New Appraoch To Seasonal Allergies!

Spring, ah seasonal allergies!The perfect time of year to close all the windows, use your air conditioner, air purifier and avoid the outside for two months while the yellowish-green haze of pollen permeates your yard, clothes and hair. This is the reality of many (not all) who suffer from seasonal allergies. Plus, the obligatory stock up of supplies to fight the symptoms of seasonal allergies; the nasal decongestants, anti-histamines, headache medications, and a variety of nasal sprays. 

For people who have asthma that is aggravated by seasonal allergies, of course the increased use of asthma medication, and rescue inhalers. This is what has been commonly employed by people who suffer from seasonal allergies. To many fighting the symptoms of seasonal allergies has helped deal with the dreaded season of spring!

New approach to seasonal allergies.

As you know your immune system is tasked with protecting your body from foreign invaders - in this case pollen, rag weed, etc. Did you know that your immune system is controlled and coordinated by your nervous system - your brain and spinal cord? It is your job of your nervous system to perceive or sense the environment you're in (your back yard sneezing your head off) and then command, direct your other systems of your body (your immune system) to respond appropriately. 

In general, this is how your body responds to the dreaded pollen! Most of the time folks who suffer from seasonal allergies have a nervous system that is not functioning at optimal and is not giving the correct directions to your immune system, this causes your immune system to respond to pollen in extremes, instead of measured appropriate responses.   Which as many have experienced, symptoms of; watery eyes, headaches, nasal congestion, trouble breathing, etc.

The new approach to seasonal allergies is two-fold:

1. Make sure your nervous system is adapting at 100% or as close to 100% as possible, so it can properly direct your immune system to respond appropriately (not responding in a way that makes you want to cut your head off your shoulders)
   
   
2. Make sure your immune and nervous system have the essential building blocks for optimal function.

How to carry out this new approach for seasonal allergies?

• First, is to have your nervous system checked. This is easily done by a Structural Chiropractor. We look for abnormal deviations in your spine that can obstruct your nervous system which can cause problems adapting your body to your environment.  We look at the angles of your spine and compare your spine to well-known normal ranges, if your spine is outside these normal ranges this is an indicator of a compromised mal adapting nervous system that often does influence abnormal responses from your immune system.
  
  
• Support your immune system and nervous system (brain & spinal cord) with proper nutrition.
  Great foods to add to your diet to support your immune system are the following:BUT BUT BUT BUT.... these foods do not help remove your symptoms they help fortify your nervous and immune systems. In other words with out these foods, your body can not work at optimal.
  
  The list:
  
  
• Omega-3 EPA/DHA and it must be in an amount that is beneficial taking one or two pills a day .. DOES NOT CUT IT!
  PLUS, there are foods to avoid that BLOCK the effectiveness of omega-3. This is easy to understand, many heart meds require you to avoid grapefruit. To get the best out of Omega-3 you must dramatically cut down on Omega-6 foods.
  
  
• Vitamin C   and here is an interesting study http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1578094
  
  
• Avoid dairy
• Avoid soda, including diet soda
• Avoid sugar
• Avoid smoking (no brainer I know, however people still smoke)

Final Thoughts...

The above new approach can be combined with what you are doing for your seasonal allergies. You do not have to stop anything you are doing now to get the benefit of this new approach. Meaning, many of our patients are on medications, and air purifiers while implementing our new approach  have found that with this addition, made what they are doing work better. And that is all that really matters. Many now look forward to spring and breathing in the fresh air.

Have a great Day!

Dr. Chris

 About Advanced Chiropractic...

Advanced Chiropractic is owned and operated by Dr. Chris Chase. Dr. Chris has a direct approach to patient care with a focus on structural correction of the spine, which is a little different than conventional chiropractic care. You can read more about Advanced Chiropractic at or on Twitter or Facebook.