Law of Attraction and Your Health

I have always been one of those crazy “positive thinkers” that believes anything is possible.  Maybe it comes from my belief that we would not have been given the ability to imagine and dream if we weren’t also equipped to realize or actualize those dreams.  But maybe, it also comes from the hundreds of examples in my own life of things (good and bad) happening AFTER having created the very situation in my own mind, FIRST.

It’s funny (in a sad way) that many of my Christian friends so readily and strongly dismiss “The Secret” and the “Law of Attraction” as being evil in some way.  To me, they are absolute evidence of God’s Hand in all things.  In fact, the Bible tells us to pray EXPECTING that what we have asked for HAS ALREADY been given AND that even the faith of a tiny mustard seed could push the mountain into the sea.

I like the Law of Attraction.  It makes sense to me.  It has proven itself to work for me in so many circumstances it’s almost hard to count.  And, it’s pretty much as simple as “What you think about comes about”.  If you think about it, every creation of Mankind from the first tool to the space shuttle was first an idea in someone’s mind.  And the longer that thought remained in someone’s mind, the closer it got to becoming a reality.  Eventually, the idea became reality.

OK, so you’re probably thinking, “So how does the Law of Attraction have ANYTHING to do with my health?”  Well, I’m glad you asked!

In our culture, we have this obsession with disease.  From birth, we’re taught to fear disease instead of how to build health.  We inject our babies with all sorts of stuff to avoid childhood diseases instead of allowing their bodies to build lifetime immunity.  Every year, millions of us get a flu shot even though many wonder IF it can prevent the flu.  We label creative, active kids bored with sitting at a desk all day as having ADD or ADHD.  What used to be considered a “normal” blood pressure reading is now considered “pre-hypertensive”.  The mention of the word “cancer” strikes fear in the heart of almost any living person.  And, everyone knows at least one person who takes “an aspirin a day” to prevent stroke when that habit alone cold CAUSE a massive stroke itself.  It’s even gotten so ridiculous that now we even have a disease called “Restless Leg Syndrome”.  Give me a break!

In other words, our hyper-focus on disease has made us one of the sickest nations on the planet.  We’re sick because we THINK about sickness and disease.  Probably the most profitable industries IN THE WORLD is the pharmaceutical industry.  They spend BILLIONS of dollars convincing you that you’re sick and that THEY can ease your suffering with their magic pills and potions.  Unfortunately, neither they nor the Government tells you adequately of the dangers related to their concoctions.

BUT, there IS a better way!  That way is to simply BE WELL.  Now, some of you are saying “This guy is crazy!”  But, wait!  This is where the Law of Attraction comes in.  Think about how your life would be IF you were well.  Instead of spending your time worrying about one disease or another, you’d be thinking of how to make your life better or what you were going to do this weekend with your kids or your special someone.  You’d be LIVING instead of “not dying”.  See where I’m going with all this?

My favorite author on the topic of the Law of Attraction is Michael Losier.  One of the things Losier would tell you is to draw a line down the middle of a notepad.  On one side, make a list of what about your life you don’t like or don’t want, like “I don’t want to be sick, any more” or even “I must exercise and watch my diet so I won’t get cancer or have a heart attack”.  Notice where the focus is on these statements?  Right!  They’re focused on what you DON’T want.  On the other side of the page, restate what you DO want, like “I LOVE being healthy and working toward even better health!” or “I LOVE working out and eating good food.  It makes me look great and feel even better!” or even “You know, I’m a better lover because my health is so good!” SEE the difference?

Now when your focus is on good health, you start doing the same things healthy people do.  You exercise because you LIKE it.  You eat better because it makes you FEEL better.  You go to the chiropractor because it helps you BE a better you.  You even work on your spiritual life because it enhances your life.  In other words, your focus on health and life automatically lead you to do those things that take you closer to that vision.

You can only run so hard and so long FROM something you fear.  When you’re running TO something you want, you can pace yourself and run forever even enjoying the scenery along the way.

