This article demonstrates the connection between the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system, Plus how the Chiropractic adjustment can have a positive effect on your immune system and overall health. Chiropractic is not just about back and neck pain only, its about improving and obtaining optimal health!
The nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system are
inextricably linked, like a three-legged stool. (For some great articles
on this concept, click
here, here,
here, and
here) Numerous
research studies have shown that chiropractic care positively impacts immune
system function. Below are a few articles that give some insights into
how this might happen.
The nervous, immune, and endocrine systems share tiny messenger molecules
that mediate communication between them. One of these messenger
molecules, IL-2, used to be classically thought of as an immune system
molecule; however, studies published within the past decade have clearly shown
IL-2's presence and activity in the nervous system (click
here
for more information). One recent pioneering study,"Enhancement of
in
vitro interleukin-2 production in normal subjects following a single
spinal manipulative treatment"(click
here
for the article) clearly demonstrated an increase in IL-2 levels and also in
the function of T-cells, which are key players in the immune system's army of
cells, following chiropractic adjustment. The authors concluded that
chiropractic adjustment can influence the biological immune response.
In another elegant study by Selano et al, "
The Effects of
Specific Upper Cervical Adjustments On The CD4 Counts of HIV Positive Patients'"
(Chiropractic Research Journal 1994; 3(1): 32-39), the effects of six
months of regular chiropractic care on the immune system function of HIV
patients was measured. At the end of six months of care, the patients who
had received regular adjustments had a 48%
increase in the number of
CD4+ T cells (p=0.06), whereas the patients who were not adjusted had an 8%
decrease
in CD4+ cells. (This article is not readily available on the web, but we can get copies upon request)
A series of studies published in the Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Theraputics (JMPT) by Brennan and Triano showed that several
types of immune system cells, including phagocytes, neutrophils, and PMNs,
showed increased biological activity after chiropractic adjustment. Links
to the PubMed abstracts can be found
here
and
here. These studies all suggest that
chiropractic adjustment can enhance immune system function.
The idea that chiropractic care can help the immune system work better is
not a new one. In fact, this concept has been supported by credible data
for a century. For example, Dr. Dan Murphy compiled some very interesting
data regarding the use of chiropractic care during the Influenza Epidemic of
1918. Click
here for an excerpt. According to the statistics
presented in this excerpt, influenza patients who were under chiropractic care
rather than medical care during this epidemic had significantly higher survival
rates. (Note: some cite the success of chiropractic treatment in
this epidemic as the historical turning point that allowed chiropractic care to
survive as a profession.)
And let's not forget that the endocrine system is the third leg in the stool
of neuro-endocrine immunology. The endocrine system's main players are
epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), nor-epinephrine, and cortisol.
These molecules are produced in the adrenal glands, endocrine glands which have
direct connections with the nervous system by way of a division called the
sympathetic nervous system. Cortisol in particular is a stress hormone
that inhibits the immune system (which is why stress really can make you
sick!) So if the sympathetic nervous system is too "turned on"
due to stress and subluxation, it can increase the adrenal glands' synthesis of
cortisol, in turn affecting the immune system. Subluxation promotes this
exact situation (see
here
for and article abstract and
here
for an full article describing this). Chiropractic care is the only way
to detect and eliminate subluxation. If you or someone you know always
seems to be sick, subluxation could be at the root of the problem - and the
only way to find out, is to have your spine checked! Call or email for an
appointment at Fifth Avenue Chiropractic so we can help you to determine whether subluxation
is interfering with your immune system.
For more information about how chiropractic care can help the immune system
function better, visit
www.chiro.org/research
and
www.icpa4kids.org. To visit
another page that discusses the connection between the top bones in the spine
and immune system issues, click
here.
This article was written up by Dr. Amy Haas Ph.D in Biochemistry and Chiropractor. She is owner of Path of Life Chiropractic in
Nashua, New Hampshire. A good friend and colleague of Dr. Bryan.
