How the chiropractic project started

Chiropractic is based on the “Science, Art and Philosophy” of wellbeing, put simply the body has an innate ability to heal and self regulate when factors (physical, chemical and emotional) that interfere with that process are removed. It is a minimalist conservative intervention and preferable to drugs or surgery as the first port of call. In September 2019 I met with the Minister of Health and told her how I felt chiropractic could make a major contribution to the Nicaraguan Health care system and she asked me to give a presentation to doctors and Physiotherapists at the Aldo Chavarria Hospital

In September 2019 I gave a presentation about chiropractic to doctors, Physiotherapists at the request of the Nicaraguan Minister for Health ( also a medical doctor ) at a rehabilitation hospital for chronic conditions in Managua.

I was asked what I needed for the presentation? My hands and a person with a spine, I said, they brought 5. I explained chiropractic was principally about helping the body to heal itself by removing factors that interfere with the healing process, usually a combination of physical, chemical and emotional factors. Patients in pain are usually taking too many pills ( chemical stress) so I told the doctors, the first advice I give my patients is to stop pills, I ask them to walk more and use Ice to manage their pain as sportspeople do. This is the first step to getting people in pain on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

The first person was a patient you dream about, she was in a lot of pain. I discussed her history and after a “chiropractic” examination I adjusted her sacra lilac joint. The lady was amazed by the instant relief she experience when she stood up. I acted like it was a magic show and explained how pain affected people emotionally and it was important to laugh a lot and everybody in the room started applauding. I actually felt a bit embarrassed as I knew every patient does not respond like this. The others responded as well as you would expect after one adjustment.

Doctors asked questions about what I was doing with each patient, four had back pain and sciatica and one with neck and arm pain ( an architect she carried a heavy bag across her shoulder every day)

I told them about the clinic we set up in Cuba in 1994, that was manned by chiropractic volunteers. I explained how Medical Doctors in Cuba shared our philosophy of wellbeing and movement and we worked well together. Unlike in UK and US where medical doctors relied too much on the pharmaceutical industry to treat their patients. I finished off by saying whatever your beliefs we all want the same thing for our patients, to improve their quality of life and we should all be able to work together.

The Minister for health asked, if I could start the chiropractic project in Managua.I said I would start as soon as I could some other chiropractors to volunteer in the new year so we could start with a continuous period of hopefully 8 weeks, so they can see best results. Chiropractic is an ongoing intervention as part of a healthy lifestyle like exercise I explained.

The Nicaraguan Department of Health has allocated space in the main hospital in Managua to provide chiropractic care. Nick Back Price and Tracy Bown are the first chiropractors to go there. I will follow them until the start of April. Word travels fast in Nicaragua and when we visited San Juan Del Sur, to see the conservation work for the turtles from the Galapagos Islands who lay their eggs there, the Mayor asked about chiropractic. The welts on my knuckles testify to the fact I can adjust a spine anywhere and I got the Mayor to lay on her office desk and I adjusted her there. We have been thought this amazing Art and many spend their careers, trying to impress medical doctors with their knowledge of the biomedical model, rather than perfecting their adjusting skills, to get good results on patients.

Ideally we would like to have volunteers on hand all the year round. It took a couple of years to achieve that in Cuba, the clinic was seeing hundreds of people a week, when we stopped in 2004. Accommodation and food is provided. All you need are good hands to be able to find and correct vertebral subluxations. You have to pay your own airfare, £500 – £600; Fly American via Florida or KLM via Panama, you will be met at the airport and well looked after.

Nicaragua is a fascinating country and you will find lots to do in your spare time, especially if you are interested in climate change and sustainable eco systems. Two of the 4 main beaches in the world where turtles lay their eggs, are in Nicaragua. I will be posting a lot more information in the coming weeks and setting up a website

Any chiropractors interested please get in touch, I have had a wonderful ten days here. The food is delicious and a number of doctors offered their houses for us to stay in.