Chiropractic Support for Reproductive Health? Yes!

It’s always exciting when a woman dealing with fertility challenges and wanting to conceive, comes in and announces that she is pregnant! Chiropractic care has helped many women establish more regular menstrual cycles, but there is also tremendous success with all reproductive health challenges in both men and women.  Menstrual irregularity, fertility issues, PMS,  menopause, and impotence have shown improvement and resolved with chiropractic care. We’ve seen many people find support and relief!

What’s the connection? 

Spinal misalignments called vertebral subluxations cause muscle imbalances, joint irritation, inflammation, and early degeneration.  Spinal subluxations alter the healthy mechanical and neurological functions in the body. Subluxations weaken all organ systems, leading to sickness, pain,  and a lesser quality of life. Doctors of Chiropractic correct spinal subluxations to restore proper motion and function within the body.

Subluxations in the lumbar spine and hips and can lead to dysfunction of the internal organs in the lower abdomen, particularly the bladder, bowels, ovaries, uterus, and prostate gland. Spinal adjustments restore proper lumbar joint function and restore neurological harmony to the associated organs.  Many people find relief when they support their body with Chiropractic, and when combined with other lifestyle changes they find long term improvements in how they feel and function.

Every part of your body works better with a spine that is moving properly. Instead of relying on medications (with side effects!) help your body heal from the inside-out. Consider Chiropractic first!

Can Chiropractic Help Ear Infections? Yes!

Ear infections are always a common concern with the families of young children, and always relief and faster healing time when the children come see me!

 What’s the connection and how does Chiropractic help? 

Doctors of Chiropractic look for the cause of dis-ease in the body, which often begins in the spine. Misalignments in the spine (subluxations) cause nerve irritation, restrict proper movement, and block the normal nerve pathways in the body. Subluxations cause the muscles supporting the spine to be unbalanced, lead to early degeneration, make the body more susceptible to injury, and cause pain and inflammation. Most importantly, subluxations affect the nervous system, the vital connection between your brain and the rest of your body.

Subluxations are caused by slips and falls, poor posture, accidents, sports injuries, and all types of stress!  Spinal subluxations weaken all organ systems, and reduce quality of life…  which is why everyone can benefit from chiropractic care!

Specifically with regards to ear infections, the function of the Eustachian tube (canal in your ear that drains fluid and helps equalize pressure) is dependent on the contraction of very tiny muscles, muscles that are supplied by spinal nerves that exit at the top of the skull. Subluxations at the upper part of the spine interfere with this system, and it has been shown that restoring proper function to this muscle normalizes the function of the eustachian tube, and helps the body deal with the inflammation or excess fluid on its own.

Through a careful and thorough examination, I can locate any areas of subluxation in a growing child’s spine, gently correct them using special techniques, and restore proper function to your child’s spine so that they can recover from the illness on their own.

Countless studies show the effectiveness of chiropractic care in relieving the cause of ear infections and preventing recurrence.  In one study, 93% of all cases of Otitis Media improved with chiropractic care, 75% of them in 10 days or less, and 43% with only 1 or 2 office visits.

Next time you or your children are suffering with an earache or infection, consider chiropractic care first.

What’s Your Word For 2015?

I love this concept and started to apply it about 10 years ago personally, and for the past 3 years we’ve been doing it within the practice – sharing our words on the wall which creates excitement, accountability, and inspires others!  It’s a great exercise to capture the intention of what you hope 2015 represents to you.

Think about your aspirations for 2015… What do you want for the year ahead? Is there an overriding theme that comes to mind for you? Can you sum up your intentions in a single word? I bet you can.

A great word can set the tone for your actions and keep you focused. A word can also serve as a reminder of what’s important when everyday ‘life stuff’ frustrates us. For example, when my sons were young and I wasn’t in practice, my word was “Nurture”. It reminded me of my focus on raising my sons and looking after myself. It allowed me to accept that my career aspirations would be fulfilled at a later date, and that the little boys in my kitchen were simply more important for the time being. In other years the words “Grow”, “Balance” and “Focus” have worked well for me.

A great word sets your intention and will help manifest the people, places, opportunities (and challenges!) to help you achieve your goals. A good friend recently shared her story of using theme words during the past few years. “Abundance” was her focus at one time and she grew her business substantially. “Love” was her focus another year, and she met the man she married. Metaphysics aside, what you focus on tends to happen! The simple act of awareness can powerfully keep you oriented towards actions that support your goals, and make you more likely to attract success.

A great word will capture the various parts of your life, such as your role within your family, your work, and yourself, and help you improve components of all of them. For example, the word ‘focus’ reminded me to complete certain projects with my work, but was also my reminder to be focused and present with my loved ones. Get it?

