The Sixth Lesson of my Chiropractic Philosophy

6. Structure determines Function

Historically, chiropractors have worked primarily on one thing: the vertebral subluxation. A subluxation is a vertebra that is out of alignment with the vertebra above and below, resulting in nerve pressure and interference of the mental impulse (life force) from the brain to the tissue cell. This lack of mental impulse causes a breakdown of the normal tissue cells until enough abnormal tissue cells have been formed to cause disease. The chiropractor’s job is to remove the subluxation, which allows the mental impulse to get to the tissue cells and replace the abnormal cells with normal cells. This is healing. When a subluxation is corrected and maintained and optimum mental impulse is getting to the tissue cells, the body has a greater potential to heal and stay healthy.

Curvatures of the spine adversely affect the sympathetic nervous system. That is why I additionally prescribe my patients exercises which are specific to the personalized spinal corrections in each patient. This is critical for encouraging the spine to slowly but surely correct the misalignments that compound over a person’s life.

The sympathetic nervous system controls the blood supply to the viscera, and is therefore related to all manner of visceral diseases and pathology, and specifically, “the ordinary diseases of adult life.”

Research has found that chiropractic adjustments affect the chemistry of biological processes on a cellular level. Chiropractic care can affect the basic physiological processes that influence oxidative stress and DNA repair, so in addition to addressing any immediate spinal misalignment that might cause pain, it can also address deeper dysfunction in your body.

In the case of the human body, structure dictates biological and even chemical functioning. Maintaining your spine is not only smart for your health, but is also cost-effective.  Maintaining your spine requires just these three things…

1. Fluids: Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, to lubricate the joints.

2. Movement: Exercise and stretching on a stable structure will enhance flexibility and mobility.

3. Adjustments: Chiropractic adjustments are essential to provide proper alignment for stability, mobility and flexibility. You can not achieve optimum spinal maintenance without chiropractic adjustments.

Check back next week for the seventh part of my chiropractic philosophy, which will address and explain the body's innate healing wisdom.