Treating Childhood Allergies with Chinese Medicine

By Toby Helmstetter, LAc

Sniffles, sneezes, runny noses, post-nasal drip, itchy eyes.... All familiar symptoms in adults this time of year, but a whole other story when it comes to children. Although as adults we might feel more comfortable taking medication every day for allergy symptoms, parents may be reluctant to give their child a pill every day for the season, or sometimes even the whole year. The good news is, children respond very well to acupuncture and Chinese herbs for the treatment of allergies. And now is the perfect time to treat them.

Acupuncture had been used for thousands of years in China as the primary form of medicine up until the mid 20th century. This means it was used as the sole method to treat every common (and not so common) health condition in the Chinese population throughout history. Allergies, including all of the symptoms we suffer from today, were easily treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs for centuries; and there is much written in historical and current Chinese medical liturature about the effective treatement of allergies. The symptoms from which a child is suffering are treated differently depending on the individual; whether a child has a strong or a weak constitution, suffers more from issues of rhinitis, itchiness, or even seasonal difficulties with breathing, all determine what points and herbs the child will receive. There is no "one-treatment-fits-all" in Chinese medicine, and the same goes for pediatric acupunture. 

Treating your child with Chinese medicine sets them up for success in several ways. For one, the treatment of allergies is not about symptom suppression. The primary focus is on modulating the immune system so it can simultaneously fight off and increase resistance to the environmental offender. Symptoms are treated naturally, and children improve quickly with both acupuncture and herbs. This helps strengthen the child, making them less vulnerable to allergens and later, to viral and bacterial infections too. With a stronger, more prepared immune system, children are better able to withstand cold and flu season without going into it with the burden of having had a phlegmy, sniffly, itchy autumn. 

A review of clinical research on pediatric acupuncture has this to say about the treatment of childhood allergies with Chinese medicine:

"Despite the fact that only one randomized trial has been conducted in the adult literature, 5% of adults with allergic rhinitis in the United States have reportedly used acupuncture to alleviate their symptoms (65,66). Similarly, only one randomized study has been conducted to assess the effects of acupuncture on pediatric allergic rhinitis. Ng and colleagues (67) conducted a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study among children in a Hong Kong Hospital with persistent allergic rhinitis. Seventy-two children, aged 6–20 years, were assigned to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture, where needles were inserted only 0.3 cm into the skin and were not rotated as in the active acupuncture protocol, biweekly for 8 weeks. During the 12 weeks following treatment, a significant reduction in daily rhinitis scores was reported among the acupuncture group. Similarly, the acupuncture group had significantly more symptom free days during the treatment and follow-up periods. Visual analog scores also revealed greater immediate improvement among those in the acupuncture group. Laboratory findings revealed that post-treatment IgE levels, which indicate the presence of an allergic antibody, were significantly elevated in the sham group, but not the acupuncture group, as compared with baseline data." -Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Dec 2009; 6(4): 429–439.

I treat a number of children in the clinic for sesonal allergies. I have seen children do very well when treated early in the season, right as school is starting. Coming in to fall, I generally recommend children start getting acupuncture two to three times, while simultaneously taking an herbal formula. Depending on the child's symptoms and health history, I may recommend supplements to help decrease inflammation, support gut health, and strenghten immunity. If the child comes to acupuncture already suffering from allergy symptoms, a great deal can be done to minimize the symptoms, and a child can leave a single treatment feeling less stuffy, sniffly, or itchy. Over time, the effects of treatment are cumulative, so a child can go several weeks without needing acupuncture. And with an herbal formula at home, and perhaps even some mild dietary adjustments, children can make it through allergy season with little to no symptoms. And, believe it or not, kids really do love acupuncture!

Don't believe that children do well with acupuncture needles? Here's a great video from a class-mate of mine from acupuncture school. Robin, the acupuncturist, is a successful pediatric acupuncturist and writer in California who has dedicated herself to teaching parents that "kids love acupuncture." This 9 month old is getting acupuncture treatment for teething, but the points Robin is using are much the same points as we use when treating childhood allergies.  It's pretty cute to watch this: How to Treat Babies with Acupuncture

In general, here are my basic recommendations for children who suffer from seasonal allergies:

1. Double check their diet. In general, a child's food can make or break their immune system. Healthy gut flora means a stronger immune system, so avoiding or eliminating food triggers can make all the difference. The main foods I recommend testing are: nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, and wheat. By "checking" I mean eliminating each food one-by-one from the child's diet for 2-4 weeks, then deliberately re-introducing the food to see whether it produces symptoms. Ideally, by eliminating one or some of these foods, a child will have an improvement in their allergy symptoms and, once re-introduced, will elicit those same old symptoms. It should be obvious whether a specific food is contributing to their seasonal allergies.

2. Limit sugar. Sugar weakens the immune system, competes with healthy bacteria in the gut, and produces mucus. By limiting your child's sugar intake, you can significantly improve their chances of fighting off environmental allergens, and set them up for a healthy winter.

3. Give them a boost. My three go-to supplements this time of year are probiotics, vitamin D, and vitamin C. Together they help support gut integrity and strengthen immunity. Doses depend on the health and size of the child, but a good, store-bought pediatric probiotic supplement (not just a yogurt or a probiotic drink), 500-1000mg of daily vitamin C, and 1000-2000iu of daily vitamin D are a huge help to a child's immune system.

4. Treat now! If your child does suffer from seasonal allergies, bring them to the clinic before symptoms get out of hand. Preparing them keeps us out of "damage control" mode throughout the season, and allows us to get ahead of symptoms rather than managing them when they've become severe. Either way, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are a great way to support your child's health through allergy season!

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