So what is colic?  According to medical literature it is defined by a “rule of three.”
1.  Crying for more than three hours per day
2.  for more than three days per week
3.  for longer than three weeks in a month for an infant who is otherwise healthy and well fed.

Medical experts are not in agreement as to the cause.  Most commonly, the assumption is the infant is having digestive troubles.  But consideration is given to allergies, maternal anxiety, and lactose intolerance.  Solutions are pursued that often involve changing diet.  Even the diet of the mother who is breast feeding.

Chiropractic looks to the spine for a cause (not that diet is ignored).  Most people would agree even the most natural childbirth, without the intervention of obstetrician, involves a tremendous amount of compression, rotation, extension, and traction of the baby.

Research supports the use of chiropractic care for babies with the symptoms of infantile colic.  Thankfully results come after just a few adjustments in the majority of cases.  I’ll highlight two studies.

One study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) in 1989 [12(4): 281-288], followed 316 infants with moderate to severe colic, averaging 5.2 hours of crying per day.  They were treated and results reported by the mothers in a prospective survey.  Ninety-four percent of the children showed satisfactory response with an average of three adjustments within two weeks.  One-fourth of the infants showed great improvement after the first chiropractic adjustment!

In 1999 a very compelling study was reported in JMPT.  Fifty infants with colic were randomly placed in two groups.  One group was given dimethicone medication daily for two weeks.  The other group received chiropractic adjustments for two weeks as needed.  The average was 3.8 adjustments over the two week period.  The results were reported in a colic diary and nurses visited the families to administer a weekly infantile colic behavior profile.  In the end 9 of the 25 families who used the medication dropped out of the study.  While all of the chiropractic group finished.  The medication “drop outs” reported they left the study because the symptoms either “worsened” or it had “much worsened.”  Four families took the time to give their reasons.  Had these four infants completed the study, it would have made the dimethicone group results even worse.  Despite this, the results are significant as seen in the graph below.

This study strongly suggests that chiropractic adjustments are a valid treatment option for children with infantile colic.

Two points need to be made.  One, it may be the case that since 1999 there may be a different drug of choice for colic.  I do not know.  This study is not about chiropractic out performing a particular drug.  It demonstrates the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustment’s ability to heal.  In particular, in the absence of drugs.  It just so happens that is is wonderful to be able to help a child with colic.  Secondly, it needs to be pointed out that the chiropractors who saw the infants with colic, where not “treating” the colic.  They were adjusting subluxations, which allowed the child’s body to function better.  This post is not meant to dive deeply into that particular issue.  But it is important to be clear that chiropractic is for the correcting of subluxations.  Through the correction of subluxations patients are able to heal correctly.  Because of this there is a staggering list of conditions, symptoms, and diseases that have been shown to improve in patients if they get chiropractic care for subluxations.

The literature is full of studies and case studies that demonstrate patients not only recover symptomatically, but gain an all over sense of well being, as compared to the beginning of treatment.  One such case study evaluated a 26 year old woman with multiple subluxations.  She registered low scores on two quality of life measurements.

After nine months of chiropractic care (moving from active to maintenance care) the subluxations were significantly reduced.  While at the same time her well being increased.  An evaluation called “The Quality of Well-Being Scale” showed a jump from 1.1 to 8.2 after chiropractic care.  In fact, her mental health composite score on the assessment improved from 25.3 to 62.8.  “The patient appeared to experience improvement in quality of life while showing signs suggestive of improved spinal function.  “The relationship between indicators of vertebral subluxation and quality of life deserves further investigation using a research design that allows for exploration of possible causal relationships” was the summary statement by the researchers (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;28:136-42) [JVSR].

Another interesting study, that was published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2007;1-7, followed 10 volunteers who held stressful jobs that taxed their emotional health.  They then underwent weekly chiropractic care for correction of vertebral subluxations.  When the quality-of-life questionnaires from the beginning of the study were compared to the end, the result were significant.  Physically there was improved range of motion, spinal balance, tendon reflexes, and posture.  But most exciting was the dramatic increase in all aspects of well being.

These are not unusual findings.  The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research is just one of several journals to showcase research of this type.  It logically follows that if chiropractic care seems to improve well being, it will help, to some degree, conditions like, depression and anxiety.  In fact this has been demonstrated.  JVSR has research published 2008 and 2004 respectively.

