The roots of chiropractic care can be traced all the way back to the beginning of recorded time. Writings from China and Greece written in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the manoeuvring of the lower extremities to ease low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., also published texts detailing the importance of chiropractic care. In one of his writings he declares, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases". Thomas Edison a genius inventor who invented the light bulb and patented over 1000 other inventions (more than anyone else in history), stated "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."
The quote by Thomas Edison above is brilliant and sums up the philosophy of wellness at Alpha Chiropractic. His first point is, "The doctor of the future will give no medicine." Why? Because all medicines/drugs whether prescribed, over the counter or street drugs have toxic or poisonous effects in the body. One look at the "Physicians Desk Reference" (PDR) will clearly show that all drugs have a long list of "side effects." As a result, there is often a high price to pay when taking drugs. Dr. Lorraine Day's (former Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at San Francisco General Hospital) video title states, "Drugs Never Cure Disease."
The next part of Edison's quote is, "but will interest (teach) his patients in the care of the human frame (spine)." This is where chiropractic comes in. The purpose of chiropractic is to analyze the "human frame" for subluxations (joint misalignments that can cause distortions in the nerve signals to the various body parts) and to correct those by gentle adjustments (corrections).
The final part of Edison's quote states that, in addition to interesting patients in the care of the human frame, the "doctor of the future" would also interest his patients in "diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." We fulfill this aspect of this great philosophy by teaching true and faithful principles of health, not just pushing vitamins, pills and potions. We give nutritional advice and have both studied with the Australian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine. No one need suffer from today's dreaded diseases who will take the time to prevent them.
The practice of spinal manipulation began gaining momentum in the late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was well read in medical journals of his time and had great knowledge of the developments that were occurring throughout the world regarding anatomy and physiology. Daniel understood the spine was the highway along which ran the central nervous system. He surmised that if the highway should become in need of repair or in any way restrict the constant traffic of brain impulses and orders carried by the central nervous system, other symptoms seemingly unconnected to the spinal column could result.
Daniel David Palmers first patient was local University janitor Harvey Lillard who had lost his hearing and developed neck pain 17 years earlier after feeling something give way in his neck while working in a cramped, stooped position. Daniel examined Harveys neck, and could feel that a vertebrae was misaligned. He gave Harvey the first ever Chiropractic adjustment with the intent of restoring normal movement and nerve flow. Harvey hearing returned… and Chiropractic was born. The word chiropractic was coined, derived from two words, 'cheiros' and 'praktikos' meaning 'done by hand'.
In 1897, Daniel David Palmer went on to begin the Palmer School of Chiropractic, which has continued to be one of the most prominent chiropractic colleges in the world.
Throughout the twentieth century, doctors of chiropractic gained legal recognition in all fifty states, and many countries throughout the world. A continuing recognition and respect for the chiropractic profession in the United States has led to growing support for chiropractic care globally. The research that has emerged from "around the world" has yielded incredibly influential results, which have changed, shaped and moulded perceptions of chiropractic care. The report, 'Chiropractic in New Zealand' published in 1979 strongly supported the efficacy of chiropractic care and elicited medical cooperation in conjunction with chiropractic care. The 1993 Manga study published in Canada investigated the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. The results of this study concluded that chiropractic care would save hundreds of millions of dollars annually with regard to work disability payments and direct health care costs.
Chiropractic physicians have become pioneers in the field of non-invasive care promoting science-based approaches to a variety of ailments. A continuing dedication to chiropractic research could lead to even more discoveries in preventing and combating maladies in future years.