You want to go outside and play tennis with friends, but the allergy season is in full blast, and your allergies have kicked in today. Your over-the-counter medication helps, but you’re still left feeling like the thought of running around a tennis court is no longer appealing. Your friend carries an EpiPen in case of a bee sting. Your daughter wants a dog, but she’s allergic to any dog other than the ones with hair instead of fur. Allergies can really throw a wrench into your pursuit of happiness!
Fifty million Americans are allergy sufferers. That’s millions of hours and days of discomfort, dollars spent on medication, lost work days and wages, missing out on fun outdoors or delicious foods, and, in severe cases, life-threatening conditions.
Allergies can wreak havoc on your life. But what are they? And how do chiropractors fit into the allergy picture? Let’s explore allergies, how they work, and how chiropractic care can be an effective alternative to a traditional treatment plan.
What is an Allergy?
Allergies are equivalent to your body treating a normally harmless substance as a threat and triggering your immune system to take action and expel the unwanted invader. As part of the immune system, receptors in mast cells determine whether something you encounter is harmful or not and release histamine if a threat is detected. Unfortunately, this process can create a long list of possible allergy symptoms that will make your life miserable.
An allergic reaction results not so much from the allergen itself but your body’s interpretation of the substance as harmful.
What Things are People Allergic To?
The most common harmful substances fall into the following categories:
- Plants: several types of plants and pollen
- Foods: nuts, eggs, fish, and several plant foods
- Latex: gloves and other equipment
- Drugs: certain categories of medications
- Insects: stings and bites
- Animals: fur or saliva
- Various types of mold
- Dust mites: tiny creatures that eat the dust formed by the skin cells you shed every day
What are the Main Allergy Symptoms?
In general, mild allergy symptoms affect one area of the body and are considered harmless, moderate symptoms can migrate to multiple body parts, and severe reactions — anaphylaxis — affect the whole body and require emergency care.
Common symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Congested or runny nose
- Itching skin
- Rashes, hives
- Coughing
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Swelling
- Digestive upset
- Pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Breathing problems
Traditional Allergy Treatment
Most medications include antihistamines, decongestants, or nasal steroids in the form of pills and nasal sprays. In addition, immunotherapy, or the allergy shot, is available for more stubborn cases.
Another non-medication treatment is the nasal rinse. It involves flushing your sinuses with a saline solution, which physically removes allergens and mucus from your sinuses. Nasal rinses can reduce nose blowing and inflammation.
Of course, the best ‘treatment’ is to avoid the allergen altogether, when possible.
Can a Chiropractor Help With Allergies?
It doesn’t seem like there could be any connection between what a chiropractor does and allergies, does it? But read on, because there is a helpful, effective connection indeed!
Chiropractors work on the spine, the central nervous system, bones, joints, and surrounding muscles and tissues. The central nervous system is the means by which the brain sends signals down the spinal cord and communicates with the body. It is a major player in the proper functioning of all other bodily functions, including the immune and respiratory systems. However, that system of communication can be disrupted if the spine is misaligned.
A chiropractor can restore alignment and, therefore, full communication pathways between the brain, spinal cord, and immune system. Chiropractic treatments don’t address allergies directly; they clear the way for the body to respond most effectively.
What Chiropractic Treatment Does
You’re only temporarily treating the symptoms when you take medication for your allergies. But a chiropractor’s treatment goes deeper than the surface symptoms by addressing the root of the issue! Chiropractic adjustments alleviate pressure on the nervous system, restoring communication pathways and freeing the immune system to work to its fullest and deal with allergens.
Chiropractic treatment leads to long-term allergy relief in several ways, such as:
- Stress reduction: Stress overburdens hormonal systems, so the body cannot handle allergic reactions efficiently.
- Increased immune response and strengthened respiratory system: Restoring alignment restores that critical communication between brain and body.
- Lifestyle recommendations: A chiropractor will consider your lifestyle and its effect on your allergies and make helpful recommendations.
Chiropractic care does not include medication, so you will be free of the costs and possible side effects associated with a temporary solution that only addresses symptoms!
Overall, chiropractic spinal adjustments balance the nervous system, giving the immune system the strength it needs to control allergic reactions.
Dr. Doerr is the Best Chiropractor for Allergies in New Jersey!
Treat your allergies with a drug-free alternative! At the Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center, our chiropractic team, led by Dr. Gregory Doerr, follows the highest and most professional medical standards to provide superior chiropractic help. Our mission is to provide unparalleled patient care and services in a comfortable healing atmosphere.
Access our contact form or call us at (201) 945-4075 to learn more about our chiropractic services! Our chiropractic offices at 532 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010, and 62 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601 are ready to welcome you as we proudly serve New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD, areas. Also, feel free to access our resource page and our Facebook and Instagram pages for more information on chiropractic treatments!
References
- “Allergies: Symptoms, Reaction, Treatment & Management.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergy-overview. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
- Person, et al. “Can Chiropractic Care Help with Allergies?” Delaware Integrative Healthcare, 9 June 2020, deintegrativehealthcare.com/can-chiropractic-care-help-with-allergies/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
- “The Millard Family Chiropractic and Wellness Blog.” Millard Family Chiropractic and Wellness, www.millardwellness.com/blog/185432-the-amazing-connection-between-allergies-and-chiropractic-care. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
