Subluxation
Innate Intelligence
Adjustment
Nervous System - master control system
The science, art, and phylosophy of locating and correcting interferrence in nerve transmission in the human body without the use of drugs or surgery.
Understanding Chiropractic: A Distinct Approach to Health
Chiropractic care is a unique discipline that fundamentally differs from conventional medicine in its philosophy, purpose, and approach. To fully appreciate chiropractic, it is essential to first clarify what it is not and then frame its principles within the appropriate context.
Chiropractic is not a branch of medicine. Unlike medicine, which often focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases by targeting individual parts or systems of the body, chiropractic adopts a holistic perspective. Medicine excels at addressing acute conditions or systems that have significantly deviated from normal function, often employing pharmaceuticals or surgical interventions to alleviate symptoms. In contrast, chiropractic emphasizes the body’s innate ability to self-organize, self-regulate, adapt, repair, and heal when functioning optimally.
At the core of chiropractic philosophy is the understanding that the body operates as an integrated whole, with one system playing a particularly critical role: the nervous system. The nervous system serves as the master control system, facilitating communication between the brain and the rest of the body. This communication is vital for coordinating all bodily functions, from movement to healing, and for maintaining overall health.
Chiropractic is founded on the principle that the spine’s proper alignment and movement are essential for optimal nervous system function. Misalignments or restricted motion in the spine—often referred to as subluxations—can interfere with the brain’s ability to communicate effectively with the body. This disruption may impair the body’s capacity to self-regulate and heal, potentially leading to aches, pains, or other symptoms that signal underlying dysfunction.
By restoring proper motion and alignment to the spine, chiropractic adjustments aim to enhance the communication pathways between the brain and the body. This restoration supports the body’s natural ability to function as a cohesive unit, reducing the likelihood of symptoms that arise to alert the individual to underlying issues. Unlike medicine, which often seeks to suppress symptoms, chiropractic focuses on addressing the root cause of dysfunction to promote overall health and well-being.
For much of its history, chiropractic’s principles were based on theoretical foundations established by its founder, D.D. Palmer, over a century ago. In the past 15 to 20 years, advancements in technology have enabled neuroscientists to measure and validate these concepts. Emerging research is beginning to demonstrate that proper spinal function indeed enhances nervous system communication, supporting the body’s ability to self-regulate and heal. These findings align with the long-standing chiropractic belief that optimizing spinal health improves the function of the entire body.
Chiropractic is a distinct healthcare discipline that views the body as an interconnected whole, with the nervous system as its master regulator. By focusing on spinal health and its impact on nervous system function, chiropractic care seeks to enhance the body’s innate capacity for self-regulation and healing. This approach contrasts with the symptom-focused, compartmentalized methods of conventional medicine, offering a complementary perspective that emphasizes holistic well-being.
What Chiropractic Is — and What It Is Not
To understand chiropractic, it’s helpful to first clarify what it is not. Chiropractic is not medicine. It is fundamentally different — not just in practice, but in purpose and philosophy.
Medicine is structured to diagnose and treat disease, often by targeting and reducing symptoms. It tends to compartmentalize the body into separate systems — the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, and so on. Medicine is extremely valuable, especially when systems have become severely compromised or when emergency intervention is needed.
Chiropractic, on the other hand, views the body as an interconnected whole. While it honors all systems of the body, it places particular emphasis on one: the nervous system — the body’s master control system. This is because your nervous system coordinates everything your body does: movement, adaptation, repair, self-regulation, and healing.
The foundational principle of chiropractic is that when the spine — which houses and protects the central nervous system — is not moving or functioning properly, it can interfere with the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. This interference can lead to dysfunction in any area of the body, even before symptoms appear.
For over a century, chiropractors have operated with this understanding. Only in the past 15–20 years, thanks to advances in technology and neuroscience, has research begun to validate what the founders of chiropractic proposed long ago — that spinal function affects brain-body communication in significant ways.
Chiropractic care works to restore proper motion and alignment in the spine, thereby enhancing nervous system function. This improved communication between the brain and body helps the entire system function better — often reducing the body’s need to signal distress through pain or other symptoms.
So chiropractic isn’t about chasing symptoms. It’s about restoring connection, improving function, and supporting the body’s innate ability to heal and thrive.