How Chiropractic Care Can Help You Sleep Better, Naturally
As a child, you resisted and protested bedtime like it was a corrupt government oppressing its citizens. But as an adult, the definition of a perfect night includes being in bed by 9 PM followed by 8 hours of deep, restful sleep and at least 4 REM cycles. Oh, how the tables have turned.
Quality sleep is an essential pillar of health at every age, vital for cognitive and immune function, recovery, brain detoxification, and so much more.
If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, you’ve probably tried all of the things: melatonin, magnesium, maybe even NiQuil. But the problem with relying on these outside-in methods is that they are essentially band-aids that don’t address the essential question: why can’t I fall or stay asleep?
Keep reading to learn why taking an inside-out approach instead is the lasting solution to experiencing the deep, quality, restful sleep that you so desperately desire.
SLEEP REQUIRES A CALM NERVOUS SYSTEM
Sleep, like every other function in the body, is coordinated by the nervous system.
Your spine does so much more than just hold you upright—it houses a complex neurological highway, sending millions of messages back and forth between your brain and body every second. The quality of that communication determines every aspect of how your body runs, including how well you sleep and wake up.
When the spine becomes misaligned – which can happen due to an injury or fall, prolonged sitting, poor sleeping positions, or even chemical and emotional stressors – the brain and body cannot communicate optimally.
Your nervous system operates in two main modes: sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-relaxation). Optimal sleep requires a shift from sympathetic dominance to parasympathetic activation—a transition that can be disrupted by nervous system interference caused by misalignments in the spine.
When the nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, the body prioritizes survival above all else, meaning sleep, digestion, and any type of healing gets put on the back burner. Your body can’t be in growth and protection mode at the same time.
Think about it: when your ancestors slept outdoors next to a fire, they had to keep one eye open in case a bear were to attack in the middle of the night. And even though we no longer face those conditions, we’re facing a whole different set of stressors. Unfortunately, your body and brain doesn’t know the difference between your financial stress, work stress, family stress, etc, and being chased by a bear.
HOW CHIROPRACTIC HELPS SLEEP
The absolute best thing you can do for your nervous system is to receive neurologically-focused chiropractic care.
A neurologically-based chiropractor will gently correct misalignments in the spine, in turn helping your nervous system function optimally! (In our office, we take this a step further by conducting neurological scans to assess how well your nervous system is functioning as a whole, then making very specific corrections.) Because the body is working better, many people report improved sleep, improved digestion, improved immunity, and even an improved mood after their adjustment! A healthy nervous system allows you to not only sleep better, but thrive overall in every aspect of your health and life.
WHO DOES CHIROPRACTIC HELP?
The best part? Every person has a spine and nervous system, meaning the healing properties of chiropractic apply to everyone! So whether you have a cranky baby who refuses to sleep, a wired-and tired toddler, a night owl teenager, or you’re a parent who’s chronically functioning on 3 hours of sleep (and 4 cups of coffee), chiropractic can help anyone and everyone get the restful sleep they need.
WHAT KIND OF CHIROPRACTOR SHOULD I SEE?
Believe it or not, not all chiropractors are the same–there are over 200 different types of chiropractic techniques. So if you had a negative experience with a chiropractor in the past, don’t write off chiropractic as a whole–find a different one (just like if you got a bad haircut you wouldn’t stop cutting your hair, you’d find a new hairdresser)!
When researching a chiropractor near you, make sure that they talk about the nervous system on their website and/or social media, or call their office to ensure that they are neurologically-based.
In our office, we practice the Gonstead technique, which is the most specific, analytical, neurological technique out there, and it’s why we get incredible results (check out our 400+ 5 star Google reviews and YouTube testimonials!). If you are local to Northeast Florida, we would love to help you and your family on your journey towards better sleep and optimal health!
