With allergy season upon us, it is a good time to remind everyone that chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive form of healthcare that can help relieve the symptoms of allergies. By adjusting the spine, chiropractors can help improve the communication between the brain and the body, and open up the drainage canals for the sinuses which can lead to a number of benefits for people with allergies. We have lost count of the amount of people who have reported an improvement in allergies when they started chiropractic care.
Now, there are several ways that chiropractic care can help with allergies. First, the obvious. By improving the alignment of the spine, chiropractors can help reduce the stress on the nervous system. The nervous system is intimately connected to the immune system and regulates immune function and pathogens’ responses against host tissues. Because of this relationship, this can help improve the body’s ability to fight off allergens. Improved spinal alignment and muscle relaxation in the neck also allow for the body to more easily drain the sinuses to relieve that pressure in your head.
Second, chiropractic adjustments can help increase the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord. When the CSF is flowing properly, it can help the body remove toxins and waste products that can contribute to allergies. Here is an amazing video showing the flow of CSF on an MRI before and after a chiropractic adjustment
Third, chiropractic adjustments can help reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a major component of the allergic response. It is a natural response in which the immune system attempts to bring the body back into homeostasis (ideal balance). By sending white blood cells and other immune cells to an area, the immune system is able to foil the attempts of invading bacteria, viruses, debris, etc. by attempting to minimize the possibility of infection. By reducing inflammation, chiropractic care can help to relieve the symptoms of allergies.
Now for a personal story. As a child, Dr. Rick dealt with seasonal allergies like pollen, and also was extremely allergic to long-haired cats. He would resort to OTC options like Robitussin to deal with the symptoms. This was his and his parents’ only known option for many years.
Fast forward a few years to when he was trying to decide what career path to pursue, Dr. Rick was introduced to the possibility of chiropractic as an option. This led to him volunteering in a chiropractic office one summer. As this was happening, he was also dating his now wife, who was taking summer classes a few hours away. She was living in a small trailer with her long-haired cats. The two would take turns visiting each other every 2-3 weeks that summer. Whenever Dr. Rick went to visit, almost immediately upon entering the trailer, his allergies would kick in. At the same time, while volunteering in the chiropractic office, he was beginning to receive chiropractic care. He began to notice with each subsequent visit to see his wife, that the cats were not bothering him like before. He asked the chiropractor how this could be, and was given information much like what we shared above. This was life-changing, because for as long as he could remember he would avoid cats. To finish the story, it was not really until the following Spring that he began to see that pollen was not as much of an issue for him. Just by adding regular chiropractic care to the routine, he was able to find relief from allergies he had dealt with his entire life. Now, 20+ years later, Dr. Rick no longer deals with seasonal allergies and has had many cats in the household without issue.
In summary, chiropractic is effective when it comes to allergies for 3 major reasons:
1. It helps reduce stress on the nervous system
2. It helps increase the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
3. It helps reduce inflammation
Needless to say, we now know that chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to relieve the symptoms of allergies. In some cases it can even help eliminate the allergies completely. If you are looking for a natural, non-invasive treatment for your allergies, chiropractic care may be a good option for you.
You may already know, but here at WNC Chiropractic, we also carry many supplements and natural therapeutic options for our practice members.
Follow this video
as Dr. Jenn explains some of the things we carry in the office that we have found to be effective for allergies.
If you are interested in learning more about how chiropractic care can help with allergies, please contact our office and we will be happy to help you.
It’s time to take back your Spring!