What Is Chiropractic?
Quote: "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." --Thomas Edison
Many sick, hurting people in need of Chiropractic Care put off trying this drugless and preventative approach to good health because they don't know what chiropractic is and how it works.
It's bad enough to be ill and in pain, but to be unaware of the very method that might help can be a tragedy.
If you have a health problem, but are reluctant to try chiropractic because you don't know much about it, perhaps this brief explanation will help you make a decision to find out more.
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
Chiropractic is a system of diagnosis and treatment based on the following facts:
- Virtually all systems and functions of the human body are directly or indirectly controlled and coordinated by the nervous system.
- Many health problems are caused by misaligned vertebras which are pinching nerves and thereby interfering with normal nerve function.
- Correcting misaligned vertebras can restore normal nerve function and thereby improve health.
CHIROPRACTORS AWARE
While chiropractors are quite aware of other causes of disease besides faulty spinal mechanics, they are also aware -- more so than any other group of doctors -- that spinal structural problems are a direct cause of many health problems and need specific chiropractic care.
CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS
The word chiropractic itself described the dominant chiropractic treatment. It comes from two Greek words which mean "done by hand." And that's what chiropractors do. They adjust misaligned vertebras into their rightful positions to relieve nerve irritations brought on by the misalignment. Such manipulations are called "adjustments" and are the most basic method of chiropractic treatment.
Once the vertebras are realigned and the associated derangements corrected, the nerves can begin to function normally again and the body's own healing mechanisms can take over.
A PAINLESS TREATMENT
Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and specific requiring no great force and are accomplished in a split second. Even if pain is already present, the adjustment normally does not increase the pain, but usually diminishes it or releases it, often immediately.
A SAFE TREATMENT
Chiropractic treatments and procedures, when given properly, are among the safest methods used in the healing professions. The very low insurance premiums for chiropractic malpractice insurance proves that this is so.
A CHIROPRACTOR'S EDUCATION
A minimum of six years of study are required for a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) The degree requires that the student complete at least two years of pre-professional study with emphasis on basic scientific courses such as chemistry, physics, biology, etc. Following that, a chiropractic student's education includes other scientific subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, dissection, diagnosis and many more. Simple emphasis is placed on natural healing methods, including nutrition and, of course, spinal manipulation.
CHIROPRACTIC GROWING FAST
Because of its effectiveness, chiropractic has become the second largest primary health care profession in the United States and is growing rapidly. Approximately one in every ten physicians is a chiropractor. They are licensed in all 50 states, Canada, and many other countries and are qualified to treat a variety of diseases and health problems.
More and more people try chiropractic all the time and a remarkably high percentage respond favorably. So if you have a health problem you're concerned about -- even a problem that has not responded to other methods -- discuss it with your chiropractor. Find out if chiropractic might help you.
