Your Child and Ear Infections

I am moved to write this article as some people who are close to me can benefit from the information.  As I feel all new parents can benefit from this information, it is my intention to write this article so as to educate and help those who are new parents, or even return parents, make a more fully informed decision as to how to assist their new born child to health and freedom from chronic ear infections and potential ear tubes.  It will also serve them to prevent the basis for a series of trips to the pediatrician for repeated antibiotics which has been shown to suppress the immune system, impair normal immune development and lead to chronic allergies and upper respiratory symptoms.  This is not meant to be alarming, but simply an effort to make the reader aware of what potentially waits in your future if one continues down the path of traditional allopathic medical treatment for childhood ear infections.  It is my intention to get your attention, because the consequences of traditional treatments are never-ending and quite difficult for the parent and child, both financially and emotionally.

So why does one get middle ear infections?  This is pretty easy to explain.  We begin with the gestation of the baby within the mother.  If the mother has a digestive yeast/candidia imbalance while pregnant (craves sweets and eats lots of carbohydrates in the form of pasta, breads, etc.), the child will grow up in an environment that promotes the same imbalance within them.  Therefore, the child will have a tendency to develop a digestive yeast/candidia imbalance.  This means when the child begins feeding, formula or breast milk (always feed your child breast milk only for a minimum of the first 12 to 18 months) the child will begin to create mucus that leads to upper respiratory congestion and ear congestion.  The ear congestion will eventually lead to middle ear infections.

If we move to the birthing process, if a child is delivered vaginally, the amount of pressure on the newborn varies depending on the size and weight of the baby along with the ease or difficulty passing through the birth canal.  Appreciating that a 6 to 10 pound baby fitting through a hole the size of a quarter is stressful.  To both the mother and the baby.  And although the birth process is both normal and natural, having the mother lay on her back and do crunches to expel the baby is not the best way to support the delivery of the baby.  More natural would be to allow the mother to squat and allow the natural muscle contractions and gravity to assist in the process.  But because this makes it difficult for the doctor, it has been deemed necessary that the mother do these modified crunches for the ease of the delivering doctor.  Appreciate that all other mammals give birth standing up or squatting. 

Now, if the child is refusing to simply slide out and the "slow labor experience" occurs, this puts more pressure on the baby as it passes through the birth canal.  The longer it takes, the more pressure and the more potential for distortion in the baby's head, neck and back.  When the head first appears, many times the doctor will rotate the head (sometimes as much as 180 degrees) to get the shoulder to appear.  Once the first shoulder has cleared the vaginal opening, the body will then simply slide out.  A potential problem occurs when the rotation of the head to get the shoulder to clear puts abnormal stress on the attachment of the head on the spine.  This sets the child up for improper alignment of the head on the spine, creating the basis for middle ear infections, as the fluids of the middle ear will not drain properly due to the misalignment. 

Well what if the baby was delivered via C-section?  This too creates potential problems, as the contraction associated with passing through the birth canal and then the expansion after leaving the canal initiates the pumping mechanism of the bones in the skull with the sacral area of the pelvis promoting normal cerebrospinal fluid flow over the brain and spinal cord.  Since the baby didn't pass through the birth canal, they didn't experience the initiation of this pumping mechanism.  Failure to properly initiate this mechanism can also lead to improper fluid flow, and causes cranial faults within the bones of the skull, which can then lead to a back up of fluid in the middle ear.

Another possible contributor to middle ear infections are food sensitivities which may show up as reflux in the infant.  The reflux and spitting up of food usually will back up through the internal auditory meatus (a tube that connects the middle ear with the back of the throat and helps us equalize the pressure in the middle ear when we go on a plane and need to chew gum) and travel up into the middle ear creating the basis for an ear infection.  Feeding your child a bottle while they are laying with their head back, especially if they are already congested, will certainly contribute to this problem.  And how many parents unknowingly do this every feeding?

