WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
Chiro - meaning hand | Practic - meaning done by
Chiropractic is the science, art and philosophy of optimal health and wellness.
Chiropractic recognizes that the human body has the innate ability to heal itself. But, in order for the body to identify challenges and properly self heal, the brain and nervous system must be able to properly perceive what is happening in the body. When areas of the spine become misaligned and stuck, the brain is unable to sense what is going on, and therefore, can not send the proper messages back out to the body.
About Your Nervous Sytem
You live your life through your nervous system. Everything you see, smell, touch, taste, and perceive goes through that system. It's how you experience life. Your nervous system controls every single cell, organ and function in your body.
A breakdown in communication between your brain and your nervous system will interfere with the body's natural self-healing capabilities. This is perceived as stress, and it activates the sympathetic (fight or flight) response of your nervous system. Constant activation of this system puts our bodies in a state of protection and survival, instead of the normal default of growth, development, and healing.
Chiropractors identify the areas of the spine that are misaligned and stuck. These areas are causing interference in the bodies ability to self heal and function properly. When these areas are identified, they can be gently corrected through specific chiropractic adjustments. Once corrected, the body is no longer in a state of survival and protection. It is then able to put its resources into normal growth, healing and development.
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Medicine is the study of disease and what causes a man to die. Chiropractic is the study of health and what causes a man to live.
BJ Palmer, DC
Chiropractic is based on two simple truths:
1
There is an innate intelligence in all living things. Examples of this are a sperm and egg coming together to form one cell that eventually divides into 30 trillion cells that make up the human body. The intelligence that allowed this to happen is the same that tells our heart to beat and our lungs to breathe. It controls all the other millions of processes that are constantly happening in our bodies without any conscious thought.
2
All of our body's functions are processed and coordinated through our nervous system. The nervous system is comprised of our brain, spinal cord, and all of our nerves. Through this system, the body can self heal and regulate. Think about it like this: if you cut yourself or break a bone, it is your body that does the healing, not the bandage or the cast.
The importance of this system can be further demonstrated when looking at anyone who has ever experienced a spinal cord injury. A perfect example is actor, Christopher Reeves (aka Superman). When he fell from his horse, he suffered from a spinal cord injury and lost almost all function.
Not only was he unable to move his arms and legs, he even needed a ventilator to help him breathe. Did he have a problem with his lungs? Not at all! His lungs were completely healthy; just unable to get proper signals from the brain.
This might seem like an extreme example, but what if instead of injury to the cord, there was just a small amount of pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves? A study by the University of Colorado demonstrated that the weight of a dime on a spinal nerve root can cause up to a 60% loss of proper nerve function. This often occurs with no pain or discomfort, but will cause a substantial loss of normal function to whatever part of the body that nerve supplies.
The Origin of Chiropractic
The word "chiropractic" is of Greek origin, and literally means "done by hand." Chiro means hand, and practic means done by.
Various forms of "bone setting" and spinal adjusting have been practiced for thousands of years. However, chiropractic began as a profession in 1895 as a natural, drug-free way to help the body heal.
The Story of Chiropractic
DD Palmer, DC
DD Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, was a magnetic healer before discovering chiropractic. Chiropractic might not have been started if it wasn't for a deaf janitor, named Harvey Lillard, who worked in the building where DD was practicing.
Harvey told DD that he had an injury to his back, and ever since he was unable to hear. This got DD thinking that if a trauma to Harvey's back caused him to lose his hearing, then something must have been knocked out of place. And if it got put back, maybe he would be able to hear again.
When DD examined Harvey's spine, he found an area that felt out of place and stuck. He pushed on it, and Harvey's hearing was restored. Amazed, DD thought he discovered the cure for deafness.
After telling people that he could restore hearing, people came to see him for their hearing loss. Many of the people who came to see him did not have their hearing restored, but had other health problems that would improve, or go away entirely.
These results caused DD to reevaluate and come up with a theory of why so many people were getting well from such a wide variety of ailments. DD continued studying, and wrote several papers and books on his theories. His son, BJ Palmer, expanded on his father's work and wrote volumes of books on the philosophy and principles of chiropractic as a unique healing art.
What Chiropractors Do
Chiropractors are trained to detect abnormal function in the spine. They can do this by feeling the spine with their hands, and they may also use x-ray analysis. With the advancements in computerized technology and diagnostic equipment, dysfunctions in the nervous system can be assessed, measured and used as a way to objectively track improvement and guide recommendations.
Over the past 120 years, chiropractic has continued to improve and advance. At Coherence Chiropractic, we are constantly learning and staying up to date on advancements in our profession. We believe in combining classic and timeless techniques with cutting edge tactics to deliver the best care for our patients.
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