How Chiropractic Care Enhances Your Health by Optimizing Nervous System Function

When you search for “chiropractic” and your specific condition on Google, you might notice that chiropractic care seems to help with almost anything. It may appear that chiropractic’s role in health is endless. But while it may seem like chiropractic adjustments are curing people of various conditions, chiropractors are not actually treating the conditions themselves.

Understanding the True Role of Chiropractic Care

You might be thinking, “If chiropractors don’t treat my condition directly, why should I go to one?” To answer this, let’s consider how we typically approach health.

Treating Symptoms vs. Addressing the Cause

If you have high blood pressure and take a pill to lower it from 150/100 to 120/80, did the pill cure you? We often believe that as long as we take medication, our health is “normal.” We tend to focus on symptoms: if we have symptoms, we think there’s a problem; if we don’t, we assume we’re okay.

The Limitations of Symptom-Based Healthcare

Our healthcare system is largely built around symptom or disease management. Wellness checks are designed to find undiagnosed problems, but they often detect diseases after they have already started. If a wellness check a year ago showed no issues, how was the disease allowed to form? The problem lies in placing little importance on the maintenance of health.

A Different Approach to Health

As a chiropractor, I think in terms of health maintenance and what causes a person to lose or improve health. Medical doctors are trained to manage diseases and prevent death using drugs and surgery.

Chiropractic Care: Focusing on the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

Chiropractic care doesn’t require a medical diagnosis or disease to help you. The condition you come in with is a symptom of your body malfunctioning. My job is to find out why your body is malfunctioning. I use my training and experience to identify the cause of dysfunction, which can lead to numerous named diseases or symptoms.

The Connection Between Function and Health

Consider the major issues people face today: allergies, acid reflux, digestive problems, sleep issues. According to the top nine health conditions in the United States, 45% of Americans suffer from at least one of these conditions. Many of these issues are functional in nature.

The Nervous System: Your Body’s Control Center

If many conditions are functional, you have two options: take a drug to alter how your body functions, or address the health and function of the one system that controls all functions within your body—the nervous system.

As the Cleveland Clinic explains, “Your nervous system is your body’s command center. Originating from your brain, it controls your movements, thoughts, and automatic responses to the world around you. It also controls other body systems and processes.”

How Spinal Health Affects Nervous System Function

Your nervous system comprises your brain, spinal cord, and miles of nerves connecting every cell, tissue, organ, and gland. The brain sends messages to the body, and the body sends messages back to the brain. It’s like a supercomputer processing and controlling all functions within your body.

We rarely consider what happens if these messages are disrupted. For example:

• If your bladder signals that it’s full but the message doesn’t reach the brain, it could result in bedwetting.
• If the message to close the valve at the top of your stomach is garbled, it may not close properly, leading to acid reflux.
• Pressure on a nerve in your lower back can cause sciatica, leading to pain or muscle weakness.

The Role of Subluxations

Chiropractors look for misalignments or restricted movements in the spine, which can stress spinal nerves. This stress disrupts communication between the brain and the body—a condition we call a subluxation.

Depending on the severity and duration of a subluxation, it can manifest as severe conditions or go unnoticed. For instance, a severe subluxation may cause immediate loss of function, while a minor one may gradually affect your health over time.

The Dimmer Switch Analogy

Think of a subluxation like a dimmer switch controlling a light bulb. The electricity from the power plant (your brain) flows to the bulb (your body). A subluxation reduces the flow of electricity, dimming the light. A significant subluxation might make the bulb appear nearly off, while a minor one dims it slightly—so gradually that you don’t notice. Restoring full power can make a dramatic difference in how brightly the bulb shines.

Chiropractic Care: Restoring Optimal Function

I use my expertise to assess the health and function of your nervous system. Since the first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, where a patient reported improvements in hearing, chiropractors have studied the relationship between the nervous system and bodily function.

We have found that the spine has an optimal alignment and range of motion. When the spine is properly aligned and moves freely, the nerves exiting the spine are not stressed, allowing for optimal communication between the brain and body.

Preventing Problems Before They Start

I look for signs of misalignment or restricted movement in the spine. By correcting these issues, we can reduce nerve stress and improve communication within your body. This proactive approach helps support your body’s overall function and may prevent symptoms from developing.

The Healing Power of Your Body

People often report that chiropractic adjustments seem to help with various conditions. By reducing subluxations and improving nervous system function, we aim to support the body’s natural healing processes. Patients might say, “I tried everything, and only chiropractic care helped.” What we did was remove interference, allowing their body to function better and initiate the healing process.

Chiropractic Care Is for Everyone

When people understand that their condition may be due to nervous system malfunction, they realize the importance of addressing subluxations. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you’re always better off without subluxations. Regular chiropractic check-ups can help maintain optimal nervous system function.

Take Charge of Your Health Today

Don’t wait until you’ve exhausted all other options to try chiropractic care in our Mt Pleasant office. Visit a chiropractor early and often to keep your nervous system functioning at its best. If you have a condition or disease, consult your medical doctor—but do so while also addressing subluxations through chiropractic care.

Ready to Optimize Your Health?

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discover how chiropractic care can enhance your overall well-being.