Chiropractic and COVID-19

Chiropractic and COVID-19

It feels as though COVID-19 has taken over our lives. Some of our jobs have been shut down, schools have been closed, and all the media really covers anymore is the heartbreaking statistics of what this awful virus is doing to our population. While more and more of our daily routines and freedoms are being interrupted, there are still things you DO have control over that may help boost your immune system and help you feel as good as possible during this time you are quarantined. 

First and foremost, we want to write a note of gratitude thanking our medical professionals who are on the frontlines working hard to save and protect all of us from this virus. These medical professionals are working overtime to keep us all safe and healthy. Thank you for all you do!

We have gotten many phone calls asking if Redenius Chiropractic is still open during this time of social distancing. The answer is a resounding YES! Governor Reynolds listed chiropractic care as an essential form of health care that can remain open during this time, and this is for good reason. BJ Palmer, the son of the founder of Chiropractic, described it best years ago when he said, “...chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.” Chiropractic care is essential for boosting the body’s immune response system. 

The mind, body, and central nervous system are all linked together. Think, for example, that you just went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of delicious produce to keep you healthy during this time. However, you put all that produce in an unplugged refrigerator. All of that fresh produce you just purchased will likely go bad over time. The same is true for your central nervous system. That’s why our focus is on the integrity of your nervous system since it controls and regulates every aspect of your body.

There have been numerous research studies that have found that chiropractic care does boost your immune system. In 1991, for example, Patricia Brennan, Ph.D., leading a team of researchers, discovered an immediate immune boost following a single chiropractic adjustment. The study showed a “phagocytic respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and monocytes” right after being adjusted by chiropractors.² In other words, she found that white blood cells were boosted after an adjustment.

Another study was actually done during the 1918 flu pandemic. “Researchers in Davenport, Iowa found that 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.”²

In addition to getting regular chiropractic adjustments, research has found that increasing the amount of supplements like Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Collagen, and Elderberry boost your immune system.¹ These are all supplements we carry at the clinic. Remember to always contact your primary care doctor before starting any new supplements. 

It is important to note that there’s currently no cure for COVID-19 and no preventive measures other than social distancing and proper hygiene practices can protect you from developing this disease. If you do feel like you have symptoms, it is important to notify proper health officials and then make sure to follow social distancing guidelines. 

In addition to following the guidelines that our state and federal governments put in place, we encourage you to seek out chiropractic care during this time to help boost your immune system and keep you as healthy as possible. We take all protective measures we can to make sure our clinic stays as clean and sanitized as possible. We also encourage you to make sure you are taking care of your mental health. Modern medicine has come to appreciate the link between mind and body. While these difficult times of fear and unknown can bring stress into your life, we encourage you to take time to de-stress. Take a walk outside, Facetime with loved ones, try out yoga or meditation. We hope you all stay as healthy as possible during this time, and we encourage you to reach out to the clinic for any chiropractic care needs.

Sources

1. Kubala, Jillian MS RD. “Can Vitamin D Lower Your Risk of COVID-19.” Healthline. March 26, 2020.
2. Upper Cervical Chiropractic. “10 Important Studies on Chiropractic and Resisting a Virus.” March 13, 2020.

Chiropractic Care for Infants and Children

We get asked if and how chiropractic can help infants and children quite frequently. 

To answer the question, yes, chiropractic really does help infants and children in lots of different ways!  We see infants and children all the time in the clinic. In fact, we even highly recommend that pregnant moms receive regular chiropractic care so that both the mom and the baby can have the healthiest and most comfortable pregnancy and delivery possible.

Infants and children are similar to adults in that their nervous system and spine works the same way an adult nervous system and spine works. The nervous system essentially runs your body, and the bones of your spine are designed to protect your central nervous system. Stress, tension, and injury (and just think of how often toddlers and children fall), throw those bones out of alignment. When those bones are out of alignment, the nervous system gets irritated. Since the nervous system controls your body, it is important that these misalignments get fixed so that your infant or child can develop and grow properly. 

Birth, in and of itself, is considered by many to be one of the most traumatic physical experiences we endure (thankfully we do not remember it)! Consider what happens to a baby who is in the birth canal for hours and hours. The amount of pressure that builds up on their neck and spine is significant. That is why many people bring their babies in to get adjusted soon after they are born so that this tension can be released, and their little spines can be put back into alignment.

As well as seeing brand new infants, we also see babies and children for things like gas issues, reflux, nursing problems, sleep issues, ear aches, and colic among many other things. Having two children under the age of three myself, I know how frustrating and tiring it can be when a child is crying and mad for an unknown reason. While we do not claim to cure any of these conditions, we help alleviate these issues to the best of our ability so that baby and mom and dad are all more rested and happy.

Additionally, we can help resolve gross motor developmental issues like uncoordinated crawling or walking. We see infants and children who struggle with behavioral issues, meltdowns, or anxiety because a lot of these issues can be minimized with nutritional changes and regular adjustments. We also treat headaches and common growing pains. 

Again, while we do not claim to cure all of these issues, chiropractic care can help everyday quality-of-life issues that plague many families. There is a lot more stress and anxiety in kids’ lives, especially in the world we live in today. As a chiropractor, the adjustments I do can greatly improve the quality of life for both the parents and the child. Taking this conservative approach to health care is particularly important for kids. We focus on adequate nutrition, sleep, physical activity, as well as spinal alignment.