One of the other potential causes is the parents need to have their child sit up and hold up their head sooner, rather than later.  If the child has a heavy head, a big head (compared to the rest of their body, which is quite normal) or hasn't developed the neck strength to hold up their head, this will create the basis for misalignments in the neck, especially between the base of the head and the top of the spine.  Can you see your child with their head bobbing from side to side, desperately trying to keep their head up?  How many times a day does that happen?  This creates spinal mis-alignments in the neck.  Can you see your child sleeping in their car seat or their baby transporter with their head always turned to one side?  How many times does this happen?  This is the basis and potentially the result of spinal mis-alignments in the neck.  This will lead to a blockage at the base of the skull and the top of the spine.  Unfortunately, this is the exact level associated with blocking the proper drainage of the middle ear into the back of the throat.  Therefore, if there is a misaligned first or second vertebrae that the head sits on, the fluid will now have difficulty draining in a normal fashion and will lead to pressure in the ear, potentially leading to a middle ear infection.

So What Should A New Parent (or returning parent) Do? Regardless of what occurs during the pregnancy and the potential for a digestive yeast/candidia imbalance within the mother and therefore the baby, the parents both should consider being open to restoring balance to the baby's spinal alignment.  The sooner, the better.  Considering this right after the birthing process is best, as addressing the imbalance sooner rather than later will only help to reduce and allow for the elimination of a potential problem.  The experts at restoring proper spinal alignment in adults, as well as babies, are chiropractors.  Now I can hear the natural question in many parents, "Is it safe for my new born to get a chiropractic adjustment?  I have seen that, and (possibly) even experienced it myself, and it seems a little "violent" and potentially harmful, like the new born may be hurt.  I've heard stories about people being hurt and even paralyzed by chiropractors.  I don't want that for my new born.  I'll wait until they are older and are more stable in their development."   I appreciate that position, and I'm not here to argue with you over what you have heard, nor am I here to say you've seen too many Hollywood movies of people having their necks broken while being involved in a fight scene.  We develop our belief systems in countless different ways.  What I am here to offer you is sound health care advise based on countless healthy babies who receive regular chiropractic care and do so without any incident.  And who go without developing middle ear infections and who never need to have surgery to have tubes put in their ears. 

But lets address the fear of being hurt first.  Appreciate the amount of pressure and stress it takes to re-align a baby's head properly onto the spine is considerably less than the 150 lbs of pressure it takes to push a baby through the birth canal, or the 10 to 15 pounds of pressure it takes to rotate a new born's head as much as 180 degrees to get the shoulder to pop out during the natural delivery process.  It is also much less pressure used in extracting the baby out of the uterus of a mother going through a C-section, as the doctors are now more concerned with finishing the surgery on the mother, as the baby gets whisked away to be checked.  Assuming your child survived these traumas, I am absolutely certain your child could survive a simple spinal adjustment to restore proper fluid drainage.  If I personally use greater than 1 to 2 pounds of pressure to re-align a baby's neck, that is a lot.  And I don't use that much to adjust most of my adult patients.  Most babies adjust by simply turning their head while slightly extending their head backwards, and the mis-aligned bone slips right back into its natural place when contacting the proper vertebrae.  The only time it gets more difficult than that is when the child gets chronic, and the mis-alignment has been there for more than a month.  Then the child may need more than one adjustment to restore balance.  And the same amount of pressure will be needed, it would just involve more than one treatment.  The main point here is it doesn't take that much to help the child return to normal alignment and promote proper middle ear function. And I've seen middle ear infections clear within 24 hours without the whole allopathic antibiotic treatment.  And I've seen it take a couple, or possibly as many as 4 or 5 visits to completely resolve a more chronic problem, and to have it never return. 

