Making recommendations regarding lifestyle, diet, rest, and exercise, involves being an authority. There is only one authority when it comes to matters of healthy living-the innate intelligence of the body. Assuming that role is the practice of medicine.
So… you would let a child continue to eat “Twinkies” for breakfast because their “Innate” lulled them so? Granted, I may not be the “Ultimate Authority” when it comes to many many issues, yet, I believe I have a Responsibility to apply the Knowledge I do have – and yes, even exert some Control – over my child(ren) to better guide their survival (at times). If this is the practice of “medicine” then, gosh – have you ever raised children?? Medipractor!!
There have been studies that showed children when left to their own choices innately develop a balanced diet. I don’t know whether that’s true or not because i never let my children have the opportunty to do that. I also did not let my children play in traffic or be vaccinated. What I do for my children and what I do in practice are two different things. The chiropractic philosophy cannot be distorted by silliness and absurdity. I assume you also would not allow your practice member’s children be vaccinated. That, in many people’s mind, is also a health/wellness issue.
As I recall, the studies did suggest the children eventually “balanced out” their diets. However, I wonder if eating poorly – even if “only for a month” would not challenge one’s “adaptation energy…” The point I was trying to convey was that oftentimes, patients look to their DC as a source of information – after all, we likely have more education than most patients, and I was using the children as a simile. As regards vaccination, I do not tell patients what to do (Yes, I read your lines as to using “…if I were you…” as just another way of telling a pt what to do), I provide direction to information. If they ask me what I did, however (ie, not vaccinate) – I will not lie, nor run away from the issue by clamoring that “it’s not chiropractic…” In this regard, I like Eric Jones approach of suggesting a “network” to a patient and have often suggested such a “pit crew” to pts / PMs. I “took the bait” of what you posted and am glad to see a good discussion has ensued. Enjoyed your points about advice not being “the game [you] are playing” and Lessard’s observations on objectives and the use of [one’s] time. 🙂
Great post Dr. Strauss.
I frequently have people asking me for advice on what exercises they should do, what pillow or mattress to purchase or how they should setup their computer.
Assuming they are asking because they are concerned that these things may cause or contribute the presence of vertebral subluxation being detected during office visits, I would love to hear how everyone else responds to these questions. Thanks.
Hello everyone! Although I am on this blog almost everyday this is my first comment. For me, I believe this is where the concept of a healthcare team comes into play. I speak for myself, but when confronted with these questions I feel the push of the educated mind, pride, and ego to be the “one stop shop” for the patient. The truth is that these questions are BUOI questions, and there therapeutic practitioners of this mindset better equipped to answer for the patient. Everyone should have naturopaths, sports coaches at local gyms, nutritionists, etc close by – so develop a network. Remember, we have a specialized training that NO ONE ELSE has! We ALCVS to help that patient express LIFE more fully. In 10 years and 3700 patients NO ONE could tell me what VS is and how it robs quality of life on their initial visit. We have a huge job that if done correctly should consume our entire day. Develop a network and don’t be afraid to refer these questions to other disciplines.
Hi Eric and welcome! We look forward to your insights and wisdom in the future. Thank you.
Hey Joe, and M,
Isn’t this just what the educated function of the brain is for? We must learn to deal with our environment. II is survival orientated,no?
I might posit the MIND is where thought actually occurs (brain being just a structure wherein thought is transformed into impulses), but personally, I do believe our survival is best approached by principally adapting our environment to us (using our intelligence to this in the best way possible), whilst still (complementarily) adapting to our environment. (If we just push “adaptation” then there would be little “progress” – and we would not be reading these posts 😉 )
Actually mind is the activity of the ii of the body in the innate brain , analogous to thinking in the educated brain. (RWS p. 23) The educated brain’s purpose is to adapt us to our environment not adapt our environment to what we want. I think that is what you were suggesting. The difference is moving to Florida and hoping for global warming. I’m in favor of the former.
Thanks for the RWS ref. (unsure what text it refers to, but grateful for the intent, nonetheless) Whatsmore, would like to be clear on my respect for your congruity and integrity the entire time I have perused your materials (otherwise, I would not have purchased your books! 🙂 ) and site. I am grateful to have such a generous thinker encouraging my own (and others) growth and Chiropractic thought! Thank You, Dr Strauss!