It is important to note that these benefits do not happen overnight.  The authors of one study conclude chiropractic care provided “significant benefits” in well-being, not instantly, but over time.  “Study data suggested that health/wellness may accrue with time under care.”  For some this is disappointing because we naturally want quick fixes.  However, keep in mind most psychotropic medications are prescribed to be taken daily with no end in site either.  So if one is looking for a non pharmacological option, chiropractic may be an option to consider with your doctor.

This information was first distributed as an Optimal Health University newsletter at Stover Chiropractic, P.C.

Research now shows that bad posture not only causes pain, but it can effect organ systems.  Those systems are the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems.  There is also research that demonstrates that the amount of “slump” one has is directly correlated to earlier death.  Wow.

Chiropractic adjustments are very effective in correcting subluxations which are a cause of postural changes.  However, it could be the case that poor posture or lifestyle could what actually causes subluxations.  It is recommended that everyone, no matter their age, be analyzed for the presence of subluxations.

How do you test of bad posture?
1.  Look in a mirror.  Ears, shoulders and hips should each line up horizontally from left to right.
2.  Stand with your back and buttocks against a wall.  Place your feet approximately six inches from the wall.  Does your head easily rest against the wall?  if is doesn’t, you have forward head posture.
3.  Lie down on your back on a hard surface.  With your head on the floor, you should be looking straight up to the ceiling.  If you feel your head tilt backward, or aren’t looking straight above you, chances are that your upper back curve is the cause of your faulty posture.

What will I feel?
Poor posture certainly doesn’t have to cause pain, which is why the above tests are useful.  But most often fatigue is the first symptom.  Later comes the tension, tightness, pain, and tender muscles.  Remember, whenever the position of your body moves away from its center of gravity, your joints are taken out of their normal, stress-free positions.  Then the abnormal wear and tear starts.  Over time cartilage degeneration, nerve pressure or irritation, and decreased flexibility will occur.  Pain is usually the last symptom to appear.  The most common symptoms at this advanced stage are:
- Muscle pain and tightness
- Nerve pain traveling down the arm or leg
- Joint pain and restriction
- Ligament or tendon pain

How do you improve posture?

1. Be aware.  Practice awareness of your posture.
2. Take regular breaks from sitting at a computer.
3. Check the ergonomics of your workstation.
4. Use a proper pillow.  Don’t sleep on your stomach.  If you sleep on your back, you need VERY little thickness.  If you sleep on your side the pillow needs to be thick and firm enough to keep your head elevated and in line with your spine.
5. Stretch the muscles that are too tight, and strengthen the postural muscles that are weak.  Seek advice on the types of techniques that will complement your health and ability.
6.  For those of you who are comfortable with chiropractic – get adjusted!  When your spine moves correctly, it is more likely to be able to maintain correct posture.

Turns out our moms and grandmothers didn’t know how right they were!

However, alternative treatments for cancer are harder to evaluate and controversial. That being said I wanted to forward some information to you. Dr Johanna Budwig has amazing information and success with treatment. Hers is a nutrition approach. It is much more of a treatment for cancer than is the holistic approach chiropractic offers. Dr. Budwig has a diet that she recommends. Amazing results.

Muscle and soft tissue injuries are notoriously hard to treat and assess.  As a result, patients are often frustrated and left with many lingering problems after injuries.  Often times chronic pain syndromes are the result of incomplete care.  It is frustrating for all health care practitioners involved.  Most of my fibromyalgia patients can recall THAT one injury they could not heal from, or that one event that lead to the collapse of their musculo-skeletal system.  Usually followed by years of struggle.

I was amazed to read the blog entry bellow from, a blog entry at www.chiro.org.  What follows is a complete copy of the entry.

Medical Training For Musculoskeletal Conditions is Inadequate

From Harvard Medical School in the U.S. to medical schools in Europe, medical education related to musculoskeletal conditions is inadequate. A 2009 survey tested physician’s knowledge related to simple low back pain management [1]. The average survey score of family practitioners was 69.7 and the average score of orthopedists was far less at 44.3. Orthopedists were less likely to make the proper radiological referral and appropriate pharmacological prescription based upon the literature.

