Chiropractic: The Victim's Perspective (Consumer Health Library)

"There are over forty one-star reviews of this book, likely from either chiropractors or patients who have strong belief in chiropractic. But the fact is that chiropractic is a hands-on method which strongly predisposes to a placebo effect. Now, I have found in myself that with certain back pains, I can do a swift rotational movement of my low back, create a popping sensation, and my back feels better. On the other hand, if I do gentle low back exercises and range-of-movement exercises, I can get the same benefit. It is my belief that muscle spasm causes some kind of disorder in the vertebrae that can be corrected by "popping" the joints. Relaxing the muscle tension imbalance is the key; otherwise you can keep popping the vertbrae just about every day, endlessly. Proper posture, relaxation, stress management, range of movement exercises, all of these are keys to spinal health.

Readers are also encouraged to read "Trick or Treatment" by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst, MD, 2008, an outstanding book which evaluates various aspects of alternative medicine. It comes to similar conclusions as this book, and is a "must-read."

This book is very highly recommended reading; as mentioned by other reviewers, every person wishing to start chiropractic treatment must read this book. Aside from neck chiropractic, of which we need to be extremely wary, chiropractic is licensed by the States of the USA, and low back chiropractic for low back issues might be worth a try. But as to chiropractic for other ailments unrelated to the vertebral system, the patient embarks on such chiropractic at his or her own risk. Chiropractic for children for "health maintenance" ought to be outlawed. The founder of chiropractic is said to have cured a patient of wheezing by adjusting the spine, and this is very much an anecdotal report. Maybe he dislodged a foreign body in a bronchial tube!"
~ Written on 2008-09-25

"It is sad that medicine to this day use lies to defame its competition. Look up the Wilks vs. AMA case. The US Supreme court knows this. Chiropractic is so effective that it is cause for concern for the medical profession since they can't make money if people stop taking their drugs and don't need their surgery. Books like this is trying to scare the public with lies. I don't know who this Magner guy is and how much he gets paid for writing trash, but I do know who Stephen Barrett, the editor, is. He just lost a lawsuit, proven in court of his lies about his medical career and was even quoted saying that "the nervous system does not control and coordinate all functions of the body". Haha... I suppose not in his body!

I've heard first hand from many people that have regained their health with the help of chiropractors. Including one in wheel chair after an auto-accident, and another who woke up blind one day. They both recovered fully, and are inspired to become Doctor of Chiropractic, so they can help others like they've been helped, when all other 'medicine' failed them.

As for this book, I will never buy such trash, this book should be taken off the market and burned. People have been lied to long enough."
~ Written on 2006-07-14

"As I contemplate going to a chiropractor I first want to do research. I came here to find books both positive and negative and all I find is that peope are using the review section to argue. I agree that people have bad expirences at all types of doctors. Why insult somone that had a bad expirence? Do I believe that Chiropractic medicie is the end all? No. I hate all doctors, they all have the exact objective. They want to poke and prod you and get paid for it without taking you to dinner first. I think it is a good thing to hear negative things about a profession, it helps to make an informed decision. I recently went for a consult with a chiropractor and the terminology he used makes me suspicious of his motives. To me when a professional uses language like " That is horrible" in refrence to my health it makes me wonder what he is trying to achieve. I know that I have aches and pains and not they are not supposed to be there; however I am not on my death bed and I will not keel over if I am not seen by a chiropractor. This book has done something and that is cause a fight. That is brilliant, because then there is more money to be made from people who are curious as to what the fighting is all about."
~ Written on 2006-07-11

"This so called expose on chiropractic was funded by the AMA. Why doesn't Amazon give reviewers the option of awarding zero stars? I used to get a star in Kindergarden for being good. This is the worst trash ever written. And poorly written at that. Did the author study grammer in school? I think not."
~ Written on 2005-12-08

"Hello. I haven't read this book yet, and though I might as an interesting perspective, I have a comment or two on the last review(er).

A statement was made about the vertebrae not being intended "to slide back and forth," or something similar. This is vastly incorrect. If the spine were immobile, you would not be able to move as you do. It's truly sad that you've had such poor experiences with chiropractic, but this can happen in any profession of course.

No, it is not all about money. Again it is sad that this is your experience thus far, but if you want to compare MDs to DCs (or DOs who like to do a little of both, something I disagree with), there's obviously a lot more money in medicine. And chiropractic is not "medicine" at all. Someone who has so much passion for all things naturopathic, as you obviously do based upon your other reviews, should know this. Not all MDs make more money than DCs, but theirs is a profession bombarded by propaganda, at least for now.

There are far more people helped than hurt by chiropractic. Many of these individuals have done their level research, and are natural-focused individuals. All health professions have financial goals, methodologies, scripts and procedures. Some are more transparent than others. I suggest that you, and others, do some more looking around.

From what I've read about this book on the Web so far, the negative reviews far outweigh the good, primarily for its intended purpose. Some works make themselves blatantly obvious in matters of intention. Seems like this guy might be one of them! There's nothing wrong with making money if it's centered around helping people -- something I don't see as a goal of this book, from what I've heard so far, and will likely read soon."
~ Written on 2005-09-23