A practice member came in the other day and said “Hey Doc, give me the blood pressure adjustment today!” He, like many of my other patients, had heard that chiropractic adjustments were scientifically proven to be better at lowering blood pressure than prescription medications!

There was a study performed at a local hospital here in Chicago and the results were published in the medical journal called Journal of Human Hypertension. This study can be found here (Journal of Human Hypertension 2007 (May); 21 (5): 347–352).

This study lasted eight weeks and was performed in a double blind, placebo controlled manner. If you don’t know what that means, that is OK. Basically this is the gold standard way of conducting a scientific study. Some of the people in the study received a real chiropractic adjustment to the atlas (top bone in the spine) and the other group of people in the study received a sham, or fake adjustment. At the end of the eight weeks the study revealed that those receiving the real chiropractic adjustment had significant changes in blood pressure!

The average blood pressure readings dropped by 14 points for the top (systolic) number and 8 points for the bottom (diastolic) number. The study concluded by saying these results are the equivalent of taking two prescription medications. But, here’s the kicker…there are no negative side effects associated with chiropractic adjustments! Therefore, adjustments are a much safer alternative to lowering blood pressure than prescription medications.

By alleviating pressure on the nervous system through a specific chiropractic adjustment to the top bone in the spine, the body is able to self-regulate more properly therefore resulting in lower blood pressure. Keep in mind, high blood pressure is not a disease, it is a symptom. By correcting the subluxations (spinal misalignments) at the top of the spine the human body is able heal better.

Your Turn

Have you heard that chiropractic can reduce blood pressure? Share your story by commenting below.