Restorative Healthcare vs. Pharmaceutical Medicine
The following poem was read to me in chiropractic school…
The Ambulance Down in the Valley –Joseph Malins (1895)
‘
Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.
So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally;
Some said, “Put a fence ’round the edge of the cliff,”
Some, “An ambulance down in the valley.”
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighboring city;
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became full of pity
For those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.
“For the cliff is all right, if you’re careful,” they said,
“And, if folks even slip and are dropping,
It isn’t the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they’re stopping.”
So day after day, as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would those rescuers sally
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance down in the valley.
Then an old sage remarked: “It’s a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing results than to stopping the cause,
When they’d much better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its source all this mischief,” cried he,
“Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley.”
“Oh he’s a fanatic,” the others rejoined,
“Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He’d dispense with all charities, too, if he could;
No! No! We’ll support them forever.
Aren’t we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence,
While the ambulance works in the valley?”
But the sensible few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer;
They believe that prevention is better than cure,
And their party will soon be the stronger.
Encourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other philanthropists dally,
They will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.
Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old,
For the voice of true wisdom is calling.
“To rescue the fallen is good, but ’tis best
To prevent other people from falling.”
Better close up the source of temptation and crime
Than deliver from dungeon or galley;
Better put a strong fence ’round the top of the cliff
Than an ambulance down in the valley.
Chiropractors are known as “alternative” healers, not because their care doesn’t correlate with medical doctor’s care, but because chiropractors seek to find the SOURCE of the problem, rather than choosing to cover up the problem with drugs or surgery (or ANYTHING, natural or otherwise). Drugs and surgery have their place. Sometimes, the patient is to far “gone” that surgery is the only option. Sometimes a condition is so bad that drugs are the only thing that will save them quickly enough. However, when the SOURCE of the SYMPTOM can be determined, wouldn’t it make more sense to remove the CAUSE, rather than treating the EFFECT? The body has an amazing ability to heal. Unfortunately, most people either don’t know how to let it heal, or don’t care to exert the effort. We can help you to learn what to do to heal. (Mostly, it’s just getting out of your own way.) Once you learn what is causing your inflammation, pain, etc., you will be better equipped to heal yourself. You can learn much just from this website or schedule an appointment to learn more.
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