The total function of the human body is directed and coordinated by the nervous system. Your brain is the central control of the nerve system. The main communication line from the brain to the body (and from body to brain) is the spinal cord. Instructions in the form of nerve impulses travel from the brain, down the spinal cord, then out to the body. These destinations can be muscles, organs, blood vessels, or any tissue or system in the body. Interference with these impulses at the spinal level leads to poor, erratic, sometimes even loss of communication to the destined area.

For example: A bump at the elbow (the “funny bone”) is often felt as a pain, tingling, or numbness at the pinky and ring finger. The problem is not in the hand; it is actually at the elbow (the ulnar nerve to be specific). Similar scenarios present themselves from nerve pressure at the spinal column leading to symptoms at the end of, or along, a nerve pathway. Imagine a static filled cellular phone call; the words are there, they just aren’t all understood. Picture your liver trying to work at the end of a nerve pathway that has pressure at the spinal level, receiving every third word (if any at all) of instruction from the brain. Communication also has to work in the other direction; The brain receives feedback from the body as well i.e.: when you are cold, the brain orders up goosebumps, widens blood vessels, or may even make you put on a sweater!

Think of the body as the Internet, with over one trillion web sites, all in constant communication with each other. (A very crowded chat room·) As long as all the sites are able to monitor and track one another through the central server, the brain, the system is at 100%. Interference to communication between the sites leads to a degeneration of function, therefore, loss of health in the system.

The term for this interference at the spinal level is Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Chiropractors are trained to detect the levels of vertebral subluxation. Then, using chiropractic adjustments, assist the body in restoring a more proper spinal function. These adjustments eliminate the interference to the nerve communication, allowing the body to do its job, remain healthy, and operate at 100%.

So this thing called chiropractic is the art, science, and philosophy of reducing interference to the body’s natural healing ability through the detection and elimination of the vertebral subluxation complex without the use of drugs or surgery.