A Closer Look at the Therapeutic Effects of Chiropractic Care on Mental Health
Mental illnesses are on the rise in the United States. In fact, one in five American adults has some kind of mental illness. From anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and many others, these conditions can be caused by a trigger or, in some cases, occur naturally due to chemical imbalances in the brain.
What’s important to remember is that every person who has mental health problems needs to be given proper care. Furthermore, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach; everyone responds to treatment differently.
Many doctors prescribe oral medications for mental illnesses—which stabilize chemical and hormone production in the brain. While these medications work for some individuals, many complain of severe side effects like extreme fatigue, among others.
Chiropractic care for mental health
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment option for mental health conditions. It relies on the body’s ability to heal itself and uses spinal manipulation to treat a myriad of conditions that affect the nervous system and the brain.
Chiropractors inspect the patient’s spine for any abnormalities, like subluxations. Their main focus is on the adjustment of the spine, which is known to increase the performance of the immune system and provide relief for aches and pains.
Chiropractors are also trained to remove nerve blockages and promote a healthy flow of purified blood and nutrients in the body. Since the nervous system runs through the whole body, one misaligned vertebra can cause a problem elsewhere in the body.
Since mental illnesses are directly linked to the functioning of the brain and the brain controls the nervous system, chiropractic care has shown some efficacy in relieving certain symptoms of mental illnesses. It’s a common misconception about chiropractors that they only deal with problems relating to the spine.
Neck pain, for example, is often caused by stress. Chiropractors can effectively help reduce such stress-related pain with the wide range of therapies they offer. Reduced stress can help with mental illnesses like anxiety disorder, depression, and others.
They also recommend certain exercises to patients that can help maintain the effects of their treatment. Light stretches and breathing practice can help those with mental health issues manage their conditions better. Deep breathing has been known to help with panic and anxiety attacks. It helps reduce the heart rate, which can speed up the recovery from a panic or anxiety attack. Exercise, on the other hand, releases endorphins and other ‘feel good’ hormones. It can help balance the chemical production in the brain for some mental illnesses.
The severity of a person’s mental illness varies from person to person, and while chiropractic care can help a number of conditions, others might still have to visit a physician or psychiatrist for their prescriptions.
Visit us if you are looking for an alternative or supplemental treatment to your mental health problems. Our chiropractors in Louisville will surely help you! We are a family chiropractic care center in Kentucky that offer services like Vibration Therapy, Aqua Massage Therapy, Activator Methods, and much more. Call 502-633-1073 for more information on their services or to book an appointment.
