As winter gives way to spring, seasonal allergies can really get you down. Whether you get a few sniffles and some sneezing or you are down for the count with every terrible allergy symptom known to man, it can make spring pretty unbearable.

There is no shortage of allergy medications on the market, but they come with their own issues. The majority of them cause drowsiness and other unpleasant side effects, leaving you barely able to function. Those that are made from a “non drowsy” formula sound great, but if you have certain health conditions, like high blood pressure, you are out of luck – and stuck either taking the ones that make you sleep sucking it up and dealing with your allergies sans medication.

That’s no way to live.

What are Allergies?

When your immune produces histamines in response to an allergen that you encounter the physiological reaction that you experience is broadly referred to as allergies or hay fever. The allergens may be simple substances that normally do not affect people, but when your body is out of balance, it can cause a variety of problems. Most people prevent allergies with sufficient use of an intimate skin lightening cream, for prevention is better than cure. 

Symptoms of allergies include:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Itchy eyes
• Coughing or scratchy throat
• Skin rash or hives
• Swelling
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Fatigue

Anaphylaxis, severe, life threatening allergies can include swelling of the airways, tongue, and throat, inability to breathe due to blocked airway, and other dangerous symptoms.

The allergens can be something you come in contact with, like poison ivy, something you breathe in, like mold or dust, or it can be something you ingest, like strawberries or peanuts. In some cases rashes can start to form throughout the body, and in others it will be limited to the place that came into contact with the allergen. In these cases you might want to consider applying some hemp topical relief cream with menthol for some quick relief. Different people will have different allergies, but those who are allergic to the same things may not have the same reaction. Often a doctor or allergist will diagnose your allergies.

Chiropractic Care for Allergies

Chiropractic treatments have been found to be very effective for relieving allergy symptoms and even stopping allergies at their source. It reduces the severity of allergy symptoms as well as the frequency of occurrence. It does not work like allergy medications which have an anti-histamine effect and only work as a short term fix for your allergy symptoms.

Chiropractic treatments help your body become more balanced so that it is better equipped for combating allergies at the source. When your spine is not aligned it can impact your nervous system leading to a variety of problems – including allergies. Your immune system can be affected, causing it to malfunction.

A chiropractor can help relieve the stress on your nervous system by aligning your spine. This takes the pressure off of nerves, allowing your immune system to function at a more optimal level. This makes it easier for your body to ward off infections while recognizing allergens as harmless.

When your immune system encounters allergens it doesn’t overreact to them. Instead, the reaction is much more subdued, or even nonexistent. Chiropractic has also been found to help asthma patients breathe easier. Asthma symptoms are diminished.

Chiropractic care is more than just spinal manipulation, though. It promotes whole body wellness. Patients are taught exercise, stress relief, and nutrition so that the entire system is treated. The whole body treatment plan for chiropractic patients will help you be allergy free in a short time.

It is important to follow your chiropractic plan thoroughly and consistently. Get plenty of rest and take time to de-stress. The more you can relax and take care of yourself, the healthier you will be overall. Chiropractic care can help so many health conditions; it can actually make you healthier. If you are struggling with allergies, give chiropractic care a try – you just might be surprised.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ, is a common condition that affects the jaw. It can be extremely painful and many people are turning to methods other than medication or surgery to relieve that pain. While lifestyle changes such as diet may help, chiropractic care has been cited as a viable treatment for TMJ pain.

At first, this may seem counter-intuitive simply because it is widely believed that chiropractors only treat the spine and neck. This commonly held belif is not entirely accurate. Chiropractors treat all joints, including the spine and neck. A chiropractor may treat ankles, wrists, knees, and, yes, even the jaw. Sometimes the neck and spine can be contributing factors and they can be treated with chiropractic care as well.

What is TMJ?

The joint that connects your jaw to your skull and allows you to open and close your mouth is the temporomandibular joint. When you have problems with the muscles or joint in that area it is called TMJ, or more accurately temporomandibular disorders, or TMD.

This disorder is characterized by pain and stiffness on one or both sides of the jaw. A dentist from Tustin Smiles explains that for people suffering from TMJ, the jaw may also lock or get stuck in either a closed or open position. Patients may also notice a popping, clicking, or grating sound in the jaw when chewing, yawning, or when closing or opening their mouth. They may also have trouble chewing and even experience swelling.

