It’s spring time! And with it, comes a host of sniffles, coughs and running noses as allergies, colds and sinus issues begin to appear. While you are thinking about running to the store to get cold medicine, you should also consider a visit to your family chiropractor. Getting an adjustment can may help support the immune system and and your overall wellness..

Don’t believe it? I didn’t either, until I looked at the research.

First, let’s address the basic physiology of the systems we are talking about.

The immune system is a complex network of cells that are responsible to keep the body alive and functioning well. It is made of a diverse collection of cells found in the blood, lymph and tissues throughout the body(12). The immune system needs to communicate with the rest of the body to keep all the different systems on the same page. This is where your nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) comes in. The nervous system controls the immune and endocrine tissues, which release chemical reactions to keep you healthy(3,6). Communication is made possible through specific chemical signaling within the body. The level of communication is so specific that a recent study found the nervous system can affect the sensitivity of the immune system by modulating the inflammatory response(11).

So, how can a chiropractic adjustment help you get back to normal faster?

Let’s break down what we do know.

Chiropractic adjustments help regulate the autonomic nervous system. This is shown in studies when, following a chiropractic adjustment, this autonomic regulation resulted in lowering blood pressure (2), relieving anxiety (10) and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and pain(9). Researchers in New York found that people under chiropractic care for more than five years demonstrated 200% greater immune function that those who had not(7).  One very interesting study measured a 48% change in CD4 cells in HIV patients over a six-month period, compared to an 8% decrease in the control group over the same period of time(8).  CD4 cells are important immunoglobulins that play a critical role in HIV and AIDS.  Similarly, an change in white blood cells has been measured with chiropractic care(1).

Chiropractic adjustments can may help support immune function, but it’s still up to your system to fight it and do what it does can. Chiropractic can’t resolve everything, but the adjustment can provide support by addressing the spinal dysfunctions that are found and encouraging the cascade of reactions to allow your body to support and protect itself.

If you are already seeing a chiropractor or even thinking about it, doesn’t getting a supporting your immune function seem like a welcome side effect of an already healthy habit and a reason to pick up the phone.

  1. Brennan P et al. phagocytic cell respiratory bursts induced by spinal manipulation: Potential Role of Substance P.J Manip Physiolog Ther. 1991; 14(7):399-400.
  2. Crawford JP, Hickson GS, Wiles MR. The Management of Hypertensive Disease: A Review of Spinal Manipulation and the Efficacy of Conservative Therapeusis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther .1986; 9(1): 27-3.
  3. Elenkov IJ, Wilder RL, Chrousos GP, Vizi ES. The sympathetic nerve-an integrative interface between the two supersystems: the brain and the immune system.Pharmacol Rev. 2000; 52:295-63.
  4. Felton DL et al. Noradrenergic sympathetic neural interactions with the immune system: structure and function.Immunol Rev. 1987; 100:225-260.
  5. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/
  6. Murray DR et al. Sympathetic and immune interactions during dynamic exercise. Mediation via a beta 2 – adrenergic-dependent mechanism.1992; 86(1):203.
  7. Pero R. Medical Researcher Excited By CBSRF Project .The Chiropractic Journal. 1989; 32.
  8. Selano JL et al. The Effects of Specific Upper Cervical Adjustments on the CD4 Counts of HIV Positive Patients.The Chiro Research Journal. 1994; 3(1).
  9. Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA, Injeyan HS, Ruegg B. Spinal Manipulative Therapy May help ease Inflammatory Cytokines but Not Substance P Production in Normal Subjects. 2006; 29(1): 14-21.
  10. Yates RG, Lamping DL, Abram NL, Wright C. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Blood Pressure and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther.1988;11 (6): 484-488.
  11. Thoma, Gianferante, Hanlin. Stronger hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hibituation predicts lesser sensitization of inflammatory response to repeated acute stress exposure in healthy young adults. Brain Behav Immun 2017;61 228-235
  12. Widmaier, Eric. Raff, Hershel. Strang, Kevin Vander’s Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function. McGrawHill 12th Ed Ch18