When Madeline Behrendt, D.C., wrote her research article on women's health, she knew she'd raise a few eyebrows. The report, published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), took the medical profession to task for categorizing normal female functions as "diseases" and turning them into a billion-dollar drug and medical industry.

It explored such medical efforts as the creation and marketing of PMDD (Premenstrual Dystrophic Disorder), classified as a mental disorder "treated" by Prozac repackaged as Sarafem. She also called for more research into the benefits of chiropractic for women's wellness issues.

As soon as the World Chiropractic Alliance sent out press releases on the paper, Dr. Behrendt, a member of the WCA International Board of Governors, began receiving requests for additional information and statements.

When she was invited by WebMD -- one of the Internet's premiere medical news sites -- she jumped at the chance to introduce her ideas about chiropractic for women, to millions of readers around the world.

The main focus of the WebMD interview was Behrendt's JVSR article, "The Role and Relationship of Chiropractic and Women's Health Issues -- A Call for Research."

The resulting WebMD article, called "Women Behaving Badly?" by Neil Osterweil, quoted Behrendt extensively and provided readers with information on her credentials.

"From the time you're a preteen, from your very first inklings of hormonal rhythms all the way to the end of life, you're given the message that your body doesn't work or that it's not OK," Behrendt, said in the article.

Osterweil noted that she is a chiropractor in private practice in Boise, Idaho who serves as vice chair of the Council on Women's Health of the World Chiropractic Alliance. He also explained that Behrendt spoke on this issue at the United Nations Women's Conference, where, "she found that people all over the world appear to share her concerns."

A number of other professionals from a variety of health approaches were also interviewed for the article, and the piece allowed readers to look at women's health from a new perspective.

"I was delighted to be invited to participate in this interview, and for the World Chiropractic Alliance to have exposure to an audience of that size," Behrendt stated afterward.

She also took the opportunity to alert WebMD officials that their information on chiropractic was incomplete since it failed to include any material on subluxations. Due to her suggestions, WebMD contacted her and the WCA for input into an article on chiropractic and strokes.

"I definitely feel it is important to be available to the media to contribute a subluxation-based point of view," she explained. "They need to know that, if they want interesting stories the public will be drawn to, chiropractic's got them!"

The WebMD article is available on the site's archives, or through the special link on the World Chiropractic Alliance website, www.worldchiropracticalliance.org.