| Abstract/Notes |
The Incas, one of the earliest civilizations on earth, achieved an extraordinary rise to become the greatest empire of their time, largely due to their innovative approaches in medicine and healthcare. Their rational medicine, rooted in spirtual healing, herbal remedies, and spinal manipulation techniques, was widely admired by other civilizations, including those in the Western world. Spinal manipulation, in particular, was routinely practiced to help with the enormous physical demands of conquest, farming, and construction. With the invasion of the Inca Empire by Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century came the assassination of most Inca physicians, and with that, the eradication of their profound understanding of musculoskeletal physiology and its connection to disease. Until this day, the lack of written healthcare records has left most of the Incas' discoveries and evident success shrouded in mystery. The advancement of chiropractic in North America sparked renewed interest among Inca decendants in reviving the preserved knowledge that had been passed down generations for thousands of years. Before enrolling at Palmer College of Chiropractic, I had the opportunity to travel to Peru and experience the enduring wisdom of "la quiropraxia Inka" firsthand.
Author keywords: Inca civilization, healthcare, spinal manipulation, chiropractic
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