Overview

Anxiety is a frequent condition in today’s world, affecting an estimated millions of people globally. Although many people are now receptive to alternative treatments, common treatments often consist of therapies and pharmaceuticals. These days, many are investigating alternative therapies, including chiropractic care. However, can a chiropractor actually treat anxiety?

In the following article, we will review the association between chiropractic manipulation and anxiety through a critical, evidence-based analysis regarding how chiropractic care may serve as an adjunct in the management of anxiety disorders.

Understanding Anxiety

Before we understand how chiropractic care may help with anxiety, let us first find out what exactly is anxiety. Anxiety is the feeling of fear, nervousness, or worry-most mild and at times severe. Anxiety often presents physically with symptoms such as raised heart rate, increased sweating, tension, and restlessness. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 264 million sufferers from anxiety disorders that live in the world.

Anxiety may be provoked with a set of specific factors that includes but is not limited to stress, genetic influence, and environmental stimuli. Traditional medical treatments for anxiety usually include cognitive-behavioral therapy, anti-depression medication, life changes, and some relaxation techniques. Nevertheless, many people seek some kind of complementary treatments to alleviate their symptoms in a much more organic manner, and this is where chiropractic care comes into place.

The Science of Chiropractic Care

Primarily, chiropractic care addresses the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders involving musculoskeletal anatomy, particularly the spine. Chiropractors perform manual adjustments and other remedy procedures to treat subluxations in the spine, which are believed to be the cause of nervous system derangement. 

The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord, which are responsible for regulating both a person’s mental and emotional condition.

Theoretically, chiropractic care might reduce physical and emotional stressors contributing to anxiety by correcting subluxations and improving nervous system function.

How the Nervous System and Anxiety Are Linked

Anxiety mainly deals with the nervous system-or, to be more precise, the autonomic nervous system. The ANS is further divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and recovery.

In anxiety disorders, the SNS is generally in overdrive, keeping the body through extended periods of stress. The outcome thereof is the manifestations of anxiety, which include muscle tension, increased heart rate, and shallow breathing. This chiropractic care acts to balance the autonomic nervous system by down-regulating overactive sympathetic tone and encouraging parasympathetic activity to produce a more tranquil state of mind and reduced symptoms of anxiety.

Chiropractic Care and Anxiety

A number of chiropractic manipulative techniques offer symptomatic relief for anxiety disorders. Although the idea of using chiropractic care has traditionally been utilized in the alleviation of pain, it perhaps makes sense that, through its influence on the nervous system, it also could be considered for anxiety. Following are some common chiropractic manipulative techniques used in treating anxiety:

1. Spinal Adjustments

The stress and anxiety occur because of the interference that the spinal misalignments cause in the body’s nervousness. Chiropractic professionals focus on the realigning of your spine, thus precisely improving the communication between the brain and other parts of the human body. Once this balance is restored, it often results in reduced physical tension, an improvement in mood, and a decrease in anxiety levels.

2. Massage Therapy

Many chiropractors offer therapeutic massages, which can be provided as part of the treatment being recommended. Massage can help relax the tenseness in muscles, improve flow, and reduce pain-all areas that are usually compromised with people who suffer from chronic stress and anxiety. Regular massage therapy may stimulate the production of endorphins, natural mood elevators, and decrease cortisol production, a stress-producing hormone.

3. Breathing Exercises and Relaxation Techniques

For this, chiropractors usually recommend breathing exercises and methods of relaxation that allow the patient to overcome their anxiety much better. With such addition to chiropractic care, one can learn to control breathing, thereby switching on the parasympathetic nervous system to balance the stress response.

4. Nutrition Counseling

Some chiropractors incorporate nutritional training available to them to provide an all-inclusive treatment approach for anxiety. Proper nutrition may have an essential role in maintaining good mental and emotional health. Anxiety levels could be severely impacted by deficiencies in items such as magnesium, Vitamin D, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Chiropractic care can include any dietary recommendations necessary to minimize symptoms by improving overall health.

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Benefits of Chiropractic for Anxiety

Anxiety sufferers can benefit from chiropractic care in several ways, including the following:

1. Non-invasive and drug-free treatment

Probably the most appealing reason people consider chiropractic care is because it is non-invasive and, above all, does not have to rely on medications. To such individuals who would want to avoid taking prescription drugs owing to possible side effects or addiction, chiropractic offers a natural alternative to cure themselves without artificial medicinal drugs.

2. Holistic Approach

Many times, chiropractic care is done in a holistic manner concerning health, which includes: not only the treatments address the physical symptoms alone, but one can experience emotional and mental well-being. On that note, by treating the body as a whole, chiropractic care can offer long-lasting benefits for overall mental health.

3. Better Physical and Emotional Health

Aside from these, chiropractic care can improve posture, reduce muscle tension, and relieve physical discomfort-all contributing factors to good emotional health. Physical problems usually worsen anxiety; once eliminated or minimized, symptoms related to anxiety may lessen.

4. Stress Reduction

Chiropractic care may reduce stress-a factor that highly contributes to anxiety-since relaxation is enhanced and the operation of the nervous system is optimized. Spinal adjustments and massage therapy have been some of the techniques that have greatly reduced cortisol levels, hence increasing calmness and well-being.

Scientific Evidence for Chiropractic Care and Anxiety

Whereas in the past, the focus of chiropractic attention has conventionally fallen on issues of the musculoskeletal system, evidence would appear to be growing for benefits not only of the musculoskeletal aspect but also on aspects touching on mental health, particularly anxiety.

A 2018 study reported in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association outlined improvement in mental health and well-being in patients who received chiropractic care. Other research has shown that spinal adjustments can be highly effective in improving nervous system function-a key factor in minimizing anxiety-in findings published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

More research is needed for all these promising studies to reach the final conclusion that chiropractic care is effective in anxiety. The continuous anecdotal reports from the patients themselves and chiropractic practitioners remain supportive of the use of this modality as a complementary treatment for anxiety. 

Who Should Consider Chiropractic Care for Anxiety?

Chiropractic care may be helpful in people who have: 

• Suffer from chronic anxiety or stress 
• Experience physical signs of anxiety such as muscle tension or headaches 
• Are these looking for a natural, non-invasive treatment option
• Are interested in a holistic approach to health
• Would like to enhance their overall physical and mental health 

Initial treatment must be preceded by consultations with both a medical doctor and a chiropractor. Chiropractic care may provide some symptom alleviation from anxiety disorders, but in no way may it replace the psychological treatment or medications when needed. 

Conclusion

Does Chiropractic Care work to bring relief from anxiety? Chiropractic care is promising and natural for managing anxiety symptoms. By targeting your body with your nervous system, chiropractic treatments will definitely help with anxiety, relieving physical stressors as they come through. Among some of the techniques that create a balance in the autonomic nervous system are spinal adjustments, massage therapy, and breathing exercises-all aimed at relaxation and wellbeing. 

However, chiropractic manipulative therapy should not be whichever treatment one can fully depend on; instead, it can be used together with other treatments. It works nicely with traditional treatments of therapy and medication by offering a holistic manner in managing anxiety. It is always best to discuss one’s options with a health professional to find the most effective treatment plan for each individual.