Mental Health, Inflammation and Nerve Tone

by Judy Soborowicz DC CCN, Active Health Chiropractic

Inflammation is a normal reflection of wellness in our body when the process is acting as a protective response to sudden injury, infection or irritation—and it is vital for promoting healing. Fever, for example, is how we know our body’s immune inflammatory system is working correctly when fighting infection. Autoimmune disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Chron’s, IBS, Alzheimer’s, depression and anxiety have all been linked to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is an immune response that has gone on for months or years—long enough to lead to inflammatory diseases. 

Our nerve system works toward regulating and coordinating appropriate immune responses. Our brain, specifically brainstem, acts as a master regulator via autonomic and sensory signals to and from our immune organs—a process called the inflammatory reflex. Our autonomic nerve system is hardwired into our lymphoid organs, such as spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow—organs that produce our body’s immune response. 

Many of the signals from our brain both to and from our immune organs rely on the health of our spine.

Our spinal structure, muscles and ligaments provide protection for our delicate nerve system. Maintaining healthy stability and posture makes it possible for our brain to communicate optimally with our structure and our immune organs via our delicate nerves.

Subluxation is the term for misalignments of our spinal structure leading to loss of stability, irritation and/or compression of our nerve pathways, affecting organ systems of our body. Our immune system and nerve system initiate and regulate our inflammatory response, thus making optimal autonomic, motor and sensory communication essential. 

Health concerns such as pain or discomfort caused by a slip, fall, auto accident, even the birth process itself may cause subluxation and diminish our innate ability to coordinate and regulate our immune response. Additionally, improper diet, stress, chemicals, and/or heavy metal exposure are damaging to our brain and body, and cause abnormal changes to our innate systems, increasing our susceptibility to autoimmune disease.

The chiropractic approach to optimal health focuses on reducing subluxation with gentle, specific adjustments. The goal is to maintain the proper motion and alignment of our bony structure, muscles and ligaments, which protect our delicate nerve fibers. 

Posture, balance, movement and immune function depend upon the health of our delicate nerves. This innate communication from nerve sensors within our structure and organ systems is received and integrated within our brain. Optimizing signals relayed to our brain increases efficiency and coherence, allowing for fast, coordinated communication.

Chiropractic is the largest natural healing profession founded upon optimizing our brains’ hidden language and unlocking our primary, most powerful, innate ability to fully express our optimal health.