Strike a Chord

Tuning Your Instrument

When your piano is out of tune you call in the piano tuner. Likewise with your violin, cello, or bass fiddle. If you want to do more than just sing in the shower, you start taking singing lessons to learn how to sing on key. Using your body is exactly the same. You're a fan of "Dancing with the Stars" and think "hey, I want to do that!" So you begin ballroom dance lessons and study the mambo, tango, swing, and fox trot. Your body gains sophisticated knowledge. It learns how to create musical movement. Your body itself needs to be functioning harmoniously for you to be able to create graceful, harmonious movement, whether in ballet, salsa, football, or basketball. Chiropractic care helps ensure harmonious functioning by balancing the interactions of nerves, bones,  muscles, and joints. The access to this physiologic balance is the spinal column, the primary focus of chiropractic care.

Physicians and scientists have often called the human body a beautiful instrument.  The sense in which this metaphor is applied is primarily mechanistic. The human body is a beautiful instrument in that its parts mesh properly and each component performs its function superbly. 

The metaphor "beautiful instrument" can be also be interpreted from the perspective of music. Just as playing the piano, the cello, or the saxophone can create wonderful tones, harmonies, and melodies, the workings of the human body may also create beautiful music. 

The movements of the planets, stars, and constellations have been termed the "music of the spheres". Patterns of motion of the celestial bodies are precise, regular, and harmonious. These reliable patterns allow sailors to navigate safely and confidently on the open ocean, and allow farmers to determine their planting seasons with high levels of accuracy. 

The human body, as awe-inspiring and as beautiful as the Eagle Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, or the rings of Saturn, possesses internal mechanisms as precise and complex as those astronomers are able to observe in the deepest regions of space. The music the body creates is similarly as beautiful. 

In music, a major chord is a simultaneous combination of three notes - the root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. If you want to play a C major chord you strike (or hold) a C, an E, and a G. If you're playing an F major chord, you play an F, an A, and a C. In a sense, this system describes a musical code. Your body has many such codes. 

The genetic code is one example. Every protein in your body is composed of a precise sequence of amino acids. Substitute glycine for valine or glutamine for serine and you've got a completely different protein. Precision in manufacture means your body works the way it is supposed to work, with no errors or failures. 

Proteins such as hemoglobin or insulin are built exactly the same way every time. This level of 100% accuracy is made possible by the genetic code. Each amino acid that makes up hemoglobin or insulin has its own corresponding genetic sequence which is composed of three pieces of information - just like a major chord. 

1 We can say that wellness is a state of physiologic harmony. 2,3 We become unwell when we're "out of tune". At such a time our internal chords aren't being played properly - "notes" aren't being put together properly or are being played out of sequence.
Chiropractic care can help restore musical balance. 

By making sure the spine is in alignment, chiropractic care helps restore precision and harmony to all the functions of the body. Proteins are built properly, enzymes function at the right time and in the right proportion, biochemical reactions take place efficiently, and health and wellness is the result.

1Martinez-Mekler G, et al: Universality of rank-ordering distributions in the arts and sciences. Public Library of Science (PLOS) Mar 19, 2009 (http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0004791)
2Heber D: An integrative view of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr Nov 18, 2009 (abstract online - http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajcn.2009.28473Bv1)
3Endler PC, et al: Sense of coherence and physical health. A "Copenhagen interpretation" of Antonovsky's SOC concept. Sci World J 20(8):451-453, 2008

Your Baby's Health

A while back when I took the train into my New York City Office, I was noticing an article in the Daily News that caught my attention.  The article entitled "Nursing a Cultural Gap" appeared in the Body & Soul Section.  Although it was angled toward the differences in health between educated and non-educated minorities, I felt the information was equally applicable to all women, not just minorities.  That being said, I was inspired to write this article.  I still feel the information is applicable to today's New Mom or Mom-to-be.

Most women don't seem to want to breast-feed.  They feel it is embarrassing, and if a new mom has formula available, she is not going to breast-feed.  She may know the benefits of breast-feeding, but because she has other "options," she doesn't. 

"If they do breast-feed they usually stop after a month either because they have to go back to work or are going to school.  And many employers won't accomodate pumping on the job." 

Drink For Their Health

Breast milk is widely regarded as the most complete form of nutrition for infants.  In addition to providing the best nourishment, breast milk protects infants from many childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, diarrhea, allergies, respiratory and viral infections and obesity. 

