By Dr. Megan Touron
Spring is in the air, and with it, pollen is back! For some, the smell of spring is invigorating, but for many, the pollen induced seasonal allergies bring a dread of the outdoors.
Medications are being pulled out of the cupboard as preparations are made to be bombarded by pollen. This may seem like a way of life, but are there any other solutions to these allergies?
Let’s start by digging into what is causing these allergies.
What are seasonal allergies?
Allergies are the immune system’s reaction to foreign substance in the body that wouldn’t cause a reaction for most people. When this reaction occurs, your immune system produces antibodies to fend off the seemingly harmful invaders.
The effects of this are inflammation of the skin, sinuses, airways or digestive systems (1). Seasonal allergies are generally thought of hay fever and cause sneezing, itchy or runny nose, and puffy or swollen watery eyes.
Why do we get allergies?
There are a few theories out there, however, no one knows for sure. The Hygiene Theory proposes that the immune system reacts to harmless substances because there aren’t enough harmful ones to teach our bodies to discriminate.
Another theory is that allergens have certain proteins that resemble those in parasitic worms and the reaction is a defense mechanism since these worms have such a harmful effect on the body.
Where did this theory come from? Well it turns out that our bodies reaction to parasitic worms is that same as the reaction to allergies. Neither of these theories would truly explain why some people have allergies and others don’t. An alternative theory is that the allergens are not harmless and are instead shredding our cells to pieces. The reaction is just the body’s response to expel toxic molecules (2). Now that we know what may be the cause, let’s get to the real question!
Can chiropractic care relief seasonal allergies?
Chiropractic care has been shown to increase the number of CD4 cells in your body. C4D cells are your body’s natural defense against pathogens, infections, and illnesses (3). One study that was published in 2004 showed the immune boosting results for a group of individuals suffering from allergies after they began getting spinal adjustments (5).
Another case study was completed on an 8 year old female who suffered from severe allergies, hay fever and left hip pain for at least six years. After a series of four chiropractic adjustments removing the subluxations of the neck and low back with postural modifications, the child no longer suffered from hip pain, her allergies had improved and blood testing revealed her levels of Immunoglobulin E (antibodies that release chemicals to elicit an allergic reaction) had been reduced (4).
In conclusion there does seem to be a correlation between chiropractic care and seasonal allergy relief.
If you’re interested in hearing from someone who tried chiropractic care to alleviate allergies, click here!
If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out!
If you’d like to learn more, here are some other great posts you may enjoy:
5 Biggest Problems With Chiropractic and Their Solutions
Why Does Chiropractic Care Require More Than One Visit?
How Much Does a Chiropractic Visit Cost?
*This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Meghan Touron and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Touron does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area specifically in Collegedale, TN, a short distance from Ooltewah, Cleveland, East Brainerd, East Ridge, Ringgold, Apison, and Harrison.
Sources:
(1) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/symptoms-causes/syc-20351497 (2) https://mosaicscience.com/story/why-do-we-have-allergies/
(3) https://reachhealthandwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/attachments/rs80.pdf The Effects of Specific Upper Cervical Adjustments on the CD4 Counts of HIV Positive Patients Jeffrey L. Selano, Brett C. Hightower, Bruce Pfleger, Karen Freeley Collins, John
(4) http://chiropractic.prosepoint.net/149883 New Research Sheds Light on Chiropractic, Allergies & Immunity | The Chronicle of Chiropractic
Recent research reporting on improvement on an 8 year old girl undergoing chiropractic care reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in managing children with allergies and immunity related issues.
(5) http://chiropracticadvocate.com/the-amazing-link-between-allergies-and-chiropractic/