Your ‘word’ might come to mind easily. You may already have one that has been running through your thoughts repetitively, especially if you have set resolutions or goals for yourself. If not, carve out some time in your week to think about it. Sit quietly and reflect. Journal if it helps you sort out your thoughts, or, on a blank sheet of paper simply write down words that depict your hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Something will pop out at you, or you may notice a pattern in the words you write down. The word you choose only has to make sense to you, and relate to something meaningful you’d like to achieve, so don’t over-think it!

Friends, colleagues, and people in my practice have often shared their words with me for added support and accountability. Here’s some of their theme words to get you started:

Relate, Believe, Focus, Simplify, Build, Mindful, Refresh,

Rejuvenate, Savor, Strength, Trust, Open, Healthy 

Once you have your ‘word’ write it down where you can see it regularly. Use it as a password so you have to consciously think about it many times a day. Place post-it notes all over your home if you need to. Get creative and do what works for you – and share your ideas!

One word is simple and easy to remember.  Pick one for yourself and let it shape the months to come.

Indulge…and Still Feel Good In January

So many families in the practice talk about how ‘insane’ this time of year gets. Yes, the schedules can get more full, there can be more late nights, more consumption of indulgent foods and beverages, and less sleep…none of which are good for your health. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are choices involved with all those behaviours!  You don’t have to succumb to the “overs” this holiday season…being overstimulated, overspending, overindulging, and being overwhelmed! Take a few minutes to consider the following points and make good choices for yourself this holiday season:

Socialize Wisely – We all need social connections but during the holiday season many people are ‘overstimulated’, ‘over-committed’, and ‘overwhelmed’ with too many events. Be choosy about how you spend your social time. Be assertive and learn to say no to situations that will upset you. Decline invitations (if you can do so without grossly offending the invitee) that create unnecessary emotional stress, or will simply burden your schedule and shortchange you of sleep.

Reach Out – At the other end of the social spectrum is loneliness. With changing family dynamics, different living arrangements, and simple geography for some people, many are left alone during the holidays. If you feel lonely or isolated consider getting involved in different activities, volunteering your time at seniors homes, food banks or other organizations geared towards helping others. The rewards will be far greater than just the social stimulation.

Exercise – Quite simply, physical activity makes every system in your body work better. Instead of taking a break from your exercise routine, keep it up! Or consider getting started! It doesn’t have to wait until January and your resolution of getting in shape or losing weight. The fact is, exercise is simply something most people have to build into their lives, work into their schedules. You will always find something better to do with your time! Exercise helps relieve stress and prevents weight gain. Moving your body will always give you a boost, even just a some stretching or a brisk walk will rejuvenate your body and mind.

Eat Regularly & Prepare for Outings – If you are going to a party or dinner, don’t starve yourself all day in anticipation. Doing so will slow your metabolism, leave you ravenous and more likely to overeat later in the evening. Instead, eat small meals or snacks throughout the day and you’ll be less likely to over-indulge when you are out. If you are planning on consuming alcohol be sure to increase your intake of water to compensate for the dehydrating effects.

Take a Breather – It IS the season for family, friends, and being on ‘holiday’ so don’t forget to take the time to relax and indulge in activities you enjoy! Make time for yourself too, often time alone is what is easily neglected with busy social schedules or family commitments. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you and change your perspective if you are having a frantic day. Do something that clears your mind, slows your breathing and restores inner calm. Journal, listen to music, take a brisk walk and look at the lights, read a book, whatever interests YOU and gets you in a quiet place for a small bit of time.

Rethink Gifting – There are many ways to show affection and pamper the ones you love without purchasing ‘things’. Consider giving gifts of ‘experiences’ – trips to the spa, movies, sporting or cultural events, gift certificates to restaurants etc. Time together is more valuable with the ones we love than any object, and you’ll get the benefit too! Take the stress away from shopping and get creative giving gifts of the heart in other ways.

The holidays don’t mean you should take a holiday from taking care of yourself. Make good choices for you and your family and you will enjoy the holiday season and start the new year in good health. You CAN indulge, celebrate, and still feel good in January!

Tips For Shoveling Snow

Snow season often means I will see a very consistent pattern within people’s spines, and it’s no surprise when you consider that an average shovelful of snow weighs 5 to 7 pounds! Take this load and repeat it over and over to clear a walkway or driveway, and you’ll quickly realize how much weight is lifted in one session of snow clearing — on average, several hundred pounds!

