Faith Schumann alias Hormone Lab Cartographer

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Supports

There is high-quality evidence that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) itself is an established, medically supervised treatment for male hypogonadism, with benefits for sexual function, mood, muscle mass and quality of life when prescribed and monitored according to endocrinology and urology guidelines.^{[1][2][3][5][6][8][9]} These data come from large randomized trials, systematic reviews and guideline-based narrative reviews, and they consistently frame TRT as a pharmacologic endocrine therapy that requires laboratory confirmation of low testosterone, assessment of comorbidities, and ongoing monitoring of hematocrit, prostate health and cardiovascular risk by appropriately trained medical professionals.^{[1][3][5][6][8][9]} However, I did not find high‑quality trials or guidelines showing that chiropractors specifically should manage or deliver TRT as a primary therapy; mainstream evidence and guidelines discuss management by physicians (e.g., endocrinologists, urologists, or primary care) rather than chiropractic providers.^{[1][2][3][5][6][8][9]}

Contradicts

Major evidence syntheses and guidelines on TRT emphasize medical prescribing, risk–benefit assessment, and monitoring of adverse effects such as erythrocytosis, cardiovascular events, infertility and prostate-related issues, which fall squarely within medical rather than chiropractic scope of practice.^{[1][3][5][6][8][9]} These sources do not identify chiropractic care as a standard or recommended route for TRT management, nor do they present evidence that chiropractic adjustments can replace medical evaluation, endocrine workup, or guideline-based monitoring in TRT patients.^{[1][2][3][5][6][8][9]} Furthermore, some emerging evidence in surgical and orthopedic contexts suggests that TRT may increase certain complication risks around procedures and requires individualized cessation or modification strategies, again under medical supervision, underscoring that unspecialized or non-medical management is not supported by current data.^[7][22] No robust randomized trials or meta-analyses demonstrate that chiropractors providing TRT leads to equal or superior safety and effectiveness compared with guideline-directed physician-led care; any such claims by influencers therefore rest on extrapolation or marketing rather than peer-reviewed evidence.^{[1][2][3][5][6][8][9]}

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical and scientific consensus is that testosterone replacement therapy is a prescription endocrine treatment indicated for men with clinically and biochemically confirmed hypogonadism and should be initiated and monitored by qualified medical professionals (typically endocrinologists, urologists, or primary care physicians) following established guidelines.^{[1][3][5][6][8][9]} Standard care includes confirming low testosterone with appropriate lab testing, evaluating causes and comorbidities, discussing risks and benefits, and ongoing surveillance of hematocrit, cardiovascular status, prostate health and fertility, using evidence-based protocols from major societies.^{[1][3][5][6][8][9]} Chiropractic care is not part of guideline-directed TRT management, and while some multidisciplinary clinics that include chiropractors may offer medically supervised TRT, current mainstream evidence does not endorse chiropractors themselves as primary prescribers or managers of TRT, nor does it support spinal manipulation as a substitute for endocrine therapy in hypogonadal men.^{[1][2][3][5][6][8][9]}

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Hormone imbalance and replacement

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure low testosterone.

low testosterone

Supports

High-quality evidence on chiropractic care focuses on musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain and chronic pain, not on endocrine disorders like hypogonadism or low testosterone. Randomized trials and pragmatic studies of chiropractic care show effects on pain, disability, and patient satisfaction in low back pain and related conditions, but they do not assess or claim correction of low testosterone levels. ^[15] From the academic search, one systematic review of biochemical changes after spinal manipulation reported "very low" quality evidence that spinal manipulation does not differentially alter testosterone compared with sham controls, indicating no demonstrated beneficial effect on testosterone levels in the available trials. ^[6][12] In a small randomized trial of thoracic spinal manipulation in healthy men, salivary testosterone did not change versus sham, although cortisol and the testosterone:cortisol ratio were affected acutely, again providing no support that chiropractic manipulation increases testosterone or treats clinically low testosterone. ^[13] Together, the limited endocrine data around spinal manipulation show no proven ability of chiropractic treatment to raise testosterone in men with low levels, and standard therapeutic trials for hypogonadism use pharmacologic testosterone replacement, lifestyle interventions, or metabolic treatments rather than chiropractic care. ^[4][14]

Contradicts

The available evidence directly contradicts the idea that chiropractic manipulation meaningfully increases testosterone. ^[15] The systematic review of biochemical markers after spinal manipulation pooled two small studies and found no significant difference between spinal manipulation and control in immediate or short-term changes in testosterone, with effect sizes near zero and very low-quality evidence, indicating that spinal manipulation does not alter testosterone levels in a clinically relevant way. ^[6][12][14] The randomized trial in healthy men similarly found that thoracic spinal manipulation did not differentially alter salivary testosterone compared with sham, despite small changes in cortisol and testosterone:cortisol ratio; these findings argue against a specific testosterone-raising effect of chiropractic treatment. ^[4][13] Major clinical trials and systematic reviews of testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men show that pharmacologic testosterone, lifestyle (e. ^[2][7] g. , diet, resistance exercise), weight loss, and metabolic or anti-inflammatory treatments can increase testosterone and improve related outcomes, and they make no mention of chiropractic care as a therapeutic option, implying that any claim of clinically meaningful correction of low testosterone via chiropractic is unsupported by current evidence. Overall, evidence specific to chiropractic shows no testosterone benefit, and broader endocrine literature on low testosterone management does not include chiropractic approaches, leaving the influencer claim weak and contradicted by existing data. ^[1]

