Saturday, September 24, 2011

iPad app for posture screenings

So, the group of office the we are out at the puyallup fair with this year has been using the Mobilr posture screen app for the iPad. After playing with the app for a few minutes, found that it was an easy to use app that is a great visual aid when talking to the people out at the fair, at health fairs, school talks.

After a little discussion, decided to get the iPad 2 so we can use the program as needed. I have been one that prefers the android or microsoft platforms better than the apple systems. But, I am liking the ease that the iPad allows me to post things quickly, check email without having to boot up the desktop in the morning.

I think that if the posture screen app was available on the droid tablets, I would have bought one instead of the iPad. But so far the wife likes the iPad too.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

September 18, 1895

September 18

Today is the birthday of chiropractic.  1895, DD Palm made the first adjustment of Harvey Lillard.   116 years after that first adjustment, we are one of the most popular alternatives to allopathic medicine, yet we are only seeing a very small percentage of the population.  

People are inundated with pharmaceutical marketing on tv, in print and even online.   Our emails are bombarded with  messages about cheap deals on various medication.

How do you break past the mindset that everything that ills you can be solved by a pill.  The reality is that the medications may relieve your pains for a time, but it inevitably returns in force.   Many people live day to day popping over-the-counter pain medications like skittles.  Unaware of the continued degeneration progressing under these suppressed warning signs.

What if we could get more of these people in to see us to correct their poor posture, their fixated joints, their lost motion.   Even if we could only improve the quality of their daily life by 10 percent. Decreasing the amount of medication that they needed on a daily basis.  What a difference that could make in the world today.

If you have not seen a chiropractor, why not?   If you do, have you sent your family and friends to be checked?  Who do you know that needs to be seen? The need for corrective care is vast,  the need for maintenance is even greater.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Can Food Help Your Back Pain?


Back pain cost society more than 30 billion dollars! A ten fold increase since 1997.   Recent evidence shows that eating certain non-inflammatory foods can help decrease your pain.

 So what should we do to take advantage of this information?










Eat more:
  • Cherries, or tart cherry juice
  • Olive oil
    • (such as in a salad dressing, drizzled over pasta or veggies.   less value if you use it for cooking)
  • Canned salmon, sardines packed in water or olive oil, mackerel, albacore tuna (preferably wild caught)
  • flaxseed
  • Vegetable protein
  • Vegetables and fruits of every color
  • Nuts of all kinds
  • Green Tea
  • Ginger- try steeping some grated root with boiling water
Eat LESS:
  • Corn oil, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed , or mixed vegetable oils
  • Margarine and vegetable shortening
  • Processed foods
  • Products containing high fructose corn syrup
  • Foods high in saturated fat, including meat, tropical oils and full fat dairy
  • Foods made with trans fats
A lack of vitamin D may also contribute to low back pain.  In one study 80% of people who had chronic low back pain also were deficient in vitamin D. When they began taking supplemental D their back pain improved.

This anti-inflammatory way of eating is great for ANY inflammatory condition, aim to eat this way all of the time!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Springtime in the Pacific Northwest


Springtime in the Pacific Northwest

So, it is mid- April around the Puget Sound area.  The sun has broken through a few days and people are starting to knock down the winter’s growth of lawn and weeds.  Spring leagues for softball, baseball, soccer, and other sports are ramping up for their seasons. The golf course is drying out enough to make people want to get out for a round on the course.  These daily stresses can push the body to its limits. Yard-work, sports and activities that return your body’s use of those forgotten nerves and muscles put an abnormal amount of stress on bones, muscles, joints and nerves.

Various micro and macro trauma of the season:
  • Full-speed collisions,
  • Falls to the ground,
  • Head and limbs being jammed,
  • Body parts being pulled, pushed and twisted beyond their normal ranges,
  • Even seemingly normal, easy, or moderate exercise.
What are some of the damaging effects of this punishment? How likely are you to develop problems or be seriously injured, and how can you be sure you are performing at your optimal level?
  
The development, growth, and function of our bodies is directed and controlled by the Nervous system.

Although the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves are protected by the bones of the skull and spine, they can be damaged by slight misalignments; this creates pressure and interference to the spinal cord and nerves which can result in obscured growth, improper development, and poor function.
  
When the muscles and joints are not working properly you will become less flexible, weaker; making them more susceptible to injury; leading to arthritic and degenerative conditions. This pressure and interference causes decreased nerve supply to the tissues, organs, and systems of the body. This leads to impaired body functions, a loss of proper alertness, a lack of concentration, and lowered energy. These problems will slow down results in your exercise routine, cause poor performance in sports, the classroom, or at work.  A body functioning below normal capacity will have a lower resistance to infection and illness.  Many of these conditions may present as a subtle decreases in normal function, not presenting with identifiable symptoms. 

The Secret Response to All of These Problems is Chiropractic.  

Chiropractors analyze the spine for these spinal misalignments; we refer to this as a vertebral subluxation. A subluxated spine is out of its proper alignment and more prone to serious injury from a minor trauma. Chiropractic adjustments align the spine, and remove nerve interference, thus restoring proper health and optimal function. This keeps you free from illness, safer from injury, and allows you to perform at your best without the use of drugs or surgery. This is why top professional and Olympic athletes get adjusted and why millions of parents seek chiropractic for themselves and their families each year as a safe, natural form of health care.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Drugs that deplete vitamins

Drugs that deplete vitamins

When taken regularly, some frequently prescribed medications can diminish or deplete your body's stores of important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

If you take any medications, talk with a nutrition-oriented medical professional about whether you should add certain supplements to your daily regimen.
 

TYPE OF DRUG

EXAMPLES -
NAME BRANDS
NUTRIENTS DEPLETED
AntacidsPepcid, Tagamet, ZantacVitamin B-12, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc
Prevacid, PrilosecVitamin B-12
AntibioticsAmoxicillin, Erythromycin, Penicillin, Tetracycline"Friendly" beneficial intestinal bacteria
AntidepressantsAdapin, Aventyl, Elavil, TofranilVitamin B-2, coenzyme Q-10
Antidiabetic drugsDymelor, Micronase, TolinaseCoenzyme Q-10
GlucophageVitamin B-12
Anti-inflammatoriesAspirinVitamin C, folic acid, iron, potassium
Advil, Aleve, Dolobid, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Motrin, Nalfon, Naprosyn, Orudis, Relafen, VoltarenFolic acid
Betamethasone, Budesonide, Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone, Prednisolone, PrednisoneVitamin C, vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc
Blood pressure-
lowering drugs
ApresolineVitamin B-6, coenzyme Q-10
Bumex, Edecrin, LasixVitamin B-1, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc
Aquatensen, Lozol, ZaroxolynCoenzyme Q-10, magnesium, potassium, zinc
DyreniumFolic acid, calcium, zinc
Blocadren, Cartrol, Corguard, Inderal, Kerlone, Lopressor, Normodyne, Sectral, Tenormin, ViskinCoenzyme Q-10
Cholesterol-
lowering drugs
Baycol, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, ZocorCoenzyme Q-10
Colestid, QuestranVitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, folic acid, iron
Hormone replacement
therapy (HRT)
Evista, Prempro, Premarin, EstratabVitamin B-2, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc
Oral contraceptivesEstrastep, Norinyl, Ortho-Novem, TriphasilVitamin B-2, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc
TranquilizersOrmazine, Mellaril, Prolixin, ThorazineVitamin B-2, coenzyme Q-10
HaldolCoenzyme Q-10
Source: Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, by R. Pelton et al.; Physician's Desk Reference