Wellness -- An introduction

by Dr. Joseph M. Flesia, Jr.

Wellness is a simple word and a complex process encompassing the most exciting and sought-after physical and mental condition in society today. It is a condition in which the intelligence within the body expresses its genetic potential 100% without interference of any kind, preventing disease and producing a state of well being that makes life a healthy, exciting journey of discovery and contribution.

Prior to the 1950s, wellness, as it is known today, was virtually an unknown concept and few, if any, doctors practiced it. By the end of World War II, a societal phenomenon was occurring. Tens of thousands of veterans were returning home from Europe and the Pacific, and between 1946 and 1964, more than 76 million infants were born. This population boom was appropriately named the "Baby Boom" generation.

The Baby Boomers

This population influx set the stage for a new belief, that within every person lies the potential for spiritual, physical, societal and mental greatness. While this belief in "human potential" has been around for centuries, it was the Baby Boomers who made it one of the most important issues of the day.

By the late 1970s and early '80s, the human potential wave in health care matured into what we now know as "wellness." In physiological terms, this translates into an on-going pursuit of removing interferences to this awesome potential of greatness, thereby empowering the individual to greater health and well being.

The rebellious Boomers also believed that everyone has the right to express this potential, permanently altering social responsibility. Expressing their new found independence, the Boomers moved from medical dependency to controlling their own health care needs. No longer forced to accept the traditional heavy hand of invasive medical care, they looked to new frontiers of healing, accepting the wellness belief as their new lifestyle. This unique direction in health care quickly spread throughout society.

At that point, a great many trends began to occur. Countless exercise centers arose. The nutrient supplement business exploded. The quest for natural foods and their preparation evolved. There was renewed interest in the meditative arts. And the chiropractic profession began to enjoy an overwhelming popularity. The meteoric rise in wellness visits was not surprising -- specifically to non-medical doctors, from "zero" to many billions -- as we entered the new millennium.

Medicine and wellness

Traditional medicine accepts that disease, pain, disability, surgery, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and early death are normal and to be expected as we journey through our lifetime. The responsibility of medical care is to attempt to guide the patient through this journey with as little pain and disease possible. Their model infers there is only one doctor to guide the patient on the most important journey he or she will ever undertake -- and that is the medical doctor.

Even in the medical team, composed of medical doctors and those under their direct control, it seems there is no room for true wellness.

The traditional medical view considers that following the wellness path without sickness, drugs and surgery is the height of folly as well as a waste of money. Human potential wellness is a stranger in a strange land to medicine. This medical dogmatic approach to the human condition has created a devastating financial impact on traditional medicine and has contributed greatly to the current health care crisis.

As a result, millions of patients now rely on a new concept for their health care team. With open arms wellness patients seek the advice and personal help from the many new "non-medical doctor specialists" in nutrition, exercise and mental health, to name just a few. Medical dependency has become obsolete. Concurrently, a firm partnership has been forged between chiropractic and the wellness movement.

The wellness revolution

The shift to true wellness has become a large part of our daily life and is overwhelming in scope. The following facts may make your "Category 1" patients' (wellness-oriented Baby Boomers) decisions to participate in the world of wellness more comfortable.

***  Before the 1950s, wellness was virtually unknown. Today, wellness is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. -- "The wellness Revolution" by Paul Zane Pilzer.

***  In 1990, there were 388 million visits to medical doctors for medical care and 425 million visits to non-medical doctors for wellness care. -- Harvard Medical School, USA Today.

***  In 1997, there were 386 million visits to medical doctors for sickness care and 629 million visits to non-medical doctors for wellness care. The bulk of these visits were made by the Baby Boomers and their families. -- Harvard Medical School, USA Today.

***  Add the children of the Baby Boomers (the X-Generation) to these numbers and by the year 2010, wellness will be a $1 trillion industry. -- "The wellness Revolution" by Paul Zane Pilzer.

***  The doctor of choice for the patient's wellness journey is the subluxation-based wellness chiropractor. In the last 20 years, visits to chiropractors have increased 100%. Most of this increase has been by wellness patients. Spine magazine.

***  The increase from virtually nothing to over one-half billion visits yearly to non-medical doctors for wellness has been to doctors such as chiropractors. -- Harvard Medical School, USA Today.

Chiropractic & wellness

The human potential movement and its grandchild wellness fit hand and glove into chiropractic philosophy and the clinical expertise of chiropractors.

For more than a century, chiropractic has taught that: a) wellness is the natural state of being human; b) longevity is normal; and c) happiness is to be expected. The chiropractic message, from the beginning, has focused on the elimination of the most severe interference to wellness: The Vertebral subluxation Complex (VSC).

Starved from the instructions of how to function in a normal wellness manner, the body gets sick. The result is that ill-health runs rampant. Medicine has flourished on this basis for 200 years. Not anymore. wellness patients have seen through the limitations of medicine. They are now reaching out to other non-medical, natural, effective methods of improved health, such as chiropractic.

Today, millions of patients choose chiropractors to guide them in their wellness journey. Not all chiropractors offer subluxation wellness care.

Over the years I have found that even the most well-meaning chiropractic solicitation simply does not work with the potentially high PVA Boomers. Actually, it is contra-indicated as you take the first steps of your lifetime journey to a large healthy subluxation based wellness practice. An active referral and in-depth patient education VSC-based wellness practice is the only way to create a solid high PVA wellness segment in your practice.

Notes from Dr. Flesia

In April 2002, The chiropractic Journal graciously printed an article about me written by Dr. Kevin Pallis. The response was overwhelming. I had no idea so many cared. There were just too many e-mail messages of good will. I could not answer them all, a surprising number from Drs. and C.A.s I have never personally met.

More than 25 individuals offered to help me regain better health through their particular and unique methods of chiropractic care. Allow me to take this opportunity to send a huge "Dr. Joe Flesia hug" and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared their loving caring thoughts with me. At least once a week my e-mail surprises me with continued responses. This outpouring of love is absolutely amazing to me!

After 33 years of teaching VSC wellness to patients and chiropractors, it is still my opinion that, The New Renaissance maintains its premier position in developing large, exciting wellness practices. Reach out for help, call the Renaissance headquarters at 800-525-3879 and ask about the new, exciting and extremely successful MIV coaching program. I believe you will never know what a true large, high PVA, wellness practice is until you actively participate in the MIV lifestyle.

Renaissance also offers the practicing doctor an enlarged version of this article in the form of a first class patient education pamphlet to be given to Category 1 patients before they complete their initial intensive care. A helping hand during their transition to lifetime, family, VSC wellness care, providing your practice with PVAs at the 150-200 level.