Chiropractic Care for Allergies

Do you or your loved ones suffer from seasonal allergies? They can be miserable, making us tired and really can hinder our ability to function. So what are allergies beside a big ole ball of misery?
When we experience allergy symptoms, our body is having an abnormal reaction to something (normal) in our environment. Our immune system is on over-drive and is reacting to something natural, like pollen, grass, trees etc. Now food allergies are different, so we will save those for another time.
If you think about it, why would we be allergic to our environment? The environment we live in should be a safe place for our body, not somewhere that makes us cough, sneeze, and have itchy watery eyes and trouble breathing. It is certainly not normal to need a medication to help your body live comfortably in nature and you are not experiencing allergies because of a lack of Claritin or Zyrtec in your system.
Unfortunately, we live in such a way that we have become out of touch with our natural environment. Our bodies are over burdened by toxins, our guts are depleted by decades of antibiotic use, we tend to ignore our bodies' basic needs of resting well, eating well, moving well and drinking enough clean water and we tend to live in a high stress state which promotes high levels of cortisol circulating in our systems, further depleting our immune systems' abilities to protect us and adapt to our surroundings. So what can we do?
We can start with the obvious: eat better, sleep better, hydrate better, and move better. 
Next, we have to work to build up our depleted bodies and give our immune systems the building blocks it needs to function at its best.
What is the number one way to keep your immune system in tip top shape? I bet you can guess where I am going here, that’s right . . . chiropractic adjustments.
By ensuring that the nerve system is properly communicating with your immune system, you will keep it working at its best. It's simple and easy, get adjusted, regularly. You can do lots of amazing things for your body but if your nerve system is not free and clear of interference, it still won't work at its best. Here is a case study to check out if you are a lover of research.
Once you ensure proper nerve function, get good rest, motion and food, there are some further things you can do to teach your body that your environment is safe and it doesn't need to overreact to pollen, trees and grass.

• Local raw honey is amazing! The bees pollenate all the things we become allergic too, by consuming a tablespoon of local raw honey a day you are not only receiving all the health benefits of raw honey but also giving your body bits of the very thing it's reacting to, which helps it to recognize these things as familiar instead of foreign.
• Probiotics are another really helpful tool. Our gut is a major component of our immune system. For generations we have been depleting our gut health with antibiotics and processed chemical laden foods. By taking a quality probiotic you can begin to build your gut health back up, boosting your immunity and making things a lot easier on your body.
• Stinging Nettle can be a big help if you are in an active allergy phase. You can take it in capsules or drink nettle tea. Nettles have a natural anti-inflammatory property and will help your sinuses to chill out.
• Quercetin is a strong antioxidant and decreases inflammation and histamine release.  Excess histamine is a large part of the problem when we are experiencing allergy symptoms.
• Bromelain can be found in pineapple or taken as a supplement. It aids in the body's absorption of Quercetin and helps to reduce allergenic protein complexes in the body.
• N-Acetyl Cysteine helps to decrease mucus and clear airways, improving respiratory health.
• Vitamin C boosts your immune system, has an anti-histamine effect and is a potent antioxidant.
• All of these things will help your immune system regardless, but are especially helpful if you are suffering from allergies!

So make sure you get adjusted regularly, add some quality honey and supplements into your daily routine and don't be afraid to open the windows or go outside this allergy season. Post any questions or comments you have below!