The three legged stool of chiropracTIC is an analogy symbolizing the importance of the three pillars of the chiropractic profession. These are Philosophy, Art, and Science.
“Chiropractic is a philosophy, science, and art of things natural; a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column by hand only, for the correction of the cause of dis-ease.” -Palmer
All three legs carry the same weight giving equal importance into the strength of the whole.
Philosophy is defined as the love of wisdom; the knowledge of phenomena as explained by, or resolved into, causes and reasons, powers and laws. The Philosophy of Chiropractic answers the question of “Why chiropractors do what they do.” The philosophy of chiropractic is deduced from one major premise which states, “There is Universal Intelligence in all matter giving to it all its properties and actions; thus maintaining it in existence.” Modern day metaphysics is just now catching up with what chiropractic has stood on for over 110 years. Stevenson’s Chiropractic Textbook written in 1948 explains, “Chiropractic is a deductive science. The deductions are based upon a majorpremise that life is intelligent; that there is an Intelligent Creator, who created matter, attends to its existence and gives to it all that it has.” Some call this Intelligent Creator God, Spirit, Nature, The Almighty, Krishna, The Great Unknown…etc. and truly it does not matter what you call this Wisdom or what chiropractic calls it. We just acknowledge that there is a higher power creating health, life, and order in our universe. The philosophy of chiropractic gives purpose and explains life on the inside and the outside of our being.
Webster defines Art as skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions, acquired by experience, study or observation; knack. The Art of Chiropractic is “How chiropractors do what they do.” Chiropractic Art is done through the laying of hands to the spine and related structures which are the core of our being. “Our spine is the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth center for our entire being,” according Sadhguru. In numerous ways, chiropractors’ hands read the spine just like a blind person reading Braille. Both Nick and Rachel use an approach called MLS. Arno Burnier the founder of the approach describes it as, “This approach to structural adjusting is unique in that it is very honoring of the person’s spine and nerve system. By tracking the entire neuro-spinal system to ease, the spine and person are kept at peace rather than bringing their spine to tension. The precision, speed and extreme specificity are the dominant ingredients of this form of adjusting.” The person on the table is guiding the chiropractor, in many senses, to go where their body is the most comfortable. Both Nick and Rachel implement this approach of adjusting to several different techniques which include: BGI, Network Spinal Analysis, Gonstead, Diversified and more.
Webster’s Dictionary defines Science as, “Accumulated and accepted knowledge which has been systematized and formulated with reference to the discovery of general truths or the operation of general laws; knowledge classified and made available in work, life, or the search for truth.” Chiropractic as a science is focused around neuro-anatomy and neuro-physiology. Chiropractic is centered on the power flowing through our nerve system. This power is labeled life force. Much like wiring housing electricity, our nerve system houses life force to send life to every cell, tissue, and organ in our being. It is our nerve system and life force which allow us to experience life on the inside of our being and to experience life on the outside of our being. Our nerve system is the bridge that allows the message to travel from our brain cells to our tissue cells in every part of our being. The Chiropractic Adjustment insures that the transmission of nerve impulse or life force is traveling through the nerve system uninterrupted.
If you would like to educate yourself further on these topics the following books are a good place to begin.
-Chiropractic Text Book, R. W. Stevenson
-The Science and Logic of Chiropractic, Verner