Acupuncture for Allergies
More people are trying alternative treatments
Julie Bragg
Staff reporter
April 16, 2010
HENRICO COUNTY
An all-natural treatment for allergies is gaining popularity in our area, especially among parents who don’t want to pump their children full of medicines.
Mark Lynn of Henrico says he’s suffered all of his life. After trying shots, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, he finally decided to try acupuncture to fight his allergies.
Four treatments and just three weeks later, Mark feels like a new man.
He says, “The cars are yellow and pollen is all over the place, and I’m waiting for a certain reaction to happen, and it just doesn’t happen. It’s pretty cool. It’s also sort of weird, but it’s great.”
Ruiping Chi is a medical doctor in china who’s been practicing acupunture for 25 years. Now she treats people like Mark at the Wellness Village at Starling in Henrico.
She says acupuncture can stop the allergic reaction before it starts by preventing the immune system from overreacting.
Chi says, “The needle actually regulates the body’s circulation, and the body’s neuro-transmission, even our endocrine system, so that’s why our body gets the right adjustment.”
Some of Chi’s patients are too young for needles. For young children, a tiny radish seed under a sticky bandage is placed on the pressure points.
Kim Davis says her three-year-old daughter Eva used to take four medications and prescriptions for allergies every day.
After three needle-free acupuncture treatments, she says she’s not taking any of those anymore.
Kim says, “That she can go outside and not have any issues and not have to stop and take an inhaler or breathing treatment is awesome.”
Ruiping Chi admits acupuncture probably won’t work for everyone. She says it can help about 80 percent of people.
Copyright © 2010, WTVR
Tags: Acupuncture, Allergies, Chattanooga, Chinese Medicine, Holistic Healing, Tennessee