Time to Make My Stand

I want. No, I NEED your help and come to you boldly but with great humility. There’s a time in each of our lives when our number is called and we can either step forward or slink back in the crowd. My time has come.

I became a chiropractor because of a little girl whose life was restored because of a simple chiropractic adjustment.  The simplicity of that act and the faith of that little girl’s mother showed me the Power of an Idea whose time had come.  How could something SO simple have such profound effects on what had had teams of pediatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, etc. confused and without anywhere to go and a hopeless prognosis?

It has never been my nature to jump in without first investigating.  You could say I’m an adventurous skeptic.  I’d always liked to think there were better ways to deal with complex problems, but had to be shown how and why something worked FIRST!  What I found astounded me!

Simply put, chiropractic works because of the simplicity of the premise on which it was founded.  That premise is that EVERYTHING in the Universe is organized.  It’s that organization that holds things together, keeps the planets aligned and holds matter together.  Further, that organization exists in ALL living things.  And, it’s that VERY organization that takes a single spermatazoa (out of 30,000,000) and forms a beautiful little baby in a matter of 9 months. 

That organization is responsible for the growth and development (mental, physical and emotional) of that little human life form and enables it to live and thrive under the most dire circumstances.  It provides immunity against diseases known or not yet discovered by scientists.  Left to its own devices, that organization enables that new life to thrive, prosper and contribute postiively to its own world and the world around him or her.

But, I’ve been frustrated with my chiropractic practice for some time.  I’ve allowed myself to practice in a schitzofrenic world.  My profession is split between trying to compete with medical doctors as we try to treat medical conditions only without drugs or surgery on one hand and trying to teach people how to live a holistic lifestyle directed by that innate wisdom already in them.  On top of that, we try to do both with a fee system beased on a failed healthcare system.  The result is that we either “treat” some until their insurance is used up or develop care plans designed to lock folks into long-term care plans.

Because of my initial exposure to the power of chiropractic in its truest form, I’ve always had a distaste for some of the business aspects of our profession.  Having been a banker, real estate broker and having a degree in Economics, I appreciate the free market and the concept of charging what the market will bear.  However, I also understand the concept of branding. And I think my profession has done a damned lousy job of branding itself.

In its simplest form, chiropractic removes or reduces a significant source of stress on one’s nervous system, THE system in the body that executes that innate organization of which I spoke earlier.  THAT’S IT!  In fact, if done properly, a person will genreally see significant results from chiropractic within a relatively FEW visits.  After that, routine visits can help maintain or improve your health as you move into the future.

My exposure to chiropractic was from the standpoint that chiropractors can help you get (and stay) better for less money and in less time.  One of the great benefits I saw in the application of chiropractic was that it not only freed up people’s health, but their wallet and time, as well.  So, it literally makes me SICK when someone says they can’t afford chiropractic care because they either don’t have “health” insurance or their policy doesn’t cover it.  In fact, many “health” insurance policies have such high deductibles that a person SHOULD be able to get the chiropractic care they need WITHOUT ever exceeding their decuctible.

So, I’ve decided to take a stand.  I’m tired of selling chiropractic from the medical perspective of SCARING people into getting chiropractic care.  Do I think an unresolved chiropractic problem can lead to your death?  OF COURSE I DO!  But, the death message hasn’t stopped people from smoking cigarettes or drinking or taking drugs, whether pushed or prescribed.  So, I’m just not going to do that!  I WANT yu to get adjusted BECAUSE it will make you BETTER and HEALTHIER!  Period!  I am going to have a FEE SYTEM that MAKES SENSE, not necessarily from my associates’ perspective, BUT from the CONSUMER’S!  “Health” insurance has NOTHING to do with health.  Insurance is designed for catastrophic, crisis situations NOT long-term investments in health and wellness.

If you want to build WEALTH, you INVEST on a regular basis. Of course you have insurance, but that’s to protect you from catstrophic loss.  Insurance doesn’t grow your wealth only help protect it from loss.  It’s the same way with Medicine and insurance.  Their job is to keep you from dying or losing everything because of a catastrophic health problem.  There’s a HUGE difference.  I’m not trained for the Emergency Room where Medicine shines.  I’m trained to help you BUILD a powerful life AND KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL by keeping your Master Control System free and clear.

