Chiropractic and Immunity
Chiropractic & Increased Immunity
Chiropractic is about encouraging patients to maintain a state of well being, an increased quality of life, and the prevention of disease and symptoms. Recent research (see the article that follows) and case history analysis suggests that vertebral manipulation may have wide-ranging effects. Chiropractic treatments have been found to improve physical symptoms (i.e. numbness, tingling, and pain) and promote stimulation of immune system components. In addition, chiropractic encourages generalized health maintenance through nutritional guidance, stress reduction, and exercise. As a holistic health-care practitioner, one can ascertain that a primary focus of chiropractic is the maintenance of good health through educating the patient towards an immunopositive lifestyle and the removal of nervous system interference. This is the tip of what regular chiropractic treatments can offer.
Even though you may not feel sick, your body may be acquiring misalignments of the spine (subluxations) that are interfering with your nervous system and thus your immune system. Regular chiropractic check-ups can help you to maintain a healthy immune system and stave off illnesses or allergies. A chiropractic adjustment will restore the balance of your nervous system and restore the flow of energy and information throughout the body. Think of your immune system much like a garden. If your nerves represent the hose that supplies water to the garden (your immune system) one can appreciate that if you have a kink in the hose, the water will not be able to easily reach the garden and allow it to thrive. Regular chiropractic adjustments will maintain the steady flow of water to the garden, ensuring that just the right amount of water gets to the garden at the right time.
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. Allergies are often the result of immune system imbalances. 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.
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. Pero concluded that “chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have” so that you can fully resist serious disease. “I’m very excited to see that without chemical intervention...this particular group of patients under chiropractic care did show a very improved response,” he told CBSRF. “These changes occur from chiropractic treatment.” Source of Pero study: www.planetc1.com/search/boosting-your-immunity-through-chiropractic.html?
So are you and your children benefiting from regular chiropractic wellness care - even when feeling symptom free?
