Tylenol Recall...Think Twice Before Popping These Pills!

The latest headline from WebMD, "Tylenol Recall Expands." Yes, Tylenol the seemingly innocuous pain reliever is being pulled from the shelves. I say 'seemingly' because it is anything BUT harmless.

Read the article here... http://www.webmd.com/news/20091229/tylenol-recall-expands

Tylenol is the #1 cause of acute liver failure in the United States and has extremely toxic effects when combined with alcohol. There is evidence to suggest that giving tylenol to a child after recent vaccination can increase the risk of developing autism. Tylenol can also affect production of glutathione, an essential antioxidant and detoxifier.

No, it is not completely safe. As with any drug, there are side effects. It is a chemical and as such will always have a toxic effect in the body. Why is it taken? Most often, it is taken to reduce a fever...and that should give you an indication intuitively that something is awry.

Why do we develop fevers? A fever is a natural response by our body to an infection. Raising our body's temperature makes it unsuitable for the invading microbe to survive. More importantly, an increase in body temperature causes a proportional increase in circulation of our blood. When fighting an infection this is vitally important to ensure enough white blood cells and other immune cells are available.

With the rare exception of an unusually high fever, the LAST thing that should be done is take a toxic drug to lower the fever when sick or fighting an infection!

Our bodies were designed with an innate healing capacity...let's stop trying to artificially heal our bodies with chemicals and rely on our inborn ability to heal!


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Stay Healthy For The Holidays!

Ok, here are some of the most up to date tips to stay healthy for the holidays. To be healthy you have to make healthy choices and do things that everyone else is not. Healthy is a choice, and a little planning, but it is well worth it. Your health is your biggest asset. Here’s to an amazing holiday season…

DON’T GET SICK- IMMUNITY•
One of the reasons sickness, as well as all other diseases, rise during the holiday season is due to poor lifestyle choices. These poor choices are in the areas of, not getting adjusted, poor nutrition, allowing stress to run rampant, failing to exercise, etc.
• Eliminating sickness and disease by increasing and maximizing your health and functioning of every cell, organ, and tissue of the body. Studies have shown that those under Chiropractic care had an Immune System 200% stronger than those who did not receive care, and 400% stronger immune systems than Cancer patients!

EXERCISE/CARDIO• 20-60 minutes per day
• Burst/Surge Training Classes, Burns more calories
• Releases endorphins so you will not eat as much
• Increases metabolism/less fat storage
• Detoxifies through sweating
• Increases body temp to destroy virus and bacteria

Food and Damage Control
Remember Acid/Alkaline Balance• More acidic you are (“Food By Man”, Processed foods, sugars) The more likely bacteria, virus, fungus, cancer, inflammation, and disease will spread and develop.

WATER
Keep your water intake high. Try to consume 8-8oz. glasses per day, or 1/2 gallon. Not only will you be more hydrated, but it will also give you the feeling of fullness. Sometimes when you are thirsty, your body may perceive it as hunger. So keeping your water intake up will curb your appetite, and case you not to eat as much

HOLIDAY PLANNING• Holiday Plan Of Attack Eat your normal meals the day of the holiday
• Fiber drink, to give you feeling of fullness so you do not eat as much, plus preps the body to digest and push out the bad/processed foods
• Eat protein first, then veggies, then carbs/desserts
• ENJOY YOURSELF


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

What Exactly is Carpal Tunnel?

First of all, “Carpal” simply means WRIST. The Carpal Tunnel is a small tunnel or canal inside your wrist. The top part is formed by the carpal (wrist) bones. The bottom part is made up of ligament—a tough band of connective tissue called the Flexor Retinaculum.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Comes From Compression of the Median Nerve Within the Carpal Tunnel. TRUE!

What’s absolutely critical to understand… is that the Median Nerve originates in their NECK and travels between your collarbone and shoulder blade, over the 1st rib and underneath one of the major muscles of the shoulder and is a major “crush site” for the median nerve as well as several other nerves that have to travel through this area to get to the arm, forearm, and hand – then down the center of your forearm and through the carpal tunnel to the hand muscles.

Why is this SO important to YOU?

Because There Are 8 Possible Areas Where Your Nerve Can Be Compressed!
Consider some of the symptoms of MEDIAN NERVE Compression (not necessarily Carpal Tunnel Syndrome): Pain in the Wrist… Numbness in the fingers… Tingling or other abnormal hand sensations…Weakness of hands… Neck Pain… Swelling
These are ALL symptoms commonly misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome…when in fact…they are caused by Median Nerve compression in ANY or ALL of the 8 areas!!