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical and endocrine practice considers low testosterone (male hypogonadism) an endocrine condition managed by identifying and treating underlying causes (obesity, metabolic syndrome, medications, pituitary disease), using lifestyle measures like weight loss and resistance training, and employing evidence-based therapies such as testosterone replacement, aromatase modulation, anti-inflammatory strategies, or metabolic agents when indicated. ^[1][3][5] Clinical guidelines and trials for hypogonadism focus on hormone replacement and metabolic risk modification and do not recommend chiropractic treatment for low testosterone, nor do they list spinal manipulation as a recognized therapy for hypogonadism. ^{[2][7][12][13][14][15]} Chiropractic care is viewed within mainstream medicine as a nonpharmacologic intervention primarily for musculoskeletal complaints, especially back and neck pain, not as a treatment for systemic endocrine disorders. Based on current evidence and guidelines, the mainstream position is that chiropractic treatment should not be used or promoted as a therapy to correct low testosterone, and patients with suspected hypogonadism should be evaluated and managed according to established endocrine protocols instead. ^[4][6]

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“low testosterone”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Hormone imbalance and replacement

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure hormone replacement therapy.

hormone replacement therapy

Supports

There is no high-quality evidence that chiropractic treatment can serve as hormone replacement therapy or meaningfully replace established hormone replacement regimens for menopausal or other endocrine indications. ^[6][18][19] Major clinical practice guidelines for menopausal hormone therapy from endocrine and menopause societies base their recommendations on randomized controlled trials of pharmacologic estrogen and progestogen preparations, not on chiropractic or spinal manipulation. ^[2] These guidelines emphasize that menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms when used in appropriately selected women, again referring to systemic or local estrogen/progestogen therapy. ^[17] Some narrative and review literature on menopause mentions alternative modalities such as chiropractic, but explicitly states that evidence is limited and does not treat these as equivalent to hormone therapy; this is at most very weak, indirect support that chiropractic might help some symptoms, not that it constitutes hormone replacement therapy. The indexed guideline papers provided (e. g. , on hypertension management, parenteral nutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, tension-type headache, blood transfusion, and colchicine in pericarditis) illustrate how evidence-based management relies on pharmacologic or nutrition interventions rather than manual therapies for systemic conditions, underscoring that guideline-driven care for systemic disorders like endocrine deficiencies is built around drugs or nutrition support, not chiropractic. ^{[1][3][4][5][7][8]}

Contradicts

Evidence-based hormone replacement therapy for menopause and other endocrine deficiencies is consistently defined as pharmacologic administration of hormones (estrogen, progestogen, sometimes androgens or other agents) guided by randomized trials and long-term outcome data, with no mention of chiropractic manipulation as a substitute or equivalent. ^[1] Major guidelines from the Endocrine Society and allied groups recommend menopausal hormone therapy in appropriately selected women, specifying dose, route, risk stratification, and contraindications; they do not include chiropractic care as a form of hormone therapy or as a treatment that can replace systemic or local hormone preparations. ^{[2][6][17][18][19]} Reviews of complementary and alternative approaches for menopausal symptoms that mention chiropractic typically describe the evidence base as limited or insufficient, and do not show that spinal manipulation alters estrogen, progesterone, or other sex hormone levels to the degree or reliability required for hormone replacement. Overall, available research and guidelines indicate that manual therapies may provide musculoskeletal or pain relief but do not correct endocrine deficiencies or deliver controlled hormone exposure. The index guideline papers in other areas (e. g. , hypertension, blood transfusion, tension-type headache) further demonstrate that when systemic pathophysiology is well understood, practice guidelines rely on interventions with demonstrated physiologic effects (drugs, transfusion, nutrition support), and do not propose chiropractic treatment as a substitute for these core therapies, which contradicts the idea that chiropractic could reasonably be considered hormone replacement therapy. ^[4][5][7]

Mainstream view

The mainstream medical and scientific position is that hormone replacement therapy (HRT or menopausal hormone therapy) consists of administering hormones such as estrogen and progestogen (and in specific situations other hormones) in carefully titrated doses, based on robust randomized controlled trial data and long-term observational studies. ^[7] Major endocrine and menopause society guidelines define clear indications, contraindications, and risk–benefit profiles for pharmacologic hormone therapy and consider it the most effective treatment for moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and for certain prevention indications in appropriately selected women, while recommending nonhormonal options when HRT is not suitable. ^{[2][4][5][6][17][18][19]} Chiropractic care is regarded as a musculoskeletal/manual therapy with potential benefits for some spinal and pain conditions, but it is not recognized as a hormone replacement therapy, does not deliver exogenous hormones, and is not included in endocrine or menopause guidelines as a means of correcting sex hormone deficiency or managing endocrine disorders. Mainstream practice therefore views chiropractic and hormone therapy as fundamentally different domains: chiropractic is not an acceptable substitute for established pharmacologic hormone replacement therapy when replacement is indicated.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Male hormone replacement therapy”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Hormone imbalance and replacement

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure thyroid conditions.

thyroid conditions

Supports

No high-quality evidence in the provided index papers supports chiropractic treatment for thyroid conditions. ^[4][6] The listed papers address hypertension, nutrition, headache, transfusion, pericarditis, and evidence grading, not thyroid disease or chiropractic care . ^{[1][3][5][7][8]}

Contradicts

The claim is contradicted by the absence of relevant thyroid-specific clinical trials, systematic reviews, or major endocrine guidelines in the provided index list, which means none of these papers establish chiropractic treatment as an evidence-based therapy for thyroid conditions . ^{[1][2][4][6][7]} In mainstream academic medicine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer are managed with diagnosis-specific medical, radioactive, surgical, or endocrinology-led care rather than chiropractic manipulation. The broader evidence base does not support chiropractic treatment as a treatment for thyroid disease, and any symptomatic benefit claimed by chiropractors would be indirect, nonspecific, or unproven rather than disease-modifying.

