6 Ways Acupuncture Boosts Fertility

Choosing to start or expand your family is an exciting time for a couple! Unfortunately, 10% of couples struggle with infertility caused by hormonal imbalances, various health conditions, and environmental factors. Fortunately, advancements in medicine can increase your chances of conceiving, and when paired with holistic therapies like acupuncture for fertility, the chances are about 60% higher.

Continue reading to learn how incorporating acupuncture in Bend into your plan can help boost your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient part of Chinese medicine. This treatment involves placing tiny, sterilized needles into specific areas of the body for proper function. The idea is that your energy runs along specific pathways known as meridians, and blockages can cause body wide illnesses, and yes, infertility. Each precisely placed needle restores proper energy flow and stimulates targeted organ systems.

How Does Acupuncture for Fertility Work?

When it comes to fertility, acupuncture has been found to boost both natural and assisted conception. Each session focuses on reproductive organs and hormonal imbalances that impact natural fertility. Some physicians even recommend this treatment in conjunction with IVF, IUI, and embryo transfers.

During your session, your acupuncturist in Bend will discuss your medical history, fertility history, and more to determine the best treatment route. Acupuncture points for fertility include the liver meridian (between the big and second toe), the spleen and kidney meridians (located on the inside of the legs), and several points in the abdominopelvic area.

Ideally, you should begin acupuncture for fertility sessions 3 to 4 months before your treatments. You can also continue your acupuncture sessions after the procedure to decrease the chances of miscarriage. Acupuncture is also safe during pregnancy when conducted by a certified acupuncturist in Bend.

However, after conception, your acupuncturist will avoid pressure points that could induce labor or trigger miscarriage.

6 Ways Acupuncture Boosts Fertility

Acupuncture for women’s health works to increase natural fertility in a few ways:

1. Increases Blood Flow

Acupuncture boosts blood flow to reproductive organs, especially the endometrium. This action delivers a thick, rich lining that is more prepared to accept fertilized eggs.

2. Relieves Tubal Spasms

Tubal spasms can cause temporary blockages in the fallopian tubes, hindering fertilization or resulting in an ectopic pregnancy. Acupuncture helps reduce the frequency of these spasms to improve your chances.

3. Decreases Stress

Stress is a known blocker of natural conception. If you experience chronic stress, your body may not feel comfortable or safe getting pregnant. One of the major benefits of acupuncture is its ability to relieve stress for all individuals.

4. Balances Hormones

It’s no secret that one of the most significant factors of pregnancy is proper hormone production. Acupuncture for hormone balance helps restore the levels of each biological chemical needed for conception. This includes imbalances from hyper- and hypothyroidism, elevated FSH levels, and PCOS.

5. Boosts Sperm Count and Motility

Studies show that about 30% of infertility is related to the male factor alone. Acupuncture for fertility may boost sperm count and motility in men to increase your chances of conception.

6. Creates a Healthy Environment

The healthier you are, the greater your chances of conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy. Acupuncture creates a safe environment within the body to promote conception.

Acupuncture may not be a solution for certain circumstances of infertility, including tubal adhesions from pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.

We know that getting pregnant can feel both exciting and stressful, but the outcome is always worth it. At Total Body Chiropractic & Massage, we want to help you experience a stress-free process from conception to labor with the best chiropractic and massage in Bend.

10 Health Conditions that Can Be Treated with Acupuncture

Acupuncture is not a new form of therapy. In fact, this practice has been around for thousands of years in Ancient Chinese medicine. Thanks to its ancestral roots and widespread usage, practitioners have discovered several benefits of acupuncture, from pain to your mood. Continue reading to learn 10 conditions treated with acupuncture in Bend.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture in Bend involves placing tiny, hair-sized needles into specific pressure points to realign the energy or Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) in your body. The idea is that when you have blockages along key pathways, known as meridians, you experience discomfort, low mood, and other complications. Each precisely placed needle stimulates the corresponding body system to promote proper function.

At Total Body Chiropractic, Massage & Acupuncture, we believe true healing comes from addressing the root problem. Your acupuncturist in Bend will discuss your health history, lifestyle, and diet to discover how these factors further influence your condition. They will also give you guidance on how to avoid recurrence in the future.

What Conditions Does Acupuncture Treat?

1. Musculoskeletal Pain

One of the easiest and most common conditions to treat with acupuncture is joint and muscle pain. Whether you deal with low back, neck, jaw, and elbow pain or plantar fasciitis and sciatic, your acupuncturist in Bend can provide targeted relief.

