Acupuncture for Allergies: Does It Work?

Itchy eyes and runny nose can happen all year round, despite the term “seasonal allergies.” And sometimes it may feel like allergy medicine isn’t doing the trick. There are some natural approaches that you can take to help get some allergy relief. One of these is acupuncture. 

Here, we take a closer look at whether acupuncture actually helps make allergies better, how it works, and what to expect if you decide to try it.

Can acupuncture help improve seasonal allergies?

Several studies have looked at whether acupuncture helps improve seasonal allergies (also referred to as allergic rhinitis). Most — but not all — have shown some improvement in symptoms with acupuncture.

One review that looked at over 2,000 people across several studies found that acupuncture is safe and effective for people with allergies. And several smaller studies also show that acupuncture can help relieve allergy symptoms. 

Another review of several studies found that acupuncture is helpful for both seasonal and year-round allergies. But others only saw this benefit in year-round allergies. 

An older analysis found no relationship at all between acupuncture and allergies. Still, there’s enough evidence to say that acupuncture may benefit certain people with allergies. This can include people who: 

• Have symptoms despite other treatments

• Can’t take allergy medicine because of side effects

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• Natural treatment options: It may be possible to ease allergy symptoms without medication. 

• Acupuncture cost: In most cases, acupuncture is an out-of-pocket cost. 

• When to take your allergy medication: Some take longer than others to work.

How acupuncture pressure points work

It’s not fully understood how acupuncture works. 

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice. It involves inserting thin needles into different parts of the body. These areas are thought to be connected to one another by lines known as “meridians.” Acupuncturists believe meridians are paths of energy flow. And each meridian is connected to a different system in the body. Acupuncture restores balance in the energy flow, or “qi” (pronounced “chee”). 

Research suggests that acupuncture changes levels of certain proteins and hormones in the body that play a role in inflammation. And it may change the activity of immune cells that also play a role in inflammation.

Some studies compare “real” acupuncture to “sham” acupuncture. Sham acupuncture uses a device that doesn’t fully penetrate the skin. People who receive real or sham acupuncture report feeling better than people not receiving acupuncture at all. So, the placebo effect may play a role in the benefits of acupuncture. 

What to expect from acupuncture

If you’ve never had acupuncture before, you might have questions about what to expect. First, expect to answer some health questions before the treatment. This will help your acupuncturist know where to place the needles. For allergies, the needles target meridians that are connected to the: 

• Spleen

• Stomach

• Lungs

• Colon

The session usually lasts anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

When done correctly, acupuncture is safe. Most people don’t experience any side effects. Some people might experience pain, bruising, or bleeding where the needles puncture the skin. But this is generally mild and doesn’t last long.

Other natural ways to manage allergies

In addition to acupuncture, there are other safe, natural ways to manage allergies. For many of these, research is limited and more studies in humans are needed. But you can consider trying one of the following options. 

Nasal irrigation

Irrigating your nose with distilled water may help. It removes dust, pollen, and mucus, allowing you to breathe and sleep better.

Vitamin D

Some studies have shown that a deficiency in vitamin D may make allergy symptoms worse. It isn’t clear yet if vitamin D supplementation helps, though.

Butterbur

There’s some evidence that butterbur root or leaf extracts may help relieve allergies. But so far, the data isn’t very convincing. 

Black seed (Nigella sativa) oil

Studies suggest black seed oil can improve allergy symptoms when taken as a nasal drop or by mouth. But note that black seed oil can cause skin allergies (rashes) in some people. 

Spirulina

In one small study, large daily doses (2 g) of spirulina improved runny nose and nasal congestion after 8 weeks. Similar findings were seen in a larger study of people who took 2 g of spirulina for 6 months.

Honey

Taking honey daily along with allergy medicine may help allergy symptoms more than taking allergy medicine alone. But a different study found that eating a tablespoon of honey daily made no difference in allergy symptoms.

Before starting any vitamins or supplements, talk to your healthcare professional. It’s important to make sure that the vitamins or supplements are safe and won’t interact with any other medicines you might be taking.

Managing allergies at home

Certain lifestyle changes may help reduce allergy symptoms — especially if they’re due to allergens in the air like pollen. Some examples are: 

• Wash your hands, change your clothes, and rinse your face after spending time outdoors.

• Shower before going to bed to wash out any allergens from your hair.

• Use an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and bacteria.

• Wear a mask when gardening or mowing the grass.

• Change sheets and pillowcases more often. Wash them in hot water to remove any allergens.

• Reschedule outdoor activities around weather and pollen counts.

Many people need to take multiple approaches, including allergy medication. Several types are available, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription. Using allergy medicine and the above natural methods might be what works best for you.

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Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. She has held local and national roles at the American Medical Women’s Association including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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