WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC AND WHAT CAN IT TREAT?

The word chiropractic combines the Greek words cheiros (hand) and prakikos (practice). Some interpretations deem it “done by hand”. Chiropractic is a natural technique performed manually that frees your spine and allows your life force to operate at optimal levels.

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to address neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Chiropractors do not actually treat your symptoms, but most people report that symptoms decrease or vanish when chiropractic adjustments are administered to their spines.

HOW?

Your central nervous system is made up of your brain and spinal cord, which continually monitors and coordinates every function in your body. If you think of the brain as a central computer, then the nervous system is like a communication network that relays messages back and forth, from the brain to different parts of the body via the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerve tissue which extends from the lower part of your brain down through your spinal column. Along the way, smaller braids branch off from the cord and pass out from the spine between each of the movable vertebra. These braids divide again and again into tiny nerve fibres that fill the entire body going to each cell, organ and tissue. Every human has an estimated 15 billion nerve cells sending and receiving messages through the spinal cord. And every nerve traverses and exits the spine before it travels to the body — so interference in this system causes problems.

WHAT PROTECTS OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM?

Our spine.

A normal healthy spine has 24 movable vertebrae, each working with the one above and below it. A disc separates the vertebrae and acts like a shock absorber and a spacer for the nerve. So, why is a healthy spine so important? It protects the spinal cord and the delicate nerve tissue and, allows us to bend, flex, twist, and move freely without compromising the nerves.

If the spine is not moving freely, it is referred to as a vertebral subluxation complex or, for short, a subluxation. This is when two or more vertebrae have lost their normal motion and/or position. This can cause interruption to the normal nerve flow, and interfere with the communication from the brain to the body and from the body back to the brain.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A SUBLUXATION?

That area can start to degenerate in as little as two weeks. This degeneration causes scar tissue to develop, which leads to more scar tissue. This degenerative process can continue as long as the immobilisation is present, and this type of degeneration is preventable. If the nerve supply to anywhere in the body is disturbed, it can eventually lead to a symptom, which is the only way for your body to let you know that something’s wrong.

BACK TO THE SPINE

If you have nerve interference in the:

Cervical spine or neck it can lead to headaches, migraines, lowered immune system, sinus troubles, hay fever, abnormal sleep patterns (C1), eczema, neuritis (C2), hearing loss, tonsillitis (C5/6), stiff neck, chronic cough, croup (C7), pins and needles in the arms and hands (C8/T1);

Thoracic spine or midback it can lead to asthma, functional heart problems (T2), bronchitis (T3), Influenza, gall bladder conditions (T4), liver conditions, blood pressure problems (T5), indigestion, heartburn (T6), gastritis (T7), lowered immunity (T8), allergies (T9), kidney troubles, chronic tiredness (T10), acne, boils (T11), rheumatism, gas pains (T12);

Lumbar spine or low back, it can lead to constipation (L1), cramps and difficulty breathing (L2), menstrual problems, bed-wetting, knee problems (L3), Sciatica, backache (L4), poor circulation, swollen ankles, cramping and weakness into the legs (L5).

And that’s naming only a few.

Did you know that less than 10 per cent of your nervous system perceives pain?

So, quite often, by the time pain and symptoms appear, the nerve interference could have been present for months or even years. Think about when a person has a heart attack or a stroke – they don’t actually feel the arteries blocking up and usually don’t know anything’s wrong until it’s too late.

Chiropractors do not treat and chase symptoms but remove the nerve interference, which allows the body to do what it does best – heal itself. The Power that made the body heals the body.

All forms of the healing arts have their place. Let’s face it, medicine has an important role to play in crisis and emergency care and, in these situations, can be life-saving. On the other hand, chiropractic is vital in keeping your body functioning at its best possible level by removing nerve interference and allowing the body to heal itself. This is the spinal mechanic signing off.

Don’t forget to “Ask Your Chiropractor”, where your questions and answers could be published in following articles. Address your questions to Dr Chris Davis: movethebone@gmail.com or, Dr Michael Harvey: dr.michael_harvey@yahoo.com