Another 2009 study from the U.K. found that only 13% of the junior doctors felt they had adequate musculoskeletal medical training [2]. Research from the University of Washington found that less than 50% for the fourth-year student interns were competent in the area of musculoskeletal medicine. A 2007 study of Harvard medical students found that they were not confident in management of musculoskeletal cases and failed to demonstrate cognitive mastery. The study concluded that “These findings, which are consistent with those from other schools, suggest that medical students do not feel adequately prepared in musculoskeletal medicine and lack both clinical confidence and cognitive mastery in the field.”

The current failure of modern medicine worldwide to adequately train physicians and the continually growing problems like low back pain is just one more good reason to see a chiropractor when you have musculoskeletal complaints.

REFERENCES: Thanks to ChiroAccess!

1. Orthopaedists’ and family practitioners’ knowledge of simple low back pain management
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jul 1;34(15):1600-3

2. The inadequacy of musculoskeletal knowledge after foundation training in the United Kingdom
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009 Nov;91(11):1413-8

End Medical Mis-Management of Musculoskeletal Complaints

Q. — Are medical doctors well trained to diagnose or treat musculoskeletal complaints?

A. — Find the unsettling answer in the following series of articles

Educational Deficiencies in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2002 (Apr); 84–A (4): 604–608
According to the standard suggested by the program directors of internal medicine residency departments, a large majority of the examinees once again failed to demonstrate basic competency in musculoskeletal medicine on the examination. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that medical school preparation in musculoskeletal medicine is inadequate.

NOTE: This is a follow-up article to the study cited below, which demonstrated that medical students were inadequately trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal complaints. What would the headlines scream if, after 4 years, our profession had failed to improve it’s skills in musculoskeletal assessment and management? Ask your self, why should medicine be shown more slack than we are???

The Adequacy of Medical School Education in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 1998 (Oct); 80-A (10): 1421–1427
This is the original article, which found that 82 per cent of medical school graduates failed a valid musculoskeletal competency examination. They concluded that “we therefore believe that medical school preparation in musculoskeletal medicine is inadequate” and that medical students were inadequately trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal complaints.

Educating Medical Students About Musculoskeletal Problems: Are Community Needs Reflected in the Curricula of Canadian Medical Schools?
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2001 (Sept); 83-A (9): 1317–1320
Musculoskeletal problems are a common reason why patients present for medical treatment. The purpose of the present study was to review the curricula of Canadian medical schools to determine whether they prepare their students for the demands of practice with respect to musculoskeletal problems. The curriculum analysis revealed that, on the average, medical schools in Canada devoted 2.26% (range, 0.61% to 4.81%) of their curriculum time to musculoskeletal education. Our literature review and survey of local family physicians revealed that between 13.7% and 27.8% of North American patients presenting to a primary care physician have a chief symptom that is directly related to the musculoskeletal system. (So they conclude:) There is a marked discrepancy between the musculoskeletal knowledge and skill requirements of a primary care physician and the time devoted to musculoskeletal education in Canadian medical schools.

A Comparison of Chiropractic Student Knowledge Versus Medical Residents
Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic Congress 2001 Pgs. 255
A previously published knowledge questionnaire designed by chief orthopedic residents was given to a Chiropractic student group for comparison to the results of the medical resident group. Based on the marking scale determined by the chief residents, the Chiropractic group (n = 51) showed statistically significant higher average grade than the orthopedic residents. Expressed in other terms, 70% of chiropractic students passed the knowledge questionnaire, compared to an 80% failure rate for the residents.

WE need to relect on the differences between these 2 groups. The medical students had already graduated from medical school, received their MDs, had done their hospital rotations, and finally had been admitted to an orthopedic residency program (the “pinnacle” of medical training?), while the chiropractic students were still completing their chiropractic studies. 70% passes vs. 80% failed. Who would YOU rather see?

Musculoskeletal Knowledge: How Do You Stack Up?
Physician and Sportsmedicine 2002; 30 (8) August
One of every 4 or 5 primary care visits is for a musculoskeletal problem. Yet undergraduate and graduate training for this burden of illness continues to constitute typically less than 3% of the medical curriculum. This is an area of clear concern, but also one in which sports medicine practitioners can assume leadership.

