Overall Health Improves with Chiropractic

The immune system is actually composed of a number of different systems including a variety circulating cells such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and basophils, hormonal factors, a number of various immunoglobulin (antibody) factors, etc, etc. The immune system is involved in protecting us from viruses, bacteria, parasites and toxins. Immune system problems account for allergies. The immune system also protects us from cancer. When the immune system goes haywire it can lead to problems in literally any part of the body. The immune system can even attack our own tissues causing diseases like hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies on the effects of chiropractic on immunity have placed people into chiropractic care and monitored their immune system to see the effects.

One of the most important studies showing the positive effect chiropractic care can have on the immune system and general health was performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University. Dr. Pero measured the immune systems of people under chiropractic care as compared to those in the general population and those with cancer and other serious diseases. In his initial three-year study of 107 individuals who had been under chiropractic care for five years or more, the chiropractic patients were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer and other serious diseases. The immune system superiority of those under chiropractic care did not diminish with age. Dr. Pero said, “I have never seen a group other than this chiropractic group to experience a 200% increase over the normal patients. This is why it is so dramatically important. We have never seen such a positive improvement in a group.

”Specifically, the study demonstrated that the “phagocytic respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and monocytes were enhanced in people that had been adjusted by chiropractors.” In other words, the cells that act like "Pac-Man" eating and destroying viruses, bacteria, parasites and cancer cells are anywhere from 2 to 4 times more active in people who get regular chiropractic care.

HIV positive patients certainly represent a major immune system challenge. A group of HIV positive patients were adjusted over a six-month period. Patients that got chiropractic adjustments had an increase of 48% in the CD4 cells (an important immune system component). The lab measurements were taken at the patient's independent medical center, where they were under medical supervision for the condition. The control group (the patients that were not adjusted) had an 8% drop in CD4 cell counts over the same period. ("Enhanced phagocytic cell respiratory bursts induced by spinal manipulation: Potential Role of Substance P." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therepeutics 1991 (14)7:399-400).

Any drug that could create a 48% improvement in immune function for these poor people would certainly make the headlines. Why don’t more people know about this? Beats me!

The decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics and the risks involved with their use is becoming well known. Hospital infections directly cause 19,000 deaths per year and contribute to 58,000 deaths annually, which makes them the 11th leading cause of death in the US population. Hospitals are simply breading grounds for the most potent strains of bacteria in the world.

With the increasing incidence of infection, cancer and other immune related diseases we owe it to our families to keep our immune systems working to their fullest potential. Chiropractic adjustments once or twice a month for the whole family are the best insurance you can have.

For getting over those stubborn cases of sinusitis, ear infections or bronchitis daily chiropractic adjustments for one week are tremendously helpful. We’ve seen some tough cases turn right around with this kind of approach. We also carry the nutritional supplements Congaplex, Immuplex and Thymex from Standard Process all of which are very helpful in these cases. We’ve used the Dolisos Cold & Flu homeopathic for many years with great success too.

Current trends in neurobiology help explain the effects of chiropractic on the immune system

Contemporary research is beginning to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms which may explain the outstanding clinical results chiropractors have experienced when managing patients with viral and infectious diseases. The research literature reveals the current understanding that the brain and immune system are the two major adaptive systems in the body. During an immune response, the brain and the immune system 'talk to each other' and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance in the body.

Since its inception, chiropractic has asserted that viruses and microbes don't threaten us all equally and that a healthy immune system easily repels most invaders. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. Our immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.

Chiropractors are also aware of the importance of positive health life style practices (rest, drinking ample quantities of water, diet, exercise, proper food choices, use of high potency multivitamins and minerals, and stress reduction approaches) that can also positively influence the nervous system and immune response. According to a large study of the chiropractic profession recently conducted by the Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University (McDonald et al., 2003), chiropractors also customarily advise their patients as to the benefits of these other modalities in optimizing overall body function.

Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence either. During the 1917‑18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic's success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession's licensure in many states.

Researchers reported that in Davenport, Iowa, out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths, a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths, one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths. Furthermore, chiropractors were called in 233 cases given up as lost after medical treatment, and reportedly saved all but 25. In another report covering 4,193 cases by 213 chiropractors 4,104 showed complete recovery.

Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes.

One such study, conducted by Patricia Brennan Ph.D and her team, found that when a chiropractic adjustment was applied to the middle back, the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (white blood cells) taken from blood collected 15 minutes after the manipulation was significantly higher than blood collected 15 minutes before and 30 and 45 minutes after the chiropractic procedure. This research demonstrated an "enhanced respiratory burst" following the chiropractic adjustment. This "burst" is needed for our immune cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.

A large retrospective study conducted by Dr. Robert Blanks and colleagues studied 2,818 individuals undergoing chiropractic care. These individuals reported an average overall improvement, ranging from 7 to 28%, in a battery of physical symptoms including stiffness/lack of flexibility in the spine, physical pain, fatigue, incidence of colds and flu, headaches, menstrual discomfort, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, dizziness and falls (Blanks et al., 1997, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research).

More importantly, the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15% in this large population who were undergoing regular chiropractic care.

The relationship between the nervous system and the immune system was discovered within the last 20 years. There is an anatomical connection between the nervous system and the immune system. Nerve cell endings in the skin and white blood cells of the immune system are in intimate contact, and chemicals secreted by the nerves can shut down immune system cells nearby. The only problem with chiropractic is that is was started in 1895, about 100 years before research and technology could validate it.

Any person concerned about keeping their family well should add chiropractic to their list of things to do to remove interference to their nervous system, enhance their immune function and give their body the support it needs.