Medical Care vs. Chiropractic Care: What’s the Difference?

Medical doctors and chiropractic doctors play different roles. Both treat patients, although they apply treatment in different ways.

Chiropractors and medical practitioners require many years of education and training. Both run practices, and both care about patient safety. Beyond these similarities, however, the roles of medical doctors and chiropractic doctors diverge sharply.

What’s the difference between medical doctors and chiropractic doctors? How are the two roles similar? Today, we’re explaining some key differences and similarities between medical care and chiropractic care.

Treatment vs. Care

Medical doctors have multiple treatment options. Many treat issues using drugs, changing blood chemistry to address certain needs. Others use surgery to remove or modify tissues. Some use radiation to burn tissues. Overall, medical treatment emphasizes addressing the symptoms – not necessarily the underlying causes – of illness.

Chiropractors primarily use adjustments for treatment. Chiropractors apply dozens of chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments do not treat disease; instead, they target the way your body communicates. They change the way your brain and body interact. When chiropractic care reduces nerve interference, it increases the body’s ability to optimally function. Good chiropractic adjustments can cause symptoms – and their root causes – to disappear.

Side Effects

The side effects of medical care and chiropractic care vary. Drugs can create a range of side effects. Some side effects are worse than the symptoms they’re designed to treat. Drugs can also lead to confusing interactions. If you take multiple drugs, then the interactions between these drugs may not be well understood.

Chiropractic care can also cause side effects. However, good chiropractic care leads to positive effects – not harmful side effects. Because of these positive effects, you might visit a chiropractor to treat Problem A, only to discover symptoms of Problem B and Problem C have disappeared as well.

Ultimately, side effects of medical care and chiropractic care vary widely.

Treating Body Parts vs. the Whole Body

Medical care emphasizes treating body parts and specific body systems – not the body as a whole. Many doctors specialize in specific systems. They spend their whole career learning this system and everything about it.

Chiropractors emphasize whole body health and wellness. They look at the body as a whole, and they believe that effects in one part of the body spread to other parts of the body. Instead of focusing on one specific system, they analyze multiple systems at once, studying how they interact with one another.

Final Word

Overall, there’s plenty of research backing medical care – and there’s plenty of research backing chiropractic care. Both treatments have their place. Some people rely on chiropractors, while others prefer medical doctors. By analyzing both fields and your own personal needs, you can make an informed decision about your health.