Chiropractic and research

Chiropractic as a way of healthcare is based on the connection and advancement of three things. Just like any structure of importance, its strength is based on having a strong foundation. A common support system that stands strong is pillars. Chiropractic as a practice is made strong itself by three pillars. One pillar is through the philosophy that the body was built intelligently enough to adapt to environmental stresses and express health when there is nothing impeding its function. The next pillar being the Art of the adjustment, is a skill learned to deliver a specific thrust, with calculated force, in a predetermined vector to reduce and remove the subluxation. The final and just as important pillar of the trio being the science, the science that is driven by research aimed to advance our knowledge as we gain more information in delivering chiropractic care.

As the past year has come to an end, a review of the chiropractic literature revealed promising advances in our understanding of the benefits of regular chiropractic care. A study published by Zhongguo Gu Shang in June of last year reported that spinal manipulation may cure Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Researchers in China did an analysis of 82 patients with irritable bowel syndrome who received spinal manipulation to the mid and lower spine regions. The outcome revealed that 91 percent of the patients were cured and the others remaining showed significant improvement. The study concluded that unstable vertebrae caused pressure compromising nerve and blood supply to the affected area resulting in irritable bowel syndrome.

Another study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complement Medicine suggests that chiropractic care and resistance training is extremely effective in the functional quality of woman with fibromyalgia. The experiment done at Florida State University, separated 48 women suffering from fibromyalgia into two groups, both groups completing 16 weeks of resistance training with one group receiving chiropractic care as well. The study showed improvements with the fibromyalgia in both groups, but the women in the chiropractic group showed greater results. In concluding, “the addition of chiropractic treatment improved adherence and dropout rates to the resistance training and facilitated greater improvements in the domain of functionality.”

The studies discussed above are only a few of many done in 2009. However, these studies are crucial in the advancement of chiropractic as we gain modern information. As mentioned in previous discussions, chiropractic does not search for a specific symptom or disease process, but removes the pressure on nerves and allows the body to manifest health regardless of the ailment. Keep your spine checked regularly by your chiropractor.

Have you had your artichokes?

It is important that when we speak of embracing a healthy lifestyle we incorporate optimal nutrition into our lives. A balanced diet is an essential part of the chiropractic lifestyle. This lifestyle is centered on disease prevention that includes regular chiropractic care, active living via exercise, and many other preventive measures.

One of the biggest health concerns in society today is the booming rate of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease may in part be related to our genetic make-up, but an overwhelming contributor is lifestyle choices such as nutrition. Providentially, recent studies indicates that artichoke enriched diets may keep cholesterol levels within the normal range. One study published in 2008 in the journal Phytomedicine contrasted a group of adults with elevated blood cholesterol. One group of the study participants was given artichoke leaf extract, while the other group a placebo. The study concluded that the artichoke leaf extract consumption group displayed a positive statistically significant difference in total cholesterol after 3 months.

Along with its ability to decrease cardiovascular disease, artichokes may also promote liver health, primarily amongst individuals exposed to toxins, have compromised liver function, or are heavy drinkers. In addition, artichokes have been shown to weaken irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems. Recent research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complemintary Medicine discussed the effects of artichoke leaf extract on over 200 adults who were suffering from IBS. The results showed a greater than 26% decrease in incidence of IBS amongst the group.

Artichokes contain many nutrients that are effective in promoting a preventive environment from such diseases as cardiovascular, irritable bowel syndrome, and those affecting the liver. They contain elevated levels of fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. They also provide an avenue of potassium, phosphorus, chromium, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Artichokes have all of these benefits contained in a small amount of calories and no low density lipoprotiens (LDLs) that causes high cholesterol.

Living a healthy lifestyle requires more than just the occasional run in the park, or a bi-weekly visit to your chiropractor. An optimal healthy lifestyle consistently needs to include an appropriate activity level, regular visits to your chiropractor to remove or reduce subluxations, and a diet that is rich in nutrients that embeds preventive measures.

Back Pain

The common perspective amongst individuals in the general public is that Chiropractic treats back pain. Yes! It is true that people who seek chiropractic care for back pain do yield great results. However, the fact of the matter is, their low back pain may have improved without chiropractic intervention. For some, general rest, acupuncture, or hot/cold packs may have had the same positive results. The important thing to know is that there is no cook book recipe or formula that is designed to be effective for every episode of back pain. As research advances so must our thought process in dealing with the condition. For years, the medical community has prescribed weeks of bed rest for the treatment of low back pain. Today however, we know that bed rest may tend to make the pain worse. We now understand that the quicker we get the connecting muscles of the spine active and balanced, the better outcome is expected in the patients.