More importantly, researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that breast-fed American children are 20 % less likely to die during the first year of life than those who are not nursed.  Also, the longer babies are breast-fed, the lower the risk of an early death. 

The American Pediatrics Association recommends that babies be breast-fed exclusively through at least the first six months, continuing with the appropriate solids for a full year, and as long thereafter as mutually desired.

"A lot of women plan to return to work rather quickly, and they are concerned that the baby will not take the bottle when they return to work, so they don't breast-feed at all or ween them too soon."  Simple ignorance is a factor too.  "Many women express concerns that their bodies won't produce enough milk-- they don't trust their bodies.  Then there is the belief that breast-feeding hurts.  People also really don't know how to do it properly." 

The medical establishment must take responsibility.  "Doctors and the medical staff don't encourage breast-feeding enough because there is so much formula around.  One must also be aware of the infant formula companies and their campaigns that make formula seem equal to breast milk."  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Natural Breast-milk contains a specific ingrediant known as Colostrum which could never be accurately duplicated by the formula companies.  It is a by-product of natural cellular metabolism within the breast tissue.  This vital ingredient, made only within the breasts, is necessary for the normal development of the child's Immune System.  If a baby is bottle fed, they will be lacking this and end up being over-weight with a deficient Immune System.  Other misconceptions that abound are that breast-feeding will make breasts sag and that it is simply not the normal thing to do.  If you value your childs health, both short-term and long-term, you will absolutely breast-feed.

 

What To Consider

If you are a mother to be, or are interested in becoming pregnant, you'll want to consider the following.  If you have sugar cravings, or have been on antibiotics at any time in your life, you'll want to get checked for a Systemic Digestive Yeast/Candidia Imbalance.  To learn more about this condition and how common it is, go to www.spineboy.com and read the back issue on Sugar and Your Immune System.  It will explain what happens to the body after antibiotics and if you eat too much sugar.  Unfortunately, this condition is all too common today.  Equally unfortunate is that if you have this imbalance and you become pregnant, you will pass on the imbalance to your unborn baby.  This will result in a child who craves sugar, produces large amounts of mucous in the respiratory system leading to ear infections, respiratory infections, asthma, colic, allergies and other repeated infections.  This of course will result in giving your child antibiotics, possibly having ear-tubes put in, and then graduating to allergy shots, inhalers and obesity.  

My Offer To You

If you are a mother-to-be or wanna-be, I will be happy to evaluate your current level of health to determine if you presently have a Systemic Yeast/Candidia Imbalance.  If you do, I will help you to understand what is involved with returning your body to proper digestive balance, and how to make sure your child avoids all the "typical" childhood illnesses.  

For ALL Current Practice Members, I will do this on your next scheduled visit as part of your normal office visit.  This is a $75.00 value and will save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in healthcare costs for your child.   This offer is good through the 2nd week of March.  After this date, the offer will be gone.  So call The Office at 561-2225 and let me know you are interested in Getting Ready For Having My Baby.  I'll schedule you for the appropriate amount of time during your next visit.  And if you know of someone who would benefit from this information, please forward them this newsletter.

 

For ALL Potential New Practice Members, if you want to start your family off the right way, I will extend to you the same offer.  Call The Office for our FREE Health Care Class which is held at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the Newburgh Office and I will be happy to include that evaluation as part of the FREE Class.  Simply call The Office at 561-2225 and tell me you want to come to our next class and I will put you on the list.  As class size is limited, reservations are required.

Locally Grown, Organically Grown - You Are What You Eat

There is much wisdom in the saying "you are what you eat", but food today is not the food of yesterday. We need to actually work at getting the amount of nutrients that's going to help keep us healthy and well. 

Our genetic heritage was not designed for an urban environment. Our digestive systems, for example, were not optimized for high-starch diets, fast food, and canned fruits and vegetables. The energy requirements of our cells were designed to be based on glucose metabolism. But glucose was originally obtained from readily available fresh produce and whole grains, in the form of complex carbohydrates. When our tissues were originally designed there were no such things as processed flour or sweeteners. 

