The human nervous system is a complex set of nerves located in the body. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that come off the spinal column.
What does the nervous system do?
The nervous system is responsible for sending messages from the brain to the body, and back from the body to the brain to coordinate EVERY SINGLE EVENT that occurs in your body. It controls the movement of your muscles, release of hormones, digestion of your foods, the ability to critically think and plan, plus so so much more!
Why a well-functioning nervous system is so important
Without a functioning brain and/or spinal cord and nerves, the rest of your body would not be able to function 100%. Think about it… our heart, as difficult as the procedure is, can be removed and replaced, your lungs the same. If you cut your liver in half, it will regenerate! Have you ever heard of a brain or spinal nerve transplant… probably not! That’s because it is too important to you to remove or replace. I would argue that your nervous system is the single most important organ system in your body! Without it, nothing else would work.
A question I often ask my patients is ‘what do you think is the most important system in the body?’. Common responses to this are – 1. The immune system – true, it fights off colds/flu. 2. The cardiovascular system – true, without a beating heart, we would not survive. However, without your nervous system, your heart cannot beat and your immune system cannot fight off infections. Have you ever thought about this? This goes to show the uttermost importance of a well-functioning brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves.
Where does Chiropractic fit into all this?
This is where Chiropractic comes in. A Chiropractor’s number one goal is to ensure your spine and your nervous system is functioning as best as it can be. A skilled, trained Chiropractor has the ability to locate and identify the nerves in your body that are not working 100% and then can help guide you in ways to fix this. We call these areas of the spine ‘subluxations’. Subluxations are where the normal movement patterns of your spine are reduced and this causes nerve interference between your brain and body, which can lead to pain and/or symptoms. If you experience a symptom, Chiropractors can identify if a spinal subluxation is the cause or contributing factor to help guide you back to health. These subluxations can develop from different day to day life stressors which I will discuss in a different blog post.
How do you know if your spine is healthy or not?
A question many people then ask is ‘how do I know if my spine is healthy or not and if I need to see a Chiropractor?’. This is a great question! First of all, our bodies are smart! But we don’t listen to them enough. Each and every symptom you experience is your body’s way of trying to alert you that something isn’t quite right. If you have a headache, a pain in your foot, your digestion is irregular, you get mood swings, you’re always getting sick, you have painful periods, or discomfort after eating… all of these are signs that you need to learn to tune into. These symptoms are all clues to show you that something isn’t working, and it is important you get these issues addressed by your health professional.
Can Chiropractic care help improve nervous system function?
If you are experiencing any symptoms, a visit to your local Chiropractor may be beneficial. No, we cannot fix every condition under the sun, however we may be able to assess and find the cause of your issue and help, or send you to a more appropriate health professional to help with your symptoms.
Furthermore, many people benefit from ongoing Chiropractic care to help ensure their spine and nervous system is working at 100%. This can include but is not limited to:
Those working manual labour jobs who need assistance to keep their bodies balanced and well so that they can continue to work
In summary, your spine and nervous system are incredibly important! Issues in your spine may lead to some of the symptoms you are experiencing and it is very important to go get these checked before they become a larger problem! If you are not sure if Chiropractic can help you, it’s worthwhile contacting your local Chiropractor and asking the question. They will be able to tell you over the phone if it is worth you coming in for a spinal health check.
Total Health 
