Addiction Solution Source

The word “chiropractic” gets its’ name from the Greek words chiros and praktikos which means “done by hand”. Chiropractors diagnose and treat the misalignment of the spine and the resulting mechanical disorders that affect the nervous system and hinder good health.

In 1895, Daniel David Palmer (Father of Chiropractic) asserted that 95% of all health problems could be treated, or even prevented with spinal adjustments. This statement is based on his theory that misaligned vertebrae (subluxations) impede the function of the nervous system thus contributing to a wide variety of health issues.

Chiropractors locate these subluxations and, through gentle adjustments, restore the body’s normal functions. With the vertebra in place, the nerve passages open and regulatory impulses are free to pass allowing the body’s nervous system to heal itself. This method goes directly to the root of the problem. It does not mask symptoms like addictive prescription drugs often do.

A large-scale human study, dealing specifically with the area of drug addictions, affirmed the validity and effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. Conducted by Dr. Jay Holder with the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Florida Chiropractic Society, the study showed dramatic results. The 18-month project demonstrated that those patients receiving these special treatments saw an almost 100% retention rate. The rate of retention, or how long a person stays in treatment, is vital because completion of a well-established and supported program assures a high success rate.

The “torque release technique”, developed by Dr. Holder, treats addiction by removing the subluxations band realigning the vertebrae. This, Dr. Holder asserts, “removes the interference with the normal functioning of the nervous system.” When the spine is misaligned, it interrupts the sequence of chemical changes necessary to maintain health and well-being. When the natural flow is interrupted, it results in what Dr. Holder calls “reward deficiency syndrome” and the body seeks the feeling of well being elsewhere.

Even mainstream psychologists are seeing the value of chiropractic medicine. A July 14, 2006 issue of Psychology Today online ran a story subtitled “Beating addiction may take an extra nudge from the chiropractor.” It chronicles the success story for an individual who completed treatment in a facility that utilizes the Torque Release Technique and experiences a much higher rate of success in addiction treatment than the national average for such centers.

The Chiropractor seeks to treat the person as a whole. The primary goal in the use of any treatment for addictions is making the body whole, reducing stress and lifting depression, and restoring the natural flow of brain chemicals vital to the recovery of an addiction, without substituting one drug for another. Western medicine, now more than ever, recognizes the value in treating addictions, particularly without the use of additional chemicals and mood altering drugs. The key to drug abuse recovery is in using holistic medicine methods such as chiropractic.

Click to learn more about drug abuse recovery