HERE’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO! I want to reach at least 200 individuals over the next 90 days.  I have adjusted my fees to make it EASY for virtually ANY family to afford routine chiropractic care REGARDLESS of their insurance coverage.

HERE A SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
1)  Forward this message to anyone you know WHO’S DEALING WITH A CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEM!
2) CALL ME WITH SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH ANY GROUP YOU KNOW that might be interested in this NEW perspective on chiropractic and health.
3) SEND YOUR GOOD ENERGY (thaat means thoughts and prayers) toward me and those folks who are dying for a little bit of hope for health and healing.
4) Plan on joinng me for a giant celebration after we’ve achieved this great accomplishment!
5) If you’re a chiropractic friend and you have any POSITIVE thoughts and suggestions, feel free to send me an e-mail, post on my FB wall or give me a call.

PLEASE NOTE: If you just want to bitch because you think I’m devaluing chiropractic, don’t bother. The world needs what I (we) have to offer. THEY are more important that what someone thinks about my fees.

Spread the word!

Keep the faith! Turn the crank! TESTIFY!

Dr. Tim Langley to Address National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine for 7th Consecutive Year

Dr. Tim Langley has been invited to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, GA for the 7th consecutive year. Dr. Langley is family chiropractor in Marietta, GA and a graduate of Life University. “I always enjoy sharing the message of Principled Chiropractic with these future health care professionals. Some have chosen to become chiropractors. Some have gone on to practice Medicine but with a greater understanding of both chiropractic and the body’s design for health and performance.”

The National Youth Leadership Forum is a non-profit organization that conducts programs on the campus of Emory University for high-achieving high school juniors and seniors interested in a career involved in medicine.

NYLF/MED is an extraordinary 10-day program offering an intense and stimulating exploration of the field of medicine. Held each summer at renowned medical centers in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston-Galveston, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Tucson, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., it is the nation’s foremost program in pre-medical education for high school students. First held in 1993, this year approximately 8,200 students will attend 22 NYLF/MED programs.

During various small group seminar sessions, NYLF/MED participants explore some of today’s leading medical issues and gain insights into the medical field and different medical professions as it is today and as it promises to be in the future.. In small groups, students meet with physicians and other professionals to discuss subjects such as “life as a resident,” “a personal perspective of patient care” and various medical specialties.

If you’d like to know more about Principled Chiropractic and how it can positively affect your own health, that of your family, company and community, call Dr. Langley at 770-289-9711 or e-mail him at drtim02@yahoo.com.

Chiropractic: Truth in Advertising

When I heard the call to become a chiropractor, it was NOT necessarily to fix backaches and strains. It was because I had seen lives literally saved, or at least changed, after all hope had been lost pursuing traditional approaches to their problem.  One in particular was a little girl who had suffered from seizures her entire life.

That little girl NEVER suffered a backache.  But, she DID suffer.  Her mother had NO INSURANCE.  And if she had to pay the same fee that folks with insurance coverage paid, she simply could not have afforded the care.  But, her chiropractor had a fee system that allowed her to get the care she needed at a price that was affordable and predictable.

Part of the problem people have with chiropractors is that they don’t always know what we do! Some try to fix back pain, while others sell supplements or various other devices.  Some wear white coats (some even drape a stethoscope over their neck) and exclaim, “We’re REAL doctors, too!”  Most claim that what we do can help you get and stay healthy.  But, FEW can (or will) tell you in a few words what it is we really do.

Here’s the truth about chiropractic! In it’s simplest form, chiropractic is the location and correction of a source of interference in how your body communicates with itself.  Specifically, we reduce stress on your central nervous system caused by slight misalignments of a bone (or bones) in your spine.  Because your nervous system runs your whole body and affects EVERY aspect of your life, that stress can affect your health, thinking and emotions.  When a chiropractor does what he/she is supposed to do, your body functions better. It simply can’t help BUT work better.

