From D.D. Palmer to Haavik: How Chiropractic Care Enhances Brain Function and Innate Intelligence

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

For over a century, chiropractic care has evolved from a pioneering theory to a scientifically supported practice, connecting the dots between spinal health, brain function, and the body’s innate ability to heal. From D.D. Palmer’s foundational work in 1895 to B.J. Palmer’s advancements in the early 20th century, and now to cutting-edge research by Haavik et al. (2024), the chiropractic legacy continues to illuminate how spinal adjustments can unlock the body’s innate intelligence, improve brain function, and address conditions like depression and fatigue.

D.D. Palmer: The Birth of Chiropractic and Innate Intelligence (1895)

In 1895, Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment in Davenport, Iowa, launching a revolutionary approach to health. Palmer posited that misalignments of the spine – termed subluxations – interfere with the nervous system, disrupting the flow of innate intelligence, the body’s natural self-healing force. He believed that by correcting these subluxations, the nervous system could restore communication between the brain and body, allowing innate intelligence to optimize health.

Palmer’s early work was grounded in observation rather than extensive scientific tools, but his core insight – that spinal health influences overall well-being – laid the foundation for chiropractic philosophy. His first adjustment on Harvey Lillard, a janitor who regained his hearing after a spinal correction, hinted at the broader implications of subluxation removal, including effects beyond musculoskeletal relief.

B.J. Palmer: Expanding the Vision (Early 1900s)

D.D.’s son, Bartlett Joshua (B.J.) Palmer, took chiropractic into the 20th century, refining and amplifying his father’s theories. Known as the “Developer of Chiropractic,” B.J. emphasized the nervous system’s central role in health, asserting that subluxations not only caused physical pain but also impaired brain-body communication. He introduced tools like the neurocalometer to detect nerve interference and championed the idea that chiropractic adjustments could enhance mental and physiological function.

B.J. Palmer deepened the concept of innate intelligence, describing it as an inborn wisdom that orchestrates bodily functions – from digestion to immunity – via the nervous system. He argued that subluxations block this intelligence, leading to dis-ease (a state of imbalance), and that adjustments restore harmony. While his era lacked modern neuroimaging, B.J.’s focus on the brain-spine connection foreshadowed today’s research into how spinal adjustments influence neural activity.

Haavik et al. (2024): Modern Science Meets Chiropractic Theory

Fast forward to 2024, and a study by Haavik et al., published in Brain Sciences, provides scientific evidence that echoes the Palmers’ insights. This research explores how weeks of chiropractic care alter brain activity, specifically in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) and isthmus cingulate, regions tied to self-referential processing and the narrative sense of self. Using somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), the study found increased alpha wave activity in the left isthmus-cingulate and right PCC, and decreased activity in the left PCC and right PCC after spinal adjustments.

These changes suggest that chiropractic care may reduce depression symptoms and improve fatigue by reshaping how the brain perceives the self – findings that align with the Palmers’ emphasis on subluxation correction enhancing overall function. The PCC, implicated in depression, shows asymmetry in cortical thickness in affected individuals, particularly those with somatic symptoms like sleep and energy disturbances. Meanwhile, the isthmus cingulate supports introspection and autobiographical memory, key components of mental well-being.

Haavik’s work bridges historical chiropractic theory with neuroscience, demonstrating that spinal adjustments influence brain function by removing subluxations, thus freeing the nervous system to express innate intelligence more fully.

Connecting the Dots: Innate Intelligence, Subluxation, and Brain Function

The thread linking D.D. Palmer, B.J. Palmer, and Haavik is the belief that the spine is a gateway to health. D.D. introduced the idea that subluxations disrupt innate intelligence, B.J. expanded it to emphasize nervous system optimization, and Haavik provides empirical evidence that spinal adjustments enhance brain activity. Together, they paint a picture of chiropractic as a holistic practice that transcends mere pain relief.

• Innate Intelligence: D.D.’s concept finds modern validation in Haavik’s findings, where improved neural activity post-adjustment reflects the body’s restored ability to self-regulate and heal.
• Subluxation: Both Palmers saw subluxations as barriers to health; Haavik’s study suggests these misalignments affect brain regions like the PCC, linking spinal health to mental clarity.
• Brain Function: B.J.’s intuition about the brain-spine connection is substantiated by Haavik’s data, showing how adjustments influence alpha waves and self-perception.

This synergy of theory and science underscores chiropractic’s potential to address modern challenges like depression and fatigue, conditions that the Palmers might have described as manifestations of blocked innate intelligence.

A Legacy in Motion

From D.D. Palmer’s first adjustment in 1895 to B.J.’s advancements in the early 1900s, and now to Haavik’s 2024 research, chiropractic care has evolved while staying true to its roots. At Planet Chiropractic, we celebrate this legacy – a journey from intuitive brilliance to scientific rigor. By correcting subluxations, chiropractors today not only honor the Palmers’ vision but also tap into the brain’s potential, helping patients reclaim their innate intelligence and live healthier, more vibrant lives.