But what about the Antibiotic Treatment?  Please appreciate that antibiotics have their place in treating infection. And many times the therapy is done before adequately understanding that the pain and pressure being experienced is actually a bacterial infection.  Perhaps it is just fluid back-up due to misalignment creating the pressure, and not a true infection.  The antibiotics are not needed at that point.  Insisting the doctor confirm the bacterial infection is vital at this point.  Don't just assume this is a bacterial infection and simply go along with the recommendation of antibiotics because you think it is normal for this to occur.  Because if given the antibiotic therapy, the child will result in having a digestive yeast/candidia imbalance and you are now the proud parents of a child who will likely develop upper respiratory problems, digestive problems, allergies and a deficient immune system.  And if the antibiotics don't get rid of the fluid build up, or if the child develops repeated middle ear pressure or infection, you will then be asked to consider having surgery on your child to have tubes put in the ears to help the fluid drain unnaturally vs. simply restoring proper alignment in the upper cervical spine and allowing proper drainage of the fluid that was backing up in the middle ear. Doesn't that seem like a easier first line of treatment, before going to the more invasive antibiotic treatment and/or ear tube surgery?

Why Wouldn't You Try More Conservative First?  I do my best to appreciate different points of view and different perspectives, and I will always continue to allow people to make their own choices about their health and the health of their children.  And as a health care practitioner who cares to impart helpful advice to my practice members, if you have had any experience with chiropractic, at least through my office and through me, why wouldn't you consider consulting with me for any of your health related issues?  And I hope you can understand that I am not against medication as a sometimes necessary treatment.  It just concerns me that well educated and well intentioned parents make long-term choices for their health and the health of their family by taking short-term medical solutions designed to treat symptoms, without thinking of more natural and conservative measures first that don't create long-term negative health consequences as a result of that form of care.  Any time you have any question about any health related issue, even if after hearing the advise you choose not to take the advise offered, please contact me at my office (845)561-2225 or e-mail at docrick@spineboy.com.  It would be my pleasure and is my mission to help you and your family to better health by making better, more informed health decisions.

My Offer To You

If you are a parent who has a child who either has or has had ear infections, I invite you to bring your child(ren) into the office and have a FREE evaluation any time during the next 6 weeks.  That is until school lets out.  Simply call the office and ask us to put your child in for the Is My Head On Straight Evaluation.  Normally a $ 75.00 value, I will waive the evaluation cost in an effort to help you and your child live a healthy and sane life.  Simply call The Office at (845)561-BACK (2225).  And if you know of any other children or parents who could benefit from this service, ask them to call.  Lets help the whole community by making sure our children have their head's on straight.

Also, in my new book, When Your Health Matters: Using Your Body's Natural Rhythms To Restore Your Health, available for sale through the office will give you all the information you need on Antibiotics and You.  To purchase your own copy of my new book, simply call the Office and I will write a personal dedication to you when you come pick it up.  Call (845)561-BACK or 561-2225 and I will put your copy aside.

Your Stress Hormones

Normalizing Your Hormone Levels: Part I

        Having attended a four-day Nutritional Lyceum in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, I was treated to quite a spectacular four days with the top nutritional experts delivering the most up-to-date information on restoring health through high quality nutrition.  And of all the information that was presented within the seminars, the information about balancing your hormonal levels, and how to determine most accurately where the imbalance is coming from, seemed to be the most helpful.  Having asked some of the other practitioners which speaker they enjoyed the most and what information did they consider the most valuable, everyone had the same answer... "The information about balancing hormones."  Since there were two different speakers, Angela Hywood, ND from Australia and Dr. Janet Lang, from the mid-west, I will be pulling from both of their information to help you understand the basis for fully balancing your hormones and what the best way to evaluate where your hormones are out of balance.  For this newsletter, I will be discussing Dr. Hywood's information entitled "Stress Management: Strategies to Support Adrenal Vitality," and our next newsletter will focus on Dr. Lang's information "Functional Endocrinology: Balancing Female Hormones."

Understanding the Stress Response

        When dealing with stress, the glands associated with the body's response to it are the Adrenal Glands.  These are paired glands that sit just above your Kidneys.  It should be noted that Sex Hormone Balance cannot be achieved without healthy Adrenal function.  Because of that, I am discussing Adrenal function first and we will visit the Sex hormone portion in my next newsletter. 

