Researching Chiropractic: Migraines, Torticollis, & Tic douloureux

How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? Probably most of them.

Migraine and hypnic headachesheadache

A 59-year-old woman suffered from chronic migraines and hypnic headaches (headaches that wake people from sleep) along with nausea and skin rashes. Migraine has a global prevalence of 10% and is the seventh leading cause of time spent disabled. Hypnic headaches are less common.

The patient’s migraines began 15 years prior and significantly affected her quality of life. During that time, her care consisted of RelpaxT, a prescription drug, massage and TylenolT. Her headaches continued unabated. She also recalled that her mother had migraines that began around her menopause.

Chiropractic care of two visits a week for 3 months and then once per week for 6 weeks resulted in resolution of her headaches as well as additional health benefits. (1)

Torticollis, cranial distortion and difficulty feedingbaby-303068_1920

A 13-day-old boy and his twin sister were brought in for chiropractic evaluation and possible care. The boy had torticollis, difficulty latching to his mother’s left breast and cranial distortion. The parents reported that the baby was very gassy and seemed uncomfortable daily. The pediatrician could offer no options. 

The parents reported that the boy was in the head down position for most of his time in utero with the weight of his sister on top of him.

After analysis for subluxations of his spine and skull, the boy was adjusted while he was lying on a pillow on his back or on his mother’s chest while she was lying on her back on the chiropractic table. 

The child had seven visits over 6 weeks with continued improvements. He was able to latch onto both breasts, the gassiness had decreased and the torticollis had resolved. Improvements were noticed by his third appointment. (2)

Tic douloureuxperson-2438587_1280

Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as “tic douloureux,” is a chronic nerve disorder characterized by intense, persistent and often debilitating shooting sensations of pain in the face. The pain is so intense people have killed themselves and for that reason it is sometimes called the “suicide disease.” 

A 62-year-old woman came to a chiropractic clinic with a chief complaint of chronic right-sided facial pain of 2 years’ duration which she said felt like stabbing and throbbing, “like a bunch of pitch forks.” 

She had experienced three separate automobile accidents over the past 27 years but had no residual symptoms. The pain began four months after she had had a dental surgical procedure, either a filling or root canal on a wisdom tooth on the right side of her face. Over the course of two years, numerous prescription drugs and alternative supplements had been prescribed by multiple doctors and specialists. She had spent over $9,000 in personal funds seeking relief.

Over the course of six months, the patient received 26 chiropractic adjustments. As a result, she experienced significant reductions in frequency and duration of pain. (3)

  1. Niddery E, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic migraines and hypnic headaches in a 59-year-old female: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 2, 2019:117-126.
  2. Green S, Alcantara J. Resolution of torticollis, breastfeeding difficulties & cranial distortion in a twin infant undergoing chiropractic care for vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. July 10, 2019:78-81.
  3. Cramer J, Persky A. Reduction of chronic trigeminal neuralgia following upper cervical specific chiropractic care: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. September 9, 2019:56-62.

HEALTHY MEXICAN BAKED SWEET POTATOES

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTSsweet-potatoes-3937451_1280

  • medium sweet potatoes                        
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 3/4 cup canned corn rinsed and patted dry    
  • 1/2 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 green bell pepper diced                           
  • 1/2 onion diced

SEASONING

  • 1 teaspoon each smoked paprika, dried oregano,  brown sugar, chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, cumin,   salt

TOPPINGS

  • 4 tablespoons light sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon lime zest grated
  •   2 tablespoons fresh cilantro roughly chopped  ( or green onions DR CL)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Scrub the sweet potatoes under running water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
  2. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F).
  3. Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  4. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over them and rub the oil all over with your hands.
  5. Bake the sweet potatoes for 45-60 minutes.
  6. In a small bowl combine all seasoning ingredients.

Prepare the filling:

  1. About 20 minutes before the potatoes come out of the oven, place a large skillet over high heat.
  2. Put the corn in the skillet, sprinkle with seasoning and let the corn roast for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
  3. In the same skillet add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add the bell pepper, onion, sprinkle with the seasoning mix and sauté until soft.
  4. In a large bowl mix together the corn, black beans, onion and pepper.

Prepare the toppings:

  1. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream with the lime zest and juice. Set aside.

Assemble the potatoes:

  1. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven when fork-tender and let them cool for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Cut a slit down the middle of each one and squeeze the ends to open.
  3. Fill each potato with a generous amount of filling, top with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with cilantro.

VEGAN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

A Thanksgiving Favorite. Now you can bring the vegetarian version! vegan green bean casserole

  • 1 pound green beans (rinsed, trimmed and cut in half)
  • Sea salt and black pepper                         
  • 2 Tbsp vegan butter or olive oil
  • 1 medium shallot (minced)                       
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (button, baby bella, or cremini)
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour                            
  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth 
  • 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk        
  • 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions (divided )

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt well – it will help season the green beans. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes, then drain and place in an ice water bath to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.

