Holistic Chiropractic Treatment and a Premise of “Alternative Health Care”

holistic-chiropracticAs a natural doctor and chiropractor, an important theory I adhere to holds that the nervous system is the ultimate controller of the human immune system, as it is of all body systems.

How does that apply to holistic chiropractic treatment?

The disruption of the nervous system by subluxation complex (involving joints, muscles and nerves which surround nervous system tissue) diminishes the body’s ability to react at peak efficiency to the presence of microbes or other physiological, emotional and/or chemical stresses, which can then weaken the body’s resistance, making it more susceptible to infection.

This is referred to as the neurodystrophic (loss of ‘fine tuning’ of the nervous system) hypothesis.

The conventional wisdom of most deems this “alternative health.” To me it should be called “common sense.”

Germs are not dumb, they go where there are ‘easy pickings’ to survive.

A weakened ‘host’ is the perfect place to set up camp.

As a wellness chiropractor and an alternative health doctor I’m aware that many other things influence human resistance, including nutrition, emotional stress, genetic factors, activity levels, even personal hygiene.

These things shouldn’t just be illogically dismissed by the chiropractor, alternative doctors, the physician or any other health professionals.

To pretend they aren’t important is folly. Inquiring about these factors and partnering with the patient to help ‘cover all bases’ is truly holistic care.

Post to Twitter

No Comments

Only Dead Fish Swim Downstream

I’m a big fan of milking the magic out of everyday life- not really following the ’someday when things are just right’ philosophy.

It’s a beautiful winter day here in Colorado. In reality, it’s the only winter day.

Let me tell you a quick story of what just happened in my the clinic. I think you’ll appreciate it.

A father who’s been bringing his teenage son in for sports medicine care inquired about what it would take for his son to be a chiropractor. (His son achieved some pretty cool results :) )

He said the possibility of doing what I do, as a career, piqued his son’s interest. He winked at me and said, ‘That hasn’t really happened before.’ (Fair enough for a 14 year old. I didn’t find my calling until I was 27.)

Of all the rewarding aspects of my job, when this happens I feel like I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Even if it’s just temporary and something important was etched in his mind.

Over the years I’ve had a handful of patients who’ve had a great experience in the office then one thing leads to another and…

AHA! A moment of inspiration occurs.

The same thing happened to me. And many others in my profession for that matter. In fact, it seems ubiquitous.

It’s truly humbling and heartwarming when it happens but somehow today seemed special.

“It’s a tough profession in a lot of ways,” I said to them both. “You’re always the underdog because it’s not mainstream medicine. You’re usually perceived as not being a real doctor.”

The father looked at me and said, “You got my kid back on the ice in 4 days- that’s real enough for me.”

How cool is that?

His son was injured to the point where he was in a lot of pain and could no longer even practice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Post to Twitter

2 Comments