        Back in the 1930's a doctor by the name of Hans Selye determined that stress is a state of threatened homeostasis, and a stressor is anything that threatens this balance within the body.  The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) associated with the body's reaction to stress is as follows.  There are three phases the body will go through when trying to maintain balance within, and these are Phase 1 The Alarm Phase where the body produces the hormones Cortisol and DHEA in response to the fight or flight response.  The normal release of these hormones occurs during these stressful times in our day (getting our normal routine handled in an efficient manner) and the body is usually asymptomatic, as the stress is mostly short lived in duration.  Everyone experiences this type of response with the resulting normal adaptation and resistance.  As stress begins to accumulate and become more of a challenge, Phase 2 known as TheResistance Stress Phase kicks in.  This is the early stage of Adrenal exhaustion.  The person has become what is termed Sympathetic Dominant.  Cortisol increases in response to the stress, but the DHEA begins to decline.  The person who is Sympathetic Dominant feels "stressed" as this is associated with anxiety attacks, mood swings, and problems falling asleep.  Does any of this sound familiar?  Phase 3 The Exhaustion Phase has both Cortisol and DHEA in decreased amounts.  This is associated with the symptoms of problems staying asleep, feeling down or depressed, along with fatigue or physical exhastion.   Maybe this sounds like you.  Your nervous system is now  Parasympathetic Dominant.

        So what are these two hormones, and why are they important?  Both of these hormones are derived from cholesterol, which then gets converted to a second hormone called Pregnenalone.  The Pregnenalone then gets converted to Cortisol and DHEA.  Cortisol influences the activity of Insulin, Thyroid Hormones and DHEA.  Insulin release is directly tied to Cortisol production, while Thyroid Hormones and DHEA are suppressed and lowered upon Cortisol release.  Cortisol is directly involved in Balancing Blood Glucose, the Immune System Response, Bone turnover rate, Mood and thought, REM sleep and Tissue breakdown.  Under prolonged stress, Cortisol will increase initially, followed by a decrease over time due to the constancy of the stress.  This results in declines within the Immune System function leading to Natural Killer Cell cytotoxicity, problems with Secretory IgA levels and the disruption of gastrointestinal microflora balance.  In laymens terms, you can't fight off infection, as well as, your digestion and food breakdown become poor, leading to food allergies and poor health. Some foods which stress out the body and create increases in Cortisol release are your Hydrogenated and Trans Fats.  Take the time to read your food labels and realize everytime you consume those types of foods, you will be decreasing your body's ability to fighting off infection, in addition to increasing your chance for developing food allergies. 

What To Consider

        Everyone suffers the effects of stress.  A great place to start improving your health is to improve your body's ability to handle the stress you experience.  From the seminar, I was taught how to evaluate a persons response to their stress by ordering a Saliva Test that can be done within your own home.  The test kit is taken home and saliva samples are collected by you at four times during the day.  Each sample is placed within the test kit and then it is mailed to the company in a postage paid package.  The results are then sent to my office where we then have you come in and go over the results.  Based on what the test shows, it tells us exactly what the protocol is for balancing your Adrenal response to stress, and what it will take to keep you healthy.  The technology behind it is great and the protocols are fantastic. 

        Why it is important to evaluate your hormones this way instead of using a blood test?  Blood tests are not as diagnostically significant in determining abnormal hormone levels.  Blood tests are also more expensive then the saliva tests, and because of the various hormones effecting each other,  blood tests can come back normal even though hormonal imbalances exist.  Advantages of Saliva testing are the free hormone levels are more diagnostically significant, and the validity and accuracy of saliva testing is well established through research.

