Seasonal Allergies And Chiropractic Care

Its allergy season again… you don't have to suffer!

Seasonal allergies, or hay fever, are the physical symptoms people can experience during certain times of the year. These symptoms can include coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Frequently, seasonal allergies flare when molds release their spores in order to reproduce, or when plants release pollen grains into the air in order to fertilize other plants. Allergies are indicative of an immune system that is out of balance. Chiropractic care can help you beat seasonal allergies once and for all!

The symptoms and severity of seasonal allergies will depend on the individual's specific immune response to the particular allergens. There are three types of pollen that can cause allergy symptoms. These include trees, grasses, and weeds which means there are three 'pollen seasons.' Pollen grains are small particles that help plants reproduce. In some species of plants, self-pollination occurs with pollen from its own flowers, but other types must be cross-pollinated, meaning pollen must be transferred from one plant to another plant of the same species. The types of pollen that most frequently cause allergic reactions are produced by plants that don't have flowers, so they must produce small, light, and dry grains that are transported by wind.

In Massachusetts, trees begin to pollinate by the end of March to early April, while grass pollinates from May through July and weeds pollinate from August through October. If you struggle with stronger symptoms during one of these periods of the year, your body is indicating that it is struggling with at least one of the types of pollen grains. Mold spores can cause year-round symptoms of allergies, but their activity tends to increase between mid-summer through the fall before it decreases again.

An immune system out of Balance

Seasonal allergies occur when the immune system is out of balance. When a major stress to the body occurs, it can impact the function of the immune system. Many young individuals never develop a normal immune response because of bodily stress, and are thus prone for the rest of their lives to allergic reactions. An immune insult can also throw an adult's immune system out of whack.

Physical trauma to the upper cervical spine is one common immune insult that can occur from fall, an auto accident, or even poor posture or sleeping habits. This trauma can lead to an upper cervical (neck) subluxation, which puts pressure on the brain stem. Upper cervical subluxations frequently throw the immune system out of balance, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Beating seasonal allergies

Frequently, allergies are treated with medications such as antihistamines, inhalers, and anti-inflammatory medications. While these medications temporarily treat the symptoms and provide a period of relief, they don't fix the root cause of allergies, and are thus unable to provide a long-term solution.

Chiropractic care helps by removing upper cervical subluxations in order to restore proper spinal alignment and neurological function to the nervous system. Our chiropractic care includes very specific and gentle adjustments that release the pressure on the brain stem, which can help you beat allergies forever!