The Origins of Chiropractic

In spite of its long recognition by the medical community and the government as a safe, proven and effective treatment, many people today still have misconceptions about chiropractic care.

Daniel David Palmer, who is known as the father of chiropractic, bore the brunt of criticism for creating this branch of medicine’s healing arts. Despite Palmer’s early successes in treating patients with a myriad of ailments through spinal manipulation, chiropractic adjustments were not readily accepted by the medical community. In fact, the established medical community back in the late 19th century worked hard to discredit him and had a hand in convincing authorities to indict Palmer for practicing medicine without a license. He was sentenced to 105 days in jail and ordered to pay a $350 fine.

The established medical community’s assault on the chiropractic profession continued even as late as the 1970s, when a group of chiropractors sued the American Medical Association and several other medical organizations for disseminating untrue and damaging information about their profession. The plaintiffs alleged that the AMA and others deliberately lied in order to destroy the chiropractic field because they viewed it as a threat, or competition, for their health care dollars. The court agreed with the chiropractors and called the AMA’s actions “lawless” and unfounded. The case was eventually heard in the United States Supreme Court, which upheld the original verdict against the AMA.

Much has changed since that landmark decision, and today the medical community has come to recognize the value of chiropractic care. Now, more than a century later, hundreds of thousands of patients routinely receive competent care-and relief from their suffering-from the nation’s more than 60,000 doctors of chiropractic.