Tag Archives: Dr. Palmer

Why Chiropractic Works: The Science Behind Spinal Adjustments

Chiropractic began with a simple yet profound discovery by D.D. Palmer in 1895. He found that restoring movement to a misaligned vertebra in a deaf man’s spine improved his hearing. This observation led him to develop the understanding that the nervous system controls every function of the body and that interference along the spine can affect overall well-being (1).

spinal adjustments

The spine is more than a stack of bones; it protects the spinal cord, which acts as the body’s electrical wiring. When a vertebra shifts out of place, even slightly, it can cause nerve irritation. These interferences, which Palmer called subluxations, can disrupt communication between the brain and the rest of the body. By addressing these shifts, chiropractors aim to help the body work as it was designed.

The Nervous System’s Role in Health

Every function in the body, from digestion to breathing, depends on the nervous system. The brain sends signals down the spinal cord and through nerves to coordinate movement, immune responses, and emotions. If these signals are blocked or distorted by spinal misalignments, problems can arise.

Many people think of the spine as posture or back discomfort, but its influence extends far beyond that. A misaligned vertebra may affect nerves connected to digestion, breathing, or muscle function. Since the nervous system oversees many processes, interference in one area can lead to effects elsewhere in the body.

The Body’s Ability to Self-Heal

D.D. Palmer described chiropractic as working with the body’s natural ability to heal rather than forcing change through external means. Health comes from within, and when the body is free from interference, it maintains itself as it was designed to (1).

This idea is simple but powerful: the body is built to heal itself. A cut on the skin closes on its own. A broken bone mends without outside intervention provided the body has what it needs. Chiropractic does not heal-it removes obstacles that prevent the body from working correctly.

Changes That Happen After Spinal Adjustments

People often notice improvements in energy, mobility, and comfort after receiving chiropractic care. Some experience better digestion, clearer thinking, improved sleep, and even enhanced immune function. These changes aren’t coincidences. When nerve interference is reduced, the body operates more efficiently.

One common example is the way chiropractic helps infants and children. Many parents bring their newborns to a chiropractor because of colic, feeding difficulties, or trouble sleeping. Birth can be physically demanding, and small misalignments in the spine may contribute to discomfort. By gently adjusting the spine, chiropractors help restore normal nerve function, leading to improvements in well-being.

Athletes also rely on chiropractic to improve performance. When the spine moves properly, muscles coordinate better, reaction times improve, and endurance increases. Many top athletes see chiropractic as essential, not just for recovery but for achieving peak performance.

Chiropractic Respects the Body’s Natural Design

Unlike approaches that attempt to mask symptoms, chiropractic works with the body’s structure and function. Instead of forcing change, it restores normal movement and alignment, allowing the body to express health naturally.

D.D. Palmer understood that the body is self-regulating. A properly aligned spine reduces stress on the nervous system, allowing the body to function at its highest level. Many people experience noticeable improvements, not because something was “fixed,” but because interference was removed, letting the bodywork as it was meant to.

Palmer’s discovery over a century ago was just the beginning of a deeper understanding of how the nervous system controls health. The body’s wisdom is already present. Chiropractic removes the obstacles that get in its way.

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1.Palmer, D.D. (1910). The Science, Art and Philosophy of Chiropractic. Portland Printing House.

The 3 T’s: Thoughts (mental health and chiropractic)

thoughts and mental healthThe Connection Between Mental Health and Chiropractic Care

Dr. Daniel David (DD) Palmer, the discoverer of chiropractic, was a man ahead of his time. He had an impressive library of scientific insights. Drawing from his studies he came to the conclusion that dis-ease (body malfunction) was caused by three T’s: Toxins, Thoughts (mental health) and Trauma.

Today’s scientific community is verifying those profound insights. Last month we discussed toxins. Now let’s look at thoughts.

Thoughts (emotions) are Powerful

The body affects the mind and the mind affects the body. Years ago it was believed our thoughts had no bearing on our health. During the mid-20th century the term psychosomatic illness was used to refer to a few conditions believed to be caused by emotional stress. But that was only just the beginning.

Today, many healers agree that it is rare to find a physical illness that cannot be affected by our emotions and just as impossible to find an emotional illness that has no physical effects. Mind and body interact in all circumstances.

Today the term mind/body or body/mind is used to describe this complex interrelationship.

From a physical standpoint we know that emotional stress affects our hormonal system and our immune system. Wemind and body connection also know that physical stress and changes in body chemistry can cause or contribute to changes in brain chemistry.

Life-threatening, even terminal illnesses such as cancer, have been reversed when individuals have had an emotional catharsis or an experience inspiring great hope and optimism. Emotional illness has reversed when people have experienced a physical healing.

