Salutogenesis - What is a Salutogenic Doctor?

For many people, healthcare begins only when something feels wrong. Symptoms appear, discomfort increases, and the focus quickly turns to identifying what’s broken and how to fix it. While this approach has its place, it represents only one way of understanding health.

There is another perspective—one that shifts the focus away from illness and toward the creation, maintenance, and expression of health. This approach is known as salutogenesis, and it forms the foundation of how care is delivered at Cypress Chiropractic & Wellness, a chiropractor in Charleston, SC.

Shifting the Focus From Disease to Health

Modern healthcare is largely built on identifying disease, labeling symptoms, and managing conditions after they appear. This model can be helpful in acute situations, but it often overlooks an important question: What actually creates health in the first place?

Salutogenesis asks us to look upstream. Instead of focusing only on what is going wrong, it encourages us to explore what supports resilience, adaptability, and optimal function in the body. This perspective recognizes that health is not a fixed state, but a dynamic process that evolves over time.

Understanding Salutogenesis

The term salutogenesis comes from Latin roots meaning “the origin of health.” Rather than viewing the body as something that breaks down randomly, salutogenesis views the body as intelligent, adaptable, and constantly responding to its environment.

From this perspective, health exists on a spectrum. Everyone is moving along that spectrum at any given time, influenced by physical stress, emotional well-being, lifestyle habits, and nervous system function. The goal of salutogenic care is to help guide the body toward greater balance, resilience, and vitality—regardless of where someone is starting from.

READ: What is Salutogenesis Chiropractic

What Is a Salutogenic Doctor?

A Salutogenic Doctor is a doctor that practices from the perspective of salutogenesis. The word salutogenesis literally means, “that which gives birth to health.” So, basically Salutogenic Doctors want to use their skills and knowledge of the human body to guide their patients in giving birth to or creating health in their lives. In traditional public and western medicine, there is a pathogenic perspective, in which the focus is on disease or illness and its treatment. Pathogenesis, on the other hand means, “the birth of suffering.”

Dr. Kalani Wharton with Cypress Chiropractic & Wellness is a Salutogenic Doctor. Her approach to health is one of creation. This means that anyone that is ready to create health in their lives, can successfully receive chiropractic care, and do that for themselves with her guidance and adjustments. Even if someone is already in the pathogenic process and has a diagnosis or is looking for a diagnosis, then that is simply the starting point of the creation/birthing process. It’s more about where you want to go in your health journey as opposed to where you don’t want to go.

Let’s look at some differences between Salutogenic vs. Pathogenic perspectives:

So ask yourself, what is it that you want? Do you want trust, whole body care, enhanced function, and encouragement? Your body has an innate wisdom that is present, but often disconnected due to life’s challenges, and Cypress Chiropractic & Wellness wants to bring that connection back.

Salutogenesis is why chiropractic is important for babies and kids. It’s about creating health and maintaining it throughout their life. Healthy children grow healthy adults.

Salutogenic vs. Pathogenic Perspectives in Healthcare

The pathogenic model focuses on identifying problems: symptoms, diagnoses, and disease progression. Its primary goal is often to reduce discomfort or manage conditions once they appear.

The salutogenic model, on the other hand, focuses on capacity. It asks how well the body can adapt, regulate, and heal. Rather than asking, “What disease is present?” it asks, “How supported is the body’s ability to function?”

Salutogenic vs. pathogenic perspectives don’t have to be in conflict. However, salutogenic care offers a more empowering lens—one that places the individual at the center of their health journey, with an emphasis on growth rather than limitation.

What a Salutogenic Chiropractic Approach Looks Like

Chiropractic care fits naturally within a salutogenic framework because it centers on nervous system function. The nervous system plays a critical role in how the body adapts to stress, heals from injury, and maintains internal balance.

A salutogenic chiropractor doesn’t simply focus on where pain is felt. Instead, they look at how the body is functioning as a whole, how stress is being processed, and how well the nervous system is communicating. Adjustments are used to support the body’s innate ability to self-regulate and move toward greater health.

Salutogenesis for Babies, Children, and Families

Salutogenesis is especially meaningful when applied early in life. Babies and children are constantly developing, adapting, and forming patterns that can influence their long-term health. Supporting their nervous systems from an early age helps create a strong foundation for growth, resilience, and function.

Rather than waiting for problems to appear, a salutogenic approach emphasizes proactive care. When children are supported as they grow, they are more likely to become adults who are adaptable, resilient, and connected to their bodies.

Creating Health Is a Journey

Health isn’t something that happens overnight or something you “achieve” and never think about again. It’s shaped by how your body adapts to stress, how supported your nervous system is, and the choices you make over time. A salutogenic approach recognizes that every person is on their own path and that care should meet them exactly where they are.

Rather than focusing solely on symptoms or diagnoses, salutogenesis emphasizes supporting the body’s ability to function, adapt, and heal. When the nervous system is supported and interference is reduced, the body is better equipped to move toward greater balance, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Thanks for reading the Cypress Chiropractic & Wellness Health Blog. Until next time, stay healthy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of salutogenic practices?

Salutogenic practices focus on supporting the body’s ability to function and adapt rather than treating symptoms. Examples include chiropractic care that supports nervous system function, stress management, healthy movement, quality sleep, and lifestyle choices that build resilience. The goal is to create conditions where health can develop and be maintained.

Who coined the term salutogenesis?

The term salutogenesis was coined by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky in the late 1970s. He introduced the concept to explain why some people stay healthy despite significant stress and adversity.

How does salutogenesis differ from pathogenesis?

Pathogenesis focuses on identifying disease, symptoms, and what causes illness. Salutogenesis focuses on what creates and supports health, resilience, and adaptability. Instead of asking “What’s wrong?”, salutogenesis asks “What supports optimal function?”

What is sense of coherence (SOC) in salutogenesis?

Sense of coherence refers to how well a person perceives life as understandable, manageable, and meaningful. A stronger sense of coherence is associated with better stress management and overall well-being. It plays a key role in how individuals move toward health on the wellness spectrum.

Is salutogenesis the same as preventive medicine?

No, salutogenesis is broader than preventive medicine. Preventive medicine aims to reduce the risk of disease, while salutogenesis focuses on actively creating and sustaining health. Salutogenesis emphasizes function, adaptability, and long-term well-being, not just disease avoidance.