Introduction to the Central Nervous System

“Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.” – Hippocrates, 469-377 BC

The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of your brain and spinal cord. According to Gray’s Anatomy, “The purpose of the nervous system is to control and coordinate the function of all tissues, organs, and systems in the body.” When you have a disorder of the CNS, you can face devastating side effects, from pain and illness to organ malfunction.

Nerve interference can be caused by decreased disc height (disc damage), loss of normal spinal curves (global subluxations), and rotation of the spine (intra-segmental subluxations). Spinal subluxation occurs when the spine moves out of its normal position and becomes misaligned, which can result from bones pinching your nerves, as well as a variety of physical, emotional, mental, and chemical stressors. Our bodies can all handle a certain amount of stress, but any of these physical, emotional, mental, and chemical factors can overload our stress levels and cause greater health issues.

Once the spine is misaligned, it can then compress, rotate, and stretch the CNS, and if left unattended for too long, your organs can become damaged and even die. Even the small weight of a dime can alter nerve impulses. The most unfortunate fact is that symptoms of misalignment often do not appear until many years after damage to the spine or organ malfunction have occurred, largely due to the fact that less than 10% of our nerves perceive pain.

The Cervical Spine, the neck, is the primary area of your CNS. The top vertebrae in the neck protect your brain stem, so misalignment of these vertebrae naturally affects the rest of your body. When looking at a side x-ray of your neck, you can see what scientists call “The Arc of Life.” The Arc of Life is the natural forward curve in your cervical spine, through which mental life impulses are sent from your brain—and through which all your nerves pass through. If you lose your normal Arc, it will pull on the brain stem, stretch your spinal cord, and tether your nerves. Other spinal subluxations are obviously harmful to your health, but subluxation in the Cervical Spine is the most severe.

The spinal column is the switchboard to the entire nervous system, balancing the sympathetic (which triggers our “fight or flight” instincts) and the parasympathetic (which controls the rest, digest, and heal functions of your body) nervous systems. The immune system is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, which is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which is controlled by the mechanical nervous system, which is controlled by the way your joints move in a gravity environment. These connections are why it’s good to get a chiropractic adjustment even when you’re sick; improving your spinal alignment boosts your immune system, too!

Tune in for my next blog post to learn what the #1 universal truth—for chiropractic, overall wellness, and everything in life—is and why!

Working to Restore God’s Perfect Design in You!