“How Does The Median Nerve Become Compressed?”
The Median Nerve does not fall from the sky into your hand!! It does not travel up your leg to your hand. . . It comes straight out between the bones of your neck! So, if your doctor does NOT properly examine your neck, as well as all possible “crush sites” he/she is missing the boat!

This means that a problem anywhere from the NECK to the actual carpal tunnel can cause nerve compression. Misaligned bones in the neck, bulging discs, tight neck muscles, an extra rib at the neck (some people are born with them), shoulder or elbow injuries, inflamed tendons, and misaligned wrist bones can ALL compress the Median Nerve, resulting in the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS! And since most doctors are trained to treat symptoms…doesn’t it seem obvious why they might MISS the neck and the other zones when treating “carpal tunnel syndrome?”

Treatment for “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” and other sources of Median Nerve Compression:
The most common treatments we do in our office are chiropractic analysis and proper adjustment of the misaligned vertebra in your neck. However, as always, the proper treatment is determined through proper diagnosis, which only comes through a detailed health history and examination. X-rays may also be necessary.
Here’s the cool thing; almost all of our carpal tunnel patients respond very quickly to chiropractic care which means that you can get back to living your life without the limitations imposed by carpal tunnel syndrome.

www.LifestyleChiroCenter.com 651-406-4454

How Much Vitamin D Should You Take?

The hot topic in nutrition these days is Vitamin D because of all the known benefits. Healthy levels of vitamin D have been shown to protect against infection, boost immunity, and prevent cancer. While we do get some vitamin D in our diets, the majority needs to be derived from supplementation or sunlight. Supplementation then, is most important in the northern latiitudes in the winter months.

The best review I have seen of achieving adequate Vitamin D status is from Dr. Mercola from Mercola.com.

Read on...

There are also several good reference reviews available below. Read reviews of the latest literature on Vitamin D and its health benefits:

Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention


Ecological Studies Of Ultraviolet B, Vitamin D And Cancer Since 2000

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer

Vitamin D: What is an adequate vitamin D level and how much supplementation is necessary?

Vitamin D and respiratory health

What Exactly is Chiropractic?

Before understanding the concept of chiropractic, you must first have a basic understanding of the spinal anatomy or the structure of your spine. Your delicate spinal cord is housed and protected by your bony spine, made up of 24 freely moveable vertebrae or bones.

Each of your vertebra has the general shape of a person’s ring. The rings are stacked one on top of another forming a vertical tunnel where your spinal cord is housed.

Your brain controls your whole body via the spinal cord. It’s like your wiring in your house. It’s all controlled by your fuse box. Pull the lever down and everything shuts down. Your spine and brain are exactly the same. Shut down the brain (no brain function) and your body literally dies.

Every function in your entire body is controlled by your brain and spinal cord including muscle function, breathing, heart function, digestion, sense of touch, immune function, etc., and these are just a few things controlled by your brain and spinal cord. That's why it's important to keep your spine healthy. Keep your spine healthy, you keep your brain healthy. When your brain and spine are healthy, you are healthy.

Your delicate spinal cord is suspended from your brain and it extends down through the tunnel formed by your vertebrae. Smaller nerves lead from the spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae. Your nerves emerge in pairs, one to the right and one to the left. There are thirty-one MAJOR pairs of spinal nerves. Each set of nerves controls a specific area of your body.

When your spinal column is in proper alignment, no bones out of place even slightly, your nerves pass unimpeded through the holes in the bones. These bones can become misaligned easily; and when they do, it causes what is called subluxations.

A subluxation is a big word that can be caused by several things in life: accidents, poor posture, repetitive movements, sports injuries, or poor work ergonomics. When a bone is slightly misaligned it puts pressure on your delicate spinal cord and the nerves coming out of it.

When there is pressure on these nerves it can cause pain to that area, and possibly muscle spasm and inflammation. Pressure on these nerves can also cut off the pressure to vital organs inside your body decreasing vital functions. So what do you do?

Sometimes misaligned bones correct themselves, but most subluxations need outside assistance for healthy correction, in the form of a specific chiropractic adjustment. A special chiropractic adjustment like the one we give you will help restore your normal function, even if you have NO SYMPTOMS. A specific Chiropractic adjustment restores normal nerve supply to all areas of your body so you can start feeling vibrant all over again.
Remember, when your nerve supply is restored to 100%,… healing time, pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms decrease. Three other important things you’ll notice a difference in rather quickly… function, strength and stability are also restored to the spine.

Aspirin: A Help Or Hazard?

With 16,500 deaths from Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, advil, ibuprofen, etc...) and 100,000 deaths from adverse drug reactions annually in our nation we need to question the use of medications for common chronic conditions.

Even over-the-counter drugs carry significant risks. Consider HEALTHY lifestyle changes and NATURAL health care options and avoid potentially deadly medications!

"It has been estimated conservatively that 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur among patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis every year in the United States. This figure is similar to the number of deaths from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and considerably greater than the number of deaths from multiple myeloma, asthma, cervical cancer, or Hodgkin’s disease. If deaths from gastrointestinal toxic effects from NSAIDs were tabulated separately in the National Vital Statistics reports, these effects would constitute the 15th most common cause of death in the United States. Yet these toxic effects remain mainly a “silent epidemic,” with many physicians and most patients unaware of the magnitude of the problem. Furthermore the mortality statistics do not include deaths ascribed to the use of over-the-counter NSAIDS." (Wolfe M. MD, Lichtenstein D. MD, and Singh Gurkirpal, MD, “Gastrointestinal Toxicity of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs”, The New England Journal of Medicine, June 17, 1999, Vol. 340, No. 24, pp. 1888-1889.)

Read more on this topic...
http://www.naturalnews.com/027548_swine_flu_vaccines_death_risk.html


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Colic Anyone?

If you have a colicky baby, and other forms of treatment don't seem to be helping very much, and you’re at your wits end, you may want to investigate bringing your baby in for a checkup.

As your child is being born, the neck and back vertebrae can go out of alignment due to the stretching and compressing of the body as it emerges into the world.

If your delivery included a prolonged pushing stage, forceps or vacuum extraction, or other form of ‘assisted delivery’, the chances of a misalignment are even greater.

If the misalignments in the spine and neck, called vertebral subluxations, are big enough, the functioning of major systems in the babies’ body can be compromised.

The digestive system can be affected and ineffective digestion of breast milk can cause major discomfort in your baby, leading to ‘colic’ episodes.

Many parents are wary of taking their small, helpless babies to see a chiropractor.

The main reason being the "Snap, Crackle and Pop" stereotype that chiropractic invokes.

In actuality, the adjustments that a chiropractor will do on your baby are basically applying gently pressure with the finger to areas on the neck and back, like a small nudge on the forearm.

Here’s what you’ll probably see. You may see your baby totally relax before your eyes as the misalignments are corrected. Think of yourself. If you had a bad headache, your neck was tighter than a drum and you could hardly turn your head, wouldn’t you be a little cranky?

Your child is no different. The only real difference is he can’t tell you by speech. He has to do it by his actions.

As with selecting any health care provider, you need to ask questions first.

Chiropractic care can be very valuable in helping to calm the ‘colic’ tendencies. If you want your baby to be the best he or she can be, don’t you think it’s time you helped them, help them selves by getting them checked?


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Fight The Flu With 4 Easy Steps

All we have been hearing for months now is the impending pandemic of H1N1. With "flu season" upon us I want to address some of the issues surrounding swine flu and begin to flesh out the fact, from the fiction. We are bombarded constantly by the antibacterial and antiviral messages on product marketing and drug ads on TV. The media and CDC say the best thing to prevent the feared flu bug is get the vaccine. Then there is nothing to worry about. But is this the whole truth? What if our bodies were designed to fight the flu naturally?

Consider this...
All schools of health thought are agreed upon this principle as sound.
Germs exist. We do not deny their presence.
We deny them as a cause of dis-ease.
If the germ theory as the causation of disease were true, there’d be no one living today to believe it; for germs have been existing for millions of years as has the man they are supposed to kill.
Germs exist. They are scavengers, refuse eaters, live upon dead waste matter.
It is a natural law that without them we would all have been dead long ago. - Dr. BJ Palmer "The Bigness of the Fellow Within"

Yes, I know that the flu virus has been analyzed, studied and researched to the nth degree. We know what it looks like, we know its mutations, we understand it has many forms and we give it various names to represent this. But should IT be our main focus as the CAUSE of sickness?

When it comes to sickness and disease, our focus is misplaced. Our nation prescribes a pill for every ill and continually looks for an "outside" method of treating our symptoms. The US makes up about 5-7% of the worlds population yet we consume 65-75% of all the world's drugs...and are getting sicker! If more medication were the answer to better health, shouldn't our rates of chronic sickness be decreasing?

