The History of Chiropractic

Where exactly did chiropractic originate? It's a surprise to many people when they learn that chiropractic's roots trace from the physicians of ancient Greece, and it has close links to the health care traditions of China, Japan and Egypt. Indians of North and Central America also have been linked to chiropractic's treatment methods. Hippocratic, the physician from ancient Greece (400 B.C.) who lent his name to the oath taken by medical doctors, practiced health care that included many chiropractic methods. Even in his time, Hippocrates holistic approach was in conflict with rival Cnidian doctrines that centered on the disease rather than the patient.

Chiropractic took its first step as a formal method of health care near the turn of the century. In 1895 Daniel David Palmer was a frontier doctor in Davenport, Iowa, using a form of hypnotherapy as well as “laying on the hands.” He was highly critical of the confusion that existed in the healing practices of the day and was concerned that the drugs and potions in common use actually caused toxic stress in patients.

Tradition holds that the first beneficiary of chiropractic treatment walked into Dr. Palmer's office. He was Harvey Lillard, the building's maintenance man, and he suffered from severe hearing impairment.

Through examination, Dr. Palmer determined that the vertebra in Lillard's upper spine was out of place. The vertebra was painful, and Lillard confirmed that his hearing loss and the pain in his back had both begun at the same time. Dr. Palmer reasoned that if the vertebra were put back in place, the patient's hearing would be restored, so he repositioned the bone. And Lillard's hearing returned to normal.

The experience led Dr. Palmer to begin to search for the mechanical laws governing the spine, and his experience with more patients and other types of disorders led to the development of chiropractic treatment.

Most of the basic concepts and clinical practices that would make up chiropractic had already been established informally by the 19th Century, but through his study, Dr. Palmer rediscovered a set of principles that was to serve as the foundation for the development of the science.

By performing spinal adjustment, and without the use of drugs or surgery, practitioners today promote good health by ensuring that the nervous system is functioning properly.