At the dawn of man, protein sources were derived from the local fauna - the local birds and beasts. These animals were not fed antibiotics and were not raised on pesticide-treated grasses. They were not caged and forced to grow up in close proximity to dozens and hundreds of fellow creatures. They roamed freely and randomly, ranging over wide stretches of open territory. As a result, their value as food sources was very high. 

Today, unless we make a special effort, our food sources are significantly compromised. Until recently, those living in cities were only able to purchase produce that had traveled long distances over many days to reach their stores. The nutritional value of these fruits and vegetables was necessarily substantially degraded. The nutritional content of protein sources - meat, fowl, fish, dairy, and eggs - were likewise degraded by chemical additives, antibiotics, and draconian living conditions. 

New food-producing methods, available for the last 30 years but much more so recently, have enabled consumers to put high-quality food on their tables.1,2,3 The slogan "eat locally" has become a possibility for even the most entrenched urban areas such as New York City. Farmers markets spring up weekly and monthly in most cities, suburbs, and the surrounding countryside. Organically grown food - produce, fish, meat, fowl, and dairy - is widely available, even in supermarket chains. 

We now have more healthy food options than were available at any time within the last 50 years. It is possible to reverse the diabetes and obesity epidemics that have spread across countries like the United States. It is possible to restore health and well-being to millions people across the globe. Chiropractic care can be of great assistance in this process. Your chiropractor is a nutritional expert and will be able to help you design food plans that will work for you and your family. 

1Wang SY: Fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid content of organically and conventionally grown blueberries. J Agric Food Chem 56(14):5788-5794, 2008
2Nitika S, et al: Physico-chemical characteristics, nutrient composition and consumer acceptability of wheat varieties grown under organic and inorganic farming conditions. Int J Food Sci Nutr 59(3:):224-245, 2008
3Dani C, et al: Phenolic content and antioxidant activities of white and purple juices manufactured with organically- or conventionally-produced grapes. Food Chem Toxicol 45(12):2574-2580, 2007
 
Why Eat Organically Grown Food?
 
Just as we are what we eat, fruits and vegetables are what they eat, too. Food labeled "organic" is grown without artificial pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer. Organic farmers use compost (which is "all natural") and "green" fertilizer to provide nourishment to their crops. Cattle and other livestock raised organically receive neither antibiotics nor growth hormones, and eat feed that is itself raised and harvested on organic farms.

In part because they are locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of antioxidants than produce grown via other methods. Antioxidants are powerful, health-promoting biochemicals that help prevent a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory diseases and cancer. Organically grown food not only tastes better but is actually good for you, which of course is what we want our food to be.

Your Bladder: More Than Just A Container

In last month’s issue, I began the New Year with our column oriented toward educating you on the major organs and the importance of each.  I discussed the Kidney and went over several different aspects of the Kidney's functions, the importance of maintaining healthy Kidneys, the emotions associated with the Kidneys, and finally what you can do to restore balance to the Kidneys.  In this month’s issue, I will be focusing on the Kidney's partner within the Water Element, its Yang counterpart, the Bladder.   

When one thinks of their Bladder, you need to appreciate that although it does store our liquid wastes before being excreted, your Bladder certainly is more than just a container.

Bladder health is important, as it is responsible for helping to balance the energy of the Kidney.  As it happens, if one develops a weakness in their Bladder, it will naturally create more stress on the Kidneys.  This, as you may remember, will cause a lessoning of your Vital Qi.  Similarly, if the Bladder gets an infection, you risk the chance of the infection spreading to the Kidneys.  This would be devastating to your overall health.  A great way to avoid this problem is to drink the proper amounts of water on a daily basis.  For those of you who forgot, you'll need one quart (about 1 liter) of water for every 50 lbs. of body-weight, everyday. 

What If I Get Frequent Bladder Infections?

This can happen for many different reasons, and tends to affect women much more than it does men.  Many times this is directly related to the length of the urethra.  Because this is much shorter in women, and if proper hygiene is not practiced, it is easy for a bladder infection to occur.  What it also means is the amount of water being consumed is deficient, and the pH of the persons urine is too alkaline.  A great remedy for Bladder infections, or painful urination is to drink 100 % cranberry juice.  The juice will help to acidify the urine, thereby causing the infection to get burned up.  Unfortunately, if you are a person who has had several different dosages of antibiotics over the years, the cranberry juice may not work, as the concentrated sugar will contribute to more weakening of the Immune System.  A different approach is recommended for this situation with the utilization of a MediHerb product called Cranberry Complex.  It helps to encourage healthy urinary tract function, supports healthy Bladder tissue and function, and it helps to promote healthy mucosal surfaces within the urinary tract.  It should be combined with Echinacea Premium tablets or liquid or Andrographis Complex tablets for extra Immune support.  Whole Food Supplemental approaches to Bladder Infections would include Standard Process Albaplex, Arginex, and Cataplex ACP.  The office can certainly supply you with these products. 

