Most people visit a chiropractor for headaches, neck pain, back pain or sciatica, and these are some of the common symptoms that chiropractors effectively treat.
However, there’s an added benefit to your body when you receive a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic treatment actually boosts your immune system function as well.
Here’s how it works.
Voluntary Functions
Our brains control every aspect of our bodies – either directly or indirectly.
Our direct or voluntary aspects are actions that we take, consciously. For example, when we lift our arms, we are doing so by a conscious effort.
Involuntary Functions
Indirect or involuntary functions such as digesting food, breathing, and making your heart beat are functions of the body that occur without your conscious effort.
One of the involuntary aspects of your body is your nervous system – or your immune response. This part of your spinal cord is located in our mid back to your neck.
Your brain controls your immune response by sending impulses down your spinal cord and out to the appropriate areas of your body.
Chiropractic and Immune System Function
Your nervous system and immune system work together to help your body heal, but nerve interference because of spinal misalignments can cause stress to the body and lead to a poor immune response.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to increase the effectiveness of both your nervous system and immune response.
By examining the spine for areas that are misaligned and restoring motion to joints that are locked up for fixated, chiropractors can reduce and even eliminate the stress on your spinal cord.
A subluxation is a misalignment in the spine that causes compression and irritates the nerve pathways affecting the organ systems in your body.
Subluxations cause physical stress and decrease the effectiveness of your immune response. According to researchers, these stressful conditions can increase susceptibility to a variety of diseases.
Chiropractors analyze your spine for subluxations and then give corrective chiropractic adjustments to reduce the stress on your nervous system.
Potential Invaders are Everywhere
There are so many openings in our bodies where we can contract potential virus’ and bacteria. Our immune system is always on high alert for potential invaders.
When one is found, our bodies create white blood cells to fight off the invader.
A 1992 research group found that when a chiropractic adjustment was applied to a subluxated area the white blood cell count rose significantly.
Numerous other studies have been conducted showing a marked increase in immune system function after chiropractic treatment.
So, if you find that you’re feeling a bit ‘under the weather,’ head in to see your local chiropractor for an immune system boost, and give your body it’s best chance of fighting it off on it’s own.