Mainstream view

The mainstream medical view is that chiropractic care is not a treatment for thyroid conditions. ^[4] Thyroid disorders require evaluation and management by primary care, endocrinology, or surgery depending on the diagnosis, and there is no established peer-reviewed evidence that spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment treats thyroid dysfunction itself. ^[1][6]

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“thyroid conditions”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Thyroid disease and Hashimoto

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to advertise TRT addresses clinically confirmed low testosterone as within their scope of practice.

TRT addresses clinically confirmed low testosterone

No specific health claims of theirs were cross-checked against the literature.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) addresses clinically confirmed low testosterone”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Hormone imbalance and replacement

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Immune & Autoimmune Conditions.

Immune & Autoimmune Conditions

No specific health claims of theirs were cross-checked against the literature.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Immune & Autoimmune Conditions”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Autoimmune disease

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Hormone Optimization.

Hormone Optimization

No specific health claims of theirs were cross-checked against the literature.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Hormone Optimization”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Hormone imbalance and replacement

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Thyroid Health.

Thyroid Health

Supports

High-quality evidence that directly shows chiropractic spinal manipulation improving thyroid hormone levels or curing thyroid disease is essentially absent. The only directly relevant controlled trial from the chiropractic literature is a randomized, placebo‑controlled trial of Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) in primary hypothyroidism; this found no clinically relevant changes in thyroid function or thyroid autoimmunity compared with placebo, indicating no benefit of this chiropractic‑associated intervention on thyroid function.^[12] Case reports and small uncontrolled series claim improved thyroid function and reduced need for thyroid medication following chiropractic care, but these are anecdotal and not high‑quality evidence (no blinding, no controls, very small samples). Systematic reviews of spinal manipulation show that chiropractic adjustments can transiently change some biochemical markers (e.g., cortisol, certain neuropeptides), but these effects are short‑term, low‑quality, and not specific to thyroid hormones or thyroid disease outcomes.^[18][21] Overall, high‑quality trials and guidelines do not support chiropractic treatment as a direct therapy for thyroid health or thyroid disease.

Contradicts

The randomized, placebo‑controlled trial of NET in hypothyroid patients found that the intervention "did not confer any clinical benefit" and produced no meaningful changes in thyroid function or thyroid autoimmunity compared to placebo, contradicting claims that chiropractic‑related techniques improve hypothyroidism.^[12] Systematic review data on chiropractic treatment for primary or early secondary prevention of disease report no evidence that chiropractic manipulation has preventive effects on systemic diseases, which undermines broad claims that chiropractic care can improve endocrine diseases such as thyroid disorders.^[22] A critical evaluation of chiropractic notes that evidence for non‑musculoskeletal claims (including internal organ and systemic disease benefits) is weak or absent, highlighting that chiropractic is primarily evidence‑based only for some musculoskeletal pain conditions, not endocrine or thyroid disorders.^[17] The biochemical‑marker literature shows at most low‑quality, short‑term changes in stress or inflammatory markers after spinal manipulation, with no demonstrated translation into improved thyroid function or clinical thyroid outcomes.^[18][21] Taken together, existing evidence contradicts strong claims that chiropractic treatment meaningfully treats thyroid disease, and where studies exist, they show no benefit beyond placebo or standard care.^[12][22]

Mainstream view

Mainstream endocrinology and internal medicine view thyroid diseases (such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, and nodular disease) as conditions that should be managed with established medical therapies: appropriate thyroid hormone replacement (e.g., levothyroxine), antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, surgery when indicated, and evidence‑based lifestyle or nutritional measures when supported by trials and guidelines. Major clinical guidelines and evidence‑based frameworks (including those using GRADE methodology to rate evidence quality) emphasize that recommendations must be based on high‑quality randomized trials, meta‑analyses, and large observational data, and they do not list chiropractic spinal manipulation as a treatment option for thyroid disease.^[5][6] Where non‑pharmacologic interventions have evidence (for example structured exercise programs or specific micronutrient or omega‑3 supplementation in certain thyroid conditions), they are tested in randomized controlled trials and considered adjuncts to standard medical care, not replacements.^[4][5][6][8] In mainstream practice, chiropractic care is recognized primarily as a modality for musculoskeletal complaints (e.g., back or neck pain), and thyroid health is not considered a valid therapeutic target for chiropractic manipulation due to lack of demonstrated efficacy and absence from authoritative endocrine guidelines.^[17][22]

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Thyroid Health”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Thyroid disease and Hashimoto

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Perimenopause & Menopause Care.

Perimenopause & Menopause Care

No specific health claims of theirs were cross-checked against the literature.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“Perimenopause & Menopause Care”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Menopause

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to advertise IBS and Bloating Management as within their scope of practice.

IBS and Bloating Management

Supports

High-quality evidence directly supporting chiropractic (spinal manipulation by chiropractors) as an effective treatment for IBS or bloating is extremely limited and generally of low methodological quality. A systematic review of chiropractic for gastrointestinal problems concluded that only two controlled trials existed, both with serious methodological flaws, and that there is no supportive evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for gastrointestinal disorders.^[12] Narrative review work on chiropractic and GI disorders similarly finds very few randomized trials, with most evidence coming from case reports or uncontrolled studies, and emphasizes that the existing randomized trials are few and methodologically weak.^[14] There is one randomized trial of traditional Chinese spinal orthopedic manipulation for IBS which reported greater symptom improvement than an antispasmodic medication, but this is a single study from one center and has not been replicated widely, and its techniques and context are distinct from mainstream chiropractic practice.^[19] Overall, the strongest support for manual therapy in IBS comes from osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), not chiropractic: a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of OMT for IBS found statistically significant improvements in abdominal pain and constipation compared with sham or no intervention, although global IBS severity and diarrhea did not differ significantly.^[23] Several small randomized trials of osteopathy/visceral manipulation show improvements in abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and quality of life in IBS patients.^{[16][18][17][13]} This suggests that some forms of manual therapy directed at the abdomen and visceral structures may have benefit, but this evidence does not directly validate standard chiropractic spinal manipulation for IBS.

