33 principles of Chiropractic — summarized as 7 axioms
SEVEN AXIOMS OF CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY
by J.W. Blackketter, D.C., M.A.R.E., B.A.
Vitalistic upper cervical specific Chiropractor
“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Universal intelligence/force/matter sustains all LIFE
For the uninitiated, please take some time to read my other blog postings, and also peruse this list of the original 33 principles of chiropractic by Stephensen.
For the philosophically-minded-principled-chiropractic-junkies out there, be aware that this is only my attempt at summarizing the practical essence of the 33 principles of chiropractic. This revolutionary way of understanding LIFE and HEALTH and NORMAL cycles was originally set forth by Drs. DD and BJ Palmer and then articulated by Dr. Ralph Stephensen in his 1927 Chiropractic Textbook.
In order to begin living life at a NEW extraordinary level, you need to understand these 7 axioms and then begin living them out. Change can only come after NEW ways of thinking take hold in your mind, NEW attitudes & motivations develop inside you, which will change the things you do, so ultimately there becomes a NEW you…enjoy!
Genesis of NEW life - health - family - hope - joy - love
SEVEN AXIOMS OF CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY Tweet
1. LIFE is intelligently designed and able to heal, adapt, and function in Balance, Harmony, and Ease.
2. Your Innate Life Energy (the inborn power source that makes you alive) uses your brain and nerve system to send its life-giving messages (mental impulses) to coordinate / organize / direct all the functions of life…so you can live at EASE and adapt better to stress in your environment.
3. Every cell in your body needs a clear neurological connection to the brain in order to function optimally. 
A reduction OR partial LOSS of this vital brain-to-body connection diminishes the flow of life-giving messages…this state of LESS life energy in the body is called subluxation.
4. The results of an incomplete connection to your life energy are: incomplete adaptation, disharmony, imbalance, DIS-ease, and altered cellular function.
5. Every single Symptom, Sickness, Syndrome, Disorder, Dysfunction, and Disease known to man results from Altered Cellular Function, LOSS of Coordination & Organization, and a Decreased Ability to fully Adapt to Stress.
6. Because of the intimate relationship between the SPINE and NERVE SYSTEM, the spine must maintain proper alignment and balance for the nerves to maintain proper tone and function. A Specific Scientific Chiropractic Adjustment can improve spinal function AND restore your brain-to-body neurological CONNECTION.
7. The natural result of maintaining a clear connection between brain & body is: LIFE more at EASE.
We expect MORE coordination, balance, harmony, cellular homeostasis, healing & improved health, optimal function, and an on-going movement toward wellness and wholeness.
Why does chiropractic impact every part of your life? -- Intimate Relationship between the Spinal Column and Nervous System
You can be happy, healthy, and whole again!
In fact, this vibrant energetic new way of life is normal and expected once CONNECTION is restored and maintained over time. If this sounds too good to be true OR if these BIG IDEAS are just too simple to accept at face value, forgive me…and don’t shoot the messenger! ;o)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident…”, easy enough for children to understand, and quite liberating for open-minded adults of all ages.
TRUTH and revolutionary concepts are often found in small simple things.
VITALISM may be a NEW concept, but go ahead and grab ahold of it…
THINK about life for awhile.…
…Then make a Change!
While many of chiropractic’s “7 axioms” may be difficult (if not impossible) to quantify using the scientific method, they are intuitive and straight forward enough that anyone can begin to live life this way…without fear, naturally, holistic, more hopeful, and healthier.
If you are asking, “HOW CAN I LIVE THIS WAY?”
… … …
Contact me for more information – CALL and ask the doctor – TODAY!
Genesis Chiropractic of Bentonville, AR – 479.696.8000
Doctor JWB of NWA can help you Revitalize Your Life.
… … …
If you are interested in more reading on this subject, check out the following info. and links:
Dr. David Koch has developed an updated (contemporary language) categorized version of these 33 timeless truths. You may enjoy reading the logical flow in the NEW “Koch sequence of the principles.”
