Treating Asthma with Chiropractic Care
The science of Chiropractic is founded on the premise that a proper nerve supply is essential in controlling and regulating bodily function. Doctors of Chiropractic detect and correct vertebral subluxations by physically adjusting the spine. This restores the nervous system to an optimum level of function, which maximizes the body’s inherent healing ability.
Chiropractors have never claimed that they can “cure” asthma and other related conditions and not all cases of asthma are caused by spinal stress — but scientific research has demonstrated that correcting subluxations does restore and improve respiratory and immune function, which improves conditions like asthma. Asthma is often related to the position of the first and second thoracic vertebra, although misalignment of the spine in other areas can be a contributing factor. Faulty alignment around the seventh cervical vertebra (at the base of the neck) can also be a reason for asthma and other breathing difficulties
A study that was published in a Holland Medical Journal reported that out of a group of 115 families with asthmatic children, 73% had utilized Chiropractic care for the asthma and 92% of the families reported that Chiropractic was beneficial for their children. Additionally, the Brisbane Asthma Study reported that Chiropractic was the most frequently consulted form of alternative health care and that 29.6% of families with asthmatic children used Chiropractic for asthma treatment. When compared with other forms of alternative health care, Chiropractic received the highest satisfaction rate — 86.5% (study found in the Medical Journal of Australia) Also, the European Chiropractic Union reported that 76.5% of patients with bronchial asthma said they benefited from chiropractic treatment. Peak flow rate and vital capacity increased after the third treatment.
A study, published in the Chiropractic Research Journal, compared the health and wellness of 200 children under Chiropractic care to 200 children under conventional medical care. The Chiropractic group had fewer ear infections, fewer allergies, fewer cases of tonsillitis and asthma. The health of the children under Chiropractic care was demonstrably superior to the children who had not received it
The correction of vertebral subluxations with Chiropractic adjustments can improve conditions such as asthma because of the restored nerve supply to the pathways of both the respiratory and immune systems. Improvement of immune function is an often overlooked, but well documented benefit of Chiropractic care. So if you or a loved one suffers from asthma, you may want to consider visiting a chiropractor.