By Helena Selby
The curing or healing of a disease has always been thought to be by medical and herbal means. However, the situation has changed with the emergence of new methodologies. One of these is Chiropractic Care. Chiropractic care is now the largest non-medical healing art in the world, and due to how tremendous the curing process is, has attracted people like office workers, movie stars, scientists, labourers, businessmen, medical doctors, teachers, infants, elderly, professional athletes and politicians. These people always seek for the help and services of a doctor of chiropractic.
It is also being practiced in Ghana, other parts of the African continent and the world over.
What is Chiropractic?
According to the National Centre for Complementary Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Chiropractic is a health care approach, which focuses on the relationship between the body's structures, mainly the spine, and its functioning. Although practitioners may use a variety of treatment approaches, they primarily perform adjustments to the spine or other parts of the body, with the goal of correcting alignment problems, and supporting the body's natural ability to heal itself. People seek chiropractic care, primarily for painful conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. The main aim of a doctor in a chiropractic centre is to awaken one’s natural healing ability, by correcting the vertebral spinal nerve stress. Correcting the vertebral spinal nerves stress, promotes natural healing, vitality, strength and health.
Importance of the Spine
According to NCCAM, the anatomy of the spinal column is extremely well-designed to serve many functions. All of the elements of the spinal column and vertebrae serve the purpose of protecting the spinal cord, which provides communication to the brain, mobility and sensation in the body, through the complex interaction of bones, ligaments and muscle structures of the back and the nerves that surround it. The back is also the powerhouse for the entire body, supporting and allowing the movements of the head, arms, and legs. The spine is connected to important organs in the body such as the brain, liver, eye, heart, lungs, stomach, kidney, intestines and many others. According to research, 80% of chronic diseases are linked to the spine, which shows how important the spine is to the human body.
Importance of Chiropractic
Despite the fact that the National Centre for Complementary Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website indicates that the side effects and risks depend on the specific type of chiropractic treatment used, and that side effects from chiropractic adjustments can include temporary headaches, tiredness, or discomfort in parts of the body that were treated. Chiropractics, according to history, has been able to cure diseases like heart trouble, hyperactivity, ear infections, fatigue, allergy, digestive problems, cold, flu, infertility, and many other extreme medical conditions.
According to Dr. Henry Winsor, a Medical Doctor in Haverford, Pennsylvania, “Chiropractors state that by adjusting one vertebra, they can relieve stomach troubles and ulcers; by adjusting another, menstrual cramps; and by adjusting others, conditions such as kidney diseases, constipation, heart disease, thyroid conditions, and lung disease may be resolved, but for him, he wonders how.
According to research, people living on drugs, facing surgery, can even be cured through chiropractic.
Chiropractic Care in Ghana
Chiropractic care in Ghana started eight years ago by Dr. Marcus Manns, under the name The Chiropractic and Wellness Centre (TCWC). He has made sure the organisation has invested in modern technology, to ensure practicing members receive world class care. With its motto “To improve, extend and save as many lives as possible, and to do as they want, to make Chiropractic as affordable as possible,” apart from it saving the lives of many in the country, it has also improved the health quality of many.
The organisation has partnered with chiropractic doctors from the USA, to undertake a mission trip across Ghana to provide free chiropractic care. The missions’ objectives are to educate and transform the healthcare model in Africa, and provide community service to the people of Ghana. It now has its branches in Kumasi, Accra at Asylum Down and Dzorwulu, Tarkwa and Takoradi.
Chiropractic Care and the Ghana Health Service
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), during the launch of the New Outreach Model, and flagging off the free chiropractic care mission trip dubbed “The road to wellness campaign,” said that since one does not know much about his or her health it makes it easy for one to perish. However, the country is fortunate to a beneficiary of the chiropractic practice, because Dr. Manns has given chiropractic care a different dimension.
According to him, the centre does not only provide care, but also educates practicing members on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
The minister said through the centre, he had been able to learn how all parts of the bodies are controlled by the nervous system, which is housed in the spine. He has also learnt that if there is a slightest shift in one’s spine, some of the organs along the distribution line would not receive adequate nourishment, and will start to deteriorate resulting in one falling sick.
To him, he was totally convinced that the best legacy, to leave for the children, is to continuously educate them on the importance of their health, and inculcate in them the culture of the continuous checking on the state of their health.
Chiropractic care and gov’t acceptance
The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has mentioned that irrespective of the immense benefits of chiropractic for families, saying many may not be able to access medical care in view of the costs, and thus it is very commendable and reassuring to see the creation of a more affordable option at the outreach centre.
According to him, often, preventive measures are more sustainable than curative ones, and that it was against this background that the focus of healthcare in Ghana has recently emphasised on the need for regenerated health. A glance at the statistics on the health of people reveals that many lifestyle-oriented diseases like diabetes, gout, obesity and high blood pressure are on the increase, and many of the affected tend to be in their most productive years.
He emphasised that in spite of the fact that effective healthcare provision, required concerted effort on the part of the citizenry, government and communities, the private sector remains a vital partner in healthcare provision.
According to him, a more essential collaboration between the government and private sector, which is the engine of growth, is required, in order to fully cater for the health needs of the populace, to ensure better health for Ghanaians.
He acknowledged the fact that the situation had huge implications on the productivity and development of the nation. Many of these diseases are preventable, and it is very welcoming to have Dr. Manns and his team at the Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, pioneering a wellness movement in Ghana.
As a sign of the centre having the support of the government, he commended, Dr. Marcus Manns and the chiropractic centre for their determination and passion for improving, extending and saving lives in Ghana.
He, as well, made a wish that the people of Ghana make a stronger commitment to their health, and join the centre’s efforts in improving the average life expectancy.
Conclusion
It would be a good idea, if this approach to healing and curing of diseases is embraced by the Ghanaian community to ensure a better health, and avoid the risk of facing the adverse effects of a medicine intended to heal one’s illness.
Though cost might be a problem for this kind of care, one trying his or her best to access it, would go a long way in protecting one’s own health.
No comments:
Post a Comment