I have never understood the controversy surrounding Chiropractic; it is such a simple philosophy. Broken down into its most basic tenets, Chiropractic assumes that we are a "self healing" meant to have perfect health. When our health diminishes it is because of interference with our "self healing" ability.

D.D. Palmer, the founder of Chiropractic, is quoted as saying, "Health needs no help only no interference". With this understanding, Chiropractors know that as our health deteriorates we should remove that interference and allow the body's healing ability to act.

Chiropractors do not treat disease nor do they treat symptoms. Chiropractors remove interference and provide the proper conditions for health and wellness. So what do Chiropractors advocate as the proper conditions for health? We provide advice on nutrition and encourage patients to avoid chemical toxins so that cells of the body can function optimally.

We understand that peace of mind is essential for good health and therefore are supporters of activities that promote stress relief, such as yoga and meditation.

Most important of all Chiropractors understand that you cannot be well without proper motion and alignment of your spine. The neurological (nerve) pathway between the brain and organs allows information to be sent both ways in a "continuous feedback loop". Whenever there is a misalignment at any point along the 24 vertebrae (spinal bones) it can cause a choking off or "subluxation" of the nerves. This "choking off" of the spinal nerves can result in deterioration of messages sent from the brain to the organs which can ultimately lead to "dis-ease". Chiropractors are experts at finding and fixing subluxations. Fixing subluxations restores the communication between the brain and the 75 trillion cells that make up the body. The result, a self-healing organism!

So why the controversy when Chiropractic seems so intuitive and reasonable? The controversy is due to the fact that holistic philosophy is totally incongruent with our current "sickness" care system. Our current system is based on the treatment of disease not the prevention of disease. The wellness philosophy just does not fit into our current sickness care model and is therefore being vehemently opposed.

In summary I would like to point out that it was the "health nuts" of the world that were 20 years ahead of the medical establishment in proclaiming that cigarettes were bad for you. It was holistic practitioners that declared diet and nutrition could be related to cancers and diseases. This is now viewed as common sense. Unfortunately, today most people don't recognize that posture and spinal health have a direct influence on your overall wellness.

The choice is yours. You can wait 20 years for the facts to become self evident or you can act now to positively affect your health and the health of your family. Visiting a Chiropractor is the first step towards good posture and an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.