SOUND FAMILIAR?

STUDY SHOWS POSTURE AFFECTS THOUGHTS

Our posture plays a strong role in our overall health and how we are perceived by others. Now, a study from Ohio State University showed that your posture also affects how you feel about yourself. Apparently, the students in this study were more confident about their own thoughts when they were sitting with good posture. From a chiropractic perspective, this makes a lot of sense, because your nervous system functions better when you have good posture. One benefit you may have noticed as a chiropractic patient, is that when you are well-adjusted, you tend to feel more comfortable when you are sitting up straight, as opposed to when you're slouching. You are literally more aware of your posture, since the information from your body to your brain is able to flow better. And this study now shows that you will also feel more confident about yourself and your decisions, making life much more productive and enjoyable.

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"Little Known Chiropractic Treatment Saves Man's Life"

Here is an interesting story about a man who suffered with severe facial nerve pain (Trigeminal Neuralgia) for about a decade, at times leading him to consider suicide. He was finally able to get relief after receiving specific chiropractic adjustments to his upper cervical spine.

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ABSORBING THE EARTH'S VIBES

I've recently been wondering why most people feel the need to be out in nature, including myself. Whether it's gardening, hiking, boating, fishing, or just picnicing under the shade of a tree. There is something undeniably calming and energizing about being in the natural world. Last week, I came across what's called Schumann's Resonance. Apparently, the earth resonates the same frequency as the our brain waves and we need this in order to stay healthy. In fact, NASA has been using this phenomenon to keep their astronaut's healthier while in space with what they call a "Schumann Simulator." So if you are insulated from earth, spending your days and nights indoors, walking on concrete and paving, and driving on tarred roads, make sure you get back in touch with the Earth on a regular basis. As one of my patient's said the other day, she has to have her "bush injection." Your body, mind, and soul will be grateful.

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SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON YOGA

A very interesting study was published this month in Spine, one of the leading medical journals dealing with spinal problems. They found that yoga was more effective than conventional medical treatment for chronic low back pain. In fact, other than less pain, this study also showed that the group doing yoga had less depression and less functional disability. Stretching of some sort on a regular basis (at least 3 times per week) is essential for your overall health. And with your spine more balanced and more in sync with your nervous system, practices such as yoga and Pilate's can be even more effective for you.

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IS AN ASPIRIN A DAY BENEFICIAL?

For the last decade or so, an aspirin a day has been considered safe and healthy. But apparently there were no good, scientific studies to support this notion. Only recently, a randomized, clinical trial was done in the UK, and they found that healthy people taking aspirin daily were more likely to develop internal bleeding in the blood vessels, compared to those taking a placebo drug. So the researchers concluded that for healthy people, taking an aspirin a day actually seems to do more harm than good. Turns out we don't have an aspirin deficiency after all.

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WAKE UP CALL?

A recent study published in Australia concluded that regular cell phone use for 10 years or more can double your risk of brain tumours. And the danger is even more pronounced for children and teenagers. An interesting report from "60 Minutes" in Australia tells more.

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4 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR BRAIN FUNCTION

Here are 4 simple steps you can take to improve your memory and the function of your body's master controller:

1. Stimulate your brain: As the old saying goes, you either use it or lose it. This is very much the case when it comes to your body, including your brain. There are many things you can do to exercise your brain, such as reading, card games,board games, puzzles, etc. Also, resist using a calculator whenever possible and give your brain some work.

2. Exercise your body: Researchers have found that regular, prolonged, but not necessarily intense exercise can reduce memory decline by 30%. Get your blood flowing at a faster rate at least 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes.

3. Stay social: Keeping up with friends and family and maintaining a positive attitude is a great way to keep your mind active and healthy. It's also healthy for your soul to let go and share your experiences with people who care about you.

4. Align your spine with your mind: Your nervous system functions as one, so irritation of nerves along the spinal cord will affect the function of the brain. This was illustrated a few years ago in a study which showed that people with chronic back pain had a reduction of the brain's gray matter, which is responsible for memory and information processing.

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PARENTAL STRESS & ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

The effects of stress on a person's health have been quite well-documented, but now a study has shown the effects of stressed parents on their children. This study showed that children living in polluted areas had a higher incidence of asthma if their parents were under more stress. Stress is a normal part of life that in many ways makes you stronger, as long as you and your body deal with it effectively. This is one of the benefits of chiropractic care. As one patient recently told me, she seems to handle her work stress much better, even though the level of stress is still the same. Another patient mentioned that he feels much more optimistic and positive when his spine is well-adjusted. When your nervous system is fuctioning better, you tend to be more calm and adapt much easier to the ups and downs of life. (Reference)

MORE SLEEP, LESS COLDS

In a study published earlier this year, researchers found that your sleeping habits affect the function of your immune system. They discovered that people who slept for less than 7 hours a day were three times more likely to catch a cold, compared to people that slept 8 or more hours. Makes sense, as your body does most of its healing when you are asleep. This further emphasizes the need to sleep more, especially in Winter, as I described in my earlier article entitled "Make Winter Work For You."

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HEALTHY HUMOR: COUCH POTATO SYNDROME?

TRAINING YOUR BRAIN

In a very interesting study done more than 20 years ago, they found that when only one arm is trained to increase bulk and strength, there was also an improvement in strength in the opposite arm that wasn’t being trained. It’s quite strange to think about, but makes us realize the power of our central nervous system. It also shows that exercise not only trains your body, but your brain as well.

SYMPTOMS: THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

People usually only decide to go to a chiropractor once they have some sort of symptom, such as pain. But did you know dysfunctional spinal nerves are present for a very long time before you feel anything? That is why most people that come here usually don't recall a specific injury that could have caused their problem. Also, did you know that only about 20% of the nerve cells that come from the spine are pain sensitive? So you can have irritation of up to 80% of the nerve fibres in your spinal nerves and not feel anything. Yet the malfunction at those those respective regions of your body are already experiencing the effects, which you may not be aware of. Once the subluxations start to affect that 20% of pain-oriented nerve fibres, then you start to feel it. So while the symptoms may be more apparent, what's beneath the surface is even more significant.

HEALTHY WISDOM

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

~Buddha

LINK BETWEEN PARKINSON'S AND PESTICIDES

A recent study has found a strong link between exposure to pesticides and the development of Parkinson's, a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system. This particular study looked at two specific pesticides and found that they increased the incidence of this debilitating disease by 75%. All in all, more reason to eat organic foods. In fact, this is even more important for children and young adults, as the people in this study were exposed to these pesticides at a much younger age, but only developed Parkinson's after the age of 60.

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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.