Special thanks to Dr. Frankie Scali for alerting me to today's piece of research.

A recent study out of Japan looked at the effects of Chiropractic adjustments on the glucose usage patterns of the brain. This glucose uptake is indicitive of specific changes in brain activation and central nervous system response after the patient was adjusted by a chiropractor.

The data is fascinating: Chiropractic adjustments affected the body by increasing the brain's sugar metabolism in the areas of the brain associated with planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, risk management, emotions, social behavior, moderating heart rate, and moderating blood pressure.

This means that the chiropractic adjustment allows the brain and body to better regulate our emotions, behavior, blood pressure, and decision making.

Not only that, but further investigation showed that the adjustment reduced excitation in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. This is the part of our nervous system that controls what we commonly know as "fight or flight". Many people experience a constant state of fight-or-flight (also known as Sympathetic Dominance) due to ongoing stress, which means that this part of your nervous system is over-active. This type of person has difficulty relaxing, is often "keyed up", and is often exhausted but can't sleep. 

This reasearch suggests that a chiropractic adjustment from a qualified chiropractor is able to relieve that excitation, granting a sensation of greater relief.

Lastly, in addition to increased brain activity and increased relaxation, this study confirmed the effective pain relief granted by the chiropractic adjustment.

So if you want your brain to work as efficiently as possible, while staying relaxed, calm, and with less pain, call your chiropractor today. 

Reference: Tashiro M, Ogura T, Masud M, et al., Cerebral metabolic changes in men after chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2011 Nov-Dec;17(6):12-7.