In recent years, researchers have expanded our understanding of how the immune system interacts with the nervous system and vice versa. The strong connection between the nervous system and the immune system is particularly fascinating within the realm of chiropractic care, because the primary focus of chiropractic care is the health of the spine and nervous system. Let’s examine how these two systems work together and how chiropractic care may influence the relationship.
Nervous and Immune System Interplay
The nervous system and immune system work together to regulate body functions and respond to threats of disease or infection. The central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord, is constantly sending and receiving signals that affect immune function. Cortisol, for instance, is a stress hormone that, when released, can suppress or modulate an immune response. Equally, immune responses produce cytokines and other signaling molecules that affect the nervous system. For example, when there is an infection or inflammation, the immune system sends signals that can cause fatigue, fever, or changes in mood, impacting the nervous system.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve
The Vagus nerve is the main nerve of your parasympathetic nervous system. This system controls specific body functions such as digestion, heart rate and immune system. The vagus nerve, plays a key role in modulating inflammation and immune function. It sends signals to reduce inflammation and can help regulate the immune response to prevent excessive inflammation. Improved vagal tone (the effectiveness of the vagus nerve to regulate its responses) is associated with better stress management, reduced inflammation, and even enhanced immune resilience. Chiropractic adjustments are believed to influence vagus nerve function, which can help modulate immune responses.
Impact on Stress and Inflammation
There are many natural responses that our body has to stress. These are meant to help us deal with perceived or real threats we may face in real life. For instance, adrenaline makes our heart beat fast, causing our blood pressure to rise and giving us more energy. Cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone, increases sugar in the bloodstream, enhancing the brain's use of glucose and increasing the availability of substances in the body to repair tissues. However, chronic stress can wreak havoc on our mind and body. Chronic stress can weaken immune function by producing prolonged levels of cortisol and other stress-related hormones. Chiropractic care has been reported to reduce stress, which has a positive impact on immune health. By reducing nervous system tension and promoting relaxation, chiropractic care helps to modulate the body's inflammatory responses, which are closely linked to immune health.
Chiropractic Adjustments and the Nervous System
The body’s nervous system is very complex. When misalignments (or subluxations) occur in the spine, this can interfere with nerve signaling. Misalignments can cause stress or irritation to the nervous system, influencing immune function indirectly. Chiropractic care primarily focuses on correcting misalignments (subluxations) in the spine to ensure that the communication channels between the nervous and immune systems are sharp. Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore spinal alignment and reduce nerve interference, which supports the body’s ability to regulate immune responses. A well-aligned spine allows the nervous system to function optimally, which is critical for the immune system as it relies on clear communication from the nervous system.
Chiropractic care can influence the immune system indirectly by improving nervous system function, modulating stress responses, and potentially enhancing vagal tone. By focusing on spinal alignment and reducing nerve interference, our team of chiropractors at Legacy Health Chiropractic can create optimal conditions that allow the nervous and immune systems to communicate and function effectively.
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