From Simple Beginnings
September 18, 1895 was the day that Dr. Daniel David Palmer, then a magnetic healer, performed the first chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard, the deaf janitor who cleaned his offices. Lillard reported that he had been deaf for 17 years following a “bump” to his head while working. Dr. Palmer asked if he could examine Lillard and try to help him. Finding a bump on Lillard’s spine, Dr. Palmer thrust on the bump with his hands and thus performed the very first recorded chiropractic adjustment.
Reportedly, over several days, Lillard’s hearing returned. It was from the results of that first adjustment that Dr. Palmer formed and formulated the modern profession of chiropractic.
The chiropractic concepts were evident in our history dating back to the early Mesopotamians, who included records of apparent spinal adjustments being administered to improve health. The Greek healer, Hippocrates recognized the importance of the spine in health care when he said, “Look well to the spine for the cause of dis-ease.” While the knowledge of the importance of the spine and nerves in health was known, it was not until Dr. Palmer put that knowledge together as chiropractic that the great profession we know today was formed.
The term chiropractic comes from the Greek words kiro and practos meaning done by the hands. For the past 100+ years, the chiropractic profession has changed millions of lives, with their hands only. Chiropractic is a truly “natural” approach to health.
Chiropractic TODAY
Today, chiropractic is recognized as the largest natural healing art. Chiropractic has attained this status as a result of the incredible results that it has enjoyed in helping millions of people to express more life.
We now know that the “bump” on Harvey Lillard’s spine was a misaligned vertebra creating nerve interference and preventing his body from functioning properly. Dr. Palmer named this vertebral misalignment Vertebral Subluxation. Through the correction of vertebral subluxation, the chiropractic adjustment allows the perfect expression of the body’s Innate potential.
While chiropractors do not claim to cure any disease or treat the symptoms of body malfunction, regular chiropractic care has been shown over and over again to be beneficial as an integral part of a person’s health regimen. A body functioning at its maximum potential is better able to express life and maintain balance and harmony with its environment. As a result, chiropractic is spreading around the world as more people realize the importance of an interference free nerve supply and seek the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment.
Chiropractic in the FUTURE
As science and technology continue to improve in their ability to study and understand our world, they also come closer to the ability to test and prove the principles of the chiropractic approach to health. Even with today’s limited knowledge of how the body really functions, scientists are already discovering how far advanced the principles of chiropractic as developed by Dr. Palmer really are. In time, we may be able to study, in detail, the full effect of the vertebral subluxation on body function and health and demonstrate the impact of the chiropractic adjustment in helping the body to experience maximum life expression.
There’s No Time Like The Present
Since the past is a cancelled check and the future is a promissory note, all we have is now. Know that as you receive your regular adjustments you are taking care of your body in the best way possible and insuring that your future is as bright as it can be. Regular chiropractic care is one of the most important things you can do for your body today to insure your future good health. No matter what your age, your body will create more health and vitality for you with an interference free nerve supply. The best way to create the optimal environment for wellness is to remove the interference to it with regular chiropractic checkups and chiropractic adjustments when necessary.
Chiropractic is truly the health care of the future. Chiropractic works with the body’s inherent tendencies toward health, without drugs, surgery, or outside interventions. Be proud that you’re one of the millions of people who include regular chiropractic care in their family’s health formula. One day look back and know, “I did the right thing for my family’s health and well-being.”
Contact us today to experience chiropractic care at Branchville Family Chiropractic!