Chiropractic was invented1 in 1895 by a Canadian magnetic healer named Daniel David Palmer. Palmer overheard a co-workers joke and slapped him on the back at the punchline. A few days later the co-worker expressed that his hearing had improved.
That’s it.
No tests … no experiments … just an anecdote. Palmer claimed that the revelation of Chiropractic came to him when he was visited by a ghost named Jim. From Jim he learned that there is an invisible life force that flows through nerves, and that all illness and disease is caused by interruptions in this nerve flow. Since all nerves go through the spine, any misalignment (or “spinal subluxation”) in the spine, causes blockages and interference in the flow.
Thus, we have Chiropractors.
You must be saying: “Surely some Science has come along is the last 129 years to verify Palmer’s assertions?”. And I would say “No, no there has not”.
The main premise of Chiropractic is based on “spinal subluxation” … but it’s invisible on an X-ray … or a CT scan … or an MRI. In fact there is no evidence that this subluxation even exists. It’s made up.
The main treatment for spinal subluxation (which doesn’t exist) is spinal manipulation. There is a small amount of evidence that shows spinal manipulation can offer short term pain relief for lower back pain, but it’s results are no better than massage therapy which is much safer. Anywhere else, mid back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, joint pain, spinal manipulation does nothing.
Chiropractors who use spinal manipulation for anything other than the lower back are charlatans. Now, I understand that Chiropractors can do more than spinal manipulation … some also offer massage therapy or heat therapy that do have bona fide results to back them up. But, if you take anything from this essay, please let it be this:
- Avoid a chiropractor who treats children. Even the British General Chiropractic Counsel admits that there is no sound evidence that spinal manipulation works on children. The risks massively outweigh the non-existent benefits.
- Avoid a chiropractor who mistrusts modern science. If they don’t encourage you to see your family doctor, or to take medication, or get vaccinated … run. Run away.
- Avoid a chiropractor who sends you for X-rays. Spinal subluxations are invisible to any scientific device. If you need an X-ray, a neurologist or orthopedic surgeon can send you for one.
- Well, it certainly wasn’t discovered. ↩︎
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