Allergies + Chiropractic
Is your nose itching? The old saying is that if your nose is itching, someone is going to kiss you.. Realistically, it could mean many things, but most commonly, it is from an allergen or something that causes allergies.
What some may not know is that allergies are actually an overactive immune response to a perceived threat that can be harmless, but also, not so much.
Spring time brings out a series of pollen that creates an allergic reaction that causes itchy nose, watery eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose and even a sore throat.
There are many over the counter remedies and even several prescription remedies, but most of them are designed as antihistamines. These block histamines that the body produces to attack the perceived threat. So in reality, it is actually stopping your immune system from working and leaving you more susceptible to other threats such as bacteria or viruses thus creating a common scenario of allergies and a cold.
Then when you stop taking the antihistamine, you end up having a rebound effect and your body says hold on, we don’t have to produce more histamine!
So what is a Holistic way to limit allergies?
One way is to be the boy in a bubble, not go outside and filter all of your air to remove the allergens, but that’s not a realistic way to live your life.
The second option is to work on your immune system so it does not perceive the allergens as a threat. Most scientific health literature is pointing towards a healthy gut as the best way to improve your health, and I could not agree more. With the many fad diets out there, most are geared to lose weight and not so much to help your health. I believe we need to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meats and grains. We also need to balance the healthy bacteria in our gut. There are many great probiotics on the market today that can help with this; simply eating yogurt is not enough anymore.
Another key component is water, water, water. Drinking coffee, tea and soda do not hydrate the body, they dehydrate it. Bioflavonoid such as Quercetin, Vitamin C, and antioxidants such as CoQ10 help to improve the immune system and limit allergies. Taking bee pollen as well as local honey has also been said to help limit allergies! You can also never go wrong with a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to help reduce mucus and cleanse the lymphatic system. Many also swear by the neti-pot because it is effective in washing out the nasal cavity getting rid of the allergens.
All of these are great tools to help limit allergies, however; if you do not have a proper functioning central nervous system that controls every cell, tissue and organ in the body, you are limited in the effectiveness of any remedy even pharmaceuticals.
Getting a regular wellness check by a chiropractor is the only way to determine if your central nervous system is out. Chiropractors are the only ones trained to fine tuning the spine to allow your central nervous system to function at its optimum. When your nervous system is working properly than the allergies tend to diminish over time.
It is vital if you suffer from allergies to get to your chiropractor at least a month before allergy season starts to get a tune up for your nervous system, especially if you have not been getting regular wellness checks all year. Then, you can start some of the natural remedies listed above.
Written by Dr. Eric Evans
Evans Chiropractic 