Philosophy of Chiropractic: October National Chiropractic Health Month
In honor of Chiropractic Health Month, we are highlighting the philosophy of Chiropractic as Medicine and the driving philosophy behind Chiropractic care.
The word Chiropractic was derived by the Greek words “cheir” and “praxis,” translating to “done by hand.” Chiropractic explores the relationship between the spine and the nervous system as it relates to the health of the body. It is an art, science, and philosophy of healing as a holistic discipline that acknowledges the importance of the nervous system in maintaining homeostasis in the body for better health and function. Chiropractors are deeply committed to understanding the innate properties of the body to heal, and study the promotion of health rather than just the cause and prevention of disease.
A core tenant of our philosophy is that the health of the spine and the nervous system are related in a fundamental way and that the body has incredible healing abilities if we give it the right tools to do so. The nervous system is the master regulatory control center of the body and regulates the individual to his or her environment. The adjustment of the spine restores communication and helps the body respond better to internal and external stimuli.
As mentioned previously, Chiropractic treatment and philosophy focus on the promotion of health rather than the pathology of disease. What does this look like? When we look at health, we don’t only ask, “where is the pathology/lesion?” But rather: “where is the dysfunction in the body’s innate healing ability?” We look at the entire history of a person’s health story and the physical, mental, and environmental traumas that have occurred in a person’s life to give us a complete picture of where things have gone wrong. Similarly with gut health, energy/mitochondrial health, and metabolic health: many specialists exist to identify and diagnose disease processes in organs and functional systems of the body. We as chiropractors and holistic doctors are trained to identify red flags and refer when necessary. However, there may be no identifiable pathology or disease process, and yet dysfunction or less-than-optimal health in an organ, a system, or the body as a whole remains. This belief is a core distinguisher of chiropractic (and traditional Chinese medicine and functional medicine) from the traditional allopathic approach. A person can be given a clean bill of health from their doctor, be told that labs are normal, and be far from healthy and functioning at an optimal level.
A defining factor in alternative medicine is that we believe the state of health and vitality is dynamic and can fall on a continuum outside of the absence or presence of a pathological disease process.
Think of it like this:
Your capacity is like a bucket. This bucket allows for the containment of life stressors without allowing them to affect health or cause disruption in homeostasis of the body and how it relates to its environment. As stressors accumulate, the bucket can get too full and overflow. Factors like genetics, emotional traumas, history of adverse child events, physical and chemical stressors, and pre-existing conditions can make that bucket smaller, requiring additional support for the body to maintain a state of vitality and optimal health.
Chiropractic nervous-system-based care - nervous system regulation, pain relief, spinal mobility and function
Targeted testing and nutraceutical support – looking at your sex hormones, cortisol, gut microbiome, metabolic processes, and other biomarkers gives valuable insight into how your body is functioning and nutrient insufficiencies
Nutritious foods – eating a highly colorful diet of fruits and vegetables and implementing guided dietary changes based on your unique physiology and presentation
Physical activity – moving your body, walking, lifting weights, Pilates, physical therapy
Good lymphatic drainage – this is key for helping the body clear cellular debris and toxic load
Prayer, gratitude, healthy thought patterns and emotional state – emotional factors play a huge role in managing health, which is why people find benefit from practices like Yoga
Sleep – vital processes occur during healthy deep sleep, like glymphatic drainage, liver phase I and phase II detoxification, hormone regulation, and physical restoration
Acupuncture and other alternative medicine therapies – also focused on support of the body, mind and spirit
All of these factors (and more) help to empty your bucket and lead to a state of increased resilience.
There is a significant benefit to chiropractic care in terms of pain relief and in the reduction of symptoms without invasive procedures. It offers a cost-effective solution to chronic pain without the risk of opioid use as a first-line option. Studies have shown chiropractic care to reduce the progression of conditions, which results in less operative procedures and cost.
Right now, the Chiropractic Medicare Modernization Act (H.R. 539 and S.106) is being addressed in Congress to provide better chiropractic care coverage to citizens 65+. Americans deserve holistic, whole-body health and pain relief options as a first-line treatment option before more invasive procedures. Attached below is the link; please consider showing your support by reaching out to the congresspeople in your state.