Chiropractic Philosophy is based on Vitalism. Western Medicine is based on a Mechanistic Philosophy. Here are some ways they differ from
each other:
| Old Paradigm | New Paradigm |
| Mechanistic | Vitalistic |
| Based on Newtonian 300 year old principles | Based on Quantum Physics 5000 year old principles |
| H20 is water | water is H20 + energy and the context of where it lives |
| Unless solid and tangible, not real | a living system animated by energy, soul |
| Predictable, duplicable | |
| Scientific | supported by contemporary science |
| Reductionistic-Break matter down into the smallest component | Holistic-all looked at in relation to context and environment in which lives and all things in life affecting it |
| Body is a machine | Body is viewed as a bioenergetic information whirlpool |
| Can be repaired | Body cannot be diagnosed because can’t count all the factors in health. |
| Change the parts | dynamic constantly changing |
| solid and static | patterns of energy in and out |
| The whole is = The sum of the parts | The whole is greater than the sum of the parts |
| If dissect the parts then have an understanding of the whole | The human body is not dissociated, one input into the field in one person will travel through the whole room as a wave and all have a body response, one person laughs all crack up |
| The body is a closed system- separateness | The body is an open system, input and output, based on the invisible, life force and innate intelligence |
| Mechanisim: Diagnosis, treatment, Prognosis | Vitalism: characterized by wellness care, or when sick, one cause, stuck energy, need to free up life force, let body heal itself with as little interference as possible |
| Disease- Symptom based care | |
| Crisis care means only give the body care and energy when it’s needy and sick | |
| Doctor’s authority | Doctor is teacher and facilitator, guide |
| Consciousness plays no role vs. | Patient is partner in healing, throws responsibility back at the patient. Each person responsible for their own health |
| Diagnosis- 35% of diagnosis at the Mayo clinic is right | it’s okay not to know. Diagnosis and labels get in the way of healing |
| Feelings invalidated, Quantitative data is valid (“we have done all the tests and there is nothing With you”, “But I feel horrible or I have terrible pain”) | listening to the person first and acknowledging what is said, even the malingerer |
| The patient is submissive | dynamic relationship one of commitment |
| The Dr.’s state of Consciousness is separate From the fact he is a dr. | The doctor’s consciousness is paramount for healing. Example: Saddam Hussein and mother Theresa both have equal skill, who do you want to have an experience with? |
| Pain, symptoms and disease are seen as abnormal and must be cut out and suppressed | Pain, symptoms and disease are seen as a message to change |
| Views symptom as abnormal to normal lifestyle | views symptom as normal response for an abnormal lifestyle |
| Disease seen as an entity or event | seen as a process and underlying disharmony or a disconnect from spirit or the inner guidance |
| Language is war on cancer | vs, love and honor the body |
| Fear in every interaction | vs. trust life, trust your body’s innate capacity to heal |
| Outside in | inside out approach |
| No touch | touch- give love with the hands |
| Have to fit within norms | welcomes individuation everyone is unique |
| BP temp child | |
| Inductive reasoning (specific to general) | deductive reasoning (general down to specific) |
| The order is Technology, Art, Science then philosophy (example: everyone is going to have fetal monitoring because we are going to serve the technology) |
vs. Philolosophy, Science, Art then Technology |
| Expensive, technology | Inexpensive, hands |
