Now you Know about Chiropractic!

Chiropractic and Allergies

Posted: April 21, 2014
By: Dr Bryn Gillow

Spring is finally here!  It is a gorgeous time of the year when the snow has finally melted, flowers are blooming, and kids can't wait to play outside after school.  Unfortunately, many of us associate spring with one thing.  Allergies. 

 

            Allergies are nothing more than our immune system overreacting to an allergen.  Why is it that two different people can be living in the same house, breathing the same air, drinking the same water, and eating the same food, yet only one of them suffers from allergies?  To answer that, let's first examine how our immune system works.  The job of the immune system is to keep you healthy by recognizing and eliminating bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen, and other microscopic debris from the body.  How well your immune system works depends on your nervous system, endocrine system, genetics, diet and even emotions.  When the immune system overreacts to a particular allergen, it creates histamines, which symptomatically present as runny noses and eyes, redness, irritation, and stuffy sinuses. 

            There is no cure for allergies.  Historically, the orthodox medical profession has done a decent job trying to control the symptoms, which is not the same as curing the cause.  Main drug of choice being anti-histamines which dry up the mucous membranes and help to control the symptoms, however can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, restlessness and moodiness in children, blurred vision and confusion among other less common side effects.  Many allergy sufferers are constantly looking for new ways in lieu, or in addition to their current medical treatment for allergies.

            Chiropractic care has been utilized by thousands of Americans with allergies who often reported improvement in symptoms with regular care.  Just like mainstream medicine, chiropractic is not a cure for allergies.  Chiropractors locate, analyze and correct misalignments of the spine and reduce irritation to the nervous system.  This in turn allows the nervous system to communicate better with the immune system and in many cases reduces allergy symptoms and improves pulmonary function.  Speak with your chiropractor about how chiropractic adjustment can improve your quality of life!

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