Springtime Blues: Solving Seasonal Allergies with Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Sean Dugan
- Apr 27
- 9 min read
It’s spring!
Ah, that gentle season of daffodils, bunny rabbits and budding trees. Or, for those of us with seasonal allergies, the time of year when we feel like we’ve been hit by a freight train for two months straight.
The good news? There is a solution - and I don’t just mean living off Claritin and Flonase.
By the end of this article you will have a basic understanding of how your allergies work and how Chinese herbal medicine can help - not just by reducing your acute symptoms (though it can certainly do that) but by changing the way your body responds to environmental allergens, so that next spring you can actually appreciate those trees, rather than hiding from them.
Table of Contents
The Trees Are Having A Party
Every spring as the weather begins to warm, dormant trees and other plants start to wake up. They’ve been sleeping a long time and they are frisky! The trees start their version of dating - they open flowers and release pollen, sending signals through the air that they are ready to procreate.
To make matters worse (for us and for the trees) in most urban areas city planners chose to plant predominantly male trees. This is because female trees produce fruit, which, if unpicked, drops onto the sidewalks and makes a nice, ferment-y mess in the fall. The problem with this plan is that male trees are the major pollen producers. They release that pollen into the air to fertilize the flowers of female trees. So if you’ve ever wondered why your allergies are so bad, even if you live in an urban area, now you know. You are surrounded by an absolute sausage fest of male trees who are trying really hard to impress the elusive urban lady tree. But that’s the price we pay for clean sidewalks!
Even if you aren’t allergic to tree pollen, the same basic idea holds true. Most plants go into full action mode in the spring and early months of summer, producing pollen, then flowers, then seeds, all of which are potential human allergens.
But why? Why does our body react the way it does to these essentially harmless substances?
Don’t Call the Cavalry
Allergies are a classic case of mistaken identity.
The catalyst - be it tree pollen, grass seed, cat saliva, or peanut protein - enters your body and is mistakenly identified as a dangerous threat.
It’s like your immune system calling in the National Guard because it sees a suspicious looking dude cruising around the neighborhood. By the time it realizes it might just be the mailman, it's too late. The cavalry has arrived, and they are in shoot first, ask questions later mode.
Allergies are often mistaken by your body for bacteria and viruses, and quickly tagged as dangerous by IgE antibodies. Once a substance receives this label, it can be pretty hard to remove. It now has a criminal record, so to speak.
Now whenever you are exposed to it, an automatic chain reaction is initiated - mast cells rupture and chemicals are released into your bloodstream to combat the invader. The most famous of these is histamine which causes many of the symptoms we associate with allergic reactions and springtime misery.
Basically your immune system is over-reacting, failing to differentiate between a false threat and a real one, and just lashing out at anything that looks unfamiliar.
This brings us to the most common treatment for allergies - antihistamines.
If you are an allergy sufferer, you have probably taken antihistamines in some form in order to control your symptoms. Often times, they work! They reduce the discomfort associated with an allergic reaction - which can be severe and, in the case of anaphylaxis, even life-threatening. What they don’t do is...anything else! Your baseline situation remains unchanged and your immune system will only become more and more hypervigilant over time.
To be clear, I am not anti antihistamine. These are extremely helpful and useful drugs. They can even save lives. There are situations where taking an antihistamine is the best thing you could do, especially if you have a dangerous allergy to something like bees or nuts.
But if you are someone who suffers from seasonal allergies and find yourself taking antihistamines and decongestants daily, you might be looking for an alternative.
Antihistamines are not without their downsides. In the short term, they can cause drowsiness, dry mouth and brain fog. In the longer term, there is evidence that certain antihistamines may increase the risk of dementia. Some antihistamines cause dependence with long term use and withdrawal symptoms such as extreme itchiness.
In addition to possible side effects long term, as I mentioned above antihistamines do nothing to address the root of the problem: your immune system.
This underlying dysregulation is part of the reason why using Chinese Herbal Medicine to treat allergies is so effective. We treat your whole system, rather than just pushing down that unpleasant histamine reaction. If we re-educate and tone your immune system as a whole, you won’t need to suppress the allergic reactions anymore. You just won’t have them.
Solving Seasonal Allergies with Chinese Herbal Medicine
So how does Chinese Herbal Medicine treat allergies?
When using Chinese Medicine to treat allergies we address both your symptoms - the stuffy nose, itchy eyes, headache, fatigue, etc - as well as supporting your system as a whole so that allergies are reduced overall over time, rather than raging back the moment you stop taking herbs.
Our goal is to regulate your immune system so it is less reactive, and to improve histamine clearance by supporting liver metabolism, lymphatic circulation and blood circulation. Part of the reason you feel so crummy when you have allergies is the direct effects of the allergic reaction, but also its fallout; your body has to clear all those histamines and inflammatory compounds, and until it does, you feel sluggish. The better your liver, lymphatic and circulatory systems are functioning, the better you will feel.
How, exactly, do we do this? Let’s get into the nitty gritty - the herbs and formulas I like to use to treat allergies.
Pick Your Pattern: Chinese Herbs & Formulas for Allergies
Since every person is different, every person’s allergies are going to be different. This is another reason why Chinese Herbal medicine shines in the treatment of allergies - as well as in the treatment of many other conditions.
Rather than taking a one size fits all approach (because, let’s be real, when has one size ever fit everyone?) in Chinese Medicine we tailor the treatment to fit you. That makes it much more effective, and reduces unwanted side effects. It can also adapt over time, as you change.
