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Gibsons Chiropractic Blog

April 5, 2011

Chiropractic Boosts Brain-Body Coordination

By Dr. Stacey

by Dr. David Jockers

The brain is the master control system for the entire body. It sends and receives a complicated frequency of signals with the body that dictate the function of the body. When there is interference in this neurological feedback loop, it alters the environment the brain perceives itself to be in; this consequently changes the adaptation process the brain orchestrates throughout the body. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to enhance the sensorimotor integration of the brain with the body.

Many experts have hypothesized that increased stress cycles in the body produce the environment for dis-ease and eventually disease within the body. Stress can come from a variety of sources in the mental/emotional form, chemical form, and physical realm. When the body is under increased stress it responds by increasing its sympathetic tone. This means the body shunts itself into “fight or flight” survival based mode by altering cardiovascular & endocrine function to get itself ready for dynamic activity.

Increased sympathetic tone causes a release of stress hormones such as adrenalin, epinephrine, and cortisol. This is the same response we get when we are anxious or exercising. This is okay if it is for a short period of time; however, when the stress lasts longer than expected it exhausts the body and causes a state of dis-ease to manifest.

When the brain sends information to the organs, muscles, and tissues of the body, this is called efferent neurological flow. In return, the afferent flow of information includes all the messages sent to the brain from skin, muscle, joint, and organ receptors. This afferent/efferent neurological loop is how the body is able to respond and adapt appropriately to its environment.

The ramifications of increased stress hormones in the body include overworked adrenal glands, lowered immunity, decreased digestive functions, fatigue, & blood pressure disturbances. Increased cortisol levels also cause ligament laxity by stripping critical proteins from the tendon and ligament structures. This causes joint weakness throughout the body, including the spine and extremities, making them much more susceptible to injury.

Subluxation is a term used to describe mechanical compression and irritation to spinal joints and nerves. Subluxation scrambles the neurological feedback loop by causing altered rhythms of neurological flow. Subluxations are caused by trauma, poor posture, or increased chemical and emotional stresses.

Subluxations are a physical stress on the body and therefore increase the sympathetic tone, so the body shunts its energy toward the fight or flight system. If the subluxation(s) are not corrected they continue to produce this increased stress response. This increases cortisol and causes greater joint & ligament laxity in the spine and extremities making them more susceptible to injury. Additionally, increased long-term stress on the body greatly accelerates the degenerative processes of the spine and joints leading to osteoarthritis.

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to normalize spinal afferent/efferent processes to their proper resting tone. This is like hitting the reset button on the computer when it is malfunctioning. The computer is allowed to pause and reprocess itself. Chiropractic adjustments stop the stress response and restore normal hormonal and cardiovascular function to the body. This allows the body to reset itself and begin healing the damage that was done in the body due to chronic stress cycles.

Research performed by Taylor and Murphy demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments enhanced sensorimotor integration, the body’s ability to sense where it is in space and effectively coordinate complex movement patterns. This improves function in both the brain and the body. Improved spatial intelligence translates into better physical and mental balance, coordination, and mobility. Chiropractic adjustments make you think and move with better speed, skill, and finesse.

Taylor H, Murphy B. Cervical Spine Manipulation Alters Sensorimotor Integration: A Somatosensory evoked potential study. Clin Neurophysiol; 2007;118:391-402
Taylor, H, Murphy B. Altered Sensorimotor Integration with Cervical Spine Manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther; 2008;31:115-126

Learn more:  http://www.naturalnews.com/031134_chiropractic_brain_health.html#ixzz1Fvk1l3Il

Filed under: Adjustments,Brain Function,Innate Intelligence,Nervous System,Spine,Stress,Subluxation — Tags: , , , ,

March 5, 2011

Keys to Whole Body Health

By Dr. Stacey

Take a moment to look at your body. Quickly glance at your arms, hands, hips, legs and feet. Do you realize that you have approximately 640 muscles that are responsible for moving the 206 bones in your body? How do you get these muscles to move those bones? It has to do with the way the spinal cord and the nerves send information out to the body. It might surprise you to know that many common ailments that we experience, like headaches, lower back pain and shoulder pain, can have links to the muscles, bones and spinal nerves.

