subject: The History Of Chiropractic [print this page] Chiropractic is a growing field in the world of medicine and is becoming more and more popular among people who are looking for a safe and natural way to improve their health. Chiropractic deals with the study of the musculoskeletal system, and those who practice chiropractic, chiropractors, specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the spine and its associated muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Chiropractors mainly perform manual therapy with their patients, meaning they usually don't prescribe medications. Most of the correctional procedures are done with tables, tools, and the hands.
Recent scientific studies have proven that chiropractic is safe and effective, and chiropractors can even help patients prevent future back problems, as well as other ailments. Many chiropractors believe that the musculoskeletal system is integrally tied to other systems in the body, such as the nervous system. If there is something wrong with spine, there can be undue pressure on muscles and nerves that affect all other parts of the body. Thus, a healthy musculoskeletal system contributes to a person's overall good health. Many people also believe that when the structure of the body is aligned correctly and well balanced, a person's self esteem and sense of well-being improves.
There is some debate over the origins of chiropractic, but there is some evidence that it was practiced as early as 27000 B.C. in China. Early Greek writings also confirm that physicians used spinal manipulation to ease back pain. And those who study chiropractic are familiar with the quote from Hippocrates (who lived about 400 years B.C) on the importance of the spine and chiropractic: "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases."
Another famous ancient scientist also studied the spine and its effect on health was Herodotus, who lived around the same time as Hippocrates. He would correct spinal abnormalities through therapeutic exercises and spinal manipulation in order cure a variety of diseases. It seems that from the beginning of recorded history, physicians and scientists have been interested in the back and spine and have recognized its importance to overall health.
Although chiropractic has been around for a while, as a specific field of study it did not start gaining popularity until 1895 when Daniel David Palmer took a long history of spinal studies and founded chiropractic as a profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer studied anatomy and physiology and later founded the famous Palmer School of Chiropractic. His most famous discovery was the specific spinal adjustment. Palmer also helped shaped the fundamental philosophies of the chiropractic profession.
Palmer had some remarkable experiences that confirmed the idea that the spine was integrally connected to the health of the entire body. In 1895, Palmer met a janitor who worked in the building where his office was located. The janitor was deaf, and as they worked to communicate with each other, Palmer discovered that the janitor, named Lillard, hadn't always been deaf, but one day when he bent over, he felt something pop in his back and then realized he couldn't hear.
Palmer deducted that the pop in Lillard's back was connected to his hearing. He used the sinous process to replace a dislodged vertebra in Lillard's spine, and soon after Lillard could hear again.
Palmer soon became famous for treating sick patients without using drugs. By using chiropractic methods, he would treat patients with the flu, sciatica, migraine headaches, stomachaches, epilepsy, and heart trouble. Palmer began teaching students chiropractic at his school, and in 1906, his son Bartlett Joshua Palmer took over the Palmer School.
Although many revered D. D. Palmer's work, many others criticized his new methods and challenged his medical practice because he was not a licensed professional. Opposition from organized medical professionals became so fierce that Palmer and several others were imprisoned for practicing medicine without a license. Palmer considered several ways to combat such criticism, including making chiropractic a religion so that it would receive protection from the United States Constitution. He never pursued this action, but he did argue that chiropractic was separate and distinct from other forms of medicine, claiming that chiropractors did not diagnose and treat patients, but rather analyzed and adjusted them.
However, as more and more people studied chiropractic and as more techniques and procedures were developed and applied, chiropractic began to grow in popularity. B.J. Palmer helped found the Universal Chiropractor's Association to provide legal aid to imprisoned chiropractors and to help campaign for separate licensing statutes for chiropractors. Although they continued to face opposition, the UCA was successful in attaining licensing statutes different from other medical licenses.
From 1913 to 1974, legal recognition was given to chiropractors in all 50 states of the U.S. Chiropractic also began to gain popularity in other parts of the world, such as New Zealand and Canada. Scientists and doctors began to study chiropractic and documented that it was effective, safe, and could save governments money in health care costs and disability payments.
The AMA continued to oppose chiropractic, however, calling it an "unscientific cult." In 1980, the AMA continued to be critical of chiropractic and still labeled it as unscientific, which resulted in the 1987 decision Wilk v. AMA, which found AMA guilty of unreasonable restraint of trade and conspiracy. This ruling ended the AMA''s boycott of chiropractic, and in the last 20 years, chiropractic experienced a great deal of continued growth and popularity
Today Chiropractic enjoys more popularity than ever before. In fact, certain polls place chiropractic as the third most popular field of medicine, and it's easy to see why. And because it's so popular, there are more chiropractors around the country than ever before, so whether you're looking for an El Dorado Hills chiropractor or one elsewhere, finding a quality chiropractor shouldn't be difficult. Chiropractic has a long history of curing illnesses and improving health, and for those who are looking for safe and natural health care, chiropractic could be the answer.
