Live for today. Plan for tomorrow.

The only life we have is lived today. Not tomorrow and not yesterday.

How many folks do you know who spend almost all their waking hours fretting over what they had or had not done in the past or what someone had done to them. Then there are folks who do little more than worry about what might happen in the future. But, there are very few people you'll run across that simply enjoy TODAY.

It took me a while to realize that the only thing I can do anything about is today. Not only today, but this very moment. I was one of those who spent a good part of his life thinking about how I had been done wrong by this person or that. Or, how things might have turned our had some event have happened just a little differently. Well, things just CAN'T happen differently than they already have.

I see people in my practice, in my business circles and socially who simply worry about EVERY potential catastrophe or wrong turn. They're loaded up to the gills with insurance, take all kinds of drugs or spend inordinate amounts of time going to various doctors "just in case". I think I saw somewhere that 90% of the things we worry about NEVER come about. And, those that DO come about are things over which we have no control, anyway.

Here's my prescription for a better life. Live your life to the fullest today. And if you wake tomorrow, have another go at it. BUT in your quiet moments, visualize how you want your life to go, including the things you want to do, be and have and with whom you want them. Vow to do those things within your power to make those things happen and THEN to simply allow God (or the universe) to handle the details. When you awaken in the morning, check your list and get on it.

Life seems fullest when it is simply and joyfully lived. Appreciate the life you have. Live it well. Live it today.

I'm not a fan of insurance, but...

... it has it's place.

Being a heath care provider, I used to have this love-hate relationship with insurance. You know, it's one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't things. It seems you can't afford to be without insurance. But, you can't afford to buy it, either. Small business owners and those in life transitions seem disproportionately affected. So in many cases, folks just don't buy it.

Well, there's a time and place for everything. Health insurance is NOT about health. In fact, I think it often creates more health problems than it either prevents or corrects. Insurance really is designed to protect you from catastrophic and unforeseen events that could cause you irreparable financial harm if you're not prepared for it. In fact, most bankruptcies in America are caused by either a health problem or a legal problem.

Health insurance costs could be reduced dramatically if folks would simply understand that their health is THEIR responsibility. Lose weight, exercise, eat better, drink water, work on your spiritual life, do more with your family, find effective ways of reducing (or managing) the stress in your life and, of course, find a good wellness chiropractor.

Here's the point. A good friend of mine had a massive heart attack at his gym on July 4th. Fortunately, the General Manager of the LA Fitness where he worked out, knew CPR and how to use the emergency defibrillator. My friend is still alive, but in a coma in the local hospital. There's not yet a prognosis. Regardless of what the prognosis turns out to be, the medical costs are going to be astronomical. Because my friend was between jobs (and had been for some time) he was without insurance. If he recovers physically, he might never do so financially.

So, find a way to get even a ca strophic hospitalization policy to protect yourself and your family financially should something unexpected happen to you. While not a fan of insurance, I do understand that it protects you from extremes. You can keep the costs to a minimum if you just cover the extremes. But by all means, cover at least that.

Stay healthy. Say "I love you" to those you love. And NEVER take life for granted.

Evolution of a Chiropractor

When I fist discovered chiropractic, it was due to a bad back that had tormented me for 20 years. Since then, I haven't had even an aspirin for back pain.

When I decided to become a chiropractor, it was because of a young girl whose life and miserable prognosis were literally transformed because of chiropractic care. A little girl whose mom was told that her child should be institutionalized because she'd "never be like normal kids" is graduating from graduate school after receiving full academic scholarships for both undergrad and graduate school. Indeed, she's not like normal kids. She's incredibly superlative.

After graduating chiropractic school (Life University in Marietta, Georgia) I practiced exclusively as an upper cervical chiropractor. I had great disdain for chiropractors that mixed things (physical therapy, etc.) other than chiropractic into their practice. I was a "medical basher" because of the havoc I had seen wrought in people's lives by virtue of medical errors and arrogance.

It's funny how time, experience and awareness tend to take the edge off subjectivity. Does that mean that I think physical therapy is any more beneficial to the chiropractic patient, that upper cervical care is no longer the best approach or that the practice of medicine is no longer dangerous? Of course not!

All of those things are STILL true. However, that is only MY perspective. I've come to realize that the determination of what care an individual gets SHOULD be THAT individual. AND that individual deserves as much accurate information as he/she can get. It is my job as a chiropractor to communicate BETTER that chiropractic care can help people live better, fuller lives less dependent on dangerous drugs. It's even more important that I do those things over which I have some control, those bing communication of MY message and giving the very best adjustments I can while educating folks on the power they have to control their health, their happiness and the conduct of their own lives.

I've come to realize that you CAN see your medical doctor and me at the same time. Getting adjusted has nothing to do with what your MD might recommend. When I accepted the premise that I can help you regardless of what condition you may have or what kind of insurance coverage you might (or might not) have, practice became simpler and easier.

Live an Inspried Life

One of the problems I have with the health care business is that it seems to be based more on fear than on health. Most folks never give a thought about health UNTIL it appears to be doing away. Well, they DO think about "health insurance" out of fear they won't have the money to fix a problem if (I mean when) it comes up.

