“Sub-lux-a-tion” is a difficult word, but we as a society have managed to incorporate a lot of words into our vocabulary that are equally difficult, few of which are as important to our well-being.  We have learned cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins.  We have learned beta-carotene, gingivitis and angioplasty.  And who has not learned Gorbachev, fahrvergnugen or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

Subluxation is an important word and there is simply no other word that accurately describes exactly what it is a chiropractor addresses.  We do not address the “it hurts right here doc, when I go like this.”  We do not address the “man, it feels good when you do that, doc.”  And we definitely do not address the “I gotta pinched nerve, slipped disc, headache, sinus problem, this problem or that pain… doc.”

We address the subluxation, specifically the vertebral (i.e., the big word for the little bones that make up the spine) subluxation.  Subluxation is defined as the misalignment of one of the vertebrae, and not just any misalignment but one that impinges the structures (i.e., nerves as well as blood and lymph vessels) that pass through the holes between the vertebrae and consequently impair their ability to function.  With respect to the nerves, this means that the conduction of mental impulses from the brain to all the cells, tissues and organs of the body is impaired and consequently, the parts do not work as they should.  It is worth noting that the nervous system controls all the other systems of the body, including the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems.  That means that interference in the nervous system could keep any of the many different parts of the body from working the way they should.

Our sole purpose in this office is to find subluxations in the spine and adjust them to restore the proper nerve flow from the brain to all the parts of your body so they can work as well as they possibly can.  Actually the concept is really very simple.  I do not know, maybe we are just having trouble warming up to the word.  Maybe for practice we could all try using it a little more.  Instead of telling the chiropractor where your back hurts on your next visit, why not ask him or her to check your spine for subluxations.  But be prepared for a shocked look on the chiropractor’s face!

Are you concerned about our economy and the prospects for a recovery?  Have losses in the stock market got you concerned about your retirement?  Your children’s college funds?  Your family’s welfare in general? Are rising gas prices frustrating you as they pinch your wallet ever tighter?

We live in a stressful, crazy world.  And with all its challenges, obstacles and worries, it is no wonder record numbers of people are experiencing digestive problems, headaches, and “unexplained” fatigue, depression and rage.  Together it all adds up to a continual downward spiral of hopelessness.  What’s worse, the troubles of our world can not only result in these very real symptoms, but they also affect us in many ways that are not as obvious or cannot be seen or measured.

One such way is the occurrence of vertebral subluxation—small misalignments in the bones of the spine that create interference in the nerve system and keep the body from working the way it should.  Vertebral subluxations are occurring in epidemic proportions in our world today.  The above-listed stresses are but a few of the many possible causes of those subluxations.  And as a result, people are unable to function as well as they should, think as well as they should, relate as well they should, do anything as well as they should when they have interference in their nerve system.  That means that billions of people in our country and around the world are functioning below average today, making it all the more difficult to deal with the challenges and problems that we face.

But wait—there is hope!  Besides the extremely valuable virtues of faith, patience and love, there is the chiropractic adjustment—the sole means of eliminating vertebral subluxation.  Your chiropractor can check your spine to determine if you or any member of your family has vertebral subluxations.  He or she can also adjust you to remove that interference and allow your body to function better.  Whatever may be troubling you these days, do yourself a favor, get yourself and your entire family to your chiropractor regularly.

“Sub-lux-a-tion” is a difficult word, but we as a society have managed to incorporate a lot of words into our vocabulary that are equally difficult, few of which are as important to our well-being. We have learned cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins. We have learned beta-carotene, gingivitis and angioplasty. And who has not learned Gorbachev, fahrvergnugen or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

Subluxation is an important word and there is simply no other word that accurately describes exactly what it is a chiropractor addresses. We do not address the “it hurts right here doc, when I go like this.” We do not address the “man, it feels good when you do that, doc.” And we definitely do not address the “I gotta pinched nerve, slipped disc, headache, sinus problem, this problem or that pain… doc.”

