"Background: Chiropractic emerged in 1895 and was promoted as a viable health care substitute in direct
competition with the medical profession. This was an era when there was a belief that one cause and one cure for
all disease would be discovered. The chiropractic version was a theory that most diseases were caused by
subluxated (slightly displaced) vertebrae interfering with “nerve vibrations” (a supernatural, vital force) and could be
cured by adjusting (repositioning) vertebrae, thereby removing the interference with the body’s inherent capacity
to heal. DD Palmer, the originator of chiropractic, established chiropractic based on vitalistic principles. Anecdotally,
the authors have observed that many chiropractors who overtly claim to be “vitalists” cannot define the term.
Therefore, we sought the origins of vitalism and to examine its effects on chiropractic today.
"Discussion: Vitalism arose out of human curiosity around the biggest questions: Where do we come from? What is
life? For some, life was derived from an unknown and unknowable vital force. For others, a vital force was a
placeholder, a piece of knowledge not yet grasped but attainable. Developments in science have demonstrated
there is no longer a need to invoke vitalistic entities as either explanations or hypotheses for biological
phenomena. Nevertheless, vitalism remains within chiropractic. In this examination of vitalism within chiropractic
we explore the history of vitalism, vitalism within chiropractic and whether a vitalistic ideology is compatible with
the legal and ethical requirements for registered health care professionals such as chiropractors.
"Conclusion: Vitalism has had many meanings throughout the centuries of recorded history. Though only vaguely
defined by chiropractors, vitalism, as a representation of supernatural force and therefore an untestable hypothesis,
sits at the heart of the divisions within chiropractic and acts as an impediment to chiropractic legitimacy, cultural
authority and integration into mainstream health care." (Vitalism in contemporary chiropractic: a help or a hindrance?)
Human knowledge has progressed exponentially since the dawn of modern science. It is no longer reasonable to accept claims without sufficient objective evidence. The harm from religion, alternatives to medicine, conservatism, and all other false beliefs will be exposed on this blog by reporting the findings of science. This blog will also reinforce what should be the basics of education: History, Civics, Financial Literacy, Media Literacy, and Critical/Science Based Thinking.
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