Chiropractic care isn’t just about cracking backs and racking up views on TikTok, though it seems that’s what some chiropractors think it is.
As a chiropractor in Springfield, IL, I focus on harnessing and strengthening our body’s incredible innate power. By optimizing my patients’ nervous systems, we improve their bodies’ performance in almost every way.
How do you think Mary got that way?! Most likely a quirky, mysterious, exceptionally talented Hyde Park chiropractor.
Chiropractors adjust the spine because it protects the spinal cord, which is the main thoroughfare for our nervous system. The nervous system is the master controller of every other system in the body. When our nervous system is working at its best, our other systems can work at their best. This includes our immune system.
Our immune system helps us:
- get sick less frequently
- fight off viruses and bacteria
- heal faster from wounds and injuries
- recover properly when an illness does get past our defenses
It’s like living in a bubble without actually having to live in a bubble.
A lot of us take our immune system for granted. Until we get sick, and our world screeches to a halt. No school, no friends, no work, no showering…
Our healthcare system takes our immunity for granted as well. Rather than work to prevent illness, it only reacts. By the time we jump through all the hoops to get to the doctor’s office, our health problem no longer has a simple solution.
The chiropractic approach attempts to fortify the immune system to prevent illness – and injury – to begin with.
Nervous system issues interfere with the nutrient and blood flow that our body needs for optimal performance and function. Spinal misalignments are the chief culprit of this interference and add to the stress our body is already enduring. This all makes us susceptible to a range of health issues. Here are five natural ways, yes natural, chiropractic care can turn our immune system into an invincible fortress.
1. Stress Less: The Power of Relaxation
Stress is the silent enemy wreaking havoc on our immune systems. However, in this day and age, our stress is loud and proud.
Stress weakens our immune defenses, leaving us vulnerable to illnesses. Our body gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode and hoards energy for life-sustaining activities like outrunning a bear and making it through a family dinner without everyone clawing each other’s faces off.
Chiropractic care rescues us from the clutches of stress. Through gentle adjustments, chiropractors release tension in the muscles and joints, creating a sense of relaxation that extends far beyond the spine. Adjustments shift us from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest, feeding our immune system with the nutrients and energy it needs to tackle any intruders that come our way. It’s like sending our immune system to Capri for some R&R.
2. Nerve Communication: The Immune System’s Secret Language
The nervous system is the master communicator, sending messages to every cell in our body, including those vital immune cells. When our spine is misaligned, it can disrupt this communication, confusing our immune response. It’s a game of telephone at a 7th-grade sleepover gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Chiropractic adjustments align our spine, ensuring that these messages flow smoothly. It’s like clearing the static on a radio channel, allowing our immune system to receive and interpret signals clearly. With this enhanced communication, our immune cells become more efficient, ready to identify and eliminate threats.
3. Lymphatic Flow: The Body’s Natural Detox System
The lymphatic system isn’t something we really talk about. It’s like our body’s personal cleaning crew, responsible for removing waste and toxins.
So that’s sort of why we don’t ever talk about it.
The catch is the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the heart to keep things moving. Instead, it relies on muscle movement and…a healthy nervous system. Spinal misalignments hinder the flow of lymphatic fluid, leading to a buildup of toxins.
Chiropractic adjustments align the spine, ensuring a smooth flow of this cleansing fluid. A well-functioning lymphatic system means fewer toxins in the body, allowing our immune system to focus on more significant tasks, like keeping us healthy from whatever our cousin’s baby just coughed in our face.
4. Boosting White Blood Cells: The Body’s Defense Force
White blood cells are the superheroes of your immune system, defending your body against invaders. Marvel superheroes, not DC, because our white blood cells have a personality and sense of humor. Chiropractic care boosts the production of these mighty warriors, recruiting more soldiers ready to fight off any viruses or bacteria that dare challenge us. With a higher number of white blood cells, our immune response becomes more robust, neutralizing threats effectively and…swiftly.
Our spine isn’t just a stack of bones; it’s a hub of nerve pathways, housing the delicate spinal cord. When our spine is misaligned, it can create interference in these pathways, disrupting the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Chiropractic adjustments bring our spine back into alignment, removing these interferences and allowing your nervous system to function at its best.
A healthy nervous system means a healthy immune system. It’s like ensuring that the lines of communication are crystal clear, enabling your body to coordinate its defense against illnesses effectively.
It’s about more than just relieving back pain (although that’s a lovely bonus). Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to wellness, focusing on enhancing the communication within our body, promoting relaxation, and optimizing our immune response.
So stop taking sick days, missing time with friends, and taking another medication or having another surgery to feel better. Call our office or schedule a time to talk with one of our amazing doctors and embrace the power of chiropractic care to build an immune system that is a fortress of well-being. It may very well be a life-saver.