Spring Is In The Air...

It’s the first day of spring, and although in Chicago it doesn’t feel like spring (a mere 33°F), it’s a beautiful sunny day! It feels like we’ve been covered in a blanket of snow for the past 5 months. As the rains rinse the winter debris off the streets, spring will not be the only thing in the air. Everything that settled underneath the winters’ snow starts to accumulate in the air. These “allergens”, such as molds and pollens, are a nightmare for those who suffer from eczema sufferer.

These allergens cause allergic responses within our bodies and can worsen eczema symptoms, including red, dry, itching skin. There are a couple things you can do to help alleviate the pain. Most physicians put their patients on Elidel, which works for a while but then the symptoms resume. There are more potent steroid creams, and I do believe that if someone is having a severe enough “flare-up” these creams should be used. However, not too many people want to be on a steroid cream for long periods of time.

The good news: there was a study done at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City that showed eczema patients who used traditional Chinese therapy (acupuncture) had a reduction in itching and improved quality of life. Also, according to the study, the use of steroids, antibiotics, and antihistamines greatly decreased within 3 months of starting the acupuncture.
What this means: We are now seeing that skin conditions that we typically treat symptomatically with drugs, can now be treated naturally without using steroids or antibiotics.

The better news: Insurance companies are starting to jump on board with what the term “complementary alternative medicine”, and covering for services such as acupuncture. Of course, you would have to call your insurance company first to see if they cover it.

We have a great team of acupuncturists that I personally use. I have never felt better, and I haven’t taken medication for colds, headaches, or overall aches in over a year! I invite you all to take the time to try acupuncture if you haven’t already called to make your appointment!