In the meantime, start preparing sauce. In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add vegan butter or olive oil and shallots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add mushrooms and season with a bit more salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes more or until lightly browned.

Sprinkle in flour and whisk to stir and coat the veggies. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly add in veggie stock, whisking to incorporate.

Add almond milk next and whisk to stir again. Season with a touch more salt and pepper and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low to thicken. Cook for 5-7 minutes more, or until thick and bubbly. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Remove from heat and add 1/3 of the fried onions (1/2 cup as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and all of the cooked green beans. Toss to coat well, and top with remaining fried onions. Bake for 15 minutes, or until warmed through and bubbly and slightly browned on top. Serve immediately (handle pan carefully).

 

Crispy Hasselback Potatoes Recipe

A BIG FAVE

Ingredients

  • Yukon gold potatoes, about 6 ounces eachHasselback Potatoes
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted              
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
  • Flaky sea salt, to taste

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 425ºF.

2 Slice the potatoes: Set a potato on a cutting board and place a chopstick on either side of the potato. With a sharp, thin knife, make deep vertical cuts 1/8-inch apart, but without cutting all the way through the potato. The chopsticks should keep you from accidentally cutting too deeply or going all the way through.

Place the potatoes with the cut side up in the baking dish, spaced a little apart so each one has some room. Fan the potatoes open slightly.

3 Season the potatoes: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, oil, and parsley. Drizzle this over the potatoes and then use a pastry brush to spread the butter and oil mixture evenly and in between the slices of each potato. Sprinkle with salt.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden and crispy. The potatoes will fan out more during cooking and take on their accordion-like appearance. Serve hot.

MUSHROOM AND SPINACH STRUDEL

 by Rachael Ray 

serves 4

This rich and decadent strudel is inspired by a recipe from the original Moosewood cookbook by Mollie Katzen, only this recipe uses spinach and feta cheese as well as her mushroom strudel mixture.  It’s like Spanakopita meets Mushroom strudel. 

Ingredients

  • 12 small sheets filo dough, defrostedmushrooms-1309246_1280
  • EVOO or EVOO spray  (extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound fresh baby spinach
  • 1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 12 ounce package cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs, plain
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350º F. 

Saute onions and garlic in EVOO in a large saute pan over medium heat.  When onions and garlic start to cook, after about 5 minutes, add spinach and mushrooms.  Allow mixture to cook thoroughly.  Add salt and pepper to taste and put mixture into a large mixing bowl.

While mixture is still warm, add cream cheese, feta cheese, bread crumbs and dill.  Mix thoroughly.  Mixture should not be loose-if it is, add more bread crumbs.

Take one sheet of filo dough and either spray EVOO evenly over it or brush about a teaspoon with a pastry brush.  Add another layer of dough and repeat with more EVOO until you have four sheets.  Add 1/4 of the filling to the dough 2 inches from one end and  spread it out so it is 1 inch from each width end. 

Fold the width ends over the filling and then start rolling the dough from the end closest to the filling until it is completely rolled up and the end is tucked under the bottom of the roll so it looks like a burrito. 

Repeat with the other filo leaves and place your strudels on a cookie sheet.  Bake for 1/2 hour.  Allow strudels to cool slightly before serving.  

“The Chiropractor Will Kill Your Baby”

In addition to the research we give you every month, we thought a personal story would be a nice addition. Thank you to our colleague Guy Furno, DC for this story.

An 8-month-old girl was not speaking any words, was not hitting her developmental milestones, couldn’t sit up on her own, could not hold infant girlher head up for too long, never turned her head to the left, held her breath, had rashes, and was constipated. When she would be in the high chair being fed, she would arc her whole body backwards and pass out unconscious.

The pediatrician and pediatric neurologist said the child needed proton pump inhibitors but that they would have to wait another 6 months to do an MRI because they needed to anesthetize her.

The parents asked about chiropractic care but both MDs told them that a chiropractor “would kill her.”

The parents were terrified, but eventually they came to my office because the baby was getting worse and modern medicine offered no answers.

The parents brought in the child. I adjusted her at C1 to correct the subluxation. It took less than a minute. The parents asked, “that’s it?” and I told them “that’s it.”

The parents called me that night to tell me that she was able to sit and eat without going unconscious and that she already had a bowel movement. Four days later at her next visit she was now rolling onto her belly, lifting her head while prone, turning her head to the left, and was no longer passing out. She was having about three bowel movements per day and, miracle of miracles … I didn’t “kill her.” 

A NOTE FROM DRS RAY & CHARMAINE…  we have witnessed many “miracles” in our office as we check and adjust infants and young children…….REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE(SUBLUXATION) AND LIFE FORCE FLOWS!!!!

 

Headaches and Chiropractic

What Puts the Ache in Headache?headache

The ache in headache does not come from your brain-your brain cannot feel pain. For example, during brain surgery a patient may be wide awake, talking to the surgeons while his brain is being operated on (a local anesthetic numbs the scalp). What puts the “ache” in headache? Stretched, compressed, irritated, inflamed or infected blood vessels, membranes and cranial nerves.

