When Allergies Attack

Seasonal allergies are one of the most rapidly growing health concerns today, affecting 50 million people in America each year. People of all ages, regions, races, occupations, and socio-economic areas are reportedly affected by allergies in their daily life. Studies show that about 25 percent of the population suffers from spring and fall allergies when mold, tree, grass, and flower pollens are carried in the air.

So what is an allergy, and what causes us to suffer from them so badly?

An allergic reaction is an immune system directed response to an inert and harmless foreign substance. This widespread reaction of the body is an overreaction to an otherwise harmless situation.

While an immune reaction to a foreign invader (i.e. a fever to kill a virus) is a sign of a healthy immune system, a strong reaction to a whiff of grass or flower pollen indicates a weakened immune system.

Traditional medicine and natural medicine view allergies in very different ways. The traditional medical view is that the allergy is a result of the patient simply being exposed to an innocuous substance. Treatment under this model focuses on reducing the body’s exposure to the allergen and allowing the body to become use to the allergen as a way of reducing the allergic reaction.

Natural medicine, on the other hand, views allergies as a result of the patient’s weakened immune system. Treatment focuses on improving the immune system, allowing the body to better differentiate between what is dangerous and what is inert.

In the next post, I’ll tell you various ways that you can treat allergies naturally. If you put them into practice, you could greatly change your allergy-season experience this year! And be sure to check out our free “When Allergies Attack” class Thursday, March 28, at 6:00pm at our Downtown Roanoke chiropractic office. Email us to reserve your spot.