In a recent blog, I discussed the “5 Steps to Healing” process we undertake at Greentree Chiropractic.
The purpose of this blog is to go into some more detail around Step 1 of the process – which is to switch the nervous system back on.
Why Your Nervous System Switches Off
Your nervous system is widely regarded as the ‘master system’ – it transmits messages between the brain and the body, and regulates all the functions of the body in response to the environment around it. One of its key functions is to protect the brain from being damaged.
The nervous system – your body’s ‘master system’.
There are many ways it must protect the brain, such as when the body is being overused or overwhelmed. This ‘overwhelming’ force can be external – like running unprepared for a marathon, or an internal force – including from intense stress or the response to toxic foods.
When the nervous system detects a potentially overwhelming force, it has the ability to “shut down” or “switch off”, as a short-term way of responding to the stimulus – just like a circuit breaker would in your home, to protect your appliances.
This adaptive shut down can occur throughout the body at various sites. It can affect motor nerves, sensory nerves, nerves to and from organs, and every aspect of the brain and its functions. The process is usually quickly reversed, however when the reversal doesn’t happen, you are left with a body and nervous system which is no longer functioning as it should.
If you have dysfunction, weakness or pain anywhere in the body that is not responding with rest, your body may remain ‘switched off’ and you are no longer healing to your full potential.
The Potential to Heal
I’ve found most people are surprised at how quickly the body can respond to treatment if the condition is related to a switched off nervous system. The healing potential is such that once the nervous system gains recognition, it can instantly switch back on and function will be restored. It is worth noting that the “fitness” of the restored system can take weeks and sometimes months to return.
The range of conditions that can be influenced is very broad, because as we’ve covered already, the nervous system is involved with all functions of the body. For every single muscle, organ and cell in the body, it is possible to check to see what healing potential can be restored.
It has only been possible in recent times to check a person’s nervous system for these ‘switching off’ type injuries, and then be able to assist the body back into its healing zone – so it can heal itself.
How Do We Help?
We activate nerve cells with a GRT Lite
Our low-force chiropractic tool – an Arthrostim
The combination of techniques we draw from at Greentree Chiropractic include Neurological testing (both traditional and functional forms), Chiropractic (using low force and ‘non-cracking’ applications with an Arthrostim), Applied Kinesiology (functional muscle testing of the body systems) and a heavily researched tool called a Low Level Light Therapy LLLT (we use a LED GRT Lite) – which radically speeds up nerve cell activation and healing.
We use this system to detect injuries in the motor, sensory, autonomic and central nervous systems. The treatments challenge and strengthen areas to “wake up” the body, and bring it back into the natural healing zone. Once back in the healing zone, the body can do what only the body can do…and that is heal.
Since the nervous system influences so much of our health, it makes good sense to have regular checkups which can reset switched off areas. Our recommendation is not to wait until you have symptoms before you come and see us, because just like maintaining our teeth or our cars and homes – regular check-ups and maintenance is the wise approach.