"The only real education comes from what goes counter to you."

Andre Gide

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September 2002

Welcome to Fall! I hope everyone had a great summer and are settling back into your routines. Happy reading!

Contents

1. A Big Idea
2. Question of the Month
3. Health News
4. Office Happenings

A Big Idea

Mention that you’re a chiropractor and most people call you a bone cruncher or ask about their back or neck problem. There is something more profound that is being lost in what chiropractic is about. It’s not so much about your back, it’s about your life.

The association between bones and chiropractors is understandable. Most people think about chiropractic as being just about the backbone because that is what chiropractors work on. The chiropractor is affecting the most vital system in the body, the nervous system, because the most important parts of it lie within the spine. Across this system travels the intelligent and organizing information that animates and makes us alive. 

The nervous system is an under appreciated part of the body. It runs, controls and regulates everything in the entire human existence. It’s not something you can readily see, touch or feel. It gets lost on the health radar. People easily talk about their cholesterol levels or heart angiograms. The heart is obviously an important organ but what controls how well it works? The nervous system. What would happen if the nerve supply was cut to the heart? Or interfered with? Did you know there are non-invasive ways of checking the function of the nervous system?

The spine offers the clearest window into the nervous system. By improving how well your spine works, you maximize the quality of the life-giving information that travels across it. Your entire being is improved by having a healthy spine. A great side effect of having your spine adjusted is that back pain usually goes away. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. 

So what is Chiropractic’s Big Idea? A healthy spine means a healthy nervous system. This allows a more complete expression of the intelligence in your body. You are more connected to the intangible spark of life that was there at the earliest stage of conception and stays with you throughout your life. It enables your body to do what it was designed to do better – heal, regulate and organize itself. A healthy spine means a healthier you at every level, improving mental, physical, spiritual, immune and emotional performance.

The next time you are at your chiropractor, consider the implications of the Big Idea. See yourself as a well-orchestrated symphony of trillions of cells beautifully conducted by your nervous system. Remember, it’s about your life. 

Question of the Month 

My kids are going back to school. How much should their backpacks weigh and how should they use them?

A good guideline to follow for how heavy the backpack should be is 10% of the body weight of the child carrying it. For example, if your child weighs 80 pounds there should be no more than 8 pounds of books and supplies in the backpack. More than that can increase the risk of damaging the developing spine of the child. Also remember to have your child use both straps of the pack at all times. This distributes the weight evenly over the body. Using only one strap puts unbalanced stress on the body and can injure the spine and surrounding structures. If the pack has a waist strap, have them use it as well. A sound spine and nervous system are the foundation for building healthy futures for our children. Proper use of backpacks and getting their spine and nervous systems checked by a chiropractor can ensure that future. 

Health News 

Depression and Sugar Pills 

Antidepressant medications are some of the most widely advertised and widely prescribed drugs in the country. But there's growing evidence that placebos - sugar pills – can often be just as effective at improving mood, and can even improve brain chemistry. To read more, go to the following link: http://www.allchiro.com/cgi-bin/pc/link.cgi?num=qn06

Here is a link to a second study that says similar things. http://www.journals.apa.org/prevention/volume5/pre0050023a.html

By bringing up this topic, I am in no way minimizing depression and the devastating effects that it has on everyone involved with it. The mind is very powerful, whether used in a negative or positive way. Please take this information into consideration when you make choices about your health and wellness. 

News Media Prefers Sensationalism to Truth

Most people rely on newspapers or the evening news for information about the latest medical research. Yet, after an examination by two British sources, it is common to see medical articles generated by press releases rather than investigations. More: http://www.wcanews.com/archives/2002/aug0702d.htm

How many times have you heard in the news that what is good for you is now bad for you and vice versa? Whenever reading or hearing health news, look at it with a critical eye. That includes what I pass along. Always read more than the headline, and pay close attention to the last two paragraphs. They can be very revealing. Bottom line, think about what you hear and read. 

Office Happenings

1. Stress Awareness Week. The main way that we misalign or subluxate our spines is through stress. During the week of September 16 to 20 we will be making you aware of which stresses in your life may be harming your spine. Schedule yourself for an adjustment that week and learn more helpful information about stress and your spine.

2. Coloring Contest Winner. Congratulations to Liam Seward! Liam wins a Old Navy backpack, thank you to all those who entered our contest.

3. Wellness Orientation Workshops (W.O.W.'s). Here are the dates for upcoming classes: Wednesday September 4, Monday September 9, Wednesday September 18 and Monday September 23. A great start for new patients and helpful for existing patients to get the most out of their care. They all start at 5:30 pm in the office and are presented by myself. See you there! 

4. Baseball and Barbeque. Thanks everyone who came out to this enjoyable afternoon. We had great weather and lots of fun. Look for this event in the future!

5. The office will be closed Tuesday, October 1 so I can attend a seminar. Please mark that date on your calendar.