How It All Began: The First Adjustment

Considering that most people think you only need to see a chiropractor when you have back pain, many would be surprised to hear about how the chiropractic profession began.  It all started 123 years ago in a small American town.  The founder of chiropractic, D.D Palmer, was practicing as a magnetic healer, when he came upon a janitor working in his office building.  In his own words, he describes what followed:

"Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the Ryan Block where I had my office, has been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear the racket of a wagon on the street or the ticking of a watch.  I made inquiry as to the cause of his deafness and was informed that when he was exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf.  An examination showed a vertebra racked from its normal position.  I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man's hearing should be restored.  With this object in view, a half-hour's talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it.  I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever and soon the man could hear as before.  There was nothing 'accidental' about this, as it was accomplished with an object in view, and the result expected was obtained..."

From this one adjustment, chiropractic has grown to be the largest drug-free health profession, safely performing millions of revitalizing spinal adjustments every day around the world.  Without any industry support and funding, this growth has occurred as a result of word of mouth, simply because the positive results of chiropractic care inspires patients to refer their friends and family.  Studies have also shown clear benefits of chiropractic care well beyond symptoms such as back and neck pain.  The world has changed dramatically since that fateful first adjustment 123 years ago.  We are now living in a nearly completely man-made world, which has created man-made diseases never even heard of when chiropractic first began.  An optimally functioning spine and nervous system is more essential now than ever before, as it helps you to cope and mitigate the effects of our modern life... allowing you to reconnect with your true self.

by Dr S J Nana

www.DrNana.co.za