Fever is a powerful part of the immune system, as it interferes with pathogen growth, inactivates many pathogen toxins, and facilitates a more intense immune system response.
“Fever is a systematic response to infection. It is generally agreed that moderate elevation of the body temperature improves the body’s disease fighting capacity.” 2
Although we often think of them as negative and problematic, symptoms such as a fever, swollen glands, nasal discharge, etc. are a sign that the body’s immune response is functioning as it should.
According to Dr. Stephen Cummings, symptoms represent the body’s efforts to heal itself. By treating, symptoms, you are suppressing the body’s natural response and inhibiting the healing process. Instead of treating symptoms, you should instead stimulate the body’s defenses to allow for completion of the healing. 2
“Whenever the immune system deals successfully with an infection, it emerges from the experience stronger and better able to confront similar threats in the future. Our immune system develops in combat. If, at the first sign of infection, you always jump in with antibiotics, you do not give the immune system a chance to grow stronger” -Andrew Weil, M.D. 2
Although, no one would argue with the appropriate use of antibiotics, there is a tremendous amount of research, which demonstrates that they have been overused, resulting in weaker immune systems and resistant bacteria.
A properly functioning nervous system should be the first priority in strengthening the immune system, since it is the nervous system which controls all of our bodily functions.
The nervous system works by sending and receiving messages or impulses to all parts of the body. When vertebrae become misaligned, interference to the nerve impulse occurs, which reduces the overall functioning of the nervous system and the particular organ to which it is assigned. This interference is known as “vertebral subluxation”.
An evaluation by an upper cervical chiropractor may help you discover if you have a misalignment in the neck that could be contributing to a weakened immune system. If so, a specialized upper cervical chiropractic procedure could help boost your immune system and help the body fight off infections and illness faster this winter.
A study by Dr. Ron Pero, a leading caner and genetic research specialist, found that chiropractic patients of all ages had a 200% greater “immune competence” than people who had never received chiropractic care and a 400% greater immune competence than people with serious diseases. 1
References:
- Pero, R. (1988) “Boosting Immunity Through Chiropractic” East-West Magazine”
- Wassung, Keith. Strengthening Your Child’s Immune System.