Contradicts

The best available synthesis specific to chiropractic and gastrointestinal disorders concludes that there is no supportive evidence that chiropractic treatments are effective for gastrointestinal problems, including functional disorders such as IBS and bloating.^[12] The narrative review of chiropractic and GI disorders notes that among 21 studies, only 4 were randomized controlled trials and most were case reports or low-quality clinical trials, with no robust evidence base demonstrating efficacy.^[14] This contrasts sharply with the much larger and higher-quality evidence base for established IBS treatments such as dietary interventions (e.g., low FODMAP diets), pharmacologic therapies, psychological approaches, and gut-directed neuromodulation, where multiple randomized trials and guidelines exist, while none of the major IBS guidelines recommend chiropractic care. Evidence for osteopathic manipulative treatment, although more favorable, is based on small RCTs and shows benefit mainly on pain and constipation, with limited or no effect on overall IBS severity and diarrhea in meta-analysis, highlighting that even within manual therapies the evidence is modest and condition-specific.^[23] The single trial of traditional Chinese spinal orthopedic manipulation for IBS is not sufficient to establish chiropractic as effective, especially given concerns about generalizability, lack of replication, and differences in technique and training compared with standard chiropractic.^[19] Case reports and promotional materials describing IBS symptom resolution after chiropractic care are anecdotal and subject to placebo, regression to the mean, and selection bias, and do not provide high-quality evidence of efficacy.^[20][21] Taken together, the evidence base contradicts any strong claim that chiropractic treatment is an established, evidence-based therapy for IBS or bloating.

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical and scientific consensus is that irritable bowel syndrome and related bloating are best managed with a combination of evidence-based strategies: dietary modification (such as low FODMAP diets), pharmacologic agents tailored to IBS subtype, psychological therapies, and sometimes neuromodulation or probiotics, all supported by multiple randomized controlled trials and incorporated into major gastroenterology guidelines.^{[1][4][5][7][9][10]} Chiropractic spinal manipulation is not included or recommended in major IBS guidelines, and systematic review of chiropractic for gastrointestinal problems explicitly concludes that there is no supportive evidence for chiropractic effectiveness in GI disorders.^[12][14] Manual therapies such as osteopathic manipulative treatment have emerging but still limited evidence from small RCTs and a recent meta-analysis, suggesting possible benefit on abdominal pain and constipation but not robust improvements in overall IBS severity or diarrhea, and these are considered complementary rather than primary therapies.^{[23][16][18][17][13]} Therefore, the mainstream position is that chiropractic treatment should not be promoted as a proven or primary treatment for IBS or bloating; if used at all, it would be as an adjunctive, experimental approach, with patients informed about the limited and low-quality evidence and advised to prioritize established IBS management strategies.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“IBS and Bloating Management”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising IBS, SIBO and gut disorders

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure SIBO and Gut Microbiome Support.

SIBO and Gut Microbiome Support

Supports

No high-quality evidence in the provided index papers supports the broad claim because none of the listed studies evaluate SIBO treatment, microbiome-directed therapy, or gut microbiome support in the context implied by the claim. The list is dominated by unrelated ClinicalTrials.gov entries, so it does not provide direct support for the claim .

Contradicts

The provided index papers do not address SIBO or microbiome support, so they cannot substantiate the claim. In the broader medical literature, SIBO diagnosis and management remain areas with limited evidence, heterogeneous definitions, and inconsistent test performance; major reviews and guidelines emphasize that symptoms are nonspecific and that treatment evidence is modest and condition-specific rather than supporting a general wellness claim. Because the claim is broad and unspecified, it is not possible to validate it from the cited index papers, and the evidence base for generic 'gut microbiome support' claims is weak unless a specific intervention and indication are named.

Mainstream view

The mainstream view is that SIBO is a recognized clinical syndrome, but testing and treatment should be used selectively for appropriate symptoms and risk factors, and broad claims of general 'gut microbiome support' are not evidence-based without specifying the intervention, indication, and outcome. Routine microbiome-targeted supplements or protocols are not endorsed as universal treatment for SIBO, and benefits depend on the exact therapy and patient population.

In their own wordsView sourceArchived copy

“SIBO and Gut Microbiome Support”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising IBS, SIBO and gut disorders

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Autoimmune Conditions.

Autoimmune Conditions

Supports

High-quality clinical evidence directly supporting chiropractic treatment as effective therapy for immune or autoimmune diseases is essentially absent. A 2021 systematic review in a major medical journal evaluated studies of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and immune outcomes and found no acceptable or high‑quality randomized trials showing that SMT prevents infectious disease or improves disease‑specific outcomes via immune effects; overall, it concluded that there is no clinical evidence to support or refute claims that SMT changes immune system outcomes in a clinically meaningful way.^[3] A 2020 consensus statement from the global chiropractic research community likewise reported that the International Chiropractors Association provided no valid clinical scientific evidence that chiropractic care impacts the immune system and explicitly stated that no published studies demonstrate clinically significant immune enhancement from spinal manipulation.^[5][6] A recent pragmatic randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of chiropractic care in adults with subclinical spinal pain showed changes in some immune‑related biomarkers (e.g., IL‑6, TNF‑α, lymphocyte subsets), but it assessed biomarkers only and did not study clinical outcomes in immune or autoimmune disease; such mechanistic findings do not establish therapeutic efficacy for immune or autoimmune conditions.^[8][2] Integrative and narrative reviews discussing vertebral subluxation and neuroendocrine‑immune interactions describe biological plausibility and collate case reports and small trials, but they do not provide high‑quality evidence of benefit for immune or autoimmune diseases and are hypothesis‑generating rather than definitive.^[1][4][17] Major clinical guidelines for conditions that are immune‑mediated (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease nutrition management, and broader medical guidelines for hypertension, transplantation, or infection) focus on pharmacologic and evidence‑based medical or nutritional therapies and do not recommend chiropractic or SMT as disease‑modifying treatment for immune or autoimmune disorders.

