Q: It is almost allergy season and I am already dreading going outside.

What can I do to stop my allergy reactions this year?

A: Let’s define what an allergy is first. Allergic reactions occur when the body perceives allergens (whatever the body is reacting to) as poison. When the body malfunctions and registers pollen, dust etc. as toxic, the immune system secretes a defense chemical called histamine. When histamine is released, the lining of the nose begins to swell. Symptoms may include watery, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, swelling of the sinuses causing congestion, and heavy pressure headaches.

The real question is why some people react to the allergens while others exposed to the exact same allergens have no ill effects. The answer is that the immune system is directly connected to the nervous system. When the body is exposed to allergens it sends immediate messages to the brain to combat these invaders. If the immune system is suppressed or over taxed by other destructive activity, it will not be able to balance the effect of the invaders.

A major cause of disrupted pathways that carry communications to and from the brain to the immune system is a vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is where the spinal vertebrae are misaligned or fixated out of their normal position. The delicate nerves, which run the channels in the spinal column, can become irritated or compressed and unable to communicate information correctly. This theory explains why the immune system reads pollen as poison. The information isn’t being transmitted correctly.

Fixing the misaligned vertebrae may fix the allergic reactions that are causing you so much pain and trouble. Chiropractors specialize in correcting vertebral subluxations. I am sure you could predict what my suggestion to you is for preventing a bad allergy season this year.

Quote of the week: "A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience."

Oliver Wendell Holmes