It is definitely lovely to be seeing growth abound in nature at the moment, but for 1 in 5 of the Australian population, this may be accompanied by a groan because it marks the start of the “hayfever season”.

Hayfever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, occurs in people who have a hypersensitive reaction to pollens. It causes symptoms including itchy and runny nose, nasal congestion, red, watery and itchy eyes, itchy throat and sneezing. It can affect concentration and productivity, as well as sleep quality, causing hayfever sufferers to get tired and run down.

In Chinese Medicine, airborne pathogens are caused by “Wind” and if our defensive energy, “Wei Qi”, which is essentially our immune system, is functioning well, we are not affected by the Wind and will not have hayfever. What Chinese Medicine can do is strengthen the Wei Qi before the hayfever season begins, reducing the severity of the symptoms and over several seasons, the symptoms can be eradicated altogether! However, having acupuncture and Chinese herbs during the season can still decrease the intensity of the symptoms.

The following are a few acupoints you can use on yourself when you’re feeling some of the woes that are hayfever! Press each point for 30 seconds, relax the face and breathe deeply. The points, when being pressed correctly, should feel a bit achey.

BL2 (Zanzhu “Gathered Bamboo”): A small bony depression at the end of your eyebrow (your “bamboo”) near the bridge of your nose.

ST2 (Sibai “Four Whites”): A small bony depression below the pupil, found by placing your finger on the bottom edge of the eye socket and slipping the finger down slightly.

LI20 (Yingxiang “Welcome Fragrance”): Slightly sidewards from your nostrils and pushing up towards the bridge of your nose (for some welcome fragrance).

LI4 (Hegu “Joining Valley”): On the back of your hand between your thumb and index finger (the valley), found by bringing the thumb to the index finger and pressing towards the index finger into the high point of the muscle bulge.

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to press BL2, ST2 and LI20, all at the same time on both sides, whilst getting that good ache!