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Chiropractic Natural Healing
Natural Healing by CHIROPRACTIC
– This field is defined as not just a science but an art as well. It deals with illnesses by adjusting misaligned vertebrae so that the nerves that are connected through the intervertebral foramina will no longer be compressed. The term “chiropractic” signifies “done by hand.” This field of study was discovered by D.D. Palmer in 1895 when he was able to cure a man of his deafness by changing the position of his vertebra. Critics of chiropractic claim that it is physiologically impossible for a person’s vertebrae to become misaligned. However, proponents of chiropractic believe that the spinal ligaments and muscles of a patient may be more contracted on one side than on the other – thus the vertebrae would tend to be pulled more towards the side of contraction. This produces the misalignment. When there is a misalignment, the nerves passing through the interverterbal foramina tend to be compressed. What happens when a nerve is compressed? You should be aware that the level of intensity of the nerve impulses sent to every body part dictates the function of that body part. So, should something impinge upon the ability of the nerve to conduct impulses, then the body part will be affected negatively as far as its function or its structure is concerned. Thus, a misalignment of our vertebrae will have a corresponding effect on a different body part. Other factors which could have an impact on our nerves could be: mechanical conditions, drugs and chemicals, fluctuations of temperature, trauma, malnutrition, and fatigue. Pre-existing ailments are also known to reflexly trigger vertebral misalignment. How does it work? Simply put, the ailment generates an irritating impulse at the periphery, thus triggering a reflex act at the nerve endings. This, in turn, allows a misalignment to develop in the portion of the vertebrae of the spine (whose muscles are stimulated by the efferent nerves in that part of the spinal cord and which then absorbs the sensory nerves that were triggered.) If a vertebra becomes misaligned (for whatever reason), the location of the ends of the intervertebral foramen are also forced to adjust. This means that the displaced wall will impinge on: the lymphatic, arteries and veins, white and gray rami communicantes, and the efferent and afferent spinal nerves. How do we know if there is a misalignment of our vertebra? The patient will experience the following symptoms: contraction of spinal ligaments and muscles; reduced mobility of one’s back; tenderness and pain; a display of symptoms affiliated with different parts or systems of the body; and heightened temperature in different body zones. To restore a vertebra to its proper position, we need someone who is well-versed in chiropractic – a chiropractor. A chiropractor is responsible for the technique of spinal adjusting. Spinal adjusting is simply eliminating pressure on affected nerves by returning misaligned vertebrae to their normal position. This allows the body parts that are at the receiving end of nerve impulses to get back to normal. When the spine is adjusted, the ligaments which had been contracted will momentarily relax. This allows the ligaments on the other side that had been extended past the limit of their elasticity to go back to their initial condition. When done by a well-trained professional, chiropractic is believed to be a safe, drug-free, and non-invasive intervention for neuromusculoskeletal ailments. Still, it does pose minimal risks (as is the case with all health care treatments.) Some patients may complain of moderate aching or soreness (similar to that experienced after exercise) after spinal manipulation – this usually dissipates within 24 hours. Another procedure, which is neck manipulation (also called cervical manipulation), is known to result in a very rare type of stroke known as vertebral artery dissection. This has been known to happen in 1 out of 5.85 million cases so, actually, the risks posed by the more common remedies for musculoskeletal pain (which are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and prescription drugs) may be much higher, comparatively speaking. Even children stand to benefit from the care of a chiropractor. Children are quite active and may suffer more injuries than the average adult. Since chiropractic treatment is a very gentle and non-invasive mode of health care, it is quite safe for children to undergo it. A doctor of chiropractic has undergone rigid training in his field. Prior to entering a chiropractic college, an applicant will have had almost four years of pre-med education, with courses in psychology, physics, organic and inorganic chemistry, biology and associated lab work. Upon entering Chiropractic College, the student must undergo four to five years of academic study with much of that devoted to clinical training due to the hands-on nature of the profession and the subtle adjusting methods taught.
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