Holistic Paradigm

As a Doctor of Chiropractic “Holistic” does not denote a specialty, rather it refers to a conceptual framework through which I see the different parts of the body as the players of one organic system that contribute to an integrated whole—hence the phrase “Holistic Paradigm.” In my practice I see the interconnectedness of the different systems of the body along with the awareness of its interplay with the emotional and spiritual aspects of my patients. These factors are, in turn, not isolated from the environment.

“We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.” —Shoghi Effendi

The necessity of chiropractic adjustments can be understood from the concept of the arch of a bridge. Dimensions of ancient bridges have been precisely calculated by the engineers as a function of the load the arch carries. A seemingly insignificant 2 or 3 degree change in the angle of the bridge’s arch as the result of a small landslide or mild earthquake can compromise its integrity, resulting in devastating consequences 10-20 years later.

When we look at the architecture of the body, including the arches of the back and neck, it can be seen as being built precisely during development. The infant first tries to roll over, then goes on its stomach, on its hands, can sit up, and then stand.  This process occurs with very precise timing neurologically. The developmental pattern sets the blueprints of the brain that set the pattern of the arches. If the early pattern is maintained, the arches last for a long time.

A child may fall down at the age of ten while snowboarding or riding a bike, resulting in compromises to the body’s architecture. As with “the arch of a bridge” above, a mild shift in the angle of the arches of the neck or lower back at a young age will effect changes in the loading mechanism on the joints, resulting in deterioration in later years, which is known as arthritis. My claim as a Chiropractor is that by correcting those angles through Chiropractic manipulation, we can arrest or delay the process of arthritis, depending on at what stage of the process a patient seeks the treatment.