Disease vs. DIS-EASE: A Chiropractic Perspective
Understanding the Difference
BJ Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, once wrote:
“New work is new work because it brings forth new explanations, differing from older explanations; therefore either demands new terms with present-day explanations; or using older terms with newer understandings and explanations… new interpretations of old terms bring forth new definitions.”
This perspective is particularly relevant when distinguishing between "disease" and "DIS-EASE." While these words appear similar, their meanings are fundamentally different. Dr. Joseph Strauss, DC, explained it best:
“The words are vastly different in their meaning. In fact, they are, to a degree, opposites.”
Disease is a medical term used by physicians to diagnose and treat specific conditions. It represents a pathological state—a condition of illness caused by external or internal factors such as bacteria, viruses, or organ dysfunction.
DIS-EASE, on the other hand, is a chiropractic term that describes a state in which the body lacks ease, balance, and proper function. It is not a diagnosis of pathology but rather an indication that the body's natural healing processes are being interfered with. Chiropractors do not focus on treating disease; instead, they work to restore ease by correcting vertebral restrictions with altered sensorimotor control of joints, which interfere with nervous system function.
What is EASE?
At its core, ease represents a state of health, where the body functions optimally. It encompasses elements such as:
- Coordination
- Adaptation
- Well-being
- Optimal nerve transmission
When the body lacks ease, it is in a state of DIS-EASE, meaning its ability to self-regulate and heal is compromised. This state is often due to vertebral restrictions with altered sensorimotor control of joints, which interfere with nerve communication and overall function.
The Role of the Nervous System
The nervous system is the body's master control system. It regulates movement, organ function, and even the way we perceive and respond to our environment. The spinal column protects the spinal cord, which transmits vital information between the brain and body.
Dr. Chang H. Suh, PhD, a spinal biomechanics expert from the University of Colorado, found that:
“The weight of a dime on a spinal nerve will reduce nerve transmission by as much as sixty percent.”
Even minor vertebral restrictions with altered sensorimotor control of joints can create significant dysfunction, leading to DIS-EASE.
The Chiropractic Model: Salutogenesis vs. Pathogenesis
Chiropractic care follows a different healthcare paradigm than traditional medicine. While medicine is based on pathogenesis—the study of disease and its causes—chiropractic is based on salutogenesis, which focuses on promoting health and preventing dysfunction.
The term salutogenesis was coined by Dr. Aaron Antonovsky in the 1970s. It describes an approach that seeks to understand and enhance the body's natural ability to adapt and heal. Rather than waiting for disease to manifest, a salutogenic approach asks:
- How do we maintain health?
- What factors contribute to well-being?
- How can we improve the body's innate ability to function?
Chiropractic care aligns with this philosophy by removing interference in the nervous system, allowing the body to express its full health potential.
The Impact of Vertebral Restrictions
To illustrate the significance of vertebral restrictions with altered sensorimotor control of joints, consider these analogies:
- The Rubber Band Effect
Imagine a tight rubber band around your wrist. At first, it may seem insignificant, but over time, it restricts circulation, leading to discomfort, numbness, and potential tissue damage. Similarly, vertebral restrictions restrict nerve flow, causing dysfunction throughout the body. - Aorta Constriction
If a rubber band were wrapped around the aorta (the body's largest artery), it would drastically limit blood flow, affecting overall circulation and organ function. Likewise, pressure on the nerves at the spinal level impairs communication between the brain and body, leading to DIS-EASE.
Removing the Stumbling Block to Health
A chiropractic adjustment removes the interference that causes DIS-EASE, restoring proper nerve function and allowing the body to heal itself. When the nervous system functions optimally, every other system in the body—musculoskeletal, digestive, immune, and cardiovascular—can operate at its highest potential.
Dr. Lyle Sherman, a chiropractic pioneer, put it this way:
“All down through the ages, man has been looking for the cause of disease. Have you stopped to think that maybe there is no cause for disease; that perhaps what we are looking for or should look for is the cause of health... because we know that disease is not due to the presence of something but rather the absence of something.”
That absence is the expression of health. Chiropractic care is about restoring ease and ensuring that the body can function as it was designed to—free from interference and full of life.
References
- Palmer, BJ. "The Science, Art, and Philosophy of Chiropractic." Davenport, IA: Palmer College of Chiropractic, 1927.
- Strauss, Joseph. "Chiropractic Philosophy." Strauss Chiropractic Center, 2000.
- Suh, Chang H., PhD. "The Effects of Vertebral Restrictions on Nerve Transmission." University of Colorado, 1976.
- Antonovsky, Aaron. "Health, Stress, and Coping." Jossey-Bass, 1979.
- Sherman, Lyle. "Introduction to Chiropractic Research." The B.J. Palmer Research Clinic, 1949.
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