HISTORY OF CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE

For those who understand Greek, the term chiropractic provides a strong hint of what it involves. The term chiropractic is derived from two Greek words: "cheir," which means hand, and "praxis," which means action. Chiropractic, as the name indicate, is a type of health care that is primarily performed by hand. It uses manual manipulative treatments to adjust misaligned joints, particularly in the spinal column.

Chiropractors believe that these misalignments have a negative impact on the nerves, muscles, and organs, causing a variety of discomforts and disorders. Correcting these misalignments, also known as subluxations, restores healthy function and allows the body's systems to function effectively. The concept at the heart of this hands-on approach to healing has a remarkably lengthy and multicultural history.

Before Chiropractic: Ancient Cultures and Hands-on Healing

Although Hippocrates lived from 460 B.C. to 357 B.C., he was a strong proponent of spinal care. In his writings, he emphasized the importance of what would eventually become chiropractic adjustments and spinal manipulation. "Get knowledge of the spine, for this, is a requisite for many diseases," he said, and while he was one of the more well-known historical advocates for this type of treatment, he wasn't the first.

When did healers first start using spinal adjustments to help people feel better? That's tough to pinpoint with any real accuracy. Between 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C., historians have discovered ancient Chinese and Greek writings that discuss relieving back pain with manipulation of the spine and extremities. However, the Greeks and Chinese were not the only ones who experimented with the health benefits of adjusting the spine. There are indications that ancient civilizations in Japan, Egypt, Syria, and Babylon used manual manipulation.

On the other side, the Incas, Mayans, and other Native Americans used similar methods of healing. We may never know when or where the idea of improving health through spinal adjustments originated. Still, we can trace the origins of modern chiropractic care back to America in the late 19th century.

The Beginnings of Modern Chiropractic

In 1895, the next chapter in the history of chiropractic care began with the birth of modern chiropractic. Daniel David Palmer met Harvey Lillard in September, a janitor who had lost his hearing nearly two decades before after feeling something give way in his back. Lillard's hearing was restored after Palmer manually adjusted his neck. Thrilled by the treatment's effectiveness, Palmer developed and refined the therapy he would later call "chiropractic."

Palmer established the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1897 and started teaching others how to provide chiropractic care. Aspiring chiropractors continue to learn at this prestigious institution, now known as the Palmer College of Chiropractic. While it is one of the most well-known chiropractic schools, it is certainly not the only one. Several schools now provide students with the opportunity to pursue the rigorous training required to achieve a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

From Competition to Cooperation

The traditional medical establishment now recognizes chiropractic as a valuable form of complementary medicine, despite the fact that relations between the two communities were not always friendly. As the two groups competed for patients, scrapping over credibility, licensure, and merit was common in the early days of chiropractic. Moreover, the history of chiropractic care is full of legal scuffles as chiropractors fought for recognition and respect.

Chiropractors worked diligently during the twentieth century to establish themselves as legitimate health care practitioners. Creating licensure standards was one strategy for achieving this. In 1913, Kansas was the first state in the United States to license the practice of chiropractic. Other states followed, with Louisiana becoming the last to do so in 1974.

Unfortunately, the traditional medical establishment remained openly hostile to chiropractic, frequently attempting to convince the public that chiropractors were con artists. What put a stop to this antagonism? A lawsuit filed in 1987 helped. The Illinois Supreme Court found the American Medical Association guilty of conspiracy and ordered it to pay restitution in the case of Wilk v. American Medical Association.

Today, medical doctors and chiropractors work together to provide the best patient care possible. This cooperative spirit has flourished in part due to the growing body of scientific research that provides clear proof of chiropractic's benefits. Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic can improve recovery rates, patient satisfaction, and even healthcare costs.

Would chiropractic care be beneficial to you? Contact Komp Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic in Omaha, NE, today to learn more about this time-tested form of hands-on healing. For further information, please call us at (402) 502-3878 today.