Does chiropractic strengthen immunity?

WCA, ACA provide media with different messages

When asked by WebMD senior staff writer Jeanie Lerche Davis how chiropractic might benefit people during the flu season, Jerome F. McAndrews, a chiropractor and national spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association in Arlington, Va., gave this answer: "The goal of chiropractic care is to restore functionality of joints and the spine, and to favorably impact nerve function... But there's no real evidence that the immune system is strengthened as a result of chiropractic care."

That's the information readers received in Davis' article, "Flu Shot Scare Fuels Scams," making it appear as though, according to the ACA, chiropractic is just another scam directed at people during the flu season.

In contrast, the World Chiropractic Alliance distributed a press release citing numerous scientific studies supporting the concept that subluxation correction can have a positive effect on immune function and recommending that "people of all ages add chiropractic to their strategy for warding off and fighting the flu and its effects this season."

The WCA release noted that a growing number of researchers are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses.

"Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system by placing pressure on nerves," the release explained. "Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body ‑‑ including the immune system ‑‑ chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function."

The different messages reflect the basic discrepancies in the mind‑set of the two groups, said Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA president.

"The ACA, despite its claims to the contrary, is still very much a back pain organization, with little apparent faith in the ability of chiropractic to have a positive effect on general health," he stated. "The WCA, on the other hand, understands the relationship between a properly functioning nerve system and wellness. We aren't afraid to make bold claims about the power of an adjustment, and can back up those claims with scientific proof."

The press release was developed by two WCA Board members, Matthew McCoy, DC (recipient of the WCA "Researcher of the Year" award), editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), and Christopher Kent, DC (awarded the Researcher of the Year honor from the WCA and the International Chiropractors Association), president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice. 

Together, they compiled what they say is a "partial list" of more than 100 references to research papers and articles providing broad‑based evidence in support of the claim that subluxation correction could have a positive impact on the nerve system and therefore on immunity.

The papers come from a wide variety of distinguished scientific journals including JVSR, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, Chiropractic Research Journal, Australian Journal of Chiropractic and Osteopathy, Pharmacological Reviews, Circulation, Annals of Internal Medicine, Advances in Neuroimmunology, and International Journal of Psychophysiology.

"Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B‑lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes," Dr. McCoy noted in the press release.