Unlocking Immunity: How Chiropractic Care Boosts Your Body’s Defense
Discover the surprising link between spinal adjustments and a stronger immune response—just in time for cold and flu season.
While chiropractic care is typically considered for those with neck pain, low back pain, headaches, and other musculoskeletal conditions, did you know that a chiropractic adjustment can create an increase in your body’s immune system?
The human immune system serves a role in protecting you from harmful invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other germs. A healthy, well-regulated immune system recognizes one of these intruders and helps to fight them off. It can also process and save that information, to quickly identify the pathogen again in the future and defend against them. The immune system is made up of five different antibodies, which serve distinct roles in identification and protection against harmful pathogens.
These antibodies can be categorized as immunoglobulins (Ig) IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG): accounts for around 75% of all the antibodies in the human body. Its role is to tag a pathogen so that other immune cells can recognize it and activate a defense mechanism to destroy it.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA): the second most prevalent antibody, making up around 15% of your antibodies. It is found in mucosal tissues such as the mouth and intestines. IgA is one of the body’s first-line defenses against infection.
Immunoglobulin M (IgM): a front-line antibody, IgM populations increase rapidly when a pathogen is detected, and signals to IgG antibodies to take over. It also serves to remember pathogens and stores information on how to respond to them if they ever return.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE): responsible for an allergic response. It can bind to an allergen (environmental, food, etc.) and create a histamine response that can create a typical allergic reaction that can affect the nose, lungs, throat, or skin.
Immunoglobulin D (IgD): the least prevalent antibody. Responsible for front-line response to infection along with IgM.
So, how does a chiropractic adjustment aide the body’s immune system? The extent to which an adjustment impacts the immune system is still being studied. However, most recent studies have shown that there is significant increase in serum Immunoglobulin A following spinal manipulation. This immediate elevation indicates activation of the body’s immune system following an adjustment. While this response is temporary, it signifies the potential of chiropractic care to initiate a systemic immune response following treatment. It is likely that following an adjustment, the body has a decrease in both physiological stress and mental stress, which furthers allows for this increase in immune response.
There are many ways to keep your immune system well regulated, especially turning peak “cold and flu” seasons. Eat nutritiously, take immune boosting supplements like NutriDyn’s Immune Support (which we carry at our clinic), get good sleep, and wash your hands. On top of all of these common ways to keep your immune system functioning at it’s best, a chiropractic adjustment can be added to the list.