The spine is made up of 29 vertebrae that are divided up by specific regions of the body: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacrum. Think of the spine as a protective housing for your spinal cord that lives in the center of the vertebrae. At every level of the spine, nerves branch off of the spinal cord, move past the vertebrae and outward to supply the different parts of the body.

Furthermore, as the nerves branch off from the spine, certain ones move out farther and farther, going all the way to the hands and feet. While a nerve is traveling, it must repeatedly pass by or around different bones. It stands to reason that the position of the bones is important. If the bones are not in correct position, or “out of alignment,” the nerves will be compromised.

An easy way to remember how the body works is that the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves affect everything from your toes all the way up to your nose. As an example, migraines and other headaches can be caused when the spinal vertebrae in the neck region are misaligned. This causes pressure on the nerves as they branch off of the spinal cord and move through the vertebrae out to the muscles of the neck and head. This compromised nerve flow also affects the circulation of blood to and from the area. All of these factors play an important role in headaches.

If our vertebrae are in good, proper alignment over time, then the spinal cord and nerves function without any interference. The simple idea of keeping the spine lined up as much as possible will keep our body healthy.

Regular chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, exercise and a nutritious diet are all important facets of good spinal health. The key here is to realize that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Regular practices of spinal health will not only keep you feeling great, but also will help protect you in the future from many problems that could arise, including neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, tennis / golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip pain, sciatica, knee pain, and ankle and foot pain. Your chiropractor can tell you more about the importance of the spine and its connection to whole-body health.

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[Source: www.toyourhealth.com]

Filed under: Adjustments,Aging,back pain,Bones,Chiropractic,Feet,Neck Pain,Nervous System,Posture,Spine,Wellness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

February 15, 2011

Chiropractic Makes The Brain Work Better

By Dr. Stacey

Source:

Dr. Sten Ekberg – Wellness For Life Chiropractic; 3502 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005; http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1296104106

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Pain relief is a side effect. Take a minute to think about this.

If the brain and nervous system regulate all function in the body – which it does, and if pain is a useful signal from your body to you that something isn’t quite right, which it is, then it stands to reason that the only way to create pain relief is to either make the brain and nervous system work better or to make the brain ignorant of the pain signal.

functional neurology chiropractic

Drugs block the pain signal and thus keep the brain ignorant of the problem, allowing the problem to grow and express itself through other avenues.

Chiropractic also creates pain relief but does not use drugs and does not block the pain signal; consequently chiropractic must achieve its pain relief by making the brain work better.

This kind of chiropractic is called functional neurology and the beauty of what it can accomplish is of course that if the pain relief is merely a side effect or a bonus of making the brain and body work better, then the benefits are not limited to pain relief. That’s just the tip of the ice berg.

Further more, I’m sure you have heard that drugs have side effects and that they warn you from taking pain killers if your liver is compromised. That’s because if you have a weak liver the drugs can finish it off. That is not a good thing even for the healthiest of liver. Chiropractic on the other hand is extremely safe and the side effects are of the kind that are good for you and your liver.

Footnote: If anyone tells you chiropractic is not safe, ask them why it is then that insurance companies, who are in business to make money, will write a malpractice insurance policy for a chiropractor at about one 50th the cost of what they charge a medical doctor.

Filed under: Adjustments,Brain Function,Nervous System,Pain,Prescription Drugs — Tags: , ,

Happy Valentines Day!

By Dr. Stacey

Chiropractic adjustments lower blood pressure

A new study in the Journal of Human Hypertension, one of Nature Publishing Group’s journals, reveals that chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxation of the atlas vertebrae lower blood pressure (BP).
The double blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 50 patients with Stage 1 hypertension, who were not taking medication for the condition. During an eight-week period, half of the subjects underwent chiropractic care for restoration of atlas alignment using a National Upper Cervical Chiropractic (NUCCA) procedure. A control group received a sham procedure.
Compared with members of the placebo group, those undergoing chiropractic care enjoyed significant drops in both systolic BP and diastolic BP. No adverse effects were detected. However, chiropractic care did not appear to influence heart rate.
“We conclude that restoration of atlas alignment is associated with marked and sustained reductions in BP similar to the use of two-drug combination therapy,” conclude the study’s authors.

