Originally, after I had created Koren Publications, I thought that lecturing to chiropractic groups, writing for journals, and working in private practice would be my ultimate professional accomplishments.
But life had something else in store for me.
Born of a need
Years ago, my family was moving, and boxes and furniture were all over the place. I didn’t notice the large, heavy, sharp-edged laminate piece balanced on its edge behind the door I closed. It fell on me. It was a bad accident, and as a result I had no strength and suffered 10 years of intense pain and paresthesia—in my shoulders, arms, hands, neck, and spine, plus debilitating sciatica.
Because pain is a great motivator, I wound up spending a small fortune traveling all over North America, and I saw 40 to 50 chiropractors who used nearly every technique, plus MDs, DOs, PTs, acupuncturists, craniosacral practitioners, and bodyworkers, but my condition continued to deteriorate.
Some days I could only walk a few feet at a time. I could not use my hands, and I ultimately gave up my license to practice.
I didn’t want to resort to surgery the way many of my adult relatives with injuries had done. So with research, study, and experimentation, I eventually figured out a way to analyze and adjust myself.
Rapid recovery
To my surprise, I found the subluxations, stress, and interference all those great doctors had missed—and discovered a new way of adjusting. After 10 years of suffering, I was better in five days—I was my first Koren Specific Technique (KST) patient.
My wife, Beth, for her part had suffered from migraines for some 12 years. She was the second KST patient. Following one correction that took almost no time at all, her headaches were gone and never came back. The next 1,000-plus KST patients were mostly chiropractors who, like me, could find no one else for help.
Considering that the chiropractic profession has over 100 named techniques already, I asked myself, “Do we need another one?” But KST was delivering results where other techniques had failed. The lines were going out the door when I’d demonstrate KST at conferences and seminars. Doctors of chiropractic were repeatedly telling me, “This was the best adjustment of my life.” I knew I was on to something.
DD’s three causes
It’s now 10 years later and over 3,000 chiropractors and other healers have taken a KST seminar. In some ways, I see KST as the future of healthcare. Its universal applications honor DD Palmer’s three causes of disease: trauma, thoughts, and toxins, because KST addresses all three.
Putting theory into practice KST is practiced using three traditional concepts: challenge, check and correct.
- Challenge: A body part is gently stroked, pushed, or pulled to see if it elicits subluxation stress. That is the physical way to practice KST.
- Check: Does the body respond to the stimulus? Biofeedback is the simplest and most accurate way to locate what needs correction, in the proper order and posture.
- Correct: Using your hands or an instrument, perform the adjustment. Then repeat the challenge to see if the subluxation is
The posture of subluxation
Subluxations are sneaky things. They come and go as we stand, sit, move, and experience physiological stress (e.g., emotional or chemical imbalances). A simple example is a car accident victim. If they sit and hold an imaginary steering wheel, you’ll find subluxations that may not be apparent when they lie on a table. Correcting the patient in the posture in which they are experiencing subluxation gives powerful results.
The body as a hologram
Modern research reveals that the body (especially the brain) functions as a hologram: One part can reflect and influence other parts. This is the basis behind reflexology or iridology, for example. DD Palmer was aware of this phenomenon when he wrote
[The purpose of the adjustment is] for the reduction of the physical representative of the cause of dis-ease.
The sole purpose of chiropractic is to unite man the physical with man the spiritual.
The “physical representative” DD Palmer referred to can be seen in the subluxation, which serves as the holographic gateway to the mind-body complex.
From interference to freedom
Through the use of KST, subluxations that represent stresses locked in the body and mind can now be located and addressed, including allergies, asthma, ADD, dyslexia, concentration problems, PTSD, emotional problems, phobias, weight issues, bad habits, toxicity, disc issues, athletic performance, and structural (neuromusculoskeletal) pain. One of KST’s breakthroughs is the importance of correcting the patient in the posture of subluxation—whether that posture be physical or emotional.
One of KST’s unique applications is that it’s possible to work on oneself. That’s how I learned it.
But, most importantly, patients love KST; they request it, and they bring in their families. For every patient who “loves a good crack,” 20 are staying away. Practitioners of KST report practice growth as patient satisfaction and retention increase.
I frequently get testimonials like the following:
Today, a patient’s mum called to share that her son, who is known to be a slow learner, came in tops in his most recent test after one session of KST. She was amazed. I’m very happy for her son, but I thought this is so unfair—there wasn’t KST care during my schooling days. —K.N., DC, Singapore
I love that I can correct subluxations while the patient is actively going through their range of motion. I have a tool and technique to finally adjust the cranium, etc. KST has infinite possibilities. —S.H., DC, Flint, Michigan
The people down here in the Dominican Republic absolutely LOVE KST. I was told that it was very important that I do firm traditional manual adjustments because this is what Dominicans like, and that low force techniques tend to be rejected down here. Not the case with KST. After my first week of seeing patients, my practice nearly doubled, and many patients are referring their spouses and families. —C.P., DC, Dominican Republic
KST continues to grow and is now practiced by nearly 3,000 healthcare practitioners around the world to locate and release physical and emotional blockages, toxic stress, and subluxations. I hope the stories above have inspired you to explore Koren Specific Technique further.
Tedd Koren, DC, has made original contributions to chiropractic philosophy, art, and science. Koren Specific Technique (KST) is an exciting breakthrough protocol used to find the type of subluxations that doctors often miss. He can be reached at teddkorenKST@gmail.com, or through korenwellness.com.
