A Historic Adjustment: September 18th and the Birth of Chiropractic
Introduction
Hello, Dr. Brant Hulsebus here! Welcome to another edition of “Ask the Chiropractor.” This is my little podcast where I answer questions about chiropractic care. I’m a chiropractor from Rockford, Illinois, and a proud graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. I’m also the team chiropractor for the Rockford Icehogs. Today, I’ll talk about a very special date in chiropractic history: September 18th and a historic adjustment.
Why September 18th Matters
So, the date this podcast is being released is September 17th. But the day that’s really important is September 18th, and here’s why. On September 18th, 1895, chiropractic was born. That’s the day when Dr. DD Palmer gave the first chiropractic adjustment to a man named Harvey Lillard. Harvey was a janitor at the Ryan Building in Davenport, Iowa, and he couldn’t hear.
The First Adjustment
Dr. Palmer was a magnetic healer. Back then, magnetic healing didn’t involve actual magnets. Doctors would try to pull evil energy out of the sick person’s body to heal them. Dr. Palmer noticed something odd about Harvey’s neck and thought that adjusting it might help his hearing. He made the historic adjustment, and Harvey’s hearing came back!
A New Discovery
After Harvey, Dr. Palmer continued to help more people with different problems by adjusting their spines. He found that when he adjusted the spine, it helped with various issues like blood pressure and indigestion. This was the start of chiropractic care. His son, BJ Palmer, took his father’s work further. BJ studied cadavers (which wasn’t easily accepted back then) to trace the nerves affected by adjustments, showing how chiropractic works on the nervous system.
BJ and the Growth of Chiropractic
BJ Palmer founded a chiropractic school and wrote textbooks to teach others. One important book written in 1914 still holds up today, although we have much better diagnostic equipment now. Chiropractic focuses on helping the nervous system function properly, which helps the body heal itself.
Chiropractic and Science
Chiropractic doesn’t cure things like asthma, indigestion, or deafness directly. It helps the body function better by correcting something called vertebral subluxations. When these subluxations are corrected, the body can heal better on its own.
From DD Palmer to Today
After BJ Palmer, his son David Palmer worked hard to get chiropractic schools accredited so people would recognize them as real colleges. He also fought to get chiropractic care covered by Medicare.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care has come a long way since 1895. I’m a third-generation chiropractor, and it’s common to see many generations of chiropractors in this field. Remember, chiropractic care all started in Davenport, Iowa, and has grown into a respected healthcare practice.
Thank you for tuning in. If you have any questions about chiropractic care, its history, or anything else related, leave a message or a comment below. Maybe your question will be the topic of next week’s podcast!
Final Thought
Founders Day celebrates the start of chiropractic care. If you know someone with hearing problems, they might benefit from chiropractic care. It worked for Harvey Lillard back in 1895! Thanks again for tuning in. First, check out the video link above. Secondly, go to our blog page. Lastly, listen to our podcast. And if you want to take the same supplements Dr Hulsebus takes click hereto pick them up next time you’re in.