WALK, DON'T RUN

As we continue to get bombarded with this seemingly never-ending rain, remember to take it slowly when you're out and about.  In an experiment I saw a few years ago, it was found that you get more wet when you run, rather than walk in the rain.  So be sure to walk calmly and carefully.  You will not only get less wet, but you are also less likely to fall, and less likely to require the services of someone like me.

THE MOST POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY

The other day, as I was adjusting one of my patients, her husband seemed intrigued by the Activator Method and remarked that it's amazing what sort of technology scientists come up with.  While this is true, scientists could not have come up with anything without the most powerful technology already within you:  the life force emanating from your nervous system.  And the great results we see only happens because of your body's innate intelligence.  Chiropractic care helps you to harness this power; it's up to you to use it wisely.

HAPPIER WITHOUT SMOKING

Most people tend to use recreational drugs, such as those found in cigarettes, to feel better and relieve tension.  It turns out that one study found that people are actually happier and less depressed when they quit smoking.  And several studies have shown a link between smoking and depression.  The reason most drugs work in the first place is because we have receptors in our bodies that respond to the chemicals in drugs.  This also means that our bodies produce similar chemicals that have a similar effect as synthetic drugs.  So the physiological effects that drugs have on you can be elicited by similar natural messengers and transmitters created by your own body.  The greatest pharmacy is already within you, so there's no point in polluting yourself and the world around you.

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CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR MIGRAINES

While most people treat migraine headaches with medication, I have seen many patients get relief naturally with chiropractic care.  A recent clinical trial of chronic migraine sufferers found that 72% of them had "substantial or noticeable improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment."  Migraine headaches are thought to be a neurological disorder which interferes with the flow of blood within the brain, so these results are not surprising. From my experience, people that struggle with migraines generally require a series of visits, and eventually routine maintenance care, in order to get the best results. The cause of migraines is certainly multifaceted, but there is little doubt that chiropractic can be a part of the solution.

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HEALTHY THOUGHT

"As long as you are in conscious contact with your inner body, you are like a tree that is deeply rooted in the earth, or a building with a deep and solid foundation."





-- Eckart Tolle, from The Power of Now

(Chiropractic helps you to regain and maintain this conscious contact, by releasing interference in your nervous system.)

OUR CANCER-CAUSING MODERN LIFESTYLE

As the rate of cancer seems to be increasing, scientists have realized that this often fatal disease is mostly "man-made."  Upon reviewing data and fossils of people from ancient civilizations, it was found that cancer was practically non-existent until the industrial revolution, when the incidence of cancer, particularly in children, seemed to explode.  According to Professor Rosalie David, "In industrialized societies, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death. But in ancient times, it was extremely rare. There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle."  So it goes without saying, the more natural your lifestyle, the healthier you will be.  And more emphasis should be put on eliminating the causes of cancer from our lifestyle, thus preventing it, rather than only trying to cure the disease.

MAKING YOU HEALTHIER

One downside of being called "doctor" is that people think they should only see you when they are not feeling well.  In reality, chiropractic care can help even when you feel fine.  It's very much like keeping a musical instrument fine-tuned; the more it's used, the more it has to be tuned.  This is very much the case for your spine and nervous system.  Unlike a musical instrument, our body does fine-tune itself most of the time.  The chiropractic adjustments we make are more of a reminder, if you will.  Most of the people we see come initially for the treatment of some sort of ailment and discontinue care once they are feeling better.  About a third of our patients, continue with maintenance care even if they are feeling fine.  Maintenance can often mean the difference between getting healthier, rather than just staying well.

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.

