The word “homeostasis” describes the body’s ability to maintain relatively stable internal

conditions even though the outside world is constantly changing. Communication within

the body is essential for homeostasis and is accomplished mainly by the nervous and

endocrine systems.

     The endocrine system consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid

gland, parathyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes. All of the organs

of the endocrine system are glands. Glands secrete hormones or chemical messengers into the bloodstream which have the potential to change the function of almost all of the

body’s cells and tissues. When a gland is working harder than the body needs it to, the

hormone system switches off; when the body needs the gland to speed up, the nervous

system turns on the switch again.

      The hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain, acts like radar receiving incoming

information from the nervous system. It then uses this information to coordinate hormone

production, producing regulatory or releasing hormones; these travel a short distance

through special blood vessels and nerve endings to the pituitary gland, which is often

referred to as the “master gland”. When the control system malfunctions – either too

much or too little of a particular hormone is secreted, or when an organ or tissue does not

respond efficiently – the results can lead to thyroid disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, pre-

menstrual syndrome (PMS), depression, cancer and many other disorders.

     The effectiveness of the hypothalamus is directly proportional to the functional capability

of the nervous system to send and receive nerve messages and especially to maintain

the integrity of those nerve messages as they travel along the spinal cord. Subluxations

interfere with the normal flow of nerve impulses and can either cause an increase or

decrease of nerve activity.

     When the spine is in its optimum structural position, the nervous system is protected

and the integrity of nerve impulses traveling to and from the brain is at an optimal level.

This is when the control system of the body can best achieve homeostasis. Have you had

your spine checked for subluxation or sub-optimal structural position? If not, schedule an

appointment today to do so, your body’s homeostasis depends on it!