The nervous system is the master control system of the body. In the Gray's Anatomy textbook it says, "The nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and structures of the human body."

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and all of the nerves that travel throughout the body.

The brain acts like the central computer. It's the control center that gives your body instructions of what to do.

For your body to be healthy and work properly, your brain has to be able to communicate with the rest of the body without any problems.

Your brain communicates with your body through the nerves. Think of the nerves as the communication lines between the brain and the rest of the body.

As long as your brain can send information to your body via these nerves without any problems, your body will operate and function normally.

However, if there is anything interfering with the brain's ability to communicate with the body, or the body's ability to communicate with the brain, then there's going to be a problem.

In other words, if something interferes with the nerve pathways from the brain to the body, then the body will start to malfunction. There will be consequences. Your organs, tissues, and structures will become unhealthy and with enough time you will develop pain, symptoms, or other serious health problems.

Let me give you an example.

Do you know who Christopher Reeve is?

Christopher Reeve was the actor who played Superman in the movies.

Unfortunately he suffered a great tragedy while doing a hobby he loved...riding horses.

In May of 1995, it was during the cross-country portion of such an event in Culpeper, Virginia, that Reeve's Thoroughbred, Eastern Express, balked at a rail jump, pitching his rider forward. Reeve's hands were tangled in the horse's bridle and he landed head first, fracturing the uppermost vertebrae in his neck.

The injury to his spine had caused so much trauma to the spinal cord and spinal nerves that he instantly became paralyzed. Later, the doctors determined that Reeve's brain was working perfectly...it just wasn't able to send information to or receive information from the rest of the body because of the damage to the spinal cord.

Do you see what happens when the brain is unable to communicate with the rest of the body? I've shown you that if the nerve pathway is damaged badly enough it can cause paralysis, but what else can it cause?

When adults have nerve interference, it can cause back pain, neck pain, headaches, stomach trouble, fatigue, depression, muscle spasm and tension, numbness, tingling, loss of strength, loss of flexibility, and the list goes on. It can cause hundreds of symptoms and areas of malfunction in the body.

In kids when there's a problem with the nerve pathways it can cause ear infections, colic, bedwetting, reflux, fatigue, and pain to name a few.

As soon as there's interference to the nerve "communication" pathways, the body will malfunction.

It's important that you know that you could feel great and not even be aware that your body is malfunctioning. Almost every disease or health problem in the body always starts off painless.

There are people who have been given a clean bill of health at the doctor's office and have died of a fatal heart attack a week later.

Malfunction in the body starts off painless. Don't assume that just because you feel good you or a loved one doesn't have interference to your nerve system. After all, cavities start out painless. Cancer starts out painless. Spinal problems start out painless.

So How Does Chiropractic Work?

The goal of chiropractic care is to restore health to the spine, muscles, and nervous system. If your spine is causing interference to your nervous system, your body will immediately start to malfunction.

It's important to keep your spine as healthy as possible because any irritation or interference to your spinal cord or spinal nerves will negatively affect your health.

Dr. Dan Greenlee is a board certified chiropractor and clinic director of Pinnacle Spine Center in Olympia, WA. Dr. Greenlee helps people in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and the surrounding areas.