Chiropractic is Metaphysical

That's where we started. We need to go back.

D.D. Palmer was a magnetic healer, a visionary who tapped into the unseen forces of life. He founded chiropractic on the premise that the body’s innate intelligence governs health, and that misalignments—whether called subluxations, blockages, or interferences—disrupt this flow.

This is not a medical concept; it’s a metaphysical one, rooted in the belief that life transcends mere mechanics.

As a profession, we’ve been too concerned with what others think of us, particularly the medical community. In our desperation for acceptance, we’ve diluted our essence.

Some chiropractors advocate abandoning the term “subluxation” because it sounds archaic or unscientific. Personally, I don’t care for the word either—it often leaves my clients’ eyes glazed over. I prefer “blockages” or “interference” to convey the concept in a way that resonates.

But replacing these with medical jargon? That’s a betrayal of our roots.

What we cannot do is conform to a biomedical model that reduces the body to a machine. Chiropractic is not about treating symptoms or mimicking physical therapy. It’s about restoring the body’s connection to its innate wisdom, allowing healing to unfold naturally.

This is our strength, our uniqueness. To abandon it is to board the Titanic just before it sails—a sinking ship of soulless reductionism.

I believe chiropractic needs to embrace its metaphysical heritage boldly. We must stop apologizing for being different and instead educate the public on what we truly offer: a holistic approach that honors the body’s intelligence.

This means refining our language to be clear and relatable without sacrificing our principles. It means training chiropractors to communicate with confidence, not defensiveness. It means building a community that celebrates our philosophy rather than chasing validation from skeptics.

The future of chiropractic lies in authenticity. Let’s stop trying to fit into someone else’s paradigm. We are not medicine’s younger sibling; we are a distinct voice in healthcare. By standing firm in our metaphysical roots, we can inspire a world desperate for holistic solutions. The choice is ours: evolve as a vibrant, principled profession or sink under the weight of conformity. I choose evolution.

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