I can tell you that for me, it has made a world of difference.  Between my faith and knowledge of where health REALLY comes from, I can LIVE today and look forward to tomorrow WITHOUT fear of what MIGHT, or might not, happen.  When your thoughts are on wholeness, joy and peace within and without, life takes on a whole new meaning.

So, think good thoughts.  See BIG things for yourself and those around you.  Make your life a canvass on which you paint the biggest and brightest and most beautiful life you possibly can.  Remember, EVERYTHING starts with a thought.  Think BIG!

Miracles DO happen! Create your own miracle potential.

David Casanova had a heart attack on July 4th while working out at his health club, LA Fitness.  CPR and the defibrillator was administered on the spot.  David’s heart stopped twice on the way to the hospital.  No one knew at that time how much oxygen his brain had been deprived during the ordeal.

David remained in a coma for 4 weeks.  Once he was brought out of his coma, it was hard to arrive at a meaningful prognosis.  When it appeared that David had survived the heart attack and that there was significant neurological function, the prognosis was pretty fair.  Still, it had not been determined to what extent David would be able to function.

David Casanova is checking out of the hospital today, exactly 6 weeks from the day he suffered his heart attack.  Not only is David checking out of the hospital today, he is virtually 100% recovered from what seemed to be near death.  Only some vision loss in his right eye remains from the experience.

Many prayers have been put forth for David over these past 6 weeks.  In the beginning, the prayers were that he would simply live.  Then that he would regain consciousness.  Then that he would be able to be minimally functional.  Still some asked boldly ANTICIPATING a full recovery from the very beginning.  Obviously, the prayers worked.

Sometimes we wait for a catastrophe to happen BEFORE we pray and exercise our faith.  This wasn’t the case with David Casanova.  You see, David grew up in a chiropractic family.  His dad was a chiropractor, as is one of his brothers and several uncles and cousins.  He built his life on the premise that his body was designed to be healthy and that’s the way he lived his life.  He PURSUED life instead of running from disease and infirmity.  He tried to eat right, exercise, get adjusted, have a significant spiritual life and maintain a positive attitude about his life and others’.   I believe that by virtue of a lifetime of living a healthy life, his body was able to handle the almost catastrophic stresses that eventually catch up to us all.  In other words, because he was strong he not only survived but was able to resist, endure and overcome those stresses.  There’s a lesson there.

That’s not the end of the story, though.  There were heroes along David’s journey to death and back.  First, LA Fitness should be commended for having the defibrillator available and having staff trained on how to use it.  There were also club members there that knew how to administer CPR and reacted without hesitation.  Health clubs everywhere should offer FREE CPR training for their employees and members.

Second, the EMR personnel that transported David to the hospital obviously knew their stuff.  They were prepared for subsequent heart failure and kept him alive until he arrived and turned over the the ER staff.

Finally, the staff at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia should be commended.  While I have my problems with some aspects of the medical profession, the practice of Medicine shines when it comes to emergency situations and crisis care.  The folks in the Emergency Room and the Coronary Care Unit should receive their just accolades.  Thanks for saving my friend.

There’s one last aspect of this story that needs to be told.  David was between jobs and had been for some time.  While his hospital bills have been taken care of, his personal expenses and incidental medical expenses related to all this has been significant.  His family has pitched in and done what they can.  But, David could obviously use some financial help.  He won’t ask for it, though.  While in the coma, an account was established at Bank of America to help David.  The account is a “contribution account” and is called the “David Casanova Medical Expense Fund”.  the family asked that if I wrote anything about this that I made sure you knew that the bulk of his hospital bills have been paid.  Contributions to this account will help David deal with other expenses that have piled up and will continue while he gets back on his feet.  If you’d rather send money directly to David, feel free to do so c/o David Casanova, 306 Parkaire Crossing, Marietta, Georgia, 30068.

