"A board-certified chiropractic internist is a physician who is uniquely qualified to assess and treat ailments that occur within the human body.
The chiropractic Internist must complete over three hundred hours of post-graduate education and training in the use and assessment of medical diagnostics (lab testing, EKG’s, lung function studies, venous studies, etc, etc.) and the utilization of natural treatments.
Because of this training, the chiropractic internist is distinctively positioned to provide his or her patients with both sound medical assessment and the best in “alternative” treatments."
These words were posted in the office of my mentor, Dr. Rhonda Button. Throughout chiropractic school, we were told that we should specialize in something else as the spine is the baseline throughout the entire body. The spine and brain control communication throughout the body. The brain knows what is going on in your pinky toe based on the spinal cord. The spinal column protects the spinal cord and keeps movement in the body. When we age or have excessive trauma this can alter the way the spinal column or vertebrae work and can cause alterations in movement and of course. . .pain. Many times, the nerves from the spinal cord move with the blood in the same areas which can also cause some issues in circulation. With this in mind, a chiropractor can cause information from the nerves to be sent out faster and decrease circulation. But, what about if the body is blocked for too long- what if there are other factors that can speed up the alteration of the spine or it can affect the rest of the body? What if that happened to the lower back and the nerves, veins, and arteries can have pain and “blockage” causing issues with digestion? What if this alteration (or degeneration) happens in the neck and the person has some “sensations” with their throat and they have been to several doctors and they all say that they are ok? This is where a chiropractic internist may come in. Not only do chiropractic internists work as chiropractors but they also address the internal issues to keep the need for an adjustment down. They may find internal complications that may not be found through a chiropractic exam. These additions can be added into a chiropractic internists exam- urine testing, stool testing, EKG, breathing tests, and more. When they have an idea of where to go, the treatment may be an adjustment, alteration of the diet, detoxification protocols, supplementation, and even herbal treatments in order to have the entire body working. The said, “crack” in the chiropractic adjustment is gas that is trapped- but what if it is inflammation that is causing a mild alteration of that vertebra or joint? (Chiropractors adjust more than the back- we adjust ANY. MOVABLE. JOINT.)
If you see a chiropractor with these letters, “DABCI” behind their name, they are what is considered a Board- Certified Chiropractic Internist. This means they have studied over 300 hours in lab testing, body systems, pathology, and pharmacology in order to assist in treating the entire body. They are like detectives that can help come up with a solution. Some “cases” are difficult and some are not- but all are treated with respect. These are the chiropractors that rarely are spoken about yet are highly effective in diagnosis and treatment in the chiropractic world. If you are located in a state such as Illinois, you may get to see a DABCI or a Chiropractic Internist at full potential. We can and have worked alongside MD’s and have worked as functional medicine physicians. My former “female doctor” was a Chiropractic Internist and performed a pap and pelvic examination. While I have a diploma stating I have finished 100 hours in Chiropractic Family Medicine and Functional Medicine, I have actually completed around 300 hours with an expectation to sit down for my test in October 2023.
Part two with more information and my history to come. . .