The original premise behind chiropractic is that the 3 T's, Thoughts, Traumas, and Toxins, are the cause of subluxations (spinal misalignments) that lead to dis-ease within the body. Since then, we have recently added a new T to the list, Technology. Our understanding of the human body has also expanded, as we now know that the 4 T's don't just cause a shift in the spine, but can cause changes throughout the entire nervous system. Nervous system stress at a rudimentary level occurs at the structure of the body, the spine. Daily stressors (Physical, Mental/Emotional, Technological, or Chemical) cause Tonal Shifts that obstruct the ability of the nervous system to communicate optimally to the whole body. The obstruction in the nervous system can weaken muscles, organs, and glands, setting the stage for sickness and disorders of all kinds. Once these foundational issues are corrected, allowing the body to stabilize and heal, many Secondary Conditions (commonly referred to as symptoms) resolve naturally.
Science is starting to catch up as more research is being conducted on the ill-effects that technology may be having on our bodies. Our body (not just our heart) is electrical in nature. Research is now showing that technology is having a profound effect on our health and the health of our children. Damage is not just coming from the device itself, but postural (physical) effects and emotional effects of spending hours looking at the negative and triggering information in emails, social media and the news. Technology is a well rounded insult to our body. Exposure to microwave radiation from cellphones, WIFI, and other wireless devices reduces melatonin levels, as does blue light from screens used after sunset. Blue light is a circadian signal that tells your brain that it is daytime, and that melatonin is not needed. Exposure to blue light at night, artificial light at night, and working the night shift stops melatonin production at the very time when it is needed. It is almost certain that the increased use of smartphones, tablets, and computers in the last decade is directly tied to several types of cancer (including breast and prostate), diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and decreased testosterone levels in younger generations. Technology is so hyper-arousing that it raises dopamine levels, the feel-good neurotransmitter involved in drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. Hundreds of clinical studies show that screen use increases depression, anxiety and aggression, and can even lead to psychotic-like behavior and a loss of touch with reality. Screen time affects the frontal cortex of children. Technology leading to postural shifts (physical microtrauma). Each device that we use emits a magnetic field and non-ionizing radiation.
So how can we best physiologically adapt to this new technological world while maintaining our health and wellness?
To read more, check out: https://paulaowens.com/blue-light-at-night/ and https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
We are finding that more people are becoming aware of how their internal dialog affects their physical body. A main tenant of Bruce Lipton’s teaching on epigenetics is the concept that your biography, your perception, and your beliefs will be reflected in your biological processes. It is not just in your head, it emulates throughout your entire body. These thoughts may not just be your own, but stresses that are placed upon us by family, friends, coworkers, and society as a whole. Scientific research is coming out with great studies that support how emotions and thoughts can get stored in areas of our body and present as pain or organ dysfunction. Here are some resources that we have found useful. Books: Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton , Present moment wonderful moment by Thich Nhat Hanh, Feeling Good by David Burns, and Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh. Apps: Headspace, Expectful and Hallow
Macro trauma is usually what we associate with symptoms or pain that we are experiencing. It is easy for us to blame the accident, fall, or surgery for the immediate pain that results. There is a clear causation. In many instances, these macro traumas may cause short term shifts and compensations that result in a particular pain pattern. Over years, these shifts and changes may cause a new symptom to miraculously appear. These macro traumas caused compensations which may be sub-threshold of causing a symptom to appear. Over the years, that compensation or misalignment did not resolve, and new stress was added on top until it reached a significance to cause a symptom or dysfunction to appear. Micro trauma is another subcategory of trauma that causes subluxation and tonal shifts: our day-to-day minor physical stresses. This can be anything from working out, repetitive motions, sitting too much, breastfeeding, and carrying children to name a few. These are movements that we do daily that do not cause any acute disturbance or awareness in our body, but overtime the microtraumas accumulate into dis-ease.
To read more, check out Desk Bound by Kelly Starrett and Overcoming Poor Posture by Steven Low.
Toxins encompass everything we absorb, ingest, or inhale. This is everything from the meals we consume, medications, products we apply to our skin, cleaning supplies we use, and even the air we breathe. Our body must assimilate and detox. We can do our best to choose non-toxic products, but encountering some level of toxins is inevitable. Any exposure will alter our physiology and alter the way our nervous system functions. This website shares how toxic your products are and provides healthier options: www.EWG.org. To continue reading about common toxins that impact our lives daily, check out our blog on Clean Home Cleaning
Some stress is inevitable; however, we can take strides toward mitigating the number of stressors that we need to adapt to on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This allows the body to communicate properly and adapt to these daily stresses better. With a nervous system free from obstruction the potentials and possibilities of your life are endless.
Resource Center:
Research on the effects of Blue light:
Blue light glasses: https://www.pixeleyewear.com
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/3kExxRe
Invisible Rainbow by Arthur Firstenburg: https://amzn.to/3hUiMZ2
Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton: https://amzn.to/3BnU1Md
Present Moment, Wonderful Moment by Tich Nat Han: https://amzn.to/2Uq4QwW
Feeling Good by David Burns: https://amzn.to/3xWHXzv
Anger: Cooling the Flames by Tich Nat Han: https://amzn.to/3hOHvhc
Deskbound by Kelly Starrett: https://amzn.to/3wUqTss
Overcoming Poor Posture by Steven Low: https://amzn.to/2V0Iqly
Clean beauty products and facial cleansing: https://credobeauty.com
Non-toxic makeup: https://www.beautycounter.com