Truth is, you were designed to be healthy, strong and whole. Health is your body's default mode. sickness disease and infirmity happen only after your body has been worn down due to bad lifestyle choices, chronic stress and prolonged exposure to toxins.

But, the comparison of fighting disease and building health is like the athletic team whose focus is on not losing instead of winning. The team whose focus is on wining scores as many points as it can while giving the opposing teams less time to score. The team whose focus is on NOT losing can slip up allowing their opponents to gain the advantage and take the game away. How can you possibly build health if your focus is on preventing cancer, heart disease, diabetes or whatever?

Instead, try living an inspired life. Do those things that build health. Find an exercise program that you can enjoy and will do regularly and from now on. Educate yourself on healthy nutrition. Pursue wholeness in your relationships. Develop your spiritual life because it helps you find and develop peace. Understand, believe and have faith that you are supposed to be powerful and healthy. The stronger YOU are, the weaker and smaller disease will be against you. The stronger you are, the harder disease will have to work to take hold.

Pursue health. Pursue happiness. Pursue wholeness. Pursue your spirituality. Live an inspired life free from fear. You'll be amazed at the difference iin your life when inspiration runs your life instead of desperation.

Good Morning America - Can neck adjustments lower your blood pressure?

I wrote about this a few weeks ago. But, apparently a new study by the University of Chicago shows the benefits of specific chiropractic adjustments of the upper neck can have dramatic effects on blood pressure patients.
Follow the link for the full text of the article.

American Healthcare: A Failed Paradigm

One of the overriding issues in America is health care. It affects virtually every aspect of domestic policy, including politics, business, the economy and personal lives of Americans from the poor to the very rich.

Sadly, in this current political season the answer seems to NOT be on solutions other than offer us more of the same with so-called "universal coverage" for everyone. In other words, the system we have now sucks, so everyone should suffer through it equally. When I discuss this, my Conservative and Liberal friends respond with something like, "What do you mean? We have the best health care system in the world!" But still, both sides simply approach the problem as an insurance problem. Too bad.

In my mind, the problem with health care in America is that the entire paradigm is flawed. From birth, we're indoctrinated into the disease model and that drugs can prevent or cure any mallady. In other words, we must prevent and fight disease.

So, we start babies off with "their shots". While I believe vaccination should be a matter of choice, the number and types of shots recommended for babies and toddlers really is an assault on their developing immune system and is downright scary. Then throughout their early school years, many kids are "diagnosed" with ADD/ADHD and given narcotics grade drugs to force them to sit still so they can do better in school. And then (ironically) complain about athletes taking drugs to enhance their performance. Strange.

As we enter adulthood, we're convinced that giving birth is a traumatic and dangerous event that must be handled strictly in a medical setting. Why aren't women in modern America told that giving birth is a natural, beautiful thing for which they were uniquely designed. Instead of empowering women to do what they were naturally designed for, we scare them into compliance with a pathological, allopathic model of childbirth.

Further into adulthood, Americans are checked routinely for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and a host of other chronic conditions. And when measures creep outside established norms, they're put on medications to force that particular reading to what the doctor thinks is right. Unfortunately, every drug has a side effect. And, we Americans hardly ever ask our doctors "What is in this drug?" or "What are some potential side effects of this drug?" or "How will this affect me with the other drugs I'm taking?" Instead, we simply comply.

Then as we enter middle age, we start seeing problems like liver and kidney failure, congestive heart failure, etc. and become regular visitors to the local hospital. As the drugs either no longer work or our bodies start to shut down from weird symptoms that can't easily be classified, we begin to "doctor shop" to find someone who can come up with an accurate diagnosis.

Eventually, we end up in a nursing home being given dozens of different drugs and put through untold numbers of tests until our bodies finally give in and give up. From birth to death we are taught to fear and fight fever, vomit and diarrhea. And because our focus is on disease, we create disease. Two of the largest and most profitable industries in America just happen to be insurance and drug companies. have you noticed all the new "diseases" being advertised on TV, like "Restless Leg Syndrome", GERD and a host of others? And, have you checked to see how much money those industries invest in advertising and political lobbying?

So, what's the solution? Well first, we must recognize that our entire premise is wrong from the start. Just like our education system and tax code, we need a whole new way of thinking. Maybe it was Einstein who said "No problem can be solved with the same level of thinking that created the it in the first place".

Instead of a system that makes someone else responsible for finding or preventing a disease; or your employer (or worse, the Government) paying for your "health" insurance; or expecting Medicare/Medicaid to pay for your dying care, we should give individuals responsibility for their own health.

In a wellness paradigm, you start with the premise that you're supposed to be healthy! Instead of sitting around watching TV, eating junk food and smoking cigarettes, we encourage folks to exercise, stay fit, eat better and do those things that keep them healthy and out of harm's way. Instead of a mangled care system that minimize the time you spend with "a" doctor, you find the doctor that's right for you and develop the kind of relationship that makes you healthier and gives you greater control over your health and your life.

