Chiropractic Care: A Benefit to the Well Individual?
We don't often think of the chiropractor until some part of our
body isn't functioning as it should, most often our back. But
what about chiropractic care for the well individual? Is it a
benefit to the well person, to visit a chiropractor when really
nothing is wrong? You bet it's a benefit and here's why.
The very nature of chiropractic care is the belief in the
body's own healing properties. Quite often, we can have small
problems in one area of our body, and not even realize it until
the effect is felt in a much larger way, somewhere else.
The practice of chiropractic care focuses on the relationship
between your spine and your nervous system. The spine is the
structure, and the nervous system is the function. Chiropractic
believes these two systems work in unison to keep and then
restore your body's health. The word "chiropractic" is taken
from Greek, and means "done by hand". This is exactly how
chiropractic care works. The chiropractor uses his or her hands
to manipulate your body, and help it to heal itself. It is the
branch of the health sciences which focuses on the
neuromusculoskeletal system.
That's a very big word to simply say how your spine and nervous
system work together. The spine is the highway for your central
nervous system; if the highway is blocked or traffic is jammed,
they are usually able healers. Many cultures, the Egyptians, the
Greeks, the Chinese, and even the Africans have used some form
of chiropractic care for hundreds of years.
Why has it taken so long for chiropractic care to receive its
proper recognition in western medicine? Because by its very
nature, it creates a divide between traditional, western
philosophies and practices and what the chiropractor practices.
In modern, western medicine, prescription drugs play a huge role
in our healing process. To circumvent all those years of
development, and investment on the part of the drug companies,
is like climbing a rock cliff. It has taken many years, much
evidence, and the demand of the general public to finally make
progress towards the implementation chiropractic medicine as a
realistic form of healing.
Chiropractic care in the western civilizations however has
experienced many hurdles on its way to becoming one of best
forms of back care and preventive medicine available today. To
date, much research has been done and much material published on
the benefits and cost-effective nature of chiropractic
treatment. The number of Americans who seek chiropractic care
has more than tripled in the last ten years, and continues to
grow each year. It is a known fact, if you've ever visited the
chiropractor, the philosophy works, your body feels better, it
heals better, and you aren't cut, drugged, and off from work for
6 weeks to recuperate.
It is interesting to note here, that chiropractors are still
classified as holistic healers. In other words, they believe in
the whole body approach to healing. So do the acupuncturists,
and the herbal healers. It would seem to me, that traditional
medicine as had a lot of catching up to do, and they thought
they were in the lead!