Musculoskeletal Curricula in Medical Education
Physician and Sportsmedicine 2004 (Nov); 32 (11)
It’s 8:00 pm on a Monday night. Just as you’re getting ready to put your 5-year-old son to bed, he falls from a chair, landing on his wrist. It quickly swells, requiring a visit to a nearby urgent care clinic. At the clinic, a pleasant young resident takes a history, performs a physical exam, and orders an x-ray to evaluate the injury. You are told that nothing is broken, and a wrist splint is placed. The following day, however, you receive a phone call from the clinic informing you that upon further review of the radiographs, a fracture was detected, and your son will need a cast for definitive treatment. This scenario, while fictitious, is not unusual. According to some studies, up to 10% of wrist fractures are missed at the initial evaluation.[ 1 ] While pediatric fractures are often difficult to detect, this example highlights a problem that continues to plague medical education: inadequate instruction in musculoskeletal medicine in both medical school and residency training.

Adequacy of Education in Musculoskeletal Medicine
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2005 (Feb);87 (2): 310–314
In this study, 334 medical students, residents and staff physicians, specializing in various fields of medicine, were asked to take a basic cognitive examination consisting of 25 short-answer questions – the same type of test administered in the original JBJS 1998 study. The average score among medical doctors, students and residents who took the exam in 2005 was 2.7 points lower than those who took the exam in 1998. Just over half of the staff physicians (52%) scored a passing grade or higher on the 2005 exam. Only 21% of the residents registered a passing grade, and only 3% of the medical students passed the exam. Overall, Seventy-nine percent of the participants failed the basic musculoskeletal cognitive examination.

More Evidence of Educational Inadequacies in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Clin Orthop Relat Res 2005 (Aug); (437): 251–259
A modified version of an exam used to assess the competency of incoming interns at the University of Pennsylvania was used to assess the competency of medical students during various stages of their training at the University of Washington. Despite generally improved levels of competency with each year at medical school, less than 50% of fourth-year students showed competency. These results suggested that the curricular approach toward teaching musculoskeletal medicine at this medical school was insufficient and that competency increased when learning was reinforced during the clinical years.

Why is the Bone and Joint Decade Important?
Welcome to the United States Bone and Joint Decade
The Bone and Joint Decade initiative is a global campaign to improve quality of life for people with musculoskeletal conditions and to advance understanding and treatment of these conditions through research, prevention, and education. [ 1 ] The Decade aims to raise the awareness of the increasing societal impact of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders; empower patients to participate in decisions about their care; increase funding for prevention activities and research; and promote cost-effective prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

This past weekend was a chance for the Unified VCA to strategically plan for the future.  Unfortunately, much of what we do is protect ourselves and our patients from other professions.  Sadly it turns into a turf war in order to insure the survival of the profession and individual practices in Virginia.  But none the less, important work to be done, because in the end we want patients and potential patients to have chiropractic as an option for health care.

This brings me to my point.  Chiropractors have an identity crisis.  For years we have struggled for survival and respect.  We have the research to support what we do.  Most people know we exist.  And most of them have heard good things from someone about the profession.  But here is the rub, I think most of the population would say we are just another therapy for cricks, strains, and pains.  We may be the best in their minds, which is an honor, but that isn’t the whole picture.  Most folks do not understand chiropractic is an entirely different approach to health and helping the body to heal.

This explains why you may hear your physical therapist or massage therapist say they can do or actually claim they are doing “chiropractic manipulations.”  In Virginia there are even veterinarians who will say they do “chiropractic” to animals.  This labeling confuses the issue.  It is as if “chiropractic” is a type of therapy or maneuver.  Not an objective.  That objective is to help improve the function of the body by removing the interference that keeps it from healing.  In other words the effort is made to allow the body to work as it should instead of suppressing symptoms or removing body parts.  If this can be accomplished the body is actually healthier.

I, like many chiropractors, have seen many symptoms and health conditions improve under chiropractic care in my office.  The research shows many “conditions” that get better with chiropractic.  But I DO the same thing with each patient.  I adjust subluxations which interfere with the bodies ability to heal.

So this weekend we tried to work on ways to let the public know, not just what we do, but how we are different.  What other choice does someone have who has gotten rehab, injections, and pain meds?  Surgery?  What other choice does someone have who is so dizzy they can’t stand or drive or work?  Stronger meds?  Surgery?  How about trigeminal neuralgia?  How about allergies?  Is there anything beyond drugs?  My point is, there might be.  If a subluxation is the cause, we can help.  I don’t think the public knows chiropractic like this.  Maybe this will help.