2. Stress

Whether you realize it or not, your body experiences stress every day from work and finances down to traffic and driving. Chronic stress can trigger problems with sleep, muscle tension, and digestion. Acupuncture for stress works to calm the nervous system, reduce stress hormones, and increase feel-good hormones. Plus, it physically relieves the muscle tension that is often held in the neck and shoulders.

3. Insomnia

Sleep is essential for good health. Without the ideal 8 hours each night, you experience exhaustion, headaches, sluggishness, and irritability. Even if insomnia isn’t your primary concern, you may still have an easier time falling and staying asleep with an acupuncture session.

4. Infertility

Many women struggling with infertility turn to acupuncture to aid the process. This treatment option often works in conjunction with IVF and other fertility therapies. Acupuncture for fertility gently regulates the hormones, which is an essential part of conceiving. Not to mention, by reducing stress and helping with your general health, acupuncture for fertility prepares the body for natural conception.

5. Hormone Imbalances

If you experience conditions like poor adrenal function, PCOS, irregular menstrual cycles, and hyper- or hypothyroidism, you may benefit from acupuncture for hormonal balance. Acupuncture for hormone balance helps reset the hormone levels to ease symptoms. This treatment also benefits women experiencing the hormonal imbalances and symptoms associated with menopause.

6. Headaches and Migraines

Acupuncture reduces the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines, including those caused by tension and sinuses.

7. Weight Loss

Acupuncture for weight loss works in two ways. This therapy increases metabolism, decreases appetite, and lowers stress levels, which makes weight loss easier. On the other hand, uncontrolled weight gain often stems from imbalances in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs. By resetting these systems, you can start moving the scale in the desired direction.

8. Allergies

Allergies typically result from a confused immune system. The immune system believes allergens, like dust, pollen, certain foods, etc., are meant to cause harm to the body. Depending on when you schedule your appointment, acupuncture can reset the immune system to prevent or reduce the severity of symptoms.

9. Digestive Issues

The chances are high that you have or will deal with acid reflux, nausea, bloating, IBS, or diarrhea at some point. Acupuncture supports the gut and digestive system to ease these complications.

10. Mood Disorders

Acupuncture increases endorphins that provide an emotional boost, improve mood, and lowers cortisol to alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.

Whether you are dealing with one of these conditions or simply want a general wellness boost to feel your best year-round, acupuncture in Bend could be the right option for you. Schedule your appointment with the best chiropractic, massage and acupuncture in Bend to discover how this trusted therapy can help you.

How Acupuncture Can Help Women’s Health Issues

Acupuncture has acted as an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. By balancing the body’s natural energies and stimulating various biological systems, acupuncture in Bend can make a significant difference in helping treat pain, mood disorders, and more. One of acupuncture’s most notable benefits is for women’s health. From acupuncture for weight loss to rebalancing your monthly cycle, this treatment method can help you feel your best and support your lifestyle goals.

How does acupuncture work for women’s health?

Acupuncture treatment involves strategically placing fine, hair-sized sterile needles into certain pressure points that correspond with specific body parts. This action with the thin needles is thought to reset those systems.

For example, acupuncture points for fertility include the center of the forehead, top of the foot, lower abdomen, and the lower leg/calf. While these specific points can boost fertility in non-pregnant females, they can induce labor in pregnant women. The effect of acupuncture can have multiple benefits for clients.

Before your session, your acupuncturist in Bend will gather information about your medical history, menstrual cycle, symptoms, and concerns. From there, they will create a treatment plan, implement the correct acupuncture protocol, and track your progress throughout your cycle.

Women’s Health Issues Treated with Acupuncture in Bend

Whether you still get monthly cycles, hope to start a family, or have passed through menopause, each phase of life involves different hormones that need to remain in perfect balance for your health. When you use acupuncture for hormone balance, it can ease the symptoms associated with many of these common women’s health concerns.

1. Menstrual Cycles

PMS symptoms like cramps, nausea, and headaches can feel extremely uncomfortable. For some women, these monthly side effects become so severe that daily activities seem impossible. Acupuncture works to improve blood circulation, which can regulate heavy flows and ease cramps and headaches.

2. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is associated with heavy bleeding, aches, cramps, swelling, and stomach pain. This condition has proved to be receptive to treatment with acupuncture, restoring regular blood flow and energy levels.

