Tomah's hometown chiropractor

The central principle of chiropractic is that all life is intelligent.  This innate intelligence has a primary purpose to maintain a state of health in the body.  This is primarily accomplished through adaptation mechanisms. The nervous system represents the method with which these adaptive mechanisms are controlled.  Therefore, disruption to any part of the neurology can, and will, impede the ability of the body to heal itself.

 

Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art.  Chiropractic philosophy is based on several aspects including: vitalism, wholism, conservitism and naturalism.  This philosophical aspect provides the context for the science and the art.  As D.D. Palmer put it: "Chiropractic is a science, it is not a method, the method is the art".  Imagine chiropractic as a stool with three legs.  The legs represent the philosophy, science, and art of chiropractic, without any one leg the stool would not be able to stand on it's own.  This represents the reason that a chiropractor may offer you a whole new perspective on healthcare which is different from those you have received before!

 

The Founder - D.D. Palmer

 

D.D. Palmer, known as The Founder of Chiropractic.  When he finally settled in Davenport, IA he began his career in the healing arts as a magnetic healer.  The late 1800's was a time when healing professions were making a move from "wonder cure-all's" to a scientific approach of understanding the body.  He deduced the idea of a vertebral misalignment (subluxation) causing dis-ease using the notion that single organ illnesses must be related to the nerve supply to that particular organ.  He transformed his idea of the notion that a vertebral subluxation can prevent the proper nerve transmission to an organ, into the adjustment of the vertebral subluxation that we know today.  The first adjustment was performed on Harvey Lillard, a man who had been nearly deaf for some time, in 1895.  After D.D. persuaded Mr. Lillard to let him examine his spine, he found a misaligned vertebra and, after correcting it's position, discovered that Harvey could hear again!  Thus the profession of Chiropractic was born.  D.D. began teaching others 2 years later in 1897.  (An interesting side note is that Harvey Lillard did not retain his hearing for the remainder of his life, a testament to the notion that Chiropractic is not a quick-fix cure all because true healing takes time, and a good reminder to periodically have your local chiropractor check your spine!)  Palmer College of Chiropractic still resides in Davenport, IA, proudly atop Brady Hill as The Fountainhead of Chiropractic.

 

The Developer - B.J. Palmer

 

B.J. Palmer is known as The Developer of Chiropractic.  B.J. was D.D. Palmer's son.  After assuming control of the school in 1906, he invested heavily in extensive research, improved adjusting methods, higher standards of education and strived for better recognition of chiropractic worldwide.   Much of what we recognize and know as chiropractic today can be attributed to B.J.'s tireless battles both legally and legislatively to establish chiropractic among the health sciences.  B.J. was often the center of controversy for his private and public life, and was infamous for the cloud of cigar smoke that followed him everywhere.  Despite his sometimes eccentric persona, he required strict protocols at his school and in his clinics.  B.J. had an insatiable quest for knowledge and knew that the world would require him to produce a "scientific" basis for Chiropractic.  Palmer College still has the largest chiropractic research department in the world.