Journal of Human Hypertension – January 25, 2007;Epub.www.nature.com.

[Thanks to Dr. Michael Beattie

(more…)

Filed under: Blood Pressure,Heart Health,Inflammation,Nervous System,Prescription Drugs,Stroke — Tags: , , , , ,

December 8, 2010

To Your Health Newsletter 12-07-2010

By Dr. Stacey

Cold and Flu Defense

If you’re looking to gear up for the cold and flu season without subjecting yourself or your family to the potential dangers of the flu vaccine, take heart: There are natural ways to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of getting sick. Here are a few to discuss with your doctor.

Vitamin C: A study of 715 people showed that flu symptoms were decreased by 85 percent when people took 6 grams of vitamin C as a one-time loading dose, then continuing with 1 gram three times a day, compared with people taking only the 3 grams daily. The message here is to take a lot of vitamin C the first day you feel symptoms or the first day people around you are getting sick, and then take 3 grams daily after that. Keep in mind that vitamin C can loosen stools, so be careful if you are predisposed to this.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D has exploded in research and popularity the past few years. Most of us are familiar with its bone-building properties, however new research suggests it improves the immune system as well. Have your doctor test your vitamin D levels before supplementing. Research suggests 2,000 IU daily is safe for most adults and children. Higher doses are safe and effective, but must be monitored by your doctor.

Elderberry: Elderberry (Sambucus) was researched in a group of 60 people and found to alleviate symptoms four days earlier compared with controls. Elderberry helps boosts the immune system and is great-tasting for kids. Start taking as soon as symptoms manifest.

Gingseng: Panax quinquefolium (ginseng) was studied in a large group of 323 patients as a preventive natural medicine. The group that took panax experienced 30 percent less colds compared with the placebo group (people who didn’t take ginseng), and average number of sick days were 11 compared with 16 in the non-treatment group.

Oscillococcinum: Last, but not least, the well-known oscillococcinum is a homeopathic flu treatment that is created new every year. Tough to pronounce, but effective; a Cochrane review of all oscillococcinum studies showed that it reduces the length of illness compared with placebo.

Talk to your doctor for more information about these and other natural ways to boost your immune system and ward off colds and the flu.

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Healthy Holidays

Five pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds or even more: How much weight do you gain in an average holiday season? This year, buck the trend with some simple planning. Take these suggestions to heart and enjoy the holiday season the healthy way.

1. Family Fitness: What better way to counterbalance the extra calories you’re sure to consume this holiday season than with some calorie-burning, cardio-benefiting exercise that involves the entire family? Reminiscing with relatives is great, but why not bond with them and stay in shape at the same time with a game of touch football, a snowball fight or even a long walk around the neighborhood?
2. Portion Control: We’re not saying you can’t sample the vast array of cakes, pies and other holiday treats heaped on the table; we’re just saying don’t overdo it. Portion control is important all year, but it’s vital when faced with a daunting supply of high-carb and even higher-sugar foods. So indulge a little and feel good that you’ve indulged; but don’t overeat and end up spending the holidays immobile.
3. Holiday Helper: Whether you’re at home or away for the holidays, taking an active role in holiday preparation can be better than a trip to the gym; getting the house in order, preparing the food and cleaning up (hopefully with some help) afterward will burn plenty of calories. And remember, you can prepare your own entree or side dish and ensure you have at least one healthy item to eat.
4. Safety in Numbers: Keep in mind that when faced with the holiday season, you don’t have to face it alone. Whether it’s splitting up the holiday shopping with your spouse, recruiting a few family members to help cook a (semi) healthy holiday meal, or making a pact with your best friend to stick with your exercise program during the hustle and bustle, do it together and you’ll be more likely to get it done.

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Reduce Your Stress Burden

Pay attention when people talk about sudden onset of bizarre and unusual ailments. When you hear people say things like, “I did not eat anything different yesterday and today my guts are going crazy” or “This is the type of situation I can usually handle, but for some reason I am not processing it well this time,” your ears should perk up. 

