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To understand how allergies might respond to chiropractic treatment, first you need to understand how allergies affect your body. Allergies are the result of an overactive immune system. When unwanted particles enter your body, through eating or breathing, the body responds by attacking them with your immune system. The immune system is made up of all the blood producing and supporting organs, the lymph system and the blood stream. When this system is functioning correctly, the body can defeat most unwanted particles that find their way in. When the immune system is underperforming, these pathogens proliferate and can become disease or chronic illness.

It is also possible for the immune system to be functioning with too much aggression. When this occurs the body overreacts to certain minor exposures, such as shell fish or ragweed, and this tenacity results in an allergic reaction. Severe allergic reactions can result in anaphylactic shock and death.

The most common form of allergies is of the respiratory variety. When pollen, ragweed and dust fill the spring and fall air, many patients react with runny noses, stuffed sinuses and itchy eyes. The traditional treatment for allergies is with an antihistamine such as Claritin. This formula will be seen frequently when comparing the chiropractic approach versus the allopathic approach to treating ailments such as these. The allopathic formula is often: cause, reaction, treat the reaction. The chiropractic formula is: cause, reaction, treat the cause.

Before we begin describing how chiropractic may be helpful in treating allergies it should be noted that not all allergy sufferers will respond to chiropractic care. If you are presently undergoing medical treatment for your allergies please listen to your doctor's advice before changing any prescriptions.

The chiropractic approach works with the premise that the immune system is under authority control by the brain and nervous system. The communication pathways lie in the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves that exit the spine at every level. Misalignments in the spine can cause a miscommunication in this pathway. Confused information traveling back and forth from the brain to the immune centers may result in an overactive immune system and allergic type reactions. Chiropractic care works to remove these interferences, allowing communication to be strong and clear. This has been very effective in helping patients with their allergy reactions.

For more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our chiropractors to see if treatment might help with your allergies please contact us today.

Written by Dr. David Sandefur