Shoveling snow can be a pain in more ways than one…. Keep these tips in mind to prevent hurting yourself while dealing with the snow on your property:

• Don’t let the snow pile up: If the weather report calls for several days of snow, frequent shoveling will allow you to move smaller amounts of snow each time. This approach is far less strenuous in the long run.

• Pick the right shovel: Use a lightweight pusher-type shovel.

• Push, don’t throw: Always push the snow to the side rather than throw it. That way you avoid lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow, and sudden twisting or turning movements.

• Bend your knees: As with any heavy object, you need to use your knees, and leg and arm muscles to do the pushing and lifting, while keeping your back straight.

• Take a break: If you feel tired or short of breath, stop and take a rest. Shake out your arms and legs. Stop shoveling immediately if you feel chest pain or back pain. If you have back pain that is severe or that persists for more than a day after shoveling, call me rather than ‘waiting for it to go away’. If you have chest pain that is severe, see a doctor immediately.

• As always, keep your regular chiropractic adjustment schedule to maximize your spine’s ability to move the way it was designed to!

Do I Get The Flu Shot?

Every year this comes up in the practice. There are so many questions and uncertainties among the people I care for, and asking questions about health care options and making an informed decision is always a good thing!

Do I choose the flu shot for myself or my family? Absolutely NOT.

Here are two brief reasons why:

Toxic Load & Long-term Safety: Take a look at the ingredients of a flu shot and how it is made.   Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens and detergents that have harmful or unknown effects on the human body. Package inserts for for Fluarix and Fluvirin even state that they are uncertain whether your fertility will be affected by the vaccine. If your body does not effectively deal with these toxins, what happens then? What are the long term effects? Where does this toxic load actually build up in your body?

Is the flu shot even effective? Studies on the elderly population and children have indicated there is no guarantee that the flu immunization is actually helping them.   A 2008 study published in the Cochrane Database showed the influenza vaccine was only 59% successful and benefited only 36% of the healthy children over the age of 2 who received it.  An additional cohort study following children from 6-9 months over a 2 consecutive flu seasons indicated no difference in the number of children’s doctor visits or hospitalizations between vaccinated and non-vaccinated children.   Further studies how that flu vaccines do not prevent influenza transmission to the patients of healthcare workers.

Similar to other vaccinations, I am not convinced, with any of the science presented, that they are safe or effective. I have felt this way for the past 15 years, and the evidence I continue to read supports my position. I am comfortable with this decision for myself and my family, and this is what matters. You are in charge of your body and for taking responsibility to keep it healthy. Make informed decisions that you are comfortable with, regardless of what anyone else thinks. My role in your life is to provide clinical care, information and support. Your role is to consider your options and take responsibility for the choices you make.

8 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Many people in my practice comment that they seem to get sick less often, and that when they do succumb to cold, flu or infection of some kind, they recover faster.  Here’s why:

“Chiropractic care optimizes whatever genetic abilities an individual has to resist disease.”   ~ Dr. Ronald Peru, PhD, Chief of Cancer Prevention at New York’s Preventative Medicine Institute

Dr. Peru found that chiropractic patients had a 200% stronger immune system than people who had no chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or other serious diseases.  This response was consistent throughout the entire group and showed no decline with age! In 2005 Dr. Peru also studied the benefits of chiropractic care on repairing DNA (the body’s building blocks) and he concluded that: “DNA repair is the highest or most effective in individuals who had no symptoms and who had been receiving chiropractic care for the longest period of time.”

Other studies have concluded that the optimal functioning of the immune system is critically dependent on the balance of the endocrine (hormone) and nervous systems.  “Loss of this balance can lead to immune defects and can significantly contribute to the occurrence of allergy and autoimmune disease.”

From the inside-out, Chiropractic strengthens every part of your body.

This year, during “cold and flu season” give your body the best defense with a healthy spine! Some other tips to boost your immune system include:

1) Educate yourself on the flu vaccine and make an informed decision.

2) Wash your hands with soap throughout the day. Avoid antibacterial products.

3) Reduce/Minimize/Avoid sugar and processed foods. Load up on antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables.

4) Hydrate! Increase your water intake to continuously flush your system of toxins.

5) Move your body every day with some form of physical activity.

6) Use salt water rinses to flush your nostrils and gargle with it once a day. Salt water will help the proliferation of bacteria.

7) Get plenty of good quality sleep! Sleep is when your body heals and regulates many functions.

Give your body what it needs to function properly, and you’ll be surprised at how well your immune system will perform this winter!

Poor Posture = Poor Health

People often note their posture is better when they start to get adjusted….of course it is!