The answer can be found in a little word with big implications: stress. Our bodies endure stress, which can be simply defined as anything that causes a reaction. There are three main areas in which we experience stress: physical, emotional and chemical. Stress involving any of these areas can affect us profoundly. Here are some of the common signs of stress, along with ways to reduce your stress burden. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Stress Signals

Unusual fatigue: Stress weighs on you physically, emotionally and mentally. It wears you down and drains you. Can’t get out of bed in the morning? Stress may be what’s keeping you there.
Sleeplessness: You may feel like sleeping for a day or two, but stress tends to keep you up at night, pondering how to pay that bill, meet that work deadline or heal that broken friendship.
Impulsivity: If you find your eating habits changing suddenly, you may be turning to comfort foods to deal with stress. The same is true with impulse buying, particularly when it involves items you don’t really need.
Anger/impatience: Stress can make you short-tempered and easily roused to anger, even if your demeanor is normally calm, quiet and reserved.
Lack of concentration/forgetfulness: Stress usually occupies our mental time, so much so that we can have trouble remembering things or make more mistakes. Never forget your keys in the morning? When you’re stressed, you just might.
Physical ailments: Back pain, neck pain and pain in general that doesn’t have a clear cause (e.g., an injury) is often related to stress. The same is true for colds and flu; stress can lower your immune system, increasing your risk of developing illness.

Ways to Reduce Stress

Work it off: No, we don’t mean spending another five hours a day at the very location that may be a major source of stress; we do mean finding the time to exercise. Whether it’s an a quick trip to the gym, a peaceful run or a brisk walk with family or friends, exercise puts the focus somewhere else for a while. Biochemically, exercise has a big anti-stress benefit: It helps reduces levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) and increases your “feel-good” hormones, endorphins.
Get away from it: This can be challenging, especially if your stress has reached near-obsession levels, but doing what you can to distract yourself can go a long way toward reducing stress. Schedule a vacation, visit old friends, take a long walk; whatever it takes to remove yourself from your stress environment.
Smile about it: It’s much harder for stress to exist in a fun, laughter-filled environment, so put yourself in a position to smile when you’re under stress. Watch your favorite sit-com, get tickets to a comedy show, organize a fun night out with the family or friends. After all, laughter truly is the best natural medicine.
Talk about it: When you’re stressed, your mind can be a continual stream of negative, overwhelming, stressed-out thoughts. Don’t keep it all to yourself; talk to your significant other, closest friend or even a trusted co-worker about what’s bothering you. Sometimes the best way to reduce your stress is to vent about it and get a neutral perspective, rather than staying in a bottled-up, stressed-out state.

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[Source: www.toyourhealth.com]

Filed under: Colds/Flu,Exercise,Fitness,Holidays,Immune System,Stress,Weight Loss — Tags: , , , , ,

October 27, 2010

To Your Health Newsletter 10-25-2010

By Dr. Stacey

Understanding Wellness

The term “improved function” has been used by chiropractors for years to help patients understand the benefits of chiropractic care and the role it plays in true wellness. The body is made up of muscles, organs and glands that are controlled by the nervous system, and the nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

The brain sends signals down the spine and to the nerves, which tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breathe, the stomach to digest, the glands to produce necessary hormones, and so on. It’s when the signals don’t get from the spinal cord to the nerves and then from the nerves to the muscles, organs and glands that the body begins to lose proper function and symptoms begin to occur.

Mainstream medicine doesn’t recognize these symptoms as simple alerts from the body that there’s something amiss, but instead as something that must be eliminated through chemicals or pharmaceuticals. They don’t seek wellness, but rather a lack of symptoms.

The biggest difference between mainstream medicine and wellness care is just that: medicine. Today’s medical professionals are still treating symptoms instead of the cause of the problem. The bigger problem lies with the fact that the medicines usually begin to create their own list of symptoms that must be treated with more medicines. It’s a domino effect leading not to health and wellness, but to illness and dependence.

These days, the term wellness is being overused and abused by a society that recognizes its importance but doesn’t understand its application. Marketing departments around the globe are throwing the word around because it’s popular, but often it’s simply being used as a gimmick to improve sales of products that have nothing to do with improved health and function.

We live in a society that’s been conditioned to believe there’s a medication or a surgical procedure to fix every problem. Is that really the way you want to live your life? Now that you understand wellness, start doing something to ensure you can enjoy it. Talk to your chiropractor to learn more.

