What I love most about Chiropractic and being able to share that gift with all of my patients:

Anything that pertains to a symptoms from the nervous system not working at its best, and we help with it! From babies to teens, pregnant mamas, adults, everyone can get adjusted. There are few instances where we have to be very careful for some situations but yes everyone can get adjusted! 

When you find a chiropractor that works specifically with the nervous system your overall health and function improve. You not only feel physically better, but you are healthier than you were before that adjustment. I know just about everyone comes in for something that hurts but when you hear me talk all the time about your health thats whats really changing underneath each adjustment. To me thats the most important part of your life, to take care of your health, because once its gone it is so hard and expensive to get it back. 

The nervous system controls everything in your body. It is the connection from the brain to the body to tell it how to function and work which is your health. When the spine shifts and gets stuck on a nerve it doesn’t allow that function to be at its highest potential or it doesn’t feel good either. 

Chiropractors claim to have a direct influence on a person’s nervous system through the chiropractic adjustment. We further claim that people who remain subluxated (having a misalignment in the spine which causes a distortion in the communication of the nervous system) will have some form of neurological dysfunction. However, most people are not aware of the global health changes that can occur under chiropractic care, nor do they understand the complex neurological changes that occur with adjustments. Many people who have been to a chiropractor understand chiropractic from the classic “nerve pressure” theory. In a nutshell, the theory implies that a bone, or some other structure, moves from its normal position and places pressure on a neighboring nerve. The pressure leads to the nerve not functioning properly, which can result in a host of problems. People under chiropractic care visualize this explanation and can easily understand it. However, if this is the only explanation we give them, they will understand only a very small piece of the power of the chiropractic adjustment.

We know that chiropractic adjustments in the upper cervical spine (upper neck) significantly decrease an individual’s hypertension. There is no peripheral nerve connection from the neck to the structure that controls blood pressure, so the nerve pressure theory cannot be the explanation, yet these changes still occur. I contend that the nerve pressure theory is a very small piece of what is taking place inside the body. In my opinion, the most powerful connection between a chiropractic adjustment and a person’s global health changes is the direct effect the adjustment has on the brain and central nervous system.

So how does a spinal subluxation affect the brain and nervous system? The subluxation acts as both a physical stressor, due to the strain of the supporting structures connecting to that vertebra, and a chemical stressor, due to the accumulation of inflammation inside the joints. These physical and chemical stressors flood the brain with negative information from the body. The negative stress information is the neurological connection between the subluxation and the limbic system, which launches the stress response. The stress response activates two systems: The sympatho-adrenal system (SAS), and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA). The SAS activates the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn releases hormones into the circulation. Once these hormones reach the adrenal glands, the adrenal glands release adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline supplies energy to the muscles and heart to prepare for the stress; however, it takes this energy from reproductive organs and the gastrointestinal tract.

The HPA axis activates the area of the brain that releases additional hormones into circulation. Once these hormones reach the adrenal glands, the adrenals release cortisol. Cortisol supplies energy to the muscles, but it takes this energy from reproductive organs and the immune system. This stress response is a normal response, provided the stressor is removed within a short period. However, when the stressor is not removed quickly, this chronic release of stress hormones negatively alters the immune, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems, triggering a cascade of disease and illness. By removing the stressor (the subluxation) via chiropractic adjustment, we help stop the chronic stress response and allow energy to be reallocated to the centers that promote growth, expansion, and health.

In a nutshell, each time a chiropractor adjusts someone’s spine, we replace the negative information that is flooding the brain with positive information. 

This recalibrates the brain to help stop the release of chronic stress hormones and allows overall health and healing to occur. Every time a person receives a chiropractic adjustment, it positively affects the brain and nervous system. This positive effect on the brain promotes a state of ease and well-being within the body.

Even this is a small piece of the puzzle, but it gives us better insight on how chiropractic adjustments have a profound neurological effect on the central nervous system. Understanding this neurological effect can help us better identify how an adjustment changes the body’s stress response patterns and restores a state of ease. This knowledge enhances our understanding of how a woman can become pregnant under chiropractic care when she was unable to do so in the past. It opens up an important dialogue about how pregnant women under regular chiropractic care may experience greater resilience to modern stressors and have easier pregnancies and births. It may also shed some light on how breastfeeding and digestion in infants improve under chiropractic care. As chiropractors, we do not claim to have a cure for infertility, colic, or any other ailment. What we do is assess and adjust spinal subluxations to help the brain and body adapt and heal. The adaptation and healing process is as unique to each person as their own brains are!

Taco Lettuce Wraps

My goal with these recipes is to keep things super simple and to help you guys change a favorite that you are already making into a healthier option. 

The traditional tortilla shells and chips are not a healthy carb. They are usually made with enriched white flour that your body will not take in and use for fuel. There are some yummy options for healthier tortilla shells and chips. 

We changed up our taco meal into lettuce wraps and they were so good over the memorial day weekend. The toppings for tacos are also another area to watch it to not over do the sour cream and cheese. Salsa, avocado, onions, tomato, black olives are my favorite and those are great to add as much as you would like! You can also do a leaner meat – ground turkey, chicken instead of beef or pork but we just mix it up often to keep a variety in our diet. The best meat no matter the kind is labeled – organic, grass-fed, pasture raised, no antibiotics. etc.

For the busy moms – I sometimes brown hamburger in the crockpot all day and mash it up and when I get home all I have to do is add seasoning and get the toppings out. So fast and easy! 

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, or ground turkey if you prefer
• 1/4 cup taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 head romaine lettuce, in stalks
• 1 pinch of cheese
• tomatoes, onions, black olives, corn (add ons for extra flavor)
• salsa and sour cream, guacamole optional

Instructions

1. Spray a pan with non-stick cooking spray and brown ground beef
2. While beef is cooking, grate the cheese, gather the lettuce and other preferred taco toppings
3. Add taco seasoning and water and stir until combined and meat is hot again
4. Once meat is cooked, place into romaine lettuce stalks and top with cheese, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream – or other favorite taco toppings
5. Pick up stalk, eat and enjoy!