There is another principle from Stephenson’s 33 chiropractic principles that causes confusion and like the Major Premise (see above) can be made to say more than is meant.  We must be careful not to make that misstep.  That principle is the 20th.  It goes like this: Innate Intelligence – A “living thing” has an inborn intelligence within its body, called Innate Intelligence.

If you read the previous post you will immediately see the first problem.  Stephenson once again capitalizes the term in question.  Thus giving it a sort of personal quality.  But if the principles are taken as a whole one will see we are dealing with natural law and physiology.  Not commentary on metaphysics.  But if one reads this out of context it is easy to think of innate intelligence as something analogous to a “divine spark” or the god within us.  People start referring to it as “my Innate.”  Even at times claiming to listen to their Innate, as if it is a “personal source of intelligence” not a principle.

Now to be totally forthcoming, I have to admit, B. J. Palmer the developer of chiropractic did apply innate intelligence to all matters of life at times.  So if one wants to use only the Palmer sources to debate my point, they have a case.  But I agree with Joseph Strauss (and many others) at this point.  B. J. made mistake when he applied innate intelligence to every aspect of mankind, even the non-physical.

I appreciate what Joseph Strauss says in his book, Chiropractic Philosophy:

“There are many similarities between innate intelligence and universal intelligence.  Both are principles, hence both are impersonal.  This takes chiropractic philosophy out of the mystical or religious realm….It (universal intelligence) is a principle and has certain characteristics, on of which is impersonality…Similarly the innate intelligence of the body is an impersonal principle…It is a principle of organization that causes matter to behave in a certain manner, that is, to adapt to its environment.”

Now WHAT that intelligence is and HOW it came to be a part of us is another matter.  Instinct, genetic information, a creator?  That is not and should not be answered by chiropractic principles and philosophy.  My point has been, there are confusing terms, and some missteps in chiropractic history.  But in the end, the principles that Stephenson wrote for us, do not claim too much.  The innate and universal “intelligences” chiropractors speak of should be understood as principles.  Nothing mystical or personal in nature need be read into it.  Someone who has a theistic worldview or clearly Christian worldview does not need to be turned off or worried about the terms.

So how does this relate?  Along these lines, much is made of the “mind-body” connection in new age health care.  Mind over matter.  If you believe, it will work.  I often hear people say their belief in chiropractic is a key ingredient to it’s effectiveness in their case.  Although I believe a patient can sabotage recovery if they are not committed to care, I know chiropractic WILL work even if someone is skeptical.  The science behind chiropractic will work if we believe in it or not.  Just like gravity.  It will pull an object to the ground every time, no matter how hard we try to believe otherwise.

The point is that chiropractic is based on science and it is well supported by scientific literature.  One only needs to open up the book Upper Cervical Subluxation Complex: A Review of the Chiropractic and Medical Literature by Kirk Eriksen, D.C. and the follow up book by Eriksen and Roderic Rochester, D.C., Orthospinology Procedures: An Evidence Based Approach to Spinal Care to see how much science there is to support chiropractic.  These two books are current favorites of mine, but there are MANY others.

Another interesting point that refutes claims that one must believe in the care they are getting, and the benefits of care are more of a mind over matter placebo effect is …. the area of animal chiropractic.  The current issue of the “ICA Review Fall/Winter 2009″ page 50, has an article about a chiropractor that sees animals as a major part of his practice.  It’s not for everyone, and not for me (an official part of my practice), though I’ve seen it work work with my pets and the pets of a select few friends.  The point is, an animal has no preconceived notions about what should or could happen.  Or even that the doctor is there to help.  So when an animal benefits, we know chiropractic must be having a positive effect on physiology!

In summary, the second reason chiropractic is not new age medicine or just a belief system is that it works on animals.  Sounds strange to say it like that.  But it sure does take it out of the mind body area.

Then came very well credentialed men and women with research, at times, to back them up.  Now my intent is not to point out problems with the new age spiritualities or even new age medicine, but to defend Chiropractic and demonstrate how well it describes the reality, in regards to health and healing in the human body.