For a more “orthodox” viewpoint on the 33 principles of chiropractic, you may be interested in some of the ideas I learned from Dr. Rick Burns while I was a student at Palmer. Burns is one of the best professor/teacher/chiropractors I know, and a phenomenal example of a principled philosopher who is also an active practitioner through his clinic in East Moline, IL.
My own writings include:
+ upper cervical blog by Dr. Jason Blackketter
+ this blog’s postings on Vitalistic Chiropractic,
+ my “senior year” personal philosophy paper while I was at Palmer,
+ an award winning essay I wrote a few years ago for the FSCO,
+ and finally another essay I was nominated to write about the “Role of Chiropractic Philosophy” in my professional career and personal life.
I must give Dr. Victor Strang a public “thank you” for introducing me to many of these concepts while I was a student at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. And I would be remiss without giving one last recognition to Dr. Kevin Donka for helping me refine my own thots about Vitalism, normal function, and moving toward wholeness through Chiropractic.
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Dr. Jason Blackketter of Genesis Chiropractic in Bentonville, AR, is the only vitalistic upper cervical specific chiropractor in all of NWA. We are happy to provide this unique form of health care, tailor-made for the individual client. Please contact us to set up your FREE consultation - 479.696.8000 
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You are an unsubluxated genius! Very well said!!
Thanks Jessica, my dear…I love you too!
Dr. Blackketter has not only captured the essence of Stephenson’s 33 Chiropractic Principles, he has expressed them in a brief and brilliant short form! This is the “big idea!” I will no doubt “borrow” this list to help my students grasp these concepts.
Thanks Dr. Strang! Feel free to pass along the link: http://genesis-chiropractic.com/33-principles-of-chiropractic-summarized-as-7-axioms.html
…hopefully we can keep telling the story and spreading this simple message about vitalism and life.
I have had fibromyalgia for, as best i can tell, 10 years. Severe symptoms for the last 5 years. I am a caregiver for hospice patients and am taking care of my own parents, while trying to continue to work and maintain my own family and home. Needless to say, I have stress. My husband met Dr. Yates [of the Besso Clinic of Chiropractic in Stow, OH] at the health fair in Cuyahoga Falls last week. I would like to know if you have seen people “healed” from my disease and is this form of treatment something I will have to do the rest of my life?
Dr. Jason,
You totally rock! This is so short and to the right point. No doubt you took some time to put this together. Thanks for your efforts.
-Tom
My question to you is when is your first book coming out? Because this material is fantastic! Great job doc!
Dr. Brandon No date set on that book release, but you’ll be the 1st to know…and maybe you can do my publicity! ;o)
Dr. Jason, you have outdone yourself again. Succint. Simple. Succulent. Makes me want more.
WOW — Dr. Andy…not sure I’ve heard my writing described as “succulent” before, but I’ll take it! Thanks. BTW, you can rest assured there is more to come…
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Nicely organized and presented!
Thanks Dr. Kohler, I enjoyed browsing through your web site and blog about Chiropractic. Your page with the animation of the “Safety Pin” cycle was a very helpful visual aide for people to understand the difference between being Subluxated & dysfunctional VS. being Connected & functional.
Hi. WRT “intelligently designed” in 1. Do you mean that literally as in an emergently intelligent entity designed life using reasoning processes, or more as a metaphor for the complexity of natural evolution?
If the latter, why not say so? Using “intelligently designed” just makes chiropractic sound like something on the new age fringe of healthcare or worse, theistic.
Thanks for the input, Colin! I truly enjoyed your question about the actual mechanism/process involved in our design.
Here are my observations:
1. You are clearly an intelligent and thoughtful person, not just a spammer or a computer. ;o)
2. Because you can reason, your mind produced a couple possible scenarios for the meaning behind my statement about “LIFE [being] intelligently designed”, ie.
a) There is some creative source or “emergently intelligent entity” responsible for life’s design OR
b) I used it as a metaphor for materialistic natural processes, aka “atheistic evolution”
3. Although you’ve made an astute observation with your question, you’ve also missed a key point…chiropractic is NOT part of mainstream thinking because it is based in vitalism, not mechanism. The core philosophy of my profession is not theistic per se, but we do acknowledge the existence and need of a Mind and/or Intellect to produce the energy necessary for a functional design.
