Chiropractic

Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatment focuses on correcting the spinal structure and aligns the spinal cord – which contains millions of nerves. Treatment includes twisting, pulling, or pushing movements to adjust the joints and bones in the spine.

Snap, crack and pop. That's the common association people make when you mention chiropractic treatments. But more than 'cracking' the spine, chiropractic type of hands-on therapy that believes adjustments to the bones in the spine and other parts of the body can improve health issues.

The theory is that the spine protects the spinal cord - the nerve centre of the body in which millions of nerves reside. These nerves serve almost all the functions of the body – from the way organs work to our movements and muscles. In chiropractic, a misalignment or injury of the spine (vertebral subluxation) can not only bring about pain, discomfort or limit movement, but also affect these nerves, and thus other parts of the body and its organs.

Adjustments for ailments

Chiropractic treatments focus on correcting the spinal structure to enhance the health of your nervous system through a series of adjustments to the joints and bones in the spine. It may involve twisting, pulling, or pushing movements. In some cases, heat, electrical stimulation or ultrasound may be used to relax muscles prior to doing a spinal adjustment.

The popping or cracking sound you hear during an adjustment is not your bones, but the sound of gases in between the joints being released. In the body where our joints meet is a pocket of fluid called the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints and prevents them from rubbing against each other. This fluid contains gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. When the joints are moved quickly (such as during an adjustment or when you crack your knuckles), the gases are released rapidly, resulting in a popping, cracking or snapping sound. This relieves some of the pressure in the joints and increase mobility of the surrounding muscles.

Chiropractic solutions

Research has shown chiropractic therapy is effective in treating a range of musculoskeletal problems. More research is needed to determine if chiropractic treatment for conditions such as high blood pressure or asthma is effective

Chiropractic adjustments can help in these problems:

• Back and spine pain
• Poor posture
• Neck pain/injury
• Headaches/migraines
• Arthritis
• Joint pain

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The Healing powers of meditation

Meditation is the practice of mental focus, coupled with deep breathing and positive imagery to find physical and mental relaxation. With regular practice, it can be used to manage pain, lower anxiety and achieve feelings of wellness.

Meditation is a complementary and alternative medicine that refers to a form of mind-body practice. While meditation has historical roots in many religions and spiritual movements, it can also be used in outside these contexts. Very simply, meditation is about developing mental focus to bring about a specific goal.

Mindfulness and focus

If you've ever done a yoga class or deep breathing exercises - you've probably already done some meditation. The aim of meditation is to clear the mind of distracting thoughts and to focus on more positive aspects. This can be from just thinking about the rhythm of your breath to happy and calm imagery. This attitude of quiet contemplation, deep breathing and mental focus is believed to bring about a deep state of physical and mental relaxation, contentment, calm as well as psychological balance.

Some benefits of finding mental focus and calm include:

• Alleviating anxiety
• Pain relief
• Combating depression
• Stress management
• Treating insomnia
• Reducing the symptoms of menopause
• Improving attention
• Asthma symptom relief

Studies are underway to discover why meditation works and how. While overall scientific evidence has been inconclusive, researchers have found some indications that may explain why meditation works for some. One theory is that meditation affects both the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

• The sympathetic nervous system is where the 'fight-or-flight' stress response comes from. It triggers increased heart rate, breathing and blood pressure
• The parasympathetic nervous system controls heart rate and breathing as well, but in the opposite manner, causing these to slow down.

It is believed that the act of meditation reduces the activity in the sympathetic nervous system (lowering the stress response) and increases the activity in the parasympathetic nervous system.

Meditation is also believed to affect the way the brain works, improving attention span and regulating mood hormones to improve mental clarity and emotional health.

How to meditate

• Find a quiet location where you will not be distracted
• Find a comfortable position to sit or lie down. If you prefer, you may also stand, kneel or even walk
• Clear your mind of distractions and mental clutter. One way of doing this is to acknowledge one by one, the things that are on your mind and putting these aside.
• If you have a mantra or a chosen phrase or prayer, focus on these words. Otherwise, focus on deep breathing, a single positive thought or an image that brings you peace.
• If during your meditation your thoughts wander, let these distractions come and go naturally. Gently bring your attention back into focus. Over time and regular meditation, you will find it easier to focus your attention.