They might make you sneeze, make you cough, your eyes to water, your skin to itch and your nose to run.{{more}} What are “They?” They are allergies, diseases of the immune system that cause a reaction to substances called “allergens” and they affect one out of every five Americans.
When most of us sneeze, we put it down to a cold or even an allergy, and our first thoughts are to pop an antihistamine pill, not to call a chiropractor! But did you know that a chiropractor could help you overcome your allergy problems?
Most people associate chiropractors with back and neck issues, and while it’s true that chiropractors can help with such neuromuscular skeletal conditions, but they can also help the body achieve optimum health by maintaining proper spinal alignment.
The purpose of our immune system is to fight against viruses, disease, infections and to also drive out foreign contaminants that enter the body.
When we sneeze because of an allergy, it’s because our body detects the presence of a foreign object in the system, such as dust, mites, pollen, etc. and it produces chemicals to neutralize and expel the allergens.
These chemicals are known as histamines. In the case of allergies, the immune system overreacts to the presence of the allergens in the body.
When the immune system is not operating properly, it can fail to recognize and remove actual harmful substances, and it can mistake harmless substances as being dangerous, thereby overreacting to allergens. It is also unable to fight infections properly.
Traditional allergy treatments only address the symptoms of allergic reactions. Chiropractors provide a more holistic/natural approach to neutralizing allergens in the body by first looking at the spine.
Hippocrates is noted for saying, “In sickness, first look at the spine.” A chiropractor treats the patient by assessing the whole spine and finding areas that are subluxated (misaligned vertebrae) and adjust these areas, freeing the stresses on the nerves in that area, resulting in the immune system to work more effectively.
As a result, allergies are reduced. Patients with misaligned spinal vertebra may have pinched nerves, which apply pressure and stress the nervous system.
Once the impinged nerve is released, the nervous system in general is free from stress and the body can then work more effectively to neutralize the allergy-causing chemicals found in the body.
A few things to take out from this article is the more you get adjusted the better your body will function.
Getting adjusted a couple of times through-out the year will not give you long lasting results against allergies. Getting your spine checked and adjusted regularly is as beneficial to the body as is good nutrition and exercise.
A chiropractor can help the body to achieve optimal health and can help to improve the quality of your life!
Dr. David Durso, D.C. is a board certified chiropractor in the state of Connecticut. For more information visit advancedspineandsport.com or call for an appointment at 203-553-9300.