To verify what occurs physiologically after spinal manipulation, scientists at the University of Spain took 30 graduate students with no symptoms and assigned them to receive cervical adjustments, thoracic adjustments, or no manipulation at all. Blood samples were taken before the manipulation, immediately after it, and two hours later. The scientists sought to understand how hormones change in response to chiropractic adjustments.
Researchers tracked four chemicals in the blood plasma: neurotensin, oxytocin, cortisol, and orexin A. Neurotensin is thought to play a role in neutralizing pain induced from 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.
After the spinal manipulation, the levels of cortisol, neurotensin, and oxytocin rose. This shows that the manipulation can cause increases in these neurotransmitters and hormones. The body interpreted the chiropractic manipulation as a mechanical force on the tissues that caused them to synthesize the neuropeptides.
They also found that cervical manipulation increased levels of neuropeptides higher than thoracic manipulations.
regards,
Dr Sarah MacNeil
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