2011: Contemporary Scientific Paradigms: A New Model for Subluxation

Scientific paradigms underlie much of the way research is performed, observations are made and data are interpreted. These paradigms are useful for managing information about the world we live in, but the nature of those paradigms and the fundamental usefulness of them are rarely discussed or challenged. In health care, the dominant scientific paradigm of the twentieth century has been one of mechanistic scientific inquiry, yet this paradigm is inadequate for explaining many phenomena observed in health and healing.

If this paradigm is inadequate, what should replace it? For the chiropractic profession, mechanistic theoretical models have not proven useful to explain, nor explore, the concept of subluxation. There are corollaries in every health care discipline.

Is there a better way?

Bruce Lipton, PhD points to research that concludes our genome is not a static blueprint of how our life force expresses itself, but something capable of a degree of plasticity, mutability and responsiveness that means we are actually in a constant, dynamic relationship with our environment and ecosystem.

Joe Dispenza, DC, posits that there is a constant, ongoing internal dialogue between what we artificially separate into ‘mind’ and ‘body.’ This dialogue of belief essentially sets the terms for what we experience of the realities available to us.

Fred Carrick, DC PhD argues that there is evidence that the information we acquire about our environment plays a critical role in our adaptation to stressors, and that this ongoing interpretive process changes the very structure of our physical being, and hence our ability to effectively function.

These speakers and more came to Life University in Marietta, Georgia (map link is here) this past April 14-16, 2011 and discussed these concepts, issues, and worked to outline a new theoretical model that is more capable of explaining these and other phenomena related to growth, development, health and healing. Gerry Clum, DC led this effort as the new Executive Director of the Octagon, with contributions by Drs. Lipton, Dispenza, Carrick, Dr. Rob Scott and others.

There is a need for this ‘vital conversation’ about the nature of our relationship to our environment, other individuals, and how we can best support, manage and treat the innate capacities for health that every one of us embodies.

Conference Working Summits, Consensus Statements, and Videos available here.