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Chiropractic and the concept of Hormesis

Chiropractic and the concept of Hormesis. Victor G. Strang, D.C. The “Hygiene Theory”:. (The concept that the human body actually requires stresses to function optimally, or even normally) Has it been around longer than we think?. W.C. Douglas (3/03):.

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Chiropractic and the concept of Hormesis

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  1. Chiropractic and the concept of Hormesis Victor G. Strang, D.C.

  2. The “Hygiene Theory”: (The concept that the human body actually requires stresses to function optimally, or even normally) Has it been around longer than we think?

  3. W.C. Douglas (3/03): • “The secret to great health could be a scientific theory you’ve never heard of.” • “…this theory is called hormesis, and it’s gaining more and more support in scientific circles.”

  4. Hormesis: • “The stimulating effect of subinhibitory concentrations of any toxic substance on any organism.” Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, 25th edition

  5. “It appears that the body’s homeostatic mechanisms must be challenged in order for it to achieve its full potential for health and longevity. Very small doses of toxins and radiation may provide this challenge, to which the body responds by enhancing its defensive and regenerative activity. Without challenge, the organism drifts into an atonic, complacent state that is not consistent with optimal health.” A. Lewis, The Townsend Letter, 4/93, issue 117

  6. “Data suggest that hormesis may be a universal phenomenon that is observed over a wide range of exposures among a wide range of biologic organisms.” Bukowski et al, 2000, Southern Med J, 93:4

  7. “…a genuine feature of all biological systems, [is] known as hormesis.” • “…a process whereby low doses of an otherwise harmful agent may result in a stimulating or beneficial effect.”

  8. “If you expose human cells to mild stresses, they do fantastically better than when they are subsequently more severely stressed.” • In animal studies, “chronic, low-dose exposure to chemicals and radiation can increase the lifespan by up to 40%”

  9. Studies illustrating hormetic effects: • 1940’s (Lorenz): mice and guinea pigs exposed to chronic low level ionizing radiation had slightly greater mean life span and gained more weight than non-irradiated animals

  10. Studies illustrating hormetic effects: 1987 (Calabrese): • Female rats exposed to low doses of DDT were found to have significantly longer reproductive life spans compared to non-exposed rats.

  11. Studies illustrating hormetic effects: 1987 (Liu et al): • Inhabitants of a region of China with high natural radioactivity (3X) showed indicators of increased immune competence and DNA repair compared to those in control regions.

  12. Studies illustrating hormetic effects: 1987 (Liu et al): • “It is speculated from data of human studies and animal experiments that under certain circumstances the immune system might be stimulated by low level ionizing radiation, enhancing the body’s defensemechanism as a whole

  13. Studies illustrating hormetic effects: 1987 (Furst): • Certain arsenic compounds in small doses promotes growth in domestic animals. It acts as a growth promoter and may be “essential” in small amounts, becoming toxic at moderate amounts, and lethal in large amounts.

  14. Various substances and influences with hormetic effects: • Mercury • Radon • Arsenic • X-ray • Heat

  15. Nutrition and hormesis: • Vitamins and trace minerals • Dietary fat • Total caloric intake • Alcohol intake

  16. Exercise and hormesis: • Moderate exercise is beneficial in multiple ways • Strenuous exercise can cause structural damage and immune suppression

  17. Psychosocial stress and hormesis: • Moderate amounts of “challenges” actually more beneficial than no mental stress at all • High amounts of stress have negative health effects if chronic

  18. “It appears that the body’s homeostatic mechanisms must be challenged in order for it to achieve its full potential for health and longevity. Very small doses of toxins and radiation may provide this challenge, to which the body responds by enhancing its defensive and regenerative activity. Without challenge, the organism drifts into an atonic, complacent state that is not consistent with optimal health.” A. Lewis, The Townsend Letter, 4/93, issue 117

  19. The Calisthenic DynamicVirgil V. Strang, D.C. (1984) • The human body is designed to adapt to continuous environmental change • As the body is exposed to its environment at or near its limits, it increases its capability (“training” effect) it does not get weaker • Chiropractic therefore rejects the idea that we need to “control” our environment to eliminate possible causes of disease

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