Chiropractic Practice: Why Chiropractic Philosophy Is Still Relevant

Hello everybody and welcome to Thrive in Five. I’m Dr. Dennis Perman and I’ll be your chiropractic coach for today. This edition is called Why Chiropractic Philosophy is Still Relevant. Those of us who have been around the profession for a while have seen a lot of growth, change, and evolution of chiropractic practice, some healthy, some not as healthy. This dynamic has been present since the beginning when DCS began to consider the correct balance in their lives and practices between three dynamics, the science of chiropractic, the art of chiropractic, and the philosophy of chiropractic. The blend of these three factors is unique to each chiropractor in each practice as there’s enough latitude built into the conversation to allow each participant to evolve his or her own perspectives, but that each should play a role is non-negotiable. When we look back over the history, the profession, we see a three-sided tug of war that manifested among those who focused primarily on art and technique.

Those who focus primarily on science and validation, and those who focused on philosophy and the deeper meanings of our work. It’s clear that each plays its role and it’s obvious that we need art and practice and science to lend credibility to what we do. But can a chiropractor really practice a thorough and complete form of chiropractic without including philosophy? Philosophy is the window through which the chiropractor looks to understand his or her position in the world of healing and beyond. If we were to be reduced to bone movers who relieve pain and that’s all, then we’d still be rendering an essential service. But that would be like going into a fine restaurant and ordering a bologna sandwich. You’d be fed, but you would’ve missed out on what made that dining establishment special and unique. There are many ways for patients to get out of pain, and while chiropractic works as well or better than any of those approaches, it begs the question, why does it all work?

Some find that answer in chiropractic science, choosing to study the invertible foramina and relate their research to the way the person feels and heals. Some find that answer in chiropractic art, choosing to study the correction of nerve interference to guide patients through health crises toward a better quality of life. But by asking the question, what’s behind all that, we open to a vast horizon of healing and function that can only be comprehended in the context of chiropractic philosophy, art and science are necessary to apply the reasoning in real time with a sick and suffering humanity. But it’s only when we probe into the deeper structures that we uncover the truth that there is an intelligence that is inherent in living systems that produces astounding occurrences every second of every day in every cell, the miracle of life itself. Chiropractic philosophy tells us that there’s an inborn intelligence that knows the answer to every unasked question that operates behind the scenes while we enjoy the impact of its power.

When we spout dogma like the power that made the body heals the body, what are we actually referring to? Chiropractic may not be unique in its appreciation of innate wisdom, but we’ve expended our viewpoint to include a rationale for taking responsibility for self-care. If we do certain things to keep our brain, spine and nerve system functioning at or near peak efficiency, we stand the best chance of navigating through the rocky waters of modern lifestyle while retaining some semblance of internal order that helps us to cope with a hostile environment. We can never survive changes in temperature, frequent trauma, emotional duress, and myriad other forms of stress if it weren’t for this natural self writing mechanism we’re born with and depend upon throughout our existence. So then what does chiropractic philosophy really say? Chiropractic principle number one states there is a universal intelligence in all matter that continually gives to it all of its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.
This is the foundation from which chiropractic philosophy is derived. If there’s a universal intelligence in all matter, then it must also be in living organisms like human beings. 

The portion of universal intelligence found in a person is referred to as innate intelligence as it is inborn and essential for normal function, in fact, for any function at all. So when a patient comes into a chiropractic office, unbeknownst to them the chiropractor’s intention is to restore normal communication between the brain and the body by adjusting the spine to reduce or eliminate nerve interference. Once the interference in the body’s communications network is alleviated, the brain can once again fully engage the body parts leading to better function and overall health and wellness. For a chiropractic to do a thorough job, he or she must be able to analyze the spine and deliver the appropriate adjusted thrust. But why is it just to break fixations, to reposition bones, to retrain soft tissues?

D.D. Palmer stated that the purpose of the adjustment was to reconnect man, the physical with man, the spiritual gender insensitivity to the country. Notwithstanding without this idea that there is an above down, inside out quality to chiropractic care, it becomes a glorified orthopedic maneuver, a spinal manipulation, which could be offered by any number of different professionals. It is the philosophy that underlies chiropractic reasoning that gives us our unique perspective on health, life, and our future. If you want to be a doctor of function rather than a doctor of pain, you’ll need to find a way to express chiropractic philosophy in a language patients and prospective patients can understand. In the absence of a deeper comprehension, chiropractic is relegated to a treatment for neck and back pain, a valuable service to be sure, but one that overlooks the most valuable assets of regular chiropractic care.

Use metaphors to explain how healing works, help patients to realize that healing comes from inside themselves, not from medicine or medical treatment. Those things may be useful or even required at times, but unless life is present, no remedies or solutions will make any difference. BJ Palmer summed it up like this. We chiropractors work with the subtle substance of the soul. We release the prisoned impulse, the tiny RT of force that emanates from the mind and flows over the nerves to the cells and stirs them into life. We deal with the magic power that transforms common food into living, loving thinking clay that robes the earth with beauty and Hughes the sense of the flowers with the glory of the air. In the dim distant long ago, when the sun first bowed to the morning star, this power spoke and there was life endlessly. It worked, evolving its form until it produced the crowning glory of them all. With tireless energy, it blows the bubble of each individual life and then silently relentlessly it dissolves the form and absorbs the spirit back into itself again. And yet you ask, can chiropractic cure appendicitis or the flu? Have you morphed faith in a knife or a spoonful of medicine than the power that animates the living world?

It’s that essence of life that is at the core of chiropractic philosophy. The body naturally tends to work properly to regulate itself and to heal when necessary unless the conditions prevent that natural process. Interference between brain and body is the most common condition, preventing normal expression and healing, and that is why chiropractic philosophy is still relevant. It gives patients a good reason to continue with your care, get them to understand that, and they’ll be more likely to stay with you and chiropractic care beyond the point of relief and experience. The miraculous healing and wellness benefits chiropractic is famous for. By the way, if you’re looking for a way to bring chiropractic philosophy alive in your own practice, nothing works better than integrating the functional health management score, which you can access by scanning the QR code on your screen. It’s a great tool for practice building and attracting patients who are not only interested in relief, but also in seeking better function and understanding why. Try it and see. Thanks for watching. I’m Dr. Dennis Perman from The Masters Circle Global where legends are made and legendary practices are built through chiropractic coaching.

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