When you think of chiropractic care, most people think of physical pain and seeking help to overcome that. Back, knee, and joint pain are all serious problems, but they are often signs that your overall health is out of balance.
When a chiropractor makes an adjustment, they are not just realigning your spine; they are addressing your health as a complete concept. By treating you as a person instead of a collection of symptoms to diagnose and medicate, they can provide solutions that can help you in surprising ways.
What a Chiropractor Actually Treats
The idea behind chiropractic care is twofold: they address issues with the nervous system by adjusting the alignment of the musculoskeletal system. Many physical symptoms that people experience result from wear and tear on their bodies, injuries, and poor lifestyle choices.
Proper diet, posture, and alignment not only can affect your physical wellbeing but also other areas of your life. For instance, say you have back pain and headaches that are interfering with your daily life. You could do what most people do – take an over-the-counter medication and keep going.
However, a chiropractic assessment can put you on a different path, without drugs, to a more healthy lifestyle. From looking at an exercise and diet plan to recommendations for ergonomic changes and spinal adjustments, the chiropractor can make small improvements that add up to relief from the stress and tension that have been driving your pain.
When spinal adjustments are made, they can affect the central nervous system, which contributes to wellness throughout the body. As inflammation, tension, and spasms in the muscles lessen, the emotional stress brought about by physical stress also dissipates. In addition, the exercises, movements, and increased flexibility that are part of chiropractic treatment leave you feeling physically better, enhancing your mood.
Beyond the physical effects of treatment contributing to a better mood, chiropractic treatment can spur the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that are also known to have a positive effect on moods. Adjustments have been shown to have a positive effect on the release of hormones like oxytocin and neurotensin, each of which have their own positive impact on the body and on your mood.
For example, oxytocin promotes a general feeling of wellbeing and friendliness, and neurotensin has been shown to block stress-related pain from being transmitted. Finally, chiropractic treatments can positively affect sleep patterns by relieving the tension and increasing your overall health and sense of wellness.
If you have been suffering from insomnia or have found yourself unable to truly relax, chiropractic treatments might be just the intervention your body needs to get a good night’s sleep.
Clearly, Chiropractic care can have beneficial effects on you far beyond simply adjusting your spine. If you are interested in feeling better physically and having your mood elevated, consider seeking us out for a consultation.