So how did we chiropractors get ourselves in this mess?  If you are new to chiropractic, it has been around since 1895.  On that day D. D. Palmer gave what we consider to be, the first chiropractic adjustment.  However, at that time he didn’t fully grasp what he was on to.  For the next 15 or so years, he and his son, B. J. Palmer, developed and articulated their understanding of chiropractic as a new approach to helping people heal and live healthier lives.  In 1927, R. W. Stephenson, a professor at the Palmer School of Chiropractic, wrote Chiropractic Textbook.  It is an amazing text.  In it he wrote a section called “List of Thirty-three principles, numbered and named,” which articulated his ideas of discussion topics.  David B. Koch, D.C., D.Ph.C.S., makes the point in his wonderful book Contemporary Chiropractic Philosophy: An Introduction, that Stephenson could not have known how chiropractors would take his principles and turn them into minimally, a logical progressive argument, or at worst, make them a sort of Ten Commandments.

Now for years, it really aggravated me that these principles where out there!  As a Christian, who tries to maintain a life and career consistent with the Christian worldview, I found some of the principles blurred the line between Christian and new age.  As I understood the two.  But as time has gone on, and with the help of authors like, David Koch, Joseph Strauss, J. P. Moreland, William Lane Craig, Michael Horton, and Greg Koukl, I’ve become better able to see where chiropractic starts and stops.  Less blurred lines.

It took me a while to get here and it is easy to be confused if one is listening to the wrong people in my opinion.  The first major problem is a result of the first two of Stephenson’s principles.  The first is known as “The Major Premise” and goes as follows: A Universal Intelligence is in all matter and continually gives to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.  The second is titled “The Chiropractic Meaning of Life” and goes as follows: The expression of intelligence through matter is the Chiropractic meaning of life.

Now if these principles are taken the wrong way it can slip into a fuzzy pantheistic view of life or reality.  But it is important to notice what isn’t said.  Namely, the universal intelligence isn’t overtly personalized or expounded on.  Earlier in his text Stephenson describes chiropractic as a philosophy, science and art of things natural…  So we can be confident he was not trying to comment on God or his understanding of the supernatural.  Joseph Srauss, D.C. makes a helpful observation in his book, Toward a Better Understanding of The Philosophy of Chiropractic on page 18:

It is true that one could deduce our Major Premise from something else but that “something else” would take us out of the realm of chiropractic philosophy.  Specifically, if you were to accept the existence of deity, you could deduce that universal intelligence was one of its characteristics or attributes.  However, this is outside the realm of chiropractic philosophy.  It should be noted from a historical standpoint that when the Palmers wrote about universal intelligence, they considered it to be either synonymous with God or an attribute of God.  Since we cannot know what the Palmers’ perception of God was, modern chiropractic philosophy begins one step lower than God with the inductively derived concept of universal intelligence.  Consequently, no matter what religious understanding a person has he can accept the major premise and subsequently deduce and accept all the rest of the chiropractic philosophy.

Though I want to be careful to emphasize chiropractic is working in the natural realm according to natural laws, it is important to me that we have always acknowledged the human is more than the sum of his parts.  There is something other than, beyond, and before, matter.  Pure physicalism or naturalism cannot account for everything we see in the natural world, and it is wonderful to be a part of a profession that realized this early on.

David Koch has modified the Major Premise and the Chiropractic Meaning of Life so they carefully communicate as much as they should while not blurring lines between a theistic worldview and a pantheistic worldview.  He recommends they be written as such:

1. There is a universal intelligence in all matter, continuously giving to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence, and giving this intelligence its expression.
2. The expression of this innate intelligence through matter is the chiropractic meaning of “life.”

We now have two statements that do not allow for accidental commentary on the meaning of human life and where it came from.  They remain definitional.

So the first reason chiropractic is not “new age medicine” is it has never tried to help a person improve health by acknowledging or manipulating spiritual laws, forces, or agents.

Burcon MT.  Upper Cervical Protocol for Ten Meniere’s Patients.  Ninth Annual Vertebral Subluxation Research Conference, October 13-14, 2001, Spartanburg, SC.  After presentation, it was published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, on June 2, 2008, pp 1-8.

Meniere’s is a terrible condition.  Vertigo sets in suddenly and lasts up to 24 hours.  In addition to the vertigo there is nystagmus, tinnitus, brain fog, headaches, neck stiffness, sinus pain, and fatigue.  If the symptoms continue to recur despite lifestyle changes and medications, there are surgeries.  The surgeries are less than 60% effective.  The one that does “work,” a labyrinthectomy, causes deafness in that ear.

This paper reports 9 case studies in which the patients received upper cervical chiropractic care.  In all cases the correction of the upper cervical subluxation relieved symptoms!