It’s that time of year again, the time of watering eyes, runny noses, sneezing, itching, and general discomfort when venturing outside. Now as Oregonians, we want to enjoy every second of the two or three weeks of nice weather we’ll get, even if that means a swollen face and constant scratching for the time being. The great thing though, is that as a chiropractic patient you’re already on your way to lessening the effects that allergies have on your beautiful Oregon summer.
How, you might ask? Because of the chiropractic care you are currently receiving. A little-known side effect of chiropractic treatment is a body’s reduction in allergic responses. You see, adjustments help keep your body operating at peak performance by working on the nervous system, and current research shows that there is a direct link between the nervous system and the immune system. The body’s immune system helps prevent disease and infection, dealing with stress and overall well-being. The immune system also attacks foreign substances in the body such as dust, pollution, dead cells, etc.
With the use of adjustments, chiropractors are able to remove nerve interference and allow the immune system to work optimally. If an immune system is not operating effectively, there can be negative consequences such as:
- Failure to recognize and remove abnormal cells (including potentially cancerous)
- Inability to fight infections
- Overreaction to things such as medicines, foods, pollen, bee stings, etc.
- Depression of the system, making you more vulnerable to disease
Out of all of these, allergic reactions are the most frequent immune disorders and happen when the body’s immune system overreacts to allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and more. The response is that the body overproduces neutralizing chemicals to correct the problem.
The frustrating thing about allergies is that there isn’t a specific culprit for why each person is allergic to a variety of things. Some say it could be our increasingly sterile environment or the overuse of antibiotics and vaccinations. The general idea though, is that our immune system works best when fighting off disease, parasites, and bacteria on its own. There have been a few studies done that show this, proving that children who grow up on farms and are exposed to dirt, animals, and the germ-filled outdoor environment, have fewer allergies that those who are not. Because of this, most of us have allergies.
When trying to rid yourself of allergies, normal treatments deal with the symptoms; stopping the runny nose & itchy eyes, but do not deal with the cause. This is because western medicine doesn’t have a cure for allergies. Even worse, daily antihistamines can be very bad for your health. A recent study conducted by Canadian researcher Lorne Brandes and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, produced research showing that certain antihistamines (Claritin, Hismanal, and Atarax) make cancerous tumors grow faster in lab rodents.
So, how does the chiropractic care you’re getting help? The answer is simple. Chiropractic adjustments release stress on the patient’s nervous system. This allows the immune system to operate more effectively, which is beneficial for everyone, especially those with allergies. The chiropractic approach is to remove subluxations, which are misaligned spinal vertebra pinching a nerve. Subluxations place stress on the nervous system. Free from nervous system stress, your body will work more effectively to neutralize the allergy-causing chemicals in your environment. If you’ve just started treatment, pay attention this summer and see how your allergies compare to what they were before seeing Dr. Beebe. The results may just surprise you!
Research cited and Source Article written by Dr. Hans
Beebe Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located in Tigard, OR within the Portland Metro area. Dr. Daniel Beebe cares for patients with sports, work & auto injuries, neck pain & lower back pain, headaches & migraines, chronic pain, scoliosis and more. For more information visit BeebeChiro.com.
For the complaint of sore muscle or backache a chiropractor is simply the best choice. A chiropractor will be more cost effective in the long run as well. A chiropractor will decide whether the complaint is beyond their scope of practice and refer to a MD if necessary.