Why is chiropractic care so darn important?
Let me take my doctor hat off for a minute. I’m sure most of you know that I have been under chiropractic care the majority of my life. My mother saw it important to our health. I grew up assuming everyone did it. You go when you hurt, when you don’t hurt, when you were sick, and more often when you were playing sports. Even when I went away to college (and had to pay for adjustments!), I sought chiropractic care for trouble sleeping, aches, pains, headaches, and more. It wasn’t until college when I realized not everyone went to a chiropractor, or knew what chiropractic was.

Ok, so, knowing this it wasn’t until I went to chiropractic school that I realized the full potential of chiropractic as a form of healthcare. Let me use some analogies. You have a home phone. Fuzz, what sounds like other callers, high pitched noises, cutting in and out are all common problems that affect the quality of your phone call. Now, where or what is the cause? The truth is that there is lots of room for error. It could be a line that is frayed or cut. What about a transformer that has blown? Miscommunication between you and your provider (ie they turned off service)? The body works very similarly. Brain is home-base and all the nerves in the body are the telephone lines. When you get pain, tingling, or numbness, there is usually one BIG source of nerve irritation. Spinal vertebrae that are misaligned cause irritation to the beginning of the nerve at that level. This can cause muscle tension, muscle spasm, inflammation, and pain all along that nerve. Now where is that nerve going? To your finger, intestine, ear, somewhere in your head? The fact that irritation is present causes dysfunction down the line. That dysfunction can mean headaches, indigestion, tightness in your chest, sciatica, and tingling in your fingers or toes to name a few. And if that irritation is left alone, it can lead to much more serious conditions.

Now, my point. While I truly believe that chiropractic can help LOTS of problems, your job is to constantly challenge me to that! I want you to tell me about a new (or old) problem so that I can help. And if you haven’t given it any further thought – Bring your kiddos in to get “checked out.” With all the falls and run-ins they take, their little bodies need to be working at 100% when growing.

One last point. In case I haven’t told you, each adjustment gives you an immune boost. Your white blood cells increase in number over the next 24 hours. This can be crucial when you are sick or are starting to feel sick. So don’t be afraid to keep that appointment when you are sick. It may be just the boost you need to get better more quickly.

I hope that you understand that chiropractic is more than just getting your back “cracked.” It really is a lifestyle. I hope that you can see why it is important to use chiropractic for more than just back pain.

For those of you who may not know, my daughter has a milk allergy. It isn’t lactose intolerance, instead a complete dairy allergy. While her reaction isn’t as extreme as some, her reactions do include diarrhea, rash, and mood changes. Our alternative is Goat Milk.

As I was flipping through a chiropractic magazine, I ran across an article about the benefits of goat milk vs. cow milk. Now, we didn’t really give too much thought to our choice of goat milk. Our daughter wouldn’t drink rice or almond milk. And if you didn’t know, 50% of people with a milk allergy will be allergic to soy!!

What I didn’t know was that goat milk is similar to human milk. The “DNA structure has similar constituents to those in human breast milk.” This is an amazing option, especially if your family has food allergies.

The article also states digestion of goat milk is much easier on the digestive tract. This is always a concern with a young child, and even adults as well.

What this article doesn’t tell you is that the fat content is to a much lesser degree in goat milk as well. This is a great cooking alternative when you are watching your caloric intake.

To read the article, click HERE

It is sometimes amazing to me that parents (who are patients) do not think about bringing their children into the office for assessment and treatment. I have to blame myself for this. I have not done a great job at educating them the importance of chiropractic care to their health and the health of their family.

Now, when we think of chiropractors, we immediately think, “Back Pain.” While this is how some of my fellow doctors have branded themselves, I do not readily identify with this thought. I look at chiropractic as a wellness treatment, a complimentary alternative to allopathic medicine. Now, as you may guess, I don’t use my MD regularly. I see them as directed, when I am sick. Chiropractic is just the opposite. It is preventative.

The body is an amazing thing that I am in awe of daily. To see the smiling faces of people who come in saying, “I feel pretty good” and see them walk out feeling that much better shows me there is more to what I do than just “crack backs.” It is a lifestyle choice – A lifestyle where people are in-tune with their bodies and listen to what is has to say, make the appropriate accomodations, and make healthier choices. I’m proud of what I do. And I’m more proud of my practice where you all listen and learn.

So, if for some reason, I haven’t done my job and properly educating you of how chiropractic really works – just ask me. I’d love the opportunity.

I was reading “Nutrition News and Views” recently and the author, Judith DeCava, was talking about Colon and Colorectal cancer. Some of the interesting things I learned in that article are listed below:

*Most colonoscopies look for polyps, which are removed during that process. However, colorectal cancers tend to arise from nonpolyp growths (flat or depressed) which are common. These flat wounds are hard to detect and may be easily missed with routine colonoscopies.

*A colonoscopy should be done by Gastroenterologist. There is also a 2-3 times greater risk of having a suspicious growth missed when performed in the doctor’s office rather than a hospital. Also be sure to ask the doctor about their withdrawal method. Doctors who take their time, up to 17 minutes, to withdraw the wand detect nearly 4 times more polyps and cancers than those with fast (as little as 3 minutes) withdrawal times.

*It is well established that lifestyle factors, like diet, affect risk of colorectal cancer. Numerous studies have found that diets rich in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of polyps and colorectal cancer.

*A diet with high intake of refined grains, sugary foods, processed and red meats, fried foods, and altered fats can lead to obesity and being overweight. Both obesity and being overweight increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

*Foods high in fiber also contain many other substances and nutrients that may help prevent colorectal cancer.

*Several studies showed that dietary synbiotics (namely prebiotics and probiotics) help reduce risk of colorectal cancer by keeping the gut flora in balance and keep the gut lining healthy.

*Calcium and Vitamin D may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. A Harvard study in 2002 found that consuming at least 700 mg of calcium daily in food was linked to reduced risk of certain types of colorectal cancer.

*Excercise can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Not only does it help to reduce excess fat and help with weight management, but improves immune function, circulation, insulin sensitivity, bone and muscle tone, and nerve function — all important to the digestive tract.