Celebrating the Founding of Chiropractic: A Legacy of Natural Healing
From Ancient Roots to Modern Practice
This week at ChiroWay, we’re celebrating the founding of Chiropractic and the incredible legacy it holds in promoting natural, proactive health care.
Although Chiropractic was officially founded in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, the relationship between spinal alignment and health has been observed for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian and Indian hieroglyphics depict early spinal manipulations. Greek physician Hippocrates, often referred to as the father of medicine, emphasized spinal health with his famous quote:
“Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.”
The First Chiropractic Adjustment
In Davenport, Iowa, D.D. Palmer—who practiced magnetic healing—met Harvey Lillard, a janitor who had lost his hearing. After discovering a misaligned vertebra, D.D. Palmer performed what would become the first chiropractic adjustment. Harvey’s hearing was restored, and a new health profession was born.
D.D. Palmer later wrote:
“There was nothing accidental about this… it was specific, so much that no other Chiropractor has equaled it.”
B.J. Palmer and the Development of the Profession
D.D. Palmer’s son, B.J. Palmer, expanded on the philosophy, science, and art of Chiropractic. He founded Palmer College of Chiropractic, where thousands of chiropractors have since trained.
B.J. Palmer’s focus was on identifying and adjusting vertebral subluxations—misalignments in the spine that interfere with the nervous system’s ability to transmit mental impulses. These subluxations, he believed, caused dis-ease, a state of dysfunction that interrupts the body’s natural harmony and potential.
Chiropractic Today
Chiropractic continues to evolve as a modern health care discipline, rooted in a philosophy of innate intelligence, the science of spinal-neurological function, and the art of specific adjustments.
Chiropractic is more than a solution for back pain. It’s a proactive approach to enhancing your body’s ability to adapt, heal, and thrive—no matter your age or stage of life.
Chiropractic is a celebration of your body’s natural potential.
✨ Schedule your first visit and begin your path to proactive well-being.