Health is expressed from within a person and the BEST way to fight disease is to prevent a suitable environment for any bacterium, virus, germ, bug, or whatever you want to call it. Why is it when someone carrying the flu sneezes on two different people, one gets sick and the other one does not? What is it about one individual that prevents sickness from occurring? Is it primarily the microscopic bug that causes one to be sick, or is his/her rundown body and immune system the primary factor? That is the question we need to ask. You see, when we look at a landfill teeming with rats and flies, we don't assume that the rats and flies CAUSED the garbage to pile up and start to rot, do we? First the garbage rotted leading to a habitat for the rodents and bugs.

Our quick-fix culture would have us believe that we can live our lives the way we want to rather than follow the natural laws governing health. If sick, pop a pill or if we want to prevent sickness, get a shot. I contend that neither of these options are in the "operator's manual" for our body.

So, following are my 4 Easy Steps to Fight the Flu.
1. Get proper nutrition. Eat a balanced diet, but even a perfect diet in today's world benefits from high-quality supplementation. A bioavailable multivitamin, Omega-3 fish oil, Vitamin D, C, Zinc, probiotics are potent immune boosters. One should avoid taking iron supplements during infection, since it worsens the infection. Avoid foods that suppress immunity, such as high sugar intake and consuming foods or cooking in oils that suppress immunity and increase inflammation—such as the omega-6 oils—corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, peanut and soybean oils.

2. Get Good Rest. Nothing groundbreaking here, right? But also, avoid exhaustion and extreme exercise, both of which lower immunity and greatly increase one’s risk of serious reactions to the infection and even death. Get at least 8 hours of good sleep each night.

3. Get Adjusted. It's simple really...a properly functioning nervous system is essential for optimal immune function. Regular chiropractic care is essential for a properly functioning nervous system. Adjustments remove nerve pressure. Take the pressure and irritation away from any affected nerves and you unleash the innate power of your immune system.

4. Keep Clean. This flu is transmitted mostly by physical contact rather than by being exposed to coughing by infected individuals. You can clean commonly used surfaces, such as computer keyboards, telephone speakers, countertops and door handles with sanitizer cloths. Good hygiene is primarily responsible for the decline in infection disease over the last century and should not be ignored.

Simple lifestyle changes and steps can boost your healing ability FAR better than any pharmaceutical can. The best "doctor" in the world is your own body. Put more emphasis on the natural ability of your body and worry less about the flu bug.

"While other professions are concerned with changing environment to suit the weakened body, Chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to “suit” environment.
This is an explanation of the fundamental difference in theory, art, and practice between Chiropractic and other professions." - Dr. BJ Palmer "The Bigness of the Fellow Within"


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Alternative Flu Remedy

Alternative Flu Prevention and Remedies

Many of you have voiced your concern about the Swine Flu vaccines. This is a controversial subject and a significant number of people are opting out of the vaccine. There are several natural alternatives to help treat and prevent the flu for those who decide not to get the vaccine. In the coming months, I will present natural, alternative flu remedies and preventions.

Although it would appear to contradict what we are taught about the flu and colds, many people have tried hydrogen peroxide in the ears with great success. Hydrogen peroxide works quite well and is supposed to be effective about 4 times out of 5, especially if done when the symptoms first appear.

In 1928, Dr. Richard Simmons hypothesized that colds and flu virus enter our bodies through the ear canal. It was Dr. Simmons' hypothesis that, contrary to what we have been taught, we usually can catch colds and flu via the ear canal and not through the eyes or nose or mouth as most of us believe. Dr. Simmons' findings were dismissed by the medical community.
According to Dr. Simmons, keeping your fingers out of our ears will greatly reduce our chances of catching colds and the flu. We need to keep in mind that viruses are microscopic and can be air-born and may land on/in our ears. Once these microscopic bodies have entered the inner-ear, they then begin to breed, and from there, they have access to every avenue throughout our bodies to travel, and infect and make us sick.

Remarkable results can be achieved in curing colds and the flu within 12-14 hours when we administer a few drops of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) into each ear. The H2O2 starts working within 2-3 minutes in killing the cold or flu. There will be some bubbling and in some cases mild stinging might occur but it is not painful in any way. It tickles more than anything. Wait until the bubbling subsides - usually a few minutes - then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.

Although this practice is perfectly safe for infants and children to use, the loud bubbling and stinging may frighten them, and they will need someone they trust to put the hydrogen peroxide in their ears. DO NOT get hydrogen peroxide in the eyes - if you do, flush with water.

One final note. Don’t forget about regular chiropractic adjustments to help keep you at your best. An aligned body helps you maintain a strong immune system, which is the best way to defend against illness.