Contradicts

The main body of high‑quality evidence and professional guidance contradicts strong claims that chiropractic treatment can effectively manage, treat, or prevent immune and autoimmune conditions. The 2021 systematic review on SMT and the immune system found no clinical trials demonstrating that SMT prevents infectious disease or improves disease‑specific outcomes, and concluded that no clinical evidence from acceptable‑ or high‑quality randomized trials exists to support or refute claims of immune system efficacy.^[3] The united statement from the global chiropractic research community explicitly states that there is no credible scientific evidence that chiropractic spinal adjustments boost immunity or protect against viral illnesses such as colds or influenza, and calls on regulators to act against such claims.^[5][6] An evidence summary for a world federation advice note similarly reports that no credible scientific evidence shows clinically relevant immune effects from spinal adjustment/manipulation, with existing studies limited by very small sample sizes and lack of symptomatic subjects.^[7] Regulatory and professional documents state that the prevention and treatment of infectious disease are not within the scope of chiropractic practice, underscoring that chiropractors should not claim to treat immune‑mediated infectious conditions.^[13][12] For autoimmune diseases specifically, reviews of complementary and alternative medicine use show that parents and patients may use a range of CAM approaches, but they do not identify robust evidence that chiropractic care modifies autoimmune disease activity or outcomes.^[10][23] Overall, the evidence base is weak, with mechanistic or biomarker changes not translating into demonstrated clinical benefit for immune or autoimmune diseases, and professional bodies largely warning against immunity claims.^{[3][5][6][7][13]}

Mainstream view

The mainstream medical and scientific position is that chiropractic care and spinal manipulative therapy can be useful for certain musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., some back or neck pain and tension‑type headache) but are not established treatments for immune or autoimmune diseases. Major evidence‑based clinical guidelines for immune‑mediated conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease focus on pharmacologic therapies, clinical nutrition, and other medical interventions and do not include chiropractic or SMT as disease‑modifying therapy. Infectious disease prevention and treatment, and the management of systemic autoimmune disorders, are considered outside the scope of chiropractic practice in professional conduct documents and international guidance, which explicitly state that chiropractors should not claim to prevent or treat infectious disease.^[13][12] A systematic review of SMT and immune outcomes reports no high‑quality clinical evidence that SMT improves infectious disease outcomes or clinically relevant immune function, and professional consensus statements affirm that there is no credible evidence that chiropractic adjustments boost immunity or treat viral illnesses.^[3][5][6][7] Some recent trials show changes in stress and immune‑related biomarkers after chiropractic care, but these are regarded as preliminary mechanistic findings that do not justify claims of therapeutic efficacy for immune or

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“Autoimmune Conditions”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

See every doc bro advertising Autoimmune disease

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Immune and Autoimmune Conditions.

Immune and Autoimmune Conditions

Supports

High-quality clinical evidence directly supporting chiropractic treatment as effective therapy for immune or autoimmune diseases is essentially absent. A 2021 systematic review in a major medical journal evaluated studies of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and immune outcomes and found no acceptable or high‑quality randomized trials showing that SMT prevents infectious disease or improves disease‑specific outcomes via immune effects; overall, it concluded that there is no clinical evidence to support or refute claims that SMT changes immune system outcomes in a clinically meaningful way.^[3] A 2020 consensus statement from the global chiropractic research community likewise reported that the International Chiropractors Association provided no valid clinical scientific evidence that chiropractic care impacts the immune system and explicitly stated that no published studies demonstrate clinically significant immune enhancement from spinal manipulation.^[5][6] A recent pragmatic randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of chiropractic care in adults with subclinical spinal pain showed changes in some immune‑related biomarkers (e.g., IL‑6, TNF‑α, lymphocyte subsets), but it assessed biomarkers only and did not study clinical outcomes in immune or autoimmune disease; such mechanistic findings do not establish therapeutic efficacy for immune or autoimmune conditions.^[8][2] Integrative and narrative reviews discussing vertebral subluxation and neuroendocrine‑immune interactions describe biological plausibility and collate case reports and small trials, but they do not provide high‑quality evidence of benefit for immune or autoimmune diseases and are hypothesis‑generating rather than definitive.^[1][4][17] Major clinical guidelines for conditions that are immune‑mediated (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease nutrition management, and broader medical guidelines for hypertension, transplantation, or infection) focus on pharmacologic and evidence‑based medical or nutritional therapies and do not recommend chiropractic or SMT as disease‑modifying treatment for immune or autoimmune disorders.

Contradicts

The main body of high‑quality evidence and professional guidance contradicts strong claims that chiropractic treatment can effectively manage, treat, or prevent immune and autoimmune conditions. The 2021 systematic review on SMT and the immune system found no clinical trials demonstrating that SMT prevents infectious disease or improves disease‑specific outcomes, and concluded that no clinical evidence from acceptable‑ or high‑quality randomized trials exists to support or refute claims of immune system efficacy.^[3] The united statement from the global chiropractic research community explicitly states that there is no credible scientific evidence that chiropractic spinal adjustments boost immunity or protect against viral illnesses such as colds or influenza, and calls on regulators to act against such claims.^[5][6] An evidence summary for a world federation advice note similarly reports that no credible scientific evidence shows clinically relevant immune effects from spinal adjustment/manipulation, with existing studies limited by very small sample sizes and lack of symptomatic subjects.^[7] Regulatory and professional documents state that the prevention and treatment of infectious disease are not within the scope of chiropractic practice, underscoring that chiropractors should not claim to treat immune‑mediated infectious conditions.^[13][12] For autoimmune diseases specifically, reviews of complementary and alternative medicine use show that parents and patients may use a range of CAM approaches, but they do not identify robust evidence that chiropractic care modifies autoimmune disease activity or outcomes.^[10][23] Overall, the evidence base is weak, with mechanistic or biomarker changes not translating into demonstrated clinical benefit for immune or autoimmune diseases, and professional bodies largely warning against immunity claims.^{[3][5][6][7][13]}

