Our Belief System

I know what I write in this blog is publicly displayed and can be a bit controversial or debatable.  If I over step any boundary in any of these discussions please leave a comment and explain your point.  I encourage any and all opinions.  So, please do not be shy.  :)

Our personal belief system as to what life is and why we are here on planet Earth, spans all kinds of territory from science, religion and the unknown.  The question I ask is, do we have the right to push our belief system on others beyond scientific validity?  Where is the line when it comes to health care?  

I would suggest there is a definite place for a doctor and that is to be the person who uses skills based in science to help those in need of health services.  

What will we be able to do with our skills as Doctor's of Chiropractic?  Many believe the nervous system flow is the most important aspect of our profession and we should keep it free of obstructions because this will allow the body to heal itself.  I need evidence in order to believe in this theory.  Those who push this belief system onto their patients have limited evidence to support them beyond personal experience.  

I truly want to believe this is how it is, that there is greater meaning to the spinal adjustments beyond prevention or treatment of musculoskeletal problems.  Until I see the evidence for subluxation theory, I will focus on what is known by using science to guide my belief system.  Granted, there is a lot that is unknown and could be known if we did the research.  I see nothing wrong with approaching chiropractic from an orthopedic standpoint.  It makes sense to try and prevent people from getting unneeded surgeries.  It really comes down to how we define wellness and whether we are going to believe in an untested theory.  As I have said many times before, wellness cannot be defined as a straight spine.   And that is where the debate in our profession remains strong.

There is so much known in the field of exercise physiology and exercise immunology that puts much of the chronic disease problems of our country on the person with the disease (i.e., genetic pathology aside).  It is our choices in life (i.e., nutrition, fitness etc.) that determines our health, not a straight spine or a magic pill.  There are many people who live a life of wellness without ever seeing a chiropractor for any problem and rarely get ill.  We will look foolish to the academic world and the public if we try to define wellness as a straight spine.  I have seen firsthand how powerful fitness and proper nutrition plays in people's lives.  I have not seen the power of the spinal adjustment.  Maybe with experience my perception will change in regards to subluxation theory.  For now, I remain unconvinced.    

Please, leave your comments if you have any.

All my best,

Nate