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Appearing in the August 9, 2006, issue of The Southern Health Magazine is an overview article on chiropractic. This article, written by Southern Health Contributor Joanna Gray, is aimed at an audience in southern Illinois and provides an introduction to chiropractic care, particularly for those who have not experienced it before.

The article begins by explaining that common traumas to the spine can create damage, leading to misalignments that affect the nervous system. It goes on to emphasize that chiropractic care is based on the philosophy that the body is a self-healing organism and that spinal adjustments are the primary mode of care.

Dr. Steven Barrett, an Illinois chiropractor, is quoted in the article, explaining, “The joints in the spine are supposed to move in a certain way. If they’re moving properly, then we’re pretty certain that the nervous system is, too. But if the joints aren’t working properly, they will start to degenerate and ultimately the person will have disc problems. And at the same time, that puts pressure on the nervous system.”

Dr. Barrett further explains that every cell in the body— including all organs and tissues— is controlled and coordinated by the nervous system. Therefore, if pressure on nerves from misaligned spinal bones, known as “subluxations,” occurs, the part of the body controlled by those nerves will not function properly. He states, “Chiropractic promotes the removal of pressure from a nerve so it has the ability to function more normally.”

The article also discusses chiropractic care for children and infants. It highlights that colic is a problem that chiropractors have seen relieved in babies under chiropractic care. Dr. Brian Bird, another Illinois chiropractor interviewed for the article, describes chiropractic care for infants, stating, “Chiropractic for babies is the same as for adults, but with less force.” He further explains how chiropractic can help babies with colic, referring to a previous scientific study: “(In the study) nerve interference expressed itself as colic. But once the interference was freed up, the incidences of colic stopped or were greatly reduced. There is a much greater understanding today of how chiropractic works in many other areas than just back pain or whiplash.”