Here’s an example: Jack has springtime allergies with runny nose, itchy eyes, and sinus pressure headaches. He also has a tendency to diarrhea several times/day. Jill has the very same allergy symptoms. She has a bowel movement 5 times/week and experiences frequent bloating. Should we give Jack and Jill the same herbs for their allergies? Western medicine says yes. An allergist wouldn’t even consider Jake or Jill’s digestion. Chinese Medicine says, no - we create a care plan that supports and strengthens Jack’s digestion as well as addressing his allergies. Even though their allergies are the same, Jack will need a different treatment strategy from Jill because we are working with the whole picture - not just his runny nose and itchy eyes in isolation.
Here are a few formulas that I often use clinically when treating allergies. What I choose to use and how I modify it depends on your specific situation.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang is an amazing, multi-use formula that I use frequently in my clinical practice. In the case of allergies, it comes into play when symptoms affect the eyes, ears, sinuses and throat - sore throat, sinus pressure, ear pressure, headache - these can all be treated using variations of this formula.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang strongly transforms phlegm and supports your immune system. It also includes herbs that improve liver function - a crucial aspect of your body’s ability to break down and metabolize histamine and clear it from your system.
I like to use the Classical Pearls patent formula Ease Pearls, which combines Xiao Chai Hu Tang with Xiao Yao San, which reinforces Xiao Chai Hu Tang’s action and increases its stress reducing qualities.
Stress? What do allergies have to do with stress?
Maybe nothing. But...think about it: allergies represent your immune system's over-reaction to external stimulus. Your immune system is responding with a full scale attack, like a cottonwood pollen protein is going to kill you. It’s not entirely dissimilar to how your nervous system responds with a fight or flight sympathetic activation when you read a confrontational email or are faced with an upcoming deadline. Much like the cottonwood pollen, an email is probably not a danger to your life.
Another formula that I frequently use for allergies is Cang Er Zi San. This classical formula is famous for reducing nasal congestion and allergy symptoms. I like to use the Classical Pearls patent Wind Pearls, which combines Cang Er Zi San with San Zi Yang Qin Tang for clearing phlegm in the respiratory tract and improving breathing. Wind Pearls also includes modern additions like Di Long to open stubborn congestion and Sheng Di and Tian Men Dong to calm irritated membranes. I often combine Wind pearls with Ease pearls to treat springtime allergies quickly and effectively.
As I mentioned before, how we treat your allergies may vary, depending on your situation. If your allergies are food related, for example, rather than seasonal, we may go in a completely different direction. Gui Zhi, or cinnamon, is a profoundly anti-allergenic substance and can be used in combinations with other herbs for immune regulation and allergy support year round. I often used formulas that feature Gui Zhi, such as Gui Zhi Tang or Cinnamon Pearls, when I am treating SIBO or leaky gut related to food sensitivities or allergies.
These are a few examples of capsule formulas I use. Capsule formulas are easy to take and convenient to have on hand for things like seasonal allergies. If your symptom pattern fits a capsule protocol, it can be a great way to work on your allergies.
In some cases, your symptom pattern will respond better to a custom granule extract formula. These are extract powder formulas that are added to water, and they allow for a much higher degree of individual customization. Custom formulas allow me to create formulas using the full materia medica of 400 single herbs, which means tens of thousands of unique formula combinations. Custom formulas are the backbone of Chinese herbal medicine because they allow for such a high degree of individual specificity.
If you are suffering from allergies this spring and are reading to start feeling better now and for the long haul, schedule a consultation with me to get started.
You can visit the Folkwise Clinic page to learn more about my process.
Treat Yourself...To Some Stinging Nettle Juice: Home Remedies for Allergies
In addition to taking Chinese herbs, there are some things you can do at home to get relief from your acute allergy symptoms - besides popping a Benadryl, I mean.
Number One: Eat your greens! Leafy green vegetables are full of natural antihistamines as well as being rich in Vitamin C - the MVP of immune support. Dandelion leaves are especially useful in this regard, not only for the nutrition they provide but also for their ability to facilitate liver health and histamine clearance.
Number Two: Nettle juice! Yes, I am talking about the stinging kind of nettles. These are easy to grow in your garden and are a classic remedy for seasonal allergies. Nettles are teeming with natural antihistamines and anti-inflammatory compounds. Nettle can be dried and made into tea, but a more effective preparation for allergies is to harvest them fresh and blend them vigorously in a blender. You can then press out the bright green juice and drink it fresh. You can also purchase freeze-dried stinging nettle supplements, but in my experience Chinese herbs are going to be much more effective if you’re not going to use fresh stinging nettle.
Number Three: Drink tea! Chrysanthemum, Ju Hua, is famous for supporting eye health - reducing redness, irritation and swelling - among other functions. Chrysanthemum flowers also make a tasty summertime tea!
Another home remedy for eye irritation is a tea compress. For this it's best to use black tea, such as an English Breakfast teabag. Simply wet the teabag in warm water and lay it on your closed eye. The astringent tannins in the tea will soothe itching and reduce redness and swelling. You can also steep the teabag in boiling water, then allow it to cool for a more potent treatment.
Ready to take on your allergies with Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Visit my herbal clinic page to schedule your first consultation, find more information on the treatment process, cost, herb quality, and more.
Thank you for reading!
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Sean Dugan, L.Ac.
Sean Dugan L.Ac. is a licensed and board-certified herbalist and acupuncturist. He holds a Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine as well as a Diplomate in Chinese Medicine from the NCCAOM. He has studied under many Master Herbalists including Dr. Guohui Liu, Dr. Jimmy Wei-Yin Chang, Dr. Fang Zhang, Dr. Greg Livingston, and Dr. Darren Huckle. Sean’s herbal medicine practice draws from both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Classical Chinese Medicine treatment methods, with a focus on clinical efficacy above all. He has been treating patients with Chinese Herbal Medicine since 2013.