This office does not endorse any specific remedy mentioned in our newsletter. The FDA has not evaluated this remedy for effectiveness. It is recommended that you consult your primary health care provider before starting any remedy.


www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Headaches & Migraines

Migraine headaches afflict many people. They can affect people from the very young to the very old.

They can affect YOU, a co-worker or even a spouse or a close friend.

Migraine symptoms include ‘severe pain’ on one side of your head that can last for days and can include nausea and sensitivity to light.

While many medical treatments address the symptoms, we address the cause of your headache pain.

We view migraines as something that is caused by pressure on sensitive nerve endings in your head, resulting from a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Since your brain controls the entire body’s function by communication through your nervous system, any interference to this communication affects your body. If any spinal bones, which protect the nerves, get misaligned, there is a NEGATIVE effect on your body’s systems.

Muscles attached to your spinal bones overreact and become ‘spastic and irritated’ because your nerves are pulled or compressed, then stretched and then they can become traumatized.

Headache pain can easily result from these imbalances.

By making sure your vertebrae are moving correctly, and not locked into place by your muscles, the muscles that support your head are then relieved of stress and spasms.

Your pain will then become diminished as the structure of your spinal bones of the neck is improved.

Don’t wait. Your health is a serious matter. If you take medication to cover it up, you’ll always have headaches.

Don’t put your body through this trauma. Call the office today. The longer you wait, the harder it is to give you relief.
651-406-4454
http://www.lifestylechirocenter.com





www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Chiropractic Care During 1918 Influenza Epidemic Reveals Startling Statistics
The 1918 Influenza Epidemic swept the world. As we face another possible flu epidemic, a look at chiropractic 1918 influenza epidemic records reveal startling statistics for pandemic preparedness.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1733660/chiropractic_care_during_1918_influenza.html

Chiropractic in Pregnancy for Safer Births

www.lifestylechirocenter.com

Why All The Fuss?

Don’t overlook your pain, no matter how small. Back and neck pain are subjective – which means you have to tell me what your pain feels like. PAIN is important because it tells you…something is wrong. Covering it up does not help the problem. When you come to the office we will do definitive tests that can measure and diagnose your pain. Therefore, it falls on you to communicate your pain symptoms to us.

By accurately noting your pain symptoms, and giving us a clear picture of them, you are taking an important step toward getting a diagnosis. Here are some things to note:
Pain Intensity

How bad does it hurt? Pain intensity is a measure of how strong your pain is and these are important to us as only you can tell how much pain you are in.

As a pain sufferer, this is probably the most important part of the ordeal for you. Intensity levels fluctuate, so it is impossible to get a useful, accurate measurement of them from our testing. Instead, we use visual assessment tools and sometimes questionnaires to help you communicate your level of pain so we can do everything to help you as fast as we can.
Type of Pain
The types of painful feelings you have in your back or neck are an indication of what is going on in your spine. This is a very important part of your care. For example, if you experience burning, stabbing or electrical sensations down one leg or arm, it probably indicates a very ‘irritated’ nerve. I know you probably know what a tooth ache feels like, or even someone pinching you, but ALL pain is related to your nervous system.

If your muscles feel stiff or tight you may have pain due to an injury, or posture problems, or both. Don’t wait. Get checked if you have any pain because pain is the last sign there is a problem, not the first.

Chiropractic And Pregnancy

Chiropractic during pregnancy is an important part of pregnancy care.

Unfortunately, not enough women know of the benefits of chiropractic care both for themselves and their unborn baby. A woman's body undergoes an amazing amount of changes during pregnancy.

As her baby grows her musculoskeletal system must adjust accordingly to accommodate and prepare for delivery. Chiropractic care helps her body to stay aligned as these changes occur and also helps to keep the nervous system functioning at its optimal level.



Many pregnant women experience low back pain and hip pain. These discomforts are the result of the stresses put on the body by the “rapid growth” of the baby and the changes the body must undergo to accommodate those adjustments. As her belly gets bigger, the woman's center of gravity changes.

The growth is so quick that it is often difficult for her low back and pelvis to adjust to this change. This causes stress in those areas, resulting in misalignments, (or subluxations) which then causes pain and dysfunction.

If a woman's low back and pelvis was out of alignment BEFORE her pregnancy it is even harder for her back and pelvis to adjust. When the pelvis is subluxated (misaligned) it affects her uterus and the position of the growing baby.



The uterus is connected to the pelvis by ligaments. Like a hot air balloon tethered to the ground, these ligaments work to keep the uterus in the proper place in the pelvis and allow support as the uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby. If her pelvis is subluxated, these ligaments can become torqued or twisted.

