Asthma is a respiratory condition noted by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, making it difficult to breath. Generally it’s a result of an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. The respiratory pathways can become inflamed and can narrow due to swelling and excess mucous.  

“Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing early in the morning and at night.  If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs”.                       

                                                                                                – Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Asthma can be a debilitating disease, and typically requires medication, carrying a rescue inhaler so Asthma sufferers are prepared for emergencies at all times, and even refraining from activities they enjoy. The human body has innate mechanisms that are designed to protect and keep the body functioning as close to 100% as possible at all times.  The human body is extremely capable of taking care of almost anything we come in contact with or stresses we put our bodies under. When we look at asthma and we see words like “hypersensitivity” and “allergic reaction” that means the body is not functioning the way that it was intended to.These are both signs that the nervous system are not functioning at an optimal level. When we have one or more subluxations present, we can start to see signs of hyperactivity of the nervous system and body. A subluxation is simply a misalignment of the spine causing stress on the nervous system. Sometimes it can result in the slowing down of the bodies normal mechanisms.

Chiropractic does not seek to treat asthma. Chiropractic care is about locating the subluxations and stresses on your nervous system at the spinal levels of the lungs. When these subluxations are corrected your body can return to its normal function and ability to better heal itself. Chiropractic care fortifies our central nervous system decreasing the bodies over-reaction to what are typical stresses and substances in our environment (allergens, pollutants, etc).  

With Chiropractic care some of the spinal adjustments that may help in asthma treatment are located in the cervical spine, at the very top of your spine where the C1 Atlas and C2 Axis vertebrae connect your spine to the skull.  Your smallest vertebrae reside here and are the throughway for all of the spinal cord and your body’s nerves.  

Additionally, the cervical spine that stretches down from the C1 to C7 vertebrae affect your organs and in particular your throat and sinuses, thyroid and lymph nodes. Triggering a positive response here can ease symptoms of asthma.  Another option is to receive a Chiropractic Adjustment to the center of the thoracic spine, levels T1-T12.

Many health problems are a direct result of spinal misalignments because vertebrae that are not aligned properly can irritate important nerves and restrict their effectiveness. The nerves coming out of the upper back innervate the lungs, and if these nerves aren’t functioning optimally they may make the lungs more sensitive to asthma triggers. There are numerous research studies that report chiropractic correction of spinal misalignments help reduce the symptoms of asthma.  

Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation, a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001;24(6):369-77. 36 patients aged 6 to 17 with chronic, mild or moderate asthma were observed over a 3 month period. They received either a true or “placebo / faux” adjustment. Those who received real chiropractic adjustments rated their quality of life substantially higher and their asthma severity substantially lower. These improvements were maintained at the 1-year follow-up assessment. There were no important changes in lung function or hyperresponsiveness at any time. 

Chiropractic Care of a Pediatric Patient with Asthma, Allergies, Chronic Colds & Vertebral Subluxation Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic 2009;   3: 1–7  A 7-year-old male was presented by his parents for chiropractic evaluation and possible care. The suffered from chronic colds, allergies, and asthma since the age of 5 months. At the time of initial evaluation, the patient was on a 1x/day dose of prescription Alavert for allergies and Albuterol for asthma. The patient was cared for using specific, low-force adjustments with the Activator Instrument to address areas of vertebral subluxation in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. Within two weeks of initiating chiropractic care, the patient was able to discontinue his allergy and asthma medications (as decided upon by his parents) and the use of his nebulizer.

The practice a “whole body” approach serving patients that in order for your system to work correctly, it relies on normal communication from the brain to the spinal cord. Your central nervous system engages every organ of your body, traveling your spinal column and around your bones. This means keeping your central nervous system in good shape is necessary for optimal body function because if there is a misalignment in your body, it could be what is causing your asthmatic symptoms. Call me if you would like to have a deeper discussion on what is possible for your child.

Alex was born in March 1972. At the age of 7 he started to experience frequent headaches with all the conventional symptoms of a Migraine headache. His particular headache resulted in him experiencing auras, nausea and sensitivity to light with no particular trigger to the onset of the migraine.

After years of treatments, therapies and medications, his headaches were no better and Alex continued to experience them all throughout childhood and into young adulthood. Some years the headaches would come monthly, some years every two to three months and some years weekly. His headaches were incurable, there was nothing that could alleviate the symptoms and head pain. Until he experienced cranial manual therapy, which resulted in the complete eradication of his life-long Migraine Headaches.

At the age of 16 Alex noticed a mild deformity in the right side of his ribs, a slightly lower right shoulder and the experience of constant lower back pain. Although mild, a diagnosis of Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis had been labeled.

At the age of 18 he was involved in a serious car accident that exacerbated his lower back pain. Throughout the years Alex had tried a multitude of conventional treatments but continued to suffer on and off with lower back pain, even throughout Chiropractic school and beyond.

In 2015 and fifteen+ years out of Chiropractic school, Dr. Kaminsky participated in his first and life changing Craniosacral Therapy seminar and he was fascinated, intrigued and hooked. It all made sense, he was immediately astute to its methods and since that first seminar, and as a result of trading sessions of Craniosacral Therapy with his colleagues, his back pain subsided and till this day has never returned.

Dr. Kaminsky decided to enhance his skill-set to better serve his patients. He began reaching out to other craniosacral therapists, cranial osteopaths, and many types of leading practitioners from various fields for advise and consultations He also enrolled in Upledger continuing education seminars with a focus on mostly hands-on manual and alternative therapies.

And, as he gained knowledge with his own health issues, he has learned to help more and more patients achieve great health results.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is headache free and low back pain free, and has committed himself to a life of learning, teaching and treating patients. His emphasis is on the patient’s stored patterns of the body and each individual healthcare needs.