For more than 100 years, chiropractors have corrected subluxations of the spine. Subluxations cause diminished nerve and organ function, and spinal adjustments correct this structural side of the triangle. In recent decades, clinical research has greatly advanced our understanding of body chemistry and how it is affected by the foods we eat, exposure to toxic pollution, and allergens. Chiropractors either deal with this area directly or work in an alliance with professionals who do - thereby preserving the chemical side of the triangle. Chiropractors who practice Neuro Emotional Technique (N.E.T.) are using a very effective tool that addresses the emotional component of the triangle of health.

In the past, people related to emotions as being psychologically based. Now scientific discoveries have shown emotions are physiologically based.

"A complex reaction pattern of changes in nervous, visceral, and skeletal-muscle tissues response to a stimulus ... As a strong feeling, emotion is usually directed toward a specific person or event and involves wide-spread physiological changes, such as increased heart rate and inhibition of peristalsis." - THE LONGMAN DICTIONARY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY.

Recent advancements in neuroscience demonstrate that emotions are an interaction between chains of amino acids which form neuropeptides and receptors. Emotions are normal physiological (organic) processes in the body, some of which are pleasant and others which are quite unpleasant.

Just as the function of organs and muscles can be affected by subluxations, the function of emotions can also be affected. A muscle contracting, when and how you want it to, is normal function. When a muscle is in a state of constant contraction (or spasm) at an inappropriate time, it is abnormal function, and we seek help to relieve the nerve pressure that is causing it. Similarly, when an emotional response is happening at an inappropriate time, it is also abnormal function, and we likewise may seek out help to relieve the nerve pressure that is causing it.

We feel different emotions in different parts of our body in different ways. The ancient acupuncturists correlated the different emotions to different organ meridians in our body. For example: fear to the kidney, anger to the liver, grief to the lungs, etc. Although the primary locations for the physiology of emotions are in the brain, spine, autonomic nervous system, and acupuncture circuits, emotions do affect any and all parts of the body in a physiological way. Researchers have now demonstrated that emotional biochemicals travel to almost every cell in the body. It is generally recognized that every thought or feeling we do affects every cell of our body almost instantly.

N.E.T. acknowledges that we have emotional responses to significant events in our lives and then return to our "normal" state of being. It appears, however, our bodies hold onto a response and "lock it" in our sympathetic nervous system as a neuro-emotional complex (N.E.C.). Eventually, negative emotions (conscious or unconscious) may manifest as a spinal subluxation and a specific imbalance in a muscle, organ or acupuncture meridian. The net rsult is ill health and decreased enjoyment of life.

N.E.T. is a technique of finding and removing vertebral subluxations associated with N.E.C.'s which are preventing abnormal emotional responses from returning to their normal physiology.

The N.E.T. chiropractor uses muscle testing, body reflex points, and semantic reactions (physiological reactions to memories or words) to assist and guide you to recall a specific negative emotion and when it first occurred. This engages a specific neuro-emotional pattern. While you mentally hold the emotional memory, the doctor adjusts the associated spinal subluxations.

N.E.T. seeks to normalize a neurological imbalance using a structural correction, allowing a change in physiology. N.E.T. is not a psychological process or a spiritual activity.

When an N.E.C. is eliminated, the nervous system can work better. It is important to realize that spinal adjustments don't make life's problems go away. However, a person with a strong nervous system can usually deal with life's problems more effectively.

Just as an artichoke is composed of numerous skins we often carry accumulated layers of structural, biochemical and emotional factors causing ill health. The chiropractor observes and corrects each of these factors (including N.E.C.'s) as they surface. Thus, your return to health is actually a "peeling" process, in harmony with the timing of the body's own healing wisdom.

Is N.E.T. treatment safe? Yes. Qualified chiropractors correct an N.E.C. with a safe and gentle adjustment of the spine. The entire procedure is not unpleasant, and often patients express immediate relief following the spinal adjustment. Now that the emotional side of the triangle of health has been strengthened, the patient can make enhanced gains in structural and biochemical health.

It is worth noting that chiropractic adjustments do not heal the body, food supplements do not heal the body, and removing an N.E.C. does not heal the body. The body heals itself.

All "therapies" are only successful if they "remove the blocks" to allow the body's own healing wisdom to express itself.

Reprinted in part from the NET 1995 pamphlet