The Body Systems Hierarchy Explained: How Prioritising Health from the Inside Out Leads to Lasting Wellness

The importance of the digestive system in healing and long-term wellness, highlighted through an anatomical model with a focus on the stomach.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s common to treat pain or discomfort at its immediate source. If you have sore muscles or joint pain, the natural reaction is to focus on that area. However, the body is a connected system, and the root of your pain may lie in another area entirely. Dr. Perry Nickelston’s Body Systems Hierarchy provides a helpful model for understanding how each body system influences others and how prioritising certain systems can lead to more sustainable health improvements. This post will guide you through the hierarchy, from essential systems like the nervous and lymphatic systems to soft tissue, showing how each layer plays a critical role in maintaining overall wellness.

Understanding the Body Systems Hierarchy and how the help improve Wellness:

The Body Systems Hierarchy arranges our body systems from highest priority to lowest, emphasising that the body channels energy and resources to certain systems first, especially under stress. The hierarchy is as follows:

1. Nervous System

2. Lymphatic System

3. Digestive System

4. Vascular System

5. Organs

6. Nerves

7. Endocrine System

8. Musculoskeletal System

9. Soft Tissues

   
   

In this hierarchy, systems at the top take priority over those lower down, so when the body is stressed, it will allocate resources to high-priority systems like the nervous and lymphatic systems first (Stop Chasing Pain, 2023).

The Vital Role of Each System in Wellness

Each system contributes uniquely to our health, and disruptions can impact systems both above and below in the hierarchy. Let’s break down how each system supports overall wellness.

1. Nervous System: The Control Center

The nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, is our body’s command center, orchestrating nearly every bodily function. This system is essential for survival, and any imbalance here can lead to issues throughout the entire body. When our nervous system is under stress or dysregulated, it affects everything from sleep quality to immune function (Medical News Today, 2023).

2. Lymphatic System: The Detox Highway

Often overlooked, the lymphatic system acts as our body’s primary detoxification pathway. It removes waste, toxins, and other unwanted materials, ensuring that tissues remain healthy and functional. When the lymphatic system is sluggish, toxins can accumulate, potentially triggering inflammation in muscles and joints lower in the hierarchy (Dr. Lam Coaching, 2023).

Medical imaging scans showcasing the intricate structure of the nervous system, underscoring its crucial role in maintaining overall wellness.

3. Digestive System: Fuel and Nutrition

The digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and expels waste. It provides the essential fuel for other systems to function. If digestion is compromised, nutrient absorption suffers, and the body has less energy to support cellular repair, immune function, and recovery from physical stress (Harvard Health, 2023).

4. Vascular System: Circulation of Vital Elements

Our vascular system transports oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body. Good circulation is necessary for tissue health, healing, and energy levels. If circulation is restricted or inefficient, systems lower down, such as the musculoskeletal system, may not receive adequate nutrients, resulting in muscle fatigue or joint stiffness (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023).

5. Organs: Maintaining Vital Processes

Our organs, including the liver, kidneys, and heart, perform vital functions that sustain life. For instance, the liver detoxifies the blood, while the kidneys filter waste. If organ function is compromised, it creates additional strain on the lymphatic and vascular systems, potentially leading to widespread dysfunction (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).

6. Nerves: Communication Pathways

Nerves carry signals between the brain and various parts of the body, allowing for coordinated movement and response to stimuli. Disruptions in nerve function can lead to pain, tingling, or numbness in areas further down the hierarchy, often affecting mobility and coordination (American Academy of Neurology, 2023).

7. Endocrine System: Hormone Regulation

The endocrine system regulates hormones that control processes like growth, metabolism, and mood. Hormonal imbalances can lead to a cascade of symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain. Ensuring hormonal balance supports all other systems, particularly in managing stress and recovery (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

8. Musculoskeletal System: Structure and Movement

The musculoskeletal system, comprising bones, muscles, and connective tissue, provides structure and enables movement. While it’s often where pain is felt, the musculoskeletal system may not be the root cause. For example, muscle tension might stem from stress in the nervous system or inflammation due to lymphatic sluggishness (Stop Chasing Pain, 2023).

9. Soft Tissues: Support and Flexibility

Soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, are the lowest priority in the hierarchy. While they bear much of the physical strain, symptoms here are frequently a result of imbalances in higher systems. Addressing issues in the nervous, lymphatic, or vascular systems can relieve pain in soft tissues without directly targeting them.

Supporting the body's systems is essential for promoting overall wellness.

Why Working from the Inside Out Matters in for Wellness

When we experience pain or discomfort, we tend to focus on the immediate area of pain. However, Nickelston’s Body Systems Hierarchy suggests that by working on higher-order systems first—like supporting the nervous system through stress management or aiding lymphatic flow through gentle exercise—we can often alleviate pain further down the line. This approach emphasises building a foundation of wellness by strengthening the most essential systems, which in turn leads to more sustainable health improvements and faster recovery (Nickelston, 2023; Harvard Health, 2023).

Practical Ways to Support High-Priority Systems to Improve Wellness:

1. Support the Nervous System: Engage in stress-relieving activities like meditation, deep breathing, or gentle yoga to help regulate the nervous system.

2. Stimulate Lymphatic Flow: Drink plenty of water, engage in light activity, and consider lymphatic massages to encourage toxin removal and support immune health.

3. Optimise Digestion: Eat a nutrient-rich diet and avoid processed foods to ensure the body gets the necessary fuel for cellular repair and energy.

   
   

Conclusion:

Understanding the Body Systems Hierarchy empowers you to make informed health decisions that support your body from the inside out and improve wellness. By focusing on higher-order systems, you’re not just treating symptoms—you’re working toward a foundation of health that makes lasting wellness possible.

Reference List

Dr. Lam Coaching, 2023. Lymphatic System Health and Detoxification. Available at: https://www.drlamcoaching.com 

Stop Chasing Pain, 2023. The Body Systems Hierarchy by Dr. Perry Nickelston. Available at: https://www.stopchasingpain.com 

Medical News Today, 2023. The Role of the Nervous System in Health. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com 

Harvard Health, 2023. The Digestive System and Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu 

Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023. Circulatory System Overview. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org 

Cleveland Clinic, 2023. Vital Organs and Their Functions. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org 

Mayo Clinic, 2023. Endocrine System Function and Hormonal Balance. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org