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Top Whole Foods for Health

Nutritionally, there is no perfect food, although a few come pretty close. And even if there were, who’d want to eat the same thing every meal, every day? Fortunately, variety and healthy eating can go hand in hand, particularly if you know where to look. Take a look at these foods that pack a nutritional punch and can be incorporated into a wide variety of meal plans.

Beets: Beets were one of the most successful crops in the Biosphere project. Basically, it simulated living on the moon. And if you had to pick one vegetable to take with you to the moon, you’d do well to pick beets. The roots and leaves are packed with antioxidant phytochemicals, provide much-needed minerals and vitamins, and are a good source of fiber.

Rye: Obesity statistics suggest a good portion of us could use some help battling the scale, and rye is on your side. Rye has an excellent reputation for helping us feel full, produces a low insulin response, and is typically a good source of fiber. It is a rich source of minerals, too.

Organic Berries: This isn’t a hard sell, right? Juicy, bright, and tasty, berries add fiber, vitamins and antioxidants to your diet. These little gems appear to support healthy arteries, cognition, inflammation and eyesight. Many studies have found a benefit in drinking cranberry or blueberry juice for prevention of urinary tract infections.

Fermented foods: Face it Mr. Clean, the human body needs bacteria, and fermented foods provide “good” bacteria (probiotics) to give our native colonies a helping hand. Clinical trials continue to examine the benefits of probiotics on gastrointestinal complaints like diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as for conditions such as colic and eczema in infants.

Legumes: This low-fat, no-cholesterol source of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals is among the best foods we can eat. As a substitute for meat-based protein, beans can help support our drive for heart health. And the fiber and protein in legumes are excellent tools in our weight-management toolbox.

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An Education in Exercise

Whether you’re in good health, rehabbing a recent injury or have arthritis, osteoporosis or other chronic condition, the following key points should be followed to ensure you get the most out of your workout. Remember to talk to your doctor first so the two of you can work together to design an exercise program that’s right for you.

LESSON 1: Before starting an exercise program, you and your health professional need to understand what your immediate goals are. Are you trying to lose weight? Increase strength? Train for a particular sport? Do you have any swelling? Pain? Weakness? Are your joints stiff? Once you know what you want to accomplish, it’s a lot easier to figure out where to start.

LESSON 2: Exercise should consist of three clear phases. Begins with five to 10 minutes of warm-ups. Keep in mind that a “warm-up” is not the same as stretching.

LESSON 3: Type of exercise is just as important as the three phases. Try to incorporate different types of programs, such as stretching, strength training, balance training, and aerobic conditioning. Each of these affects the joints and body in different ways. By using all of them, you’ll be able to make better gains in your health.

LESSON 4: There can be some discomfort with exercise at first. Therefore, precaution should be taken to ensure you don’t injure yourself. Remember that your body’s response to exercise can change day by day. You shouldn’t feel pain, particularly sudden/sharp pain, when you are exercising.

LESSON 5: Rest time is crucial for strength training. In the past, people tended to weight train every day. Research is showing that if a body doesn’t get enough rest, it will break down instead of building up. Therefore, never strength train the same body part two days in a row. Always allow at least two days in between, if not longer.

LESSON 6: Lifestyle activities are also effective forms of exercise. For example, gardening, going for hikes, taking the stairs at work, or playing catch with your kids or grandkids is just as effective in producing positive effects as a more traditional “gym” program.

LESSON 7: Most guidelines recommend 20 to 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day. However, if you are not able to do this, then break it up into five-minute bouts several times a day. Research shows that doing smaller bouts of exercise through the day is just as beneficial as one continuous session.

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[Source: www.toyourhealth.com]

Filed under: Brain Function,Chemicals,Chiropractic,Chiropractic Research,Exercise,Fitness,Nervous System,Nutrition,Prescription Drugs,Spine,Subluxation,Wellness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

September 22, 2010

The Best Defense

By Dr. Stacey

 The Best Defense:  How the Chiropractic Lifestyle Helps You Stop Worrying and Start Living!

By Kevin Donka, D.C.

 “Wow! That’s a nice big water bottle to carry around with you,” I said to Ann as she walked into my office to get checked. “I’m really glad to see you with it!” “Yes, I but I have to go get a new one now because I just found out this is one’s made out of the wrong kind of plastic,” she answered. “I just read an article about how the chemicals from this one can leak into the water if it gets heated up too much.”