We address the subluxation, specifically the vertebral (i.e., the big word for the little bones that make up the spine) subluxation. Subluxation is defined as the misalignment of one of the vertebrae, and not just any misalignment but one that impinges the structures (i.e., nerves as well as blood and lymph vessels) that pass through the holes between the vertebrae and consequently impair their ability to function. With respect to the nerves, this means that the conduction of mental impulses from the brain to all the cells, tissues and organs of the body is impaired and consequently, the parts do not work as they should. It is worth noting that the nervous system controls all the other systems of the body, including the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems. That means that interference in the nervous system could keep any of the many different parts of the body from working the way they should.

Our sole purpose in this office is to find subluxations in the spine and adjust them to restore the proper nerve flow from the brain to all the parts of your body so they can work as well as they possibly can. Actually the concept is really very simple. I do not know, maybe we are just having trouble warming up to the word. Maybe for practice we could all try using it a little more. Instead of telling the chiropractor where your back hurts on your next visit, why not ask him or her to check your spine for subluxations. But be prepared for a shocked look on the chiropractor’s face!

When you alter structure, you alter the function. That is a simple rule of physics. Why do Indy 500 race cars all look alike (except for the painted advertisements)? It is because they have found that a particular shape (structure) gives them maximum aerodynamics (function). If this is true for race cars it is also true for the human body. If you affect your structure, you affect your ability to function. A person with a broken arm cannot function as effectively as he or she did before the break. Missing an organ or part of the body affects the function of the entire body, at least to some degree.
The area that concerns us as chiropractors relates to the structure of the spinal column and the function of the nerve system. The body was designed perfectly. The spine was intended to be in a particular position and move within a specific range of motion. It houses and protects the all-important, life-carrying, nerve system. Any alteration in the position of a vertebra will alter the function of the nerve system which in turn alters the function of the organ or part of the body that the nerve supplies. This results in an ultimate decrease in the function of the organism, for every organ and part contributes to the function of the whole.

The problem with vertebral subluxation is that it takes a certain amount of altered function for a certain length of time in addition to other factors before that altered function manifests itself in a discernable problem. For example, altered neural function, and hence, chemical function may decrease the body’s ability to adapt to ragweed pollen but it is not until the spring when the pollen is in the air that the allergic symptoms appear. The body is not functioning properly 12 months of the year; the person just does not know it until the irritant is in the air. So how much alteration in function is necessary to cause a problem? Well, we really do not know. It could be a little, so little that it is not even noticeable. There are Eskimos whose bodies do not produce the chemical necessary to adapt to ragweed pollen, but since they never come in contact with the pollen, they never know it. Thousands of people die every year from a malfunctioning heart and do not even know they have a problem until the first symptom, which is a fatal one.

The other question to be considered is how much function do you want and how long do you want to walk around with a body not functioning as it should? It seems to me that to get the most out of life, you would want to function at your maximum and if there was a structural interference to proper function, you would want it corrected as soon as possible. That’s what chiropractic is about, checking the spine regularly to correct vertebral subluxations so the nerve system functions at its maximum. In so doing, the body can function at its best and people can get more out of life.

So where do we get these ideas?  How have we come to believe the germs make you sick?  It’s all the fault of the microscope!  We weren’t afraid of them when we couldn’t see them.  Actually, many people are still not afraid of them.  The “germ theory” was first put forth by Louis Pasteur (1822-1895).  He had a contemporary named Claude Bernard (1813-1878) who said it was not the germ but the body’s internal environment, the resistance of the person that determines whether a germ makes one sick or not.  The argument between these two men lasted throughout their lifetimes.  It is said that on his deathbed, Pasteur admitted that Bernard was correct, it was the body’s internal environment that was the factor.

A modern microbiologist, Rene Dubos agreed with Bernard.  He said, “most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual.  They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body.” There are many things that can upset the body’s “equilibrium.”  We usually refer to equilibrium as resistance.  It is determined by the amount of rest you get, how good your diet is, all those things that you should be doing to stay healthy in the first place.  That is why some people don’t think about or worry about germs.  They keep their body healthy to begin with.  If germs in the air were the cause, everybody would be sick, unless there are people out there who have figured out how to walk around without breathing!

