During this time of year we remember the birth of Christ by celebrating with family and friends. Christ came to this earth and was born in a manger in a little town outside of Jerusalem called Bethlehem. Only a few shepherds witnessed the birth of Jesus, but within a very short time the impact of His birth was felt throughout the entire world, effecting millions for all eternity.
Although not miraculous, the birth of chiropractic also began quietly and quickly grew to have a worldwide effect on millions of people. Chiropractic was founded by D.D. Palmer at the end of the 19th century. At that time medicine was leaving an era of proclaimed cure-alls to pursue a more scientific investigation of the treatment of disease. D.D. reasoned that the body had an ample supply of natural healing power that was transmitted through the nervous system. He figured if a single organ was sick, it must not be receiving its normal nerve supply. That led to the premise of spinal misalignment, or subluxation, and to a procedure for adjusting the vertebrae. D.D. performed his first adjustments in 1895, relieving one man of deafness and another person of heart trouble. Arrangements were made to train others in the application of the chiropractic principle. The Palmer School and Cure was founded in 1897. The school later became the Palmer School of Chiropractic.
The chiropractic education focused on the science, practice, and philosophy of providing the chiropractic adjustment. Great care was taken to develop and teach the “Pillars of Chiropractic,” the philosophy by which all chiropractors should practice. They include:
1. Integrate evidence, clinical experience, and patient values and preferences.
2. Deliver expert chiropractic adjustments and other manual care.
3. Embody a tradition of caring, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.
4. Collaborate and coordinate care with other health professionals.
5. Enhance patient quality of life and performance.
6. Promote vitality, wellness, and patient empowerment.
7. Improve quality of life without drugs or surgery.
8. Offer readily accessible care.
In our next post, I’ll share the philosophy of chiropractic and the growth of chiropractic! It is my greatest hope that this Christmas season you will share the real reason for the season with your friends and family. I also hope that you will share the role chiropractic has played in your health with those you love. Both the news of the birth of Christ and the birth of your good health can to help others!
Thank you for being a part of
Daryl Rich, DC, CSCS
