Ryu Acupuncture Clinic, Inc. 

Allergy cases have increased three-fold in the past 50 years with 30-50% of Americans suffering from various types of allergy symptoms today.  In fact, it is the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the U.S., costing the health care system $18 billion annually.  What most of these people do not know is that allergies are treatable with very little or no side effects.

Here is a testimonial from one of our patients:

"About three months ago I had my first appointment with Dr. Ryu.  I went to see him to talk about my allergies.  I believe that I have suffered from allergies since my early 20s.  After years of taking medicine for allergies I felt I had to try something different.  I learned that over the counter medicine or prescribed medicine is only a temporary fix.  Once the medicine wore off I was back with the same symptoms I had started with such as coughing, sneezing, itching in the ears, stuffy ears, and worst of all I was exhausted from coughing all day long.  I have never been able to breathe well because my nose has always been stuffy and I had to constantly blow my nose every morning and everyday during the day.  I have always felt like I had cotton in my ears.  When there was a change in the weather I was in total misery.  I couldn’t sleep with my head flat on my pillow because I would choke from post nasal drip and cough and sneeze all night long.  I tried nasal sprays, I bought a steamer to open my sinuses, I drank hot teas, and I also used a sinus rinse to flush out the sinuses.  These procedures gave me very minimal relief.  The medicines I notice would only give me relief for a few hours and then wore off by mid-day and then I had to start again for the rest of the day and again at night time.

Dr. Ryu has been very honest about explaining my allergies to me and then he immediately put me on his herbal medicine regimen.  I know it might have been a bit too soon but I started to feel results just after a month after I started to take his medicine.  I took his medicine twice a day for 30 days and now I am on my third month which is giving me better results as the days and months go by.  I am not coughing as much as I used to, the post nasal drip is thinning and so I can blow it out much easier, I no longer have the “cotton in my ears” feeling.  I can breathe in deeply and not feel congestion.  Dr. Ryu has explained to me that his medicine was going to help boost my immune system because previously my immune system was very low and my body was not able to help me deal with the allergens in the environment.

As a human being Dr. Ryu has been phenomenal.  When he asks you questions and you answer back to him he listens to you carefully.  During this dialog he is learning about you and your illness.  I appreciate the way he explains everything to you so that you have a full understanding of what is happening to you.  I have developed faith in him and his medicine.

Thank you so much Dr. Ryu." - Amparo C.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are overreactions of the immune system to things in the environment, such as dust, pollen, and foods. When an allergic person’s immune system is triggered by an allergen, it causes inflammation. The severity of an allergic reaction can vary from itching eyes, sneezing, runny nose (rhinitis), skin reactions such as eczema or hives, and even life-threatening constriction of the airways.

Acupuncture for Allergies

Acupuncture for allergies usually results in less frequent colds, less sinus headaches and congestion and increased energy. Improvement in allergy symptoms occurs after the first four to six acupuncture treatments for perennial or chronic allergy sufferers. Acupuncture for allergies minimizes asthma, fatigue, sinus headache, and other allergic reactions.  Treatment using TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) can dramatically lessen allergic reactions, or in some cases help the sufferer tolerate what caused the symptoms. It also enables most people to reduce or eliminate their dependence on allergy medication.

How Does Acupuncture Treat Allergies?

According to traditional acupuncture, allergens cause blockages in the flow of the body energy circuit pathways, called meridians. This creates imbalances in the energy supply of different organs or systems and diminishes their function. It manifests itself in various physical, physiological and psychological symptoms, including pain, inflammation, emotional stress, etc. Acupuncture treats allergies by eliminating the block to restore energy flow and normalizes the state of health. The larger the blockage, the more time and treatments are required for the body to recover.

We also look for constitutional or more deeply-rooted signs in each person who presents with allergies. The principle here is treating the whole person. According to TCM, people with chronic allergies often show signs of spleen or kidney deficiency as well as lung problems. The goal of the practitioner is to develop a treatment plan that will alleviate the patient's acute symptoms while addressing the underlying immune system imbalance at the root of the allergy. Treatments often include lifestyle and dietary recommendations.