Chiropractic focuses primarily on the spine and any misalignments of the vertebrae. When the spine is in alignment, the brain properly and effectively sends information to the body about what to do and the body responds appropriately. When a subluxation, or spinal misalignment, occurs, neurotransmitters are interrupted from arriving at their designated location and various functions in the body don’t work as intended.

Dr. Holder, in an interview with Alternative Medicine, discussed the concept of “brain reward cascade chemicals.” Essentially, these brain chemicals must take a specific route in your body and do so in a particular order. When this cascade is interrupted, a person does not experience the “reward” of the domino effect of brain chemicals, resulting in “reward deficiency syndrome.” When a person doesn’t get the feel-good chemicals at the end of the brain reward cascade, they often seek alternative forms of pleasure, such as mood-altering substances or activities.

A subluxation creates interference not only in your nerves and spinal cord, but in the transmission of these brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters. So when these subluxations are removed with chiropractic adjustments, the body’s full function is restored.