M,
Thank you for going deeper into the philosophy. You are calling us to clarify further our understanding.
I think the text Joseph referred to is article #54 and #55.
RWS p.23 states: Innate mind is the activity of innate intelligence in the innate brain as an organ. The product of this activity is innate thought, or mental force (art.54).
It is analogous to: Educated mind is the activity of innate intelligence in the educated brain as an organ. The product of this activity is educated thoughts; such as, reasoning, will, memory, (art.55). –
– I agree with you for “progress” to occur, in so far that we have the ability to adapt to our environment (like converting energy into heat, work, electricity, etc…). That is the prerogative and freedom of innate matter: adaptability. Animals and vegetation have adapted to their environment as well. The universal matter of the environment (winds, fire, water, electrum, geological plate movements (like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions), air masses, atmospheric pressure gradients, etc….) will never adapt to innate matter. We just witnessed that with hurricane “Sandy”. It is the people of the Northeast WHO choose to adapt by reorganizing the devastation of the environment into new structured living. We might even learn how to be prepared for future events like that by using our educated intelligence. –
– The reason WHY it is ALWAYS innate matter that is called to adapt, is due to principle #23 in which ADAPTABILITY is introduced by the innate intelligence of a “living thing”. “The function of innate intelligence is to ADAPT universal forces and matter for use in the body, so that all parts of the body will have co-ordinated action for MUTUAL (read survival and thriving) benefit. –
RWS is R.W.Stephenson and the reference is from his book Chiropractic Textbook, greenbook XIV.
Hey Joe,
This sentence strikes me as odd, “The educated brain’s purpose is to adapt us to our environment not adapt our environment to what we want.” Just for clarity, isn’t that innate’s job, adapting us to the environment? Innate intelligence causes our bodies to change according to the situation. When cold we shiver and get goose bumps, when hot we sweat. These are ii./non-educated decisions. Wasn’t it you that said, ii. is limited by the skin? Educated intelligence should help us adapt the environment to us. It is educated that builds houses, dams rivers, created electric lights, plants food and generally uses the resources at hand to modify our surroundings for comfort.
As Claude writes below, “The function of innate intelligence is to ADAPT universal forces and matter for use in the body, so that all parts of the body will have co-ordinated action for MUTUAL (read survival and thriving) benefit. Would that include cutting trees to lumber and nailing them together as adapting universal forces?
Steve the job of the ii of the body is to adapt us to the environment. It does this by shivering and perspiring. The greatest organ that it uses, however, is the educated brain. “Ii is limited by the skin” means that it cannot control outside the body, except in that the organs that we use educatedly, to adapt to the environment do no work without innate forces. Whether turning up the heat in the house on a cold day is adapting us to the environment or adapting the environment to us is an interesting question and I think more than just semantics. Since everyone wants a different degree of heat and since we are not actually affecting the environment (outside the house) and affecting it for only ourselves and anyone who wants to share that house, I would maintain that we are only adapting us to that (cold) environment. As with any educated decision, it may be correct (good educated) or incorrect (bad educated). What is the healthiest room temperature is up to the ii of the body and it may be different than what we educatedly like. I prefer warmer. Judy likes the office cooler. She says its because I’m getting old, I say its because she’s Italian! We use our ed brains and find a compromise. The problem with the environmental movement is that they are educaedly trying to determine what the environment should be for the rest of the world instead of allowing the forces of the universe to play out and allow everyone’s own ii and ei together determine what is best for them.. Building dams, houses, etc. seems to me as being done educatedly to allow us to adapt better to our environment, not adapting our environment to us. We are not determining what the environment should be just educatedly (good or bad) what we think is best for us, so we can adapt better. Does that make sense?
Steve,
You are confusing the activity of innate intelligence in the innate brain which is called INNATE MIND and the activity of innate intelligence in the educated brain which is called EDUCATED MIND. The innate brain is not subject to principle 24 and cannot be dis-eased. On the other hand, the educated brain is subject to principle 24 and can be dis-eased. It is very important that you grasp that. Joseph is right when he said that we use our educated brain to adapt to the environment and is an organ that is part of the matter of the body which is subject to its own limitation (pri.24). –
– It would be specific to say that my educated brain is an organ used by me WHO choose to adapt to my environment. It is very specific to my preferences. Then, it becomes you WHO choose to cut trees to lumber and nailing them together for your comfort. It is I, on the other hand, WHO choose to cut blocks of ice to build and igloo for my comfort. (Unlike Joseph, I am not getting old yet). 😉
Joe. Are you suggesting that lifestyle advice (Body-Mind-Spirit) is on the same playing field with diagnosing medical conditions, promising to fix them, using PT modalities, etc?