Just know that health, strength, personal power and peace of mind is your body and Spirit’s DEFAULT.  Live in faith by pursuing your potential in everything you do.  Don’t run from life like a coward.  Embrace it.  Enjoy it.  Share it.  Be hero when that opportunity presents itself.  You may one day be David.

One Cause. One Cure.

An old chiropractor, Dr. Fred Barge, wrote a book by the same title.  In it, Dr. Barge talked about the cause of all disease and the cure.  In fact, he used the term “One cause.  One cure.”

The whole “One cause.  One cure” concept has caused angst among many chiropractors.  But, the chiropractors who feel uncomfortable with the concept practice chiropractic in such a way that their patients (I call them clients or members) hardly benefit from seeing the chiropractor.  Most of these chiropractors don’t even know who Fred Barge was, much less have read and understand the concept he discussed.

Because they yearn for “acceptance” in the Medical community, they turn their nose up at philosophical basis for chiropractic.  In their ignorance, these DCs believe that those of us who practice traditional chiropractic are talking about the vertebral subluxation, or nerve interference, as the one cause of disease and the chiropractic adjustment as the one cure.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

The “One cause” of all disease is what we call dis-ease, or a lack of ease in the body.  In other words, there’s a problem somewhere in the body causing the body to function at less than optimum.  The “One cure” is simply the restoration of ease in how the body relates to itself and functions under all circumstances.

The health care provider’s job is simply to locate and correct (or reduce) the cause of the body’s dis-ease.  When they do their job, the body NATURALLY functions better.  THAT is what chiropractors USED to do.  Some of us STILL do.  And, it’s amazing what can happen when we simply remove the interference.  Some people call them miracles.  But, those of us that understand the concept simply accept it as a consequence of allowing the body to do what it already KNOWS to do.

If you know someone suffering with little relief or hope from traditional approaches, I encourage you to find a good chiropractor.  If you need a referral, please ask.  There are 50,000 chiropractors in America.  I bet we can find one that will embrace the challenge.

Next time, we’ll be talking about living a “Life Without Fear”.  Stay tuned.

Chiropractor as Health Advocate

Needless to say, the American healthcare (?) system is in a state of flux.  In other words, it’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen with health care here.  Will health insurance premiums continue to rise while benefits continue to shrink?

Will the same Government that gave us Social Security (?), Medicare, Katrina, the IRS, etc. (you get the idea) some how magically get its collective act together and make everything alright?  Well, I doubt it.   Or, will we finally decide to take our health seriously and become responsible for our own health and let the Government, the insurance industry and everybody else for that matter take care of their own interests?

Honestly, I’ll be glad when folks start taking their own health seriously and rely less on others with separate (and financial) interests make their health decisions for them.  But, that implies that Americans will start educating themselves about health, where it comes from and how it’s lost.

As a family and wellness chiropractor, I have folks that come to me on a weekly basis.  Many come to prevent a problem from coming back that might have brought them to me in the first place.  Still, others continue to come because they have the opportunity to ask questions about their health and other advice they may have been given from other sources.  I can’t tell you how many times folks are given advice (or worse, orders) based on what might be best for someone else’s financial interests instead of what is in their own best interests.

The time has come for health care consumers to become educated in options other than a purely Medical approach.  The Medical paradigm, has become a liability in many cases.  When doctors intentionally steer their patients away from non-medical, non-surgical approaches when the doctor may know little (if anything, at all) about alternative approaches, or even worse tell lies about alternative approaches while KNOWING the alternative approach COULD be beneficial to the patient.

First, let me say that there is absolutely NO reason why you can’t have both a chiropractor AND a medical doctor as part of your health care team at the same time.  What we do is totally separate and distinct.  Anyone that makes you choose one over the other has put THEIR interests before yours.  You should not only leave that practitioner, you should RUN from them.  Frankly, they are dangerous.  Your health care provider should have YOUR interest at heart before all others, including their own.

