Is Chiropractic Vitalistic?
October 27th, 2009 by angiemeyer | Filed under Chiropractic Coaching, Chiropractic Practice Management, Chiropractic Wellness Practice, Health Care, Leadership.Whether or not you think you have a philosophy, you do. Even choosing to not have a philosophy is a philosophy! Chiropractic philosophy is one of vitalism and deductive reasoning.
The problem is, over the past 114 years we have fallen into the trap of looking to the mechanistic, allopathic model of science to validate what we know to be true. And it doesn’t work. It’s like trying to get insurance companies to pay for wellness care – it’s just not their model. But the funny part is, science and philosophy are not separate. Even scientists have a philosophy! Dr. Eric Russell, professor at Parker Chiropractic College gave a great four-hour lecture at Life Lyceum 2009 on Science vs. Philosophy. And the conclusion is, we need both…but in balance. Not the idea that science reigns supreme over everything else. That philosophy is the starting point of everything, even the god-like institution of science. (Have you ever wondered what a Ph.D stands for? Doctor of Philosophy in whatever the chosen field of expertise!)
So what is your philosophy? How grounded are you in the vitalistic philosophy that formed this profession? Why do you do what you do?
Mechanism vs. Vitalism: What is chiropractic’s philosophy?
Mechanism as a Philosophy, is defined as:
a. the view that all natural processes are explicable in terms of Newtonian mechanics.
b. the view that all biological processes may be described in physicochemical terms.
Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary,[1] is
a. the doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from biochemical reactions
b. the doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining
The great news is, science is starting to have research that is actually illustrating our vitalistic philosophy! I was so inspired listening to Bruce Liption, Ph.D speak about the vitalistic nature of cells, and their ability to survive even when the nucleous is removed. How is that possible if we are only the sum of our parts and the DNA is the “brain” of a cell? Hmmm, guess there is more to it!
I’ve been honoured to be involved with Tedd Koren and speaking at Koren Specific Technique seminars. KST is one of the great vitalistic techniques out there. The time is now chiropractors to have a look at your philosophy and get clear on what you are trying to accomplish with your care. If there is any incongruence, it will inevitably lead to destruction.
If you are stuck practicing in a pain-based model, treating the body as if it was a machine instead of recognizing the vitalistic self-healing and self-regulating laws of the body and you want more out of practice… the time is now! People want vitalism and wellness care and it is time that our profession became the recognized leaders of this movement! Who wants to join us? We are vitalistic chiropractic coaches who can help you THRIVE in a TRUE Wellness Model!
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Tags: Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Consultant, Chiropractic Philosophy, Chiropractic Practice Management, Chiropractic Science, Dr. Bruce Lipton, Dr. Eric Russell, Dr. Tedd Koren, Koren Specific Technique, KST, Life Lyceum, mechanism, Pain-based chiropractic, vitalism, Wellness Chiropractic
More than 25 years ago, philosopher Ayn Rand reminded us that if we were not careful, we risked accumulating in our minds “a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears – thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of a mongrel philosophy and fused into a single solid weight – self doubt.”
Self-doubt has got to be one of the biggest enemies that our profession faces. When we’re not steeped in a philosophical AND physiological understanding of what we should be doing as chiropractors and why we should be doing it, then that little voice creeps into our head telling us to fit back into the Bell curve.
I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with Drs Dan Murphy and Laura Hanson. They talked neurology, orthopaedics and philosophy in equal measures and it made for a great cocktail! I came away feeling even more inspired and empowered about my place in the world.
At this time in history, chiropractic isn’t just on the leading edge of health care reform, it’s on the BLEEDING edge. As such, we chiropractors must maintain an unshakeable connection to the evolving science, art and philosophy of chiropractic. We must be able to articulate it in our consultation, examination, report of findings, daily interactions, re-exams and re-reports and workshops, as well as at the corner store, on television, on our websites and when talking to government. We don’t have the luxury of being able to have an “off day”.
Chiropractors, the world needs you. There is nobody else with the skills, abilities and understanding that you have.
Dr Angie, I’m with you. Philosophy AND Science. They’re the sustainable bio-fuel that will power us forward in the second century of this profession.
And by the way, if you’re reading this and you’re NOT yet a client of Dr Angie or Dr Russ …
… dude, get it together!
Dr. Tony, thank you so much for your insightful and passionate thoughts. The world needs chiropractors to become the recognized leaders of TRUE health care! And to do so, we have to first own the Philosophy, Science AND Art of chiropractic. Then, we need to successfully communicate it in a congruent way that they can ‘hear us’.
Thank you so much for all that you do and all that you are. You are truly a leader in chiropracTIC! And Australia is lucky to have you.
tony thank you for your passionate thoughts When we’re not steeped in a philosophical AND physiological understanding of what we should be doing as chiropractors and why we should be doing it.