Chiropractic at 120 Years Old Continues to Flourish

From www.nowyouknow.net

In case you missed it, Chiropractic turned 120 this past month on September 18th. Below is a shortened release from the ICA on this event and the impact on healthcare in the world.

Chiropractic’s famous first adjustment is recognized each year as Chiropractic Founder’s Day. This annual observance commemorates September 18th, 1895 as on this day, 120 years ago, Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a pioneering clinician in Davenport, Iowa, administered the first specific chiropractic adjustment.

Dr. D.D. Palmer delivered his historic first chiropractic adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned vertebra, found on his patient Harvey Lillard, to its normal healthy orientation. Mr. Lillard, who had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier, noted his hearing swiftly returned under Dr. Palmer’s care. Dr. Palmer proceeded to evolve his clinical practice with his new methods of repositioning spinal segments that were out of alignment, and experienced positive clinical results in patients with a wide variety of health concerns. His practice grew and the profession of Chiropractic was launched.

The theory and clinical basis of Chiropractic was concisely described as “Founded on Tone” by Dr. Palmer in a book he authored in 1910, The Science, Art and Philosophy of Chiropractic. The growing recognition of relationships between the specific chiropractic adjustment, and the body’s ability to communicate and coordinate its functions for optimizing health, brought new understanding of Chiropractic’s efficacy as a healing art and science. Over subsequent years the science, art and philosophy of this unique and special approach to health care was further described and detailed, with educational institutions established for students to complete an extensive course of study to become Doctors of Chiropractic. Key aspects of the chiropractic approach to health and healing were outlined in a landmark text listing 33 Principles of Chiropractic in 1927, with additional insights and data to follow in an expanding compendium of reference texts and research reports ever since. Over years of research, clinical practice and education, Chiropractic has grown into a widely recognized, distinctive health care profession with an expanding collection of research references, documentation of efficacy and cost-effectiveness, and growing numbers of enthusiastic and grateful patients around the globe.

As an emergent new health science and practice now 120 years old, Chiropractic is predicated on the recognition that the human body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. And, most constructively, Chiropractic understands how the body, rather than requiring interventions that interrupt or intrude in the healing process, instead needs no interference with its innate capacities for self-coordination, organized communication, and repair -- which is now a concept so accepted and credible that widely-recognized authorities like Drs. Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra base the core premise of their best-selling books and recordings on this healing model.

The pioneering efforts and key principles of Dr. Palmer that, in his time, were deemed an affront to the orthodox medical industry of the era, set the course for a health revolution in the United States and around the world. From its modest and, unfortunately, often misunderstood and misconstrued beginnings, Chiropractic continues to grow in popularity and acceptance, and is now coming into its own as the largest drugless healthcare profession. It was because of the authenticity and soundness of these principles that Chiropractic has not only survived initial harsh criticism and onslaught by its detractors, but has flourished, and now is increasingly understood and embraced by a wide audience of people in search of health and optimizing their potential in life.

Why Didn't I Know About Upper Cervical Care?

Why didn't I know?

By Dr. Andy Gibson

Recently, an 8 year old little girl came into our office with the following list of health issues: chronic ear infections, nosebleeds, constipation and restlessness. She didn't eat very well or often. From the outside, she looked like a "normal" little girl. But underneath the surface, she was very sick and heading for a lifetime of health issues. When I explained to her grandma about the upper neck bone, the atlas, being subluxated, or out of its proper alignment with the skull, she was a little confused. She wondered how it may have gotten that way. After some investigative work, it was determined there was a strong correlation with the forceps-assisted delivery and her current status of health. HOW? Simple. During a "normal birth, the neck of the infant is stretched and twisted upwards of 2x the normal length. Now with the use of forceps, that force is substantially increased. The bottom line: Little "Kayla" was subluxated from day one. And for the next 8 years, her little body fought to keep her healthy. At age 1, it was colic. Age 2, the ear infections began. Age 4-7, the nosebleeds and constipation set in.

Two weeks have passed since her 1st upper cervical adjustment. "kayla" has been adjusted 2 times. In just over 14 days, she has no more nosebleeds, eats like a horse (remember it was a chore for her to eat most anything), has been to the bathroom numerous times per day and is finally sleeping through the night. As for the earaches, her grandma reports that all is well. Time will tell the rest of the story but for now, there are two parents, one grandma and a little girl whose lives have all just changed through the power of an upper cervical adjustment. At the end of the visit, the grandma asked the question we hear almost daily: "Why didn't I know about Upper Cervical?" Now you do.

Upper Cervical Care: Correction vs. Adjustment

Should we make corrections or provide adjustments? It depends on the doctor's objective.

Upper Cervical Doctors often use the term correction instead of adjustment because it is a better description of the nature of the work they do. Here is a short definition of the two terms:

Adjustment ... to modify/change Correction ... to make right

There is nothing wrong with an adjustment, the different terminology is used only because of the distinct difference between the two approaches both in application and objective.

• All Chiropractors give adjustments

• Only Upper Cervical doctors make upper cervical alignment corrections.

• Chiropractors give adjustments on every visit.

• Upper Cervical doctors make upper cervical alignment corrections only when tests indicate it is needed.

Both services are helpful and either can be more appropriate at times than the other.

However, Upper Cervical doctors have observed clinically that while the head and neck is in perfect alignment and the brain can communicate with all parts of the body without interference, the body is either in the process of healing itself or in a state of good health. This is why Upper Cervical doctors use the term correction; they want patients to be in this state for as long as possible.

Any part of the body that is restricted from receiving efficient brain health and healing messages, due to interference at the point where the head and neck join, can begin to develop health problems.

The fact that countless health problems have responded to Upper Cervical Care proves that restricted brain to body communication can be a direct and/or indirect cause of many health problems.

One major goal within Upper Cervical Care is to conduct research directed toward perfecting procedures that will help Upper Cervical alignment corrections that will maintain for months or even years ... it would revolutionize the health care industry.

All Upper Cervical Doctors have the same objective regardless of the corrective procedure they choose to use. ... Help each patient maintain their alignment correction to prevent restricted brain to body communication so they can enjoy a better quality of life.