The value of having a chiropractor as a member of your health care team is that they probably have a different perspective on a host of matters.  Since their training many times is built around what mekes you healthy instead of what makes you sick, they bring a HEALTH perspective that many in Medicine simply may not have.  And, wouldn’t it be nice to have a reasonable discussion on things you might be able to do to help you avoid the need for drugs or surgery?

If I were an employer, I would want to look at every way possible to reduce my overhead, including making available to my employees someone who can help them be the best possible health care consumer.  Besides, the healthier my employees are the lower the cost of providing them with health benefits.  As someone once said, “The best consumer is an informed consumer”.

If you own a company or are responsible for the benefits your company provides, I encourage you to consider offering health advocacy as a benefit to your employees.  If you’d like to discuss the concept, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.  If you’re an individual wanting to get the most out your health, drop me a note.  I’ll show you how you can have your own health advocate.  Just know that NO ONE will take better care ofyou than YOU.  Start today!

Fighting Disease, War, Poverty and the Boogey Man

Try as you will, the harder you fight the stronger it gets.

I’m always amused (in a sad way) at life’s crusaders.  How much energy is spent fighting war, disease,  poverty or crime?  Yet, those problems keep getting worse.  Maybe it’s time we change our paradigm.  IWhen I think on these things, I’m always reminded of Einstein’s definition of insanity as “Doing the same things over and over expecting a different result”.

As a health care provider with a non-disease, non-treatment focus, I’m struck by the number of people seeking medical cures to incurable disease.  In fact, most of disease these days has won the war.  The best Medicine has to offer the most feared and insidious diseases is simply palliative symptom care and “managment” of the disease.  In other words, we’ve given up.  The war is over.

In some ways, we’ve conceded defeat and have retreated and have put ourselves in a defensive mode.  Yet, our focus is STILL on disease, whether it’s finding a cure or preventing disease through compulsory vaccination programs and the like.  BUT, the more we focus on disease the MORE disease we get.  Now, it’s diabetes, obesity, acid reflux, restless leg syndrome, ADD/ADHD, etc., etc. etc.  When will the madness end?!

It’s the same with the War on Terrorism.  And the War on Poverty.  And the War on Whatever.  Regardless of your stance on the war in Iraq, you have to admit that we’ll be in the Middle East as either Enforcer of Policeman for the foreseeable future.  As far as the War on Poverty goes, we’ve created generations of poor people dependent on the Government for their every need.  What have we accomplished other than enslaving a people within our own country?  The more we focus on our PROBLEMS, the more  problems we create.  Isn’t it about damned time we tried something different?

Let’s start a Revolution!  Instead of sickness, disease, poverty, ignorance, racism and war let’s focus instead on aA Different Way!  Let’s focus on health and wellness.  What if we studied what made people healthy and whole?  When your focus is on building health, you become stronger than disease and infirmity.

Instead of fighting poverty, let’s focus on prosperity and individual freedom!  By focusing on individual freedom, potential and empowerment, poverty will become such a minor problem that it will literally vanish from existence.  We can start in America.  Remove the barriers to prosperity and poverty disappears.  Well, almost.  Jesus said “The poor will be with us always”, meaning that some will simply CHOOSE to be poor.  But, let’s let that be a choice, not an imposition.

Instead of fighting ignorance and prejudice, let’s teach our children to think.  No, I don’t mean indoctrinating them to simply believe what we want them to believe and to memorize meaningless dates and details.  I mean teach them to THINK and REASON.  Teach them the PRINCIPALS that made and make America great!  Teach them about the greatness of Mankind and the potential they have.   Let’s get away from STEERING people towards mere careers and allow them to dream and achieve.

Let’s be willing to dismantle, even destroy, those institutions that dehumanize people and replace them with principals and ideals that cause us to think higher thoughts and strive to be greater than we ever been allowed to in the past.  Let’s strive to be great, healthy, whole and free!  Expect the best from life.  See the potential.  Pursue what you want instead of running from your fears.  Your life will love you for it!

