Chiropractic - The Big Picture
For those of you who are new to chiropractic, or even those of you who know you like chiropractic because of the results you have achieved from it but don’t really understand why; this is the blog for you! This is the introduction to a new series that we will be exploring together about going over the foundational premises and the scientific and philosophical validation of the Chiropractic Wellness Paradigm. We will be using the works from one of the most influential chiropractors in our profession, Dr. James L. Chestnut B.Ed., M.Sc., D.C., C.C.W.P.
Dr. Chestnut explores and studies the body’s stress response as he believes this is the foundational topic that sets chiropractic apart from other more mainstream medical professions. Allopathy focuses on ‘fighting’ disease and symptom relief that they see as pathology. However, “the scientific fact is that the changes associated with the stress response, although they may result in what allopathy has labeled disease, are absolutely NOT pathological.” -Dr. Chestnut. Looking at only symptoms and ‘disease’ only and applying pharmaceutical interventions only “will never produce health in a patient or improve or prolong life and, worse they leave the cause of the problem unresolved and add a further stressor in the form of physiologically incompatible biochemistry.”
It is our opinion, that our patients should seek council from medical providers and their chiropractor. The professions are so uniquely distinct from each other. Our medical friends while they may recommend drugs which can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and many other things; this is a temporary remedy to insure more dangerous events are prevented. Drugs alone will not allow a healing process to occur, as it is physiologically incompatible biochemistry. It is other, outside-in. An approach that stimulates innate healing from inside-out must be implemented if a person wants to truly change their health state. Chiropractic fits this bill perfectly along with nutrition, exercise, sleep, counseling, PT’s, OT’s, the sun, hydration, and many more. Medical professionals, chiropractors, and patient’s working together is when we see the best results!
The Physiology of the Stress Response
Not to oversimplify health as the human body, mind, and spirit are very complex in their function and relation to each other; but there are typically two major ‘modes’ that the human body can be in at any given moment. These are ether a stress response which allows our body to engage our environment for protection purposes. This is a critical function as without this physiological response we would surely perish as we would not be able to protect ourselves from the outside world. The other ‘mode’ we can be in is rest/healing/procreation/social and emotional engagement. This mode is essential to life as it helps us heal from stresses imposed on us from our environment, ensures that we sleep well, digest our food well, reproduce, and make calm and healthy relationships. Both of these responses are mediated by the autonomic nervous system.
Lets learn what the steps are when the stress response is triggered described by Dr. Chestnut in his “The 14 Foundational Premises for the Scientific and Philosophical Validation of the Chiropractic Wellness Paradigm”.
First thing to occur is that your nervous system detects a stimulus (Tiger jumping out of a bush!)
Your nervous system sends the information to the cell bodies of the sympathetic nervous system where the stress response (fight or flight response) is initiated.
The sympathetic system directly influences visceral function via neuronal control of organs. All catabolic activities are increased (i.e. heart rate and blood pressure, etc) and all anabolic activities are decreased (sex glands, sex drive, digestion, growth (Growth Hormone production), cellular immunity. These responses are very intelligent as you don’t need a strong immune system, growth, or sex drive when you are running from a tiger. Those things are more important if you survive the tiger.
The sympathetic system send a message directly to your adrenal glands.
The adrenals produce catecholamines (adrenaline/noradrenaline - epinephrine/norepinephrine) and glucocorticoid (cortisol) into the blood stream.
Catecholamines act on the heart to increase cardiac output. This along with vasoconstriction from sympathetic system output, serves to increase blood pressure, which allows rapid delivery of stress response hormones and energy substrates.
Catecholamines stimulate the amygdala in the brain so that emotional/anxiety memories dominate during stress (so we remember to look for the tiger next time we are at the watering hole).
Catecholamines inhibit factual learning, working memory and the ability to focus attention at hippocampus. (You don’t need to be able to learn reading or math when your running away from the tiger.)
Amygdala releases CRH which activates centers in the brain that acts on emotional centers and learning centers in the brain. (Areas for logical behavior and short term memory are inhibited; centers for emotional learning and instinctual behavior are simulated). this again is innately intelligent as it allows for best chance to survive the fight or flight.
Release of noradrenaline during during stress response causes an increased sensitivity of the sensory systems (improves chances of survival during fight/flight). However, this means our concentration is easily distracted and that pathways such as those for nociception become sensitized and exert greater effects. “Stress sharpens the signal detection system at the cost of concentration.” (Michael Meaney Ph.D.) The stressed person becomes easily distracted.
Studies show that chronic stress can lead to chronic changes in cognition - cells in the hippocampus actually shrink!! Interestingly, research also shows that chronic movement stimulation/exercise (proprioception via cerebellum) results in an increased in the size of hippocampal cells!!
This list is almost a copy and past from Dr. Chestnut’s work as I don’t think I could have written it any better.
End of the Beginning!
Now that we have covered the processes of the stress response we can better understand how chronic stress breaks down our health that can lead to almost every "disease” that you can think of. And more excitingly how chiropractic, movement, exercise, happy thoughts, nutrition, and so much more help combat this stress response. We hope you are excited for future instalments.
