subject: What Is The Science Behind Chiropractic? [print this page] The science behind chiropractic is unknown to some and misunderstood by many. Chiropractic is a drug-free path to optimum health that millions of people have traveled for almost 100 years. Chiropractors are doctors in every sense of the word, having trained, in many cases, more years than a medical doctor. Many people erroneously believe that chiropractors are medical school drop-outs. In fact, a chiropractic hopeful must complete a 4-year bachelor's program before applying to a chiropractic college. The first two years are spent studying anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, public health and x-ray technology.
The last two years of chiropractic study involve manipulation and spinal adjustment, physical and laboratory diagnosis, neurology, geriatrics, physiotherapy, orthopedics and nutrition. In fact, a chiropractic doctor receives many more hours in nutritional education than a medical doctor.
The science behind chiropractic is based on a pretty simple theory that the human body has the innate ability to heal itself. Further, chiropractic believes that the brain and nerve system control and co-ordinate all body functions, but when there is interference along the spine, sickness and disease can result.
When one or more vertebrae along the spinal column are misaligned, it is called a "subluxation". Subluxations put pressure on the nerves emanating from the spine and can cause a myriad of diseases. The goal of chiropractic is to remove subluxations by manipulation and other non-invasive therapies thus allowing the body to do what it knows how to do, heal itself. Chiropractors know that the human body is a self-healing organism and as such, they treat the whole body. This is a crucial difference from mainstream medicine. Most medical doctors treat sickness and disease by dealing with symptoms, usually with medication. The symptoms improve, but often problems develop elsewhere.
On the other hand, chiropractors aren't interested in why you're sick, they're focused on how to make you healthy, so the entire body is treated via chiropractic adjustments. Most individuals seeking out a chiropractic clinic do so because they are in pain, so pain relief is the first phase of treatment. In medical practices, once the pain is gone, so is the patient. But in chiropractic, pain relief simply marks the end of Phase One. Once the chiropractor has helped the body rid itself of old imbalances and patterns of disease, then the Phase Two rehabilitative process can begin, in which new, healthy patterns for the nervous system are established. So now the patient is feeling great and well-balanced. But treatment doesn't end there. Phase Three is the all-important wellness phase which can include nutritional counseling, supplements, massage therapy, workshops, and specific exercises devoted to pursuing an over-all chiropractic lifestyle that, hopefully, will continue for one's lifetime. Chiropractic is not a murky, mysterious form of charlatanism, it is a drug-free, natural way to put your family on the path to total wellness. Chiropractic clinics are very welcoming and many provide free seminars for those interested in learning more about drug-free, holistic healing. As many chiropractors say, "It's not about "feeling better", it's about "healing better".
