“If you knew what knew, you would do what I do...”
-CHIROPRACTIC
This statement rings loud in
chiropractic. Many of our seminars will have at least one speaker who
addresses this theme. A question posed to us is, “If Chiropractic
were illegal, would you still adjust patients?” Many say YES. So
why is that? Because chiropractors are rebels. Because chiropractors
are crazy. Perhaps, but the answer truly is, “if you knew what I
knew, you would do what I do”.
Chiropractic has been around for 118
years as an alternative to the medical model of “healthcare”.
Over the last 30 years or so, there has been an effort to define
chiropractic as care for back/neck pain and headaches. Most of you,
if you have seen a chiropractor, have gone for these very reasons
without knowing the side benefits. I know this because I have a
discussion with all of my patients about the advantages of consistent
and long-term
chiropractic care, and virtually every single person is genuinely
surprised about the broad spectrum of chiropractic benefits.
These include, but are not limited to:
Decreased
pain
Increased
Energy
Sleep
Better
Feel
more rested when done sleeping
Move
more
Move
without pain
Improved
digestion
Improved
immune function
Allergy
improvement
Think
better
Improve
ear infections
Breathe
easier
Feel
great
Ease
PMS
Decreased
Headaches
Improved
Elimination
Increased
Flexibility
Increased
Vitality
Decreased
Drug use
Get
back to work faster
Improved
Memory
Stimulate
other Lifestyle changes
At
this point, I'm expecting you to feel surprise or disbelief because
you have never associated this list, or at least some things on it,
with your spine...
And
why should you? I'm here to tell you that your high school education
taught you everything you would need to know to understand how it
works, the problem has been that no one has ever explained it to you.
So
here is docBdc trying to explaining it:
First
and foremost, it is important that we define the body as a
“self-healing,
self-organizing, and self-regulating organism.”
By
this, I mean to say that you do not need to think to make your body
work. Your bodies autonomic functions are just that, automatic. You
get a cut you don't have to think to make the healing happen, your
body just knows how and what to do it. This is happen continuously
everyday.
So
because the human body is a self-healing, self-organizing, and
self-regulating organism, there must be constant communication
between the body systems in order for the body to function smoothly.
It is also widely known that 1 system is in charge of everything: The
Central Nervous System
The
Central Nervous System is the master system. Of the 11 systems of the
human body, the Central Nervous System runs them all. Gray's Anatomy,
written by Henry Gray in 1858 and is used to this day as a staple in
anatomical/ medical/ and health practitioner studies, defines the
Central Nervous System as the “master control system,”
and that “every organ, system and function
of the human body is under the direct control of the central nervous
system (brain, spinal cord, and
nerves).” All functions, or communication between the systems, are
carried out and mediated by the central nervous system...
Essentially,
all of us live and experience life THROUGH our nervous systems. Every
physical, emotional and spiritual experience your have or will have
is experienced through it. Without it you do not exist, with it you
express and experience life.
So
what happens when the master control system cannot properly
communicate with the body? If there is a lack of proper nerve
function then the organs, the body systems, and overall function of
the body suffers. When the disruption of the nerve signal occurs at
the spine, which is most often, then we (chiropractors) call this
SUBLUXATION.
Subluxation is what chiropractors find and correct.
The
side effects of subluxation are vast, but most of us feel early
symptoms as stiffness, tightness, and decreased range of motion.
Because we generally ignore such minor symptoms, the subluxation
cycle is permitted to continue and permanent minor damage occurs,
which becomes pain. The symptoms we feel, however, should be the
least of our worries. What you are not feeling is a decrease in body
system functions, which left unchecked and unchanged will lead to a
malfunction. When you feel that tightness, stiffness, and decreased
range of motion, your body is telling you it is time to get adjusted.
By the time you feel pain, damage (usually permanent) has already
occurred. How many times can you afford small amounts of damage
before it leads to a major problem?
Chiropractic
patients who maintain consistent and long-term care have an unfair
advantage. Their bodies not only heal faster and remain stronger, but
they are also expressing and experiencing life to a greater
potential. If you have a chiropractor, I recommend an office visit
every 2 weeks (there is orthopedic research in which I base this),
and if you are not currently under chiropractic care, I advise you to
do so.
The
2 reasons people do not maintain consistent care are: Time and Money
While these concerns are valid, I
ask, “if not now, when?” The money you spend to correct the
system malfunction later will cost you more. Disc herniation’s are
expensive. Headache treatment is expensive. Therapy due to nerve
damage is expensive, and these are only a few of the problems
chiropractic can help or head off. When tallied together, consistent
long term chiropractic care's total cost is exponentially less
compared to medically treating later.
There
are chiropractors out there who provide office hours to accommodate
tight schedules, as well as chiropractors who create care plans for
your pocket book. I urge you to seek them out. The time and money you
invest now into your health with payoff big down the line. “If you
knew what I knew, you would do what I do.”
Thank
you for your attention and for reading this entire post.
As
always, if you have questions or comments you can contact me at:
Regards,
docBdc