After all, this is STILL America, "home of the FREE and land of the BRAVE"! The American pioneer spirit has always been responsible for our strength and prosperity. We should get rid of this "plantation mentality" where the Government or an employer should take care of us. As one writer wrote, "you are endowed with the seed of greatness". By realizing and pursuing that greatness in every aspect of life in America, we can restore our nation's health and vitality and reduce our dependence on drug makers and insurance companies.

Live the very best life you can. Don't give your freedom and power to anyone!

High Blood Pressure and Chiropractic

Raise your hand if you know someone taking drugs to lower their blood pressure. Well. That's about 100%. We ALL know someone doing that. And, I guess we all know why. "Unresolved" chronic high blood pressure can supposedly cause stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney failure. In other words, modern Medicine must coerce people through fear to take drugs to control a body function.

Unfortunately, those prescribing drugs for high blood pressure rarely know what is causing a patient's problem. In fact, they may not even stop to think that there may be a GOOD reason for a person's elevated blood pressure. It just might be that there is some condition causing their body to NEED more blood. Most prescriptions for blood pressure medications rarely consider the CAUSE of the problem, whatsoever.

Virtually all prescriptions for blood pressure drugs come in one of four categories: diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. And remember, these drugs only mask the symptom of some unknown condition while having NO healing properties AND even the least toxic ones can have deadly side effects.

So, the title of this article implies that high blood pressure can be positively affected by chiropractic care. You might be asking "What the heck does chiropractic have to do with high blood pressure?" I'm glad you asked. While some folks think chiropractic may be great for back pain, they rarely consider that what chiropractic adjustments really do is take pressure off either specific nerve roots or off the entire nerve system altogether, or both. For our purposes here, I want you to consider something called the Vagus Nerve.

The Vagus Nerve is a very special nerve located in an area called the brain stem. The brain stem is located just below the brain and just above the spinal cord. One of its jobs is to regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and many other functions. In fact, the Vagus Nerve is kind of like the reset switch on your computer. When things lock up, one of the first things you try is the reset button. Most times, that resolves the problem.

Everyone's heard of the body's "fight or flight" mechanism where you gear up for a fight or an to escape a life threatening situation. In our rushed and harried world, many of us stay in this "fight or flight" mode due to chronic stress. Over time, this causes chronic high blood pressure. Our diet and lack of exercise also contribute to the problem. Yet, few doctors recommend stress reduction, diet and exercise as a means of dealing with high blood pressure.

So, how do chiropractic adjustments help lower blood pressure? Specific adjustments of the bone at the top of the neck, called the Atlas, can help reduce stress on the brain stem. Reducing stress on the brain stem can stimulate the Vagus Nerve, helping to slow down your heart rate and lower the blood pressure. There are lots of technical explanations for this. But, this article is directed at people who want to get off drugs and lower the blood pressure naturally, not someone looking to justify the use of drugs. In short, chiropractic adjustments of the upper cervical spine stimulate what's called the parasympathetic nervous system, or the reset button for the "fight or flight" mechanism.

While any good chiropractor can adjust the upper cervical spine, I believe the best results come from specific upper cervical adjustments. And you just might realize other benefits from upper cervical chiropractic adjustments, like better sleep, digestion and elimination. maybe even better sex. But, that's a topic for another day.

FDA Warning! Tussionex has Life-threatening adverse events

FDA informed healthcare professionals of life-threatening adverse events and death in patients, including children, who have received Tussionex Pennkinetic Extended-Release Suspension (Tussionex). The reports indicate that healthcare professionals have prescribed Tussionex for patients younger than the approved age group of 6 years old and older, and more frequently than the labeled dosing interval of every 12 hours. Tussionex is contraindicated for use in patients less than 6 years of age because of their susceptibility to life-threatening and fatal respiratory depression.

Patients have administered the incorrect dose due to misinterpretation of the dosing directions, and have used inappropriate devices to measure the suspension. Overdose of Tussionex in older children, adolescents, and adults has also been associated with life-threatening and fatal respiratory depression. Prescribers should be familiar with the dosing recommendations of Tussionex before prescribing. In addition, patients and caregivers should use a properly marked measuring device to measure Tussionex to prevent overdose.

Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including links to the Public Health Advisory, Information for Healthcare Professionals, and the Prescribing Information at:

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Tussionex

Healing Faith

The most powerful drug known to Mankind can't be found in some exotic plant in the Rain Forest. Nor, is it a miracle of modern science. Nor, is it so expensive that only the rich can afford it.

In fact, the most powerful drug ever known is the sugar pill, the placebo. The efficacy, or effectiveness, of any drug is compared against the effects of the placebo. Only when it is shown that the new drug is better than nothing more than sugar (and a suggestion) is it approved for use on the consuming public. And, the great thing about the placebo is that it has NO side effects! And, it FREE!

Surely, it's not the sugar in the pill that makes the placebo so powerful. Of course not. The power of the placebo is something already inside the patient. As much as "scientists" hate to admit it, the ingredient that makes the sugar pill so powerful is faith. Faith that the pill will actually work! Faith that healing is STILL available.

