Allergic rhinitis can be triggered by a variety of relatively harmless substances such as pollen, dust, mold, or animal dander. Usually, allergic rhinitis is seasonal and typically occurs at the same time each year when certain plants are in bloom.

TCM practitioners believe that allergies can be cured. Curing allergies with Chinese medicine requires understanding and re-balancing the underlying patterns of disharmony which differ from person to person. Though several patterns are commonly diagnosed, Wind patterns are almost always part of the diagnosis. Wind is usually combined with another pathogen thereby creating Wind Dampness, Wind Cold, or Wind Heat. Typically, wind patterns occur without warning. In seasonal allergies the most common diagnosis is wind and dampness. This combination produces a sudden onset of symptoms: sneezing, itching eyes and throat, and a heavy sensation in the head, often with a lot of mucus. Acupuncture and herbal remedies have been used for millenia to ease symptoms of airborne allergies.