Precision Upper Cervical adjusting is a little-known chiropractic procedure
that corrects the position of the top vertebrae of the spine, the atlas and/or
axis. By correcting the tilt, shift or rotation of these vertebrae, the body is
able to more overcome the affects or completely eliminate many different conditions.
The atlas is a single, 2 oz. doughnut-shaped vertebra at the top of the spine.
Trillions of nerve fibers from the brainstem travel through the small opening
in atlas and flow down into the spinal column. Because of the smallness of the
opening and because of the atlas' close proximity to the brain stem, if the
atlas has moved out of the position even a fraction of a degree, two very
serious things can result.

When the atlas and/or axis are out of their proper position,
the head moves off center of the body. This creates body imbalance
from head to toe. More weight shifts to one side of the body than the other.
If these vertebrae are also rotated out of position, they can twist your
entire spinal structure, including the pelvis, so that one leg becomes
shorter than another. (See illustrations.) Not having your atlas corrected
to restore body balance is like continuing to drive a car that is misaligned.
Your tires are going to wear out prematurely. You can keep replacing the tires,
but unless you have the car aligned, you'll just be wasting your money. The
same thing is true for headaches or ADD or hundreds of other conditions that
have been known to respond well to Upper Cervical health care. You can keep
taking medication, but if your atlas is out of its proper position and causing
the problem, it's not going away until you get your atlas corrected and body
balance restored.
Restriction or Distortion of Brain Messages to Different Parts of the Body
The second serious result of an atlas and/or axis being out of position
is the restriction or distortion of critical messages from the brain to
all parts of the body. Every cell, organ or tissue that is not receiving
adequate nerve energy and communication from the brain will suffer and
degenerate. Example: Ball your hand into a fist. This represents your head.
Extend your index finger as if you are pointing at someone. Your index
finger represents your body. Take a rubber band and wrap it tightly around
your index finger at the base of the finger where it is attached to your
hand. The rubber band represents your atlas which is wrapped around the
spinal cord right near the brain stem and has moved out of its proper
position. Wait a few minutes. Your entire finger begins to turn white and
blue due to the circulation being cut off by the rubber band. You can massage
your finger to restore circulation. You can inject a syringe with pain
medication to stop the pain. In severe cases you can cut off the finger to
erase the pain. However, only the symptoms of the problem have been addressed,
not the cause. The rubber band is the cause. The same thing is true for an
atlas that has moved out of its proper position. It can constrict or distort
proper brain messages to organs and limbs throughout the body. Your feet may
hurt or you may be having kidney problems, not the cause of the problem may
not be in those areas at all but in your neck where misaligned atlas is
restricting or distorting brain messages to areas throughout the body.
If your atlas remains out of position for years, degeneration of organ, muscle
and cell tissue results. Over time, that could be serious, since in many
conditions, pain is the last symptom to occur to indicate a problem exists.
Now. Here's the Good News!
Repositioning the top vertebrae of the spine brings healing!
Here's How!

The repositioning of the atlas vertebrae is done by hand or by instrument.
Depending on the doctor's technique, it feels like a light tap, a brisk thrust,
or a soft massage at the side of the neck as the atlas is moved precisely back
into its correct position. It is completely "underwhelming." There is no
twisting of the neck. Patients are often surprised how anticlimactic it is
until, over a period of time, they feel their bodies healing. The procedure
cures nothing. It simply restores body balance and brain-to-body communication
so that organs. limbs and tissues can resume normal functioning The body can
now self-heal. That is why we see many different conditions responding to the
same procedure. However, too many of us wait too long to get our atlases
corrected. This is mainly due to ignorance of the vital role the atlas plays in
the health of the entire body throughout life. It is becoming increasingly clear
that parents should have their children’s atlas examined as soon after birth as
possible and have periodic atlas checkups throughout their lives. Countless
problems could be avoided entirely. A rightly positioned atlas is so fundamental
to good health, children to grandparents need to get their atlases examined now.
- NACUCC; illustrations by Dr. Daniel O. Clark (Reprint with permission from
Daniel O. Clark, D.C. 702-896-9228)
We are constantly adding information and revisions, so please check back often.
HIO Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Newport Beach, CA.