A reader asked me to talk about my experience with Network Chiropractic, a system developed by Dr. Donald Epstein. I don’t understand it on a deep level— I have only been to one Network Chiropractor and I love the work she does; which leads to a very important point before I continue. There are many brilliant systems out there but not nearly as many brilliant practitioners. I have found over and over again that the system doesn’t matter in the hands of either good or bad practitioners.
On a simple level Network Chiropractic works to bring harmony to the nervous system and I like ease in the nervous system. Here is a description of Network Chiropractic from a community website. I will paraphrase a bit:
Network Chiropractic refers to Chiropractors who utilize Network Spinal Analysis, a profound totally gentle and honoring way to evaluate and adjust the spine. The purpose of Network Chiropractic care is to allow restoration of proper nerve function for full health expression and peak performance.
Network Chiropractic is a gentle and honoring, systematic two-step method:
Step #1. Releasing the soft tissue structures that can twist and pull and bind the spinal bones. These soft tissue structures include the muscles and “Saran wrap-like” sheath that surrounds the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. Releasing these soft tissues that bind the spinal bones brings greater ease to the whole spinal system.
Step #2. Structurally guiding the misaligned spinal bones into proper alignment.
One interesting thing is that most network chiropractors have trained in other disciplines, most commonly, it seems to me, Applied Kiniesiology. AK as it is also known has a very wobbly reputation. Based on a system of neuro-lymphatics and muscle testing—the practitioner tests a muscle to see if it is “on” or “off”, and then, if it is off, massages you gently in a nerve pathway spot often far away from the muscle in question and voila, the muscle works. Crazy stuff but I have seen it in action and made excellent use of it on my own body that I find it impossible to discount.
So anyway, in as much as I am interested in Network Chiropractic, I am really interested in fine practitioners that transcend whatever their training is and go about bringing a sense of healing into peoples lives.