better naturally.