Swine Flu Pandemic?

Everything in the news recently about swine flu reminded me of something I learned back in chiropractic school. Through a little googling, I was able to find the data and I’d like to share this information with you.
During the flu pandemic of 1918, it is estimated that up to 20 million people worldwide and 600,000 people in the U.S. died. The numbers are pretty staggering and imagine what those numbers might translate to with today’s population. The data also compared the mortality rates of those who visited medical doctors versus chiropractic doctors. Here is some very interesting information which comes from Walter R. Rhodes, DC that was published in 1978 by the Texas Chiropractic Association:

• “In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases, with 274 deaths. In the same city, 150 chiropractors including students and faculty of the Palmer School of Chiropractic treated 1,635 cases with only one death.”

• “In the state of Iowa, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths - a loss of one patient out of every 15. In the same state, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases - a loss of one patient out of every 789.”

• “In the same epidemic reports show that chiropractors in Oklahoma treated 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths. But the best part of this is, in Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 233 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients, and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all these lost cases but 25.”

What does chiropractic have to do with the flu? Quite simply, chiropractic has nothing to do with the flu. It has to do with the body’s response to its environment. Everything that happens in our bodies and life is perceived through the nervous system. What we see, touch, taste, think, hear, eat and breathe (flu included) is all processed and then responded to by the nervous system. When someone receives a chiropractic adjustment the sympathetic tone (fight flight system) is lowered. This means parasympathetic tone (rest/digest/detoxify system) is raised. This is a good thing! When our defense system is up and running it can respond to any and all foreign substances and do so efficiently. Those under chiropractic care have more responsive nervous systems. Therefore, their immune system can stand ready to respond to the environment. The flu bug is just another foreign body, as is the common cold and other environmental allergens that are in the air everyday. Our bodies are either ready to respond appropriately and ward it off. Or busy with other “emergencies” allowing these foreign bodies to get inside defense system and start attacking us from the inside out.

Does chiropractic treat the flu or any cold? NO. Chiropractic keeps the body responsive and ready to effectively and efficiently handle whatever the environment presents, including the flu virus.

Ken Bennett D.C.