When the ligaments are affected, they directly affect the position of the uterus which can result in the baby not being in an optimal position. This type of situation may result in a breech baby or a transverse (sideways) baby.



Our goal as a chiropractor is to correct the subluxations in the pelvis to help balance the uterus and allow the baby to get into a better position.

Chiropractic adjustments for a pregnant woman are specific, gentle, and safe.



Besides increasing a pregnant woman's comfort level, an aligned pelvis can result in a quicker, safer, and easier birth. When a baby is in breech or transverse position a cesarean section is almost always performed.

Because they are so common many people forget that a c-section is a major abdominal surgery and can be risky.

Helping the baby to get into a proper head-down position by balancing the pelvis and ligaments helps to avoid c-sections due to baby positioning.

Other variations in baby position such as a tilted head or a "sunny side up" baby (face up during delivery) can also be caused by pelvic imbalance and may result in a more difficult, painful, and longer labor and delivery. And don’t forget. Once the baby is born, he or she needs to be adjusted.

What are the Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Question: Is drinking apple cider vinegar going to improve your health? Fix your gout? Balance your blood sugar?

Many people are devoted to their daily shot of apple cider vinegar. According to hearsay… apple cider vinegar is a cure all for a multitude of complaints such as arthritis, poor digestion and dandruff. But what is fact and what is fiction?
The most famous proponent of the benefit of drinking apple cider vinegar goes way back! Hippocrates claimed it would cure many common ailments including ear infections and skin rash. No modern research has yet verified these two assertions.

However, recent studies do confirm that there are some significant health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

It improves insulin sensitivity and management of type two diabetes – How? By taking apple cider vinegar BEFORE MEALS which lowers your ‘glycemic index’ when eating carbohydrates. It’s like magic.

Better digestion - The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps prevent necessary gastric acid, (mainly Hydrochloric acid), from leaving the stomach too soon. Food may be more easily digested with fewer unpleasant gassy problems.

Appetite control and weight loss – This alone is worth the price of a bottle. Several trials show that drinking apple cider vinegar BEFORE a meal has the benefit of curbing appetite. Participants noted an increased feeling of fullness and less desire for 'a little more'. Taking apple cider vinegar may support weight loss, in combination with exercise and sensible eating.
Here are some of the more likely stories about apple cider vinegar's healing powers; all based on historical folk remedies and anecdotal evidence.

Treatment of over-acidic conditions of the body, such as arthritis or gout - Although apple cider vinegar is acidic, it leaves an overall alkaline residue after digestion which is healthier for you.
Assisting in the treatment of yeast infections and candida - Although some standard vinegars may exacerbate ‘yeast infections’, women have found douching in dilution of apple cider vinegar to be helpful when treating thrush. Taking apple cider vinegar internally may reduce candida symptoms. It’s cheap and it’s worth a try.

Reducing swelling - apparently apple cider vinegar can REDUCE bruising quickly. Apply vinegar to a cloth and hold to injury for at least an hour. Alleviating dandruff - apple cider vinegar may be a helpful natural remedy for dandruff, because the acids in the vinegar kill the fungus causing chemical imbalances in the skin of the scalp.

How do you get the benefits of apple cider vinegar?
1) Use only raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (available in several varieties from all good health food stores). Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is safe because the acid levels will kill unfavorable bacteria. The living vinegar provides copious quantities of enzymes, malic and tartaric acids, and valuable minerals, including potassium. The 'dead' supermarket varieties of vinegar will NOT contain enzymes and a mere fraction of the minerals of living vinegar.
2) Shake the bottle prior to use to disperse the threads of the apple cider vinegar producing 'bug'. These threads are the living part of the cider and may look unappealing until shaken up.
3) Take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (plus 1 teaspoon of honey if you prefer) in ½ a glass of pH water prior to meals.
4) If you not planning to eat, brush your teeth AFTER taking the vinegar. Too much apple cider vinegar has been found to damage tooth enamel due to its acidity. Just make sure to rinse after drinking it.
5) You can buy pH tests at the pharmacy, and test your pH. If you have an acidic result, apple cider vinegar may be especially appropriate for your system.

Chiropractic Fights Ear Infections

Ear pain is the number one reason for child visits to chiropractors. Many chiropractors believe that there is a strong link between the birthing process and recurrent ear infection, also known as otitis media. During the birthing process, cervical (neck) vertebrae can become misaligned, disrupting nerve function, which can affect the eustachian tube. This may lead to fluid buildup in the middle ear and cause otitis media.

