What is Chiropractic?

The word “chiropractic” comes from the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action), or “done by hand.” Chiropractic is a relatively new practice based on healing philosophies dating back to ancient Greece or maybe even before. Hippocrates described the link between the health of the spine and disease. It wasn’t until the mid-eighties that Daniel David Palmer founded what is now known as chiropractic. He believed that subluxations, or misalignments of the spine, caused disease by inhibiting the passage of nerve impulses throughout the body. By correcting these subluxations through manipulation, the body could then be allowed to heal itself, and disease could be prevented.

The basic tenets of chiropractic philosophy are that the body’s muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and especially the spine are all connected to overall health. Chiropractors believe that the body has the ability to heal itself once blockages are removed. This is achieved mostly through hands-on therapy called manipulation or adjustment, although other techniques are used including ultrasound, magnetic therapy, rehabilitative exercise, electrical stimulation, and dietary counseling. The most common problems that are treated with chiropractic treatments are back and neck pain, although chiropractic therapy can be used as a way to promote general health and well-being. One study showed chiropractic therapy to be effective against symptoms associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Regular chiropractic treatments may also help relieve stress and increase feelings of energy and relaxation.

Author: Nan Little