Most chiropractors will take your insurance.  But, when a doctor accepts your insurance it usually raises the cost of your care. There are many reasons why.  Just know it does.  I have an article on my blog about “The Case for Cash”.  Feel free to check it out.

At my practice, ALL we do is remove that stress that ONLY chiropractors are trained to find and correct. And because that’s all I do, it allows me to charge a fee that people can afford.  I also believe that if chiropractic is good for helping you GET BETTER it is also good for helping you STAY BETTER.  That’s why we encourage folks to include it in their lifestyle.

So, if I want you to include it in our lifestyle, shouldn’t I have a fee system that will allow you to do JUST that? Of course!  Isn’t THAT what they mean when they say “Put your money where your mouth is!”? A few years ago, I came up with the concept of “The Membership Practice” where you pay like you do for a health club membership.

We offer three (3) types of memberships. 1) Individual Visit Member: You pay a yearly fee of $100 and then you pay a reduced fee each time you come for a visit, a little more if you bring the rest of your family.  2) Monthly Practice Membership is a monthly investment that’s reasonable for almost any individual or family for unlimited care.  This plan is designed to help you fit routine chiropractic adjustments into your lifestyle without breaking the bank.  Yearly Practice Memberships work out to be about half of what the monthly plan would be and offers the same benefits as the monthly plan, only at a great savings.

Why would I offer my services at such a ridiculous value? I’m glad you asked.  At my office, we are dedicated to helping folks achieve their health goals in a way that saves them time, money and hassle.  My goal is to help as many people as I possibly can!  If I help you AND give you a great value, aren’t you more likely to tell someone else who could benefit from chiropractic?  Of course you are.

So, here’s what I’d like for you to do.  Please forward this post to a friend who could stand to feel better and be better TODAY!  The very best time to do something good for someone is when the idea pops into your mind. Thanks for taking time to read this message and for passing it on.

The View from Outside the Box: Vaccination

People seem to have this opinion that chiropractors are opposed to vaccination.  And while most of us don’t get vaccinated or have that done to our children, it’s mandatory mass vaccination that we oppose.

From my perspective, mass vaccination programs are unspecific, unscientific and unsafe.  I know.  I’ve heard all the stuff about herd immunity.  And honestly, I just don’t buy it.  If the rest of the “herd” is vaccinated, why should they worry if I or my kids are NOT?  Has the vaccination not made them immune to whatever I could catch or bring their way?

Another problem I have with vaccinations is that they never provide permanent immunity.  So instead of providing immunity from certain diseases, vaccination programs give people a false sense of security.  And if you’re only going to provide limited protection from disease, why go through with the program in the first place?  Is one answer that drug companies invest billions into vaccination programs and it’s a steady source of predictable income?  Oh yeah, if the “herd” doesn’t have permanent immunity, what happens if something happens to expose the herd to a given pathogen at some time in the future?  Would that wipe out the herd?

It doesn’t make sense to me that you would inject your child with the number of vaccines at a time when their immune system hasn’t developed to the point where it can even respond to the vaccine.  And, do you REALLY know what is in that vile?  And, has your doctor given you ALL the information on potential dangers related to the vaccine?

And, how about that flu vaccine?  Did you know that the flu vaccine you’re getting this year was developed LAST year?  The influenza virus is a single cell creature that adapts very rapidly to its environment and is probably different than the one for which this year’s vaccine was developed.  And, if the vaccine is not perfectly designed for this year’s flu virus, it simply won’t work.  Oh yeah, the flu vaccine still contains mercury.

Finally, exposure to many childhood diseases help build permanent immunity against stronger pathogens down the road.  By allowing children’s immune systems to develop slowly, they’re better able to fight off sickness and disease later in life.

In the final analysis, I have decided that I trust the design of the body to be healthy more than I trust those with a profit motive to tell me I need to inject some unknown substance into my or my kids’ body.  I’m concerned about the public health risk of dumbing down the “herd” immune response to a “super bug” that WILL appear at some time in the future.  And, I also wonder if the proliferation of autoimmune diseases aren’t partially the result of mass vaccination programs.

I’m open to your comments and thoughts on the subject.  Just keep it clean and respectful.

