Spring is here! So get out there into the garden, or into the mountains, or onto the ball field of your choice, but be careful! Loosen up first, and don’t be careless about your body mechanics. Check in with your body, and feel the earth solidly under your feet before you do any heavy lifting. And if you’re not as young as you used to be (and you’re not), remember to respect that in the ways that you need to.

If you do end up with a strained and hurting back or other sprain, acupuncture can quickly get you right again. Many people know that acupuncture is great medicine for arthritis and other chronic pain conditions, but many don’t realize how effective it can also be for quick relief and resolution of sprains and strains. We can get you back in the game before you know it.

Unfortunately, for a lot of people, Spring can also mean irritating allergies as well. An important thing to remember is that you don’t want to wait until your symptoms are already driving you crazy to try to do something about them. Like any illness, allergies respond much better to treatment if you catch the problem and treat it early. In the case of allergies, the very best results come from treating before symptoms have even begun.

There are many options available for allergy sufferers that may be effective besides the standard over-the-counter drugs that may have side effects. Some homeopathics can be very effective, as can various herbal remedies. Increasing exercise to build up your lung strength, and increased fluid intake can even help, and frequent hand washing and bathing to minimize the pollen sticking to your body is a good idea, too. At the same time, you shouldn’t feel too bad if you occasionally need to reach for that Allegra on the days when the pollen count is at its highest.

In my practice, I’ve had good success treating allergies with a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Treatment should be begun ASAP for best results for this year, and is generally done approximately weekly until the season is over. Treatment may or may not need to be repeated the following year. And the only side effects from this treatment are that you may get relief from other health issues at the same time.