Food Allergy Improvements Documented Following Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on June 22, 2017 that documented the improvement of food allergies after chiropractic care. This study reports that according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,1% of the children in the U.S. have a food allergy. They also note that these levels continue to rise over the years.

The test used to determine a specific food allergy is a blood test to measure allergen-specific IgE levels. Kidshealth.org describes this test by saying, "An allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) blood test is done to check whether a person is allergic to a particular substance. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to something, often in the environment, that's harmless to most people. To protect the body from this perceived threat or allergen, the immune system of an allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E. The higher these levels are, the more a person is allergic to a certain substance.

Food allergy rates in the U.S. seem to follow a socio-economic trend. The higher the family income, the more likely it is for the children of that household to have food allergies. Having food allergies also seems to have a correlation with other conditions. The CDC reports that 29% of children with food allergy also have asthma, 27% also have eczema or skin allergy, and over 30% also have respiratory allergies. This means that children with food allergies are four times more likely to have these other related conditions as compared to children without food allergies.

In this case, an 8-year-old girl suffering from hip pain, left internal foot rotation, and allergies was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The girl's mother described the pain as a combination of dull and stabbing left hip pain, with occasional radiation down the left leg that had been going on for five months. Her allergies were to peanuts, pecans, walnuts, and she was suffering from hay fever. These allergies had been bothering the girl for the past six years.

The hip pain was more pronounced when walking or hiking and prevented the girl from participating in certain family activities. The allergies were measured by the girl's allergist using the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) blood test which showed that allergies for peanut, pecan, and walnut allergies. Because of these, the girl carried an epinephrine injector pen to use as needed.

A chiropractic examination was performed resulting in a diagnosis of hip myalgia, sacral subluxation, cervical subluxation, and postural abnormalities. Specific chiropractic care was started to address the subluxations.

By the fourth visit, the girl's hip pain from extended walking and hiking was reduced from a 5 out of 10 (10 worst) to just 2 out of 10. Within 12 weeks of starting chiropractic, the girl reported that her hip pain had been completely eliminated.

In a routine follow up by her allergist, the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) blood test showed improvement for each of her food allergies. Her peanut allergy IgE levels reduced from .65 kU/L to .11 kU/L. Her pecan nut allergy IgE levels reduced from .26 kU/L to .20 kU/L, and her walnut allergy IgE levels reduced from .65 kU/L to .43 kU/L.

In addition to the correction of the hip pain and discomfort that the girl was previously suffering from, the author took special note of the improvement of the allergy tests by stating in the study's conclusion, "This case report describes the subluxation-based chiropractic care of an 8-year-old female and the concomitant objective improvements in peanut, pecan, and walnut allergies."