The founding father of chiropractic, Dr. D.D. Palmer, developed a theory that spinal misalignment caused nerve pressure or irritation which in turn caused various ailments. He realized that the structure and condition of the body influenced how the body functioned and its ability to heal itself, without the use of drugs or surgery. This simple philosophy has healed people and has prevented unwanted injury and illness for over a century! But to fully understand the chiropractic perspective, one must learn a bit about the nervous system, or how our bodies are "wired".

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The brain is divided into sections and stores and receives an incredible amount of information. But this information needs a way to get in and out. Nerves provide a pathway for this information to travel, and the spinal cord is made up of bundles of these nerves. The spine both houses and protects the spinal cord. Nerve dysfunctions can result from any number of factors such as falls, accidents, stress, tension, or over use. These events can alter our "wiring" and create pain or discomfort in our bodies.

Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to locate the source of pain or disconfort (it may actually be far from the actual location where the symptom is occurring) and then they correct or adjust the joints in the body and set it up to heal on its own. The misalignment is called a subluxation.

The important thing to remember is that chiropractic success occurs by addressing the source of the problem, not just treating the symptoms.

Because helping the body heal itself involves many facets chiropractors also provide lifestyle advice to help prevent illness and injury. Diet and nutrition, fitness and ergonomics, and other areas in your life contribute or diminish your overall health. By making the right choices one can live a life full of wellness and vitality.

First and foremost is the understanding that your child's brain and nervous system controls and coordinates every function of he body, including the immune system, biochemistry, and hormones. Your child's nervous system also controls how the body heals and regulates. Thus, you want to make sure that your child's spine and nervous system are developing and functioning properly; in our view, the best educated and expert to determine this is a Doctor of Chiropractic.

After taking a proper history about your child and doing an evaluation, a Doctor of Chiropractic will determine the extent of your child's interference in the nervous system, which is typically a subluxation or minor misalignment of the vertebrae. All children, from birth onward, should be checked on a regular basis to determine whether there are spinal postural alterations, which can negatively affect the child's nervous system and the way the child's body heals and regulates.

What goes into your child's body for the first year of life is essential to influence their health. It is recommended that a child is breastfed exclusively for the first 6 - 9 months, before one vegetable or fruit is introduced. Then slowly introduce new foods individually every 4 - 7 days, As long as the child's nervous system is being evaluated properly, the child should usually be able to digest and assimilate the right foods properly. Dairy products, hydrogenated oils or trans fats, refined sugars, fruit juices and processed foods should be avoided in your child's diet. As parents, it is important for you to be a role model and set up healthy eating habits.

Exercise is also paramount in maximizing the health, coordination and fitness level of your child. It is important to keep them away from the television and computer so they remain physically and mentally active. This will ensure that they maximize their immune system and brain function, provided they maintain their spinal care and remain subluxation free.

Last but certainly not least, you want your children to be raised in a loving, positive and supportive environment where there is a connection between parents and children. You always want to ensure that they feel safe and protected. This creates a sense of well-being for the children to flourish. Children are designed to be healthy, but the better understanding we have as parents, the more we will be able to take control and make better decisions for their health and well-being.

Reference- Warner, S, Warner, T. Health By Design

Chiropractic Wellness and Fitness magazine - Vol. 3 Issue 5, 2004