WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE

WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVOCATE CALLS FOR RESEARCH ON CHIROPRACTIC FOR WOMEN

The trend to categorize normal female body functions as diseases has generated billions of dollars for the medical and pharmaceutical industries, but has done little to solve women's health problems, according to Dr. Madeline Behrendt, a practicing chiropractor and vice-chair of the Council on Women's Health of the World Chiropractic Alliance.

In a paper published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (www.jvsr.com), Behrendt notes that even though "women spend three out of four of all health care dollars and determine many of the health care choices for their family," research into alternatives to drugs and surgery for women is lacking.

The paper examines the biases towards women's health in the male-dominated research world and asserts that there is a growing resentment by women whose health problems are disregarded by researchers -- even as they are being exploited by the drug and medical industries.

"Drugs are now utilized to interfere with the multiple bodily experiences unique to womanhood such as menstruation," Behrendt states. The creation of medical specialties such as Female Sexual Dysfunction, PMS, fertility and menopause are further evidence of this growing problem, she adds. Currently, more than 300 drugs geared specifically to women are being researched.

Behrendt examines the role of chiropractic for menopausal women and how interference to the nervous system may cause or exacerbate symptoms such as "hot flashes." In addition, she addresses the issue of osteoporosis, stating: "Among the professions dealing with bone health, discussions may be incomplete without this question: What impact do subluxations have on a young girl's developing spine?"

Chiropractic, the second largest primary care approach in the world, focuses on the detection and correction of interference to the functioning of the nervous system, which may be caused by vertebral subluxations. Subluxations occur when the bones of the spine misalign or do not move properly, thus interfering with the nerves in the surrounding area.

Behrendt points out that vertebral subluxations -- like cancer, heart disease and other health conditions -- may be present for years without outward symptoms. She urges all women and girls to be screened by a doctor of chiropractic for subluxations on a routine basis and emphasizes the need for more research by the chiropractic community and the government.