September 18th, 2012 marked the 117th anniversary of Chiropractic! On Sept. 18, 1895, Dr. D.D. Palmer of Davenport, Iowa, gave the first chiropractic adjustment. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a cleaner in Palmer’s building, who had been deaf since a traumatic accident several years earlier. Palmer, who had been studying the spine and nervous system, found a bump on Lillard’s spine that he presumed to be a spinal misalignment. After adjusting Harvey’s spine his hearing returned – thus the beginnings of Chiropractic was born. As Palmer (founder and “father” of modern Chiropractic) had suspected there was a relationship between spinal misalignments and a body that wasn’t functioning as well as it was capable of.
In many ways it was a rediscovery of the ancient art of spinal care found in nearly every culture and practice throughout the world. These early healers understood the relationship between health and the condition of the spine. Asklepios, was a noted physician of his time (1200 B.C.), who was later exalted to the god of medicine and healing, was known to use his hands to affect the body and regain ones health. Hippocrates (460 B.C.), currently known as the father of medicine advised: “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.”
Today chiropractic is the third largest primary contact health profession in the USA after medicine and dentistry, and the largest natural health care profession worldwide. Chiropractic is a science, art and philosophy which allows the body to reach its inborn potential and capacity to heal without the use of drugs or surgery.
Today’s Chiropractors continue the work of locating and reducing spinal misalignments. The spine houses the nervous system which is the master control system of the body. Thanks to D.D. Palmer millions of people worldwide receive relief from needless pain and suffering every week through chiropractic adjustments and are therefore able to express true health and potential on every level unhindered.