Recent research has shown that eighty percent of all low back complaints are linked to the muscles, ligaments and disks. All of which leads to an abnormal load being placed on the spine resulting in an inflammatory process and degenerative changes or arthritis. Other conditions causing low back pain include herniated disks as well as unrelated disease in the back area, for example, digestive or kidney problems, or even cancer. From the multitude of causes for low back pain, how can we be sure of what treatment is most effective. No one knows exactly. Individuals take aspirin for relief of low back pain, yet do not know the effects or level of toxicity introduced by doing so. If there is a cheaper and less toxic approach to aspirin and surgery should that not be perused?

As mentioned earlier, chiropractic is not a treatment for low back pain. However, chiropractic patients experience great results in the relief of their low back pain from care. How is that the case? Simple! A healthier body adapts and functions better than a compromised one. When we do something good to maintain our health, the whole body responds as a whole. Such things as a good night's sleep and exercise are effective for decreasing low back pain, not because they are the treatments, but rather they are good things for the whole body. Chiropractic as well is good for the whole body. Get your spine checked regularly for subluxation and express health.

Chiropractic and Kids

It is common in today’s society for individuals to blame an ailment on the effect of a bad night’s sleep, a sudden change in the temperature, or a lack of appropriate nutrients throughout one’s day and so on. With the exception of forceful external encounters, such as a gunshot, sudden falls, car accidents, or a slip off of a ladder, we do not suddenly become ill. Disease is not a spontaneous process; it is the result from long term micro trauma, negligence, and abuse that manifests itself collectively over time. When we began to experience a lapse in health, the fact of the matter is that it has been building up for quite some time.

Because of such a fact is the exact reason while children should receive regular chiropractic care. Recent research has made known that 80% of young children encounter their first subluxation during the birthing process. The sad thing is, many of these children will go well into their young adult years or even their entire lifetime with that same interference impeding normal function of the nervous system. Even for the other 20% who are fortunate enough to have been spared during the birthing process, there are still hurdles that we encounter throughout childhood. How many times does a little one fall while learning to walk? Or older kids, how often do they fall out of bed, off a bike, out of a tree, fight with siblings, or encounter the rigors of early child hood sports?

The result from all of the things mentioned above is inevitable risk for subluxation. When these are not corrected, they will begin to take a negative toll on the body making it difficult to fight off disease, concentrate, and less able to coordinate and harmonize the body. It will make it more challenging to clean and rid the body of toxins, suppressing the body’s function.

Isn’t the adjustment too forceful for children? This is a question that a lot of people have when speaking of pediatric chiropractic care. The answer is NO. Each person is adjusted in accordance to their size, age, health complaint and subluxation. Children, because of their small stature, coupled with time and the fact that the results of negligence and abuse have not yet taken its toll on their young bodies, will benefit more because the problem is being addressed before the results are able to sit in. Kids need chiropractic care.

Consistent Chiropractic Care

When we speak of Chiropractic patients, we divide them into two categories. The first category that we mention is a group of patients who understand that Chiropractic can help facilitate health in an ailing body. These patients initially come into the office with some type of physical problem that has been affecting them for quite sometime. They know that the adjustment will remove any Vertebral Subluxation that may be causing impedance in the function of their bodies. These patients understand that we are not treating a specific symptom, but rather are affecting the overall expression of the nervous system. Often times, they come in to have their Vertebral Subluxations corrected and find that their body is healing and functioning at a higher level than when they initially came. Millions of people have become healthy through the drugless approach of Chiropractic. Unfortunately, there are a number of people who do not make the most of chiropractic care.

The other group understands that the same force that allowed the body to multiply and develop from a union of two cells did not leave the body to be defenseless against its environment. These patients do not seek chiropractic care as merely a means of recovering from a sickness or postural abnormalities, but more importantly as a health maintenance intervention. They understand that pain and symptoms are a process that develops over time and that regular adjustments regardless of how you physical feel is important. These patients pursue a higher level of fulfillment in health, because they understand that these regular adjustments can allow you to deal with stress better, have more energy, coordination, and flexibility. That raises the question, does all of this really happen from regular adjustments. Yes! Each thing mentioned above, every single part of our body (organ, tissue, and cell) is influenced and controlled by our nervous system. The biggest difference is that these patients understand the importance of chiropractic care while being healthy, as opposed to the former, waiting until an ailment has sat in.

As a health care facilitator, we would much rather see the second group of patients. Everyone needs chiropractic care and we clearly would not turn away someone with a medical need for the removal of a vertebral subluxation. My biggest desire is to see hundreds of individuals becoming actively involved in their own health and in addition encouraging family and friends to do the same.