Based on what I see and read the information out there from the “experts” in that regard is seriously lacking or, in my perception, is incorrect.
Thought provoking nonetheless.
Matt, I’m not familiar with what “lifestyle advice (Body-Mind-Spirit)” is. But I think if we spent our time teaching people how to think in a rationa,l deductive, common sense, ADIO manner and how to take responsibility for their life and health, they would be better of now and in the future rather than make them dependent upon us for day to day “lifestyle advice”. The problem is that:
1. Most chiropractors have no idea what ADIO thinking is and…
2. Most present lifestyle advice 10 years from now will be proved worthless at best, harmful at worst.
3. Medical/therapeutic advice and lifestyle advice may be on different playing fields but they are both playing the same game and its not the one we are playing.
I think the problem resides within the ability to convey the ADIO view point to the public. –
– The organization of the human body is under the perfect control of a great wisdom we call the innate intelligence of the body. Every “living thing” has an innate intelligence within its body (pri.20). No one can control the innate intelligence of the body which is really the law of life and it is manifested by the five signs of life (assimilation, excretion, adaptability, growth and reproduction). –
– I do not know WHAT my body needs to be healthy, much less do I know what a practice member’s body needs to be healthy. WHAT is known to me is WHAT the body does NOT need to be healthy. To be healthy, the body does NOT need interference with its innate forces (MI) and it is my responsibility as a NTOSC to educate the public about the fact that there can be interference with innate forces (pri.29) and it is called a vertebral subluxation (pri.31) and that it will cause dis-ease (pri.30). –
– This responsibility of the NTOSC is so BIG, that if done consistently, it would fill ALL the time in your practice between checking spines. It is the ONLY responsibility as far as educating the practice member is concerned and to do it in as many different ways as possible, to as many people as possible, even if you have to repeat yourself over and over and over and over and over and over again. –
– For those of you WHO would like to know WHAT to say WHEN a practice member wants to know your opinion about the concerns they may have about pillows, mattresses, exercises, nutrition, etc… tell them the truth! WHAT is the truth? That you don’t even know WHAT it is that is best for yourself, much less for them. Tell them that it is they WHO must choose to be responsible for their choice about these issues and take the consequences of their choice. Tell them that your responsibility as a NTOSC is to provide them with the facilities, time and expertise necessary to checked their spine once a week for the LACVS, PERIOD!
Dr. Lessard,
Would you say the responsibility of the NTOSC is to convey the ADIO view point to the public or to convey the objective of NTOSC to the public that is to LACVS for the full expression of ii?
Great point…tell them the truth. “Tell them that your responsibility as a NTOSC is to provide them with the facilities, time and expertise necessary to checked their spine once a week for the LACVS, PERIOD!”
Thanks.
Don,
Both! As I stated above, convey the ADIO point of view and the objective
of the NTOSC which is the chiropractic objective: LACVS for a full expression of the innate FORCES of the innate intelligence of the body. PERIOD! 😉
Dr. Lessard,
I have to ask because I often wondered why.
Subluxations occur, NTOSC LACVS when present.
I understand for life. How do you determine once a week for LACVS for all?
Why not more often? Why not less often?