There is one more factor that affects your body’s resistance, a very important factor–that is how well your nerve system is functioning.  Every other aspect of your health is dependent upon your nerve system.  You need a good nerve supply to receive the maximum benefit from your exercise and the food that you eat.  Our immune system is very closely related to the nerve system.  In some ways it is difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins.  The proper function of the nerve system is what ultimately controls the body’s equilibrium.  Anything that compromises the body’s nerve system either directly or indirectly affects the body’s resistance and our ability to be resistant to the germs in the air and in our body.Vertebral subluxation interferes with the proper function of the nerve system and that is why chiropractors address their attention toward correcting peoples’ vertebral subluxations.  If you are doing common-sense things and you do everything you should be doing for your health, including seeing your chiropractor regularly, you need not be worried about the germs in the air or anywhere else.

I had an interesting conversation with my brother recently while we were both back home in Pittsburgh for a family gathering.  My brother has lived in Minneapolis for the last five years or so and before that in San Francisco for about 15 years, so our get togethers have not been nearly frequent enough.  Still, when we get together we inevitably talk about many and various things.  Since he’s rather strongly opinionated our discussions are often lively and entertaining (read loud and distracting to others).  For example, my brother and I got to talking about whether walking was considered exercise or not.  His opinion was that it is not since the average American can and does do it at least to some extent every single day.  My opinion was that since it can be done in a manner that fits the definition of the word (i.e., an activity that requires physical or mental exertion), that indeed it can be; it is not always but it can be and is a very good exercise. 

The truth is my brother is a black belt martial artist.  He’s 6’1” and 205 lbs. of solid muscle (think Jessie Ventura who he is often mistaken for), and no, walking is not how he got to be so incredibly fit.  Interestingly, this spirited conversation occurred while we were accompanying my mother on her regular 2-mile walk around the track in her hometown.  For my mother, who is 74 years old and still recovering from a serious stroke she just had last October, at this time in her life walking is perfect.  Exercise though does not come in a one-size-fits-all container, nor should it.  With all the variation in people’s shape, size, fitness level and interest it couldn’t possibly.  It is no more easily prescribed for people than is “the proper diet.”  Everybody’s nutritional needs are different.  Unfortunately, much of today’s advise on exercise and diet does not take the wide variation in people into account.  So while walking is perfect for my mom it is not even close to suitable for my brother (and hence his opinion).

 Chiropractic is different.  In fact it is this aspect of chiropractic that makes it overall one of the safest, choices in health care today.  Chiropractic recognizes that each individual is entirely unique and different today than they ever were before or ever will be again.  It appreciates that we are self-healing, self-regulating organisms, constantly re-creating ourselves into different (hopefully better) expressions of the life within us.  We are able to do this because our body communicates with itself.  Information is constantly being exchanged between the brain and every cell, tissue and organ in your body. 

When the communication is clear our body can heal, regulate and recreate itself as it was meant to.  Unfortunately, the messages are subject to interference.  Because this communication uses the nerve system, any dysfunction in the nerve system also compromises the quality of the information that is being sent.  Probably the most common and certainly the most overlooked interference to the nerve system is vertebral subluxation, that is when bones of the spine misalign in such a way that they interfere with the nerve system.  Chiropractors check for subluxations in the spine and provide an adjustment specific for the individual—young or old, big or small.  Removing that interference restores the proper communication which allows the person to be the best expression of life they can      be—whether they walk for exercise or practice martial arts.

Everyone knows that carrots are good for your eyes. There is something about the amount of carotenoids in carrots that are supposed to help your vision. Recently, an advertisement for a nutritional supplement to help your eyesight came in the mail. In an effort to extol the benefits and the potency of their supplement, they said that to get the equivalent of four of their capsules, the daily requirement, you would have to eat either 384 baby carrots, 87 tomatoes, 7 cups of Brussels sprouts, 10 cups of romaine lettuce, or 41 cups of orange juice. (I think any kid would prefer corrective glasses over 7 cups of Brussels sprouts a day!) What is the significance of this information? Well, it may be that God designed our bodies to need the equivalent of 384 carrots a day. That would be like designing an automobile with a gas tank of one-quart capacity. You would have to stop every five miles to fill the tank. Gratefully, God is much smarter than the automobile manufacturers in Detroit. We cannot possibly HAVE to eat 384 carrots to get our nutritional requirements.