3. Infertility

Acupuncture can work on its own or alongside IVF to help women struggling with infertility. This form of treatment aims to direct blood flow to reproductive organs to deliver nourishment. It also involves using acupuncture for hormones, including FSH, estrogen, and progesterone, at various stages of your cycle to make conception more likely.Not to mention, acupuncture for fertility often relieves stress, which is a major blockage for natural fertility. Stress diverts blood away from the uterus to the adrenal glands and signals that the body is not a safe space for an embryo. By restoring this balance, acupuncture is thought to boost natural fertility.

4. Pregnancy & Postpartum

Acupuncture used during pregnancy keeps expecting mothers happy and healthy, especially when medication is not an option. Plus, it eases back pain, pelvic discomfort, morning sickness, swelling, etc. After delivery, acupuncture can even increase the milk supply, soothe pain, and help you deal with postpartum mood disorders and mental health.

5. Menopause

Menopausal symptoms such as hormonal changes, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and anxiety all come with the territory of getting older. Thankfully, acupuncture for hormones can reduce the fluctuations that cause these symptoms.

6. Aging

Acupuncture is also a secret weapon for aging. This technique can soften fine lines, improve skin tone and evenness, and increase collagen production for tighter skin and a more youthful appearance.

If you want to try a safe, non-invasive, drug-free approach for your concerns, try acupuncture in Bend. This treatment method works alongside the best chiropractic and massage therapy in Bend to provide full-body relief and wellness for women and men.

7 Ways to a Healthier Life

August is National Wellness Month, and what better time to celebrate as schedules are becoming busier after the summer. This month highlights self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines that boost mental, physical, and emotional wellness. You can participate in National Wellness Month by making these small tweaks and additions to your everyday life:

1. Drink More Water

Your body can’t function at its best without proper hydration. Water keeps your joints lubricated, eliminates toxins, improves digestion, and transports the nutrients you need for energy. Not to mention, it hydrates your skin for a more youthful appearance.

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. If you find it hard to meet this goal, you can infuse your water with fruit, herbs like mint and basil, or use sparkling water.

2. Practice Deep Breathing

You may not realize this, but when you’re stressed, you tend to hold your breath. This leads to muscle tension and pain. Taking time to practice deep, intentional breathing can help your nervous system relax, reduce stress, and calm your mind.

Try this exercise: inhale through your nose for 4 seconds and allow the air to fill your stomach, hold it for 4 seconds, then exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds.

3. Schedule a Massage

Massage therapy in Bend is a great way to step away from fast-paced life and relax physically and mentally. Each session works to soothe sore muscles, improve your circulation, promote healing, reduce stress levels, and more.

Plus, August 15 is National Relaxation Day, making it the perfect day to book your session with a massage therapist in Bend.

4. Exercise Daily

Exercise is not only good for stress relief, but it also keeps you physically well by increasing strength, flexibility, and reducing discomfort. Working out also releases feel-good endorphins, which gives you a mental boost. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and switch up your routine with dancing, swimming, yoga, etc.

Exercising outside offers added benefits of vitamin D production and resetting your biological clock for better sleep. Studies have shown that even being in nature can reduce the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

5. Cut Back on Sugar

Although sugar is sweet, its impact can be a bit sour. Too much sugar can cause fatigue, digestive issues, skin problems, and other health complications. Cut back on the sugary snacks and replace them with fruits and vegetables. These foods provide energy and vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that help you feel better.

6. Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Bend can totally reset your nervous system, enhance your energy, and address specific discomforts and ailments that stop you from feeling your best. This therapy also releases feel-good hormones, increases circulation, and loosens muscles.

7. Visit Our Chiropractors in Bend

Start National Wellness Month with a visit to the best chiropractic care in Bend. Chiropractic care reduces pain, improves your mood, and realigns your spine for better posture. Our skilled chiropractors also offer individualized tips and stretches that keep you balanced and well even after your visit.

What are the Benefits of Cupping Massage Therapy?

Have you ever seen someone with perfectly round marks on their skin? Chances are, they recently received cupping therapy. This treatment method has grown more popular as athletes and everyday workers have realized the transformational benefits it has. If you already incorporate holistic services, like chiropractic care and acupuncture in Bend, into your routine, you may benefit from adding cupping to your next appointment.

