Spring allergies - when pollen becomes a nuisance

The invisible enemy

The Yellow Emperor: „Qi Bo, a mystery gives me no peace: outside, nature is blooming in all its glory. But instead of rejoicing, my subjects are suffering. Their eyes are watering, their noses are running, they can barely breathe. What kind of curse is this?“

Qi Bo: „Majesty, what you describe is not a curse - it is a misunderstanding. The body confuses friend with foe. The pollen from the flowers is harmless. But the Wei-Qi - the protective shield - recognizes them as intruders and sounds the alarm.“

Dr. Weber: „In modern medicine, this is referred to as an allergic reaction. The immune system mistakenly identifies harmless substances—pollen, grasses, and flower pollen—as a threat. This triggers the release of histamine, which causes all these symptoms: itching, swelling, a runny nose, and watery eyes.“

The Yellow Emperor: „So the body is fighting an enemy that isn't an enemy at all?“

Qi Bo: „That's exactly how it is. An overzealous guard that sounds the alarm at every breath of wind.“

The wind and the open gates

The Yellow Emperor: „How does TCM explain this phenomenon?“

Qi Bo: „Your Majesty, in our tradition we speak of wind—one of the six external factors. Wind is fleeting; it comes suddenly and wanders. Just like the symptoms: sometimes it itches here, sometimes there. Sometimes the eyes, sometimes the nose.“

The Yellow Emperor: „But there is always wind. Why don't all people suffer?“

Qi Bo: „Because wind can only enter when the gates are open. These gates are the Wei-Qi - the protective energy that circulates under your skin. In some people, this Wei-Qi is as strong as a fortress wall. The wind bounces off it. For others, it's full of holes like an old fishing net.“

Dr. Weber: „This is consistent with what we know about the immune system. People with allergies often have a more permeable mucosal barrier—the ‚wall‘ is less impermeable. And the immune system is more likely to overreact.“

Why now?

The Yellow Emperor: „Why do these complaints occur in spring of all times?“

Qi Bo: „Spring is associated with the Wood element and the liver. Liver qi rises—upward and outward. In people with liver qi stagnation or liver heat, this upward movement intensifies. The heat rises to the head—to the eyes, the nose, and the throat.“

Dr. Weber: „This is also recognized in the West: After a winter with little sunlight, the immune system is often more vulnerable. At the same time, pollen levels in the air rise—the two factors coincide.“

Histamine

The Yellow Emperor: „Dr. Weber, explain to me this ‚histamine‘ you were talking about.“

Dr. Weber: „Histamine is a neurotransmitter that our bodies produce naturally. It’s usually beneficial—it regulates stomach acid, keeps us awake, and dilates blood vessels. During an allergic reaction, too much of it is released.“

The Yellow Emperor: „And what happens then?“

Dr. Weber: „It works in many parts of the body at the same time:“

• In the nose: congestion, mucus, sneezing
• In the eyes: itching, redness, tearing
• On the skin: Itching
• In the head: fatigue, drowsiness — the typical ‚allergy fog‘

Why some react and others don't

The Yellow Emperor: „That confuses me: two people breathe the same air. One suffers, the other doesn't notice anything. Why?“

Qi Bo: „Your Majesty, it has to do with one’s constitution. People with weak lung qi and wei qi are more susceptible. The same is true for those with a weak spleen—because the spleen generates qi and transforms dampness.“

Dr. Weber: „Genetics also play a role—allergies often run in families. And the environment: Children who grow up on farms are less likely to have allergies—their immune systems learn early on what is harmless. This is known as the ‚hygiene hypothesis.‘“

The Three Key Organs: Liver, Lungs, and Spleen

The Yellow Emperor: „You’ve shown me how to calm the Guardian for now. But what about the root cause? Why is the Guardian so hypersensitive around some people?“

Qi Bo: „Majesty, the answer lies in three organ systems. The liver, the lungs and the spleen - when these three harmonize, the wind bounces off like rain on an oiled umbrella.“

Dr. Weber: „That’s remarkably consistent! The liver is involved in histamine breakdown. The lungs represent the mucous membranes—our first line of defense. And the intestines, which TCM associates with the spleen, are home to a large part of our immune system.“

Qi Bo: „And every person has a different imbalance. One person's eyes burn and they are irritable - that's liver heat. Another person has a runny nose and is cold - that's lung weakness. In the third, the head is heavy and the nose is blocked - that's spleen dampness.“

The Yellow Emperor: „So there isn't just ONE way that works for everyone?“

Dr. Weber: „Exactly. The symptoms are similar, but the underlying causes are different for each person.“

Qi Bo: „Those who know their roots will find their way. The connections are too complex to cover in a single conversation, Your Majesty. That is why we have written them down in detail—including a self-assessment for identifying one’s personal pattern, the five pillars, and the most important acupressure points.“

👉 Read the complete guide to pollen season

Wisdom to take away

The Yellow Emperor: „So an allergy is not fate, but an imbalance?“

Qi Bo: „That’s right, Your Majesty. The body has forgotten how to distinguish friend from foe. Our task is not to fight the ‚enemy‘—pollen will always be in the air. Our task is to train the guardian.“

Dr. Weber: „And the great thing is: the immune system is malleable. With patience and the right habits, you can make a big difference. Not overnight, but step by step.“

The Yellow Emperor: „Then may the wind blow gently and the Wei-Qi be strong. Spring is too beautiful to miss!“

Preview April

The Yellow Emperor: „In April, we'll focus on spring—how the body regains its energy after winter.“

Qi Bo: „We will talk about the liver - the great cleansing organ of TCM.“

Dr. Weber: „I'll explain what happens in the body when we treat it well after winter.“

About our „3 Wise Men“ story

Who are the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo?

The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, 黄帝) is said to have lived around 2600 BC and is regarded as the mythical founder of Chinese culture and medicine. Qi Bo was his most important advisor and personal physician. Their discussions about health, illness and human nature were recorded in the most important fundamental work of TCM.

The book: Huangdi Neijing

The „Huangdi Neijing“ (黄帝内经), also known as „The Yellow Emperor - The Fundamental Work of Traditional Chinese Medicine“, was probably written between 200 BC and 200 AD. It is the oldest surviving work of Chinese medicine and consists of dialogues between the Yellow Emperor and his advisors - mainly Qi Bo.

This work is to TCM what the Bible is to Christianity: the absolute foundation. All the important concepts - yin and yang, the 5 elements, qi, meridians and acupuncture points - are systematically described here for the first time.

Our modern approach: The 3 wise men

In our series „The 3 Sages“, we bring the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo together with the fictional modern doctor and microbiologist Dr. Weber.

Important note: All three characters and their conversations are purely fictitious and invented by us.

We use this narrative form, similar to the dialog form in the book Huangdi Neijing, to convey the often complex relationships of TCM in an understandable and entertaining way. When the 4000-year-old emperor is confronted with modern science, enlightening „aha moments“ arise which show that ancient wisdom and new research often speak the same language: Ancient wisdom and new research often speak the same language - just in different words.

This makes TCM lively, understandable and practically applicable for your everyday life.

The dialogs are creative interpretations - not historical documents. For medical questions, please consult a qualified TCM therapist or doctor.