Ear infection or otitis media accounts for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Antibiotics, the usual treatment, are not always effective and may even lead to a recurrence of ear infections. Many children are dealing with a continuing cycle of repeat ear infections, which lands them back at the pediatrician for more antibiotics. For nearly 100 years, the chiropractic profession has claimed that ear and other upper respiratory infections respond favorably to chiropractic adjustments.

A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections...(read more)

SOURCE: http://www.healthychild.com/

Spinal Decompression

DTS (Decompression Traction System) is a procedure designed to reduce pressure on the tissues of the nerves on your spine. The various angles of decompression cause a negative pressure within the vertebral discs that creates an optimal environment for nutrients, water and blood flow thereby allowing healing to take place.

Indications for decompression traction are to relieve peripheral radiation/sciatica and pain associated with: protruding, bulging, herniated, prolapsed disc, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, acute fact syndrome, radicular pain, spinal root impingement, hypo-mobility, degenerative joint disease, compression fracture, joint pain and discogenic pain.

DTS uses an intermittent pull at a pre-determined level of force to help separate the joint surfaces and/or to elongate the surrounding soft tissue. It also uses a progressive/regressive mode that slowly builds up to the maximum level of pull and then gradually returns to the minimum level.

There are two different types of clinical protocols that are done at Lifestyle Chiropractic: Lumbar and Cervical.
Lumbar decompression traction can be done prone (on stomach) or supine (on back). A thorough evaluation will determine which position is best for each individual. Treatment frequency varies by condition and individual, and as frequency is reduced, the program of care will become more aggressive.

Cervical decompression is done in a reclined seated position. Typical starting force will be 15-20 pounds and any increases to tolerance to 25-30 pounds, in five pound increments.

Spinal decompression has evolved into a cost-effective non-surgical treatment for herniated and degenerative spinal disc disease, one of the major causes of back pain. Traction can be billed through your insurance, and through our services, we will verify your benefits.

Visit Lifestyle Chiropractic Helps Back Pain For More Information

Lifestyle Chiropractic welcomes a new Massage Therapist!

Missy Wright graduated from Northwestern College in Roseville with an Associate’s degree in Arts and Bible. While working full-time in an administrative job and at the suggestion of her father, Missy decided to pursue her passion in the healing arts. She enrolled in the evening massage therapy program at Sister Rosalind Gefre’s School of Massage in West Saint Paul. Missy graduated from Sister Rosalind’s with a certification in Professional Massage Therapy. Since then, Missy has helped many people heal naturally with her massage techniques.

Missy joined Lifestyle Chiropractic this May and is very excited to work with Dr. Fugleberg! Missy has over 800 hours of training in the following massage techniques: Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, Acupressure, Pre & Post-Natal Pregnancy, Geriatrics, Chair Massage, Sports Massage and Reflexology. Missy is also a Professional member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals(ABMP). When asked what she likes most about being a Massage Therapist, Missy said, “I feel very satisfied in knowing that anyone can walk through the door with any sort of problem and that I have the skills and training to send them back out that door in better health than when they arrived.”

In her spare time, Missy enjoys spending time with her husband of 4 years, Jon, as well as with family and friends. She enjoys rollerblading, photography, Twins games, and crafts. Her values, ethics, faith, and yearning for excellence contribute to the level of care she provides her clients!

Fire department or Maintenance man?

As many of you know, Lifestyle Chiropractic experienced a small fire last week. Thankfully, minimal damage occurred and the office did not need to close! Amidst the lessons learned, I was reminded of a valuable analogy that explains the differences between medicine and chiropractic.

For this analogy, your mind and body are your house, medical doctors are the fire department and chiropractors are renovation and maintenance experts.

Now, imagine your house is on fire. It is an emergency. Who should you call, the fire department or the renovation and maintenance experts?

I hope you said the fire department. Now, what will the fire department do when they get to your burning house? Well, what they do will depend on what tools they have to work with. What tools does the fire department have? The tools that they have developed are very effective in their goal to put out fires. They have axes and fire hoses. What will they use these for? They will use the axes to break out all your windows, to chop down your door, and to chop open your walls. They will use the hoses to soak the entire interior of your house and all your cherished belongings.

What is the result? If you are lucky, if they got there in time and did not make any big mistakes, they will save the life of your house. For this you should be eternally grateful. But, what is left? A huge mess to clean up! In fact, your house is now in far worse shape that it was before the fire ever started!

So now what will you do? Who will you call to restore order to your house? The fire department? Do you think more axes and fire hoses could ever restore your house to proper order or function? Of course not, that is absurd. Now is the time to call on the maintenance and restoration experts to restore the "health" of your house.

