The reference and ideas for this week's Update come from a student of mine at Life University, Pete Scire. His dedication to traditional chiropractic and its scientific advancement is something we can all derive inspiration from.
Chiropractic has long espoused the idea that there is a relationship between the mind and body and has also maintained that there is a relationship between the health of the spine and the health of the viscera. Much of early chiropractic's work was centered on the benefits on organic function. It wasn't until recently in chiropractic's research evolution that it fell out of vogue to discuss these successes. It was chiropractic's success with the flu epidemic at the beginning of the century that helped solidify our licensure in some states. The field of pyschoneuroimmunology has grown by leaps and bounds while it has at the same time ignored the central role of chiropractic in the development of the foundational theories behind it.
I offer the following article for consideration in the discussion supporting chiropractic's role in the Mind/Body question.
The sympathetic-related regions of the cerebral cortex were identified in rats after pseudorabies virus injections were made in functionally different targets: adrenal gland, stellate ganglion which regulates the heart, or celiac ganglion which innervates the gastrointestinal tract. Extensive transneuronal labeling was found in limbic system areas: (1) extended amygdaloid complex, (2) lateral septum, and (3) infralimbic, insular, and ventromedial temporal cortical regions (viz., ectorhinal cortex = Brodmann's area 36, perirhinal cortex=area 35, lateral entorhinal=area 28, and ventral temporal association cortex=Te3 region). Deep temporal lobe structures were prominently labeled, including the amygdalopiriform and amygidalohippocampal transition areas, ventral hippocampus and ventral subiculum. The cortical circuits mediating emotional-autonomic changes (i.e., mind-body control) are
discussed.
As always I look forward to your feedback, comments and suggestions.