The View from Outside the Box

Surely you’ve heard the term “Think outside the boc”.  I first heard th term in a business workshop way back in the 70s.  We were told to put the following drawing on a piece of paper and told to connect all the dots with four STRAIGHT lines WITHOUT lifting our pencil off the paper.

It was amazing the gyrations we all went through to get the assignment done.  Well, there were a couple of folks who had seen the exercise done before.  Otherwise, no one had even a clue how to solve the puzzle.  Then the instructor proceeded to show us how the puzzle was solved:

As we all now know, the ONLY solution for the problem was to draw outside the (imaginary) box created by the dots.  What an awesome metaphor for many (most) of the problems facing our society at this point in time, including the economy, world affairs, politics, education and healthcare.  In fact, many of the problems we face have become SO institutionalized and entrenched that they can NEVER be resolved with the same thinking that caused the problem in the first place.

Let’s consider just healthcare.  As far as any of us can remember, healthcare in this culture has been one of fighting disease.  We start at birth vaccinating kids against all sorts of diseases from routine childhood illnesses like chicken pox and measles to diptheria, smallpox, TB and polio.  As we age, the battle is joined against cancer, heart disease and now diabetes.  Now, we’re being attacked by chronic health problems ranging from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia to irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.  And, that says nothing about the proliferation of autoimmune disease.  And lest we forget Restless Leg Syndrome?

In essence, we’ve creasted a “disease managment” system instead of a HEALTH care system.  Drug companies seems to “discover” diseases that they just happen to have a “new” drug that treat THAT diease perfectly.  Unfortunately, that system of “care” has made going to the doctor and paying for it an almost impossible task.  Finally, we’ve reached the point where we’re looking to Government to take over health care.  I take little comfort in knowing that the same folks that are handling Social Security, Medicare, the IRS and Hurricane Katrina will now be taking care of our health decisions.

So, for these and other reasons, I opted out of the traditional Western approach to “health care” a long time ago.  I guess it’s been almost 20 years now that I haven’t taken a drug or gone to the doctor for anything but emergencies.  Well, I DO go to the chiropractor on a regular basis to get adjusted.   But, I don’t go for pain management or any kind of symptom control.   I thought it might be interesting to explain what it’s like on the other side of the healthcare fence looking in.

Even prior to my exposure to the wholistic lifestyle, I was somewhat leery of established Medicine and would only take an aspirin for an occasional headache or when my back problem would flare up.  And, until I got my back problem resolved, there was always a tube of Preparation H in the medicine cabinet.  I don’t rember the last time I took prescription drugs.  The last flu shot I got was in 1975 when Uncle Sam made me get one before letting me out of the Air Force.

The view from outside the box is interesting.  I don’t take drugs.  Period.  I don’t need them.  I don’t get sick.  I also don’t go to doctors.  It’s not that I don’t “believe” in them.  I just don’t need them.  Now, if I were involved in a car accident or broke a leg, I’d be the first to go to the ER because that’s where Medicine shines.  Otherwise, I just don’t need it.  I don’t have a cardiologist, proctologist, orthopedist, neurologist (although I’ve referred folks to a few) or even a General Practitioner.  Are there any of those even left?  Now, quite a few folks have asked me “What if…?”  And, my response is “What if…what?”  The point is I simply don’t live in that “disease” world.  I don’t know what ny blood pressure is or my cholesterol level or my bone density or if I have polyps.  I don’t care.

Because I know that we were designed to be healthy, my focus is on health, not disease.  I know that if I eat right, exercise, drink water, develop and maintain a good attitude and spiritual life, get adjusted and do those things that help build HEALTH, I’ve done all I can do.  And because of my fiath and what I know about health, I am not afraid of living or dying.

When I look inside the box, I see folks living in fear of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc.  Their lives are consumed running from disease.  And, by the time many folks are 60 they have those little boxes with pills for every day of the week.  They run to the doctor every time they have a cold or a symptom.   Some folks I know spend almost a thousand bucks a month on “health” insurance that typically covers far less than people really need.  Health costs has virtually driven American automakers out of business.  Even folks with “good” insurance aren’t immune to the fear of disease.  In fact, I know several millionaires who suffer from anxiety attacks and the same diseases that afflict the poor.