The Secret of Happiness

The Secret of Happiness

I followed happiness to make her mine,
Past towering oak and swinging ivy vine.
She fled, I chased, over slanting hill and dale,
Over fields and meadows, in the purpling vale.
Pursuing rapidly over dashing stream,
I scaled dizzy cliffs where the eagles scream;
I traversed swiftly every land and sea,
But always happiness eluded me.
Exhausted, fainting, I pursued no more,
But sank to rest upon the barren shore.
One came and asked for food, and one for alms;
I placed the bread and gold in bony palms;
One came for sympathy, and one for rest;
I shared with every needy one my best;
When lo! sweet Happiness, with form divine,
Stood by me, whispering softly, “I am thine.”

- Burleigh

Supply-side Solution for Healthcare

One of the things that made the 80s such a vibrant era is Reaganomics, or supply-side economics.  The gust of the program was to lower taxes to give producers more of a return on their investment.  As a result, more money would flow into the economy as business owners strove to grow, deliver more products and services and, hence, more profits.  Obviously, it worked.  That era spawned an economic boom that lasted amost two decades.

While the upcoming election and high gas prices have the public’s (specially the media) attention, rising healthcare costs remain a burden on American society.  Between pension and healthcare costs, major American employers like General Motors teeter on the verge of bankruptcy.  Yet, we continue to pursue solutions that will necessarily perpetuate or exasperate the problem.  Most politicians these days support MORE involvement by the Government to ensure “adequate” insurance coverage for every American citizen.  But, increasing third party reimbursement of healthcare services is neither warranted nor advised.

One of the hallmarks of free market economies is that competition forces down prices, improves quality and quantity of goods and services available for consumption.  Restrictions on competition (even in the name of public protection) keeps prices high, limits consumers’ choices and ensures less-than optimal quality.  That’s where we are today in healthcare.

Managed care has done an outstanding job of limiting consumer’s choices of health care providers and options while forcing the continual rise in health care costs.  Many Americans find themselves working in jobs they’d rather not have JUST to pay the exorbitant cost of health insurance for them and their families.  Despite the fact that premiums keep rising (as do health costs) consumer’s out-of-pocket expenses also continue to rise.  Insurance companies are paying less and requiring more from their customers.

There are several reasons for all this.  But, most of the problem lies with Government interference in the market.  Most states have certain mandates for employer provided health benefits.  This forces employers to provide the most expensive option available or the most restricted coverage or none, at all.  Many predict that employers will continue moving away from providing health insurance for their employees and even require them to maintain their health in order to keep their job.

What’s the solution?  Abolition of managed care would be a good start.  Another would be for insurance carriers to adopt an ‘any willing provider” approach to foster competition.  It should be clear to virtually anyone that in-network providers cost more and give less than out-of-network providers.  Simply allowing competition among qualified, licensed providers would allow competition to both lower the overall payment rate for insurers while increasing the level and quantity of services available to their customers.

Further, states should remove any restrictions on health care providers offering different types of fee plans.  Some states intimidate providers that offer creative plans (such as unlimited care at a fixed fee, or reduced fees for cash payment or prepayment plans)  directly to consumers.  In effect, those states are protecting the interest of insurance companies and NOT that of their citizens.

States and the Federal government should remove as many barriers to providing health care as they possibly can.  Protection of industry interests over the interest of the ultimate consumer is both counter-productive and could eventually lead to the Government taking over health care.  And, do you want the sponsors of Social Security, Medicare, Katrina and No Child Left Behind in charge of YOUR health?

I’m not an insurance fan, but…

… it has it’s place.

Being a heath care provider, I used to have this love-hate relationship with insurance.  You know, it’s one of those damned if you do and damned if you don’t things.  It seems you can’t afford to be without insurance.  But, you can’t afford to buy it, either.  Small business owners and those in life transitions seem disproportionately affected.  So in many cases, folks just don’t buy it.