HEALTH RISKS OF FOOD DYES

One unique trait we enjoy in contrast to most of the animal kingdom is our ability to see in bright, vivid colour. Unfortunately, this is a trait that the processed food industry uses to it's full advantage, by adding the most cost-effective food colourings, in order to attract our attention. A recent study has conclusively shown a strong link between the chemicals in food dyes and childhood cancer, hyperactivity, and allergies. Some countries are already considering a complete ban on these synthetic additives that are commonly found in processed foods such as cereals, soft drinks, sweets, etc. Alternative food-derived dyes are available and commonly used, but instead of waiting for the food industry to take action, it's best to just avoid processed foods as much as possible. The closer food is to its natural form, the safer and healthier it will be.

PAIN KILLERS & HEARING LOSS

Whenever a patient tells me that they've stopped using pain pills, I always tell them that their stomach, liver, and kidneys will also be grateful. Surprisingly, it turns out that less pain pills will also help preserve your hearing. A study published recently in the American Journal of Medicine found an association between regular use of over the counter pain killers and hearing loss. The researchers from Harvard and Vanderbilt in the U.S. concluded that "regular use of aspirin, NSAIDs, or acetaminophen increases the risk of hearing loss in men, and the impact is larger on younger individuals." For men that were taking more than 2 pain pills every week the risk of hearing loss was much greater than those taking less than 2 per week. Remember, that covering up symptoms like pain may help you feel better temporarily, but you are potentially creating other long-term problems. Specific chiropractic care helps you function and feel better, which often results in less pain, naturally.

THE CHOLESTEROL/BRAIN CONNECTION

It appears that there is "a growing pile of evidence that the central nervous system is far more involved in the control of essential metabolic processes than we once thought." One example is the formation of cholesterol in our bodies, which is produced by the liver. It has been thought that cholesterol levels are mainly reliant on diet and liver function, but a new study has found "for the first time that cholesterol is also under direct 'remote control' by specific neurocircuitry in the central nervous system." So it turns out that by improving the function of your spinal cord and brain, chiropractic care may help to keep your cholesterol levels in check.

MUSIC'S HEALTH BENEFITS

Music is a universal language that unites people and apparently also makes us healthier. Since starting in professional practice, music has always been an essential element in my consulting rooms. It just made sense to create a more relaxing environment, away from the fast pace of city life, which will help you to get better faster. Many research studies are now also showing the benefits of music. One study found that listening to music while exercising improved the function of the brain. Another study found that "joyful music has a healthy effect on blood vessel function." And finally, a study of the elderly with sleep problems "reported a 35 percent improvement after they started listening to 45 minutes of soft music before bedtime." So whether it's in the car, while you're exercising, or part of your bedtime routine, make sure you're making music an integral part of your life.

ON A FIRST NAME BASIS

Ever since beginning practice, I have almost always introduced myself by my first name. I have never seen the need to say "I'm Dr. Nana." For most of the 20th century, doctors have appeared elitist and superior because of their education. However, we are merely specialists in a specific field of study like everyone else in society today. We know more and more about less and less, as I once read somewhere. Health care today is meant to be empowering, because the true healing comes from within and not from a doctor, healer, medicine, scalpel or adjustment. Whenever my patients give me credit for making them better, I always remind them that their own innate intelligence deserves the real credit, I merely helped. So remember, you are actually your own doctor and healer.

STUDY SHOWS BENEFITS OF NATURE

In a book I read recently, one of the characters complained about how flat and square our indoor spaces tend to be, making her feel very uncomfortable. For most of us city-dwellers, we spend most of our time in the unnatural surroundings of houses, offices, cars, shops, etc. But it turns out that a small dose of being in nature is good for your overall health. A review of 10 studies done in the UK showed that spending only five minutes a day in a natural environment improved people's mood, self-esteem, mental and physical health. Activities included things such as gardening, hiking, biking, etc. And apparently the strongest effect was around water, such as lakes, ponds, or streams. So if you're not getting your regular dose of nature, you owe it to your mind and body.

(The panoramic picture as seen above was taken in November 2009 on the way to the Drakensberg, overlooking the Sterkfontein Dam. We were only there for about 15 minutes, but it was peaceful and relaxing. And as this study shows, that short stop on our journey was actually good for our health, too. )