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Chiropractic care has gotten so much more popular over the years. In fact, even Olympians recommend it because of all the health benefits!
But despite its ever-increasing popularity, there are still many people who don’t know enough about the chiropractic care—which is understandable, considering that it’s a form of alternative treatment. It will take a long time before people are as familiar with it as conventional healthcare techniques.
Because of this unfamiliarity, there are many misconceptions surrounding chiropractic treatment. And in this article we hope to address one of the issues that confuse people regarding chiropractic: can chiropractors prescribe medications? And if so, which states allow them to do so? Let’s take a closer look.
Chiropractors: Where can they Prescribe Medications?
Chiropractors are licensed and regulated in all 50 of the United States, as well as in over 30 countries worldwide. It has truly come a long way, considering that chiropractors were initially jailed for practicing medicine without a license during its formative years. But chiropractors have proven the merits of spinal manipulation, and the medical community now recognizes this.
Chiropractors need a license before they can legally perform spinal adjustments. And before they can receive this license they need a degree in chiropractic care and lots of training.
There’s also the fact that they can only perform these beneficial adjustments in the state where they obtained their license.
Obtaining a license is a struggle, as in any profession—but it legitimizes chiropractic care, especially in the eyes of those who are not open to alternative forms of treatment.
Still, there are certain limitations to take note of. For example, with medications: chiropractors aren’t actually allowed to prescribe them. And most of the time, they won’t have to. After all, chiropractic care operates under the philosophy that the body has an excellent way of healing itself. And by performing spinal adjustments and realigning the spine, the issues that hinder this healing process is fixed.
Chiropractic care is a natural method of healing, and chiropractors can use spinal adjustments to provide pain relief. And that’s why they won’t need to prescribe any form of medication anyway.
In the event that a patient does require medications, the chiropractor will surely refer them to a physician, as their primary goal is to ensure the health and wellness of their client. Physicians and chiropractors can work together to get the best results.
However, all states have different ways of defining the scope of practice for chiropractors. Some may allow dispensing of vitamin supplements or provision of nutritional advice to patients. For example, Michigan makes use of restricted scope of practice, wherein the license limits chiropractors to the use of spinal analysis, x-ray, and the administration of spinal adjusting procedures to correct subluxations. Michigan prohibits chiropractors from using physiotherapy. The specifics vary from state to state.
Chiropractic care is especially suitable for those who cannot take prescription painkillers. For example, people who have a history of substance abuse, addiction, and opioid dependence may want to steer clear of prescription medications for their pain.
Chiropractors can provide natural pain relief, instead of relying on painkillers or invasive techniques. They use targeted movements to manual adjustment the spine or any other part that may be misaligned. But don’t worry—this is not painful like many believe.
If you want to try out chiropractic treatment, visit a nearby clinic today and experience the benefits of spinal adjustment! It doesn’t just provide pain relief, it restores your range of motion and allows your body to function better in general.
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