Jun 20, 2008 5:18 pm US/Eastern
Allergy Sufferers Seek Out Alternative Treatments
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
While over-the-counter and prescription medications can work wonders for the millions of Americans who suffer from allergies, many people are also seeking out alternative therapies for relief.
Allergies can make people miserable so many sufferers are turning to acupuncture and other alternative therapies for relief.
But that may not be enough.
Rosemary Wagner gets acupuncture on a regular basis at a wellness center and many others receive chiropractic treatment.
But it's not for stress.
"We're actually draining the sinuses," said Roberta Mittman.
The patients want allergy relief.
"I would get horrible sinus infections and sinus pain," Wagner said.
She says when medication didn't solve the problem, a doctor referred her to acupuncturist Roberta Mittman.
"I was skeptical but I decided to try it," Wagner said.
"It works through meridians which are channels of energy that flow through the body, so we want to make sure that everything is flowing smoothly," Mittman said.
Mittman says chiropractic massage is another option to help break up all the congestion.
Certain supplements are also recommended.
"They provide some of the nutrients that help reduce the inflammation that's really behind some of the allergy symptoms," Mittman said.
More and more allergy sufferers are turning to these types of treatments. While some small studies have shown positive benefits, there's no hard data proving these methods are effective.
But acupuncture has worked for Wagner.
"I'm almost symptom-free, I can't say 100 percent, because there are days when it's through the roof with the pollen count but it's manageable," Wagner said.
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