A Perfect Medical Storm, as told by Corte Madera Chiropractor, Dr Harte

It struck me how the following true-life story absolutely reflected the words of Dr. B.J. Palmer, the "Developer of Chiropractic," some 50, 60, 70 years ago.

A couple of weeks ago was Rosh Hashonah, the Jewish New Year, beginning the most holy period of the calendar known as the Days of Awe. (This is the traditional use of the word "awe," not the more modern usage as in "Awesome, dude!") After the first evening of services, I went to the annual dinner at the synagogue.

At the dinner, on my right, I met a man with whom I had spoken before. He and I were both from back East, he from New Jersey and myself from the Bronx. While I am a "revolving door Jew" (in at Rosh Hashonah, out at Yom Kippur), he is a devout man, strict in his observance, always at services. Wine was poured, and he offered me his glass, because he could not drink. When I asked why. (Yes, there is the old joke: Q: "Why don't Jews drink?" A: "It interferes with suffering.") He then proceeded to tell me his whole, long, sad medical history.   For the purposes of this story, we will call him "Moishe."

Years ago, Moishe had serious heart disease. His medical treatment didn't work, so they did a heart transplant. So the new heart (someone else's) wouldn't be rejected, he was given immuno-suppressive drugs. Because of the toxicity of these drugs, his liver and kidneys failed, so he got transplants for those too. One must wonder what part, what system, will fail next due to medical treatment.

People believe in Medicine. They believe that drugs and surgery make them healthy. Really? If that is so, then the people who take the most drugs and have had the most surgery should be the healthiest, right? WRONG!


Many of us believe in G-d, whether or not we practice our particular religion. For Moishe, religion is a major part, probably the central part of his life. Yet, by his actions, his true belief is in the pathetic attampts of Medicine to play G-d.

Dr. B.J. Palmer, long ago, wrote about how people go to church on Sunday, and sing the praises of the Almighty. He notes that, for the other six days their true belief is in Medicine.

When you come into my office, on the wall above the water cooler is a poster with a scene of clouds, which reads "The Power that made the body heals the body. It happens no other way." If you do not believe in a higher power, substitute the word and concept "Nature." This is the basis for Chiropractic. Thin on this! (For you chiro-infidels, I am NOT saying that Chiropractic is a religion. It is not. Medicine, on the other hand, they way it is held up no matter the failures, is a religion, if not a cult.)

As the old margarine commercial from the 70's said: "It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature."


Don Harte, D.C.
Marin Straight Chiropractor
Liberator of Innate