Last Updated on March 15, 2024
Over 20% of the US population suffers from chronic pain. To deal with chronic pain, many people visit a chiropractor.
According to a recent survey, 29 million American adults have visited chiropractors in the past five years. This accounts for about 10 percent of the population.
While there are all kinds of chiropractors to choose from, more and more people are opting for holistic chiropractors. What does a holistic chiropractor do? What are the benefits of seeing a holistic chiropractor?
Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about holistic chiropractors.
Related: Can Chiropractic Care Relieve Wrist Pain?
What is a Holistic Chiropractor?
Chiropractors perform spine adjustments as well as adjustments to other parts of the body. The goal of these alignments is to ease pain, correct alignment issues, and support the body’s ability to heal itself.
Chiropractors may also use other treatments to heal the body, such as hot and cold therapy. A holistic chiropractor is a specialized chiropractor who focuses on treating the whole body. The theory behind holistic chiropractic care stems from the idea that the sum is greater than its parts.
In other words, holistic chiropractors treat your physical and mental symptoms to achieve total body wellness. To qualify as a holistic chiropractor, one must spend thousands of hours studying beyond their doctoral degree.
Holistic chiropractors receive specialized training so they can help patients relieve physical, emotional, and chemical stressors. Traditional chiropractors, on the other hand, mainly focus on the physical stressors of the body. You can view these physical, emotional, and chemical stressors as three points in a pyramid that work together.
Let’s take a look at what treating each point looks like:
Physical Stressors
To treat physical stressors, holistic chiropractors will use traditional chiropractic adjustment techniques. The techniques your chiropractor uses will depend on the extent of your injuries and pain, but generally speaking, there are five techniques that chiropractors use to address physical stressors.
These include:
- Flexion distraction to treat disc herniation, scoliosis, and facet joint pain
- Drop table technique to treat the spine and other extremities
- Activator technique to treat back pain, migraines, and headaches
- Gonstead technique to reduce pain, realign joints, and reduce stiffness
- Diversified technique to adjust the spine and other extremities
When you schedule a consultation with a chiropractor, they’ll go over the techniques they plan to use to treat your physical pain.
Are you looking for some strategies to relieve lower back pain? Click here to find out!
Chemical Stressors
Holistic chiropractors also offer nutritional guidelines to address chemical stressors in the body. Oftentimes, holistic chiropractors will work with a certified nutritionist or naturopathic doctor onsite to suggest a meal plan for patients that helps their bodies return to normal function.
Mental Stressors
Holistic chiropractors also work alongside mental health professionals to treat the mental anguish that comes along with physical pain.
In addition to general chiropractic care, your holistic chiropractor may also offer other services to treat the triad of stressors. These services may include yoga, acupuncture, and massage therapy.
Related: What is Sports Medicine Acupuncture?
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Holistic Chiropractor?
So why should you see a holistic chiropractor? Here are some of the main benefits:
Takes Into Account the Whole Body
The holistic approach allows patients to heal their minds and body instead of just one specific area. The mind and the body are intrinsically connected, and often, you can’t heal one area without also focusing on the other.
Treating just one area of the body may result in superficial healing that’s only temporary. With a holistic approach, you can get to the root of your problems. For example, through working with a nutritionist, you may find that certain foods you eat lead to inflammation and pain.
Or, you may find through your mental health work that when you feel stressed out, your pain levels increase. Exploring each side of the triad will help you get to the root of your issues so you can eradicate them at the source.
Reduce High Blood Pressure
If you’re suffering from high blood pressure, a holistic chiropractor may be able to help. A Human Journal of Hypertension study found that chiropractic adjustments can be just as powerful as certain high blood pressure medications.
With a holistic approach, you can also work on the stress factors and diet choices that may be causing your blood pressure to rise.
Reduce Headaches
According to the World Health Organization, up to three-quarters of adults have suffered from headaches in the past year.
Often, headaches and migraines are a result of back pain and spinal issues. They can also be a result of stress and poor diet. A holistic chiropractor can perform adjustments and offer nutritional guidance to help you experience headache relief.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the leading causes of pain, tension, and joint issues. Chronic inflammation is also linked to a number of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain.
Your holistic chiropractor can help reduce inflammation throughout your body with adjustments. They can also set you up with a nutritionist to set up a diet plan that focuses on foods that lower inflammation.
Sugar, artificial trans fats, refined carbs, and alcohol can all lead to higher levels of inflammation throughout the body. If you’re struggling to eliminate these foods from your diet, a holistic chiropractor can help you put together a plan.
Related: Easy Substitutes for Unhealthy Food
Are you Ready to See a Holistic Chiropractor?
As you can see, holistic chiropractors offer a lot of benefits. No matter where you’re at in your health journey, visiting a holistic chiropractor can help improve your physical, mental, and nutritional health.
The next step is to find a holistic chiropractor in your area who suits your needs.
Are you looking to schedule an appointment with a holistic chiropractor in the Portland, Oregon area? If so, contact us today.
I had no idea that chiropractors can actually offer nutritional guidelines as well. My husband has been really struggling with his health ever since we had our third child. I think it would be good for him to see a chiropractor to find ways to feel balanced in his life.
Good thing you mentioned that holistic chiropractors will utilize traditional adjustment procedures that depend on the severity of your injuries and discomfort because my cousin has been considering holistic chiropractors for her back pain that has been hurting her for a few months. I’ll let her know about this and look into local holistic health facilities that might be able to assist her because I think trying this out would be a wonderful idea. I appreciate you sharing!