Medical physicians commonly use Botox, a medication intended to treat wrinkles, on patients with headaches. They also give Singular, an adult asthma/allergy drug, to children with atopic dermatitis. This practice is called “off-label prescribing” and it’s so common that the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality estimated 20% of all prescriptions are written for off-label use.
Since this now happens on a daily basis, it doesn’t really shock anyone. Plus, it’s perfectly legal. What you might be surprised to find out, however, is that chiropractic care has off-label uses of its own.
If you have generalized back or neck pain, chiropractic adjustments are very helpful. This type of pain relief could be considered an “on-label” reason for seeking the assistance of a chiropractor. But what about the patients who don’t have back or neck pain, and elect to receive chiropractic care for relief from other conditions? Examples may include constipation, dizziness, or TMJ.
Believe it or not, chiropractic offices across the world are filled with patients receiving these “off-label” benefits. That’s why you might hear chiropractors discussing how they’ve been able to help patients with psoriasis or IBS. To outsiders, this can seem like complete quackery. And while I would consider it irresponsible for chiropractors to advertise a “cure” for these conditions, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a hoax. Some people with non-musculoskeletal conditions really do respond well to chiropractic care.
In fact, just yesterday, two of my patients expressed how they can immediately feel their sinuses open up after getting an upper cervical adjustment. Now, both of them originally came to see me for “on-label” reasons – neck pain and upper back stiffness. I didn’t attempt to diagnose either of them with any sort of sinus issue, nor did I ever tell them that the adjustments would help sinus congestion. Moreover, neither one mentioned sinus irritation being a concern when we first met. But now, they each come back as needed for an “off-label” benefit (improved sinus function), as well as typical relief from back/neck pain.
Why does this happen? The answer is fairly simple: Our bodies function better with a strong and balanced spine that moves properly.
I invite you to consult with a reputable chiropractor in your area so that you too may experience the “off-label” benefits of chiropractic care.