What is Chiropractic and is it Safe?

Chiropractic is the science, art, and philosophy of finding and correcting articular (joint) subluxations. What does that mean? A subluxation is the misalignment of the vertebrae that make up our spinal column. (The joints in your extremities can also become subluxated and be corrected through a chiropractic adjustment.) The spinal column protects our spinal cord just like our skulls protect our brains. The brain and spinal cord, along with all the nerves, make up our nervous system. Within the nervous system, think of the brain as the control center, and the spinal cord as a major highway bringing information to and from the brain. The brain then sends messages to the rest of your body along the appropriate nerve. This means that any time there is stress placed on your nervous system, your health is adversely affected.

While physical trauma is one type of obvious stress placed on your body, the lesser-known stressors are emotional and chemical. Emotional stress does have a physical effect on your body, including aches, pains, chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing, exhaustion, trouble sleeping, headaches, dizziness, shaking, elevated blood pressure, muscle tension, stomach or digestive issues, jaw clenching/grinding/TMJD, and altered libido. As for chemical stress, the pollution in the air we breathe and additives in the food we eat can be stored in the body. Most toxins are fat-soluble which means they end up stored in the fatty tissues of our bodies like our brains, nerves, glands, and in accumulated fat stores in our bodies. 

The surprising (and scary) part about this is that we don’t always know that our body is under stress and is starting to degenerate and become diseased. This can be a slow and gradual process. When we are exposed to a contagious illness, we don’t usually start to feel sick right away. Why do medical doctors say to finish the entire antibiotic prescription even though the symptoms may be gone before you take your last dose? Symptoms are the last thing to show up but the first thing to go away. Our bodies are capable of adapting to changes and healing on their own. The body can heal itself much more efficiently when there is no nerve interference blocking the normal processes and that is where chiropractic comes in.

There are many different ways that your chiropractor can adjust your body. It can be done by hand or with instruments. Each adjustment is special and unique to that person on that day. While some people say they are afraid to get an adjustment, you should know that chiropractors undergo the equivalent of 5 additional college years AFTER their undergraduate studies before they are licensed. Next, they must pass four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Then it is up to the state they chose to practice in what additional testing they must complete. Chiropractic is very safe and effective for all people of all ages, including newborns and the elderly. 

Adapted from an article I submitted to Macaroni Kid 09/2014 for online publishing.