Rosenthal Chiropractic
I was participating in a community health fair and I met a woman with a troubling history. During the screening she started to describe the last 10 years of a prison-like sentence of ill health that she referred to as her life. When she was a teenager she was in a car accident that left a chronic pain in her mid-back. When I touched the spot gently she jumped off of the seat as if I placed a live wire of electricity against her. She said that her husband often caused the same reaction by touching her with his elbow during the night in bed. A few months following the accident symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) began. She suffered with daily bloating that added several inches to her waist and a bowel movement was made painfully once every seven to nine days. Severe headaches plagued her weekly. She further described how nobody could figure out what was wrong with her and only offered temporary and partial relief with drugs. I asked if she had seen a chiropractor. She said she did just after the accident, but that he would not accept her under care. “He was too afraid to touch me,” she stated.
A few days later, she entered the office and I performed an examination and took several x-rays. She exhibited several conditions that are detected specifically by chiropractors. After triggering the convulsion by touching her mid-back during several visits, I began to understand the previous chiropractor’s decisions. I decided to continue caring for her and within weeks of receiving chiropractic spinal adjustments, the pain in the mid-back and headaches were gone. Within months, her bowel movements became more regular and the bloating decreased. She commented that she no longer needed all of “those drugs.” Eight months passed and her irritable bowel syndrome had completely resolved and bowel movements were made daily. I asked her if anybody else in her family had benefited from chiropractic care. She misunderstood the question and answered, “my husband has… I am so much easier to be around now!”
Have you ever stood in front of a group to speak or make a toast, worried about something such as an important test… have you ever felt “butterflies” in your belly? We all have experienced first-hand the connections between the nervous system and the digestive tract. If the nerves have problems and are over or under active, mild to serious bowel dysfunction may occur. It may be an unnoticeable loss of the full digestion or absorption of nutrients, constipation or loose stools to crippling bowel disorders. It is a regular occurrence to hear a patient that came in for a completely different reason comment on how they are no longer constipated.
Chiropractic focuses on removing damage to the nervous system that results from functional and positional changes of bones. This is mainly seen in the spine, tailbone and hips. Our backs and necks do keep our body upright and our heads on our shoulders, but more importantly protect the spinal cord and exiting nerves. If one or several of the spinal bones misalign, the nervous system becomes irritated and leads to problems at the end of the nerves… in the muscles, glands, organs, etc.
A recent study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research found that chiropractic adjustments significantly helped patients suffering with Crohn’s disease (a chronic inflammatory bowel disease). The study results were as stated “Of the 17 patients who received spinal adjustments, 12 showed long-term and stable remission of their symptoms and of these, 9 experienced an alleviation effect. We found that vertebral subluxation is a common and characteristic finding in patients with allergies and Crohn's disease.” Vertebral subluxation is the condition of nerve interference caused by spinal misalignment. It is found through specific chiropractic evaluation and may not be seen on x-rays or by traditional medical examination.
It is important to note that chiropractic plays a unique role in optimum health and wellness and does not treat bowel conditions directly. It has worked well for so many people because it addresses the underlying cause of nerve interference to the digestive system. Bowel disorders may have different origins that may stem from nerve problems, stress, nutritional concerns, poor sleep and exhaustion or lack of exercise. Chiropractic is safe and natural and should be considered when possibly facing years of suffering and long-term use of drugs to treat symptoms that potentially carry the risk of side effects. Hope, healing and a better life may be just a chiropractic adjustment away.
Dr. Scott E. Rosenthal is a dedicated expert in the field of health and wellness. He is a Doctor of Chiropractic, has a B.S. in Nutrition and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. In addition to practicing in Wilmington, DE, he writes and speaks regularly to help people live a happier, healthier life. His entertaining presentations are filled with easy-to-use strategies. To contact Dr. Rosenthal call 302-999-0633 or visit RosenthalChiropractic.com.