Homberg Chiropractic & Wellness

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Allergies

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may have already struggled through the last month of allergy season.Trees and Grass PollensEast Tennesseans start struggling with tree and grass pollens as early as March.These two, along with weed pollen and mold spores, are the four most common triggers. And this isn’t just affecting a few people. Over 17 million adults were diagnosed in 2014—and nearly 7 million children.Seasonal Allergies ExplainedThe quick and easy explanation is that airborne pollen or mold from trees, grasses, flowers and weeds enters the body, causing an allergic reaction. The body reacts by produces antibodies; these antibodies travel to the cells that produce histamines. And finally, the histamines are known to cause itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and stuffy nose.Downside to Allergy MedicationsThe go-to for many people with terrible allergies is medications like antihistamines and decongestants. But even these medications have side effects. Common side effects of drugs like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Clarinex, Allegra and Claritin include:

  • Drowsiness and confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Restlessness or moodiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Dry mouth

Chiropractic Adjustments and Natural Allergy SolutionsThere are several things you can do to get rid of allergy symptoms naturally:

  • Change your furnace filters regularly—and choose a higher quality HEPA filter if possible
  • Add some houseplants; some of the best anti-pollutant plants are English ivy, African Violets and phalaenopsis
  • Use a Neti pot to clean out your sinuses
  • Track pollen levels or set pollen alerts on www.pollen.com
  • Keep up with your chiropractic care
    • Adjustments can increase immune resistance
    • Sinus manipulation can help with congestion
    • Many patients report a vast improvement with allergy symptoms