Spring and summer present many with a certain nagging problem: allergies. No matter what you do, if you’re prone to allergies you will get them. And each year seems to be worse than the previous one.

Allergic reactions are caused when the immune system reacts to allergens in the environment. Actually, the immune system over-reacts, or works too hard, to battle the symptoms common to allergies. Symptoms include red, itchy, swollen and/or watery eyes, stuffy or runny nose, post-nasal drip, headache, fatigue, itchy throat, dry mouth, coughing and wheezing.

Allergies are generally caused by wind-born pollen from trees, grass, plants or weeds entering the nasal passages. When these allergens collide with the bodies defense systems the nasal mucosa swells, blocks the passageway and can cause sinus infections.

While Western allergy/sinus/antihistamine drugs do help the obvious symptoms, they do not treat the underlying cause of the problem. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we say that allergic rhinitis is caused by a deficiency of lung and kidney wei qi (or “defensive energy”). This allows what is termed “wind-cold” (clear mucus) or “wind-heat” (yellow mucus) to retain in the nasal passages and/or lung system.

Luckily TCM has several natural herbal approaches to remedy these symptoms by balancing the body’s defensive energy. These herbal formulae are Bi Yan Pian, Pe Min kan Wan and Xin Yi San.

You can find them online by typing the names into a search engine as well as in some natural health stores. However, before taking them, you should consult a TCM practitioner to determine your “pattern” of allergies so the correct formula is used.

Bi Yan Pian treats allergies, common cold, and nasal or sinus congestion. It does this by dispersing Wind from the nasal passages, clearing Heat, expelling Toxins, transforming Phlegm and unblocking the nose.

Bi Yan Pian is indicated for Wind-Heat obstructing the nasal passages with congealing of the nasal fluids into phlegm heat. If this formula is for you, you would be experiencing nasal congestion, swollen and inflamed mucus membranes, thick yellow nasal mucus, purulent malodorous mucus, watery mucus, sneezing, reduction or loss of sense of smell, nasal voice, sinus congestion and pain, frontal or sinus headache, dizziness, red itchy eyes, excessive tearing. Your tongue color would be normal pink to red with a yellow coating.

In terms of specific biomedical application, Bi Yan Pian effectively treats allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic rhinitis, perennial rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, sinus

headaches, frontal headaches, upper respiratory tract infection, common cold and influenza.

Pe Min Kan Wan treats allergies, common cold, nasal or sinus congestion. It does this by dispersing Wind, clearing Heat, expelling Toxins, transforming Phlegm and unblocking the Nose.

Pe Min Kan Wan is indicated for Wind or Wind-Heat obstructing the nasal passages. If this formula is for you, you would be experiencing nasal obstruction, copious amounts of clear or white watery nasal discharge, or thick yellow or green nasal discharge, sinus pain, headache, dizziness, sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, heat and redness around the sinus cavities, earache, cough and wheezing. This formula is especially effective for nasal or lung problems with an allergic component. Your tongue would be red.

In terms of specific biomedical application, Pe Min Kan Wan effectively treats allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic rhinitis, perennial rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, sinus headaches, frontal headaches, otitis media, allergic asthma, common cold and influenza.

Xin Yi San (Magnolia Flower Teapills) treats allergies, common cold, nasal or sinus congestion. It does this by dispelling Wind-Cold, eliminating Dampness, unblocking the nose, and alleviating pain.

Xin Yi San is indicated for Wind cold invasion attacking the head. If this formula is for you, you would be experiencing nasal and sinus congestion, nasal or sinus pain, copious and clear nasal discharge, post-nasal drip, sneezing, sinus or frontal headache, stiff and achy neck and upper back, fatigue, mental cloudiness, and loss of sense of smell. Your tongue color would be normal with a thin white coating.

In terms of specific biomedical application, Xin Yi San effectively treats acute and chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic rhinitis, sinus headaches, frontal headaches, upper respiratory tract infection, common cold, and influenza.

I hope this brief article on Chinese herbals for allergies helps you…

1) find the correct formula for your issues

2) understand that taking a pattern-specific approach is better than the “shotgun” approach of the generic pharma allergy medications.

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