So why do the nutritional supplement manufacturers make their capsule so potent? Apparently they think that we need that much potency. More than likely, they notice that people who eat an average amount of carrots in a day still have vision problems which means normally and naturally we cannot possibly eat enough to meet our nutritional needs. All kidding aside, it is impossible to eat that many carrots or tomatoes. I might be able to down 2 ½ gallons of orange juice in a 24-hour period. In fact, I may have done something like that on a dare as a teenager. But there is no way anyone could drink 41 cups day after day.

Perhaps there is a more significant problem, one that not only affects the need for carrots but relates to every other nutritional problem we have. It may very well be that our problem is a failure or a diminished ability to absorb the nutrients that we eat. After all, we are not what we eat. We are what our body does with what we eat. If our ability to absorb the nutrients we put into our bodies is decreased, then even good nutritional food is not going to supply our needs. If the supplement industry is filling a need, it may be the need is not inadequate food but inadequate digestive function. Their solution is to give us more and more nutrients, much more than we normally need. They figure that the more you get, the more you will absorb. It is like watering your lawn on a hot, dry sunny day. You need to use more water because much of it is going to be lost to evaporation. Ideally, you should water your lawn in the early morning when the greatest amount of absorption using the least amount of water can occur. When it comes to nutrition, whether you are taking supplements or not, the best thing to do is to make sure the lining of your digestive tract is as healthy as it can be so that it can absorb as much good nutrition as possible from your carrots, your carotenoid supplement, your orange juice or even your Big Mac with lettuce and tomato.

Chiropractic is intended to keep your entire body, including your digestive system, functioning at its maximum potential by removing interference in the nerve system that may reduce digestive function, as well as every other function. Keep your spine subluxation free and perhaps you can eat 382 less carrots every day or only take one supplement instead of four.

The discovery of the genetic code was truly a great event, worthy of the Nobel Prize that it gained for its discovers. But in all the hoopla and attention paid to the genetic code we have lost sight of the fact that it is just a blueprint. First, a blueprint does not create itself. It is the result of thoughts of an intelligent person. The architect or the designer makes the blueprint. The blueprint may say your eyes are going to be blue but it did not design the thousand parts that make up the eye anymore than the blueprint grew the wood or made the bricks that will go into the building. That too took intelligent actions on the part of brick makers, and of course, “only God can make a tree.”

The major area where the genome discovers went wrong was to assume that the DNA makes the body, that it creates new cells to fashion the organs and tissues of the human organism. That would be like setting down the set of blueprints at the work site, dumping the bricks, cement, steel and wood next to it and saying “go ahead blueprint, erect this building.”

Blueprints are great, even necessary to the success of the building and perpetuation of any structure. (If a building was just thrown together without a design it probably would not last very long). DNA is necessary for the design and perpetuation of the human organism, but it is only a blueprint. The architect and the builder of the human body is a principle placed within all living organisms by the Creator of the universe. In chiropractic, we call that principle the innate intelligence of the body. It even repairs and makes changes to the blueprint. It then takes the blueprint and creates the organs and system of the body. It will even make changes when the blueprint is not quite what it should be. The innate intelligence can compensate for weaknesses in our DNA. For example, just because you have a genetic tendency toward a condition like diabetes does not mean you will necessarily have the disease. The innate intelligence of the body can overcome certain genetic predispositions. It can do it a lot better if it is free to express itself. That is where the chiropractor comes in.

The innate intelligence uses the nerve system to cause function, adapt the body and compensate for genetic weaknesses. If there is an interference in the nerve system due to a vertebra being subluxated (misaligned in such a way that it interferes with the nerve system), the body just cannot adapt and compensate as well. Your DNA is important. But remember a dead body has cells all with DNA and it does that body no good. Only the life-giving, life-enhancing innate intelligence of the body can direct the DNA to benefit you, your life and that of your family.