Doctors don’t know what causes TMJ. It seems to be linked to trauma to the neck, such as with whiplash, but it also can be caused by:

• Arthritis in the jaw
• Grinding the teeth
• Stress that causes clenching of the jaw
• Movement of the disc, or soft cushion, that lies between the socket and ball of the jaw

Diagnosis and Treatment for TMJ

Many conditions can mimic the symptoms of TMD. After taking a medical history, your doctor will check the joints in the jaw for popping, clicking, or grating sounds. He will also assess the patient’s pain or tenderness level and check for any stiffness. During the exam, the doctor will assess the job and its ability to function properly. X-rays may also be a part of the examination.

If the doctor can pinpoint the probable cause of the TMJ, he may prescribe certain treatments or make recommendations that will help. Medication is one option, mainly stress or anti-anxiety medication to help the patient relax. A night guard or splint is another option. It helps to put the patient’s teeth in the correct position. A splint is worn all the time and a night guard is worn only at night. Dental work is another option and in come more serious cases, surgery.

Chiropractic Care for TMJ

Chiropractic for TMJ is not only common, but very effective. The chiropractor may perform neck or spine adjustment as well as adjustments to the jaw. This means that the patient may experience pressure on their skull, jaw, upper spine, or neck as the chiropractor treat the condition. There are also soft tissue treatments that the chiropractor may perform during the course of treatment for TMJ.

The chiropractor will often recommend lifestyle and diet changes to patients. This offers the patient the opportunity to treat the whole body as opposed to just one area. They may apply cold packs or heat packs to the area, recommend supplements, and teach the exercises designed to lessen the pain and encourage healing. Chiropractic is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment for TMJ.

So if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with TMD and/or are experiencing TMJ pain, give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic is here to help!

Chiropractic has been proven to help many health conditions, including those that seem completely unrelated to the spine. Meniere’s Disease is one of those conditions. A disorder of the inner ear, Meniere’s Disease affects somewhere between 3 and 5 million people in the United States alone. The good news is, the majority of patients, as much as 95 percent, are able to control their Meniere’s with medical treatments. Chiropractic has been found to be very effective in relieving patients of their symptoms of Meniere’s.

What is Meniere’s Disease?

Meniere’s Disease is a disorder that affects the inner ear, causing ringing of the ears and other uncomfortable symptoms. It affects around 200,000 people every rare, typically adults ranging from 20 to 50 years of age. It does not seem to prefer one gender over the other, affecting both equally.

Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease include:

• Dizziness or vertigo. It is not continuous, but instead a dizziness episode may last around 15 to 20 minutes, then stop for a while and begin again. Sometimes the dizziness can last up to 24 hours, but rarely longer. The vertigo can be severe, causing vomiting and nausea.
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ear. This may cause a buzzing, hissing, whistling, or roaring sound in the ears.
• Loss of hearing. The patient may experience a loss of hearing, only to have it return. However, the majority of people who have Meniere’s Disease do experience permanent hearing loss to some degree.
• Full feeling in the ear. The disease can cause feelings of pressure or fullness in the ear that is affected or in the side of the head.

These symptoms usually come and go and the patient may experience one episode but not have another one for a year or more.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Meniere’s Disease

The doctor who suspects Meniere’s Disease will take the patient’s medical history and conduct a series to tests to determine if the patient has any hearing loss or if their balance is compromised. This can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption or substance abuse. The experts suggest White Sands drug detox programs to ensure that they can reverse some damage already done. They will also order a series of blood tests and other lab work in order to rule out other conditions.

While there is not cure for Meniere’s Disease, it can be managed fairly well with drugs like anti-nausea medications and motion sickness medications. There are also other procedures and noninvasive therapies that have proven to be beneficial. Rehabilitation, a Meniett device, and a hearing aid are all effective treatments. Chiropractic care is also proving to be highly effective and a strong treatment option.

Chiropractic Care for Meniere’s Disease

Chiropractic care in the form of spinal manipulation or adjustments of the upper cervical area has proven to be very helpful with many of the symptoms of Meniere’s. There have been several case studies that show in many cases certain chiropractic techniques can relieve patients’ pain and symptoms. This is usually due to a subluxation in the upper area of the neck. This restricts movement and throws the body out of alignment.

In many cases, patients who pursue chiropractic services for their Meniere’s Disease are eventually able to stop taking the medications that are prescribed to ease the symptoms. They also find that after the chiropractic treatments, they have more energy, are more flexible, have better mobility, and have a much more positive outlook.

Doctors of Chiropractic advise patients who have been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease to seek out chiropractic treatments. They typically consist of chiropractic adjustments and the patient can walk out when they are finished. These treatments are effective and safe but drug free and non-invasive. In most cases, it is a preferred way to manage the symptoms and the disease itself.

If you or a loved one suffer from this condition, consider chiropractic. Our Doctor of Chiropractic would love to help. Simply give us a call and we’ll see if chiropractic is the right approach for you.