“Why do you need to know about that? You’re just a chiropractor.”



This statement (and a few other variations of course) are very common to hear while I’m taking a health history with a new patient in my office. As a chiropractic student, this use to serve as a personal attack on me and chiropractic. At the time (when I was eating, breathing, living chiropractic), it was hard for me to understand that so many people, including my friends and family, did not know what chiropractic had to offer. That chiropractors did more than just “crack backs.” As I have been practicing, it’s become extremely important for me to educate not only my patients but anyone I have the chance to talk with, about what chiropractic is.


Within chiropractic care, there are three (but another 33 just as important) principles to note. They are science, art, and philosophy.



SCIENCE



Although the time spent on science in school is very extensive, the major premise is short and sweet! There are a whole bunch of nerve tissues that control every single activity in the body. We call it, the Central Nervous System (CNS), and that includes your brain and spinal cord. At every moment of your day, trillions of messages are communicated between your brain and the spinal cord, nerves, tissues, muscles, and organs that make up your body. I explain this because this is responsible for our existence and expression of life, every day. And guess what protects our CNS? Our spine!


A misalignment, restriction of movement, or subluxation of the spine can cause interference with all the messages being sent by putting pressure on these exiting nerves off of the spinal cord. This affects the CNS which can affect your expression of health by causing several different symptoms and/or diseases.


This is why I encourage a preventative plan to my patients who may not be experiencing pain (yet) to be adjusted once a month. This is so that I can check the spine for any subluxations disrupting your CNS and correct them if needed with a specific chiropractic adjustment. The goal is for your body to function at its best without pain, symptoms, or disease.



ART



The art of chiropractic is the part you’re probably most aware of, especially when you’re at your new patient appointment or re-exam. This includes:
-Health history: what brings you into the office or what’s causing you pain, past medical history, social history, family medical history-Orthopedic tests-Neurological tests-Radiographs X-ray, MRI (if needed)-Chiropractic exam: checking leg length, motion and static palpation of the spine, looking for tissue changes within the muscles, etc.
All of these findings and history, together, help lead me to your diagnosis. What is causing your complaint. Once we have arrived here and it’s determined that you’re a candidate for chiropractic care, it’s time to get adjusted!

WARNING! The sought out benefits and side effects of your adjustment will:
-return your spine to normal position and range of motion
-increase your immunological (immune system) function
-increase energy


PHILOSOPHY



The philosophy of chiropractic recognizes that “the power that created the body can heal the body as long as there is no interference.”


A term that runs closely with this, that you may have heard before is innate intelligence. Innate intelligence is the belief that the body has an inborn ability to self-regulate and maintain health.


To me, this means that your body is constantly trying to protect you. For example:

-If you’re exposed to a cold or flu, your lymph nodes kick in and go to work. They release the antibodies needed to respond to the antigens that are negatively impacting your nervous system.

-If any joint of the body such as the spine, shoulder, knee, ankle, toe, finger, etc. becomes restricted and is experiencing a lack of motion for an extended period of time (as short as 14 days!), your body recognizes this. It perceives this lack of motion as an area that needs to be supported and begins the process of laying bone to protect the area. This often leads to arthritic changes in the affected joint.

-If you ingest something that is not good, your body tries to get rid of it through vomit or feces.


I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture!


Our bodies are incredibly intelligent and everything that they do, such as the symptoms we experience, has a purpose. It’s important to recognize, listen, and investigate what is causing these symptoms and address them. It’s so common now that the immediate response to our body’s healing process, such as fever or vomiting, is to stop it as fast as possible. In some cases, it’s important to let the body run its course and provide it with the support it needs in the process.



GETTING TO THE POINT



So, what does this mean for you? Well, it’s important to know that lifestyle habits are a greater way to monitor and maintain health. This includes things such as nutrition, stress, sleep, exercise, family, and relaxation. A good balance between all of these components is an expression of your health. Any imbalance here with a subluxation of the spine will affect your CNS, affecting your health, leaving you with symptoms, pain, and maybe even disease.



TAKE AWAY MESSAGE



-Feed your body great fuel! Strive to eat more whole foods such as fruits, veggies, meat, nuts, and seeds. Try to avoid sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives.


-Get a good night’s sleep (6-8 hours is ideal) so you can wake up rested and refreshed.


-Incorporate high-intensity exercise in your daily routine 3-5 days per week.


-Take some time to de-stress and slow down when things seem to get out of control. Read a book, take 5 minutes to relax with your thoughts, spend time with loved ones, go to the beach, go to yoga, meditate... Anything that provides you with mindfulness and inner peace.


-Have your spine checked by your chiropractor. Whether it be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly. Whatever works for you and your health goals, take the time to take care of yourself!



References:

Benefits of Chiropractic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2019, from http://www.palmer.edu/about-us/benefits-of-chiropractic/.

Evans, R., & Leininger, B. (n.d.). Chiropractic. Retrieved October 24, 2019, from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/chiropractic.