To determine what occurs physiologically after a chiropractic adjustment, scientists at the University of Spain took 30 graduate students with no symptoms and assigned them to receive cervical adjustments, thoracic adjustments, or no adjustments at all. Blood samples were taken before the adjustment, immediately after it, and two hours later. The scientists sought to understand how chemicals in the body change in response to chiropractic adjustments.

What Happened?

Researchers looked at four chemicals in the blood plasma: neurotensin, oxytocin, cortisol, and orexin A. Neurotensin is thought to play a role in neutralising pain due to stress. It interacts with the serotonin neurons of the brain, those ones that keep you calm and cool as a cucumber when times get rough. Neurotensin also affects the activity of the oxytocin cells in the brain.

Oxytocin is the hormone that acts as a chemical messenger (known as a neurotransmitter) in the brain. When levels are high, you want to bond with the people around you. Oxytocin levels are high when moms are giving birth, breastfeeding their babies, and when you kiss your loved ones. It's anti-inflammatory, and its levels increase the trust you feel from others.

Cortisol acts to decrease local edema and pain by blocking early stages of inflammation. High levels also promote wound healing. Studies show that an increase of cortisol is a good painkiller.

Orexin-A is a neuropeptide that is associated with pain control.

How Adjustments Changed Hormones

After the adjustment, the levels of cortisol, neurotensin, and oxytocin rose. This tells you that the adjustment can cause definite increases in these neurotransmitters and hormones. The body interpreted the adjustment as a mechanical force on the tissues that caused them to synthesize the neuropeptides.

They also found that cervical adjustments increased levels of neuropeptides higher than thoracic manipulations.

What this whold study tells us is that your results are greater than just a better range of motion after your chiropractic adjustments. You’re entire nervous system changes positively and this creates widespread changes in your entire body. You receive pain control instantly from educated human touch.

And now it can't be disputed. Chiropractic works and now we know why it's better than pain-killing drugs with side effects.

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