Many health professions assimilated into the allopathic model of care including podiatrists, physical therapists, and osteopaths in the 1950's due to the activities of the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA is a trade organization that represents allopathic medicine although only a small percentage of physicians belong to it. They are also the owners of the coding method we use for describing conditions that we treat on a claim that is sent to your insurance carrier. The AMA is very influential in public health policy, insurance policies and has close ties with the pharmaceutical industry as well. The Allopathic medicine model of care uses drugs to treat symptoms and when all else fails, finds methods to surgically alter or remove something that is diseased or malfunctioning in the body. It is a nonholistic approach that sees the body as parts that become diseased and malfunction even though the human body is a system that is holistic by design. This may be why allopathy has such a poor record with chronic diseases which are usually symptoms that are grouped together and classified as diseases so the doctor can prescribe a medication to relieve the symptoms. The allopathic model is the main mode of care in the USA while in other countries, other types of care are better accepted. The chiropractic profession developed using manipulation along with osteopathy. In the US, spinal manipulation is mainly practiced by chiropractors. The chiropractic approach has always been a patient-centered, hands-on holistic thinking profession which over the years, has evolved as many other healthcare professions have. They are the only profession that is using a primary care model of musculoskeletal care which has been well accepted and relied upon by a public wanting safer and more natural methods to help them feel and function better. Chiropractors were branded by the AMA as an unscientific cult in the '40s, 50's and '60s. As many health professions have done, it has evolved into an evidence-based healthcare profession. Other competing professions such as Naturopaths and Napropaths were successfully minimized by the AMA. Newer holistic approaches to healthcare such as functional medicine are gaining momentum but the profession is not covered by insurance, a major roadblock to mass adoption and growth. These professions may be part of how we reduce the cost and while improving the safety and effectiveness in the future. The Chiropractic profession hired an attorney and proved in court that the AMA was guilty of restraint of trade and embarked on a misinformation campaign against chiropractic. Medical doctors were told not to refer to chiropractors and some of these activities have affected the profession even to this day. Fortunately, the data and studies that have been done over the past 40 years favor chiropractic approaches to the musculoskeletal system over most other approaches including those of allopathy. Chiropractors that work side by side with medical doctors in systems such as the VA have been well accepted and have been shown to reduce cost and risk while improving outcomes. Check out these webinars on how the AMA systemically tried to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession. What sounds like an elaborate spy novel is actually the real-life story of how the American Medical Association once plotted to get rid of the chiropractic profession. Don't miss this surprisingly thrilling webinar series! Link to the webinars.