The main difference in the perspectives on either side of the box is fear.  From the inside, fear rules and limits one’s fullest expression and enjoyment of life.  From outside the box, a sense of peace about health is the rule rather than the exception.  Now, I’m not necessarily telling folks to cancel their insurance and shoot their doctors.  But what I am saying is that there is another way to view health and life.  In a later post, I’ll talk more about inspired living.  Until then, consider all your alternatives.

School Books a Safety Hazard?

I could understand when I was a kid having to tote books home.  But in these days of computers, hard drives, MP3 players, etc., isn’t it a bit ridiculous making kids haul 10-20 pounds (or more) of books home every night just a little ridiculous?

Maybe I’m just naive, but don’t most kids have a computer of some sort at home?  And if they do, why would school systems insist on issuing textbooks in lieu of either a compact disk or an MP3 download.  For one thing, it’s got to ba a ton cheaper on the school system to buy a master CD and give copies to their students.  Not only could they save on the literal cost of buying books, they could also save a bunch of trees needed to produce those books

Another (more important) issue is the effect that books and backpacks can have on the bodies and health of young students.  Kids (especially girls) have their growth spurts during their middle school years when homework becomes a ritual.  I’m a big, strong guy.  But I must admit, my 13 year old daughter’s backpack is sometimes heavy even for me.  Yet, she must carry it home and back 5 days a week.

What if she could go home, log into the school’s web site, read her lesson and do her homework online?  Not only is that more efficient for the school, the teacher and the student, it also helps prevent injuries whose effects can last a lifetime.

Scoliosis is a condition that can affect a child’s health for the balance of their life.  And, it’s not known what causes most scoliosis.  However, it is reasonable to assume that unbalanced stress on a young spoine is a major factor.

What can you do to help prevent scoliosis in school-age kids?  Contact your school board members and encourage them to offer kids a set of books that they may keep at home instead of having to carry them to and from school or, better yet, find a way to beging replacing books with CDs or MP3 downloads.  The latter alternative is probably the best.  It’s cheaper for the school systems, easier to replace and would have no negative effect on student’s health, whatsoever.

Melba’s Minute Clinic Experience and the Chiropractic Lifestyle

Melba has been a member (we don’t call them patients) of my practice for almost as long as I’ve been in practice.  She’s been getting upper cervical adjustments for at least 30 years.  She came in to the office yesterday with a nasty, bright red spot on her arm.  When I asked her what happened, she told me she had scratched herself cleaning up a rental property.

Now, Melba and I believe that “The Power that made the body heals the body!”  However, there simply are times when someone has a medical problem that SHOULD be handled by a medical approach.  One of those is an acute infection that is progressing.  Since Melba has not been sick (or otherwise needed medical attention) in her adult life, she asked me where to go where she wouldn’t have to wait for hours on end.  She has as little patience with that system as I do.  Anyway, I suggested she try one of the new Minute Clinics in a local CVS Pharmacy.

She called to tell me that her visit to the “Minute” Clinic took an hour and a half.  Interestingly, it only took 10 minutes, or so, to have her arm looked at and a prescription for some antibiotics written.  But, the rest of the visit was the most interesting and instructive.  You see, since Melba has been getting adjusted for almost 40 years, she’s never had a need to take drugs.  When asked what drugs she was taking, Melba replied, “None”.  “None?”  was the reply.  “No.  None.”  “Well, what kind of pain medications are you taking?” she was asked.  “For this thing on my arm?  Why would I take pain medicine for THAT?”  It had NEVER occured to Melba to take painkillers for an infection!

Apparently, Melba’s blood pressure reading was around 150/70.  She was asked, “What are you taking for high blood pressure?”  She replied, “I don’t take anything for blood pressure.  Is there something wrong?”  “Well, the top number’s a little high.  Don’t you want to take something?”  “No.”  Melba understands that 150/70 is not bad for a lady in her mid 60’s.

She was even hassled because she didn’t have an MD she went to on a regular basis.  In fact, she hadn’t been to an MD since being involved in an auto accident over 20 years ago.  Her response was “If I’m not sick, why would I go to a medical doctor?”

