VIDEO: THE ACTIVATOR STORY

Here is a nice video about the story of where Activator Methods comes from, as told by one of the co-founders, Dr. Arlan Fuhr.  He has also been one of my greatest inspirations.  Whenever I receive a compliment about my work from a patient, I often say I just had great teachers, including Dr. Fuhr.

"MORE DOCTORS SMOKE CAMELS"

This ad is from 1952, when the dangers of smoking weren't out in the open yet.  Even more amazing, there are still many health care practitioners that still smoke, despite the risks and stigma of being a bad example.

THE RESILIENT PEA

With the right conditions, it seems almost anything can grow in your body.  When an American man was suffering with lung problems, he feared that he was developing cancer.  But when he was examined by his doctors, they were surprised to find that a pea had sprouted in his lungs, growing to about 1.25cm in length.  It was removed surgically and the 75 year old man was just relieved that it wasn't cancer. (Read more.)

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR HEALTH?

It's always interesting to see where different people put their health on their list of priorities. I recently had two patients who seemed to be on different ends of the spectrum. The first was in severe pain and discomfort for years, consulted many different doctors, with many ultimately recommending surgery. When we spoke, he seemed desperate, saying that he really hopes that I can help him. However his actions said something completely different. He missed his first appointment, was more than 30 minutes late for his second, and didn't even show for his third. It's obvious he was not willing to go out of his way to be healthy. In contrast, another patient who returned after 2 years of being well, shows what happens when your health is a priority. This man has always been at our office early for every appointment -- and I don't think he even owns a car. He got great results two years ago and has already experienced great results this year, prompting him to refer his nephew. As these two examples show, time management plays a very strong part in health management, and thus life management.  The choice is yours.

REALIZING MY CALLING

During my growing years, my ambition was usually to become a "doctor."  The part about helping people always appealed to me.  But then at the age of about 20, I realized the part about prescribing drugs or doing surgery simply was not part of my belief system.  I then began my brief search for my true calling.  This was before the days of our very efficient internet of today, but the public library proved to be very useful.  After doing some reading about health professions and then reading a more detailed book about chiropractic, something seemed to click in my head and I knew my destiny awaited me:  to be a chiropractor.  That was about 19 years ago.  Much has happened since then, including more than 13 years of professional practice, in the U.S and mostly here in South Africa.  I have been blessed beyond my ambitions and continue to enjoy helping people live better lives.  Just as I had dreamed of doing when I was only a child.

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS: MORE BAD THAN GOOD?

A review of several studies published this year from the U.K. found that using calcium supplements increased the risk of heart attacks by about 30%.  According to the researchers, "given that calcium supplements only modestly improve bone density and prevent fracture, their role in the management of osteoporosis should be re-assessed."  If you eat properly, you can get enough usable calcium from a well-rounded diet.  Make sure that you exercise and have some sort of green, leafy vegetable every day, as this is nature's best source of minerals, including calcium, in a form that your body can and will be able to utilize. 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE

A recent study found that having a purpose in life keeps you healthier. In particular, scientists discovered that among 900 elderly people, those that had a "greater purpose in life" had a much lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and mental impairment. While this study only focused on the elderly, I'm sure the results would be similar for all people, from children to adults.  From a personal standpoint, my purpose is to empower you to function better, through chiropractic and information, and serves as the driving force in my professional life. So whether your aim in life is your work, your family, your garden, your hobby, a charitable cause, or a combination of several things, make sure you have a clear purpose. Everything that you say, think, or do affects others and the planet that sustains us. Remember, no matter what you do, lives are always at stake.