The Story of D.D. Palmer and Harvey Lillard
Imagine living in the 1890s when many ideas we take for granted today were just starting to form. Back then, a man named D.D. Palmer was about to change the way people thought about healing. Palmer was known as a magnetic healer—a practice that was common at the time. One day, he met Harvey Lillard, a janitor who had lost his hearing several years earlier. Lillard told Palmer that he heard a strange "pop" in his back just before his hearing disappeared.
Palmer saw a chance to try something new. He examined Lillard and discovered that one of his vertebrae was out of place. With confidence, he adjusted Lillard’s back. According to the story, this adjustment restored Lillard’s hearing. Although Palmer was not always able to repeat this result, he believed that fixing the spine could help the body heal itself.
This event laid the foundation for what we now call chiropractic care. Palmer’s idea was simple: if your spine is not properly aligned, it might interfere with your body’s natural flow and lead to various health problems. By adjusting the spine, you can help your body start to heal on its own.
As a chiropractor, I have seen how these ideas—once thought to be far-fetched—can make a real difference. Some of my patients have even reported improvements in nonmusculoskeletal symptoms after their adjustments. One patient, Venus, shared her story with me. After a series of adjustments, Venus noticed that she could see more clearly. This change in her vision is just one example of how a well-aligned spine might help improve other areas of health.
Research supports these kinds of observations. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics titled "The types and frequencies of nonmusculoskeletal symptoms reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy" found that 23% of patients reported improvement in nonmusculoskeletal symptoms. The study gathered 1,504 questionnaires from twenty consecutive patients of 87 Swedish chiropractors. The results showed improvements in several areas:
Easier breathing (reported by 98 patients)
Improved digestive function (92 patients)
Clearer, better, or sharper vision (49 patients)
Improved circulation (34 patients)
Less ringing in the ears (10 patients)
In addition to these, patients also noted other improvements, such as better skin conditions, reduced symptoms related to menstruation, improved respiratory conditions, lowered blood pressure, and even the disappearance of symptoms like hiccups and double vision.
If you live in Cranston, RI, you might wonder how this story relates to you. Local chiropractors continue Palmer’s work by using gentle spinal adjustments to help manage issues like back pain, migraines, and even some nonmusculoskeletal symptoms. When you visit a chiropractor here, you’re not just receiving treatment for pain; you’re part of a long tradition that started over a century ago with a bold idea about the body’s ability to heal itself.
Every adjustment is an effort to restore balance in your body—a balance that might help you live a healthier, more pain-free life. Whether you need treatment for a specific problem or are looking for preventive care, chiropractic services in Cranston, RI are here to help you unlock your body’s natural healing potential.
In the end, the story of D.D. Palmer and Harvey Lillard is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest ideas can change our lives. From Palmer’s first experiment to modern research and patient stories, chiropractic care continues to evolve, offering hope and healing for many.
References:
Leboeuf-Yde, C., Axen, I., Ahlefeldt, G., et al. (1999). The types and frequencies of nonmusculoskeletal symptoms reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 22(9), 559-64.