My Offer To You

        For ALL Current Practice Members and Prospective New Practice Members:  If you suffer from a stressful life, either minimally or maximally, you would benefit from having one of these tests done.  It will help you see which of the three phases you are currently in, and help us to determine how to eliminate the effects of that stress.  Some other conditions associated with too much Adrenal stress would be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, PMS, menopausal symptoms such as Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Insomnia, along with a decreased labido.  If any of these sound like you or a loved one, call the office today at (845) 561-2225 and tell us you need to get the Stress Evaluation.  During the Month of May, I offer you this as part of Our Mother's Day Give Away.  Make an appointment during the Month of May and during your visit I will do a simple test to evaluate the need for the Saliva Test.  If you qualify, we will give you a test-kit to take home and when we get the results, the two of us can then make the necessary changes to your system and allow for your body to begin managing your stress in a much better way.  Why wait any longer, Call The Office Now at (845) 561-2225 and schedule your appointment Today! 

        And men be mindful, this is not just a woman's health issue.  Men too suffer from Adrenal burn-out which creates Impotence/Erectile Dysfunction, and a condition known as Andropause or Male-menopause, which includes a decreased labido.  So you too need to call The Office at (845) 561-2225 and tell us you want to evaluate your stress response.  Why wait, call NOW while I have your attention.

        And for those of you who live out of town, the Saliva Test can be mailed to you and we can consult over the phone, or through e-mail when dealing with the results.  You don't even have to live in the Hudson Valley in order for me to help you.  So you too can get the help you need by calling the office at (845) 561-2225.  I welcome the opportunity.  Give us a call and get a handle on how your body manages your stress Today!

        For more complete information on this and all hormone related concerns, consider purchasing my new book entitled When Your Health Matters: Using Your Body's Natural Rhythms To Restore Your Health, available by calling my office at (845)561-BACK or 561-2225.  Call me and I will be happy to set one aside, or you can call me and I will mail you an autographed copy.

What's Eatin' You

This is an interesting question to consider for any of you who have traveled to foreign countries, or who tend to eat lots of seafood, tuna, sushi, or for those who have exposure to toxic heavy metals from fillings, antiperspirants, cooking utensils, cosmetics, copper plumbing, copper bottom stainless steal pans, grains and seeds treated with methyl mercury, auto exhaust or leaded gasoline, tobacco smoke, smog from coal burning, some soft waters, ceramics, inks, among many others.  If you do have contact with any of those listed, as most or all of us will, it is quite possible that you currently suffer from, or will suffer from, parasites.  Therefore, it is important to appreciate that being exposed to these on a regular basis and their accumulation within the body (since they are too heavy to be excreted in a normal fashion) will cause one to attract parasites. 

Parasites are quite interesting from the standpoint that they help the body get rid of the toxic effects of Heavy Metals.  As mentioned, once the metals enter the body, either through consumption, breathing, or through our skin, because of their heavy weight, they present a problem for excretion by the body.  I liken it to tossing a stone into a stream.  The stream has a flow to it that allows the current to carry things within the stream away.  Unfortunately, a stone will, regardless of the strength of the current, sink to the bottom where it can expect to stay until something comes along to move it.  Heavy Metals once in the body can create a myriad of different symptoms.  Some of these will mimic serious health concerns, such as Multiple Sclerosis, as well as lead to other conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease.  Depending upon where the Heavy Metals are deposited, in an effort to get them out of the blood stream, the body will continually deposit them within the different parts and will cause their function to be affected as the metals accumulate.  Continued exposure on a regular basis will likely lead to the body developing a myriad of different and vague symptoms.  Unfortunately, most Medical Doctors rarely consider this when evaluating patients for their symptoms. 

But I started the newsletter by introducing parasites.  How do they factor into this Heavy Metal accumulation?  Great question.  Since the body is the sum total of all its parts, as one's chemistry changes, so does the body.  Everyone can appreciate that water stops being water as soon as you add a drop of "lemon" to it.   Well the body changes as the Heavy Metals accumulate.  Since each type of Heavy Metal resonates a specific frequency of energy, the overall chemistry and energetic frequency of the body begins to change.  The body then starts resonating at a frequency that is unhealthy.  This is when the body begins to be attractive to parasites.  Why?  Because the parasites are attracted to the frequencies the Heavy Metals give off.  And since your body chemistry is off, your Immune Recognition System is compromised, allowing the parasites to walk right in.  And what they do is go to work eating the Heavy Metals.  This is actually a good thing, as it prevents their excess accumulation.  Unfortunately, parasites like variety in their diet, the same as you or I.  So in an effort to spice up their lives, so to speak, they will look for other aspects of the body to eat.  One of the main areas parasites will focus on is the Annulus Fibrosis.  What's that you ask?  It is the outer protective covering of your vertebral discs.  These discs are the cushions that sit between your vertebrae or back bones.  Designed to withstand the stress and strain we place upon the spine, the discs are vital for allowing flexibility and protection to the bones that house the spinal cord.  Coming out between the vertebrae, in line with the discs, are the spinal nerves.  Therefore, the integrity of these discs is important, if you want to protect the spinal nerves exiting the spinal column. 