Several studies ("scientific" double blind studies) in recent years have shown that a doctor praying for his/her patients actually helps the patient heal faster and better than when no one prayed for the patient, at all. Other studies have shown that patients with a loving family and/or a strong spiritual life heal quicker and better, as well.

What is it about faith (or the "placebo effect") that is so powerful? Is it simply hope? Or is there more? I believe it's much more than mere hope. Hope implies that you're not sure of a certain outcome, but willing to give it a try. OR, "I've tried everything else, so I might as well give this a try". You might have some level of confidence in the science or technology behind a doctor's recommendation. But, that's about it.

Faith is much more. Faith is KNOWING that you will get the best outcome possible. So, you move forward with confidence that all the factors have aligned in your favor. When you ACT with faith and unwavering confidence, you improve your odds greatly.

BUT, there's an essential element of faith that's required to mobilize it in your healing, ACTION. It has been said that "Faith without action is dead". I guess that says it all. By taking action toward your healing (or ANY objective for that matter) you exhibit your faith. When you take action, you're actually telling your body to mobilize all its parts and mechanisms to do the job for which it was designed. You literally get out of the way and allow the mechanism to work.

This is not spiritual hocus pocus. Your body was designed for self-healing and self-repair. It KNOWS to rush blood to an injury. It KNOWS how and when to use the inflammatory response to begin the healing process. It KNOWS the right amount of what hormones and chemicals to dispense for ANY given situation. Unfortunately we often impede (or delay) our own healing many times with outside interventions.

Here's the point. You were designed to be healthy, to heal and to be whole. Not using your faith is like trying to wash your car without using water or not taking your sponge out of its wrapper. You just make things harder for yourself.

So, how do you use your faith ACTIVELY? Pray for your healing. And when you pray, DON'T BEG! Ask, knowing that it already done. In other words, give thanks for the healing that you've already received just not yet revealed. Healing is a process. It takes time! Give it time! Then start doing the things you would do IF you were healed. Again, behave as you would were you already healed. Study health and healing. Understand the symptoms of healing. That's right. There are symptoms that reveal that healing is taking place. Unfortunately, many of those symptoms are treated as signs of pathology. ow sad that the very signs of healing can be interpreted as just the opposite. Finally, rejoice. Celebrate in advance of the physical evidence of your healing. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel simply by accepting your gift of healing.

In closing, I want to urge you to use your faith actively in all aspects of your life. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish merely by believing YOU CAN! You were designed to do and be greater than you've ever been allowed to believe you could be. I honestly believe that you were designed to imagine possibilities. And IF you can imagine it, you can have it. BUT, you MUST believe. And as has been said "Your faith has made you whole".

May you prosper and be in good health!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Chiropractic

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, affecting some 58 million Americans. Yet it's also one that many people aren't comfortable talking about because the signs and symptoms may be embarrassing. Some signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are:

• Abdominal cramping
• Bloating and gas
• Diarrhea, constipation or both

Many people have only mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Sometimes the problems can be disabling, however. In some cases, you might have severe signs and symptoms that don't respond well to medical treatment.

For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.

No one knows exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome. Some researchers believe it's is caused by changes in the nerves that control sensation or muscle contractions in the bowel. Others believe the central nervous system may affect the colon. And because women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes might also play a role.

Irritable Bowel symptoms can be triggered by a range of things from gas or pressure on your intestines to certain foods, medications or emotions. Many people have an intolerance for dairy products. If you suffer from IBS, you'll know shortly after eating or drinking dairy products. Another trigger is stress. Most people with IBS find that their signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during stressful events, such as a change in their daily routine or family arguments.

Because it's not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, medical treatment tends to focus on the relief of symptoms. Some of the treatments include anti-diarhheal drugs, anticholinergic (these drugs suppress the nervous system) drugs and even anti-depressants. Bear in mind, all of these drugs have side effects, some even fatal.

The most effective means of prevention of IBS symptoms has been stress reduction and management. Some forms of achieving stress reduction is psychological counseling, biofeedback, exercise, yoga, massage, meditation, deep breathing exercises and even hypnosis.

One of the most telling realizations about Irritable Bowel Syndrome is that no one knows what causes it, yet it is usually made worse with stress and better when stress is reduced. As with seizures and high blood pressure, specific chiropractic adjustments (that affect the parasympathetic nervous system) have helped many individuals suffering from IBS, even ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

If you're suffering from these chronic (and sometimes debilitating) condition, wouldn't it be worth giving chiropractic a try? No drugs, no side effects. If you'd like to give chiropractic a try to help restore some balance in your life and health, let me know. If I'm not in your area, I'll be glad to help you find a good chiropractor near you.

Can chiropractic...?