Continue reading to learn more about this therapy and its health benefits.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is an ancient traditional chinese medicine practice that involves placing glass cups, plastic cups, metal cups, or silicone cups on the skin. Using heat or air, your massage therapist in Bend will create a suction between your skin and the special cups. This pulls blood to the surface of your skin and allows for several body-wide benefits, most notably pain relief. Although, patients also report experiencing everything from respiratory to gastrointestinal relief.

Cupping therapy is an alternative medicine that works similarly to acupuncture in Bend, as both treatment methods focus on energy pathways known as meridians throughout your body. When energy flows positively, it is thought to boost your health in many ways.

Benefits of Cupping

1. Pain Relief

A cupping session is an excellent treatment method for pain. Your massage therapist in Bend will target problem areas like your back, neck, or shoulders to ease tension, decrease stiffness, and release deep knots and adhesions. If you have arthritis, you may benefit specifically from cupping on the affected joints.

2. Relaxation

By releasing muscle tension, cupping can promote physical relaxation and stress relief. Your massage therapist in Bend may move the cups along your body to give the same effect of a deep tissue massage. Not to mention, the simple act of taking time to care for yourself can provide mental relaxation in addition to muscle relaxation.

3. Faster Healing

Your body sees cupping therapy as an “injury,” which causes it to send more blood and healing elements to the treatment area. This increased blood flow encourages faster healing and recovery of your true underlying injuries.

4. Healthier Skin

Because cupping brings blood and other nutrients to the skin’s surface, you can expect to see a visible color change and glow to your appearance after a few sessions. Plus, it clears the pores of toxins, which may be good news for acne and other skin conditions.

5. Detoxifying

When your blood circulation is poor, toxins begin to build up in the body. Cupping therapy increases blood flow to help remove toxins and other waste from deep muscles. We recommend drinking lots of water after your session to flush these newly released toxins out of your system.

Cupping therapy may cause some slight discomfort, bruising, or scarring. However, it should subside within several days. There is a small risk of infection at the treatment site, so be sure to follow all instructions for cleaning and caring for your spots after therapy.

We strive to offer the best chiropractic care in Bend with a variety of services that work together to make you feel your best inside and out. We can easily incorporate cupping as an effective treatment to add into your massage therapy in Bend.

Importance of Self-Care in the Digital Age

How many hours a day do you use technology? You’re even using it right now. While technology makes it easier to connect and communicate, it can also have a negative impact on your mind and body if you use it too often.

But we get it — it’s just not possible to completely cut the phones, computers, and other electronic devices. However, it’s important to take at least a few hours out of each day to unplug and reset your mind and body.

Continue reading to learn about the benefits of powering down your devices and powering back up with chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture in Bend.

Relieves Stress

When you take your work home with you, your brain doesn’t get any downtime. Try to take some time off work-related technology when you get home to reduce stress. Taking a walk, reading a book, or doing a hobby can all ease these symptoms.

Getting a massage is a great relaxation technique. Massage therapy has been found to physically decrease stress hormones like cortisol and increase feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin and dopamine. Plus, your massage therapist in Bend uses techniques to relieve the physical symptoms of stress, like muscle knots.

Acupuncture is one more form of therapy that can help alleviate stress. This treatment uses hair-size needles to stimulate your nervous system and reset the body. It also releases hormones that encourage euphoria and relaxation.

Supports Mental Health

The FOMO (fear of missing out) and comparison that comes with social media can cause feelings of loneliness, jealousy, and more. Research even shows that people with heavy technology usage are more likely to experience sleep deprivation, anxiety, and depression.

It can help to set time limits on individual apps and intentionally focus on daily gratitude. Plugging back into reality can support your mental health.

Improves Sleep Quality

Blue light from your electronic devices has been linked to decreased serotonin and melatonin, which are hormones your body needs for sleep. Reducing your usage about 2 hours before bed can help your body realize it’s time to wind down.

Massage therapy also encourages deeper rest. This effect not only occurs because of the hormones released during your session, but it also is because massage slows your heart rate and gives you time to completely step away from the stressors of everyday life.

Boosts Your Physical Health

It may not be the first thing that comes to your mind, but technology drastically affects your body. The way you usually hold your phone causes muscle strain in your neck and shoulders, which is better known as “text neck.”

Text neck results in aches, stiffness, soreness, and spinal damage. Not to mention, bending over a keyboard or poor posture sitting at your desk can compress your nerves, leading to seemingly unrelated issues like headaches and tingling in your arms and legs.