The Annulus Fibrosis is made of the toughest tissue within the body.  Stronger then bones or teeth.  After all, it has to act as protection, as well as provide flexibility for the spinal cord so we can move about.  So the Annulus Fibrosis is made up of annular fibers, like the rings of a tree that are oriented in a criss-cross pattern.  What this means from a structural standpoint is the more stress placed upon the disc, the stronger it gets.  A visual might be the example of the Chinese finger cuffs.  You can slide you fingers into them quite easily, but to pull the fingers out causes the cuffs to get tighter and stronger.  The more you pull, the tighter and stroger it gets.  The discs of your body work the same way.  So this begs the question, How would something that is supposed to get stronger when stressed, rupture and herniate when doing something like sports or lifting, etc?  Ideally it shouldn't.  After all, I'm sure the creator of our wonderful bodies didn't create a system that would fail so easily under stress.  It simply doesn't make sense.  In order for the Annulus Fibrosis to fail, something has to come along and compromise the integrity of the criss-crossed fibers.  That's where the parasites come in.  Since the Annulus is tough and fibrous, it mimics the consistency of Heavy Metals.  And in an effort to have some variety in their lives, the parasites will begin to feed off the Annulus.  Then, over time, the strength of the Annulus will be compromised and lessened.  And the next time the disc is loaded, POP!  The disc will rupture or herniate.  Not fun, I assure you.

What You Should Consider

If you experience exposure to Heavy Metals in any of the various forms mentioned above, and if you suffer with vague symptoms of non-specific diseases that you MD can't seem to get a handle on, you may want to consider the possibility of Heavy Metal toxicity.  If you suffer with digestive concerns from bouts of diarrhea, Irritable Bowel, or symptoms of Crohn's Disease, you may be suffering with parasites.  If you've traveled outside of the country, eaten lots of seafood, tuna or sushi, chances are good that you have a parasite.  If you have a disc herniation, even if it's been operated on, I can assure you, you have one or more parasites in your system. 

What Your Options Are

Treating both Parasites and Heavy Metal toxicity is not a difficult thing.  In fact, I have been doing this for both myself and many of my practice members over the past 18 years.  One of the solutions that is quite effective would be a Standard Process supplement we offer through the office called Zymex II.  By taking this for a period of 12 weeks on a consistent basis, it will allow the parasites to be digested and excreted from the body, naturally.  It really is that simple.  For Heavy Metals, we also use a supplement called Cholacol II which acts as an adsorbent to bind to the Heavy Metals, thus creating a form the body can now excrete.  We also have a new product from Metagenics called MetaloClear.  This digests and gets rid of the heavy metals.  Over time, depending upon the amount of Heavy Metals that have accumulated, the body will rid itself of these harmful toxins.  This ultimately will eliminate the reason for attracting the parasites.  And the best part about it all is your body can now begin to truly heal itself from these different conditions, as the underlying cause will have been eliminated.