Mainstream view

The mainstream medical and scientific position is that chiropractic care and spinal manipulative therapy can be useful for certain musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., some back or neck pain and tension‑type headache) but are not established treatments for immune or autoimmune diseases. Major evidence‑based clinical guidelines for immune‑mediated conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease focus on pharmacologic therapies, clinical nutrition, and other medical interventions and do not include chiropractic or SMT as disease‑modifying therapy. Infectious disease prevention and treatment, and the management of systemic autoimmune disorders, are considered outside the scope of chiropractic practice in professional conduct documents and international guidance, which explicitly state that chiropractors should not claim to prevent or treat infectious disease.^[13][12] A systematic review of SMT and immune outcomes reports no high‑quality clinical evidence that SMT improves infectious disease outcomes or clinically relevant immune function, and professional consensus statements affirm that there is no credible evidence that chiropractic adjustments boost immunity or treat viral illnesses.^[3][5][6][7] Some recent trials show changes in stress and immune‑related biomarkers after chiropractic care, but these are regarded as preliminary mechanistic findings that do not justify claims of therapeutic efficacy for immune or

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Explains what low testosterone and male hypogonadism mean

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“Explains what low testosterone and male hypogonadism mean”

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What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

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“What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?”

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Overview of the Care Process for Testosterone Therapy

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“Overview of the Care Process for Testosterone Therapy”

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Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Service Page

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“Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Service Page”

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Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Functional Medicine.

Functional Medicine

Supports

The influencer's claim has two parts: that functional medicine doctors use different or narrower laboratory ranges, and that these ranges let them identify imbalances well before disease is formally diagnosed. High‑quality evidence in mainstream laboratory medicine does recognize concepts beyond simple statistical reference intervals, such as clinical decision limits and more recently “functional reference limits”, which are inflection points in physiological relationships between biomarkers that may better reflect pathophysiology than broad reference intervals.^[19] This supports, in principle, the idea of using more physiologically informed thresholds rather than purely statistical ranges, but it is a general laboratory medicine concept rather than specific to functional medicine training or practice.^[19] Major guidelines in conventional medicine (e.g., hypertension management, clinical nutrition, neurology, transfusion) routinely rely on clinical decision limits (cutoffs associated with risks and outcomes) rather than purely statistical “normal ranges”, which implicitly treats certain biomarker levels as clinically important before overt disease is present.^{[0][1][2][5][6][7]} For example, hypertension guidelines define elevated and stage 1 blood pressure thresholds based on cardiovascular risk, not just population averages, embodying the idea that risk‑related cutoffs can precede clinically manifest events.^[0] Similarly, nutrition guidelines treat subclinical deficiencies (e.g., marginal micronutrient levels) as clinically relevant even before clear deficiency syndromes occur.^[1][2] These practices partially align with the notion of interpreting lab results through a lens that seeks early risk or imbalance rather than waiting for overt disease. However, none of these guideline documents describe “functional ranges” as a formal construct or link them to functional medicine training.^{[0][1][2][5][6][7]} The GRADE framework for rating evidence explicitly emphasizes imprecision and the need for clearly defined clinical decision thresholds, supporting the broader concept that lab values near such thresholds may represent increased risk or “imbalance” even before formal disease diagnosis.^[4] This lends conceptual support to early‑risk interpretation, but again it is not specific to functional medicine doctors or to proprietary “functional ranges”.^[4]

Contradicts

Mainstream guideline documents in hypertension, clinical nutrition, neurology, transfusion medicine, and other specialties do not endorse a separate, standardized system of “functional ranges” used by functional medicine doctors, nor do they recognize a distinct training pathway that teaches a formally validated alternative lens for interpreting laboratory results.^{[0][1][2][5][6][7]} They instead describe reference intervals, clinical decision limits, and risk thresholds, generally derived from large cohorts and outcome‑based data.^{[0][4][16][19][23]} This contradicts the implication that functional medicine’s “functional ranges” are a recognized, evidence‑based standard across medicine. The literature on reference intervals emphasizes that most current ranges are the central 95% of a healthy reference population, and calls for better, population‑specific, and methodologically robust verification of these intervals.^[16][23] These papers highlight methodological concerns and propose indirect statistical methods, but they do not present evidence that narrow “optimal” ranges used in functional medicine reliably identify clinically important imbalances long before disease, nor that they improve outcomes compared with standard practice.^[16][23] The review on functional reference limits is largely conceptual and descriptive; it notes potential for enhanced interpretation but does not provide outcome‑based randomized or controlled evidence that using such limits improves morbidity or mortality.^[19] That weakens the claim that such ranges are proven tools to detect and act on imbalances well before disease in a way that is superior to conventional interpretation.^[19] Major clinical guidelines (hypertension, IBD nutrition, parenteral nutrition, headache treatment, transfusion therapy) are built on randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews, and they define thresholds for intervention based on demonstrated benefit or harm rather than on narrower “optimal health” ranges.^{[0][1][2][3][5][6][7]} They do not recommend acting on biomarker values that are simply outside proprietary functional ranges without corroborating clinical evidence, which conflicts with the influencer’s suggestion that such ranges themselves reliably flag meaningful imbalances long before disease in a validated way.^{[0][1][2][5][7]} The GRADE guidance on imprecision also underscores that clinical decisions based on thresholds must consider confidence intervals and risk of misclassification, implying that creating more numerous or narrower cutoffs without strong outcome data risks overdiagnosis and overtreatment.^[4] This challenges the strong version of the claim that functional ranges, as currently used in functional medicine, are evidence‑based tools that clearly improve early detection and patient outcomes compared with conventional interpretation.^[4]

Mainstream view

Main ^{[1][2][3][5][6][4][7][32][33][34]}

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“Functional Medicine”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure Hormone Health.

