Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture Ah, fall…such a wonderful season. For many people, the cooler weather means football, pumpkin spice goodies, and warm cozy sweaters. But for others, fall means allergies. Allergy symptoms vary for each person. For some patients the frequent sneezing is the worst part; for others, it’s the itchy eyes and excessive amounts of mucus. Many people try every over-the-counter allergy medication they can find, yet still don’t find relief. If you’re one of the 40 million US individuals that suffer from allergies, you know the discomfort they can lead to. In some people, allergies can even lead to headaches and migraines, as well as ear infections and asthma attacks. If you count yourself as one of the masses for whom medications don’t seem to help, you may be interested in learning about the ways that allergies can be treated holistically through chiropractic care, nutritional programs, and herbal supplements. Causes of Allergies and Common Remedies Allergies are frequently caused by pollen, pet dander, dust, and mold. For most people, pollen is the major cause of allergies during seasonal changes. Allergen exposure causes antibodies to release histamine, which leads to all those annoying symptoms. (Over the counter medications are sometimes referred to as antihistamines.) There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing an over the counter (OTC) allergy medication. Some of the most popular OTC medications include: Allegra, Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Flonase nasal spray. Some patients treat their allergy symptoms by using eye drops and hot tea, or nasal irrigation. If you prefer not to take medication to manage your allergies, you can start with a neti pot or nasal irrigator, which flushes out the allergens that enter the body through the nose. This will not affect the histamine response right away, but less ingestion of the allergens through the nasal passage may lead to a lessening of symptoms. Another popular remedy for seasonal allergies is to take a daily dose of a locally made honey. When you take a daily teaspoon of honey that is made in the same environment your body is responding to, you slowly become less sensitive to the pollen that causes your allergic response. Eventually your body becomes more used to the pollen and does not create such an extreme histamine response. Your Spine and Allergies Many of my patients are shocked when they find out that their spine can play a significant role in allergy flare-ups. When allergens are present, the body attempts to get rid of what it recognizes as toxins. However, when the spine is misaligned, communication to the immune system is blocked. The result is allergies. When you think about the fact that the spine controls the flow of information from the brain to all the other parts of the body, it really isn’t so surprising that a poorly aligned spine can interrupt the flow of critical messages. In my own holistic practice, I use chiropractic care and acupuncture to help my patients manage their allergies. Manual and mechanical techniques relieve pressure and realign the spine through musculoskeletal manipulation. Depending on the severity of the misalignment and blocked communication, some patients actually experience allergy relief after just one session. Other patients require multiple chiropractic sessions to effectively correct their allergy issue. Dr. Cody Doyle practices holistic and integrative medicine in Roanoke, Texas. His patients come to him from all over the North Texas area, including Justin, Grapevine, Southlake, Keller, NRH, and Trophy Club. Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture
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