So who is better? The fire department should be a last resort for building health but the first resort when there is a fire. The restoration and maintenance experts should be the first resort for health and a secondary resort in the event of a fire. The goal should be to ALWAYS utilize them regularly.

We need to ask the right questions. Wouldn't spraying down houses with water cause them to rot? Yes it would, that is called a side effect. This does not, however, erase the fact that these houses were saved from the ravages of fire! The fire department is simply responsibly for treating the symptoms at hand...a blazing fire. They are not responsible for restoring the order and function after their intervention.

Long story short, Lifestyle Chiropractic fared pretty well last week. Small emergency? Yes, and I am thankful for the work of the fire department! Since then, I am more thankful for the work of the maintenance and restoration experts who have restored the order of the office!

Remember to maintain YOUR body and health!

Dr. Joel

(adapted from Dr. James Chestnut-fire dept analogy)

Research on Lowback Pain

"There's been an escalation of clinical and basic science research on manipulative therapy, which has shown there is a scientific basis for the treatment of back pain by manipulation. The physician who makes use of this resource will provide relief for many patients."
(Canadian Family Physician 1985; 31: 535-540.)

"The treatment that chiropractors offered for low back pain was more effective than that provided by the medical clinics."
(British Medical Journal, June 2, 1990. 1431-1437.)

For years people have known that chiropractors treat back pain. Chiropractors have terrific success in providing relief. What our current healthcare system needs is more collaboration between medical professionals for the benefit of the patient. Try conservative chiropractic care FIRST and more invasive/aggressive procedures only in a crisis.

Now, all that being said - Chiropractic used MERELY to relieve pain is neglecting its real power. A chiropractic adjustment is first and foremost about restoring balance. An adjustment may be necessary with or WITHOUT the presence of pain.

Being adjusted is not so much about what is done TO you, but more about what it ALLOWS your body to DO - ADAPT to everyday stressors more readily.

Reminds me of a saying:

An ounce of prevention is worth... (you know the rest).

FACTS ABOUT DRUGS

Americans spend $250 billion/year on prescription drugs. We spend more than all the people in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom combined (Melody Peterson, Our Daily Meds, Sarah Crichton Books, New York, NY 2008, pg.5.).

Prescription drugs -taken as directed- kill 300 people every day in America (Haley D, “The Other Drug War,” Alt Med Mag, Sept. 2001 Issue-3. Gary Null et al., “Death by Medicine,” Life Extension (March 2004 web special).

Spending on drugs increases by 12% every year. Drugs are the fastest growing part of the staggeringly high American health care bill (Public citizen, “2002 Drug Industry Profits: Hefty Pharmaceutical Company Margins Dwarf Other Industries, “Congress Watch (June 2003), http//www.citizen.org/congress/reform/drug_industry/corporate/articles.cfm?ID=9923).

$400 billion spent on prescription drugs worldwide (Public citizen, “2002 Drug Industry Profits: Hefty Pharmaceutical Company Margins Dwarf Other Industries, “Congress Watch (June 2003), http//www.citizen.org/congress/reform/drug_industry/corporate/articles.cfm?ID=9923).

Dr. Allen Roses (top exec from GlaxoSmithKline) has said that 90% of drugs work in only 30-50% of the people who take them (Connor, “Glaxo Chief: Our Drugs Do Not Work on Most People,” The Independent (December 8 2003).

(adapted from Dr. Rodger Murphree's article "Swimming in a Sea of Green." TAC. Dec 2008. http://www.theamericanchiropractor.com/articledetail.asp?articleid=1038&category=12)

Quality of Life Improved!

Sciatica is a set of symptoms, not really a diagnosis in itself.

Symptoms of leg/buttock pain & possibly numbness & tingling along path of sciatic nerve down back of leg.

Causes include: subluxation, spondylolisthesis, piriformis syndrome, disc herniation, trauma, or tumors.

Obviously, sciatica can be very painful and debillitating and many people seek answers to this problem. The key is finding the cause of the problem and addressing that rather than merely trying to relieve the pain.

Recommended first routes of treatment for sciatica: chiropractic care, spinal decompression, stretching or massage therapy. It is important to determine the cause of sciatica and a doctor of chiropractic is best qualified to make this determination.

Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve pressure and relieve pain. They restore the body's natural healing ability. Adjustments return a person to mobility and alignment.

A chiropractic adjustment will TURN YOUR POWER ON!!

Spinal Decompression works by gently stretching tightened muscles and relieving pressure on discs and nerves. It's non-surgical, safe and effective, and has helped many patients.

Golfer - Back Pain

Patient Testimonial - Back Pain