Flu and Chiropractic

Given the recent concern about the H1N1 flu, I thought it important to mention a study I found in recent weeks. While it is very important to understand the choices a person has when dealing with the flu, it is also very important to understand that there are natural ways to boost your immune system and stay healthy this season.

In 1918, the world saw an epic flu pandemic with death toll estimates from 20 to 40 million people. It is described as one of the most devastating outbreaks in the history of the entire world. During that time frame, information was gathered on the effectiveness of chiropractic in relation to the overall health of patients. This information is widely thought of as the reason the chiropractic profession has blossomed to the current status it shares in the community at this time.

Let’s look at the facts in relation to this pandemic:

In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors cared for 4,953 cases with 274 deaths. Also, in Davenport, 150 chiropractors saw 1,635 cases with only one death. In the state of Iowa, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths; a loss of one patient out of every 15. In the same state, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were seen by chiropractors with a loss of only six patients – a loss of one patient out of every 789!

National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors cared for 46,394 for influenza during 1918, with a loss of 54 patients – one out of every 859.

In New York City, 950 out of 10,000 cases died with medical methods, while 25 out of 10,000 died using drugless methods.

Yes, the medical profession was seeing a majority of the worst of the worst; however, one of the greatest statistics backing chiropractic care comes from the state of Oklahoma. There were 233 cases in which the medical doctors had cared for patients and eventually pronounced them as “lost” or “beyond hope”… chiropractors took care of all 233 with only 25 deaths.

When you get adjusted, you decrease sustained sympathetic tone in your nervous system (bad), which subsequently leads to an increase in immune function (good), among many other consequences (Journal of Neurophysiology, February 2007). An increase in immune function is important for everything from the cold and runny nose to influenza, cancer, and heart disease, not to mention the great enhancing effects on a healthy individual.”

This year, while you are deliberating on how to best defend yourself against H1N1, I would encourage you to help your body do what your body does best, heal. We are in possession of a great internal system that keeps us functioning and healthy. There are steps you can take to increase your body’s ability to fight the good fight. Along with a healthy diet and exercise, chiropractic is the key to unlocking all of your potential for sustained health.