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TYPES OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT
While people in other nations consider non-allopathic medicine as the \"traditional\" and sanctioned form of health care, in the United States we tend to think of non-allopathic medicine as \"alternative.\" Historically, non-allopathic specialists have provided health services and treatment at a lower cost due to the fact that they traditionally have not been covered under most insurance plans and have not been sanctioned by most American Medical Association licensure protocols. Only in the past decade have some of these specialists found acceptance by professional groups, and their inclusion in mainstream medicine is growing daily.
Many medical schools offer coursework in CAM, and many traditional doctors refer patients to alternative providers, who are in turn reimbursed by their health insurance plans.
Chiropractic medicine has been practiced for over 100 years. Allopathic medicine and chiropractic medicine were in direct competition over a century ago. But today, many managed care organizations work closely with chiropractors. Many insurance companies will now pay for chiropractic treatment if a medical doctor recommends it. More than 20 million Americans now visit chiropractors each year.
Chiropractic medicine is based on the idea that a life-giving energy flows through the spine via the nervous system. If the spine is subluxated (partly misaligned or dislocated), that force is disrupted. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to manipulate the spine back into proper alignment so the life-giving energy can flow unimpeded through the nervous system. It has been established that their treatment can be effective for back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
The average chiropractic training program requires four years of intensive courses in biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, diagnostics, pathology, nutrition, and so forth, combined with hands-on clinical training. Moreover, many chiropractors continue their training to obtain specialization certification, for instance, in women\'s health, gerontology, or pediatrics. Like allopathic physicians, chiropractors are licensed and regulated by the states in which they practice. You should investigate and question a chiropractor as carefully as you would a licensed medical doctor. As with many health professionals, you may note vast differences in technique among specialists. It is recommended that you choose a chiropractor who follows standard chiropractic regimens for treating musculoskeletal conditions and avoid those who promote adjustment as a cure-all for all disorders or whose treatments are not based on manipulation of the spine.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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