About Dr. Don MacDonald
Dr. Don MacDonald Chiropractor teaches a nervous system-centered approach to chiropractic care rooted in safety, connection, regulation, and human potential.
Trusted by chiropractors worldwide
From Pain To Purpose To Polyvagal
In short: Dr. Don MacDonald is a Canadian chiropractor with 29 years in practice who teaches chiropractors a polyvagal-informed, nervous-system-centred approach to care. He co-founded The Informed Chiropractor with his wife, Brandi MacDonald, and hosts The Informed Chiropractor Podcast.
Let’s get one thing straight—I didn’t always speak the language of the nervous system.
Like many chiropractors, I came into practice with a deep conviction that chiropractic was more than pain relief. I knew in my bones this profession was built to change lives.
But I didn’t have the words or the framework to explain how it actually worked—especially when results were inconsistent or patients emotionally shut down.
I believed in vitalistic chiropractic, but I couldn’t always articulate it in a way that felt grounded.
Until I found the Polyvagal Theory.
This one framework helped me connect the dots between what I felt as a chiropractor, and what I saw happening in people’s bodies and lives.
It explained why some people thrived under care while others plateaued. Why safety wasn’t just a nice vibe in the office—it was the entry point to healing.
And it changed everything.
Let’s get one thing straight—I didn’t always speak the language of the nervous system.
Like many chiropractors, I came into practice with a deep conviction that chiropractic was more than pain relief. I knew in my bones this profession was built to change lives.
But I didn’t have the words or the framework to explain how it actually worked—especially when results were inconsistent or patients emotionally shut down.
I believed in vitalistic chiropractic, but I couldn’t always articulate it in a way that felt grounded.
Until I found the Polyvagal Theory.
This one framework helped me connect the dots between what I felt as a chiropractor, and what I saw happening in people’s bodies and lives.
It explained why some people thrived under care while others plateaued. Why safety wasn’t just a nice vibe in the office—it was the entry point to healing.
And it changed everything. 
Who I Am (And Who I'm Not)
I’m not here to make chiropractic more medical.
I’m not here to slap a new name on your technique or teach you how to market adjustments like a supplement.
I’m here to help you remember what you already know—
and give you a scientific framework to make it unshakable.
I graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1997 and have been in practice for 29 years, helping chiropractors better understand nervous system regulation, patient communication, and Polyvagal Theory.
I’ve worked with hundreds of chiropractors through seminars, coaching and the Informed Chiropractor Collective.
I’m the author of The Underdog Curse, and developer of The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, which Brandi helped shape into its structure and framework: a chiropractic adjusting system rooted in neurological safety and Polyvagal-informed care.
I developed the pelvic floor protocol as well, and Brandi MacDonald helped turn my ideas into the structure and framework it is today.
I also served as president of the Edmonton Chiropractic Society for seven years, and I wrote The Underdog Curse: The Cause, The Cure, Your Road to Success, available on Amazon.
Today, alongside my wife Brandi, we run The Informed Chiropractor, a mentorship community for chiropractors who are done with surface-level strategy and ready to go deep.
What I Believe
The adjustment is still the most powerful tool we have.
Regulation, not exhaustion, creates sustainability.
People don’t just need to be fixed. They need to feel safe.
Chiropractic is not outdated. It’s just been underexplained.
The vagus nerve is not just a buzzword—it’s the master key to healing.
The Polyvagal Theory for Chiropractors
FREE 6-VIDEO COURSE
Introduction to Chiropractic Through a Polyvagal Lens.
Discover how understanding the nervous system transforms the way you adjust, communicate, and lead your practice.
Trusted by chiropractors seeking deeper patient connection and purpose-driven care.
This Work Is For Chiropractors Who…
If these ideas resonate with you, you’re probably in the right place.
- Believes in a salutogenic model of health
- Wants nervous system understanding
- Struggles to explain chiropractic
- Feels something is missing
- Wants to bridge science and philosophy
The podcast
The Informed Chiropractor Podcast has more than 200 episodes on the nervous system, communication and the human side of practice. Brandi often joins me.
A book is coming
Brandi and I are finishing The Polyvagal Shift, a book for chiropractors on adjusting, communicating and leading through a polyvagal lens. It’s planned for January 2027.
How To Work With Us
Whether you want to learn, deepen your understanding, or transform your practice—there’s a path forward.
Understanding the Nervous System
Communicating Through Connection
Understanding the Body’s Signals
Techniques for Regulation
Frequently Asked Questions About Polyvagal Chiropractic
Learn more about Polyvagal Theory, nervous system regulation, chiropractic philosophy, patient communication, and Dr. Don MacDonald’s approach to chiropractic care.
What is a Polyvagal Chiropractor?
Learn more about Polyvagal Theory, nervous system regulation, chiropractic philosophy, patient communication, and Dr. Don MacDonald’s approach to chiropractic care.
What is Polyvagal Theory in chiropractic?
Polyvagal Theory helps chiropractors understand how the nervous system responds to stress, safety, connection, and healing during patient care and communication.
Who is Dr. Don MacDonald?
Dr. Don MacDonald is a chiropractor, mentor, speaker, and educator known for teaching Polyvagal-informed chiropractic care, nervous system regulation, and patient-centered communication.
How does nervous system regulation affect chiropractic care?
Nervous system regulation influences healing, stress adaptation, movement, communication, emotional resilience, and how patients respond to chiropractic care.
What is salutogenic chiropractic?
Salutogenic chiropractic focuses on supporting health, adaptability, resilience, and nervous system function rather than only addressing symptoms or pain.
Who developed the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol?
I did. Brandi MacDonald helped turn my ideas into the structure and framework it is today.
How many chiropractors has Dr. Don MacDonald worked with?
Hundreds, through seminars, coaching and the Informed Chiropractor Collective.