Well, there’s a time and place for everything.  Health insurance is NOT about health.  In fact, I think it often creates more health problems than it either prevents or corrects.  Insurance really is designed to protect you from catastrophic and unforeseen events that could cause you irreparable financial harm if you’re not prepared for it.  In fact, most bankruptcies in America are caused by either a health problem or a legal problem.

Health insurance costs could be reduced dramatically if folks would simply understand that their health is THEIR responsibility.  Lose weight, exercise, eat better, drink water, work on your spiritual life, do more with your family, find effective ways of reducing (or managing) the stress in your life and, of course, find a good wellness chiropractor.

Here’s the point.  A good friend of mine had a massive heart attack at his gym on July 4th.  Fortunately, the General Manager of the LA Fitness where he worked out, knew CPR and how to use the emergency defibrillator.  My friend is still alive, but in a coma in the local hospital.  There’s not yet a prognosis.  Regardless of what the prognosis turns out to be, the medical costs are going to be astronomical.  Because my friend was between jobs (and had been for some time) he was without insurance.  If he recovers physically, he might never do so financially.

So, find a way to get even a ca strophic hospitalization policy to protect yourself and your family financially should something unexpected happen to you.  While not a fan of insurance, I do understand that it protects you from extremes.  You can keep the costs to a minimum if you just cover the extremes.  But by all means, cover at least that.

Stay healthy.  Say “I love you” to those you love.  And NEVER take life for granted.

FDA reports life-threatening complications with cervical spinal fusion

Every surgery has risks. I thought it very important to get this information from the FDA out as soon as possible. Many surgeries can be prevented with gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments. Check with your chiropractor before taking this risk. There should be absolutely NO problem consulting BOTH a chiropractor and MD for the same problem. A good chiropractor will tell you when the problem is beyond his/her scope. If you need a referral to a good chiropractor in your area, e-mail me.

FDA informed healthcare professionals of reports of life-threatening complications associated with recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein (rhBMP) when used in the cervical spine. The safety and effectiveness of rhBMP in the cervical spine have not been demonstrated and these products are not approved by FDA for this use. There have been at least 38 reports of complications during the last 4 years with the use of rhBMP in cervical spine fusion. These complications were associated with swelling of neck and throat tissue, which resulted in compression of the airway and/or neurological structures in the neck. Some reports describe difficulty swallowing, breathing or speaking. FDA recommends that practitioners either use approved alternative treatments or consider enrolling as investigators in approved clinical studies.

FDA requires hospitals and other user facilities to report deaths and serious injuries associated with the use of medical devices. If you suspect that a reportable adverse event was related to the use of rhBMP, you should follow the reporting procedure established by your facility. Reporting adverse events is everyone’s responsibility, even if the event involves off-label use of medical devices.

Read the entire 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including the FDA’s Public Health Notification regarding this issue at:

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Protein

Avandia: Another case of betrayed trust

According to the US Food & Drug Administration, GlaxoSmithKline didn’t turn over post-marketing data about Avandia to the agency, a lack of disclosure that looks pretty sinister given subsequent reports linking Avandia to increased risk of heart attack.  Many drug companies fail to report post-approval data to the FDA once they begin selling a drug, since the rules for such reporting are at best somewhat loose.  But in Glaxo’s case, the failure to report arguably could have harmed consumers, given the risks exposed by last year’s article in the New England Journal of Medicine. The agency now is demanding that the company turn over all data on Avandia, pronto, or risk regulatory action.

Why do I even mention drugs?  As a chiropractor, I don’t put people on drugs and I don’t take them off drugs.  So, why bother?  Because, the whole concept of “better living through chemistry” is killing Americans in droves.  There’s a better way!  Staying healthy and relying on the design of the body to BE healthy is a much better way to live.  The “science” so many Americans have come to rely upon to keep them healthy has become little more than a shell game to deceive the public, create false demand and extract as much money from consumers and their insurance companies in as little time as possible.  That’s why this chiropractor talks about drugs.