Don,
Back in 1973, Lyle Sherman, Earl Taylor, Thom Gelardi, and Reggie Gold, Joe Flesia were my teachers at Sherman. They all had the consensus that “maintenance” (sic) care was to have your spine checked AT LEAST once per week. As an intern in clinic, we were practicing strictly upper cervical pattern BLAIR work. So, once/week was the standard. The reason was that no one should want to go for more than one week without having their spine checked. WHY? In my opinion, I think it was purely arbitrary. Yet, it made sense to me. Not too much, not too little. I sure would not want to go more than one week without having my spine checked. I’ve had my spine checked once/week ever since. Therefore, after 40 years of chiropractic, it is me WHO choose to invite people AT LEAST once a week to have their spine checked. –
– The more important question is WHO do you choose to be regarding frequency of lifetime care? 😉
Hey Don,
I know you did not ask for a response from the crowd, but here’s my 2 cents. When I worked with my dad, he decreased by need. Most new patients were seen 3 x / week until they started to hold. When they come in a couple times with little or nothing “out” cut to 2 x / week. When they start to hold there, cut to 1 x /week. Using the pre/post checks to establish clear and re-exams to verify/document progress they actually determine their own schedule. His goal was to get adults to 1 x / mo. for preventive maintenance. The majority of my patients today seem to hover around 1 to 2 weeks very few get to once per month. Personally I get checked 1 x / week but my sister’s and my brother’s offices are between my house and my office so it is very convenient and free.
Hey, did you see Claude’s list of teachers? No wonder he is so well anchored. And yes Claude, I know it is still you WHO chooses to be…. but damn, what a great head-start into the profession. (insert little smiley face here, but green with envy)
Dr. Lessard and Steve,
Thanks for the explanation. Steve, Dr. Lessard’s post prompted my questions. This is the reason I address mine to him. Thanks for jumping in. Your thoughts are always welcome.
I agree, WHO do I choose to be regarding lifetime care (I assume the sic erat scriptum “maintenance care” should have been “lifetime care”) is the more important question.
I have heard one chiropractor say optimal schedule of care is daily however that isn’t always practical, so they leave it up to the person to choose either once, twice or three days per week depending on their commitment to the process. This seems to be an interesting approach. Thoughts?
The NTOSC choosing to recommend a frequency of care for another individual, isn’t that an educated decision? How do we know what they truly need?
Steve, you mentioned need determined by pre and post checks as
well as re-exams. If each visit is detect and correct, what are the re-exams entailing that is different?
Looking forward to input from both of you!!
Of course, also green with envy…:)
Don,
It is me WHO choose to INVITE practice members to get their spine checked at least once/week based on the logical approach I mentioned in my previous post. I do NOT recommend anything. Yet, with all the information I have accumulated so far and from practical experience, it seems to me that since I get my spine checked at least once/week, it is simply logical to INVITE practice members to do the same. It is ALWAYS the practice members WHO will choose WHAT is best for them since it is me WHO choose to provide them with right education about chiropractic care. It is an educated approach and this is the best of WHO I choose to be so far.
Hey Don,
As I have stated previously I am transitioning to OSC, that said I am still old school in some things. I have a hard time breaking away from my classical chiropractic training in spinal care. “Spinal care” may be construed as therapeutic by some but whole spine analysis does involve segmental contributions. Detect and correct (and educate) is the lion’s share of what we do but seeing and measuring an improvement in ROM or postural balance can only be a good thing even though not our main goal. Remembering the saying…Think global, act local… is very appropriate, for subluxation is localized but affects us globally
Steve,
Transitioning is difficult. You wrote, “..whole spine analysis does involve segmental contributions” and” seeing and measuring an improvement in ROM or postural balance can only be a good thing even though not our main goal”.
I am not quite sure what you mean by segmental contributions.
As for the measuring ROM and posture, I could be wrong but I don’t see this an a main or even a secondary goal for the NTOSC. I am not sure that NTOSCtors actually do “measure” anything. Then again what do I know, I am transitioning too? Do you see it differently?
Dr. Lessard,
Thanks. You would think I would know better than to ask if you recommend..;)
Is the invitation for once a week the same for a person whether it is their first week or 10th year in your practice?
Do you also lessen the frequency based on the holding of an adjustment?
“The first adjustment is the correction, after that it is up to them to keep coming to maintain that state” What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks.
Don,
Do you remember I mentioned to you a while back about a talk I gave to the GSCS about having coached them into creating together a blueprint for an education program?
Dr. Lessard,
Yes I do.
I really wanted to have a look at it.
I know it would help answer many of these questions.
I contacted the GCSC and Daria tried and was not able to track down a copy and I didn’t have any other avenues to pursue so I stopped looking.
If you know of another way or know someone who may have a copy, please let me know.
