Why Neurology is important when dealing with chronic illness.
The body is designed to be in a state of homeostasis, meaning it’s constantly trying to maintain steady internal conditions. Chronic illness stems from the body being out of homeostasis for too long which leads to disease. So, how does neurology help you with your chronic illness? Well the short answer is if your brain and nervous system are working smoothly than there wouldn’t be imbalance that leads to disease. This is because your nervous system, central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral (nerves) coordinate every function in your body, and most importantly they coordinate all the systems that regulate homeostasis.
When addressing any health issue it is important to look at the body as an interconnected organism rather than separate pieces of the puzzle. To fix any health problem you have to get the whole system functioning better. This is why I start with the brain because it is the Commander-in-Chief that controls the whole process of healing.
How does the nervous system control my body?
The brain sends signals down the spine which then travels to all areas in the body like the heart, lungs, digestion, and hormonal control.
You have two opposite parts of your nervous system that balance out the body; the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Your “fight or flight” responder
- Increases muscle blood flow and tension
- Speeds up heart rate
- Helps us to perform
- Shuts down digestion
- The stress handling part of your nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Your “rest and digest” regulator
- Coordinated by the Vagus nerve
- Recuperates the body
- Digests food
- Allows us to absorb nutrients
- Slows down heart and lungs
The balance between these two parts of the nervous system is what allows our body to constantly regulate our environment. Serious health problems can arise if the body is not successfully getting into a “rest and recovery” state. For example, if the nervous system is poorly coordinating your digestion, you could become malnourished because the body isn’t able to absorb nutrients coming in. When there is sympathetic dominance in the body you will experience exhaustion, feel unsettled, face cognitive decline, poor sleep, a compromised immune system, and a body that cannot repair itself.
Classic Chiropractic vs. Chiropractic Neurologist
The classic chiropractic approach focuses heavily how the spine coordinates messages being sent out to all areas of the body.
Chiropractors are known for hands-on spinal manipulations that focus on the alignment of the musculoskeletal system. These adjustments which aline the musculoskeletal system and alter brain chemistry enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. As a chiropractic neurologist I take this ideology one step further by assessing the brain.
When I go through an exam I first look at what problems you’re having with your nervous system. These problems often show up as muscle weakness, pain, or other weaknesses in all different areas. Then I stimulate the part of the brain that coordinates those areas to see if that activation makes a difference. If your body changes based on the stimulation, that tells me the issue is stemming from a brain complication that is causing your physical body problem.
It is likely your health issues are being initiated by brain dysfunction if you are dealing with immune system issues, gut dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, metabolism problems etc… and you’ve tried changing your nutrition or taking medications prescribed by your medical doctor, and they haven’t given you lasting results.
Ultimately, until your brain improves, and is able to coordinate your body properly, you are not going to feel better even if you’re supporting all the other areas of your body.
Take control of your health,
Dr. Steve Puckette