One of the questions I always get about what I do is “Can chiropractic help my problem?” One of the objections I’ve heard for years, even before my real introduction to chiropractic is “Chiropractors believe chiropractic can cure anything from the common cold to cancer”.
Well, I’ve been a chiropractor for eight years now. And, I’ve been around it for 19 years. And, I’ve learned two things. Sure. Chiropractic can help. And, no chiropractic can’t cure you. Now let me explain.
Chiropractic is not magic. It’s not voodoo. And, it’s not Medicine. It’s unique in a wonderful way. Chiropractic is based on the premise that the body is organized to always seek its own highest good.
Your nervous system controls and coordinates all your body’s functions to make sure that happens. Stress on the nervous system can affect how well your body functions.
All the chiropractor really does is remove (or reduce) one source of stress on your nervous system. When that happens, your body functions better. When your body functions better, health improves and, usually, symptoms go away.
Yesterday, a business associate told me that he didn’t believe that chiropractic could help his problem with seizures. I thought that was a little ironic since the reason I am a chiropractor today is a little girl (Rockie) who suffered from seizures until she began to see a chiropractor.
But, can chiropractic cure seizures, cancer or even the common cold? Of course not! The first chiropractic adjustment cured a man of his acquired deafness, yet not every deaf person who’s gotten adjusted has had their hearing restored. Having said that though, let me say that I would NEVER refuse to adjust someone because they had cancer, seizures or a common cold.
In my practice, I accept ALL cases regardless of their condition because I know that the human body is capable of far more than I (or science) can even imagine AND that if I can remove a source of interference in how their body functions there is no telling what might happen.
I learned long ago that miracles DO happen only when we step out of the way and allow them to. Really, the real miracle is that we ever allow the body to function as it was originally designed.
So, back to original question. Can chiropractic help my problem? Yes, of course.

Stop giving antibiotics for colds, doctors tol

I can't tell you how much grief I've caught over the years about my opinion on the overuse (even abuse) of antibiotics. In fact, it's gotten so bad that the medical world is finally realizing that building immunity is better than fighting germs.

Here's the link to an interesting article: Stop giving antibiotics for colds

Your Mama Was Right: Posture Matters!

Almost everyone has a memory of their mom (or dad) constantly reminding them to “Stand up straight! You don’t want to grow up with bad posture. Do you?” Or as one of my friends puts it, “Stand up straight and act like somebody!” While most parents dutifully admonish their kids to stand tall, they may not realize just how important that advice really is. There are many reasons why good posture matters, including self-esteem, career performance, even significant health considerations.

Let’s talk about how your posture affects several aspects of your life. At the end of the article, we’ll offer some tips on how you can start today to improve your posture and your life.

How you approach the world has a tremendous impact on how you feel about yourself. What’s the first impression you have of someone with slumped shoulders or their head drooping down? Honestly, that person is giving the impression that they’re beaten, sad or hopeless.

Life can be tough. Things happen to everyone that can hurt in so many ways. One way to respond to life’s calamities is to withdraw and become inward. When this happens and a person’s confidence is shaken they look defensive and passive. A slumped posture is almost like curling up in a fetal position while standing, hoping that no one will bother you. Unfortunately, most folks won’t bother with you in that posture.

On the other hand, good posture with your head up and shoulders back is a strong indicator of inner strength and self-confidence. A strong, self-confident person tells the world “Here I come. Give me all you’ve got!” When you stand tall, you tell yourself “I can! I will! I must!” From the standpoint of building and maintaining a strong self-image, one of the most important habits a parent can teach their child is to stand tall, keep your head up and your shoulders back. It will help that child withstand many of life’s challenges throughout his/her life.

There are many ways that an employer, customer or potential client will decide how you fit into their plans. One of the most important, yet subtle, ways others evaluate you is your body language. Let’s say you’re competing for a promotion to a management position with an equally qualified competitor. If the only difference between the two candidates is that one has poor posture and the other looks like a Marine, who wins? The Marine always wins. Every employer wants managers that are confident and show confidence in every way. And in some ways, poor posture communicates the same message as when someone won’t make eye contact. People wonder if you have something to hide. Good posture is like a good handshake. People make judgments about you based on their first impression. Make a good first impression. Stand tall. Head up. Shoulders back. Stomach in. It will pay you great dividends. Posture affects your health in several ways. From a purely mechanical standpoint, if things aren’t lined up the way they were designed, they simply wear out faster. People with arthritis in the joints or spine in their forties and fifties have generally had posture problems their whole life. Any good mechanic will tell you that poor wheel alignment will eventually cause all kinds of structural and mechanical problems with your car. It’s the same with your body. Structure affects function.

As a chiropractor, I see sick and hurting people all the time. One thing they all seem to share is some sort of posture problem. Sometimes, they come to me with pains in the neck and shoulders from driving or sitting at the computer for long hours at a time. Or, maybe a hip, leg or low back problem caused by sitting on a too thick wallet. Probably the most subtle, yet more important, effects of poor posture are neurological problems that can result. Often, people come in with strange problems from migraine headaches to high blood pressure corrected after adjustments to the upper neck. Everyone knows the plight of Christopher Reeves, the former star of the Superman movies. He was thrown from his horse and broke his neck and damaged his spinal cord. The actor was not only paralyzed from the neck down, but also unable to have normal bodily functions without the aid of machines until his eventual death. Postural problems can indicate similar, yet much more subtle spinal misalignments and neurological problems.

