In 1921, Henry Windsor, a medical doctor studied the relationship between the spine and diseased organs. His findings: Of 221 disease structures, 212 could be traced directly to a vertebra comprising a degenerated joint in the spine. Consequently, there is a 96% relationship between minor curvatures in the spine and diseases of internal organs.¹

Although damaged joints of the spine causing nerve pressure (sometimes called subluxations) are associated with certain organ dysfunction and maladies, everyone’s body is different, and nerve pressure in any area of the spine can cause an array of symptoms. Areas of association are assessed closely as your chiropractor checks the entire spine before an adjustment. This procedure is a good reason to tell your chiropractor everything in your medical history.

With this informational background, now lets consider female infertility from a chiropractic perspective. When an individual comes to my office indicating difficulty in getting pregnant, I usually ask, "Have you ever been pregnant before?" If someone has never experienced pregnancy, she may have a body chemistry hormonal imbalance. There are a variety of hormone functions that must occur to maintain a fertilized egg in the uterus; in addition, miscarriages early in pregnancy -- within the first three months – suggest improper functioning.

On the other hand, a pregnant patient who miscarried late in pregnancy indicates a possible mechanical problem of the pelvis. The tailbone attaches directly to the uterus by ligaments. Any pelvic misalignment can twist or put undue stress on the uterus. This strain on the uterus may not play a role early in the pregnancy. But as the baby gets larger the uterus and the pelvis are unable to do their jobs properly. The body recognizes the sub-optimal environment for a baby to develop and thus induces miscarriage.

Frequently, these patients have histories of discomfort during their monthly menstrual cycles. How well do you think contents of the uterus can be expelled if the uterus is twisted or under stress? Uncomfortable cramping may increase caused by muscle contractions of the uterus trying to empty its contents. No wonder women may be moody or on edge emotionally during monthly periods, especially if they experience nerve pressure creating a body chemistry problem. This cause-effect sequence is just another example of innate intelligence of the human body.

Many of you may recall the IUD birth control device, frequently used in this country years ago. This piece of plastic was inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The body recognized the IUD as a foreign object and reacted the same way it does to a splinter -- with inflammation. The result was a mild pelvic inflammatory disease artificially induced in the uterus. The body through the nervous system sensed the sub-optimal environment to support a fetus and never let a fertilized egg implant in the uterus.

The basis underlying the IUD is from Arabic cultures. Having to travel across many miles of desert in excessive heat and other severe conditions, Arabs did not want their camels getting pregnant before or during a journey. Pregnant camels could not carry as much and often became tired faster than when not-with-calf. To prevent camel pregnancy, Arabs learned to insert a pebble or object into the uterus of the camel.

Of course, more research went into developing the IUD for humans before it was introduced commercially, notwithstanding undesirability of manipulating the body into having mild pelvic inflammatory disease. The IUD was kept in the uterus of some female patients for years. Resulting infection sometimes caused kidney and ovary damage, inability to get pregnant after IUD removal and loss of life in rare cases.

For women desperately wanting to have children and are finding it difficult: If you have been on artificially induced birth control, you have been manipulating your body chemistry. It may take a while for you body to re-regulate. You also should remember that your body was designed to be healthy, and becoming pregnant is a natural process.

Our health comes from within us. It is not usually obtained from taking tonics, potions, or pills. Structure largely determines function throughout the animal kingdom. For example, a giraffe has a long neck to reach branches with leaves to eat. Take away the proper structure, the length of the giraffe’s neck, and he cannot eat. We, therefore, should start by examining our own structure when experiencing dysfunction.

The spine carries a neurological lifeline from the brain to other parts of the body. Functional health of the body depends on the flow of an unrestricted nervous system. So, when your spine suffers, your overall well being suffers too. It is never too late to start preventative measures because the body is an amazing self-healing organism.

John R. Lee, M.D., Warner Books, 1996

John R. Lee, M.D. with Virginia Hopkins, Warner Books, 1996