Gonstead Chiropractic

Historically, the relationship between Chiropractic and Medicine has been marked by conflict. Chiropractic care emerged in response to the shortcomings of 19th-century medicine—a time when many medical interventions produced little benefit and, in some cases, harmed or even killed patients.

Today, opinions on how Chiropractic and Medicine should interact vary widely. Some practitioners have abandoned traditional Chiropractic principles to align more closely with conventional medicine. Others seek to blend the two approaches. Then there are those who remain committed to practicing Chiropractic as it was originally intended. Most in this group, while still emphasizing the power and effectiveness of Chiropractic, recognize that there are situations—particularly in severe or acute conditions—where referral to the medical profession is not only appropriate but necessary.

This balanced approach represents the majority of today's Chiropractic profession. However, even within that majority, many practitioners no longer apply specific adjusting techniques. Dr. Clarence Gonstead, a pioneer in the field, emphasized the importance of precision. He said, “Find the subluxation, adjust it, and leave it alone.”(For context, a subluxation refers to a misaligned vertebra that creates inflammation and interferes with nerve function. This disruption affects how the body communicates and can lead to a wide range of symptoms.)

Your nervous system begins developing within the first seven days of conception—before any other system. It governs both the development and function of everything in your body. As Chiropractors, our job is to locate and remove interference in the nervous system so that the body can heal and function as it was designed to. When adjustments lack specificity, we risk missing the opportunity to help our patients reach their full potential for health.

I recently walked into an adjusting room and was met by an incredibly excited patient. She couldn’t wait to tell me that, after years of suffering from severe menstrual cramps, they were gone. What made this especially powerful was that she had never mentioned the issue to me—it wasn’t part of her initial complaint. I simply did what we’re trained to do: find the subluxation, adjust it, and leave it alone.

I often challenge people to consider this: could you sit on your medical doctor’s table, say nothing about your symptoms, and still expect to get better? Chiropractic honors the body’s innate intelligence and its remarkable ability to heal when interference is removed. We believe that the body already has everything it needs to be healthy—it simply needs no interference.