Chiropractic and allergies

We might not have had much of a spring this year in the Pacific Northwest, but summer has finally arrived, and everything is finally blooming. That’s great for some, but for people with allergies, it can be a season of runny noses, itchy, watery eyes and non-stop sneezing.

Chiropractic and the nervous system

While chiropractic does not treat an allergic reaction itself, chiropractic care helps support your body’s nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments help realign your spinal column and eliminate any stresses on your nervous system, which your spine protects. It is this nervous system that governs your immune system, glands and respiratory system, all of which can react inappropriately to an allergen it recognizes as a threat.

Chiropractic can help optimize the health of your nervous system so it can better handle stress and therefore adapt to allergens more efficiently.

Stay healthy, and have a beautiful summer.

Yours in health,

Dr. Russell Kun

Evergreen Chiropractic

What the Great Flu Pandemic of 1917-1918 Tells Us: Chiropractic Saves Lives

Although we are well into the spring season, memories of the swine flu scare of last winter—and of the bird flu outbreak prior to that—have not long been forgotten. The most virulent and potent strains of influenza can pose serious health risks, and an immune system compromised by flu can leave one vulnerable to other dangerous diseases like pneumonia.

That is what seems to have happened during the legendary Great Flu Pandemic of 1917-1918. This global outbreak claimed the lives of millions of people. Different sources estimate the death toll at 10 to 20 million. It’s staggering to think that almost 1.5 times as many people died in 6 months as did WWI in the course of 4 years.

One good thing to come out of this horrible health crisis was evidence of the life-saving potential of osteopathic and chiropractic methods. (Osteopathy, which started in 1874, and chiropractic, which began in 1898, use many of the same manipulative techniques, although the two communities which practice them diverge in their medical philosophy.)

But the success of their shared manipulative techniques is what is highlighted in a May 2000 article, “Osteopathic Methods and the Great Flu Pandemic of 1917-1918” published in the Journal of the American Osteopathy Association by JAOA Associate Editor Michael Patterson, PhD.

Patterson summarizes the role of osteopathic physicians in response to the historical pandemic: “The osteopathic medical community treated patients with influenza and its more potent sequela, pneumonia, with various forms of manipulative treatment, rest, and hydration. After the death sweep had abated, the leaders of the profession surveyed osteopathic practitioners nationwide regarding their experiences with treatment.”

The results were astounding. Patients given spinal manipulations or adjustments had a much lower death rate (0.5%) compared to patients treated medically (6% average death rate, up to 27% in Boston). And in cases of  pneumonia, patients under osteopathic care “had a death rate of less than 10%, as opposed to 33% of medically treated cases.”

An August 1919 JAOA article (“Osteopathic success in the treatment of influenza and pneumonia”) by George W. Riley reports that practically none of the patients receiving more or less regular osteopathic treatments at the time of the epidemic contracted these diseases, as reported by their osteopathic physicians. Riley notes: “In their opinion, the resistance of such patients was up to such a level that they will able to withstand the infection of the epidemic.”

That success made Riley celebrate Dr. Still, who started osteopathy in 1874. “If we as a profession had never accomplished anything else than what we did in these epidemics, that alone would be sufficient to make the name of doctor Still immortal.”

The many chiropractors who cared for patients during the 1917-1918 flu epidemic to similar success are also celebrated by their contemporary counterparts, who would agree with Patterson’s words: “the best defense against disease and infection remains health. Optimal health is the result of the optimization of the function of each individual.”

Chiropractors would also agree with his statement that “intelligently applied manipulations” as a part of regular care can be considered “excellent disease prevention.”

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com

Reference: Patterson, Michael. “Osteopathic Methods and the Great Flu Pandemic of 1917-1918.” JAOA Vol. 100, No. 5 (May 2000): pp. 309-328

Reference: Riley, George W. “Osteopathic success in the treatment of influenza and pneumonia.” JAOA Vol. 100, No. 5 (August 1919): pp. 315

Antibiotics are not always the best answer, especially in the case of young children. There can be side effects, such as an increased risk of developing asthma.

That’s according to 2007 article (“Increased risk of childhood asthma from antibiotic use in early life,” Chest) that published the results of a long-term study of children exposed to antibiotics during the first year of life. Of the 13,116 children born in 1995 that were studied, children who had received antibiotics in the first year of life were more likely to develop asthma at age 7 years.

In this study cohort of 13,116 children, 65% had received at least one antibiotic prescription during the first year of life, and in all but 3% the antibiotic was a broad spectrum antibiotic. That can have a strong effect on young bodies.

The authors also note that the “likelihood [of asthma] increased with the number of antibiotic courses,” and that “children who had received more than four courses of antibiotics were almost twice as likely to have asthma develop.”

The authors observe that “Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, significantly impacts quality of life, and represents a significant cost to the health-care system.”

If you are concerned about the potentially damaging side effects that antibiotics can have on young children, you might want to think about alternative and preventative care. Chiropractic has been proven to help support the body’s immune system that naturally defends against illness.

For more information, contact us at Evergreen Chiropractic.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com

Reference: Kozyrskyj AL, Ernst P, Becker AB. Increased risk of childhood asthma from antibiotic use in early life. Chest. June 2007;131(6):1753-9

“Could a Neck Adjustment Lower Your Blood Pressure?” – Good Morning America

Though doctors are unsure of what causes blood pressure to increase, a recent study suggests that a specific type of neck adjustment may reduce hypertension for some of the 65 million Americans battling it.

In a March 25, 2008 story covered by Good Morning America, chiropractic adjustments were correlated with the lowering high blood pressure in patients. In some cases, the adjustments were more successful in lowering high blood pressure than medication. Read the story here.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA, 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com

Chiropractic is not just for adults with injuries or arthritis. Chiropractic is an excellent way to help prevent injury and illness by checking kids for misalignment caused by sports, play and stresses.

The earlier that people receive chiropractic care and regular check-ups, the more likely that they will have better alignment and better functioning nervous systems in the future. Make sure your kids are receiving the care to support their healthy in the future.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

Evergreen Chiropractic Capitol Hill

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666