February is Black History Month and I’d like to add a bit of history to the month that might not be something the general public (black, white or otherwise) would know about. The first contemporary Chiropractic adjustment was performed by D.D. Palmer on a man named Harvey Lillard. Harvey Lillard was a black man and stands in modern Chiropractic history as the first Chiropractic patient.
THE FIRST CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT-September 18, 1895
As I was told in my first trimester at New York Chiropractic College, the story goes that a magnetic healer by the name of D.D. Palmer learned through communication with the building janitor (Lillard) that he had gone deaf 17 years prior after working in a cramped, stooped position where he felt somthing “give way” in his spine-not through congenital defect or illness. Palmer reasoned that perhaps something had gone out of alignment in his spine and after examination and persuasion, “adjusted” Lillard’s spine by simply feeling for misalignment and “racking” the bone into its proper place. Some historians say that the effect was immediate and some say that within three days, Lillard was able to hear again.
Palmer thought he had found a cure for deafness at the time, but soon started applying his newfound technique to the multitude of conditions that found their way into his office including epilepsy, heart conditions, digestive issues, migraine and so on. Later, after study and consideration, Palmer came up with the term “vertebral subluxation” which describes a slight misalignment of the spinal joints thus affecting the ability of one’s “innate intelligence” to heal/restore to body to health.
While D.D. Palmer was not the first to discover the connection between the spine and one’s health, the first adjustment on Harvey Lillard was the beginning of modern day Chiropractic. Palmer and his son, B.J. continued to study, to research, to promote and to practice Chiropractic.
As a modern day Chiropractor, I feel it is important to point out that Chiropractors have extensive education in human physiology and disease as well as a sizable database of research and objective testing substantiating the practice of Chiropractic. Medical professionals and the laypublic are largely unaware of the qualifications and education of the doctor of Chiropractic.
The intent and focus of Chiropractic practice is to bring the body back into a state of balance both neurologically and structurally-creating this balance allows the body to heal itself. A wellness Chiropractor addresses nervous system “stress”, structural imbalance and the lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, stress management) that contribute to the body’s loss of homeostasis.
Chiropractic is both non-drug and non-surgical. It is the third largest healing profession in the worldwide and there are approximately 55,000 Chiropractors in the United States. Millions of patients worldwide and over the last 113 years have received Chiropractic adjustments. Some of the people you may know that have received Chiropractic care include: Venus Williams, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Christie Brinkley, Emmit Smith, Madonna, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many more people from all walks of life.
*Dr. Sarah Westcott is a Chiropractor at Adirondack Advanced Chiropractic (www.adirondackchiropractic.com) and has been in practice for over 10 years.