The first time I went to a Chiropractor was about 15 years ago. I can’t even remember why I went, but after a few visits, I stopped and didn’t go to a Chiropractor again until last year. Vickie was going and said it was making a big difference in her alignment and mobility, so I decided to give it a try and have been going routinely since. I went every two weeks at first until the alignment was holding nicely, and then once a month.
I was having issues with shoulder and hip mobility, which creates problems for many of us as we age. Chiropractic practice is centered on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders through spinal adjustments and manual manipulations. Critics often question its scientific validity and efficacy, while proponents highlight its holistic approach and patient satisfaction.
Chiropractors believe that spinal misalignments disrupt nerve function, contributing to pain, dysfunction, and disease. Adjustments aim to restore alignment and optimize health. It emphasizes whole-body wellness, often incorporating lifestyle advice (such as nutrition, exercise, and stress management) alongside manual therapies. Early chiropractic’s whole body, terrain theory clashed with allopathic medicine’s biomedical model.
“The best six doctors anywhere, and no one can deny it are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise, and diet.” ~ Wayne Fields
Quackery
Allopathic medicine, led by organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA), has historically marginalized chiropractic. In the 1960s–1980s, the AMA’s Committee on Quackery labeled chiropractic as an “unscientific cult” and sought to eliminate it, culminating in a 1987 lawsuit (Wilk v. AMA). Chiropractors won, proving the AMA engaged in anti-competitive practices.
Allopathic medicine dominates medical education, research funding, and healthcare policy, shaping public perception. Terms like “evidence-based medicine” are often framed around pharmaceutical and surgical interventions, sidelining manual therapies despite evidence of their efficacy. Critics and skeptics argue that chiropractic’s foundational claims lack scientific grounding.
“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.” – Paracelsus
Surveys, however, like those from Consumer Reports, show high patient satisfaction with chiropractic care, often surpassing satisfaction with allopathic treatments. Patients value the hands-on, non-invasive approach and longer consultation times. Chiropractic aligns with a growing demand for integrative medicine, emphasizing prevention and wellness over symptom management. This resonates with patients skeptical of over-medication or surgical interventions.
Evidence-Based Medicine
I find it interesting that an industry that sells pharmaceuticals to fight the symptoms of a disease rather than the disease dares to call hands-on therapies to manage whole-body wellness “Quackery.” They call their Health Care flavor, evidence-based medicine, but refuse to discuss the evidence that it’s the third leading cause of death (killing a quarter million people every year).
I don’t want to get off on a tangent about what’s wrong with mainstream allopathic medicine; you can do a quick search of the archives, as I have been writing about the deception for years. Chiropractic works, which is obvious when you look at the supply /demand metrics.
One of the key drivers in the growing chiropractic market is that therapy and treatment are cheaper than drugs and surgeries. Sadly, the global corporations that drive the economy are aligned against it for obvious reasons ($$$), so insurance does not always cover the care. Yet even without insurance, folks are paying out of pocket because it is still more affordable than prescription medicine and does not involve any dependence on addictive, dangerous, and harmful drugs.
It has worked wonders for me. My frozen shoulder is unlocked, and I can throw the football with the grandkids again. My hip rotation and flexibility are better than they were two decades ago, and my achilles tendon and ankle inflammation are on the mend.
“Prevention is better than cure.” – Desiderius Erasmus