These position papers are foundational documents for The Chiropractic Trust, explaining the principles and practices of Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic. They serve to educate both members and the public on the core philosophies and guidelines of this specific type of chiropractic care.
Clear Definitions
Understand the core principles of Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic and the importance of vertebral subluxations.
Guidelines and Standards
Learn about the recommended standards of care and frequency of chiropractic adjustments.
A member of The Chiropractic Trust has one singular purpose in his/her practice: to correct vertebral subluxation. The criteria determining the presence of vertebral subluxation are objective in nature. These objective criteria lead to the practice of chiropractic being Non-Therapeutic and unmixed with other purposes (i.e. straight).
The Chiropractic Trust defines chiropractic by our objective which is non-therapeutic in its approach.
Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic is defined as the location, analysis, and facilitation of the correction of vertebral subluxations solely because they, in and of themselves, interfere with the proper expression of the innate intelligence of the body and are a detriment to life. Additionally, Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic shall include the need for educating humanity as to the seriousness and importance of vertebral subluxation and having said correction; nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
Members of The Chiropractic Trust do not claim that vertebral subluxation is the cause of any or all diseases, but simply an interference to the ongoing life process, and that alone justifies its correction. Members of The Chiropractic Trust correct vertebral subluxations not because they cause disease or are associated with any medical condition, but simply because the body works better without them.
The Chiropractic Trust takes the position that the Universal Principle of Organization (UPO) is a principle of chiropractic basic science and should not be personified or anthropomorphized. Historically referred to as “universal intelligence,” our evolving understanding has led us to clarify this term as the Universal Principle of Organization.
The Universal Principle of Organization is the fundamental, ever-present principle that continually organizes all energy and matter to maintain existence. It is not an “intelligence” that thinks or decides, but a law that simply is, operating without exception throughout the universe to sustain organization.
Sources:
The Chiropractic Textbook by R.W. Stephenson, 1948 Edition
Timed Out: Chiropractic by Claude Lessard, D.C., 2022
The 2027 Chiropractic Textbook, Volume 1 by Claude Lessard, D.C., 2023
The Chiropractic Trust takes the position that the term “intelligence” personifies and anthropomorphizes the principles of chiropractic basic science in both “universal intelligence” and “innate intelligence.” Therefore, we hold that the term is better expressed as the Innate Law of Living Things (ILLT).
The Innate Law of Living Things is the inborn principle within all living things that governs adaptation to maintain existence, if possible, according to universal laws. It is the essential continuation of the Universal Principle of Organization, expressed through living energy and matter, and keeps living things organized across multiple levels of complexity. It functions through design, programming, self-correction, adjustability, and adaptation to internal and external forces.
Sources:
The 2027 Chiropractic Textbook, Volume 1 by Claude Lessard, D.C., 2023
The Chiropractic Textbook by R.W. Stephenson, 1948 Edition
The Chiropractic Trust takes the position that as the chiropractic profession moves into its second century, advances in science, technology, and vocabulary have led to a recontextualization of the 33 Principles of Chiropractic. While the principles themselves remain unchanged, the vocabulary used to describe them has evolved to better reflect our understanding of chiropractic basic science.
In the early development of chiropractic, terms such as “universal intelligence” and “innate intelligence” were used within the limitations of the vocabulary and science of that era. In the second century of chiropractic, these terms have been updated to “Universal Principle of Organization (UPO)” and “Innate Law of Living Things (ILLT),” clarifying these principles as laws rather than personified entities.
This vocabulary shift helps maintain chiropractic’s distinct objective: to locate, analyze, and facilitate the correction (adjustment) of vertebral subluxations to allow for the normal transmission of innate information/force within the body. It ensures that chiropractic remains separate from the realms of symptom treatment, health care, and belief systems, preserving its identity as a unique, non-therapeutic discipline.
Key Vocabulary Updates:
Universal Intelligence → Universal Principle of Organization (UPO)
Innate Intelligence → Innate Law of Living Things (ILLT)
Life → Existence
Matter → E/Matter (Energy/Matter)
Force → Information/F (Information/Force)
Mental Impulse → Innate Impulse
These clarifications align the 33 Principles of Chiropractic with scientific axioms and maintain chiropractic’s identity as a separate and distinct profession, consistent with its original objective.
Sources:
A New Look at Chiropractic’s Basic Science by Claude Lessard, D.C.
Timed Out: Chiropractic by Claude Lessard, D.C., 2022
The 2027 Chiropractic Textbook, Volumes 1 & 2 by Claude Lessard, D.C., 2023
The Chiropractic Textbook by R.W. Stephenson, 1948 Edition
At The Chiropractic Trust, we are committed to preserving and advancing the practice of Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic. Our position papers reflect our dedication to upholding the highest standards of care, ensuring that every practice member receives precise and effective chiropractic adjustments.