Germs and Chiropractic [a Dr. Robert Blog]

WAR ON GERMS

Since 1840, mankind has been waging a war on germs.  Bacteria and viruses, evil incarnate, have been linked to many of mankind’s most terrifying disease nightmares.  They are everywhere and they are seemingly nowhere. They are like invisible predators waiting to pounce.  In our effort to eradicate germs, we have searched the heavens and the earth, applying chemicals, poisons, vaccines, radiation and every other method we have stumbled across to rid ourselves of their blight.

As we learn ever more, we discover that we can never truly be rid of them.  We learn that the pronouncements made by 19^th and early 20^th century physicians, that disease would be eliminated by defeating germs, is neither possible nor desirable.

GERMS ARE NECESSARY

As it turns out, we need germs.  In fact, we live in a delicate symbiosis, each of us dependent on the other.  Humans are highly complex hosts for a multitude of helpful bacteria. On average, each person is home to roughly 160 different species of bacteria that comprise their normal, healthy gut flora.  These bacteria help us digest food, produce vitamins, and protect us from harmful invading bacteria.  Put simply, they are crucial for our health.

LIVING WITH GERMS

For each cell in a human body, a person hosts up to 10 bacteria, most of these in the gut.  A person who is dealing with an illness may have a different floral make-up than someone who is enjoying health.  Promising research is underway studying this very relationship.   While undertaking a study to map the genes of these bacteria, leading research Professor Mark Huycke stated, “This research puts into perspective the complexity of the effects normal gut bacteria can have on the health of the individual.”

HOW BACTERIA ARE OUR FRIENDS

We have known for some time that stress can have a negative impact on individual health, but the mechanisms for this have proved elusive or incomplete.  New research may shed some light on this relationship and a mechanism for activity.

As a general rule, increasing the number of good bacteria is conducive to good health, much like increasing levels of good cholesterol.  It makes sense that an increase in good bacteria would affect the overall bacterial levels of a person, but that is not the case.  The less desirable bacteria are squeezed out like squatting tenants when the rightful residents return.

GOOD FOR US, GOOD FOR THEM

As bad bacteria gain a foothold, through opportunities brought on by lifestyle choices, external environment or antibiotics, it is possible for these bad bacteria to “leak” through the digestive tract and trigger inflammatory and immune responses.  The reverse is true.  As good, normal bacteria levels increase, inflammatory levels decrease and immune responses are seen to return to more normal levels.

By doing things to keep ourselves healthy we also provide and promote an environment conducive to the kinds of bacteria that are useful and helpful to us. By extension, things that are bad for these bacteria are also bad for us.

HOW IS THIS CHIROPRACTIC?

Chiropractic is concerned with natural healing. Chiropractic’s specific role in natural healing is to restore and maintain the connection between brain and body through a nerve system free of interference. To maximize this opportunity, we encourage healthy habits designed to make use of the body’s natural healing capacity.

This ties into the nutritional aspect of the 5 pillars of health.  Increasing our intake of raw, local organic veggies is one way to promote a healthy bacterial tenant. Utilizing probiotics may be another.  At the same time, using antibiotics only when absolutely necessary, will allow us to cultivate a healthier crop of normal flora.

Find out more information about how living a chiropractic lifestyle can have a positive effect on both your short-term and long term health potential. Visit us on the web.

Be Well!

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/health/4938020.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/health/7625192.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/8547454.stm

For more information, visit us on the web.

Dr. Robert Johns is the associate chiropractor at Ferguson Family Chiropractic serving Acworth, Kennesaw and Paulding County. He has been with the practice since 2005 bringing chiropractic to the community by hand and by word.