Why Some Adjustments Create Greater Regulation Than Others: A Polyvagal Perspective

There is a pattern I see over and over again in chiropractors, entrepreneurs, and high achievers stuck between who they are and who they know they could become. They say they want to build the kind of practice, relationship, or health that reflects their true potential, yet they try to do it while staying emotionally

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How to Adjust With Neurological Safety in Mind

Leave a Comment / Blog, Clinical Application in Chiropracic, latest stories, popular / Don MacDonald

The Soft Skills Chiropractors Aren’t Taught Every chiropractor learns how to deliver an adjustment. Very few learn how to help a nervous system receive one.That is the real differentiator in our profession.Most chiropractors think better results come from changing technique, force, or speed. But what they are craving is connection, presence, and nervous system awareness.

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Updating Stephenson’s 33 Principles

Leave a Comment / Blog, latest stories, Modern Chiropractic Philosophy / Don MacDonald

How Neuroscience Supports Chiropractic Today Modern chiropractic philosophy is evolving as neuroscience finally catches up with what chiropractors have observed for generations. There’s a moment every chiropractor has sooner or later.You’re standing in your practice, looking at a patient who just changed right in front of you, and you think, “There is no way this

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What Chiropractors Need to Know About the Vagus Nerve: A Modern Guide

Leave a Comment / Blog, latest stories, Polyvagal Theory for Chiropractors / Don MacDonald

If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed something: the vagus nerve has become the “celebrity nerve” of the healthcare world. Everyone, from neurologists to mental health therapists to influencers on TikTok, is talking about vagal tone, regulation, breathwork, and inflammation.But here’s the truth chiropractors need to know:We’ve been working

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What Is Polyvagal Theory in Chiropractic?

Leave a Comment / Blog, Polyvagal Theory for Chiropractors, popular, The Informed Chiropractor / Don MacDonald

Why Should Chiropractors Care? You’ve probably heard the term “Polyvagal Theory” floating around more often in the last few years—especially in trauma-informed circles. But what exactly is it?And more importantly: what does it have to do with chiropractic care? The short answer?Everything. The Basics of Polyvagal Theory Polyvagal Theory was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges.It

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Neurodivergent Chiropractic Care Rooted in Nervous System Regulation

Leave a Comment / Blog, Clinical Applications of Nervous System-Based Care, The Informed Chiropractor / Brandi MacDonald Co-Founder of The Informed Chiropractor

Stop Trying to “Fix” Neurodivergent Kids: A Chiropractic Approach Rooted in Regulation In chiropractic today, we’re still seeing it: The rampant pathologizing of children with neurodevelopmental differences.The rush to “fix what’s wrong.”The promises to restore speech, stop stimming, or eliminate meltdowns. This kind of approach doesn’t just miss the mark—it can actually add grief to

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Pediatric Chiropractic Care Through Nervous System Regulation

Leave a Comment / Blog, Polyvagal Theory for Chiropractors, The Informed Chiropractor / Brandi MacDonald Co-Founder of The Informed Chiropractor

Why Regulating the Caregiver Is the Most Important Part of Pediatric Chiropractic Care Mammals birth live mammals.It’s one of the defining features that sets us apart from reptiles and birds—and it shapes how our nervous systems develop from the very beginning. Unlike reptiles or birds, which are born with fully functioning nervous systems, mammals require

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The Real Work of a Nervous System Chiropractor

Leave a Comment / Blog, Clinical Applications of Nervous System-Based Care, The Informed Chiropractor / Brandi MacDonald Co-Founder of The Informed Chiropractor

Discernment, Interoception, and the Real Work of a Nervous System Chiropractor Yesterday, a young woman walked into our practice and wrote just one word on her intake form:“Injured.” April 2025. But her story started long before that. She had already survived a T-bone accident with a semi truck in 2019. She’s been on long-term disability

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