As with headaches, people typically reach for pharmaceuticals when they are suffering from allergies. While these medications help to relieve itchy eyes, scratchy throats and other allergy symptoms, they don’t help with the root cause of many allergies.
Researchers have warned that environmental changes such as air pollution and rising temperatures will continue to propel allergy levels to “epidemic proportions with reduced quality of life for patients, lower productivity, and increasing medical costs.” And the medical costs are nothing to sneeze at. Between medications, doctor visits and sick days from work, allergies cost Americans more than $3 billion each year. Worldwide, people spend $8 billion a year on allergy drugs alone.
Allergic reactions are the result of an overactive immune system. Usually, the immune system fights these irritants far more ferociously than needed. The most common allergies are pollen, grass, dust mites, mold, and weeds. These irritants trigger a production of antibodies called immunoglobulin which triggers the release of histamines which can then lead to the symptoms of itching, sneezing, and possibly nausea and vomiting.
Although the immune system is capable of fighting harmful invaders of the human body, it can be weakened from stress and physical pain, poor diet, and lack of exercise. A strained immune system can overreact to allergens, causing an allergic reaction.
A healthy and functioning immune system can help to minimize allergic reactions.
Please don’t misunderstand this – allergies can be serious and life-threatening, and it is important to seek responsible, professional medical care. Regular adjustments can help to support a healthy nervous and immune system, regulate stress hormones, and support the respiratory system, which in turn, can improve your overall health and reduce your need for pharmaceutical intervention.
