Come to me all who ar weary…

Some people go to a chiropractor for back & neck pain.

I’d rather you come to me for PTSD, Depression, IBS, ulcerative colitis, lupus, chronic fatigue, insomnia, narcolepsy, seizures, ALS, MS or any other chronic condition.  Don’t give up on yourself.

Dollar Tree and The Membership Practice

My daughter and I love the Dollar Tree.  It’s amazing how many things you can buy there for $1.  You can get tools, batteries, food, cleaning products, toys, holiday decorations, gift wrap, etc.  It’s ridiculous.  As an economist and former banker, I’m also amazed that there’s a business that there’s enough profit margin on $1 items to pay rent for a retail location, salaries and utilities and STILL make a profit significant enough to make it a worthy investment.

But, I LOVE the concept.  It’s simple.  It’s clear what they do.  It’s easy to get, find what you want and get out.  That’s the premise of The Membership Practice: Great chiropractic adjustments available in a hassle free, affordable manner so that virtually anyone can afford to feel better, work better and live better ALL THE TIME!

Dollar Tree and The Membership Practice is NOT about cheap.  It’s a business model that respects the consumer’s (your) time and resources while ensuring a reasonable profit on each visit.  This mode of practice is designed to attract LOTS of dedicated, long-term clients that ensures an excellent income on a low overhead, low stress practice for the chiropractor.

Whether you’re looking for a chiropractor or a chiropractor looking for a simpler way to practice, think about The Membership Practice.

Arthritis and Chiropractic

“Can chiropractic help arthritis?”  That’s a question every chiropractor is asked on a regular basis.  Depending on the chiropractor, the answer might be “It depends”, “I don’t know”, or “Yes!  Of course!”  This is where you ask, “How can that be?  My doctor says arthritis can’t be reversed.”  Well, let’s take a look and see how chiropractic can help arthritis.

Before we go too far, it’s important to know that there are actually TWO different conditions known as “arthritis”.  By definition, “arthritis” is inflammation of the joints.  But as I said before, there are actually two kinds of “arthritis”.  First, there’s osteoarthritis, sometimes referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis.  This includes DJD or Degenerative Disc Disease.  Then, there’s several variations of rheumatoid arthritis.  Let’s look at each of these separately.

Osteoarthritis or “wear and tear arthritis” is just that, a sort of wearing away of the joint.  It usually shows up as we age OR after years of excessive use or wear on a joint.  I can’t tell you how many folks tell me “The orthopedist told me the disc in my neck or low back is worn down because of my age.”  My response is “Well, how old are the other discs in your spine?”  Obviously, I see more of these problems in the spine because the spine is the focus of my practice as a chiropractor.  DJD or osteoarthritis in the spine, is usually caused by a (or several) bones in the spine that are not in perfect alignment.  And just like your car being out of alignment, these areas wear out quicker than the rest of the spine.  The discs wear away and the wisdom of the body tries to stabilize the area.  On x-ray, this reaction looks like little bone spurs.  It’s actually the body trying to fuse these vertebrae in order to protect you.  Usually, the problem is not noticed until the disc is about gone and the spurs (or osteophytes) start to press on nerves, causing pain.

The typical medical approach to dealing with this type of arthritis is self-medication with over-the-counter painkillers and NSAIDS, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Tylenol, Advil, etc.  If not resolved, you can end up on steroids or prescription painkillers that can lead to addiction.  The eventual medical solution is surgery, sometimes very risky surgery with long-term consequences.

The other kind of arthritis, called rheumatoid arthritis, is an inflammatory autoimmune condition that causes pain, swelling and disfiguration, usually easily seen in the hands.  As with most autoimmune conditions, the cause is unknown.  Yet, treatments start with over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, then prescription painkillers, then immunosuppressant drugs.  That just means that the drug you’re taking actually retards your immune system.  The mandatory warnings on these drugs warn you of infection, disease and even death.  Hmmm.  Since we don’t know the CAUSE, should we be treating the effect with potentially lethal drugs?

I know you’re saying, “Alright, already.  How can chiropractic help either of these conditions?”  Since you asked, I’ll tell you.

There are two (at least) ways chiropractic helps those with arthritis.  The first way is biomechanically.  If you do, indeed, have spinal misalignments (we call them vertebral subluxations) that can cause the discs to wear down more quickly, we help correct those misalignments with gentle, specific adjustments.  As your body stays in its proper alignment, pressure is taken off nerves AND your nervous system.  When that happens, your symptoms tend to clear up.  If you maintain that proper alignment, you become stronger and help keep them from coming back.

The other way chiropractic helps is neurological.  Anyone that has ever suffered from an autoimmune disease knows that it’s made worse by stress.  Chiropractic adjustments help take stress off your nervous system allowing your body to rest, relax and heal.  By taking stress off your nervous system, your body functions better and is less likely to attack itself.   When your body is restored to proper function, healing and health happens naturally.

So from both a biomechanical and neurological standpoint, chiropractic helps your body deal with both the causes and effects of both kinds of arthritis.  If you suffer from either of these conditions, find a good Principled chiropractor and learn more about the chiropractic lifestyle.  If you do, I promise you more and better health and life.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Chiropractic

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, affecting some 58 million Americans.  Yet it’s also one that many people aren’t comfortable talking about because the signs and symptoms may be embarrassing. Some signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are:

• Abdominal cramping
• Bloating and gas
• Diarrhea, constipation or both

Many people have only mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Sometimes the problems can be disabling, however. In some cases, you might have severe signs and symptoms that don’t respond well to medical treatment.

For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.

No one knows exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome.  Some researchers believe it’s is caused by changes in the nerves that control sensation or muscle contractions in the bowel.  Others believe the central nervous system may affect the colon. And because women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes might also play a role.

Irritable Bowel symptoms can be triggered by a range of things from gas or pressure on your intestines to certain foods, medications or emotions.   Many people have an intolerance for dairy products.  If you suffer from IBS, you’ll know shortly after eating or drinking dairy products.  Another trigger is stress.  Most people with IBS find that their signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during stressful events, such as a change in their daily routine or family arguments.

Because it’s not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, medical treatment tends to focus on the relief of symptoms.   Some of the treatments include anti-diarrhea drugs, anticholinergic (these drugs suppress the nervous system) drugs and even anti-depressants.  Bear in mind, all of these drugs have side effects, some even fatal.

The most effective means of prevention of IBS symptoms has been stress reduction and management.  Some forms of achieving stress reduction is psychological counseling, biofeedback, exercise, yoga, massage, meditation, deep breathing exercises and even hypnosis.

One of the most telling realizations about Irritable Bowel Syndrome is that no one knows what causes it, yet it is usually made worse with stress and better when stress is reduced.  As with seizures and high blood pressure, specific chiropractic adjustments (that affect the parasympathetic nervous system) have helped many individuals suffering from IBS, even ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

If you’re suffering from these chronic (and sometimes debilitating) condition, wouldn’t it be worth giving chiropractic a try?  No drugs, no side effects.  If you’d like to give chiropractic a try to help restore some balance in your life and health, let me know.  If I’m not in your area, I’ll be glad to help you find a good chiropractor near you.