Dr. Manny Alvarez on Fox News reports that acupuncture shows promise as a seasonal allergy treatment.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment in which the practitioner uses needles to stimulate different acupuncture points. There are more than 400 acupuncture points on the body.

Acupuncture for seasonal allergies focuses on strengthening the immune system, and some acupuncturists incorporate herbs into their treatment programs.

But is acupuncture really effective?

In the Septemeber 2004 issue of Allergy magazine,researchers concluded that a combination of Chinese herbs and weekly acupuncture sessions showed promise as a treatment for relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergies. At the end of the study with 52 participants, the group treated with traditional Chinese medicine demonstrated improvements in allergy symptoms in the eyes and nose, higher levels of physical activity, and an improved psychological condition compared to patients in the control group.

Dr. Alvarez says, ‘Seasonal allergy sufferers still suffering with traditional Western medical treatments, or weighed down by unwanted side effects like drowsiness, may find relief in acupuncture. In fact, these patients may discover what Hippocrates learned centuries ago, the body has its own incredible power to heal.’