DOES YOUR NEUROSURGEON KNOW?

Yesterday, one of my patients told me about a concerned question he received from a friend upon hearing that they've been to a chiropractor. He asked if his neurosurgeon was aware that his wife is receiving chiropractic care, implying that it's potentially dangerous. This patient replied to his friend that when he took his wife to the neurosurgeon they paid a lot of money but didn't get any better. In contrast, since beginning chiropractic care, his wife has improved and doesn't complain anymore.

A few hours later, I had a new patient who told me about his 38 year old cousin, who is now in a wheelchair after two failed back operations. It's funny how people tend to think of chiropractic care as being potentially harmful, when spinal operations are far more risky. And the success rate of back operations is questionable, as I read a few years ago that most people that are considered successful spinal operations are still using pain pills.

As a chiropractor, I often come across many cases where a spinal operation did not help. From the neurosurgeon's perspective, they often come across the cases where chiropractic care did not help. So we tend to see each other's failures. That does not mean that surgery is always unsuccessful. It has it's place, but should be the last resort. More and more medical doctors are learning about the value of chiropractic care because their patients are telling them about the benefits they've experienced. So the next time you see your medical doctor, tell them about your chiropractic experience. In contrast to the pharmaceutical companies, we don't have reps that call on the doctors on a regular basis. So the only way they will come to learn about any form of health care that is not linked to the drug industry is from their patients. You could help someone to avoid having an unnecessary operation.

DOES MILK BUILD STRONG BONES?

With decades of great marketing by the dairy industry, most people still believe that milk is not only healthy, but also a good source of calcium to strengthen your bones. In reality, there isn't much evidence to support this. In fact, the dairy industry was forced to stop claiming that milk is good for you many years ago. A new book by Dr. Amy Joy Lanou called Building Bone Vitality reveals that contrary to popular belief, the best thing to build strong bones is not milk or calcium supplements, but regular walks, spending some time in the sun, and eating fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. It's no wonder that the countries that have the highest rates of osteoporosis also consume the most milk. (reference)

THE RIGHT WAY TO CARRY CHILDREN

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, uncle, or aunt, carrying a child is one of the true joys in life. Carrying them properly will keep you from regretting it later. Here are a few things to remember to prevent you from hurting yourself:
Alternate sides: Most people, especially parents with a busy schedule, tend to hold their kids only on one side, to allow your stronger arm to do other things. Make a conscious effort to carry them on both sides, and also in front of you using both arms when possible.
Keep them close: To prevent strain on your back, hold the child as close to your body as possible. With older children, ask them to hold on to you, which makes them feel much lighter. If you feel discomfort in your back while holding them, try tightening your abdominal muscles to take strain off your spinal column.

Lift them up properly: Make sure you lift them up with your legs, and not with your back or arms. This means bending your kness before you lift them up.

Stay fit: You must stretch and exercise 3-4 times per week, with regular walks at the least, to strengthen your core muscles and your legs. And make sure your spine is in optimal alignment and free of any nerve interference.

These simple steps will help to keep you functioning better and make those fleeting moments with children even more enjoyable.

CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP WITH INFERTILITY?

About a month ago, a mother brought her 9 week old baby who had been struggling with colic. When they entered my consulting room, I realized that I had met the mother before. She told me she came to me as a patient while she was having a challenge with falling pregnant. After reviewing her file, I recalled that I saw her in November 2007, and now, about 18 months later, she was the proud mother of a little baby boy. I can’t say if the chiropractic care actually helped to make her fertile, as she had been improving many different aspects of her lifestyle. Nonetheless, I was very pleased for her and her husband. Becoming a parent is truly a blessing and it’s always nice to see someone given that opportunity. I have heard of many stories of chiropractic care having a positive effect with infertility. One recent study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health showed successful outcomes for three women who were also not able to have a child. Spinal adjustments improves the nerve supply to the reproductive organs and also improves hormonal balance. Infertility is a growing problem resulting from many different factors, and improving the function of the central nervous system is yet another step that could help. (reference)

MAKE WINTER WORK FOR YOU

Winter is meant to be a time of resting and rejuvenating. This is evident when you look at the animals and trees around us. Some of them hibernate, some go into a dormant state, and most simply slow down. As humans, we try to defy the laws of nature and often continue as normal, even though our environment tells us to relax a bit. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your innate healing powers during the cold months:

Sleep more: When we sleep, the parasympathetic nervous system is most active. This is the portion of our nervous system that heals and rejuvenates us from the up and downs of our daily living. Try to sleep about 30 to 60 minutes extra in the winter to give your body more time to heal.
Enjoy the fruits of winter: Nature provides us the proper nutrition when we need it most and winter fruits are a perfect example. Papinos, oranges, and guavas among others, contain high amounts of vitamin C and minerals, in a form that is easily digested and readily absorbed, which we need to boost the function of our immune system.
Exercise in moderation: In a survey we did of our patients a few years ago, most people tend to exercise less during the colder months. However, moderate and regular exercise has been shown time and again to have immune-boosting effects. Enjoy our normally sunny winter days by taking a brisk 30 minute walk about 3 times a week. But remember, too much exercise does suppress the immune system. Also, remember to stretch every day, which is even more important during this season.
Laugh a lot: Laughing makes us feel good and this has a positive effect on our immune system. So watch a funny movie or read a witty book. We tend to take life too seriously and laughing always puts things into perspective and will make you healthier.
Stay social: In our modern world, we are so wary of being exposed to “germs,” when in reality, the people who are more exposed, with more physical contact to other people, tend to get sick less often. Many studies have shown this. So allow your immune system to strengthen by meeting more people and connect with your friends more often.
Optimize your nervous system function: In an article in the June issue of Shape magazine, they mentioned that chiropractic adjustments can help to boost your gland functions, which nurtures your immune system. Also, your nervous system does directly control your immune system, so maintaining proper spinal balance and function will help give your immune system a big advantage this winter.

These simple steps will help you to make winter work for you, so by the time spring comes around, you will be ready to take on the world.