Many people have postural problems that may have resulted at birth that only become apparent later in life. Others may have had other trauma caused by injuries from sports, fall or auto accidents. Unless corrected, these problems only get worse with eventual health implications. Because these subtle misalignments and the posture problems they cause don’t involve broken bones, they’re generally not identified with medical diagnoses. For the most part, only chiropractors are trained to identify, locate and correct these misalignments.

So if you find yourself slumping and slouching, do something about it. Practice standing up straight with your head held high and eyes looking forward, not down toward the ground. Pull your shoulders back while tightening your stomach muscles and tucking your butt in. If you find that your posture problem is hard to correct and might also be related to other health problems, find a wellness-oriented chiropractor or e-mail me and I’ll help you find one in your area.

Stand up straight and tall. Let the world know you’re strong, confident and healthy!

Self-medicating

I thought about titling this article “Aleve” because that was the reason I’m writing today. But, I decided the problem of people self-medicating themselves with what they think are harmless over-the-counter drugs is much more dangerous than one specific dangerous drug.

My friend Jerry, whom I’ve known now for 40 years, called me recently to explain why he had been out of touch for a while. It seems that Jerry had been in the hospital recovering from an apparent reaction to the OTC painkiller Aleve. He did what the average American does and picked up a bottle of the painkiller at his local drugstore. After taking recommended doses for about a week, Jerry began to have a pretty serious nosebleed. When the bleeding didn’t stop, he headed to the Emergency Room. The bleeding stopped ONLY after he lost FOUR units of blood, a significant loss under any circumstance. A little more and he could have died. It’s taken several weeks, but he’s just now starting to regain strength.

Over the last few years, I’ve steered away from talking about symptoms and the risks associated with medicating away symptoms. Mine is a wellness practice and most of my clients come to me because they either want to get and stay healthy or they want to opt out of the “old way” of waiting until something’s broke to try to fix it or mask its symptoms with drugs. But, when you see a friend critically injured or hear of someone killed by what is purported to be a harmless drug, it’s hard NOT to speak out.

Just recently, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended stronger warnings on both prescription and over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, more commonly referred to as NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. BUT, how many people EVER read the label warnings of over-the-counter drugs? My guess is a precious few.

Obviously, we live in a drug culture in America. We seek relief and comfort from a bottle. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to consider a new way of thinking. One of the things I try to get folks to do is to realize that they were designed to be healthy and that design did not include a shortage of drugs or a surplus of defective or unnecessary parts. Once we realize that health is part of the design and that symptoms are our friend and are NOT to be ignored, we can start to approach health matters a little more rationally. Another, thing that we work on in my office is helping people become responsible for their own health and not relying so much on a doctor or drug manufacturer to make important health decisions for them.

If I could convince you to change one thing as a result of reading this article, it would be to learn more about your own body, how it works and how specific drugs are supposed to work and the risks (side effects) they carry. When you work to build health instead of simply avoiding disease, your health and your life will take on a whole new meaning.

If you know someone that routinely takes NSAIDs (or any pain medication) please forward this article to them. Encourage them to explore other options for dealing with their symptoms.

Corporate Wellness: Bottom Line Strategies for Effective Healthcare Reform

It is clear to virtually every American (especially those of us in business) that healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of control. No one doubts that either the market will solve the problem OR the government will impose one on us. Managed care has failed from either a cost containment or quality of care perspective. Companies have reached the point where the cost of providing health insurance is almost as burdensome as government regulation. It’s time for some new thinking on healthcare and its impact on business and vice versa. “Corporate wellness” as an operational perspective instead of merely window dressing is one way to deal effectively with rising healthcare costs.

The Insurance Problem

The first step in correcting the problem is to realize that an employee’s health is their own responsibility. Expecting employers to provide unlimited health insurance coverage is simply unrealistic and unreasonable. It’s time for employers (on a broad scale) to reconsider their role in providing health insurance coverage. Instead of providing complete coverage for all employees through group plans, companies should begin to shift the burden of health coverage to those covered.

Here’s the approach. Provide catastrophic health insurance as a group benefit to all employees with a large enough deductible (say $5000 per employee) to make the cost affordable for the company. Then, allow employees to buy their own health insurance policies (based on their own needs) and pay for them through payroll deduction with pre-tax earnings. There are numerous insurance companies that sell individual plans on this basis. Everybody wins. Employees can tailor their coverage to their own needs and circumstances using their own doctors. Companies win by stopping the endless cycle of rising costs and ever-changing plans. And when individuals become responsible for the cost of their own insurance, they become more attentive to their own health. Besides, if an employee is interested in working for you ONLY because your company offers great insurance benefits aren’t they telling you they’re going to cost you more money in the future?

Develop a “Wellness Culture”

Our current “sickness culture” perpetuates the healthcare crisis and hastens the demise of market-based solutions. By sickness culture, I mean our focus on health problems instead of on having a healthy workplace and performance culture.