4. The basic premise of chiropractic (which was not clearly stated in the blog, but linked to multiple times) reads like this: “1. The Major Premise – A Universal Intelligence is in all matter and continually gives to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.” http://theatlasoflife.com/2010/04/29/the-33-principles-of-chiropractic-by-ralph-w-stephensen-d-c-ph-c/
So, this is certainly not western medical “science” and I’m grateful you recognized some of the distinctions.
5. You referred to an emergently intelligent entity, and I like that term, but was not aware of its use outside the world of computers & technology, such as: http://www.emergent-intelligence.com/
But as an interesting side note, the foundational principle of computer programming is similar to my thots about the origins and design of Life. An intelligent computer programmer aka “geek” imagines and then designs and creates a wonderful new computer software system that can handle complex equations. It can learn from past experiences, observe patterns, and even adapt to its current environment. Now it is called artificial intelligence or emergent intelligence, but in reality the true Source and system for this design came from outside itself…from the mind of a computer nerd with a knack for problem solving and coding.
Does this help, or at least continue the conversation?
Dr. JWB
Hi Jason. OK thanks for the clarification. I was discussing the depth of belief in chiropractic philosophy and to what extent the philosophy is being replaced with a non meta biochemical explanation – and asked them to what extent they agreed with your statements. We didn’t get but needed clarification. Thanks.
JB of Davenport
I love it! Great stuff my friend. I especially like your most recent post on computer programming and how it relates to Universal Intelligence.
I have a couple of thoughts/questions though:
1) JB: A Subluxation is not merely a “state of LESS life energy” as stated in your third axiom. According to the Palmers and to Stevenson, [a] Subluxation involves a misaligned spinal bone as the cause to the decrease in mental impulse supply. Thoughts?
2) Colin: Does Chiropractic philosophy need a depth of “belief?” I ask because in the field we get this a lot. “Oh i believe in what you do” etc. I always have to correct some folks and let them know that while a appreciate the sentiment, there is “no belief necessary.” It is simply a matter of understanding. Maybe the same is true here?
Great reading. Look forward to more thoughts. (or “THOTs” for you TICers)
Jason, I love the way that you succinctly summed up the message of the 33 principles in your 7 axioms. I enjoyed reading the discussion as well. It still marvels me how humans can grow from two cells to trillions of cells that are all organized and communicating together, in a matter of months!
Dr. Bulow,
Thanks for your thoughtful remarks and question about subluxation as I described it in my 3rd axiom above:
“3. Every cell in your body needs a clear neurological connection to the brain in order to function optimally. A reduction OR partial LOSS of this vital brain-to-body connection diminishes the flow of life-giving messages…this state of LESS life energy in the body is called subluxation.”
You are certainly right that part of the Palmers’ definition of “Subluxation” involves misaligned spinal bones and/or a dysfunctional relationship between adjacent vertebrae.
And I think you would also agree with the Palmers and me that a subluxated spine is most destructive when it impacts the brain stem & spinal cord in the upper neck (the only place a spinal misalignment can physically distort, deform, and compress the central nerve system or CNS).
We also know that life flows from the Above-Down-Inside-Out (ADIO) and that this “innate life energy” enters the body and interfaces with matter at the brainstem; therefore, an upper cervical subluxation reduces the flow of life energy ultimately leading to LESS function.
My emphasis in the article was to focus more on a practical (and vitalistic) application of chiropractic’s 33 principles, rather than the actual manifestations or definitions of a persistent consistent upper cervical subluxation.
So, is it fair for me to say “Subluxation (state of restricted communication between brain & body) results in less than optimal life function”?
Sure, I think so.