The healthier approach

The prevention of disease seems to be of major concern to many people these days. The public is beginning to exercise to prevent heart problems and cut down on cholesterol to prevent cardiovascular disease. They are quitting their smoking habits to prevent cancer, and on and on. Prevention of disease, however, perpetuates a very serious misconception concerning disease, which is that it has a single cause. If a lack of vitamin C was the cause of the common cold, taking vitamin C would prevent it. While resistance is dependent upon vitamin C, it also depends upon a number of other factors. That is why three children in a family can all drink their orange juice and two will get a cold and one will not. Resistance depends upon how well the body is working, how well it can utilize vitamin C, the amount of rest a person gets and, of course, the frequency of coming in contact with the virus. There are probably a dozen other factors as well, many of which we do not even know and some, like genetics, we cannot control.

If exercise prevented heart attacks, well trained individuals such as Jim Fixx, the guru of running, would not have had a fatal heart attack on one of his daily runs. There are people who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day for thirty years and do not get lung cancer. Conversely, there are people who never smoke a cigarette and die of lung cancer.

The point is this. There is only one thing that is truly effective in preventing disease that is staying healthy! The more things you do to promote your good health, the greater the likelihood of not ending up with a disease. Exercise is important, but it is only one piece of the health picture. Vitamin C and all the other aspects of good nutrition are another piece. Avoiding poisons like cigarette smoke is another. The numbers of aspects in your health that you address are directly related to the probability of being healthy. Of course, maintaining the integrity of your nervous system is a vital part of health. That is where chiropractic comes in. You must correct vertebral subluxations because they interfere with the proper function of the nerve system. Besides directly improving the nerve supply, the removing of subluxations also indirectly affects the other aspects of good health. If there is interference in your nervous system, you may not be able to properly utilize good nutrition or get the maximum benefits from exercise and rest. Your body will be less resistant to the poisons you cannot help but be exposed to, like second-hand cigarette smoke. If you want to prevent disease, the proper attitude is not just doing certain things to prevent certain diseases. That is a futile approach. There are just too many diseases. The proper approach is to do those things necessary to be healthy. Perhaps if everybody was doing everything necessary to promote and maintain health, we would not have to worry about preventing disease. That seems to be the most intelligent idea.

Health is the outcome of making the decision to live a healthy life

The Price of Health

There is an old saying, “Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die to get there.” A similar statement could be made concerning health. In almost any survey taken asking people what they wanted most out of life, good health is one of the top three things on the list. The only two things that ever top it are happiness and good family relationships. Yet how many of us allow other less important things to keep us from attaining maximum health. Like happiness, health does not come by luck. It is true that hereditary factors are important to good health but most people can be healthy in spite of hereditary weakness. Conversely, hereditary strengths will not overcome a failure to take care of you.

Most people who come into a chiropractic office indicate a desire to be healthy. Unfortunately, they often do not realize that it will take some effort on their part. The average person’s experience with medicine has led them to believe that they will be made healthy by what the doctor does to them or what he gives them. They can just sit back, do nothing or at most, remember to take their medication every four hours. While this approach may be relatively effective in the treatment of disease, it has virtually nothing to do with health. For the most part, disease treatment is a passive activity. Health maintenance or health restoration is largely an active endeavor. Therein lies the problem. Sitting back and doing nothing will not promote or maintain health. Simply hoping or wishing for health will not make you healthy. It must be actively pursued. A choice must be made. Good, nutritious, health-promoting food is available, but then so is junk food. You must make the decision as to what kind you are going to eat and then make the extra effort to get it. Exercise is not a passive activity. You cannot get it by just watching Jane Fonda videos.

Chiropractic is not a passive activity either. While it is true the patient lies on the table and relaxes, it is the body that makes the adjustment. The chiropractor introduces a force to the spine and the body’s muscles actively move the bone to exactly where it belongs. Further, the benefits of chiropractic care occur after the adjustment, like exercise and eating, they are far reaching and unlike treatments, they are not designed for short-term, immediate effects. It is true you may feel good after eating a good meal or after a good work out. You may also feel good right after a chiropractic adjustment, but the real benefits are the long-term ones. When the body is working better it can actively promote health and well being and add years to life. There is another aspect that makes chiropractic care an active approach. The patient must make the commitment to care. The chiropractor cannot give you a bottle of adjustments and say, “Take one every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next six weeks.”The patient must make the willful decision to come in, be regular and follow the program. The chiropractor cannot follow you around or take you by the hand.

Do you really want to be healthy? Sadly, too many people do not want to pay the price, which is time, money and effort. Happiness does not come by accident. Fame and fortune are not a matter of luck. Similarly, you cannot expect to have good health unless you do those things necessary to attain it. Every individual has to establish his or her priorities. Is watching television more important than exercising for your health? Is saving money by eating poor quality food more important to you than spending the few dollars for good food? Is doing whatever you do that interferes with regular adjustments more important than your health? Only you can answer these questions and how you decide on these and other relative questions could very well determine your health, your happiness and your life.