Hormone Health

Supports

High-quality evidence specifically linking chiropractic treatment to clinically meaningful improvements in overall hormone health or endocrine disorders is lacking. Existing randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews focus on short‑term changes in biochemical markers (such as cortisol, neuropeptides, or inflammatory cytokines) after spinal manipulation rather than long‑term hormone regulation or treatment of hormonal disease. A systematic review of biochemical markers after spinal manipulation reported low‑quality evidence that spinal manipulation can transiently change cortisol and some inflammatory markers immediately after intervention, but not at short term follow‑up, and very low‑quality evidence that it does not change testosterone or other key hormones.^[8] Several small RCTs show immediate changes in salivary cortisol or testosterone:cortisol ratio after specific manipulations, but these are mechanistic, short‑term studies in small samples and do not demonstrate sustained hormone normalization or clinical benefit in endocrine conditions. Overall, high‑quality guidelines and major evidence syntheses for hormone‑related conditions do not recommend chiropractic care as a treatment for hormone disorders.^[0][3]

Contradicts

The best available evidence indicates that any endocrine or hormone changes after chiropractic spinal manipulation are modest, short‑lived, and based on low‑quality studies, and that there is no convincing evidence of clinically meaningful hormone regulation. A recent systematic review of spinal manipulation effects on biochemical markers concluded that evidence is low quality, that immediate changes in cortisol and some inflammatory markers are not sustained, and that very low‑quality evidence suggests no effect on testosterone, oxytocin, orexin‑A, or catecholamines.^[8] Another systematic review on spinal manipulation and autonomic nervous system outcomes found low‑quality evidence that spinal manipulation does not significantly alter autonomic parameters such as blood pressure or catecholamines, undermining claims of robust neuroendocrine regulation.^[13] Older mechanistic trials have found no differences in ACTH or beta‑endorphin and no activation of the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal axis compared with sham, suggesting spinal manipulation is not a major endocrine stressor or regulator.^[6] Major evidence‑based guidelines for hypertension, nutrition, and other systemic conditions list pharmacologic therapy, diet, and lifestyle interventions as standard of care and do not mention chiropractic for endocrine or hormone management.^[0][1][2]

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical and scientific consensus is that chiropractic care is an evidence‑based option primarily for certain musculoskeletal conditions (such as acute low back pain), not a proven therapy for hormone health or endocrine disorders. Short‑term changes in biochemical markers (cortisol, neuropeptides, inflammatory cytokines) after spinal manipulation are regarded as experimental mechanistic findings of low quality that do not establish clinically useful hormone modulation. Major guidelines for endocrine and systemic conditions rely on pharmacologic treatments, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions, with no recommendation for chiropractic care as a means to correct or manage hormonal imbalances or endocrine disease.^[0][1][2] Any claim that chiropractic treatment can meaningfully “treat hormone health” or normalize hormones across the endocrine system goes beyond current evidence and is not supported by high‑quality trials or guideline‑level recommendations.

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“Hormone Health”

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Virtual Care in Functional Medicine and Hormone Health

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“Virtual Care in Functional Medicine and Hormone Health”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure male hypogonadism.

male hypogonadism

Supports

There is no high-quality evidence that chiropractic treatment is an effective therapy for male hypogonadism. ^[6][7][37] The only directly relevant randomized trial on spinal manipulation and hormones in healthy men reports that thoracic spinal manipulation did not differentially alter testosterone compared with sham, although it transiently affected cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio; this does not demonstrate clinically meaningful correction of hypogonadism or sustained androgen elevation. ^[13] High‑quality evidence for treating male hypogonadism instead supports pharmacologic and endocrine-directed approaches (testosterone replacement; selective estrogen receptor modulators such as clomiphene/enclomiphene; hCG; PDE5 inhibitors), not chiropractic care. ^[39] Multiple randomized trials and systematic reviews show that clomiphene and enclomiphene significantly increase total testosterone, LH and FSH versus placebo and are comparable to testosterone gel in improving testosterone levels. Society for Endocrinology guidelines and other major endocrine society guidance endorse testosterone therapy and evidence-based pharmacologic options for male hypogonadism, based on randomized trials and systematic reviews. ^[1][2] Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in specific populations (e. g. , men with type 2 diabetes or opioid-induced hypogonadism) confirm that testosterone therapy or related endocrine treatments improve testosterone levels and selected clinical endpoints, again with no mention of chiropractic interventions as a treatment modality. ^[4][38]

Contradicts

Available randomized trials show that spinal manipulation does not meaningfully increase testosterone and therefore do not support chiropractic treatment as an effective therapy for male hypogonadism. ^[7][38] In the thoracic spinal manipulation trial in healthy men, testosterone did not differ between spinal manipulation and sham groups, indicating that chiropractic-type manipulation does not cause a clinically relevant rise in testosterone that could treat hypogonadism. ^[4][13] Reviews of spinal manipulation and endocrine responses suggest at most short-term changes in cortisol or some neuropeptides, with low to moderate quality evidence, but they do not show sustained correction of hypogonadal testosterone levels or validated treatment of male hypogonadism. High-quality RCTs and meta-analyses of treatments for male hypogonadism consistently focus on pharmacologic therapies (testosterone formulations, clomiphene/enclomiphene, hCG, PDE5 inhibitors, nutraceuticals in some cases) and do not include chiropractic manipulation as a tested or recommended intervention. ^[39] Major endocrine guidelines outline diagnostic thresholds and management strategies for hypogonadism centered on hormone replacement or modulation, and they do not recommend chiropractic care for management of male hypogonadism. ^[2] The absence of chiropractic in these guidelines and trials, combined with direct evidence that manipulation does not raise testosterone, contradicts any claim that chiropractic treatment is an effective or evidence-based therapy for male hypogonadism. ^[1][6][37]

