How Acupuncture Helps Relieve Seasonal Allergies
Breathe Easier This Spring
In Portland, spring is a season of contrasts. The cherry blossoms return. The air smells like wet earth and renewal. But if you’re one of the many who suffer from seasonal allergies, it can also mean itchy eyes, constant sneezing, and the kind of congestion that makes it hard to enjoy the beauty around you. It can feel like your body is at war with nature.
At Forest Park Wellness, we believe it doesn’t have to be that way. Acupuncture offers a natural, time-tested approach to treating allergies—one that doesn’t just mask symptoms but helps your body respond differently.
What Triggers Seasonal Allergies—and How Acupuncture Helps
When pollen levels rise, your immune system can go into overdrive, releasing histamines that cause inflammation in the sinuses, nose, and eyes. The result? Classic allergy symptoms: sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, and fatigue.
Acupuncture works by calming that immune response, reducing inflammation, and restoring balance to your system. By targeting specific acupuncture points, we can help your body let go of the overreaction and find a calmer, clearer baseline.
Think of it this way: instead of treating symptoms after they appear, acupuncture helps retrain your system to respond more gracefully to the changing seasons.
When Portland’s Allergy Season Peaks
Portland’s allergy season tends to begin in early spring with tree pollen, followed by grass pollen in late spring, and then weed pollen into the summer months. That means relief isn’t a one-weekend fix—it’s a seasonal strategy. And the sooner you start, the better your body can adapt.
Many people find that starting acupuncture in early spring helps prevent the worst symptoms from ever setting in. But it’s also never too late to begin—acupuncture can help at any point in the season.
Acupuncture in Action: Key Points for Allergy Relief
Kaz at Forest Park Wellness uses specific points known to ease allergy symptoms, boost immunity, and support respiratory health. Here are a few that may be used in your treatment:
- LI4 (Hegu): Helps relieve sinus pressure and facial congestion
- ST36 (Zusanli): Strengthens the immune system and improves energy
- GV14 (Dazhui): Clears nasal congestion and reduces sneezing
- LU7 (Lieque): Opens the lungs and eases respiratory discomfort
These points work together to calm inflammation, improve circulation, and restore a sense of ease in the body—so you can breathe better and feel more energized.
More Ways to Support Your System During Allergy Season
In addition to acupuncture, there are some simple steps you can take to support your body:
- Try local honey: A teaspoon a day may help desensitize your immune system to local pollen.
- Explore herbal formulas: Kaz recommends remedies like Magnolia Clear Sinus or Er Chen Tang to reduce and prevent symptoms.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking water thins mucus and helps your body flush irritants more easily.
- Pollen-proof your routine: Keep windows closed on high pollen days, and wash off pollen from your skin and hair after time outdoors.
Feel the Difference—and Enjoy the Season Again
Imagine walking through your neighborhood or sitting outside at your favorite Portland café without constantly reaching for tissues. With acupuncture, that vision can become your new normal. It’s not just about short-term relief—acupuncture helps your body develop resilience over time, so each season can be a little easier than the last.
At Forest Park Wellness, we’re here to help you enjoy the seasons, not dread them. If you’re ready to breathe easier and get back to enjoying spring, reach out to schedule a session. We’ll create a personalized treatment plan to support your body, ease your symptoms, and help you move through this season with clarity and comfort. Book an appointment with Dennis “Kaz” Kasunic and take the first step toward a more resilient you. Call us at (503) 272-6646, or book online!
