A college student investigating possible career paths asked me questions about the chiropractic profession recently. I’d like to share my answer to one of his questions with you. He heard a rumor that chiropractors were “against” taking medication, and asked if there was any truth to it.
Here’s what I told him…
As a chiropractor, I’m not opposed to medication. Medications can certainly save lives. I don’t get mad at people who take pills, and I wouldn’t berate a person for using them. If I have a patient who’s taking one pill or another, I’d never tell them to stop.
But here’s where I stand on the issue… Taking pills is not the problem.
The perception that pills will make you healthy — that’s the problem.
The belief that pills have magical healing properties capable of undoing bad habits and reversing years of poor decision-making — that’s the problem.
The chemical dependency that people can develop after taking pills for so long — that’s the problem.
The assumption that the only thing a person can do when they’re sick is pop a few more pills — that’s the problem.
A person’s exposure to the relentless marketing efforts of Big Pharma, plastering ads in every TV commercial, radio, newspaper and website — that’s the problem.
And you don’t have to be a chiropractor to agree with me on this… I’ve never met a medical doctor who felt Americans would be healthier if they simply took more drugs.
In a lot of ways, chiropractors are teachers. We go above and beyond the spinal column and teach people how to make healthier decisions. We educate people about how their body works. We guide people through the healing process, helping them realize that true health comes from within.
There’s an old chiropractic saying – “Nature needs no help, it just needs no interference.” Our bodies are capable of so much, and possess a tremendous healing capacity. As long as we don’t get in the way or screw up the process, it can do amazing things.
After receiving chiropractic care, many patients realize that they’re not dependent on medications like they used to be… and that’s a beautiful thing.
With or without medicine, if I can help someone live a longer, happier, and healthier lifestyle with chiropractic care, then I’ve done my job.
A Chiropractor's Opinion 
Trackbacks and Pingbacks
[…] the consequences of long-term prescription drug use. Let me be clear, however – Medications aren’t the problem. Slavish dependency on medication, the belief that “All I need is another […]