Chiropractic deals with the relationship of the spinal column and the musculoskeletal structures of the body to the nervous system. Sir Jay Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D., of Miami, Florida, explains that the nervous system holds the key to the body's incredible potential to cure itself, because it coordinates and controls the functions of all the other systems of the body.

  Donald M. Epstein, D.C., of Boulder, Colorado states, the reason that the proper adjustment of the spinal column is essential for optimum health is because the spinal column acts as a "switchboard" for the nervous system. When there is nerve interference caused by misalignments in the spine, known as subluxations, pain can occur and the body's defenses can be diminished. By adjusting the spinal joints to remove subluxations, normal nerve function can be reinstated.

The spinal column, or backbone, is made up of twenty-four bones called vertebrae that surround and protect the spinal cord. Between each vertebra, pairs of spinal nerves exit and extend to every part of the body, including muscles, bones, organs, and glands.

Three interrelated subsystems of the nervous system: 

• The central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord
• The autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and glandular function
• The peripheral nervous system, which connects the central nervous system to all the body tissues and voluntary muscles

   

  Health relies upon the balance of these three nerve subsystems, which can be easily disrupted by spinal injury, malalignment, stress, or illness. When vertebrae get out of adjustment, pressure is placed on the nerves in that area. As a result, the nerves cannot realize their proper function and this can lead to dysfunction, disharmony, and eventually disease.

  Don Davis, D.C., of Hayward, California, says that the spine as a whole operates as a functional unit. Each vertebra can affect its neighbor and one portion of the spine may affect or damage other areas of the body. For example, a lower back problem may force a person to bend forward, which can interfere with the movement of the ribs and restrict the functioning of the lungs. It may also cause the neck muscles to contract which, in some cases, could lead to muscle spasms, headaches, strained vision, or balance and coordination problems.

  Subluxations of the spinal vertebrae can also affect the body in less obvious ways. A subluxation can have a direct effect on an organ's function when it prevents the proper nerve flow to that organ. When the vertebrae are properly aligned, the spine remains mobile, allowing the electrical impulses from the brain to travel freely along the spinal cord to the organs, thus keeping up healthy function. Nevertheless, when subluxations occur, they interrupt the normal flow in the nerve structures which, in turn, affects the normal functioning of the organ.

 A chiropractic physician from Los Angeles, Robert Blaich, D.C., recalls a woman suffering from severe, almost monthly, bladder infections. The woman had already been through years of medical diagnosis but had yet to be treated successfully. In addition to her chronic infections, Dr. Blaich indicated that the woman also experienced severe bladder pain if she were under any stress at all, which a direct link to the nervous system.

  Dr. Blaich states that by identifying the subluxations of the lower vertebrae that were irritating the nerves to the bladder, and by correcting those subluxations, he was able to reduce the irritation to the bladder. After only four treatments she got over the infections and had no more recurrences of either the infections or the pain.