Chiropractic
Chiropractic uses touch to bring balance between the spine and the nervous system to support the body's natural healing. Chiropractors believe that when the nervous system is poorly aligned, the body cannot function well. The word chiropractic comes from Greek words meaning "hand practice."
Chiropractors use a series of spinal manipulations, called adjustments. Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or use surgery. They do use X-rays and lab tests to support their diagnoses.
We often think of people going to see a chiropractor after an accident or if they are having back, neck, joint, or hip pain. Most chiropractors also believe that chiropractic can be used to prevent illness. Adjustments keep the body flexible and working well so the body can recover better from stress. This promotes well-being of all the body's systems and organs.
How chiropractors are trained
Chiropractors (DCs) must complete at least 2 years of college, with science classes (like anatomy, physiology, and chemistry), and then go to chiropractic school. Chiropractic schools require 4-5 years of study, including clinical time. Training is like medical school, but with more classes in anatomy, nutrition, and rehabilitation.
What a Chiropractor Says About Kidney Disease
"A session usually lasts from 20 to 30 minutes. We work to return the optimal function of the spine. Each person is different, so what is best for one person may not be good for another. We strive to help the body achieve as much balance as possible.
"The structure of the spine affects the nervous and immune systems. When the spine is out of balance, there is an energy drain to the system. The body needs to use more energy in its daily work, which could lead to a greater chance for illness. When the body wastes energy because it is out of balance, the nervous system may not work as well as it can and the body's organs might be affected, too.
"We help keep the spine healthy so the body is better able to deal with illness and maintain its natural balance. When the body's foundation is healthy, it has tremendous power to heal itself. Sometimes patients are given exercises to do at home.
"Besides working with the spine, many chiropractors include nutrition in their work. Using lab tests such as pH, urine, blood, and stool analysis, we can learn how the digestive system is working and if the patient is getting enough nutrients. We can also find food allergies, or tell if there are too many toxins in the body. We look at the whole body's chemistry, rather than just treating a symptom. Patients might be offered nutritional advice."
Chiropractors must pass a national exam and are licensed by the state in which they practice. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require a license to practice. There are more than 60,000 chiropractors in the U.S. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic. Doctors of Chiropractic complete at least four years of study at one of 16 colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Doctors of Chiropractic must pass national board exams and become state-licensed.
Insurance coverage for chiropractic
Many health insurance and most car insurance policies now cover chiropractic care. Certain chiropractic services are approved for those who receive Medicare and Medicaid. Members of the armed forces at more than 40 military bases in the U.S., and at nearly 30 Veteran's Administration centers can receive chiropractic care. Federal Employee Health Benefit, Worker's Compensation, and the Railroad Retirement Act cover it, too.
History of Chiropractic Medicine
Modern chiropractic theory is just over 100 years old. During the late 1800s, we knew little about how the nervous system related to the body. Dr. Daniel David Palmer, from Iowa, observed his patients for more than 10 years. A deaf janitor with a misaligned spine led Dr. Palmer to make his first successful adjustment in September 1895:
"Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the Ryan Block, where I had my office, had been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear the racket of a wagon on the street or the ticking of a watch. I made inquiry as to the cause of his deafness and was informed that when he was exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf. An examination showed a vertebrae racked from its normal position.
"I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man's hearing should be restored. With this object in view, a half-hour's talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it. I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever and soon the man could hear as before."
Dr. Palmer developed his theory, taught his first student in 1898, and founded the Palmer College of Chiropractic shortly thereafter. His son, B.J., learned the practice from him and carried on the work of the school.