And I also believe it is a fair summary to say “subluxation is less life energy expressed in the body” because…
SUB = less or below or decreased
and
LUX = light (which at its essence is power or energy or force)
I prefer to use vitalistic chirocentric language over the more common allopathic medical approach toward subluxation. Their treatment-based or therapeutic mindset (used by most therapists, PTs, MDs, DOs, and many DCs) talks about reducing/correcting/removing a subluxation like it is a thing. That is why they use words like: manipulable spinal lesion or joint dysfunction or facet syndrome or rotary fixation or vertebral derangement.
On the other hand, I prefer to think of subluxation as a state of being.
The functional essence of the “subluxated state” can be described as follows:
– LESS life energy expressed in the cells
– a diminished flow of mental impulse between brain & body
– partial LOSS of vital brain-to-body neurological connection
The functional results of the subluxated state are:
– altered cellular function
– imbalance or disruption of homeostasis
– a Loss of the normal State of Ease (aka DIS-ease)
A subluxated person has lost something important he needs to function and adapt (connection to innate life source). He has lost his natural state of ease. My goal is to help him restore and maintain the vital connection to his inborn life energy by improving the function of the spine and nerve system.
If you re-read my 6th axiom, it may offer some clarification:
“6. Because of the intimate relationship between the SPINE and NERVE SYSTEM, the spine must maintain proper alignment and balance for the nerves to maintain proper tone and function. A Specific Scientific Chiropractic Adjustment can improve spinal function AND restore your brain-to-body neurological CONNECTION.”
For the pragmatist, it all comes down to function. If I’m in pain or suffering with symptoms (altered function), I want to feel well and heal (better function).
Hopefully that mindset (adding more life and moving toward health) keeps me and our clients focused on vitalism, optimism, possibility, restoration, healing, wellness, growing stronger & healthier, living up to their potential, and thriving.
Does this help?
Dr Blackketter could you please explain the difference between the “life energy” and the mental impulse? You do great work my friend. Thanks.
Great stuff doc. I love the beauty behind this philosophical definition of a subluxation. And I love how it is “chirocentric” like you said.
I only bring up the clearification because as students [going] through school, technique gurus come through and teach all sorts of energy healing, justifying its place within chiropractic using this type of lexicon. While many of their therapies may in fact be beneficial, I do not believe they are to be done by a doctor of chiropractic.
I need to check on your blogs more often! I love your perspective, very refreshing. Helps me to check myself in the message I am giving and sending out.
Thank you for articulating the 33 principles in such a useful way.
Dr. Blackketter,
I always enjoy reading your musings! Let me know in 20-30yrs what chiropractic college you’re teaching philosophy at so i can send my kids there. Keep up the awesome work and thanks for letting the Beacon guys publish some of your work.
Aaron,
Thanks for the kind words, but I don’t think any of the schools want somebody like me teaching real TIC and pushing the old-time philosophy!
I’m honored anytime “The Beacon” on the hill publishes anything I’ve written.
Check out this latest testimony blog:
http://genesis-chiropractic.com/upper-cervical-specific-chiropractic-adjustment-testimony.html
It’s interesting how you talked about life and life energy. Whatever that is, the process is still correct. The nervous system is huge in controlling our health, something that many people don’t consider. In the media, we hear about heating healthy, exercising, and taking depression pills. What we don’t hear is that if the nervous system is taken care of, things in life will just fall into place.
[...] SEVEN AXIOMS OF CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY The basic axioms of chiropractic are simple to explain and will keep me on track professionally. 1. Life is intelligently designed. 2. Your innate life energy uses your nervous system to coordinate all the functions of life. 3. Subluxation reduces our brain-to-body connection, impairing the flow of life-giving messages. 4. An incomplete connection to this life energy causes dis-ease, imbalance, and a lack of coordination. 5. Every sickness, syndrome, disorder, and disease known to man results from our inability to adapt fully to what is happening to us, either internally or externally. 6. A specific scientific chiropractic adjustment can restore this brain-to-body connection. 7. The natural result of brain-to-body connection is coordination, cellular homeostasis, healing, health, and optimal function. If this sounds too good to be true and too simple to accept at face value, forgive me. Truth is often found in small simple things. Vitalism may be hard to quantify scientifically, but it is so easy to understand. [...]
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