Allergies. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining a little more, new leaves are growing, and there are beautiful blossoms everywhere. Spring is in the air! And so is pollen. Lots of pollen. Are you one of the 55% of Americans with allergies? If so, you are probably very familiar with symptoms such as runny nose, sinus congestion, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, and the like. But did you know that allergies can also contribute to symptoms like fatigue, skin rash, brain fog, asthma, and more?
Allergies occur when the immune system confuses harmless substances for truly dangerous ones. Things like pollen, dust, cat and dog epithelia, and numerous other allergens should not normally cause any problem for the body. For people with allergies, though, the immune system mounts a response when these things are encountered. When this happens, immune cells called mast cells and basophils release chemicals in an effort to destroy these things and/or get them out of the body. The chemicals include histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins, and they can trigger numerous other pathways in the body leading to things like itching (especially of the skin, eyes, ears, and nose), hives, rashes, swelling (especially in mouth and throat), drops in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, post-nasal drip, headaches, confusion or irritability, fatigue, even heartburn, reflux, or other digestive problems, as well as increased secretions of mucus, bronchoconstriction (airways get smaller), and an accumulation of inflammation in the airways.
Over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines can reduce allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of some of the chemicals released by the immune cells. These medications can provide some relief, but they often come with unfortunate side effects, and they don’t do anything to treat the cause of the problem: an over-reactive immune system.
It is possible to address the root cause of allergies, and even get rid of them permanently. Immunotherapy can get to the root of the problem by re-training the immune system, so that over time it can learn that it does not have to react to harmless substances. This works by starting with an extremely diluted amount of the allergens and very slowly building up the dose, so that the immune system recalibrates and no longer reacts to the allergens. Often, immunotherapy is given with injections under the skin, but at Reboot Center we know of a better way! Sublingual drops under the tongue are easier and safer, and can be done in your own home without having to make frequent trips to get injections. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is just as effective as injections, but obviously it is much easier. At Reboot Center we combine this therapy with a specially chosen combination of herbs and other natural supplements to nourish and support the immune system as it learns to readjust and recalibrate its allergic reactions, so you feel better, faster.
If you are tired of suffering from allergies and you are looking for a way to be rid of them once and for all, there is hope. Call (360) 331-2464 to schedule your Allergy-Free Program visit.
By Dr. Nathan Williams
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10720327
http://www.allergyeasy.com
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/492405/
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/04/30/peds.2013-0343.abstract?sid=e16478a2-707c-4eaf-a8f3-d4232a253f44
Does Spring Time Mean Allergy Time?
