D.D. PALMER’S EARLY INSTRUCTION ON CHIROPRACTIC adjustments and the evolution of diverse techniques have culminated in significant knowledge within chiropractic, aimed at reducing subluxations and restoring health to the whole person. Every chiropractic method can yield both remarkable results and failures in treating organic and functionally caused diseases. A crucial commonality among these techniques is the physical, mental, and emotional state of the practitioner, a fact many practitioners can attest to being true.
Dr. Thurman Fleet, DC, became acutely focused on understanding “the Power that heals” and how to contact and direct it. He carefully collected case studies for 10 years as he developed the Zone Technique™ and extensively explored these concepts in his work, the Philosophy of Concept-Therapy®, as well as through Zone Healing™ via Suggestive Therapy®.
Dr. Daniel D. Palmer introduced many foundational concepts of chiropractic. In the early days, aspiring chiropractors learned directly from his words and demonstrations since textbooks were scarce.
Palmer effectively conveyed a powerfill message: “With the proper treatment, I will realign this bone, allowing your Innate Power — that which created you — to facilitate your healing.” This vision profoundly influenced his practice and further exploration by Dr. Thurman Fleet.
Palmer’s teachings centered on “Innate Power,” emphasizing a healing force within the body capable of restoring health. When students grasped these teachings, they would affirm their understanding of the “big idea.”
From a patient’s healing perspective, confidence in their doctor’s words is critical because it can unlock their Innate Power and enable healing suggestions to resonate with their “Innate Mind.” Research suggests that this inner force responds to suggestions, both positive and negative, and has a significant impact on physical health. Early chiropractors achieved remarkable results, establishing a profession based on these principles.
While earlier ideas conveyed to patients through suggestion were simple compared to today’s refined understanding, they proved effective. Early practitioners were guided by faith in the power of chiropractic and were remarkably successful healers, echoing the teachings of Christ: “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
This highlights the importance of tailored suggestions. This principle led to the development of Dr. Fleet’s six primary “Health Images,” which are currently taught at the Concept-Therapy® Institute and represented in Zone Healing™. By identifying a patient’s primary zone that is out of alignment and providing necessary adjustments with Suggestive Therapy®, practitioners can help patients tap into their Innate Mind, facilitating healing.
Chiropractic adjustments release “Innate Intelligence,” allowing it to function optimally throughout the brain and nervous system. Positive suggestions, alongside foundational concepts and health imagery, activate mental and neurological energy patterns, which in turn translate into physical health through the nervous system. Research in psychosomatic medicine and biofeedback has proven that involuntary physiological functions can be influenced by mental suggestions interacting with the nervous system. These principles are emphasized in the many courses offered by the Concept-Therapy® Institute.
In the healing process, practitioners must cultivate a clear image of their desired treatment outcome, focusing on three key elements: (1) the image, (2) the thought, and (3) the manifestation. To achieve specific outcomes in a patient’s condition, practitioners must visualize their treatment objectives.
A doctor engaging with Innate Intelligence must establish a clear mental image of the desired results, effectively guiding this inner force. Practitioners who can form precise mental images can anticipate how their adjustments will lead to physical changes in a patient’s body. The alignment of a practitioner’s thoughts with this image, alongside directed actions, will determine the achievement of the desired outcome.
This educational approach, as taught by chiropractors in Suggestive Therapy classes at the Concept-Therapy® Institute, empowers patients with clarity about their treatment. After a Zone adjustment, they receive a note outlining the expected changes, facilitating the creation of a mental image. The principle suggests that what someone expects with faith tends to materialize. As a result, patients gain both physical benefits from adjustments and positive mental suggestions that promote healing.
For chiropractors utilizing Concept-Therapy®, we advise: “Understand how and when to communicate curative concepts alongside your adjustments.” Use the six “Perfect Health Concepts” when addressing psychosomatic conditions. Whether employing these or creating a relevant framework, when patients grasp the “Big Idea,” their path to wellness becomes more evident.
Hippocrates, often regarded as the Father of Medicine, is said to have proclaimed, “The physician of the future will treat the whole person — body, mind, and soul.” This insight underscores the importance of a knowledgeable and compassionate healer who recognizes the interconnectedness of these aspects to promote harmony within patients.
The 1911 edition of The Science of Chiropractic described the practice as “the art of allowing for the restoration of the triadic relationship between all necessary attributes for a normal composite form.” This involves achieving harmony by manually aligning components of the human skeletal system and correcting subluxations within its joints.
Since 1931, the Concept-Therapy® Institute in San Antonio, Texas, has promoted the Palmer understanding that humans are triune beings comprised of body, mind, and soul, emphasizing that illness can arise when these components fall out of alignment with ideas of health.
As we further explore chiropractic principles, practitioners should recognize that their role extends beyond physical ailments. Chiropractors need to understand that mental approaches can be effectively employed to address functionally caused diseases. Heeding the wisdom of both Hippocrates and D.D. Palmer, a holistic adjustment encompassing body, mind, and soul is crucial
By positively influencing a patient’s mindset during physical adjustments, chiropractors can effectively address both the mental and emotional aspects of disease alongside physical conditions. Courses offered by Concept-Therapy® instructors offer practical patient psychology from a chiropractic perspective, empowering practitioners to address the origins of disease that may stem from mental or emotional factors, thereby promoting comprehensive healing of functionally caused dis-ease, rather than simply adjusting for symptoms.
Research indicates that emotional and psychological pain can significantly affect physical well-being. Thus, it is crucial to address these conditions without requiring expertise in psychoanalysis.
Regardless of the chiropractic techniques employed, integrating the right intentions and suggestions is vital for achieving desired outcomes in treating psychosomatic disorders. The foundational principles ingrained in the ait and science of chiropractic can be harnessed for health restoration. Concept-Therapy® courses offer practical training in how to engage with Innate Intelligence for healing through positive imagery and practical suggestions.
The essence of this approach proves that effectively resolving psychosomatic issues extends beyond merely applying techniques; it involves the practical application of a healing principle. This principle joins practitioners in relationship with Innate Intelligence, stimulating healing during adjustments.
Once practitioners fully understand this principle and select their preferred technique, they will be empowered to adjust patients in ways that release their own innate healing capabilities. Seasoned practitioners have long relied upon this powerful inner force for effective patient care and healing. Although some may refer to it as “Nature” or “Energy,” this essential force is constantly available, and we can learn to work in collaboration with it.
Insights shared throughout this discourse reveal that healing has been a core part of human existence, with Innate Intelligence acting as a critical healing element over time. This Intelligence has always catalyzed healing through various methods employed by the world’s healers, often guided by imagery, faith, and suggestion.
By integrating these concepts into modern practice, chiropractors can honor the legacy of their founders while effectively treating the whole person — body, mind, and soul — thereby paving the way for enhanced healing and holistic health.
Dr. George H. Bobbitt is an experienced chiropractor with 25 years in practice, focusing on human behavior and neuroscience. As an educator in Concept-Therapy®, he promotes a holistic healing approach, helping patients and students improve their health through the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Contact him at [email protected]. Visit www.concept-therapy.org or call 210698-2254.
