Table of Contents Who Do We See In Our Office? Words of Wisdom Did You Know? More Friends = Less Colds? Vaccination News Religion, Faith and Health Spinal Research Humor Who do we see in our chiropractic office? We see people with all kinds of problems: colds or ear infections; menstrual problems, spinal or disc problems; arthritis; insomnia; anxiety; vision problems; headaches; allergies; bed-wetting; colic; high blood pressure - the list is long! We also see people who want to stay healthy and who want to improve their physical and emotional health and well-being. We see athletes who want the 'winning edge.' And yet, please remember, our goal as your doctor of chiropractic is not the treatment of disease but the enhancement of health through the reduction of spinal nerve stress (vertebral subluxation complex). We help turn on your inner doctor! How does it work? The exact mechanisms are still not completely understood however some of the basics are as follows: The illustration on the left shows how your organs, glands, muscles and nearly every body part is connected to your spinal cord (which is an extension of your brain that goes down your back). Your spinal column or "backbone" (funny drawing on right) protects your delicate nerves by surrounding them in bone. However if just one of your spinal bones is even slightly out of position (misaligned) it can irritate your nerves and affect your body function. This condition is called a vertebral subluxation and it can undermine your health and create body/mind malfunction (dis-ease). Chiropractors spend thousands of hours learning how to analyze your spine (and your children's spines) for vertebral subluxations in order to free you from this terrible condition using a procedure called a "chiropractic adjustment." Everyone needs to have their spines checked by a chiropractor to ensure that they do not have any subluxations. Chiropractic teaches us that the best way to improve our health is to remove those things that interfere with normal body function. Along with correcting subluxations, avoid drugs as much as possible; unnatural or damaging childbirth practices; unnatural foods; pollution; chemicals; excess tension, and other forms of distress. So if you're tired of being sick and tired, being told "you've just got to learn to live with it," and are looking for a natural method of regaining health and wholeness without polluting your body with chemicals, why not join the millions who have discovered the wonders of this amazing health care system? Did You Know? äyour brain uses 20% of your body's energy generating 25 watts of power during waking hours but accounts for only 2% of body weight? Messages within the brain travel at speeds of up to 250 mph.(1) More Friends, Less Colds? Avoid contact with other people to prevent colds? Research is showing just the opposite - that being around people, lots of different people, may make you less susceptible to colds. A study found that the more diverse your social relationships - friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, fellow members of religious and community organizations - the less likely you are to catch a cold. It seems that people are good for you and help keep your immune system healthy.(2) Words of Wisdom ... a kind of superintelligence exists in each of us, infinitely smarter and possessed of technical know-how far beyond our present understanding. - Lewis Thomas, M.D. Life is the center where the material and the spiritual forces of the Universe seem to meet and be reconciled. - Edward Sinnot, renown Yale biologist Truth can come from anywhere. There is nothing that does not have its truth. Because, without a spark of truth, nothing can exist. Not even falseness. Therefore, the wise man is he who knows how to learn truth from every person and discover the truth of each thing. - Lubavitcher Rebbe Vaccination News In 1978 in Japan, Japanese doctors in two counties observed 16 infants die immediately following vaccination. Japan then changed the law, making it illegal to vaccinate a child under the age of two years. The result? Crib death (SIDS) plummeted. Japan went from 17th place in infant mortality to No. 1 - the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. That law lasted for two years. When infants were allowed to be vaccinated again at 2 months, the death rate went up again as well. In 1998 Japan overturned all mandatory vaccination laws. They still have the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. The US is in 20th place where mandatory vaccination begins at 2 months (or sooner). "A single vaccine given to a six-pound newborn is the equivalent of giving a 180 lb. adult 30 vaccinations on the same day. Include in this the toxic effects of high levels of aluminum and formaldehyde contained in some vaccines, and the synergist toxicity could be increased to unknown levels. Further, it is very well known that infants do not produce significant levels of bile or have adult renal capacity for several months after birth. Bilary transport is the major biochemical route by which mercury is removed from the body, and infants cannot do this very well. They also do not possess the renal (kidney) capacity to remove aluminum. Additionally, mercury is a well-known inhibitor of kidney function." - Boyd Haley Ph.D. http://www.whale.to/m/haley.html Religion, Faith and Health In a seven year study of seniors, religious involvement was associated with less physical disability and less depression. The death rates were lower than expected before religious holidays suggesting that faith may even postpone death. Church-goers have nearly one-half the risk of heart attack and lower blood pressure, even after controlling for the effects of smoking and socioeconomic status. Religion and spirituality also give people a sense of meaning and purpose, support for a healthy lifestyle and avoidance of cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, opportunities for social contact and to develop supportive relationships and a sense of being part of something larger and feeling connected to something outside of oneself.(3) Chiropractic and Spinal Research Crohn's Disease A 31-year-old man had Crohn's disease since age 15. A portion of his intestine had been removed and he was on antibiotics and prednisone. Had not had a normal bowel movement since age 15 and constantly suffered from abdominal cramps. Chiropractic analysis revealed a subluxation of axis which was adjusted. By the 13th visit, he started having normal bowel movements and all medication was stopped.(4) High Blood Pressure High blood pressure patients were divided into three groups of 21. One group received chiropractic care, one received a placebo, one were controls. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the adjusted group. No significant changes occurred in the placebo or control groups.(5) Developmental Communication Disorder in a Two-Year-Old A 2-year old child with a medical diagnosis of 'developmental communication disorder' was non-responsive to any external stimuli, even to receiving an injectionädid not respond to sound or touch.äChiropractic analysis revealed an axis subluxation. The doctor writes: "On the 3rd visit he responded to something happening around him. By the 6th visit, he started to follow certain commands and stopped making repeated hand motions. He started to talk after the 12th office visit. At present, he has an extensive vocabulary."(6) Vertigo and Chiropractic A 71-year-old woman with "sudden onset of severe disabling vertigo" tried standard medical care for almost a year with very little relief. She tried chiropractic care and received cervical (neck) adjustments. Her vertigo completely resolved.(7) Paper #2: 112 vertigo patients got under chiropractic care. All had excellent results following chiropractic adjustment to correct subluxations in the upper neck area.(8) References 1. Barrett SL. It's All in Your Head: A Guide to Understanding Your Brain and Boosting Your Brain Power. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing. 2. Cohen S, et al. Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold. JAMA.1997;277(24):1940-1944. 3. Larson DB, Greenwold-Milano MA. Are religion and spirituality clinically relevant in health care? Mind/Body Medicine. 1995;1:147-157. 4.Goldman SR. Subluxation location and correction. Today's Chiropractic. July/August 1995;70-74. 5. Yates RG, Lamping DL, Abram NL, Wright C. Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. JMPT. 1988;11(6):484-488. 6. Goldman SR. Subluxation location and correction. Today's Chiropractic. July/August 1995;70-74. 7. Cagle P. Cervicogenic vertigo and chiropractic, managing a single case: a case report. Journal of the American Chiropractic Association. May 1995:83-84. 8. Fitz-Ritson D. Assessment of cervicogenic vertigo. JMPT. 1991;14:193-198.