Don,
You state: “The first adjustment is the correction, after that it is up to them to keep coming to maintain that state”. –
How can “them” make an informed choice after one visit? –
– I know some students of mine WHO learned the philosophy at ADIO for 40 months and had no clue about chiropractic when they graduated (yes they did pass the courses and boards) and WHO still don’t know today WHO they are as chiropractors. –
– Don’t you think you need to have an in depth and thorough education program in place to provide “them” the knowledge necessary and the opportunity to make an informed choice?
Dr. Lessard,
You wrote, “Don’t you think you need to have an in depth and thorough education program in place to provide “them” the knowledge necessary and the opportunity to make an informed choice?”
Yes.
Regardless of the amount of knowledge I think they have I need to be consistent in the delivery of my education. That is why I am so interested in that blueprint for the GSCS you mentioned.
Informed choice is difficult though. I do not know how to determine when a person is informed enough to make a choice. Some people may be able to make the decision right away, some after 40 months of philosophy (from a great professor), others never. I guess this is why you say you invite and not recommend. I cannot recommend because I do not know when a person would be informed enough.
So do we make the decision for them until they are informed enough to make a choice about care and frequency
or
invite them to come as often as they can every week for life (once a week the bare minimum) and hope they get it through the in office education?
Don,
You answered YES to my question. How about if you were to create a program of education visit by visit that will educe from your practice members WHAT is already within themselves and that will allow them to orient themselves in the direction of an ADIO world view? Then it will be them WHO will be given the opportunity to choose to embrace chiropractic as an elegant choice for themselves and their family. –
– Principle #6 is involved in this process. Therefore, invite them frequently to your office at the beginning to educate them and take the opportunity to check their spine as well. It won’t be long that you will notice those WHO choose to get it and those WHO don’t. Those WHO get it and ONLY WHEN THEY GET IT, invite them to come once/week for life if it makes sense to them. Otherwise, keep the frequency until they choose to get it or choose to quit. It is ALWAYS about WHO anyway. –
– There’s no pressure, no gimmick and no selling. ONLY the JOY to be the one WHO choose to share the chiropractic story with as many people as you can over and over and over and over and over again. –
– Oh what fun it is to ride in a one open practice…. 😉
Dr. Lessard,
I like the idea of bringing out from them what they already want but I am not sure HOW to develop a program of education visit by visit that will educe from practice members WHAT is already within themselves and that will allow them to orient themselves in the direction of an ADIO world view.
How does one implement this idea into practice?
Don,
Everything you need is within this blog and a little imagination. 😉
Dr. Lessard,
As true as that is, I was still hoping for the Cole’s notes/blueprint version. 😉
Don,
I know. The GSCS blueprint was created by the group on the spur of the moment. The group created it for the group. It you WHO are called to choose to create a program of education visit by visit. It is also you WHO will choose to implement it according to WHO you choose to be moment by moment. Remember Don, you are in continuous motion and so are your practice members. 😉
Steve,
I thought you knew of my head start. Did I mentioned that Guy Riekeman was also one of my philosophy teachers and VP of Sherman in 1976. And with Strauss and Reggie we started ADIO Institute in January of 1978 and even discussed with Reggie the possibility of being one of his instructor for spinology in the 80s (which I chose not do)? Then I practiced with Joseph from 1980 to 1983 while being the Director of the Adio Health Center. Joseph and I have been neighbors for 35 years now. Did I forget Joe D? He was on the board of ADIO and gave us SERIOUS pep talks all the time. Yes, those were my beginnings. Truly, it was a blessing to drink at the well of these giants. It is me WHO choose to pass it on to everyone WHO choose pick it up. 😉
Hey Claude,
Tis true I remember some of them from your book, but it is still amazing.These men were all taught by BJ I assume, what a lineage.
Steve,
DD Palmer — BJ Palmer — Lyle Sherman — Earl Taylor — Thom Gelardi — Reg Gold — Joe Flesia — Guy Riekeman — Joe Donofrio — Joe Strauss — NON THERAPEUTIC OBJECTIVE STRAIGHT CHIROPRACTIC 😉
Wow!
Hey Claude,
DD Palmer — BJ Palmer — Lyle Sherman — Earl Taylor — Thom Gelardi — Reg Gold — Joe Flesia — Guy Riekeman — Joe Donofrio — Joe Strauss — Claude Lessard– Steve Jones—?—NON THERAPEUTIC OBJECTIVE STRAIGHT CHIROPRACTIC 😉