Chiropractic Speaks Out

A spine-chilling look into the chiropractic industry. Learn how to protect yourself from practice-building tactics and bogus treatments.

Chiropractic has become America’s most popular form of alternative health care, offering lasting relief from pain--and many other health benefits--to more than 25 million patients annually. Yet many people still wonder exactly how chiropractic heals, and even experienced patients may be able to get more from their treatments. In this accessible and fascinating book, Dr. Michael Lenarz illuminates the basic principles of spinal health, showing how the body naturally lets go of stored pain and disease once the flow of vital energy has been restored. He also explains: *Why adjustments keep the communication flowing clearly, quickly, and cleanly *Why the billion-plus nerve pathways carried by the spine can be the key to a wide range of health problems--from arthritis, headaches, and back and neck pain to chronic fatigue and digestive ailments *Why many of the health complaints we associate with aging may in fact be the result of old injuries and therefore treatable *The different techniques of chiropractic, and how to choose the beset chiropractor for you. PLUS--complete chapters on the diet, exercise, and stress-relief programs that will help you achieve a healthy, vibrant, energized, and pain-free lifestyle--the chiropractic way.

This textbook introduces and explains basic chiropractic philosophy and history, principles, and applications in practice. In addition to covering chiropractic care techniques, it also discusses anatomy, biomechanics, and physiology, as well as spinal analysis and diagnostic procedures. Key scientific and philosophical issues within the chiropractic community are addressed. Clearly presented material in an easy-to-follow format defines unfamiliar terms, explains and illustrates concepts, and reinforces ideas through review and critical thinking questions. The book's broad scope and discussions of diverse topics make it ideal for students or anyone in the chiropractic community. Topics and content parallel the test plan outlines from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, ensuring that all material is relevant, up-to-date, and accurate. Well-known chapter contributors - some of the most respected and influential names in the field - give the book a balanced approach, reflecting the diversity within the profession on issues related to the science and philosophy of chiropractic. Well-referenced discussions include the most up-to-date research. Key terms and critical thinking/review questions in each chapter familiarize the reader with important concepts and promote a solid understanding of the material.

Chiropractic is by far the most common form of alternative medicine in the United States today, but its fascinating origins stretch back to the battles between science and religion in the nineteenth century. At the center of the story are chiropractic's colorful founders, D. D. Palmer and his son, B. J. Palmer, of Davenport, Iowa, where in 1897 they established the Palmer College of Chiropractic. Holly Folk shows how the Palmers' system depicted chiropractic as a conduit for both material and spiritualized versions of a "vital principle," reflecting popular contemporary therapies and nineteenth-century metaphysical beliefs, including the idea that the spine was home to occult forces. The creation of chiropractic, and other Progressive-era versions of alternative medicine, happened at a time when the relationship between science and religion took on an urgent, increasingly competitive tinge. Many remarkable people, including the Palmers, undertook highly personal reinterpretations of their physical and spiritual worlds. In this context, Folk reframes alternative medicine and spirituality as a type of populist intellectual culture in which ideologies about the body comprise a highly appealing form of cultural resistance.