It can be a very scary world if we focus on everything that we have heard can hurt us in some way. I had some friends in Chiropractic College who actually wore gas masks (like in the army) into the anatomy lab each day because they were afraid of getting cancer from the formaldehyde. Others aren’t that paranoid, but they still worry significantly about the air they breathe each day.

What about water? Bottled water has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and the highest selling brand isn’t much different than what you get out of your tap. Here are a few other things you have been told not to eat, drink or come into contact with in the past few years as well – hot dogs, bacon, eggs, reduced-calorie foods, no-calorie foods, foods with NutraSweet, Sucralose, Saccharin, sorbitol, xylitol, sugar, Nitrates, nitrites, dyes, perfumes, high-fat, low-fat, no-fat, germs, antibiotic soaps, Purell, most shampoos and soaps, phosphates, disposable baby diapers, white bread, white flour, caffeine, and on and on and on!

Now of course, avoiding things that you know are not good for you is a no-brainer – that’s not what I’m talking about here. What I AM saying is this. FOR EVERY ONE PERSON WHO HAS GOTTEN CANCER FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS HAVEN’T! Why is that? Why do you think that some people can ingest highly toxic chemicals – many on a very regular basis – and not get cancer from them?

The answer is simple really. IT HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THE CHEMICALS! It is a person’s resistance to a thing, or more accurately, his or her LACK of resistance to something, that determines whether or not it will affect him or her in a negative way!

You have been given a body that is an absolute miracle! It has the ability to handle nearly everything you can think of or throw at it! And, you can spend all of your time, money and energy worrying about what to avoid (which in itself causes a biochemistry in your body that lowers your resistance), or you can do everything possible to keep your natural resistance high! This means keeping a deliberate and positive focus and living a lifestyle that avoids obvious poisons and supplies you with everything you need to be healthy.

Some of the things you can do on your own are to actively create peace and laughter, breathe deeply, get plenty of clean water and sunshine, eat foods that are more alive than dead, get a balance of movement and rest (including sleep) and exercise every day. Another crucial strategy is to see your chiropractor regularly. He or she will make sure your spine is aligned and functioning properly, so that the neurological CONNECTIONS between your brain and body are kept clear and your Intelligent and organizing Life Energy can keep you functioning at the highest levels!

So it’s up to you! You can either worry about what might happen, or you can choose what will happen. The Innate Intelligence that runs, coordinates, adapts, heals and grows your body knows what to do. Just remember what my high school coach always told me, “The best defense is a good offense!”

[Source: Dr. Kevin Donka's free weekly ChiroThots Articles]

Filed under: Chemicals,Exercise,Fitness,Immune System,Nervous System,Stress — Tags: , , , , , , ,

September 10, 2010

The Cause of 96% of All Diseases

By Dr. Stacey

If your Chiropractor knew what caused 96% of all diseases and how to prevent it, would you want to know more about it?

 In some amazing research, Dr. Henry Winsor, M.D. of the University of Pennsylvania did autopsies to determine if there was any connection between minor distortions of the spinal bones and diseased organs, or whether the two were entirely independent of each other. His purpose was to disprove what was then known as the “chiropractic theory”. Dr. Winsor carefully examined any diseased organs, the nerves that supplied the organ, and the spinal bones that protected that nerve. He discovered that 221 structures, other than the spine, were diseased. Of these, 212 were observed to belong to the same sympathetic nerve segments (autonomic nerves) as the spinal bone in the distortion. This is a 96% correlation. 96% of the nerves that supplied the diseased organ came from a damaged spinal level.

 The other nine (9) diseased organs were supplied by nerves from spinal bones that were not found to be out of alignment. Dr. Winsor explained that the autonomic nerves enter through a spinal nerve and leave the spinal cord through another spinal nerve after traveling up or down the cord several spinal levels. He felt this accounted for the remaining 4% of apparent discrepancies. His conclusion was that there was nearly a 100% correlation between minor distortions of the spinal bone, the irritation of the autonomic nerves and the diseases of the internal organs. Nerve damage correlated with all 20 cases of heart disease, all 13 cases of liver disease, all 9 cases of stomach disease, all 26 cases of lung disease, and all 8 cases of prostate and bladder disease.

