Chiropractic Basics: The Straight Facts

Dr. Gregg D. Rubinstein, a chiropractor at 57th Street Chiropractic in New York City, tells us the basics on chiropractic.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free healing profession that focuses on eliminating pressure from the nervous system by maintaining proper alignment of the spine.

What is vertebral subluxation?
Vertebral subluxation is a misalignment of one of the bones in the spine that puts pressure on the nerve, causing pain and nerve system malfunction.

What are some of the effects of this misalignment?
The effects must be understood by looking at the body as a whole. If you understand how the body works, there is the brain, the spinal cord and all the spinal nerves that exit from the adjacent vertebrae or in between the bones. When those spinal bones get misaligned, it puts pressure on the nerves. Those nerves sense pain and move muscles, so one can get muscle spasms and pain. But that is actually only 10% of what your nerve system does. The other 90% is controlling and coordinating every cell in every organ and system in your body. After breakfast, when you digest your food, that does not require active thought, but happens automatically via your nerve system. If there is pressure on your nerves, those processes can be slowed down. So if you have pressure on your nerve system, your immune system function will be suppressed and you will not be as healthy as you can be.

For example: Remember [the late actor] Christopher Reeves [who had a spinal cord injury due to falling off a horse]? If you looked at his lungs, they were totally healthy yet he could not breathe on his own. That was because he had an extreme amount of pressure on his spinal cord, and therefore on his nervous system. If you put his legs under a microscope and examined them, they were totally healthy. What was missing? There was pressure on the nerves that control his legs so he got no nerve energy to his legs and they did not work. The same thing can happen with the nerves that go to any other part of your body.

What is innate intelligence?
Innate intelligence is basically your body’s infinite wisdom. Your digestive system works automatically. When a baby is born, it knows that it needs to suck right away. That suckling reflex is inherent. That is inborn, genetic – innate. So your innate intelligence is the power that made the body and heals the body. The innate intelligence takes 23 chromosomes from Mom and 23 chromosomes from Dad and puts that genetic code together into a single cell. It is innate intelligence that directs that cell to form a perfect being with 10 fingers, 10 toes and everything symmetrical. All this is according to your DNA and innate intelligence is the expression of your DNA. It is the life force within you that controls and coordinates your body. That’s what helps you fight disease and that’s what helps you understand words and helps you process it. All that happens innately. Innate basically means inborn – so that is your inborn intelligence.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.