Common symptoms of hayfever include:

sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, itching in the nose, throat, and deep in the ears
headache due to sinusitis caused by swelling in the nose
red and watery eyes. itchy eyes
tightening of the throat and chest
lethargy, loss of concentration

In a study performed on people suffering from hay fever, acupuncture was as effective as antihistamine therapy in improving symptoms and the beneficial effects appeared to last longer. Research published in the journal Allergy (1) , has shown that acupuncture is an effective way to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as a runny nose and itchy eyes.

Acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis is likely to include needling and moxibustion (the burning of an herb called mugwort is used to enhances the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture needles).

Through the stimulation of specific acupoints, acupuncture promotes the body's natural healing abilities, strengthens the body's resistance and regulates the body's reaction to antigens.