The philosophy of chiropractic is based on vitalism. Vitalism is the viewpoint that the basis of life is an ever-changing,
dynamic balancing act that is directed by an inborn intelligence, making choices based upon data gathered from external
and internal sensors. The other existing viewpoint is that which is termed mechanistic, and is based on the idea that
life is simply the random combining of matter without an intelligent input directing it.
These two camps of thought have become the basis of various health-related arts and are the basis of both chiropractic
and medicine. Traditional chiropractic is a vitalistically based practice that acknowledges the presence of an ultimate
controlling power, innate intelligence, and the major role that this innate intelligence plays in the ongoing balancing
of the body’s functioning.
From this basis, chiropractic views mal- or dysfunction in the body as a result of changes in the way that innate
intelligence is able to direct the functions of the various systems of the body. This disturbance in the proper
functioning of the body is termed a subluxation and is the corrective principle of the art of chiropractic. By correcting
the subluxation and helping to reestablish proper communication between innate intelligence and the body, the restoration
and maintenance of well being is realized.
There are four basic principles of traditional chiropractic:
• The body is a self healing and regulating organism.
• The nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, is the master controller of all functions within the
body.
• Disturbance (subluxation) in the proper communication between the brain and the body will lead to dysfunction
ultimately leading to pathological changes if not corrected.
• Correction of the disturbance (subluxation), restoring proper communication between brain and body will lead to a
restoration of function and, ultimately, health and well being.