Meet Dr. Marsh

Hello. I’m Dr. Scott Marsh, Blount County’s family chiropractor. You’ve probably heard of me through a neighbor or family member who has regained their health with my help. In fact, my own personal chiropractic “miracle” inspired me to become a chiropractic doctor and help others reach their full health potential.

In today’s world, people are often too busy to get to know one another. Not in my office! My practice members are like members of my family…my friends. Friends should care for each other…know something about one another. With that in mind, I’d like to share a little about who I am and where I came from.

I was born in High Point, North Carolina, and lived there until I left to attend Texas Chiropractic College in Houston, Texas. I have one (red-headed) sister, Terri, who was born two years after me, and never lets me forget she’s much younger. She claims she’s claustrophobic today because I used to lock her in the closet, but I don’t seem to remember it at all! I was sick a lot as a child…allergies and ear infections mostly, which meant repeated trips to the pediatrician for penicillin shots and pills I was usually allergic to. I hated going to the doctor so much that I would often lock my mother out of the car as she attempted to take me in for yet another shot. The spanking I got after I got home hurt almost as much as the shot!

My family was like most…we had been taught that every ache or pain had a pill or potion to treat it. I’ve always had an insatiable desire to learn, and began to become interested in nutrition and health in my early teens. I began to read books and attend seminars to learn everything I could. When I was sixteen, I began to lift weights in order to add some muscle to my 126-pound frame. At seventeen, I was driving down a country road at night when a herd of Angus cattle crossed my path. I missed the first, but hit another, and my car began to flip. Following a trip to the emergency room by ambulance, I was prescribed the typical muscle relaxers, pain pills and anti-inflammatories for my pain.

I had learned through my studies that those drugs, though sometimes necessary, were not addressing my injuries, but were merely covering the symptoms. I explored my options, and decided to talk with a chiropractor who was a member of my church. He took his time, explained that the nervous system controls all of the body’s functions, including healing, and was confident that he could help me if I would follow his recommendations. I liked the fact that the chiropractor, without drugs (especially shots) and their side effects, could get me back on my feet so quickly. Later, I visited the chiropractor again for a sports injury, again with excellent results (and no shots)! Following several discussions with my chiropractor, I made the decision to change my college major from nutrition and pre-med. I had decided to become a chiropractor myself.

Well, that was 30 years ago. I have been participating in a wellness chiropractic program myself during that time, and can honestly say I’m healthier at 53 than I was at 16. Some of the joint pains I had as a teen are simply not there. Oh, I still workout four times a week, and have been known to place nearly 1000 pounds on the squat machine. So it’s not that I’m taking it easy. I’ve been practicing for 27 years now, and have missed only 1 ½ day due to sickness during that time…told you I was a chiropractic miracle!

My commitment and hard work since 1983 has earned me “Chiropractor of the Year” on three occasions. My practice vision has evolved over the past 20 years from the management of pain to family wellness and maximized health potential. I want my patients (we call them “practice members”) to realize that health and wellness is more than just “not hurting”. Recently, our office was also honored to receive our third annual “Family Practice Excellence” Award.

Outside the office, I play a little piano and still enjoy working out, good music (rap doesn’t count) and Italian food. I have two beautiful daughters, eleven year old Makena and Olivia, who is eight years old. Makena is too smart for her own good, and Olivia laughs more than any kid you’ve ever known…I’m so blessed! Both girls were adjusted within a few hours birth and have been checked regularly ever since. I’m continually amazed at the miraculous ability of a mind and body that has kept free from interference since birth.

As a chiropractor, I help optimize the function of the nervous system, which controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue and organ of the body. In fact, even though my family tries to exercise regularly and eat the right foods, the single most important thing my family does to stay healthy is to make sure every cell of our bodies has the best chance of functioning at 100% through regular check-ups. I understand that no doctor…no drug…has the power to heal…including me. Drugs may make a symptom go away, or replace it with a side effect that seems more tolerable than the original complaint.

The only thing that has ever healed you, me or anyone else is the incredible healing power inside of our own bodies. We were born with this “innate intelligence.” My children (and yours) were born with the ability to heal themselves…as long as there is no interference. Chiropractic’s role is to locate and remove any interference to your body’s innate healing ability, allowing your body to function as it was designed to do. It just makes sense (and no shots)!

I believe that a doctor should sit down with a perspective practice member and determine whether he or she is a candidate for care before any financial obligation is made…that’s why every initial consultation in our office is free. We want to find out more about you, your history and your health goals to teach you what we do and how we go about it. I want the opportunity to talk with you personally before I tell you whether or not I feel I can help you. Any and all fees are explained up front, and if I don’t honestly believe I can help, I’ll tell you that, too.

Since “doctor” actually means “teacher”, I also spend a great deal of time and energy to keep our practice members up to date with the latest in health and wellness information. Not only do we invite our practice members to ask questions, we also send monthly e-mail health newsletters to our practice members and I regularly speak on a variety of pertinent issues which are vital to the health and well-being of our families. Because what you don’t know CAN hurt you.