When Melba and I talked about it later, she said “They just don’t get it!”  What she meant was that folks are so trained to think that health is merely the absence of symptoms or sickness and that EVERYONE takes some kind of medicine for some kind of problem AND that NO ONE is capable of living without taking drugs.  Well, Melba and millions of us simply refuse to buy into that “sickness” mentality.  You see, the chiropractic lifestyle is based on the concept that you are a whole being, designed perfectly for health and performance.  Can you imagine that?  Who wants to live  a life without worry and fear?  I do!

There’s simply something wrong with a system that ASSUMES that something MUST be wrong with everyone out there walking around.  Why can’t we create a health care system that assumes that health is the NORM and not the exception.  It’s really a shame that someone in their mid 60s is considered strange because they don’t take ANY drugs.  How many folks do you know in their 60s and 70s would rather not have to take ANY medications?  How many folks do you know who would like to start NOW to make THAT their reality WHEN they reach their 60’s.  Heck, even their 40s?

Imagine a system where health insurance could actually help you STAY healthy instead of simply chasing symptoms.  If you’re one of those, or you know someone who would, then I encourage you to look into adding chiropractic care to your health and wellness program.

Some doctors may stop giving vacines because of cost

Almost lost in the news of the day is the fact that up to 10% of doctors are decidig NOT to offer vaccinations because private insurance reimbursements make that service unprofitable.  Hmmm.  I thought vaccinations were SO important that they have been mandated in every state with only religious or medical exemptions.

Maybe this story is telling us that the ones benefitting most from compulsory vaccination programs are doctors’ offices.  Either the insurance companies don’t believe completely in the value of vaccination OR the docotr doesn’t.  Either way, shouldn’t health consumers have the right to question the efficacy of today’s vaccine regime for their kids and families?

Here’s the link to the story.

Thank God chiropractors cannot prescribe!

A recent reader of this blog, Ed, responded to my post regarding an article titled “half of doctors prescribe placebos“.  The article points out that half of all doctors in the US prescribe placebos instead of drugs designed to treat conditions other than the one that brought their patient into the office in the first place.

Ed was glad that his son’s pediatrician had prescribed a placebo without telling Ed (or his son) what he was doing.  The gist of the article was that it was unethical for the doctor to do so without informing the patient.

Ed was pleased that the placebo worked and ended his post saying “Thank God chiropractors cannot prescribe”.  Maybe Ed’s point that his son got better WITHOUT being given a REAL drug.  And, guess what?  That was precisely MY point, too!  Imagine how much safer American healthcare could be if HALF of all people taking dangerous drugs DIDN’T!

Honestly Ed, I’m glad chiropractors CANNOT prescribe drugs.  Because when you make money to prescribe drugs and the patient does not need a drug, chiropractors CANNOT be tempted to do so just to appease their patient and keep them coming back.  Doctors have a fiduciary responsibility to their clients and informed consent is a vital part of that responsibility.

Thanks God chiropractors cannot prescribe! That GUARANTEES folks that there IS at least ONE kind of doctor that WON’T risk your health or your life by prescribing a potentially dangerous, ESPECIALLY when you don’t need it!

For a better idea of what chiropractors CAN do, try this post:  What does a chiropractor REALLY do?

Half of Doctors Prescribe Placebos

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal indicates that HALF of all doctors in the US prescribe placebos to their patients.  Apparently, since a doctor can’t write a prescription to the pharmacy for a sugar pill, they recommend drugs or supplements that have no effect on the problem that brought the patient to their office in the first place.  Further, the prescription in these cases is NOT for the problem the patient is having BUT to make the patient THINK their problem is being addressed.

Naturally, this brings up the ethical question, “Are doctors fully informing their patients of what the doctor thinks there REAL problem is?  Or, are doctors writing prescriptions to simply keep a patient’s business instead of telling them they might really NOT have a problem?”  Further, if 50% of all doctors prescribe placebos INSTEAD of drugs, are drugs (or even doctors) as necessary as we have been led to believe?

Here’s the link to the article.