Posture is the window to spinal health, as chiropractors we can easily evaluate it, but so can many of you! Find a friend and do this quick check:

Looking at them from behind, the head should be level (with both ears at the same height) shoulders should be level, and your hips should be level. Looking from the side, we want to see straight line from the ear through the shoulder, hip, knee and down to the ankle. This is how the body was designed for maximum function, to be most efficient, and for every joint to work the way it was designed to.

Any changes to healthy alignment compromises the body in every possible way. Structure dictates function. Vertebrae protect the spinal cord, which means changes in the alignment of  vertebrae affects the healthy function of your spinal cord, which then affects every cell in your body.

Poor posture = Poor health = Poor quality of life

Good posture is not something you are either blessed with at birth, or not…in fact, you’re not even born with it at all! Infants develop the curve in their neck when they start to hold their head up, and the curve in the back develops when they start to sit (yes, this is one of the reasons all infants benefit from a Chiropractor monitoring their health). As life goes on, we experience slips and falls, sports injuries, car accidents, repetitive strains that cause the vertebrae in your spine to shift out of alignment (subluxation). When left uncorrected, spinal subluxations lead to changes in posture as the spine starts to compensate.

Chiropractors adjust the spinal subluxations to restore proper motion into the joints, and proper neurological function to every other cell and organ.  Posture naturally improves as healthy movement is restored to the body. You don’t need to consciously think about it or hold your body differently, your posture gets better on its own! How great is this? As your spine is restored to its natural state, the muscles develop new movement patterns and your brain develops a new awareness about where to hold you. With healthy posture you will have more flexibility and joint movement and less pain. You’ll breathe easier, think more clearly, sleep more soundly, and recover from illness faster. Your overall health will improve in many profound ways.

Sit up straight, pull your shoulders back…and book your chiropractic spinal check-up!

Gratitude & Your Health

With Canadian Thanksgiving and the fall harvest,  we are reminded to offer thanks for the ‘bounty’ in our lives; to reflect on the many blessings, and plant seeds for future abundance. Symbolic and beautiful….but let’s remember that this holiday is not the only time we should be practicing gratitude! Rather, it’s an important part of a healthy lifestyle!

Research shows the feelings associated with gratitude, appreciation, love and caring enhance health. When you find one thing, however small, to be thankful for and hold that feeling for as little as 15-20 seconds, many subtle and beneficial physiological changes take place inside you:

~ Levels of stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin decrease, supporting many organ systems and boosting your immune system

~ Coronary arteries relax, increasing the blood supply to your heart. Heart rhythms become more harmonious, affecting other organs and lifting your mood

~ Breathing becomes deeper, increasing the oxygen level of your tissues

People who regularly practice gratitude report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy when compared to those who do not.

“A Man becomes what he thinks about all day long.”~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

What you dwell upon expands. If you focus on what you don’t have, that’s all you will see. Focusing your thoughts on victories instead of defeats will help you develop an attitude of gratitude and a greater sense of self-worth.

Make gratitude part of your life by adopting more thankful thoughts or making the time to write them down. A powerful exercise is the use of gratitude journal to reflect on day-to-day success, or simply take a few minutes to think of 5 things you are grateful for in your life.

Regardless of your current level of health, finances, or relationships, and what you may perceive as limitations to them…thinking, moping or complaining about them is not going to change anything! Find some small things to be happy about, and chances are your list will continue. Changing your thoughts will change your experiences, and this will change your life…

Before you exit this post, right now, take a couple deep breaths and think of 5 things you are grateful for…I’ll bet you can’t stop at 5!

Stress-Free School Lunches? Yes, It’s Possible

Most parents I know (myself included at times!) find making school lunches a frustrating endeavor. Trying to combine healthy choices with the preferences of your child, and potentially the influence of other children, can be a challenge.

My suggestion? Get your children involved, and RELAX about it.

I recommend everyone choose 100% high-quality, nutritious food 100% of the time; but that’s not realistic for most people, so instead I promote my 80/20 rule:  make 80% good choices and leave 20% for items that “have no nutritional value but taste good”.

Applying  this simple rule to your kids lunches might help ease the whole process.
My boys lunches include a fruit, vegetable, sandwich/main of some type (these days we have fallen in love with a great invention – the thermos!). They also often include some kind of packaged, processed item that their grandmother buys for them!

My sons understand the importance of good food, but by focusing on feeding them a solid breakfast and dinner, I can loosened up about that middle meal.

Consider your child’s overall food intake.  If you focus on the quality of their other meals during the day, and over the whole week, you can safely oblige their tastes for school lunches and still feel you are providing them with the solid nutrition for growing minds and bodies.