It is difficult for some of us who have been around for a half century or more to realize that we live in a throw-away society. We shake our heads at the younger generation who want to throw things out when they do not work and who look at us incredulously when we suggest they try to get them repaired. Yet the young people have kept up with the times. Things are no longer meant to be repaired. If something breaks down, you might as well replace it. Recently, our computer’s laser printer was in need of repair. Nine years ago, it cost close to $1,500 so the thought of having it repaired made me anxious. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the parts to repair were only about $200. However, for about the same amount I could buy a whole new printer! The cost of one hour of labor to have our electric typewriter serviced would actually be more than the cost of a new electric typewriter. After eight years, the manufacturer of our photocopy machine just stopped making parts to repair it. I am not sure whether we are forced to buy new ones because they no longer make parts or if they no longer make parts because everyone just buys a new one. This is especially true in business where the costs of new machines can be written off as an expense but it is also true in the home. It does not pay to repair a broken VCR or most small appliances. Added to that is the fact that we have more electric appliances now than we ever had, including of course, bread machines, power screw drivers, blenders, fax machines, answering machines and on and on ad infinitum.

This phenomenon extends even to automobiles. Of course, we still have auto mechanics but look how many people lease cars rather than buy them. Very few people buy a car with the idea of keeping it 10 or 15 years. Authorities say it is almost always less expensive to repair a car until it rusts away than it is to buy a new one, but we are programmed to get rid of it rather than repair it.

This change in our thinking creates a number of problems. In a time when we are concerned about recycling newspapers, glass containers and plastic and the ever-increasing number of landfills, we are simultaneously throwing out appliances and electronic equipment sometimes for the sake of a two-dollar part. The result is yet another problem, a decreasing number of technical jobs. When foreign labor can make a VCR or a television cheaper than an American worker can repair it, the latter job is no longer necessary. This has tremendous economic repercussions both in jobs lost and in the balance of trade.

Perhaps the greatest problem, however, is just in the attitude that develops about how we care for things. Why bother taking care of an appliance or piece of equipment if you can just buy a new one. It really does not pay to maintain things or have them periodically checked. Unfortunately, this same attitude often carries over into taking care of ourselves. Even though we realize that they make very few replacement parts can be made for the human body, we are nevertheless, not accustomed to taking care of things and we neglect ourselves. The fact that we are constantly bombarded with medical ads for quick fixes for everything from sinus headaches to indigestion only adds to our neglect. Many people do not change their lifestyle after angioplasty or even heart by-pass surgery. The know they can have it done again.

We must realize that there are certain natural laws that have consequences when violated. When a vertebra is subluxated, it interferes with the function of the nerve system and that impacts upon every aspect of one’s life. You cannot reach or maintain your potential for health; performance at work and/or play is lessened and life’s little problems often become magnified when your spine is subluxated. You just cannot get the most out of life. It is nice to know that we are not relegated to the trash pile when something goes wrong in our body, but it is more important to realize that we must care for ourselves in order to have a full and productive life.

As football season begins I would like to remind you of the reason most professional athletes have their spines checked often by their team’s chiropractor.

Top athletes are adjusted regularly to perform at their optimum potential, not just for symptom relief. Many have stated how chiropractic has helped them be their best.

One of the best ways to achieve success is to learn from others. Top athletes take advantage chiropractic care to keep their bodies functioning at top performance. They recognize that subluxations adversely affect their ability to live up to the standards demanded by professional athletics.

Is your life and performance any less important? Wouldn’t you like to be the best spouse, parent, child, sibling, employee/employeer, etc. possible?

One way to help you do that is to make sure your spine is free from the negative effects of vertebral subluxations so that you can better express your health and life potential. Those of you who are coming in regularly already know that and are experiencing the benefits chiropractic has to offer you. Those of you that are not regular with your care, or who haven’t been here in a while, what are you waiting for? Call to schedule your appointment.