Part III: How Does Chiropractic Adjustment Work: East vs. West

Mentioned before, chiropractic techniques began in the ancient world, with Greece, India, and China all contributing to the field. However, the “why”’s and “how”’s of chiropractic care have been differently defined in the east and west.

Eastern medicine is predicated on the spiritual concept of “balance;” when a person’s body is in harmony, ideal health is achieved. Thus, disease arises from a spiritual “imbalance.” The Chinese described a “chi,” an energy flowing through the body that could be blocked or sped up due to an imbalance of chemistry, mechanics or emotions in the body. Similarly, the Indian “prana” interacts with “chakras” – power centers in the body that promote harmony and health. By manipulating the spine and joints, it was believed that energy could be restored to its proper, balanced state in the body and uphold a healthy individual.

As western science became more refined, chiropractic care has also tweaked its view on spinal manipulation. While the spiritual aspects of chiropractic care are infrequent in its modern practice, the underlying assumption that out-of-place vertebrae cause problems is fundamental. Poor posture, tense muscles and week joints cause physiological problems in the body. By increasing blood and lymphatic flow and improving muscle power, the body can move towards a “balance,” where physiological responses, not chemicals and drugs, dictate the health and well-being of the individual.

Interested in reading scientific studies that support chiropractic adjustments? Read Part IV of our series.

Looking for a Huntersville Chiropractor?

Dr. Doyle treats health issues through chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture in Huntersville. Instead of prescribing medicine to mask the problem, he seeks out the root cause and alleviates pain while preventing future ailments. Give us a call or make an appointment and we’ll figure out how to get you into optimal health.