What are Allergies, Anyway?

A common response to this question is: allergies are an overreaction to a benign stimulus.   For example, grasses and pollens are an expression of nature that most people tolerate and possibly even enjoy.  However, some of us respond to grasses, weeds and pollens with asthma, itchy eyes, sinus congestion and even skin conditions!

Why would we develop such an inappropriate response to these seemingly benign organisms?   The answer as to why allergies develop is an interesting question but one which cannot be answered in the context of today’s medical science.  

Since we respond the same way to an allergen every time we are in its presence, we might say that our bodies develop an “incorrect opinion” about the allergen.  We develop a habit of response as opposed to an objective analysis and measured response. 

If a young person is threatened by a dog they may fear dogs for their lifetime.  Perhaps some allergens develop that way as we might have an association with a substance which then becomes a habit.  The western medical approach is twofold: one is to suppress the symptoms and the other repeatedly exposes a person to a small amount of the allergen in the hope that they will eventually change their response. 

Maybe allergies are just another example of a bad habit that no longer serves us but nonetheless presents a challenge to change.  The work that we do in our clinics embraces this theory and goes one step further which is to provide a healing treatment when exposed to an allergen.  It’s thus retraining and that seems to be more effective than simply repeated exposure.

For more information about Berkeley & Marin Allergy Relief & Chiropractic please visit allergyreliefclinics.com  or call 415.515.7653.