So, what would a “wellness culture” look like? First, instead of paid sick days, employees might be rewarded at year’s end with an attendance bonus. Employees would be reimbursed for successful completion of smoking cessation and weight-loss programs. Companies would invest in corporate memberships at local health clubs so every employee can participate. Employees would be offered in-house wellness programs on a variety of issues ranging from ergonomics to stress management. Finally, companies would commit to hiring and retaining healthy employees. Simply put, healthy employees cost less and are more productive than unhealthy ones. Applicants should be screened for health habits and practices that limit their productivity and increase the likelihood of future expense. While this may seem harsh, it rewards those employees whose personal lifestyle and habits ensure the best Return on Investment by the company committing to hire, train and pay them.

Be open to “alternative and complementary” approaches

Studies published in major medical journals reveal that individuals who use “alternative and complementary” health modalities (including chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and massage) are generally healthier, better educated, take fewer medications and miss fewer days from work than the average American. Since these individuals look for ways to stay healthy without drugs and surgery, they end up being a net benefit in terms of attendance and productivity. Old prejudices in this area should be discarded in order for companies to improve productivity and increase profitability

Conclusion

Healthcare costs are increasing at a staggering pace. Managed care is an abysmal failure. Companies are buckling under the pressure of providing health coverage to their employees. American competitiveness in the market is sagging. These times call for extraordinary solutions. It’s time for American companies to consider some out-of-the-box solutions to the healthcare crisis. Corporate wellness is an approach that is timely, achievable and reasonable given the alternatives. All options should be considered while we still have a chance.

MRSA Panic - How and WHY NOT to

We’ve been deluged lately with news stories on MRSA or methicillin resistant staph infection. It seems that what we in the alternative healing community have been saying all these years about the overuse and abuse of antibiotics has come true. Sadly, we’re actually BREEDING bacterial superbugs in the very place where most people think is the safest healing environment possible, the hospital.

MRSA is expected to kill more Americans every year than AIDS. And while it’s being reported that the infection can be acquired through sports activities and other physical contact, the vast majority of cases are found in hospitals and nursing homes. The ONE thing that hospitals and nursing homes have in common is that almost everyone there is already sick and their immune systems weakened. In other words they’re not able to resist even minor infections, much less one that actually feeds on the strongest antibiotics available.

So, how does one protect themselves from the superbug MRSA? First and foremost, the best thing you can do is practice good hygiene. Simply washing your hands goes a long way. One news report I heard over the weekend gave this advice to HOSPITAL staff. Good grief! If you’re kid is plays a contact sport, make sure they shower well after practice and games. Don’t share towels, toothbrushes or razors. Sounds obvious. But one reported outbreak was among a football team that shared a razor to shave their legs before wrapping their ankles.

Another way to avoid MRSA (also called a nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infection) is to avoid the hospital, if at all possible. I know it’s not always possible. But when hospitals are warned to have their staff wash their hands and take off their white coats, you KNOW something is REALLY wrong. If you can’t avoid the hospital, at least make sure you remind your caretakers to practice good hygiene.

Probably the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to build your immune system as much as possible. How? Do those things that make you as healthy as possible: exercise, eat right, drink lots of water, get plenty restful sleep, reduce stress by developing and maintaining a positive mental attitude and keep stress on your nerve system to a minimum. While you can take care of the first four, only a chiropractor is trained to locate and reduce sources of stress created by spinal misalignment.

MRSA was created by overuse and abuse of antibiotics. Less reliance on drugs and greater reliance on your body’s ability to fight infection and disease is a great first step in protecting you from hospital-acquired infections.

Shingles and Chiropractic

So, can chiropractic cure shingles? Of course not. But, neither can Medicine. There is no cure for shingles, a condition that causes extreme pain to those afflicted.

Shingles is a condition where the Chicken Pox (herpes zoster) virus settles into a person’s nerve root and causes no problems until activated, usually by stress. Once activated, the entire nerve is affected causing extreme discomfort and pain. Unfortunately, there’s little that can be done to alleviate the problem other than try to lessen the symptoms.

However, many sufferers of shingles have found that finding ways of reducing and dealing with stress keeps the virus from becoming active. One of those ways is getting adjusted by their chiropractor on a regular basis. Chiropractic adjustments help balance stress on the nervous system. Reducing that stress helps prevent shingles outbreaks and helps your body recover quicker when there is an outbreak.

If you suffer from shingles, I encourage you to find a wellness chiropractor whose focus is on the upper cervical spine.

Chronic Fatigue

I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve seen over the years who’ve been diagnosed with “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. Well, I just don’t buy it. For one thing, how do you come up with a diagnosis for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? In my opinion, it’s one of those “junk drawer” diagnoses that is often used when nothing specific can be identified. What causes it? How should it be treated?

The problem with diagnoses like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD, etc. is that because they’re little more than a collection of symptoms whose cause cannot be specifically identified they end up with sometimes bizarre treatment regimes, like antidepressants, muscle relaxers, steroids, etc. Once on the treatment path, it’s almost impossible to get off the treadmill.

In my practice, I’ve observed that when someone begins to look at the bigger picture of their lives and living more intuitively, their symptoms tend to fade away. As they take more control over the things they can control (their thoughts and behavior) and quit worrying about the things over which they have no control, their reliance on either over-the-counter or prescription drugs goes away.

