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Is Chiropractic a Treatment?
There is a concept developed by Dr. Reggie Gold and championedby a group of Canadianchiropractors, which is called “The Third Paradigm” (in thisarticle, I will substitute the word “Era” for “Paradigm” because itreads easier).
What we Thought Chiropractic Was
The 1st Era refers to the earliest period in chiropractichistory where chiropractors wrote and proclaimed that “chiropracticwas the cure for the disease.” Everything from arthritis to cancer!Now, a certain percentage of people did get well under care, butthese early doctors realized quickly that chiropractic is not acure for any disease.
This led to the development of the 2nd Era of chiropractic,which proclaimed that “chiropractic helps get sick people well.”While this statement may be true, it is still far from absolute. AsI mentioned in the previous article, there are a great number ofpeople in North Lakes, Brisbane, and around the world, who stillsuffer or develop the disease even under lifetime chiropracticcare.
Most chiropractors even today still practice under this model.Now into the 3rd Era of chiropractic, this paradigm identifies thatsubluxation, which is the misalignment of a vertebra that iscausing the central nervous system to function improperly is simplynegative for your health. Specifically, the proclamation is thatany person with or without symptoms, with or withoutdisease will be better under chiropractic care. Why? Because ithelps the body to function better. That’s it.
The Place of Chiropractic Today
Does having a healthy diet guarantee that you will never getsick or unwell? No, it is far more probable that you will behealthier if you do have a healthy diet than if you don’t. Doesexercising 20-30 minutes everyday guarantee that you will never getsick or unwell?
No, it is far more probable that you will be healthier if you doexercise than if you don’t. Within North Lakes itself,how many health food stores and gyms (including bootcamps) do youthink there are? How about all of Brisbane? A staggering amount!And no one thinks to question the purpose of diet and exercise inthe proper maintenance of health.
Here is where chiropractic belongs, and here is why chiropracticis not a treatment for any disease. No more than good nutrition orquality exercise prevent or cure any specific disease,chiropractic care—that is making sure that your spine andnervous system are working as effectively and efficiently aspossible—improves the odds that you are able to lead a healthy andfulfilling life. So is chiropractic the cure forappendicitis or the flu?
No. What about treatment for neck or low back pain? No. Can ithelp? Yes, but not always. And that is because chiropractic, likediet and exercise, is not a specific treatment for pain or anyother ailment, but simply an essential element of lifestyle thatgoes towards keeping youas healthy and well as possible.
Truly it is time to reconsider the importance and place ofchiropractic in healthcare. As DD Palmer, the founder ofchiropractic wrote, “In the future, chiropractic will be valued forits preventative qualities as much as for relieving and adjustingthe cause of ailments.” Over 100 years later, are we ready toembrace that?
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