Above-Down-Inside-Out

Chiropractors have a long standing acronym that was developed in the early 1900’s: “ADIO” which stands for Above-Down, Inside-Out. ADIO is a principle that applies to how the body functions in a complete state of well-being. 

ADIO means that the brain is the control center of the body that is “Above” the rest of you. The control and coordination from “Above-Down” travels through your neurological system on the “Inside” of your body to the “Outside” through mental impulses. The Above-Down, Inside-Out process of coordination controls the trillions of cells and their respected tissues, glands and organs for the overall state of function and well-being. ADIO is a principle that simplifies the complex processes of physiology and body function.

When complete function and well-being were developing within your body when you were an embryo, the first organ to develop was your neurological system. The brain and its spinal cord extended throughout your entire body and connected every major organ that was being created. These vital connections taking place during the first couple weeks of your gestation created a pathway of coordination and control for your body to function as one complete body. The best educated estimates are the body has within it over 70 trillion cells all working and functioning to create one whole organism. Wholeness is vital for the trillions of cells to cooperate and not compete against each other. 

Your body is chemically structured from atoms of elements that combine to form the molecules that make up the cells, tissues, organs, systems and whole organism. This level of structure forms the backbone of our Above-Down, Inside-Out principle to how the body functions in a complete state of well-being. The Above-Down, Inside-Out level of organization for chemical structure relating to function is as follows: 

Cells: A cell is the smallest unit in the body, so it’s the most inner aspect of your physiological processes associated with your health and well-being. Your cells are made up of the specific chemical components that can accomplish specific purposes and functions within the body.

Tissues: Tissues are composed cells with similar chemical components that collectively can work together to accomplished a shared purpose and function within the body. Examples of tissue type are; connective tissues, muscle tissue and neurological tissue.

Organs: Organs are when you combine two or more tissues together to perform a shared specific purpose and function within the body. An example for an organ is the heart that includes connective tissue, muscle tissue and neurological tissue creating one organ.

Systems: Systems are when you combine organs together to perform a specific purpose and function within the body. An example of this would be the digestive system combining the salivary glands, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and rectum.

Organism: Your entire body is one organism controlled and coordinated from Above-Down through the neurological system sending messages through the nerves for specific chemicals to be produced and actions and reactions to occur within the trillion of cells that make up the tissues, organs and systems within the body from the Inside-Out to sustain well-being.

Within each of us resides an inborn intelligence that coordinates your ability to function through a balanced biochemistry. This innate power guides the chemical processes of your body described above for overall well-being and balance. Your educated intelligence also aids in the proper choices in what to eat, how much to exercise, and when to go to sleep, but is only aiding as the innate power that coordinates the trillions of cells for chemical actions is masterful compared to our limited control of the physiological requirements to stay alive and well. Together, the choices you make for your well-being and your innate intelligence keep the trillions of cells functioning in a state of coordination, creating a balance of inner biochemistry.

Your innate intelligence of the body utilizes your brain to control and coordinate “Above-Down” through your neurological system to every cell, tissue, organ and system “Inside-Out” of your body via mental impulses to keep your biochemistry balanced. The Above-Down, Inside-Out principle of coordination and balance of the trillions of cells and their respected tissues, organs and systems for the overall complete state of function and well-being is for you to breakdown and simplify the complex processes of physiology for greater clarity and understanding.