If you’re always tired and have little energy to do the things you want and must do, I strongly encourage you to try to get off the symptom chasing treadmill. Find a holistic wellness practitioner and develop a plan for living a free and healthy life. Freedom is found outside the pill bottle.

Thanksgiving

In all things, Give Thanks!

We have no control over what happens to us in life and business. WeDO, however, have control over our response. One of the major laws ofphysics says that for every action there's an opposite and equalaction. See the possibilities before you and KNOW that there is somegood that CAN come from every event in your life. As quaint and triteas it may seem, the saying still holds "You can't have the flowers without the rain".

Embrace your life and all the goodness before you. You NEVER know what possibilities await you!

Dr. Tim

Conventional Wisdom – Is It Really Wisdom or Just Lazy Thinking?

Many of us rely on conventional wisdom to help guide us through routine decision-making processes. But, does conventional wisdom really serve us that well? Or does it actually keep us from making the best decisions possible? While common knowledge can be helpful in certain situations, it keeps us from making progress in almost every aspect of our lives, as well as that of our society and the worldwide community.

By now, we’re all too familiar with the example of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Western World. Conventional wisdom of the day was that the Earth was flat and if you sailed far enough you would simply fall off the end of the Earth. Having little more than intuition and faith, Columbus defied conventional wisdom and set out on his voyage of discovery. Of course, the rest is history.

One of the areas most affected by conventional wisdom is in the area of health and wellness. For centuries, Western cultures have favored scientific advances in the fight against death and disease. Obviously, advances have been made that improved the plight of mankind. Discovery of the causes of many diseases have led to improvements in sanitation and drinking water supplies. Unfortunately, these advances have received little credit for the virtual elimination of such diseases as polio and tuberculosis (in developed countries) while mass vaccination programs have received almost all of the credit. Conventional wisdom says that vaccination prevents disease. In depth analysis might point to many differing perspectives.

Another bit of conventional wisdom is that animal protein is unhealthy for humans. It’s supposed to increase cholesterol and cause cardiovascular disease. Just this week, though, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a study that counters that conventional wisdom. For years, Dr. Robert Atkins, developer of the high protein, low carbohydrate weight-loss program named after him was called a quack, huckster and charlatan by mainstream medicine. The JAMA study showed that the high-protein Atkins diet was more effective at helping participants lose weight than other mainstream programs, like The Zone diet and the Ornish diet. Even more amazing is that with the unconventional high-protein, high-fat Atkins diet participants not only lowered blood pressure, they reduced LDL, or bad, cholesterol and increased HDL, or good, cholesterol. Maybe Dr. Atkins’ critics will now let him rest in peace.

Conventional wisdom also tells us “germs cause disease”. Fortunately, the theory that germs alone cause disease is about as silly a notion as the one that Columbus had to overcome. Unfortunately, the Germ Theory (misapplied) has done much to set up Western civilization for potentially huge public health problems in the near future. Let’s take a closer look. If germs really caused disease then why doesn’t everyone in a household get a cold or the flu at the same time? Or, why do just some people at work get the flu and not everyone? In its haste to eliminate disease by killing germs, modern Medicine has abandoned the real precepts of the Germ Theory that tell us it’s the strength of the germ (or pathogen), the amount of exposure and the strength (or weakness) of the host (you and me) that determines if one will actually develop a disease or condition when exposed. The main reason that some get sick and some don’t is the strength of our immune system and it’s ability to isolate and kill those germs. Many believe that conventional wisdom regarding the war against disease is that it has caused potential problems with over-vaccinating children and abuse of antibiotics among a host of other problems. It has also created a situation that actually invites a pandemic catastrophe.
There are many sets of conventional wisdom that bear scrutiny, including global warming, mandatory vaccination programs and the net benefit of mandatory public education. Of course, the list is limited only by your own observation.

So, how can we keep from becoming a victim of conventional wisdom as both individuals and as a society? First, realize that “common knowledge” is just that. It’s common, accepted by all without little thought or analysis, the lowest common denominator and far from the final answer. “Conventional wisdom” is more consensus than wisdom. It stifles thought and fosters ignorance among the masses. Second, force yourself to ask “Is this true or does it just seem true because so many people accept it?” Finally, let principles guide you rather than the mere assertions of others.

Here are some principles that will never let you down.

• The human body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. It doesn’t as much need help as it just needs less interference.
• If drugs worked, rich people wouldn’t die.
• Individual freedom is superior to group identification.
• Morality, self-restraint and personal responsibility are more effective than regulation.
• If something can be imagined, it can be done.
• The human mind contains all the knowledge of the Universe. Don’t allow your thinking to be limited by common knowledge or conventional wisdom.
• The Earth has been here a long time. It can correct anything Mankind can do to it.
• The wisdom of Nature is greater than the sum of all Mankind’s knowledge now and forever.
• Mother Nature always wins in the long run. Work with it not on it or against it.

Just know that principles win out over knowledge every time. Live your life in accord with solid principles. Don’t be a victim of common knowledge or conventional wisdom. Think for yourself. Be all that God designed you to be.