The Chiropractic Connection

Chiropractic is a mind/body or body/mind healing art. The mind healing (psychotherapeutic) effects of chiropractic care were observed over a century ago and resulted in the creation of the Clear View and Forest Park Sanitariums devoted to caring for people suffering from mental and emotional disorders such as anxiety, “nervous disorders” (as they were then called) and more severe forms of emotional illness such as schizophrenia.

In fact, over a forty-year period, Doctors of Chiropractic and chiropractic schools operated nearly two hundred hospitals demonstrating that chiropractic care, with proper subluxation correction, along with a nutritious diet, exercise, fresh air and sunlight, had powerful healing effects.

Both Clear View and Forest Park Sanitariums consistently reported greater success than the state mental hospitals. The results so impressed North Dakota circuit court judge A.W. Ponath, that he consistently refused to send a patient to the state mental hospital unless they first spent time in the chiropractic institution. (5)

Why? Because without drugs, surgery (pre-frontal lobotomies) and electric shock therapy, chiropractic promoted real brain health and had a greater healing success rate.

Today chiropractors see many patients suffering from anxiety, depression, addiction, ADD, ADHD, autism and other conditions.

mental health

References and research for this article were obtained from the following sources:

1. Regan B, Hirshberg C. Spontaneous Remission: An Annotated Bibiliography. by. Sausalito, CA: Institute of Noetic Sciences, 1993.

2. Quigley WH. Pioneering mental health: institutional chiropractic care. Chiropractic History. 1983;3:68-73.

3. Goff PJ. Chiropractic treatment of mental illness: a review of theory and practice. Research Forum. 1987;4(1):4-10.

4. http://www.chiro.org/Plus/History/Persons/Mental-Health_in_Chiro/Mental_Health&Chiro- chrono.pdf

5. Glenther GC et al. Improvement in depression following reduction of upper cervical vertebral subluxation using orthospinology technique. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. November 7 2005;1-4.

The 3 T’s – Toxins, Thoughts and Trauma

toxins from air pollution Dr. Daniel David (DD) Palmer, the discoverer of chiropractic (1895), said that dis-ease (body malfunction) was caused by toxins, thoughts and trauma – the three T’s. Modern science is just catching up to his insights; he was far ahead of his time.

Understanding the 3 T’s

Understanding the three T’s will help you understand the causes of disease, how to prevent disease and, if you are suffering, how to address the cause. For this issue we’re going to discuss toxins.

Toxins

Toxins (poisons in the environment) have been linked to:

  • Cancermasks to prevent toxins
  • Brain tumors
  • Heart disease
  • Parkinson’s
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • ALS
  • Autism
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Depression
  • Immune system failure
  • Much more

Many of these diseases are linked to chronic or long-standing inflammation which is what toxins create. A toxic person is like a walking time bomb, waiting for disease to strike.

 How do we become toxic?toxins from water pollution

 Toxins come from our external environment (exogenous toxicity) and from our internal environment (endogenous toxicity).

External Environment

There are so many toxins in our external environment that we can’t list them all. They include air pollution, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, mercury and other heavy metals from dental fillings, chemical factories, waste dumps, toxic chemicals injected via vaccination, outgassing from carpets and various products, the chlorine and toxins from carpetsfluoride and waste chemicals in our water – the list is long and depressing.

Toxins in Newborns

Toxins are so common that researchers have found more than 200 chemicals in newborn umbilical cord blood including the controversial plastics additive bisphenol A, or BPA, which mimics estrogen and has been shown to cause developmental problems and precancerous growth in animals. Is it any wonder why our children are so sick today? (Goodman S. Scientific American. Sept. 2, 2009.)

Internal Toxins

Toxins generated from inside our body include oral pathology such as toxins from root canalsinfected root canals, infected wisdom tooth sockets, infected tonsils, longstanding waste in the colon, intestinal parasites and many others. Toxins generated from inside the body can be just as dangerous as those from outside the body.

 What do you do for toxicity?

 How do you remove toxins? It is done through the process of detoxification.

Detoxification Procedures

Since ancient times, for thousands of years, people all over the world in many cultures have employed numerous detoxification procedures such as fasting, hot baths, sauna, clay, cleansing diets, sweat lodges, exercises, special diets, enemas, colonics, massage, bodywork, sunlight (heliotherapy) and many other procedures.
remove toxins with a sauna

How do you start to detoxify?

There is much you can do to detoxify. Doctors of Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Chinese medicine and Ayurveda and other healthcare practitioners from different disciplines often specialize in or work with people who can address toxicity.
If you are worried about toxins in your system make an appointment with us today. We can help!