What Is Chiropractic?

 

To benefit from Chiropractic Care, you must first understand what it is not! Chiropractic Care is not medicine! You may also discover that your concept of what health really is, may need to change.

 

Most of us have been taught since childhood that if you have "no symptoms", you are well. We have been preconditioned by the media to believe that anytime a symptom appears which makes you feel uncomfortable, you simply need to "pop a pill", or "swallow a liquid", and all will be well. Drugs and medications have become so "normal" that we do not even question whether we should take them or not, but rather, which ones and how many.

In reality, all we are doing is hiding the symptom (the most common symptom being PAIN) by medicating it. We also do other bizarre things to fool ourselves into thinking we are well like eliminating activities which cause us distress, or not eating foods which cause us to feel uncomfortable. By continuing to approach our health in this fashion, we are, in essence, avoiding, or masking the underling problem. Such actions are similar to placing a bucket under a leaky ceiling, rather than repairing the roof! Instead, we should be asking ourselves why we have that pain or why we can't eat that food or do that activity.

 

 

REMEMBER, YOUR SYMPTOMS HAVE A REASON!! They are your body's alarm system. Listen to your body; it is trying to talk to you!

The chiropractic approach to health and "wellness" is based on the concept that maintaining health is different from treating disease. The basic idea which prevails in Chiropractic is the understanding that being healthy is NOT THE SAME as being symptom-free! Being symptom-free does not necessarily mean you are 'well'.

 

First and foremost, you must understand that your BRAIN and NERVOUS SYSTEM controls every body function you have. From the way you smile, to the way your stomach digests food. It is the responsibility of your BRAIN and NERVOUS SYSTEM to see to it that everything is functioning at 100%. Your brain and nervous system is the "Master Computer" that controls everything that goes on in your body. This is the normal, natural and optimal way your body should function. THAT'S HEALTH!!!

 

   In order for your Brain to control all body functions, it must somehow communicate with your body. It does this through your spinal cord, which runs inside the spine. It is much like a telephone cable, made up of millions of 'wires' called nerves.

 

These nerves connect ALL your body functions to your brain.

 

As long as your spinal cord and nerves are allowed to function and transmit information with NO INTERFERENCE, your body will function at its peak and you should have 100% health. This is called NORMAL.

 

However, many people have what our profession refers to as a VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION, a 'misalignment' of one of the bones in the spine 'pinching', irritating or other wise interfering with the normal communication between your brain and your body (this is a very simplified explanation of a complex process). Subluxations interfere with normal nerve function and cause nerves to malfunction causing an organ or tissue or the spine itself, to MALFUNCTION.

 

If allowed to remain uncorrected, this malfunction will eventually produce a DISEASE PROCESS or sickness of some sort (arthritis, etc.), Just as, constant heartburn, indigestion etc., will eventually lead to ulcers or cancer.

 

When your body is no longer able to tolerate this situation, or condition, it will then produce SYMPTOMS to let you know what has been going on. Symptoms are the last stage of this process.

 

You must understand that SYMPTOMS (the most common symptom being PAIN)  are similar to a fire alarm; when a fire breaks out in your home, the alarm warns you that you are in danger! That your house is about to burn down!

 

Your symptoms (pain) play a similar role. They let you know that your life support system, your health, is in danger; that there is a threat to your health and well-being.		  

 

SUBLUXATION

  
 
YOUR BODY  
 
MALFUNCTION  
 
DISEASE  
 
SYMPTOMS
(PAIN)		  

 

 

At this point you have a choice to make;
 
 

  1. Put out the fire. (CORRECT THE SUBLUXATION)

     

  2. Turn off the alarm system (SYMPTOMS) by taking medications or hoping it will somehow "go away".

 
WHICH CHOICE DO YOU THINK IS MORE LOGICAL ?

So let me ask you, "if all I did was eliminate your symptoms, would you be healthy?" - Of course not!

What is the answer then?

TO CORRECT THE VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION ALLOWING YOUR BODY TO FUNCTION AT 100% - ALL OF THE TIME!!

Laboratory research on Vertebral Subluxation is being conducted throughout the world! For example, Dr. C.H. Suh, one of the foremost specialists in spinal biomechanics in the world, has demonstrated that even the slightest pressure (about the weight of a 25 cent coin) on a spinal nerve root destroys the function of that nerve 60% in a matter of minutes and causes it to malfunction.

Clinical research has shown that a Vertebral Subluxation, if not corrected, will usually intensify and advance throughout a lifetime, in a series of four ADVANCED DEGENERATIVE PHASES, ultimately terminating in a permanent condition and a permanent lack of health at phase IV.

 

Your Vertebral Subluxation is actually termed a "complex" and is made up of 5 areas of damage, all occurring simultaneously;

 

  1. Spinal Kinesiopathology;
    2.
  refers to abnormal spinal function and abnormal movement of a vertebra.

 

  1. Neuropathophysiology;
  refers to the abnormal function of the Central Nervous System and/or individual nerves.

 

  1. Myopathology;
  refers to abnormal changes and function of muscles.

 

  1. Histopathology;
  refers to abnormal changes in the associated "soft-tissues", ligaments and degeneration of spinal discs, etc.

 

  1. Spinal Pathophysiology;
  abnormal changes in the bone structure of the vertebrae. (spurring, arthritis etc.) .

 

 

Doctors of Chiropractic CORRECT Vertebral Subluxations!

We are the only ones!

When a subluxation is corrected, your Nervous System begins to function normally once again and your health and personal potential return.

Once a Vertebral Subluxation is formed, the degenerative process is set into motion, and goes to completion (Arthritic Fusion). The vertebrae will actually attempt to fuse together so that movement is not possible. This is the body's own way of trying to deal with an impossible situation.

 

THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE CONDITION UNLESS THE PROCESS IS INTERRUPTED!
 
It is the chiropractor's job to see that this degenerative process is interrupted and that your health is the best that it can be!!!