Blog #146 Spinal Alignment and Good Posture Support Health, Intellect and Intuition
If you have suffered from back, neck, hip or other musculoskeletal pain, you probably noticed that pain interferes with concentration and perception of details and nuances you may encounter. Not only is pain a distraction – chronic pain will eventually contribute to the body’s inflammation load. Chronic inflammation, in turn, often results in deeper problems – osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Sjogren’s syndrome , generalized physical and mental tension, anxiety and depression. Also, the discomfort, distorted posture and bodily tension due to spinal misalignment interfere with breathing, blood and lymphatic circulation and tissue oxygenation. So, spinal misalignment and consequent sub-optimal posture can be problematic in ways that some of us did not expect.
In the past, I noticed that when I was able to help relieve back pain in patients who suffered from anxiety and/or depression, the pain relief resulted in improved mental focus, reduced fatigue and balanced moods. When spinal adjustments were accompanied by improved nutrition, then digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and chronic constipation were significantly diminished or even eliminated. Several of my patients felt so well after regaining physical comfort, improved posture and a healthful diet that, under their PCP’s supervision, they were weaned off anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications without ill effects or relapses. Sometimes, they also availed themselves of counseling and began to exercise regularly. Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Yoga and walking out of doors in Nature all can be helpful. Some used Flower Essences or learned Meditation or Self-Hypnosis.
When the body is comfortable and balanced and the mind is calm and able to perceive subtle thoughts and physical changes, this can put a person in a receptive, intuitive state. Each improvement builds on the previous one: improved musculoskeletal alignment and posture, improved nutrition and digestive/eliminative function, improved blood and lymph circulation, improved neurological function, more relaxed, efficient breathing, balanced emotions, sharper mind, and finally, enhanced intuition and creativity.
Spinal and other musculoskeletal adjusting tends to be the most direct and quickest way to reduce discomfort comfort and improve posture, but it is best to pair adjustments with some of the exercises mentioned previously to help support and maintain improvements. Dietary improvement and other lifestyle changes are also important, especially sufficient sleep, stress reduction or stress management, reduction of internal (i.e. excess cortisol) and external (i.e. pesticides) toxins, and a positive, constructive sense of purpose or meaning in life.
This blog’s offer: feel free to contact me for Chiropractic adjusting, Flower Essence therapy, Hypnosis/Self-Hypnosis, nutritional suggestions, Acupuncture, or Strong Posture instruction. Enjoy Spring!
Dr. Elaine Wagner Holistic Health 