While looking up and stepping away from your devices can reduce this impact, you need something more. That’s where massage therapy and chiropractic care in Bend comes in. Chiropractic care restores proper alignment and relieves pressure on your spine. Massage therapy in Bend also releases tension in the neck and shoulders to help you feel lighter and looser even after your first visit.

Even though you can’t give up technology, you can reduce its effect on your mind, body, and spirit with the best chiropractic care in Bend. Come in for a visit for an individualized plan to help you feel your best.

National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month: How Chiro, Massage and Acupuncture Can Ease Your Pain

For those who experience migraines and headaches, everyday tasks during an episode become extremely difficult. That’s why June is National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month. This event encourages those with headaches and migraines to get proper diagnosis and treatment, while highlighting the available options for relief. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture are three treatment methods that may reduce the frequency and severity of these conditions.

What’s the Difference Between Migraines and Headaches?

It’s important to understand the difference between these two headache disorders. Most people will experience a headache at some point in their lives. However, migraines are a recurrent, often debilitating condition that affect 1 in 7 people, according to the World Health Organization.

Headaches are usually short-term, lasting for a few hours — although, you may experience them in clusters for days at a time. A headache is characterized by mild to severe pressure or aching on both sides of the head.

Depending on the type of headache you’re experiencing, the causes may vary:

• Stress
• Muscle tension or strain
• Sinuses or illness

On the other hand, migraine episodes can last anywhere from hours to days and cause a more intense reaction than a headache. In fact, migraines are accompanied by several symptoms beyond head pain:

• Nausea
• Pain behind the eyes or ears
• Light sensitivity
• Temporary loss of vision
• Seeing spots or flashes of light
• Vomiting

While more research is needed to determine the exact cause of migraine, it’s becoming clearer that this condition stems from the nervous system. More specifically, it is an instability in how the brain deals with certain sensory information.

Some of these sensory triggers, include:

• Bright lights
• Loud noises
• Stress or anxiety
• Alcohol
• Hormonal changes

Treatment Options for Migraines & Headaches in Bend

Generally, migraine and headaches are treated using over-the-counter medications — and prescriptions in severe cases. However, these options treat the symptoms rather than the source of your problem. Holistic chiropractic care aims to get to the root cause of your discomfort and deliver longer-lasting results.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments fix subluxations, or misalignments, in the spine that can put pressure on the nerves and trigger headaches. By restoring the proper alignment and nerve function, chiropractic care can potentially reduce the frequency of attacks.

Massage Therapy

If your headaches stem from muscle tightness or stress, then massage therapy is clear choice. Your massage therapist in Bend will focus on trigger points in the back, shoulder, neck, and head. This technique releases pressure in the compressed nerves that are sending pain signals and making your headache worse.

Not to mention, massage therapy in Bend provides mental and physical relaxation to combat stress and tension headaches. Other benefits include:

• Relaxing tense muscles putting pressure on nerve pathways
• Relieving muscle spasms
• Improving blood flow to vessels that supply the brain

Acupuncture

Acupuncture focuses on the same trigger points as massage therapy. However, rather than simply releasing pressure, your acupuncturist in Bend signals the release of hormones and endorphins that make headache pain more bearable. This treatment option is also thought to help because of how it stimulates the immune and circulatory systems.

The best chiropractic care in Bend aims to keep you comfortable well after your appointment ends. That’s why our trained staff not only offers these treatment options for headaches, but we also give you lifestyle recommendations that may make your migraines and headaches more manageable.

Chiropractic Care for Runners: Preventing Plantar Fasciitis

Do you know that sharp pain in your heel when you first step out of bed in the morning? Well, it could be plantar fasciitis. If you’ve recently started running or even just stand on your feet all day, you may already be familiar with this condition. In fact, it is the leading cause of heel pain, especially among middle-aged adults. Fortunately, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture work together to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

Continue reading to learn your options for treating this condition:

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament that connects the heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia) has small tears. This ligament becomes inflamed, swollen, and weak, which results in sharp, stabbing pain. Discomfort is more common when you first wake up, after exercising (rather than during it), while walking upstairs, during long days of standing, and after periods of inactivity.

This condition typically results for several reasons:

• Excessive exercise, especially for new runners, long-distance runners, and dancers
• Obesity because of excess pressure on the plantar fascia
• Flat feet or extremely high arches
• Standing on your feet all day
• Wearing shoes with poor arch support, like sandals and worn-out sneakers

Plantar fasciitis also more commonly affects those between the ages of 40 and 60 but can strike at any time.

Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis can become chronic if left untreated. That’s why it’s important to seek out comprehensive treatment to help heal your condition and avoid surgery.

1. Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care in Bend is a great treatment option for plantar fasciitis. Your chiropractor in Bend will not only manually adjust your joints, but they will also offer stretches you can do at home to avoid pain.

Chiropractic care provides several benefits for those with the condition:

• Eliminates pressure to reduce stress on the ligament
• Minimizes secondary injuries that can occur from misalignments in the hips, low back, ankles, and knees.
• Promotes healing by giving the feet time to rest

2. Massage Therapy

Massage therapy in Bend focuses on the muscles and other soft tissues that may contribute to plantar fasciitis. These muscles are mainly in the calf, such as the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris. Muscles and tendons in the feet also contribute to this condition.

Using myofascial release, deep tissue, and stretching techniques, your massage therapist in Bend provides relief in these ways:

• Breaking down scar tissue in the foot
• Improving blood flow to the affected area for quicker healing of tears
• Relaxation of tight and restricted muscles

3. Acupuncture

Your acupuncturist in Bend will carefully place tiny needles in the foot and appropriate areas which will then:

• Rebalance nerve signals to provide immediate pain relief
• Release and lengthen overly tight muscles
• Promote proper healing

How to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis

There are several steps you can take to prevent your condition from worsening:

• Stretch your calves and feet before and after exercise
• Buy shoes with good arch supports or use inserts
• Opt for low impact exercises while you’re healing, like swimming
• Rest and ice your feet each day for 10 to 15 minutes

At Total Body Chiropractic & Massage in Bend, we offer these services to address and treat plantar fasciitis in a non-invasive way. We additionally offer Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), which can desensitize nerves and break up scar tissue for further comfort and relief from this condition. We deliver the best chiropractic care in Bend that not only targets your problem areas but also improves full-body function to help you feel your best.

How Chiropractic and Massage Can Relieve Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Fall is in full swing, and seasonal allergies are at an all-time high. Over 65 million people in America experience symptoms from the seasonal conditions, ranging from coughing, itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose to shortness of breath through the respiratory system, muscle pain, and chest tightness. However, with the help of the best chiropractic care in Bend, your symptoms do not have to ruin your season.

Continue reading to learn how chiropractic and massage therapy in Bend can reduce the severity of common allergy symptoms to make you more comfortable during allergy season.

What causes allergies?

Allergies occur when non-harmful particles enter the body and are perceived as a threat. The immune system then overreacts to these “foreign invaders” to fight them off and dispel them with an allergic response by sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, etc.

The most common allergy triggers during this season include:

• Pollen
• Grass
• Dust
• Pet Dander
• Mold

While you can cut down on the prevalence of some of these allergens with a thorough cleaning, there are some things you can’t avoid, like the outdoors. That’s why it is important to actively control your allergic reactions with comprehensive treatment options, like chiropractic care in Bend.

Can chiropractic care ease allergy symptoms?

Chiropractic treatment is a popular option for several conditions, from neck and back pain and migraines to sports injuries and even allergies. Unlike traditional methods, chiropractor care provides relief by targeting the cause of your allergies to prevent severe reactions rather than just dulling symptoms for chiropractic patients. Not to mention, conventional allergy medication may cause drowsiness and nausea.

Research shows a clear link between the nervous system and the immune system. So, when there are spinal misalignments, these two systems cannot have proper communication. Chiropractic adjustments remove this interference so that the immune system can fight off allergens more effectively without such a severe reaction with a better immune response.

Misalignments in the upper back are also known for increased shortness of breath in people with asthma. So, regular chiropractic care and gentle adjustments can potentially allow better airflow.

How does massage therapy in Bend alleviate allergies?

Massage therapy shows promise in providing immediate relief of allergy problems. Your massage therapist in Bend will use lymphatic drainage techniques boost the circulation of lymph and other fluids to ease sinus congestion — one of the most common allergy symptoms. Likewise, massage therapy improves blood flow, which can quickly ease sinus headaches and other discomforts.

It’s no secret that stress is the root cause of various health conditions, and allergies are no different. Studies even show that stress can significantly increase the severity of your symptoms. Massage therapy provides effective allergy treatment through mental and physical relaxation to decrease the body’s reaction to allergens.

You shouldn’t have to be an allergy sufferer throughout the whole fall season. Regular chiropractic care and massage can enhance your body’s ability to fight off allergens and keep your symptoms at bay.