Respiratory illnesses can be defined as any disease or disorder that affects the respiratory system. Respiration, or breathing, is an extremely important process in which the body is supplied with necessary oxygen while also ridding itself of waste products and toxins. This process is autonomic, which means that it occurs without any conscious effort.
Respiration is rarely noticed and generally taken for granted—until something goes wrong. Some of the most common respiratory illnesses include asthma, emphysema, and allergies, as well as infectious conditions such as influenza, pneumonia, and bronchitis (among others).
Allergies are an extremely disturbing and ubiquitous problem for Americans. Acupuncture can be a useful tool to help allergy sufferers alleviate symptoms without the use of medication. Allergy medications are known for carrying heavy side effects, including drowsiness.
With Chinese medicine (of which acupuncture is a practice) patients receive highly individualized diagnoses and treatment plans to address each person’s specific patterns of symptoms without the drowsiness and other side effects associated with many allergy drugs.