 Dr. Winsor concluded that “irritation near the origin of the sympathetic nerve (autonomic nerve) will cause functional or organic changes in the organs supplied by the portion of the sympathetic nerve irritated.” Based on his research it was found that nearly 100% of all diseased organs may be a result of irritation to the nerve that supplies that organ. He further discovered that the irritation occurred where the spinal nerve exits from between the spinal bones. This research changed what was known as the “chiropractic theory” into fact.

Filed under: Chiropractic,Chiropractic Research,Nervous System,Subluxation,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , ,

May 3, 2010

Chiropractic Improves Brain Function

By Dr. Stacey

I thought this was a pretty cool article so thought I would re-post it here….

 

www.yourspine.com
Chiropractic Adjustments Improve Brain Function. Approximately 100 volunteers were examined with an electroencephalogram (EEG) before and after chiropractic adjustments.
A study presented at the International Research And Philosophy Symposium held at Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic finds that Chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS), specifically on the four primary frequencies of brain function.

Brain function is measured on four primary frequencies: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Alpha waves reflect the meditative, relaxing healing mode. Beta waves represent the active, busy brain. Theta waves reflect light sleep, relaxation and conceptual development. Delta waves represent the brain activity during deep sleep, repair mode and energy storage.

The study was conducted over a three year period. Approximately 100 volunteers were examined with an electroencephalogram (EEG) before and after chiropractic adjustments.

The EEG scans were examined to check the right/left balance, the amount of total activity, the primary regions of activity and the effect of the adjustment.

After receiving a chiropractic adjustment, post EEG scans revealed improvement in all areas of the volunteer’s brain function. Particularly, the researchers noticed an increase in the meditative Alpha brainwave patterns that are associated with a greater degree of relaxation, health and healing.

The researchers noted that some of the volunteers already had balanced and active brain scans and the adjustments had little effect on their post scans. They felt this was a good indicator that the adjustments had no negative effects on brain activity.

Commentary: The implications of this study are profound indeed. Over and over research is proving that chiropractic care has the ability to positively affect body function on a far greater level than simple pain relief.

Filed under: Adjustments,Brain Function,Chiropractic,Nervous System,Research — Tags: , , , ,

April 21, 2010

How to Stay Healthy During Cold/Flu Season

By Dr. Stacey

Seven Simple Steps to Vibrant Health:

  1. Get enough rest. If your body is overly fatigued, it is harder to fight off infections such as the flu (or any other bacteria or virus for that matter). Your body does most of its healing while you sleep.
  2. Good nutrition is vital. Avoid sugar and caffeine (they weaken you immune system); eat whole, preferably organic foods. Enjoy fresh, raw garlic regularly – garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Lab tests have found garlic to be more effective than antibiotics against certain types of bacteria.
  3. Exercise! Regular moderate exercise helps to boost immune system function (as well as the cardiovascular benefits and muscle conditioning).
  4. Stay hydrated. Pure, clean water is necessary for every bodily function. When you are dehydrated, your body functions less efficiently and that can cause fatigue, dry skin, headaches, stomachaches and constipation. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink, it is already too late – you are dehydrated!
  5. Use good hygiene. Washing your hands regularly decreases your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or to others. Antibacterial soaps should be avoided as they produce drug resistant “superbugs.” Sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hands as viruses cannot survive long outside of the body and you reduce the potential for spread.
  6. Decrease stress. Adopt a more positive attitude. Optimists have healthier immune systems, suffer from fewer infections and are not as adversely by stressful life events.
  7.  Get adjusted! Keep your body subluxation free so your nervous system stays healthy. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease by directing your immune system and strives to get us well again when we do get ill. Remember, the immune system, like every other system in the body, is controlled by the nervous system. It’s about living your life to its fullest potential!

Thank you for your commitment to health. We are here to help with that commitment and are dedicated to the expression of your highest health potential. This information is posted to help you maximize that health potential. If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for sharing this with others; we appreciate your help in making this world a healthier place!

Filed under: Adjustments,Exercise,Health,Immune System,Nervous System,Nutrition,Sleep,Stress,Subluxation,Wellness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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