What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic has 3 components: Philosophy, Science, and Art. The foundation upon which it is built is the realization that health is the body’s normal state, so good health is perfectly natural. By definition, chiropractic is a holistic (- the sum of the parts of the body are greater than the whole; everything of the body is interconnected and interdependent) and vitalistic (- all healing is accomplished by the body itself) approach to the body.

Chiropractic holds that the body, as all natural systems, possesses a unique internal wisdom that continually strives to maintain it in a state of health. It is this innate, instinctive intelligence that controls one’s heart rate, cell production, adrenal function, and other vital bodily functions (For example, each one of us make close to 5 million red blood cells every second!). Innate Intelligence is also the guiding force which allows one’s body to adapt naturally to the influences of the internal and external environment.

To a great extent, the ability of the body to stay in balance (to maintain a dynamic equilibrium) is dependent on its ability to adapt to the environment. Ensuring this capability is nature’s most miraculous communication network: the human nervous system.

Every cell in one’s body receives and sends information through the Nervous System. The Nervous System receives and processes the information via nerves passing from the brain through the spine then to the tissues. This system relays appropriate messages so that the body will adequately respond to its surroundings and maintain the optimum level of good health. Body tissues can become distorted. These distortions, called Subluxations ({Sub- less than + Luxation – dislocation = a condition less than a dislocation} or {Sub + Lux – light = a condition of less light}), cause messages transmitted over the spine to become jumbled or diminished. As a result, the body’s response is less efficient leading to inadequate adaptation to the environment. Said simply, one’s ability to perform even the most basic task becomes more challenging if the message system in the body is not functioning optimally.

Chiropractic seeks to identify and attend to subluxations. Whenever possible, the doctor of chiropractic reopens the body’s natural communication network by adjusting. The intent of the adjustment is to improve nervous function and takes two approaches: 1.) either to alert the body to impaired nervous function and allow for correction or 2.) to alert the body to areas of well or optimal functioning to encourage other areas to imitate (entrain) to the healthier pattern. With nerve function improved, bodily processes are permitted to become more normal, and the body is better able to return to its natural state of functional good health.

Chiropractic’s concern, then, is with assessment and addressing of subluxation. Its aim is to ensure that the body’s natural health-ensuring processes are allowed to function without nervous interference. It does NOT provide "sickness" care, "disease" care, or "symptom" care. It provides HEALTH CARE!

To sum it up:
What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a holistic / vitalistic health care system that directly concerns itself with the nervous system and its relation to the function of the human body. Chiropractors assess and address subluxations. Chiropractic does not use drugs, medicine, or invasive tools and procedures. It is the largest, drugless, natural healing profession in the world. Doctors of Chiropractic provide HEALTH CARE for people of any and every condition. Chiropractic is a health care profession that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to allow self-healing and greater adaptability and awareness without the use of drugs or surgery.

A Chiropractor’s Education

Chiropractors attend four-year doctoral colleges where they receive the same amount of classroom instruction or more as one would in a medical school program. The courses of study for a Doctor of Chiropractic focus on anatomy, physiology, chemistry, neurology, orthopedics, nutrition and various other health and biological sciences as well as courses in Chiropractic Technique. In addition, Chiropractic training includes an internship in which the student doctor assists in caring for patients in a clinical setting under the direct supervision of professionals. After graduating from Chiropractic College, a new Doctor must pass national board exams and state license exams before he or she is allowed to practice in that state. Many doctors take post graduate training in diplomate and certification programs in a variety of more specialized areas. Course hour comparison of Chiropractic training vs. Medical training :