There have always been some forms of 'Bonesetters" in the written history of our species. Early Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Ancient Chinese writings mention the use of Bonesetters in the curing of a variety of ailments and disease. Native American and Indigenous peoples all over the world have Bone Setting healers who are integral parts of the health of the tribe and community. The pioneering Greek physician Hippocrates, known as "The Father of Western Medicine '', said "Look well to the spine for the cause of disease". His insight is as acute today as it was more than two thousand years ago because given the spine's essential functions small misalignments and injuries can have catastrophic effects. The Romans were well known to have Bonesetters in their medical trains on campaigns. The Aztecs wrote of the healing powers of Bonesetters and gave them prominence in their societal hierarchy. In more modern times the American Civil war created a backdrop against which the modern inception of Chiropractors were formed. Before the Civil War 88% of the medical schools were Naturopathic schools of medicine practicing a holistic form of herbal medication treatments which had 4000+ years of pharmacopoeia data from all over the world and relied on clinical efficacy and proven results. Medical Doctors of the time practiced a crude form of what we consider surgery today with a success rate of 1-5% based on who you listen to. The Medical Doctor's other tools consisted of questionable lotions, potions, cocaine, opium and leeches. Magnetic healers and Bonesetters were the other players of the healthcare game of the time, although in much smaller numbers. After the Civil War, Medical Doctors saw themselves rise to prominence, since battlefield medicine was what was practiced during those times, they had a chance to hone their skills and gained the trust of the military-Industrial Complex form the AMA and cementing their place in our society. As a balance to the emergency based invasive practices of the medical community of the time (which can be necessary in life and death situations) many healers began searching for a conservative and more holistically natural form of healthcare, since by the end of the Civil War only a handful of Naturopathic schools remained in the USA. In 1895 a Naturopathic and Magnetic Healer named DD Palmer was searching for a Universal cause of dis-ease. He came upon a theory that when two vertebrae were "wracked" out of alignment" they put pressure and disturbance on the nervous system and the body could no longer self-regulate or self-heal as is our innate state of being when in optimal health. He had a chance to test his theory when a man named Harvey Lillard arrived in his office being completely unable to hear. DD Palmer located a vertebra out of alignment and "Adjusted" it back into place, after which Mr Lillard could hear again. The cure had been found and Chiropractic was born!
