In Virginia, late February to summer tends to be the worst for allergy sufferers. According to an article from VirginiaENT.com: “Tree pollens such as oak, maple, and river birch are blooming during this time. The dry wind we see in early spring will spread allergens and raise the pollen count.” To make matters worse, there is evidence that pollen season is getting longer thanks to climate change.

A “cun” (also called a “body inch”) is a relative unit of measurement used in traditional Chinese medicine to locate acupuncture points on the body.

I began receiving regular acupuncture treatments in my early 20s. At first the medicine felt mystifying, almost magical. As I continued to receive treatments I began to recognize a pattern between what I would tell my acupuncturist and where the needles would be placed.