Although the word "Chiropractic" (literally meaning "done by hand") has only been around for just over 100 years, Chiropractic treatment has been around for far longer.  Ancient writings from both China and Greece have shown that spinal adjusting methods were employed up to 5000 years ago.  The famous Greek physician, Hippocrates, was a very big proponent of "manual manipulation" and stated, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite of many diseases."  Evidence of past nations and cultures treating the spine for common disease has been found all around the world, from "bone setters" in ancient Europe to "back walkers" in old Native American culture.

Chiropractic, as it is known today, was founded by Daniel David Palmer in 1895 when he delivered a direct thrust to the spine of his patient, Harvey Lillard, and reportedly restored Lillard's hearing, which had been lost for decades after an accident.  At the behest of his son, B.J. Palmer, the two opened a school and taught this new healing art.  B.J. Palmer went on to be one of the early pioneers of x-ray, especially for Chiropractic use, and took over the school.

Early Chiropractors were often ridiculed and tried for practicing medicine without a license.  Their defense to the charges were that they were not practicing medicine, but were practicing Chiropractic.  Many Chiropractors were incarcerated during this time period, and continued to adjust fellow prisoners, the guards, and their own patients who came to their cell.  This prompted the creation of new licensing boards recognizing Doctors of Chiropractic.  However, the persecution of Chiropractic did not end there.  In a landmark 1987 court ruling, the AMA was found guilty of engaging in an unlawful conspiracy of restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the Chiropractic profession" by its actions over the prior several decades.  The false propaganda spread during those years, which included forbidding MD's from even talking to Chiropractors, still stigmatizes Chiropractic today, but more and more often, practitioners of all health care specialties are coming together for the good of the patient.

Today, Chiropractic is a recognized health care discipline in all 50 states and several countries around the world.  It was included in Canada's national health care system, and is fast becoming more popular as Americans are turning more towards natural healing.