By Sandra Genest-Boudreau and Christophe O. Alves [email protected]
Sandra Genest-Boudreau is French-Canadian, who graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1990 before coming to the Algarve in 2002. She spent 10 years in a house practice in Québec city and two years in Vancouver. She is passionate about adjusting all her patients, particularly children. Christophe Alves graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) UK, and has a special interest in Sport Chiropractic.
Symptoms of abnormal digestive disorder are becoming increasingly more prevalent in our society.
Each year, millions of euros are spent on drugs to relieve heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, gas, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhoea and other digestive disorders.
Science and research have shown that chiropractic care offers a powerful solution to this modern-day epidemic.
Several studies have demonstrated the power of chiropractic adjustments restoring optimal function in individuals with digestive disturbances.
In a published case study, a young woman had been afflicted with Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms once or twice a week for five years.
After one adjustment, she noticed an easing of symptoms and within a short time all her digestive problems disappeared.
When the report was published two years later, she was still symptom free.
The nervous system controls digestive function from several different regions. Spinal misalignment in any of these regions can lead to neurological compromise and altered digestive function.
The lumbar region of the spine is often the source of many health problems. This lower back area of the spine serves as the relay centre for your brain’s control and regulation of many important organs and tissues.
And while the nervous system is very complex and every organ or tissue has multiple nerve supplies, here’s a new way of thinking about many common health complaints.
We can divide the lumbar area in five parts – from top to bottom:
• The large intestine, for example, is controlled in part by the L1 nerve root. Patients with a spinal disturbance at that level may experience constipation or diarrhoea symptoms.
• If you suffer from varicose veins, cramps or poor bladder control, you might experience some interference with the nerves that exit the spine in the vicinity of L12 because it controls the appendix, abdomen, bladder and upper leg.
• L3 nerves control the bladder, sexual organs, uterus and knees. Any disruption there can lead to irregular/painful periods, impotency, miscarriages or knee pain.
• How about backaches, sciatica or painful/frequent urination? The nerve root of L4 is often involved since the nerves there control the prostate gland and lower back muscles. L4 is also one of the branches that form the sciatic nerve.
• And if you experience leg cramps, cold feet, or swollen/weak ankles or legs, some of the nerves exiting at L5 could be the culprits. L5 controls the lower legs, ankles and feet.
Chiropractors are trained to search for the location of spinal misalignments termed subluxations.
A specific chiropractic adjustment realigns the altered regions and restores nerve supply to the deficient organs.
This approach honours the body’s innate ability to heal and works to harmonize this incredible life force in order to enhance organ function and quality of life.
Dr Sandra and Dr Christophe can be contacted at [email protected] or telephone 282 312 853, 969 397 375 or 913 696 370. Alternatively, visit the Algarve Quiroprática clinic at Quinta das Fontainhas along the EN125 in Pêra
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