Corona Virus, Spanish Flu and Chiropractic

Listening to the news reports one can not help but believe that we are all doomed to fall victim to the Corona virus making its way out of China.  Yes, it seems to be quite virulent and mortality from it is higher than typical viruses;  however, as with most viruses our best defense is to use proper hygene and keep our immune system supported.  Healthy immune function is important for everything from the cold and a runny nose, to influenza, cancer, and heart disease.  This entails getting adequate sleep, eating right (avoiding over consumption of processed foods and their additives, watching our sweetener intake), drinking plenty of fluids  and consuming vitamin C and D which have been shown to improve the resistance of the immune system.

As I thought about this, it reminded me of an historical chiropractic point.  Chiropractic came into its own during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919. (<-This link downloads a PDF)  Chiropractic historians have marked the 1918 Flu Pandemic as a major factor in the success and proliferation of the chiropractic profession as a whole.   During the time before the take over of healthcare by the pharmaceutical industry, chiropractic was actually licensed and utilized to treat many infectious disease and disorders; even polio up to the 1950’s.   As mentioned above, the best defense is a strong immune system.  So how did chiropractic help?  Multiple studies show the positive benefits of the chiropractic adjustment  here and here.  

Specifically, chiropractic has been shown to  reduce the production of pro inflammatory substances in the body,  stimulate the production of immune boosting white blood cells and enhance their activity.   Spinal adjustments have been found to increase and even kick off the production immunoglobulins which act as anti bodies against disease causing organisms.

How effective was chiropractic in its efforts against the Spanish flu?  In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases, with 274 deaths. Throughout Iowa, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases.   Epidemic reports show that in New York City, during the influenza epidemic of 1918, out of every 10,000 cases medically treated, 950 died.  The same reports show that chiropractors cared for 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths.  In Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 233 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients, and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all but 25 of these “lost” cases.  National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors treated 46,394 patients for influenza during 1918, with a loss of only 54 patients.  These figures clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic care in helping our bodies fight against disease.

This is only one aspect of the amazing benefits of chiropractic.  Numerous studies and research have shown profound affects of the adjustment on the musculoskeletal system, neurology, hormonal balance, immunology and even psycho-emotional states by way of modulating the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) and its effect on the body, all with virtually no negative side effects.

I would urge you to consider putting the powerful effects of chiropractic care into your wellness regime before you need to depend on the medico-pharmaceutical establishment for crisis care.  We welcome all patients, whether you are looking for an alternative or addition to your medical care.

Chiropractic Care During the Cold and Flu Season

Health authorities have declared 2012-2013 to be one of the worst flu seasons on modern record.  Even though they encourage everyone to get flu shots, news reports indicate that the vaccines are less than 2% effective.  So, what does that leave a person to do to ward off the flu?  

Well, of course we all know about washing our hands regularly, Vitamin C and other nutrients to help the immune system along with adequate rest.  Have you considered chiropractic care to support your health and fortify your immune system?  

 According to a previous press release from the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA):

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Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function, citing a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses.

Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system by placing pressure on nerves. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body -- including the immune system -- chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function, WCA officials note.

“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,” stated Dr. Christopher Kent, WCA Vice President.
Dr. Kent explained: “A comprehensive review of 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. 

“These results are not so surprising given what we now know about the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, WCA Board member and Editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. “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 “manipulation” 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.

Another small study of HIV positive patients was conducted to study the effects of specific chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations in the upper neck on the immune systems of HIV positive individuals. Over the six-month period of the study, the group that did not receive chiropractic care experienced a 7.96% decrease in CD4 cell counts, while the adjusted group experienced a 48% increase in CD4 cell counts over the same period.
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 7-28%, 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.

According to Dr. Terry Rondberg, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, “While we would love to say we (chiropractors) figured this out, the truth is we didn’t. We simply take advantage of it to help our patients.”

He added that, “In many ways this is old news since the relationship between the nervous system and the immune system was reported by the New York Times in 1993. According to that article ‘Scientists have found the first evidence of 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.’ Our health care system needs to catch up with the research.”

“I would recommend to any person concerned about the upcoming flu season to add chiropractic to their list of things to do to remove interference to their nervous system, enhance their immune function and give their body every extra bit of security it needs” stated Dr. Rondberg.

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 Include chiropractic care in your efforts to keep you and your family healthy.   You could be surprised and I'm confident you'll be pleased.

Yours for better health,
Dr. Heller

<<Release Citations>>

It's Getting To Be That Time Again

This time of the year I get asked quite frequently, during my patient's visits, my thoughts about getting "flu shots".  I always respond that whether to get one or not is a personal decision but that I will give them my personal opinion.

Personally, my wife and I have never taken a "flu shot" simply because I have never seen convincing evidence that the benefits out weight the potential side effects.  It now seems that The Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of people from over 100 countries that reveiw studies and public policies to help healthcare providers, policy-makers, patients, their advocates and carers, make well-informed decisions about health care, may have taken a similar view.

An online summary published in July of 2010 reviewed 40 influenza vaccine trials of over 70,000 people and found that they are statistically much less effective than we are generally told.  Their findings indicate that in ideal situations (where the vaccine exactly matches the infecting viral strain) that 33 healthy adults would need to be vaccinated to see a prevention of 1 case of influenza.   More typically, in average conditions (only a partial match of virus and vaccine) 100 healthy adults would need to be vaccinated to see a prevention of 1 case of influenza.  The summary also reported that immunization did not affect the number of people hospitalized or working days lost.  The summary did find that there was about 1 in 1 million doses occurrence of Guillian-Barré syndrome (a major neurological condition leading to paralysis).  Is that an acceptable trade off?   

The problem with flu vaccine effectiveness is that there are over 200 viruses that can cause influenza and influenza-like illness.  At best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B, which represent only about 10% of all circulating viruses. Each year, the World Health Organization, out of a shear guesstimation,  recommends which viral strains should be included in vaccinations for the forthcoming season.

 The summary notes that the reported "results may be an optimistic estimate because company-sponsored influenza vaccines trials tend to produce results favorable to their products and some of the evidence comes from trials carried out in ideal viral circulation and matching conditions and because the harms (adverse reaction) evidence base is limited."  It also stated that studies funded from public sources were significantly less likely to report conclusions favorable to the vaccines.   From my point of view the ineffectiveness of vaccines is a small concern.  The majority of my objection is the unknown, long term effects of introducing all the foreign, often otherwise toxic chemicals and particulates into the body by way of the vaccine.  One of my favorite, satirical videos on the subject is this one.

So, what does all this mean?  What should a person do if they want to avoid unnecessary vaccines?  We recommend to our patients that they do what they can to destress the systems and enhance the functions of the body.  By utilizing chiropractic adjustments, healthy eating, and sufficient rest you can help fortify the body's immune response to help ward off viral and bacterial infections and if you do develop symptoms typically they will tend to be shorter lived in a well adjusted individual.   If you should develop a full blown episode of flu-like symptoms my family and many of our patients utilize natural homeopathic formulas, nutritional and herbal preparations to build up the body's immune response.

Interested in improving your health status?  Contact our office at drheller@dcbetterhealth.com.

For your better health,

Dr. Heller