A client of mine recently asked why I continue to see clients after they are pain free and appear well. What a great question – the answer involves an understanding of the three parts to health and wellbeing. This approach is one that differs from the medical paradigm.
Medicine often views things through the tools they use which are typically been drugs and surgery. They use these tools until symptoms have abated.
Whilst there is no doubt that some amazing things can be achieved using drugs and surgery, they have the potential to be dangerous – so those who use them must have proper training and experience to apply them safely.
If they are used for too long, or inappropriately, side effects will occur and damage will be done.
The medical practitioner will seek to review the prescription, reduce it and cease treatment as soon as possible. This is to limit potential damage.
Natural Methods are Often Best
As a result it is often better to approach health problems using safe, natural methods such as chiropractic care.
By thinking in these terms it is easy to understand my client’s question. Shouldn’t we stop chiropractic care when a client feels better as well? Certainly not and here is why.
There are three stages to looking after your health and wellbeing.
1. Treating symptoms. Both medicine and chiropractic can achieve this. Chiropractic care is considered very effective and one of the safest types of health care around.
2. Rebuilding structure and function. Rebuilding muscle, increasing function and restoring how the body functions. Drugs and surgery do not do this. This part of health is very important if we want to stop re- occurrence of symptoms and reduce the likelihood of joint decay. Types of intervention that are helpful include chiropractic, strength training and diet.
3. Promoting health and wellness. The body thrives on being stimulated, revitalized and re-tuned. Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to stimulate the nervous system and remove interference to its operation. Other examples include weight bearing exercise, yoga, pilates and meditation (although they do not retune the nervous system).
Chiropractic care plays a large part in all three stages of health and repair. It is not limited to an area of symptomatic relief and does not carry the risk of side effects.
All studies on the long term use of chiropractic show reproducible benefits of regular chiropractic care.
How Care Boosts Your Health
Chiropractic enhances health by stimulating the normal systems of the body which promote wellness; it does not cause damage but rather leaves the body in a better state than before the adjustment.
This is why many people choose to benefit from chiropractic care for the duration of their lives. They understand that you do not get too old for looking after yourself, nor do you get to a point where you have had enough vegetables and exercise. So too there is no limit to having your body working well and having the nervous system in good control.
Treating symptoms alone is short term thinking and does not promote long term health. Chiropractic care can offer significantly more because it works on the premise that when the body works well, it will heal. It is great for dealing with symptoms but by leaving your body symptom free but working poorly, the symptoms are likely to return