Inflammation, Immunity & the Wim Hof Method: Integrating Lifestyle with Chiropractic Care

We tend to think of inflammation as something bad. A sign of injury or illness.

Short-term inflammation however is a vital part of your immune response. It’s your body’s first responder, responsible for sending healing resources to the site of a problem. The trouble starts when this protective inflammatory process doesn’t switch off but turns chronic instead.

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is like an alarm bell that’s always ringing. It wears down your nervous system and can contribute to a host of health issues.

The good news? You have more influence over this process than you might think.

Cooling the Fire Within

This is where practices like the Wim Hof Method come in.

Scientific studies have shown that a combination of conscious breathing and cold exposure can have a remarkable effect on the immune system. Specifically, it can influence your body’s cytokine response. Cytokines are the proteins that signal your immune cells into action.

By consciously activating your nervous system with breath and cold, you can help your body mount a strong, appropriate immune response when needed. And calm it down when the job is done. You are helping to turn off the alarm bell.

Spinal Alignment & Your Immune System

So, where does your spine fit into this picture?

Your nervous system is the command centre for your entire body, including your immune system. If there is interference in the communication between your brain and your body, every system is affected.

Think of it this way. If the commander can’t get clear messages to the troops, the defence strategy will be weak and disorganised.

A chiropractic adjustment helps to clear those lines of communication. It ensures your brain has an accurate, real-time connection to your body, allowing it to coordinate a more effective immune response.

Breathing Your Way to a Better Defence

Deep, diaphragmatic breathing does more than just calm your mind. It’s also a powerful pump for your lymphatic system.

This is your body’s internal drainage network. It’s crucial for clearing out waste products and moving immune cells around your body.

Unlike your circulatory system, which has the heart, your lymphatic system relies on movement and deep breathing to keep things flowing. Shallow breathing leads to a sluggish, congested system. Intentional, deep breathing helps keep it clean and efficient.

Supporting Paediatric Immunity

You can empower your children to build a strong immune system from a young age. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

• Play outside: Let them get dirty. Exposure to different microbes helps to train the immune system.
• Encourage movement: Running, jumping, and climbing are all fantastic for lymphatic flow.
• Practice fun breathing: A few “Lion’s Breaths” before bed can be a fun way to release the day and support their health.

These simple lifestyle tools, combined with a nervous system free from interference, give them the best possible foundation for lifelong health.

A Powerful Partnership for Health

Your body has an amazing, innate ability to heal and defend itself.

Lifestyle tools like breathwork and cold exposure can help you tap into that power. Chiropractic care ensures the command centre running the show is functioning at its best.

When you pair them together, you are creating a powerful, proactive strategy for health. You’re not just fighting fires. You’re building a more fire-resistant house.

If you’re ready to take a more active role in supporting your immune health, let’s talk. We can help ensure your nervous system is in the best possible state to keep you strong and resilient.