You may have heard that chiropractors work on backs and necks.  While this is true, we are not limited to just backs and necks.  Any competent builder will tell you that a firm, level foundation is the top priority when constructing a building or other structure.  If the foundation is not firm and level, nothing else that is built above it will be straight.  Look at the Pisa Tower in Italy.  The ground that the tower was built on was soft on one side and began to settle as it was being constructed.  The builders tried to compensate for the lean by constructing the remaining floors at an angle. Just like the Pisa Tower, you have a physical foundation.

I’d like to talk about “little ears” this month.  If you have children and have brought them in to see me, you may hear me talk about not saying some of what I’m checking out loud.  I’ll refer to them as ‘parenthesis’ questions and will ask these questions quietly (I’ll sometimes do this same thing for adults for the exact same reasons below).  The reason for this is that those “little ears” may hear what is said and ‘own’ that issue.  I don’t want them to own these negative issues and have it affect them later in life.  As humans, we can be very impressionable and this can be both good and bad.  As adults, we need to recognize that words can be very powerful and do our best to protect those “little ears.” 

Your brain is where all the nerve impulses start from and they go out from the brain, down the spinal cord, and out to every organ and cell of your body.  This means that the nervous system can be interfered with if those bones in your spine are out of alignment and putting pressure on your nerves.  It only takes the weight of a dime to start decreasing the information going through a nerve.  If that pressure continues, it can cause issues right at the spine where the issue is resulting in pain and loss of motion, OR it can cause issues on the other end of that nerve.  Remember, at the end of the nerves going through your spine are the stomach, thyroid, bladder, intestines, liver, heart….I’m sure you get the idea now.

You may have heard of the lymphatic system.  Those lymph nodes that get swollen and tender at your neck when you are sick, etc.  The lymphatic system is responsible for 3 major functions.

1.      Draining tissue fluid to return it back to the venous system.  I will often refer to this as “recycling”.

2.      Absorption and transportation of fat

3.      Immune response

These 3 functions make the lymphatic system really important for your overall health.  If your lymph system is not functioning well you may have issues with swelling in your legs or other areas in your body and your immune system may also be compromised.