How Can Chiropractic Help with Allergies?

A nagging allergy can drive you up the wall. The sniffles, sneezes, watery eyes, and scratchy throat are enough to ruin anyone’s day. Sure, medication can do the trick, but perhaps you might consider trying chiropractic care. If you’re struggling with allergies, the knowledgeable team at Evolve Chiropractic of Libertyville can create a personalized treatment plan to help address your woes.

Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free approach to health that focuses on aligning the spine and correcting misalignments (called subluxations). When the spine is in proper alignment, the nervous system – which includes the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves branching out from them – can function optimally. 

And when the nervous system works as it should, the whole body can work properly, too – including the immune system. Sounds great right, right? Well then, how can chiropractic care help you? Read on to find out.

The Link Between a Stressed Immune System and Allergies

The immune system is your body’s defense against infection and disease. When it’s working as it should, it can fight off colds, flu, and other illnesses. However, the system isn’t as effective when it’s out of whack. As such, a stressed immune system is more likely to let allergies sneak in.

How does stress affect the immune system? When you experience stress, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. In other words, it gears up for action. When stress becomes chronic (long-term), the body stays in this heightened state of readiness. This takes a toll on the immune system and makes you more susceptible to allergies and other illnesses.

How Chiropractic Care Helps

Chiropractic treatment can reduce stress and tension in the body, allowing the immune system to function well. In turn, it can alleviate allergy symptoms. Studies show that chiropractic adjustments can help reduce stress hormones in the body and promote a healthy immune response. And that’s not all.

Such care can lessen the frequency of allergy symptoms, as well as their severity. To drive the point home, let’s examine how the medication works to relieve allergy symptoms. 

For starters, antihistamines block histamine – a natural substance released when your body comes in contact with an allergen. This can help to lessen the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a runny nose or itchy eyes. 

However, antihistamines don’t treat the underlying cause of allergies. As such, they mostly provide short-term relief. Plus, you have to keep taking them to get the desired effect.

In contrast, chiropractic care can help correct the root cause of allergies – a misaligned spine. In turn, the entire body can heal itself. How does the magic happen? 

Well, when your immune system is functioning optimally, it doesn’t overreact to allergens, as would be the case with a stressed system. Consequently, a subdued reaction means fewer allergy symptoms for you.

The Focus of Wellness

Is chiropractic care all about spinal alignment? No. Although chiropractors focus on the spine, they look at the whole body to ensure optimal health and wellness. When you visit a chiropractor, they’ll take your medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also order X-rays to assess your spine and determine the presence of subluxations.

You also learn about other aspects, such as how your lifestyle and habits might adversely affect your health. For instance, your chiropractor may recommend exercise to improve your overall health if you have a sedentary lifestyle.

Chiropractors also focus on nutrition and offer advice on diet and nutritional supplements. If allergies have become your middle name, your diet could also be to blame – some foods can worsen allergy symptoms. By working with a chiropractor, you can identify the foods triggering allergic reactions. Then, they can advise you on how to create a healthy, allergy-free diet.

Similarly, stress relief is a key component of chiropractic care. After all, as we’ve seen, stress can take a toll on your health and make you more susceptible to allergies. These variables play a role in optimal health and can help reduce the severity of your condition in no time. And if your well-being improves, so does your quality of life.

A Word of Caution

Talk to your doctor first if you’re considering chiropractic care for allergies. They can help you determine whether this treatment option is ideal for your condition. 

Plus, adopting this approach doesn’t mean ditching conventional forms of treatment. Instead, use chiropractic care to complement other forms of treatment. For instance, you may continue taking medication to relieve allergy symptoms while receiving chiropractic adjustments to help get to the bottom of your issue.

Ultimately, the goal is to find an approach that does the trick. Dealing with allergies can be stressful. But with the right treatment, you can finally achieve long-lasting relief.