Chinese Medicine for Hay Fever
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) affects approximately 20% of the UK population and is one of the conditions most frequently brought to my clinic during spring and early summer. Conventional treatment — antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and decongestants — manages symptoms effectively but does nothing to address the underlying immune dysregulation that causes the allergy. Traditional Chinese medicine approaches hay fever by strengthening the body's own defensive capacity and reducing the hypersensitive immune response, producing improvements that extend well beyond the season of treatment.
TCM Understanding of Hay Fever
In TCM, hay fever is understood as an invasion of wind and cold or wind and heat into the lung and nasal passages in a person with underlying lung qi deficiency and wei qi deficiency — insufficient defensive energy to repel the external pathogen (in this case, pollen). The lung governs the skin and the opening of the nose — when lung qi is weak, the body's surface is porous and easily penetrated. The repeated annual exposure to pollen progressively sensitises the immune system, deepening the underlying deficiency over time.
Acupuncture for Hay Fever
Research strongly supports acupuncture for allergic rhinitis. A large German randomised controlled trial (the ACUSAR study) demonstrated that acupuncture significantly improved quality of life and reduced antihistamine use compared to sham acupuncture and rescue medication alone. The treatment works best when started four to six weeks before the season begins — ideally in February or March for grass pollen allergy. I use a combination of local points to relieve acute symptoms (LI 20, LI 4, LU 7) and constitutional points to strengthen the lung and wei qi (ST 36, SP 6, BL 13).
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Two classical formulas are most commonly used. Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) — containing Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, and Fang Feng — is the foundational formula for strengthening lung qi and wei qi, reducing the susceptibility to invasion. It is best prescribed as a preventative in the weeks before the season begins. Xin Yi San addresses acute nasal symptoms and sinus congestion. For patients with both allergic rhinitis and an underlying pattern of dampness, additional phlegm-resolving herbs are added.
Lifestyle and Dietary Measures
Reducing dairy and wheat in the weeks before and during the pollen season reduces the production of mucus and dampness that worsens nasal symptoms. Local honey (containing small amounts of local pollen) has long been proposed to build tolerance — the evidence is limited but the risk is low. Quercetin (found in onions, capers, and apple skins) is a natural antihistamine and mast cell stabiliser with good evidence for allergic conditions. Vitamin C enhances quercetin's antihistamine effect.
To discuss hay fever treatment — ideally before the season starts — contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
