In my understanding, Biohacks are methods of treating the body to not only improve vitality, but also to some degree, to extend life. Most people only use chiropractic as a treatment for pain when they should really utilize it as a part of their routine health repertoire.
Most people think eating healthy or working out consistently is all they need to do, which obviously is important, but there are many other factors that can influence a person’s vibrancy. Good, deep sleep is another important factor which most people understand although rarely get enough of…… Detoxification, meditation, breathwork and having a positive mindset are all contributory factors.
The one thing I find most people do not fully understand, chiropractic is a true biohack. I will break chiropractic down incrementally to help you better understand its true utilization for not only increasing vibrancy, but also for balancing the autonomic nervous system and possibly for even extending life.
The first factor to realize is that chiropractic represents a distinct alternative to allopathic medical care that it is natural, vitalistic, holistic, and most of all quite conservative. Chiropractic is a health paradigm which realizes ‘health is an inside job’. We work with the innate power of the body by removing nerve interference, which we call subluxation. This philosophy is not only logical, but it is also scientifically valid.
Let me define a few terms. First, let’s start with Vitalism.
Chiropractors believe there is an innate intelligence that sustains all living organisms. This innate intelligence created you from two cells, a sperm from your father, and an egg from your mother. It is this intelligence that coordinates all functions of life. This healthy expression of life can be interfered with when we have irritation to the nervous system from subluxation.
Let me now describe subluxation.
Subluxations are segmental restrictions commonly associated with vertebral misalignment and postural issues. These subluxations commonly occur from macro trauma such as childbirth, sports injuries, auto accidents, etc. or microtrauma like repetitive use injuries such as sitting at a computer. Subluxation can also be caused by visceral problems that can cause nerve interference at levels of the spine that coordinate the specific organ affected.
For instance, lung irritation (such as smoking) can cause subluxation to the upper thoracic spine and colon dysfunction can cause subluxation of the lumbar spine. Another contributory factor could be mental or emotional stressors which can cause restricted spinal mobility, especially in the upper neck.
In review, subluxation can be the result of common physical, emotional and/or chemical stressors that can be an influence in creating nerve interference and decreasing the expression of a person’s vitality. These subluxations consist of kinesiological (biochemical/structural) and neurological components that physiologically can affect an individual’s innate expression of health.
In other words, you can never be as healthy as you could be if you are truly subluxated.
Let us now discuss how subluxation interferes with nerve expression.
Restricted range of motion of the spine causes unhealthy nerve input to the central nervous system (CNS) and can decrease that input directly to the CNS.
This segmental dysfunction of normal mobility of the spine can also lead to the chance of osteoarthritis (spinal decay). I personally feel this is one of chiropractic’s least understood premises. Spinal decay, in my opinion, will not only increase nerve irritation by further decreasing mobility, but it can also cause irritation by disc thinning and more nerve compression.
Subluxation and nerve interference will not only cause segmental dysfunction of the spinal nerve, but may also cause an increase in sympathetic dominance (flight/fight) within the autonomic nervous system. This is where people transition from fight or flight to parasympathetic (rest and digest).
The number one improvement I see in people in my practice is better sleep after getting adjusted. Sleeping better helps with a person’s energy level and their overall vibrancy. Immune function, cognitive function, digestion, moods, fidelity, and more all improve under corrective chiropractic care.
Chiropractic adjustments not only help to restore proper alignment, they also increase segmental spinal mobility, preventing premature spinal degeneration. Spinal degeneration is the reason why people move less as they get older, have poor posture, and ultimately get shorter with age.
Spinal degeneration can be inhibited with properly applied chiropractic corrective care. The goal is not to just eradicate symptoms, but take measures to ultimately preserve the health of the spine and nervous system.
We all know someone who had a hip replacement or a knee replacement due to joint deterioration from osteoarthritis. This same osteoarthritis deterioration can affect your spine, although currently we don’t have a spine replacement treatment like we do for hips, knees, and other joints of the extremities. Another analogy I commonly use goes like this: we take care of our teeth to extend the life of teeth, while we also have dentures and implants available as a remedy for poor dental health.
Now if you have decided you want to be healthier and you want to prevent spinal degeneration, what is the next step? You need to find a good chiropractor who does corrective care and is not just pain based. I recommend you talk to your friends or acquaintances and get a referral.
It is my opinion that the doctor should take x-rays to objectively measure your improvement as well as highlight any areas of osteoarthritis that may be in the spine. It is also good to rule out any pathology that may be in the vertebrae of the spine. This year I have already detected metastatic cancer in the spine three times and found fractures twice. It is also important to know where ‘not’ to adjust when pathology does occur.
Another good rule of thumb is to find a family-based chiropractor in that they see children as well as adults. Once you truly understand chiropractic, you will see why it’s important for your children to get adjusted.
Chiropractic for children affords proper development of the spine as your children grow, and possibly prevent scoliosis. Chiropractic children are generally healthier and hence take less drugs consequently. We treat children for everything from asthma, ear infections, ADD, ADHD, au3sm, colic, cons3pa3on to headache, neck pain and back pain.
Your doctor should also teach you specific exercises to help you correct the problem area. In my practice, I do 50% of the work and I rely on the patient to do their part at home as well.
In my practice, during our new patient orientation, we teach our patients about their homecare. We also teach the philosophy of chiropractic and help them to make better health decisions in the future. I also host monthly workshops teaching on topics such as: how to eat, sleep, exercise, meditate, breathe, detoxify.
The word doctor means teacher and I take this very seriously. I am constantly teaching my people things they can do to improve their overall health for themselves and for their family.
Your doctor should also do consistent re-examinations, especially in the beginning. These re-exams will objectively measure your improvement. Initially, most patients’ complaints will diminish or go completely away, but the objective is to correct the cause, which may take longer.
Another thing you should look for is a doctor that recommends ongoing care after you have reached maximum improvement. It doesn’t make sense to correct your alignment and then let it go again. You don’t just eat right when you are sick, you make eating healthy part of your lifestyle.
I am sure all this makes sense to many of you. You need to understand and remember that your symptoms or your diagnosis are not the problem, but a subset of some underlying cause. Remember the cause could be related to nerve irritation or subluxation.
Now, for all this to work, you need to invest in your health with not only time but also money. Holistic healthcare is not like medical care, and it is not a silver bullet. Healing takes time. Many times, patients do not follow through or quit early because they didn’t get immediate results. Follow your chiropractor’s recommendations especially as it relates to your required ‘frequency’ of care.
Most corrective care chiropractors will recommend at least three sessions per week. Look at it like working out. For maximum progress at the gym, the more consistent you are, the better the results. It is the same with chiropractic. When your goal is to correct alignment, change posture and improve range of motion, this all requires time and repetition.
As you improve your consistency, frequency should decrease, especially when you finish corrective care. Another important factor we need to address is to not only be consistent with your adjustments but also be consistent with the at home care. Just like you brush your teeth and floss daily, it is important you take care of your spine as well.
Your doctor should recommend exercises, cervical pillows and a Denneroll. Doing homecare consistently helps both you and your chiropractor to get the results you are looking for. Be sure to drink plenty of water, eat a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, get plenty of exercise and good sleep. Good health in all areas of life is very important.
If you have any questions or need a referral please contact me, thru my excellent assistant, Lynn Catalano at lynn@caljam.org. I have been in practice for 38 years in Newport Beach, Ca.
If you are in the Southern California area, you are welcome to come and visit our office or call (949) 250-0600 to schedule an appointment.
I hope you have enjoyed this information, learned a little something, and are ready to take your health to a new level……..cheers!
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