There are a huge number of research projects ongoing at any one time related to the plethora of conditions that we, as humans, can exhibit. As an avid reader of New Scientist I see a, still tiny, number of the intriguing tidbits that get leaked (deliberately) to the media. I’m always on the lookout for anything my patients may find of interest. Two in particular caught my eye recently, both related to the M.S./Parkinson’s group of “diseases”.
The latest (primarily about M.S.) concerns some findings that it may be due to impaired blood flow in the brain. The author of the original research found that by altering that blood flow and changing the iron levels in the brain he could reduce the MS symptoms significantly, albeit temporarily. Although his findings have not been reproduced it seems that there may be some useful research going on here… who knows maybe, in a few years time, science may be closer to an answer.
The other article (and the reason for the title of this piece) was about Parkinson’s and how it appears that it might be linked to an imbalance in bacteria in the gut which affects autoimmune conditions. The answer? A transplant. Of what? Gut contents, specifically faeces. Yes that’s right, you get someone else’s poo and have it transplanted into your gut. I know I had to read it twice too. But it does make a sort of sense. There is a lot of evidence that our gut bacteria have a lot to do with our immune systems and if they’re out of balance our immune systems may attack our own bodies. Change the gut bacteria and we may be able to recover! (What controls the gut bacteria though – your nervous system).
Science has truly whacky and weird answers sometimes. Who knows what will happen, but, even if these do prove to be beneficial, they are still only a way of dealing with the end result. But why does this happen?
All this goes to show me that it is vitally important that we try to make sure that our bodies function as well as possible. We can do that by feeding them properly, watering them well, resting and exercising them enough and so on AND making sure their nervous systems (that run the whole show) are clear of interference. That you do by getting your spine checked regularly by your chiropractor. It may not be weird or cutting edge anymore but it makes a difference…. A BIG one. See you soon.

I know I always seem to title these posts with a terrible schoolboy-humour/ tabloid-worthy headline but this one was so glaringly obvious I just couldn’t resist it! With winter approaching and colds and flu on the horizon I thought it’s time to talk feverishly (OK, I’ll stop with the puns now).
Fever…. what’s it’s for? I’ve asked people of all ages this over the years. In the end everyone comes down to “it’s your bodies defence against the bug” ( kids get this much quicker than adults!). So, if it’s your defence mechanism, why do we so often try to interfere with it? Well, there’s been an interesting article in New Scientist recently. It takes the tack that science has been looking at what happens when we use drugs to bring a fever down and maybe it’s not such a good idea to do this.
Well, duh!
Chiropractors have been saying this for quite literally years. Not just us either, Hippocrates was saying this 2400 years ago. Other natural health professionals have long maintained that your body knows best and its wise to let the body run its own immune system wherever possible. If there’s no interference to your nervous system then in the vast majority of cases your body will raise your temperature to kill off the bugs but leave you untouched. As with any process this can take time. During this time you may be uncomfortable but this is the price you may have to pay for your body fully protecting you!
Now clearly things can go wrong and your body could overheat to a dangerous extent. Lets be clear, these things do happen. But here’s a thought – what if it does that only when its not getting the right information! What if your body can fully regulate your fever when its getting all the right feedback, but if there’s any interference with that feedback (subluxation) then the control may be faulty and then you may indeed get too hot.
To be controversial for a moment, what if a lot of what we think are “problems” are just our bodies way of doing the best it can in the circumstances. For example there’s some evidence that a raised cholesterol level is just your bodies way of doing the best it can when there’s strain on the heart. There’s also a line of reasoning that says your blood pressure going up is the best approach your body has to dealing with a toxicity. Think about this for a moment – Why do we get these “illnesses”?
Is it bad luck or random chance? Clearly not.
Is it genetic? Much though medicine would love you to think that, there’s no evidence to support that in the majority of cases.
So why does it happen?
Is it possible that, just like plants, we need the right stuff to thrive and nothing else -and if we don’t do that the plant gets sick. What about us, if we eat junk, stress out, don’t exercise and so on – maybe we get sick just the same!
More of all those general principles in another post but for now let’s get back to fever.

I started out reading the article in New Scientist thinking about all the little children who suffer colds and bugs for longer than they should because someone doses them up with Calpol and the like, but I was appalled when I read about the difference in terms of deaths in hospital. I repeat, deaths.
There was a study carried out in the University of Miami in 2005 and they studied 82 critically ill people who either were given drugs at 38.5 degrees or only if they reached 40 degrees. Of the people given drugs at the lower temperature (standard treatment) 7 died. Of the other group (only given drugs if their temperature reached a higher level ) only 1 died. The trial was stopped on ethical grounds. It seemed the standard treatment was killing more people!
The message here seems to be let your body do what it knows best how to do. Medication is not the answer in the vast majority of cases. Your body is an amazing piece of bioengineering and will do the most astonishing things as long as it is not suffering from interference. It pays to make sure your body works at it’s best. Don’t mess it up with drugs (whether pushed or prescribed), give it the right rest, nutrition, hydration, exercise and so on and make sure you keep it clear of nerve interference by getting your spine checked by a chiropractor then, stand back and let it be amazing.
Till next time
Yours in health
Dr Neil

I’ve put a link in here to an article on Mercola.com. Dr Joseph Mercola is a champion of the campaign for natural approaches to health maintenance. His site is one of the most popular alternative/complementary health sites in the world.

If you’d like to read about the studies that show that statins are potentially dangerous click here

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/06/12/unintended-statin-sideeffect-risks-uncovered.aspx

(Please note that you’ll need to subscribe to his site to view all the content – well worth it!)

I have long been concerned about the safety of these drugs and am convinced that lifestyle issues are, by and large, the cause of the increase in heart disease in the western world. They seem to me to be prescribed to so many people! I have come across a significant number of people who have had their cholesterol checked, found to be fine and then put on these drugs anyway!  That’s wonderful isn’t it? Why not go the whole hog? “Well Mrs Smith your blood pressures fine -but I’m going to give you these anti-hypertensives anyway…and while we’re at it lets give you some insulin, anti depressants (even though you’re as happy as can be) …It makes no sense at all to think that we have evolved to need these drugs as we reach our later years.

My advice… think VERY carefully before you take drugs like this and dont believe all the “facts” you’re told. The drug companies are out to make money even if their products aren’t the answer.

Till next time.

Neil