What is Chiropractic Therapy and how does it affect the brain and nervous system?

Chiropractic is an amazingly powerful, all natural healing technique used to restore people to their optimal state of health.

From the earliest days of our college, we focused on the fact that your brain controls and coordinates, either directly or indirectly, all the organs and function of the body (Grey's Anatomy). When functioning normally, the cerebellum, which is the back bottom part of your brain, sends messages or "fires" to the brain's right and left hemispheres (the big part) which in turn fires to the brain stem which is made up of the mesencephalon, pons, and medulla. We call this the "Brain Loop".

Your ability to enjoy life and health are dependent on proper function of this brain loop. Your mental clarity, vitality, movements, and emotional stability are correlated through proper function of this brain loop.

When functioning correctly, the cerebellum receives adequate input, sending normal input to the brains frontal lobes, which sends sufficient input to the lower brainstem, keeping the mesencephalon from over-firing.

What goes wrong?

Either physical, chemical, or emotional stress can adversely affect this brain loop causing a breakdown in the messages from one part to the next. Many researchers say that some stress from time to time can be a good thing. However, constant unremitting stress causes functional changes in the brain and body.

If one side of the cerebellum is not receiving enough nerve input, it will not send adequate output to provide normal frontal lobe input. The frontal lobe in turn will not send enough messages to the lower brainstem to keep it under control and stop it from over-firing.

This area of the lower brainstem is called the mesencephalon which, like some five-year-olds, has to constantly be kept in check. When unrestrained by the frontal lobe, the mesencephalon shifts into the sympathetic (fight or flight) response.

The changes from an over-firing mesencephalon factor into many chronic health problems such as fibromyalgia, ADD, sciatica, etc.

And the cerebellum?

Located at the lower back part of the brain the cerebellum is another key component in this brain loop. Not only does it receive input from the sensory receptors in the body, it controls balance, coordination, spinal posture muscles and terminates eye movements. An improper firing cerebellum also leads to a variety of common ailments.

A mis-firing cerebellum can cause postural muscles on one side of the body to be tighter or in constant spasm. That causes imbalances in the spine, bones and joints. The vertebra can't move in their normal range of motion and may result in chronic back or neck pain, spinal degeneration, disc herniations, arthritis, spinal stenosis, sciatica or scoliosis. Although other pathologies need to be ruled out, when it is bad enough some movement disorders, dizziness and balance problems can result.

How do you fix this?

A chiropractic examination including neurological tests can reveal an aspect of your brain not firing adequately. Then utilizing proper therapy, the non-firing or low-firing area is gently stimulated. Since one side of the brain controls the other side of the body, most treatments are on one side to stimulate the opposite (side) of the brain.

Treatment is safe, gentle, and hands on, which re-boots, reconnects and restores balanced brain function. Traditional chiropractic adjustments are used along with exercises designed to affect the correct part of the nervous system.

Additionally, visual and olfactory stimulation, heat, eye movements, eye exercises, and other modalities may be used to provide improved brain firing.

What problems can be helped with this type therapy?

Please understand this is not a cure for any specific disease, Illness, or disorder. This is not a cure but a way of naturally and holistically promoting brain, spine and nervous system function and then allowing the body to function naturally and normally, to heal itself. However, by removing the triggers to bad brain function, and restoring this "brain loop" and balancing the brain, amazing results can occur. Chiropractic and proper nutrition combine to improve symptoms in many conditions. The following are conditions with which people have shown significant improvement.

Balance disorders Headaches

Arm/ shoulder pain Migraines

Low back pain/sciatica Insomnia

Bulging/herniated discs Hip/knee/feet pain

Carpel tunnel syndrome Tremor disorders

Dizziness MS symptoms

Dystonia Neck pain

Early Alzheimer's syndrome Numbness

Fibromyalgia Spinal stenosis

RLS (restless leg syndrome) Low immunity

Think of NEUROPLASTICITY

When I went through school the medical texts said once the brain matures, if something happens, too bad - It doesn't heal. Now we know that Brain Based Therapy utilizing "neuroplasticity" provides a means of boosting the energy and even re-wiring the brain. The pioneer is restoring brain function without drugs or surgery is Dr. Fredrick Carrick, the country's leading chiropractic neurologist and neurological fellow. The Carrick Institute offers classes internationally and helps patients around the world with severe neurological disorders.

Additionally, Dr. Michael Johnson, a board certified chiropractic neurologist and author of the book, What Do You Do When The Medications Don't Work utilizes and recommends Dr. Carricks' neurological training and protocols and has developed a Neurological/Metabolic program for chiropractors in the United States who wish to pursue this expensive post-graduate training. Dr. Johnson, having a diagnosis of MS, uses these protocols to keep the disease in check while maintaining a busy schedule of treating patients and consulting with chiropractors across the country.

You can hear more of Dr. Johnson's story at:

Listen to patient testimonials at: