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A Brief History Of Chiropractic The word "Chiropractic" was first coined in 1895 when the first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr. Daniel David Palmer. ("Chiro" means hands and "Practic" means effective practice.) Dr. Palmer was, at the time, studying the cause and effect of disease. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the same building as Dr. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered a "lump" on Mr. Lillard's back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which he then repositioned the vertebra with a gentle thrust. After several such treatments, much of Mr. Lillard's hearing was restored. Since Dr. Palmer's first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic has progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment, scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes chiropractic a popular health care choice. Chiropractic Philosophy The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts: 1) the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself; and 2) the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes. Although chiropractic shares much with other health professions, its emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Chiropractic philosophy gravitates toward a holistic ("total person") approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit and maintains that health depends on obedience to natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness. Widespread Use of Chiropractic Care The increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that "The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary care medical facilities nationwide," and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapies. A follow-up report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with "overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%." Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year. Healthy Tips for a Healthy Spine The following tips can help you take better care of your spine: 1) Make sure you have a firm mattress that keeps the spine aligned and supports the spine's natural curve. The best sleeping positions are on your back or side. 2) When standing for extended periods, rest one foot on a small stool to maintain spinal curvature and relieve pressure. The knees should be bent when bending forward. Low-heeled shoes may help by maintaining spinal curvatures and cushioning your weight. 3) Use chairs that promote good posture and support your back. Placing a lumbar support in the lower portion of your back may help support your spine's natural curve. Readjust the seat of your car so that your knees are level with your hips. 4) When bending forward, bend at the knees and hips, but keep your back straight. This will help to keep your spine's curvature in proper alignment. When lifting, keep your spine straight while using your legs to do most of the work. Hold the objects being lifted close to your body to keep the weight on your spine to a minimum. Your examination Your examination will primarily be by orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic test, with other standard methods of diagnosis to evaluate the structural, chemical, and mental aspects of health. Based on these findings, specific joint manipulation, nutrition, diet, acupressure, exercise, and education are used therapeutically to help restore optimal function and maintain well-being throughout life. Reflexology Different than a foot massage, reflexology is an applied science that deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all the glands, organs, and other parts of the body. The Ingham Method of REFLEXOLOGY is used primarily for relaxing tension and to help many health problems in a natural way, a type of preventative maintenance. Over 75% of our health problems can be linked to nervous stress and tension. A reflexology session relaxes the stress that can affect your health and assists the whole body in coming back into balance. Reflexology improves nerve and blood supply and helps nature to normalize. Only the thumbs and fingers of the reflexologist are used to stimulate the reflex points in such a way as to bring relief with great care for the comfort of the receiver during the session. Therapeutic-grade essential oil may be incorporated for additional value if the client wishes. Raindrop Aromatherapy Technique Raindrop is an application of aromatic science that combines a carefully chosen, layered anointing sequence of Young Living Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils. These oils are dropped raindrop-style onto the spine with several other aromatherapy techniques, including a Lakota Native American feathering technique that stimulates the nerve endings. A second technique employed is Vita-Flex, a specialized Tibetan technique that uses digital electrical stimulation formed by the fingers in a rolling motion along spinal reflex points on the feet. The purpose of Raindrop is to stimulate every organ, gland, muscle, and bone of the body at a cellular level through the oils, boosting the immune system, assisting the body to come into structural and electrical balance, and enabling the release of toxins and physical or emotional imbalances wherever they may be lodged. Receiving a Raindrop is a unique experience according to each person's chemistry and temperament that could be both relaxing and/or invigorating. The essential oils are transdermal and can penetrate deep into the tissues and blood stream. Essential oils have been known to assist in oxygenating the body's systems and facilitating detoxification. Some of the essential oils used in a Raindrop session have been shown to support an internal environment that is hostile to harmful bacteria and viruses. Detox Ionic Foot Bath Internal cell cleansing may be assisted with a Detox Ionic Foot Bath. The feet are immersed in warm salt water into which positive and negative ions are emitted by a special machine. This relaxing process is used to facilitate re-balancing and re-energizing the body. The response of a re-balanced system can be the excretion of toxins through the feet from the organs of elimination.