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical and scientific consensus is that male hypogonadism is an endocrine disorder that should be diagnosed with standardized hormonal testing (typically total testosterone below established thresholds, often around 11–12 nmol/L, with clinical symptoms) and managed using evidence-based pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions under appropriate medical supervision. ^{[1][2][5][37][38]} Recommended therapies include testosterone replacement (via gel, injections or other formulations), selective estrogen receptor modulators such as clomiphene/enclomiphene (especially when fertility preservation is desired), hCG, and—in selected contexts—adjunctive agents like PDE5 inhibitors or lifestyle interventions (weight loss, diabetes management). These approaches are supported by randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and formal professional guidelines. Chiropractic care is not recognized in mainstream endocrinology or urology guidelines as a treatment for male hypogonadism, and current evidence does not show that spinal manipulation can reliably or durably normalize low testosterone in hypogonadal men. ^[6][13][39] Any use of chiropractic in hypogonadism would be considered outside standard of care, without robust supporting evidence, and should not replace established endocrine management.

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“male hypogonadism”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure gut-related disorders.

gut-related disorders

Supports

High-quality evidence supporting chiropractic treatment for gut-related disorders is very limited. ^[6][27] A narrative review of the literature found mostly case reports and a small number of low-quality studies, with no defensible treatment protocol or guideline for gastrointestinal disorders. ^{[4][40][41][26]} Some manual-therapy literature suggests possible benefit for irritable bowel syndrome, but this is not specific to chiropractic and is not strong enough to establish efficacy. ^[7]

Contradicts

A systematic review of controlled clinical trials concluded there was no supportive evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for gastrointestinal disorders and noted that the few available trials had serious methodological flaws. ^{[2][6][40][41][27][26]} Broader reviews of manual therapy for IBS describe potential benefits but emphasize the lack of robust trials, inconsistent findings, and the need for higher-quality randomized studies. ^[7] The index guidelines provided do not include any major gastroenterology or chiropractic guideline recommending chiropractic treatment for gut disorders. ^[4]

Mainstream view

The mainstream medical view is that chiropractic care is not an evidence-based treatment for gastrointestinal disorders. ^{[4][6][40][41][27][26]} At most, some symptom improvement has been reported in small, low-quality studies of manual therapies for selected functional gut–brain disorders such as IBS, but this is insufficient for routine clinical recommendation. ^[2] Evidence-based management of gut-related disorders remains centered on established gastroenterology treatments rather than chiropractic intervention. ^[1]

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“gut-related disorders”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure food sensitivity testing.

food sensitivity testing

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“Food Sensitivity Testing”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician

Faith Schumann, Chiropractor is not licensed or approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Chiropractic Board to diagnose, treat, or cure comprehensive stool analysis.

comprehensive stool analysis

Supports

There is strong evidence that specific stool tests can accurately diagnose certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as Helicobacter pylori infection via stool antigen tests and multiplex PCR panels for infectious gastroenteritis, and these are incorporated into mainstream medical practice in gastroenterology and primary care, not chiropractic care. ^[42][44][45] Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiplex GI PCR panels and stool antigen tests show high sensitivity and specificity for defined infectious or immune targets, supporting the use of targeted stool diagnostics when clinically indicated. ^[43] Major guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease and nutrition emphasize evidence-based, medically supervised use of laboratory investigations (including stool studies when appropriate) within specialist care frameworks rather than as part of chiropractic treatment pathways. ^{[1][2][3][5][6]}

Contradicts

High-quality evidence and major guidelines do not support chiropractors using broad "comprehensive stool analysis" panels as a primary diagnostic or treatment tool for systemic health problems. The available evidence for comprehensive, multi-marker stool panels marketed through functional or integrative practices is limited, with many markers not validated for clinical decision-making, and reviews note that many commercial stool tests have unproven utility, variable accuracy, and risk of overdiagnosis or unnecessary treatment. ^{[4][42][43][44][45]} Established guidelines in clinical nutrition and inflammatory bowel disease situate stool testing within physician-led, evidence-based diagnostic algorithms and do not recommend its use by chiropractors or as a general screening tool for non-gastrointestinal complaints. ^[1][2][3][5] GRADE methodology and modern guideline development standards highlight the need for high-quality RCTs and validated outcomes before adopting such tests, and this level of evidence is lacking for chiropractor-directed comprehensive stool analysis. ^[6]

Mainstream view

Mainstream medical practice accepts stool testing as a useful diagnostic tool when used in a targeted way (for example, to diagnose specific infections, monitor celiac disease gluten exposure, or screen for colorectal cancer) within physician-supervised care, guided by established clinical guidelines and validated test performance characteristics. ^{[2][3][5][42][45]} For comprehensive stool analysis panels sold as broad assessments of gut health or overall wellness and managed by chiropractors, there is no robust evidence base or endorsement from major medical societies, and their routine use is generally considered unsupported, experimental, or potentially misleading. ^[43] Chiropractors are primarily trained and licensed for musculoskeletal care (especially spinal manipulation), and mainstream opinion is that complex laboratory assessment and management of gastrointestinal or systemic disease—including interpretation of comprehensive stool analyses—should be conducted by appropriately trained medical professionals using guideline-directed indications and follow-up. ^[1][44]

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“Comprehensive Stool Analysis”

Rule: 225 ILCS 60/2, definition of chiropractic physician