My Offer To You

If you suffer from any of the above conditions, including discs herniations, bulges or have a history of back surgery for your herniated disc(s), this offer is for you.  If you have a nagging back or neck condition that seems to radiate pain every now and again, and you are too afraid to have your MD look at it because of what he might find, you owe it to yourself to come in and get checked.  To ALL Current Practice Members and Potential New Practice members, my offer is the same.  CALL THE OFFICE NOW and tell us to put you in for the Bug Check and the I'm Not Into Heavy Metal Anymore Check.  Both of these checks can be done for Current Practice members during their next scheduled visit.  Normally a $75.00 value each, I will include both during your next scheduled office visit for the rock bottom price of FREE!  That's right, there is a $150.00 savings to you to find out What's Eatin' You!  So call The Office at (845) 561-BACK (2225) and tell us to put you in for both the Bug Check and the I'm Not Into Heavy Metal Anymore Check.  But you must hurry.  This offer expires at the end of June.  So Call The Office and Schedule this before your Summer gets into full swing, and you miss the opportunity.  Call The Office TODAY!

For All New Potential Practice Members, I offer you the opportunity to come to my FREE Health Care Class on Tuesday Evenings at 6:30 pm in the Newburgh Office.  During the class, I will answer all your questions related to your health, and give you the Bug Check and the I'm Not Into Heavy Metal Anymore Check.  The Checks are completely painless, and you will know before the class is over if you suffer from parasites or heavy metal toxicity, or both.  Since class size is limited, you must call for reservations.  Simply call The Office at (845) 561-2225 and tell us to reserve your seat in my next health care class.  But don't wait, as the offer for the Bug Check and I'm Not Into Heavy Metal Anymore Check must be done before the 1st of July.  Call The Office Today!

Your Resentful Gallbladder

As we have been spending time learning about the Liver in March and the importance of detoxification in the month of April, May will be devoted to understanding the Gallbladder.  I hope anyone who wanted to take advantage of the natural energy of the body moving through the Liver/Gallbladder organs took the time to detoxify their body.  For those who did, I'm sure your body is now processing things in a more healthy fashion, and the likelihood of developing certain health imbalances such as Arthritis, vision problems, Fibromyalgia or possibly tendinitis or myositis would be eliminated from the body. For those who haven't yet, there is still time to get it in while the window of opportunity is available. 

Having covered the Liver, I wanted to now cover the second part of the Wood Element, as given to us by the Chinese in their 5 Element Theory of Health, the Gallbladder.  The Gallbladder being Yang portion of the Wood Element, compliments the Yin of the Liver, and is related to making decisions, the catalyst for all action.  The Liver is involved in planning and life adaptation, while the Gallbladder helps us to take action and make decisions.  When one has difficulty with making decisions, either from a lack of information or from not wanting to make a wrong decision, it results in stress on the Gallbladder.  This leads to Resentment, the chief pathological emotion of the Gallbladder.  Other associated emotions are feeling Galled, stubborn, emotionally repressed, depressed or indecision.  These are important emotions to consider when evaluating why you might be experiencing symptoms related to the Gallbladder.  Areas of the body governed by the Gallbladder are the Knee, Lower neck, inter vertebral discs, the ileocecal valve located between the Small and Large Intestines, as well as, hip joint function related to the Femur and the Acetabulum.  Muscles associated with the Gallbladder are the muscles behind the knee, known as the Popliteus, on the front of the shoulder called the Anterior Deltoid, and the Iliacus muscle located on the inside of the pelvic bone controlling hip flexion.  In conjunction with the Liver, the Gallbladder governs the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body.  It also plays a role in eye health.

When a Gallbladder has stress, the following symptoms can result.  The most common of them are headaches, and can take the form of migraines, cluster headaches or sinus headaches.  This is because the Gallbladder meridian runs back and forth across the side of the head on both sides.  Any time a person experiences a headache, know that there is Gallbladder stress, and think of reasons for resentment in life, or any of the other emotions previously mentioned.  The second most common symptom associated with the Gallbladder is pain in the area of the right rib boarder, where it meets your abdomen.  Gallbladder pain is distinct in that it aches after meals, especially with rich, fatty foods.  Possible nausea and maybe even throwing up after eating something or within a few hours, what some may call food poisoning, is a sign that the Gallbladder is irritated.  The third most common symptom associated with Gallbladder stress is knee pain.  This is because the meridian also passes through the center of the knee.  When the knee pain becomes chronic, it will lead to an arthritic knee.  People who develop arthritis in their knees usually have had lots of resentment in their life, and have placed lots of stress on their knees over time.  Another reason for knee pain and resulting arthritis relates to the Gallbladder and the Kidney.  If you recall from January's issue on Kidneys, you'll remember the Kidney also relates to the knees and the chief emotion associated with the Kidney is fear.  Therefore, people who have difficulty making decisions, based on fear of the results, will develop knee problems. 