Can You Help Your Bladder Weakness?

Many women experience Bladder weakness or Incontinence after having a hysterectomy because of a ligament that supports the Uterus also helps to support the Bladder.  When the Uterus is removed, the ligament is cut, and the support for the Bladder is weakened.  This results in incomplete Bladder voiding, or the embarrassing Incontinence.  There is a simple strengthening exercise and adjustment that will help to balance the Bladder, along with the nutrition Albaplex and AC Carbamide from Standard Process. 

Can You Help If I Suffer With Interstitial Cystitis?

Inflammation of the middle layer of the Bladder muscle can be helped tremendously with Albaplex, Cruciferous Complete, Cataplex A, Chlorophyll Perles, Arginex and Cal Amo, again all from Standard Process.  Together these products will help to decrease the inflammation and help to heal the muscle layer. 

What Are Some Other Common Imbalances That Would Indicate A Bladder Weakness?

Anyspinal weakness, All fixations of the spine (areas that don't seem to have flexibility), chronic ankle/foot imbalances, Sacral Imbalances and Low Back pain, Bilateral Pelvis imbalances, Intervertebral Disc Syndromes, or neck weaknesses.  If any of these areas in your body are prone to injury, or if you have a chronic problem within one or more of these areas, there is a great chance that a Bladder weakness may be contributing to the condition.  The muscles associated with these weaknesses include the muscles that support the ankles, the Sacrospinalis that extends from the base of the spine to the back of the head, and the Iliacus muscles, your primary hip flexor muscles.

The chief emotion associated with the Bladder is the emotion of Paralyzed Will, or not being able to do something you really want to do.  Lesser emotions include feeling Miffed, Timid, Inefficient, Wishy-washy, or comme ci-comme ca, meaning "whatever" can also be associated with bladder issues.  When one experiences these emotions on a regular basis, either on the job or in a relationship, or simply within yourself, these often lead to Bladder weakness and the correlated muscular weakness.

What Should I Do If I Suspect A Bladder Weakness? 

I would encourage you to contact the office and schedule an appointment.  Since this is the time of year when the energy of the Bladder is most active, it is the best time of year to support the Bladder.  Even if you don't currently suffer with symptoms.  If you suspect an imbalance, I can help you by checking the Bladder Reflex and determining if there is a weakness.  Then we can determine if the weakness is sponsored by an emotional imbalance, a structural imbalance, an imbalance in your body chemistry leading to urine that is too alkaline creating infection, or if the weakness is due to the accumulation of toxins that sit in the bladder waiting to be voided.  All of this takes about a minute to determine, and together we can determine which solution is right for you. 

My Offer To You

If you are a Current Patient and suspect a Bladder problem, call the office today at (845) 561-2225, and we will schedule you for "My Bladder Health Check."  If you call during the Month of February, Bladder Health Month, I will do this check for you, administer any appropriate treatment, and make the necessary recommendation for proper supplementation for FREE.  This is a $75.00 value (does not include the cost of the supplements, etc.) and is valid through the month of February Only.  As of March 1st, the offer will be gone.  So call The Officer today and schedule your Bladder Health Check.  You certainly have nothing to lose.  Call NOW!

If you are a Potential New Patient, and are concerned about your Bladder, call the office today, and I will extend a Bladder Health Check and consultation to you, normally a $100.00 value, at no charge.  That's right, it's FREE.  But you too must hurry, as I make this offer only for the month of February. As of March 1st, the offer will be gone.  So Call Now!

As always, we offer a FREE Health Care Class at 6:30 pm every Tuesday at 320 Robinson Avenue, by appointment only.  Since the class size is limited, we require reservations to secure your spot in the class.  So if you have any simple or even complex health questions that you haven't found an answer to, call The Office at (845) 561-2225 and sign-up for the class.  Likewise, you certainly have nothing to lose.