Chiropractic, after entering the therapeutic arena
only a century ago in the United States, is now
the third most widely practiced health profession
in the world.
The origins of chiropractic date back to 1895
when David D. Palmer developed a therapy
based on vertebral adjustments aimed at
correcting spinal misalignments, which he
considered a significant source of ailments.
This method of treatment was discovered, by
chance, when Palmer examined the janitor of
his building, who suffered from deafness. This
man had lost his hearing 17 years earlier, after
hurting his back while working in a cramped,
stooped position.
Palmer observed a “lump” on the man’s neck,
showing that a cervical vertebra was misaligned.
He returned the vertebra to its normal position
through means of a vertebral adjustment, and
the man recovered his hearing right away.
Shortly thereafter Palmer examined a patient with
a heart condition. Palmer surmised that if he acted
on the vertebra linked to the heart he could
perhaps obtain a positive outcome. He performed
the adjustment and the patient was instantly
cured.
The success of these two first interventions, as
well as their amazing speed of response, triggered
a series of scientific research studies in the US
that quickly popularized this technique based on
the relationship between the spine and the nervous
system and, by extension, health in general.
The first chiropractic college was founded in
Davenport, Iowa, soon to be followed by others.
At present there are 24 faculties of chiropractic
in the world: 15 in the U.S., two in Canada, two
in Australia and five in Europe (one in France,
one in Denmark and three in the United Kingdom).
Having been granted legal status by the Senate
in March 2002, chiropractic is finally official in
France.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but
will interest his patients in the care of the human
frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of
disease."
Thomas Edison
© American Chiropractic Center