What This Means To You

If you are a person who experiences headaches, whether they come daily or just once in a while, you have Gallbladder stress.  If you are a person who has trouble with one or both knees, you have Gallbladder stress.  If you are a person who has troubles making decisions and getting your life moving at a faster pace, you have Gallbladder stress.  All of these circumstances can be evaluated and addressed in a positive fashion here at the office.  There are several ways to help support the health of the Gallbladder through natural foods like Beet Leaves for their high levels of betaine. Betaine helps to protect against cirrhosis of the liver, as well as convert Homocystine to methionine with the help of betaine. A natural whole food supplement such as AF Betafood or Betafood from Standard Process both contain high levels of betaine, as they are both made form Beet Leaf juice.  Herbal remedies to help the Gallbladder from Mediherb like Dandelion Root or Turmeric helps support bile production to digest fats.  If you suspect that your Gallbladder is not functioning up to par, assuming you still have one (which is a serious symptom of a problem...having it removed) I can help you by supporting your Gallbladder and its needs.  By properly evaluating the function of the Gallbladder and its many interrelationships with other organs and systems, before it becomes pathologic, will go a long way toward restoring the health of your Gallbladder and the function of proper fat digestion.  Since fats are required for the production of hormones related to the Endocrine and Reproductive Systems, making sure they are digested properly and assimilated efficiently is vital for normal health of the body.

What To Consider

If you are a person who has any of the symptoms previously mentioned, you owe it to yourself to have a Gallbladder Check.  If you have a family history of Gallbladder Disease, you owe it to yourself to have a Gallbladder Check.  Take the time to have this checked, especially since the energy that supports its normal function is highest at this time of year.  Supporting it now will enable the body to go back into balance in an easier fashion.

My Offer To You

If you are a Current Practice Member and suspect you have a Gallbladder problem, or if you just want to make sure you are functioning normally, call The Office and tell us you'd like to take advantage of the Gallbladder Check.  I will offer the Gallbladder check to you at no charge for the Month of May.  That's right, it's FREE!  Normally this is a $75.00 value.  Call The Office at (845) 561-BACK (2225) and tell us to put you in for the Gallbladder Check.  During your next office visit, I will discuss with you the importance of Gallbladder function and help you to determine if your Gallbladder is working in a balanced manner.  But you must ACT NOW!  It would be important to make sure your Gallbladder is functioning properly while the energy of the Gallbladder is most active.  It is the perfect time of year to support the Gallbladder, as the energy is highest in the Gallbladder now.  Call The Office NOW and have her put you on the schedule for the Gallbladder Check.  After May 31st, the offer will be gone, so call TODAY!

If you are a Potential New Patient and would like to take advantage of this offer, simply call The Office at (845) 561-BACK (2225) and tell us you are calling to take advantage of the Gallbladder Check.  We will schedule a time where we can take 20 minutes to evaluate the function of your Gallbladder and its related functions.  This is normally a $75.00 value, but will be offered through the Month of May at NO CHARGE.  That's right, it's FREE to you as well.  But you must call The Office and ask us to schedule you.

As always, I offer a FREE Health Care Class every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm at the office in Newburgh located at 320 Robinson Avenue.  The class requires reservations in order to attend.  Please call The Office at (845) 561-BACK (2225) and tell us to schedule you for my next class and I will take whatever time you require to answer any health related questions.  As a community service, please consider helping yourself or someone you know by telling them about this class.  Call today to reserve your spot in our next class.