Did you know that over 20 million people died from the global flu pandemic of 1918. Half a million Americans perished within six months.
Meanwhile, chiropractic developed 20 years earlier (1898) and was still in the early stages of development and research in Davenport, Iowa. The populace of the community suffered through the influenza scare like most every community across the country. The US commissioned 50 medical doctors to test and treated 4,953 cases of the flu. 274 of those people died while under medical care. The chiropractic community decided to do a similar study involving 150 Chiropractors and Chiropractic students in the same city treating1,635 cases of the flu with chiropractic. Only one of those patients died. Statistics and records from 1918 document 925 deaths out of every 10,000 people treated medically for the flu but only 25 deaths out of every 10,000 people treated with spinal adjustments.
Historical data shows that for people under Chiropractic care, there was a 98% better chance of surviving the tragic pandemic. Chiropractic helped to both prevent the flu and restore health to those already experiencing the illness. 1918 marked triggered a watershed era in Chiropractic awareness and literally put the new healing profession on the map through the impact spinal care had on immunity.
The science of today validates exactly why Chiropractors of the past and present see incredible results with immunity through spinal adjustments. Recent research from 2014 proves that the health of the nervous system directly influences the strength of the immune system. The study examined a group of patients who had just been diagnosed with cancer tumors. Medical examiners of the past would typically only look at the size of a tumor to make a prognosis about the future health and recovery of the patient.
If the tumor was small, the prognosis and recovery outlook were deemed positive. This study changed that process altogether. The most important prognostic factor in determining recovery of a cancer tumor exists within a specific branch of the nervous system called the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve directly connects to the the body’s ability to prevent sickness and recover from an affliction. Pharmaceutical labs and medical professionals responded to this discovery by initiating development of new drugs and technology focused on improving the function of the vagus nerve.
Chiropractic research long ago proved that adjustments improve vagus nerve function along with dramatically improving the overall health and function of all organs connected to the nervous system. The connection between adjustments administered in 1918 and the health and recovery of patients exists within the proper function of the immune system. The positive impact of a healthy family radiates throughout the home. Immune system health improves substantially when regular chiropractic adjustments become part of every family health plan.
A Flu Fighting Plan That Actually Works
Step 1: Get Adjusted – As you just read, Chiropractic care has the ability to stimulate the nerve system, decrease vagal nerve stress and allow your body to naturally target the Flu virus.
Step 2: Eat Anti-Viral Foods – Once you have stimulated your nerve system, orient your diet towards the following highly anti-viral foods (the flu is a virus after-all):
- Elderberry
- Green Tea
- Fresh Garlic
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Grass Fed Beef
- Turmeric
- Dark Leafy Greens
- Wild Salmon
- Bone Soup
Step 3: Flush Your Sinuses – The majority of flu viruses enter and collect in your sinuses and upper respiratory system. The most powerful anti-viral nasal flush is a Himalayan salt solution in SinusRinse (available at most pharmacy stores). Mix 1/2 cup of fine ground Himalayan salt with 3 tbsp baking soda using a mortar and pestle. Use 1/2 tsp of the ground salt/baking soda mixture per 8oz of warm water when filling the SinusRinse. Then irrigate each nasal canal following the instructions on the SinusRinse box.
Step 3: Take an Herbal Anti-Viral – Rather than jumping to Tamiflu or Oscillococcinum consider various herbs that carry exceptional antiviral properties. Two of my favorite are Virox (vivi) by Systemic Formulas and Virattack by HerbPharm. Vivi is composed of Pau D’Arco, leptotaenia oil, bitter almond oil and Jojoba oil – each of which carry significant antiviral properties. Virattack is composed of Lomatium root, St. John’s Wort, Echinacea root, Olive leaf, lemon balm leaf and flower, again each with significant antiviral power.
Step 4: Rest and Hydrate – When you’re expressing a virus, most commonly the best thing to do is sleep and drink water. Sleep allows your body to focus its energy on healing and water helps to not only hydrate your body but it also helps to flush your lymphatic system where the majority of deactivated or dead viral particles collect as your body is attacking them. Strive for 3/4 to 1 gallon of water on days your “under the weather.”
Other than that, it’s all about time and patience. You can do it!
