Congratulations Gert!

Please join us in congratulating chiropractor Gert Lippens, who has just reached a milestone achievement and received his 4th Master’s Degree! Yes, that’s right. Gert and his drive for lifelong learning has brought him this incredible achievement. First physiotherapy, then sports physiotherapy, chiropractic of course and now clinical-psycho-neuro-immunology (or CPNI for short). That’s quite some certificates to put on the wall! And don’t think this will stop him. He’s already talking about what his 5th Master’s might be…

So what exactly is CPNI and why Gert’s desire to delve so deep into another subject? CPNI stands for Clinical Psycho Neuro Immunology. We know, that’s a lot of words. Basically, it’s a way of looking at people and the function of their health that is complete and people-centered. Let’s think about more traditional healthcare for a moment. What happens when you have a symptom and you go to see you doctor? They most likely examine your symptoms, and give you some form of medication to help in the easing of that symptom. Got a muscle spasm? Take ibuprofen. Got a fever? Take paracetamol. Got an infection? Take antibiotics. You get the idea. This model is essentially the same when we’re talking about chronic disease too. Got diabetes? Take insulin. Got high blood pressure? Take antihypertensives. Got high cholesterol? Take statins. The list goes on. Now of course, this model for approaching health is often very effective and can work quickly when needed. A great advantage when you have an acute issue that just can’t wait. But what about when you have something going on in your body which is more chronic, more underlying, and more complex? A hormonal imbalance for example, an autoimmune disease or persistent allergies. Would you rather medicate these symptoms away long-term or look deeper for a root cause? This is where CPNI comes in.

Rather than opting for the ‘quick win’ of traditional approaches which may ease symptoms but not truly address the underlying issue, CPNI is a technique which allows us to find out why those symptoms are there in the first place. People are often so surprised to hear that their own traumatic birth, a long-forgotten illness or stressful life experience was actually the trigger for a whole sequence of events that followed, leading ultimately to the symptoms they are experiencing today. We already know that the body is immensely intelligent. It is also sensitive and complex, carrying within its cells all the experiences of our lives, which is why our health of today is such a reflection of everything that has happened since the day we were born (and sometimes before, but that’s for another blog!).

So what can we do about it? Surely if our cells have imprinted our life story into their functioning, there’s nothing that can change? That’s where you’d be wrong. Our bodies may be sensitive, but they are also immensely adaptable and flexible, with a strong innate drive to be healthy.

Sounds complicated, right? It is! Which is why Gert has spent 4 years studying the detail of the body – from the microscopic function of the cells, to the influence of food and supplements on our health, to the pathophysiology of hundreds of symptoms and diseases. He has even explored the anthropological links to our ancestors and how reconnecting with much of their way of life can bring us better health and more contentment. This is a philosophy which fits beautifully with chiropractic of course, and you may hear many echoes here of what has been said in previous blogs.

So CPNI is all about exploring your body’s life story and finding out why your health is what it is today. Ok, got it. But what can be done about it? Adjusting your diet, using specific supplements, moving your body, emotional releases, and so much more. Gert has been trained in why your body feels like it does and also how to promote change and healing. The really amazing thing about the CPNI approach is that it can be used for practically any symptom you are experiencing. In the end it’s more about why the symptom is there in the first place and how changing those factors can change the symptom.

If you are interested in the CPNI approach for something you are dealing with in your life, give us a call to find out more. You’ll be amazed how a few positive changes can make such a big difference to your health and your life.