These findings hit home with Dr. Robert Martines, a Campbell-based chiropractor and contributing author to Dr. CJ Mertz' book The World's Best Kept Health Secret Revealed.

"If medicine made us healthy, we'd be the healthiest nation on the planet," Martines says. "Traditional medical practices treat symptoms and pain and do very little to address the cause of a disease."

If Martines could accomplish one thing, he says, it would be to change the notion that just because people feel well, they are healthy. Equating the feeling of wellness with healthiness is the topic of Martines' chapter in the book. In his section of the book, "What is health? Your Health Path," Martines points out that health is more than just an absence of disease and simply ridding the body of "bugs."

"We have a 'don't fix it until it's broken' modality," Martines says. "And when a crisis situation occurs, we seek medical attention, which treats the symptoms without addressing the cause. Health care as defined in the medical profession is really 'sick care' and preventative measures such as mammograms, prostrate checks and blood-pressure screenings, which are actually early-detection measures. "

In his practice, Martines says he employs the use of an electronic imaging device, which traces the flow of electrical impulses along the spine to see how well the brain is communicating with the body. He says that if areas along the spine are blocked, the impulse will not get through, causing a "dis-ease" and illness in the body.

"What I do is realign the spine so the impulses from the brain can get through. With the proper flow of energy, the body can heal itself."

Although Martines has been a chiropractor for 15 years, he didn't start out intending to follow this career path. In college he pursued engineering.

"I have an aptitude for mathematics, and a career in engineering was logical," he says, "but I always had an interest in biology. I found myself reading biology books in my free time and taking biology-related electives in college. After a while, I realized the study of the human body was my real passion, so I switched my major to pre-med."

It was during his hospital rotations that Martines' despondency toward the medical profession sprouted, and he became further disillusioned after visiting doctors and seeing that the primary focus for remedies was pharmaceuticals.

Martines withdrew his medical-school application and began researching other health-care-related specialties.

"I looked into dentistry, podiatry and ophthalmology, but still couldn't decide on the right path for me," Martines says. "A professor suggested I look into chiropractics."

Even though as a youngster he had witnessed him mother successfully avoiding back surgery by engaging in chiropractic treatments, Martines still viewed the profession as being full of quacks. But he credits a professor with turning his thinking around.

"The philosophy of chiropractics enticed me, and after visits to three chiropractic offices, I was hooked," he says. "I saw doctors who knew their patients and concentrated on treating the causes of their diseases rather than the symptoms. From that moment on, I knew what I wanted to do."

In addition he travels all over the world to educate himself on the latest health-related topics.

"Last year I logged over 200 hours of extra education," he says. "I feel it is important to stay on the cutting edge of what's working in the natural health arena."

Martines takes what he learns, breaks it down and shares the information with his patients in weekly workshops, with topics ranging from stress-management techniques to ways to boost one's immunity.

He has operated his practice for six years out of a converted home on N. First Street in downtown Campbell. His previous location was just a few blocks away.

"I love Campbell," he says. "It has the open-mindedness of a large city, but the warmth of a small town."

Martines doesn't view his practice as work, saying, "A person is truly blessed when they answer their calling and do what they are meant to do," says Martines.

Robert Martines D.C.'s address is 151 N. First Street. For more information, call 408.378.1881.