According to the World Health Organization and the National Institutes for Health, Acupuncture is useful in the treatment of:

• Chronic & Acute Pain:  Injuries, neck and back pain, tendonitis, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia and headaches.
• Neurological Disorders:  post-stroke recovery, Bell's Palsy, Trigerminal Neuralgia, movement disorders.
• Upper Respiratory Disorders:  Asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throat, laryngitis, colds and flu.  

• Digestive Disorders: Irritable bowel, colitis, constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, heartburn, food allergies, ulcers. 

• Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia.

• Eye and Ear Disorders: Tinnitus, Meniere's disease.

• Addictions:  Addictions to nicotine, alcohol and drugs.

• Immune Function: Recurrent infections, supportive treatment for cancer and AIDS patients.

• Urinary and Reproductive Disorders: Cystitis, menstrual cramps, irregular or heavy periods, infertility, menopausal symptoms, labor pain. 

 

Up to 70 percent of people with pollen allergies experience unpleasant reactions after eating certain foods.   Symptoms include:  itchy or swollen lips, tingling at the back of the throat, scratchiness on the roof of the mouth, and/or watery or itchy eyes. In a food-pollen allergy, the primary problem is the pollen, not the food itself.  The foods to be avoided are based on the type of pollen allergy you have.

For those allergic to grass pollens, you'll want to avoid the following (in raw form):

If you're allergic to weed pollens, specifically ragweed, avoid:

And these foods are non-specific to any one type of pollen allergy so should be consumed with monitoring to gauge your body's reaction:

• apples
• almonds
• celery
• strawberry
• cherries

There are also foods that create an inflammation-response in the body and these should also be avoided:

• gluten-containing foods (refined flours, wheat, rye, barley & oats)
• alcohol
• caffeine (coffee, black tea, soda)
• artificial sweeteners & refined sugars
• pork, cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, canned meat & sausages
• all dairy (milk, cheese, butter, yogurt)
• soy milk
• foods high in fats & oils (peanuts, refined oils, margarine & shortening - beware of processed, packaged foods)