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Allergies

The changing of the seasons, seems to aggravate those pesky allergies and sinuses.

AllergiesOur team recommends NUTRILITE® Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables - Tablets and NUTRILITE® ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy. The fruit and vegetable complex has quercetin in it, which has been shown to be effective in reducing allergy symptoms. Also, ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy is a natural anti-histamine that is very effective for both allergies and sinus symptoms. Not only does ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy help with the symptoms, but it also has immune boosters in it, so it supports your body and makes it easier to heal itself from the inside out.

Allergies?

Written by Dr. Bobbie Whitacre.

Allergies and Sinus Pain

This time of year, we all hear it, the complaints of sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, and irritated allergies. Signs and symptoms are generally described by the following characteristics: (this information is from University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC)

*Dull or severe pressure-like pain in one specific area of the face or head (for example, behind the eyes)
*Facial tenderness to touch
*Pain aggravated by sudden movements of the head and bending forward
*Worse pain in the morning because mucus has been collecting and draining all night
*Sudden temperature changes, like going out into the cold from a warm room, also worsen the pain
*Headache often starts when you have a bad cold or just after
*Postnasal drip with sore throat (pharyngitis)
*Yellow or green discharge from your nose
*Red and swollen nasal passages (nasal congestion)
*Mild to moderate fever
*General sense of not feeling well (malaise)
*Fatigue

I think we have thoroughly covered how unpleasant the problem is. Let’s discuss how your spine and nervous system may be involved. The upper part of your spinal column houses a very sensitive part of the nervous system that is involved in the immune system and innervates the frontal and maxillary sinus cavities. If your spine is injured in this area due to repetitive postures or other causes, there can be pressure on the nerves that go to the sinuses. This can cause those areas to be weakened, making it easier for bacteria or viruses to cause problems, or can even cause our own immune systems to over react (allergies). This is why some patients come in specifically for these types of symptoms. It is a good idea to have the chiropractor to check you in this area and see if there is a problem that could be making it easier for you to get “sick”.

Since the other key to the problem is our immune system, it is wise to keep this area healthy. Besides chiropractor adjustments to help with that, the other key is nutrition. How are you supporting your immune system with nutrients? It is like an athlete who wants to win a race, he or she will invest in good food and supplements to give themselves every advantage by fueling their body properly. If the athlete doesn’t mind coming in last, they may not pay attention to what they eat or add any supplements to their diet. It is the same with our body. If we invest in it, it will pay in good health. Some advice you may have heard is to take Vitamin C to help your immune system. That is true, and I will add taking Vitamin C Plus Extended Release, Garlic Heart Care Formula, and Triple Guard Echinacea - Tablets together can show a greater benefit. Talk to your doctor about the triple tickle cocktail. We recommend NUTRILITE® brand of supplements, because they are the best and get great results. If you are already experiencing several of the symptoms above, try ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy. In 3 days you should notice a difference in how you feel. It is a natural anti-histamine and also has natural vitamin c and cinnamon in it. Let our staff know if you have questions about this and we will help you. The best game plan against sickness is to stay ahead of it with prevention. Good health practices like regular chiropractic adjustments and taking good supplements can make a huge difference in the longevity of any symptoms. We wish you all a happy spring season without the aggravation of sickness.


Natural Help for Allergy Sufferers

Written by Dr. Bobbie Whitacre.

Spring is almost here. The peaceful sound of birds chirping and the blissful scent of flowers blooming is also here. Along with that is the suffering sound of those with allergies acting up. They are blowing their noses, coughing, sneezing and dealing with watery eyes. Allergic symptoms are triggered by an outside source, such as pollen. It is a reaction of the immune system attacking substances which are not really harmful. The allergic response causes swelling of nasal tissue and inflammation .If you don't treat allergies, they can aggravate or lead to other conditions such as asthma and sinusitis.

Treatment for allergies usually includes several different medications, including steroids and allergy shots, but usually the first line of attack is with antihistamines. Allergy sufferers not only deal with their symptoms, but also the side effects of the medicines they take to combat their symptoms. Some of the side effects are dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, restlessness or moodiness (in some children),difficulty urinating or inability to urinate, blurred vision, and or confusion.

Because of the side effects of the medicines, other alternative treatments without these side effects would be beneficial. One company decided to combine three botanicals into one pill to see how they would work together to reduce symptoms. Back in 2008, a research article was published in the Nutrition Journal that found the symptoms of allergies decreased after 8 hours of taking this botanical combination. Not only that, but they worked together as a natural anti-histamine. Now allergy sufferers have a better alternative for combating their symptoms, a more natural approach.

The botanicals they chose were Spanish Needles, cinnamon extract, and acerola cherry extract (due to its large concentration of Vitamin C). Why did they choose these 3 botanicals?

*“ A species of cinnamon related to that found in the CBP, Cinnamomum cassia, has been found to inhibit complement-dependent allergic reaction by reducing immunological hemolysis, chemotactic migration of neutrophils, and the generation of chemotactic factors by mast cells in response to complement- activated serum. Acerola contains vitamin C, which has been shown to reduce concentrations of histamine . Spanish Needles (Bidens pilosa) has also been found to have anti-allergic effects on mast cells and synthesis of several inflammatory mediators. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in Spanish Needles, has been shown to stabilize mast cells and basophils, decrease leukotriene synthesis and reduce the release of histamine and other mediators. Spanish Needles also contains ethyl caffeate which has been shown in vitro to possess a variety of anti-inflammatory effects. Spanish Needles has been shown to inhibit nuclear transcription factor kappaB and its downstream inflammatory mediators in vitro.”*excerpt from the actual research article

This combination of botanicals has been shown through research to decrease the histamine response that causes allergy symptoms, without the side effects known to most medicines. This product is called ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy. It is recommend that you will feel a difference after 3 days. We have seen many great testimonies from our patients of how their allergies were calmed by this great botanical combination! My own father received great relief by taking the ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy with his seasonal allergies. In the past, his allergies typically turn into a bad sinus infection also. ClearGuard™ Anti-Allergy has helped prevent these infections for him. It has been wonderful to see patients get relief more naturally!