The Chiropractic Approach

Millions of headache sufferers turn to the natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to health. (1)

Why?

Because chiropractic has a unique approach-chiropractors are the only health professionals trained to analyze your body for a serious and often ignored condition that can damage your nerves, inflame your tissues, cause muscles to tighten and knot, weaken your body, cause fatigue and set the stage for sickness and disease: the subluxation. A subluxation is a tiny distortion or misalignment in your spine that stresses your nervous system, the system that controls your body.

Patients who received chiropractic showed significant improvement, on a par with those given a powerful prescription drugs and without the side effects. (2) 

Anyone suffering from headaches (and any other condition) should make sure they are free from subluxations-for the health of their whole body, not just certain parts.

The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence. To understand the true nature of the universe, one must think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. Nikola Tesla

  1.  Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. JMPT. 1997;20:326-330.
  2. Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R et al. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for prophylaxis of migraine headache. JMPT. 1998;21(8):511-519.

The Lastest from Charmaine: November 2019

Greetings All!!photo3

November seems to have rushed in with unseemly haste, bringing the month of weird weather and the constant question…Just where the heck did this year go?

Not sure I can answer that one, but I am trying hard, as I am sure many of you are, to get all the stuff done that we wanted to get done before the end of the year.

Please note: We will be out of the office from November 20th to December 2nd to be with our family in Florida.  Alfred is just shy of 3 years old (!) and we are looking forward to spending some quality time with them.

I have taken the liberty of sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes in this newsletter (we get the question what dishes do you, as a vegan/vegetarian prepare for this time of the year?).

This will be the final newsletter of the year…..so, we will take the opportunity to say -Thank You for trusting us with the opportunity to get you and yours on the road to health and may 2020 be TOTALLY AWESOME!

SEE YOU ON THE TABLE, UNDER THE BARBELLS, ON THE MAT OR JUST AROUND TOWN!

Researching Chiropractic: Migraines, Pregnancy Trauma, & Large Tonsils

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? Probably most of them.

Pregnant patient with a history of traumapregnant case study

A 36-year old pregnant woman who was 33-weeks’ pregnant started chiropractic care suffering from worsening intense pain in her hips, lower back and pubic area. Two weeks prior she had fallen down 15 steps. At her first visit, she was in severe pain and had significant difficulty walking. 

She had ten chiropractic spinal adjustments over a 4-week period. With each visit she experienced increased relief from her symptoms and was ultimately able to deliver a healthy baby. (1)

Child cannot sleep because of large tonsilslarge tonsils

A two-year-old girl was suffering from excessive snoring, choking, mouth breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. She was waking up three times per night. MDs diagnosed her with oversized adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillar hypertrophy).

Her MD prescribed fluticasone spray followed by a referral for surgical intervention if that didn’t help. 

After researching the medication, the infant’s mother decided to take her child to a chiropractor who discovered a subluxation at the atlas and right ilium. 

After her first chiropractic adjustment, the child had less snoring and was not waking up as frequently. After 15 visits over a 12-week period, a pediatric examination found normal sized tonsils and adenoids. Surgery was no longer discussed. (2)

Migraines in a 52-year-old womanolder woman numbness case study

A 52-year-old woman had been suffering from migraine headaches 2-3 times a week for ten years. She also suffered from neck pain and spinal pain that radiated to her arms and legs for over 20 years. A neurologist said the cause of her migraines was “unknown.” Her problems worsened after a motor vehicle accident two years prior to her chiropractic visit. 

She was prescribed Prozac®, Synthroid® and Fioricet®. They were ineffective.

By her 3rd chiropractic visit, she excitedly reported she had not experienced any migraines since her first visit the prior week. A month later she remained completely migraine-free. After 10 weeks of continued care, the patient reported that all her presenting complaints of chronic migraines, neck pain and low back pain had completely resolved. All her prescriptions were discontinued. (3)

Do you know anyone with the above issues?

Please refer them to us. We can help! 517.627.4547

  1. Marjerrison EC, Alcantara J. Trauma during pregnancy: resolution of hip, pubic, and low back pain following chiropractic care in a pregnant woman: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. August 5, 2019:91-94.
  2. Shtulman I, Collins C, Alcantara J. Resolution of adenotonsillar hypertrophy, associated sleep disordered breathing & avoidance of surgery following chiropractic care: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. August 14, 2019:95-99.
  3. Hickman W, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic pain & migraines following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. June 10, 2019:79-82.

Nourishing Traditions – The Good and the Bad

All traditional cultures consume lacto-fermented foods. 

These foods supply enzymes that help digestion and beneficial bacteria that support good intestinal health and immune function. With that knowledge in mind, here’s another study showing the benefits of eating fermented food.

The Good – fermented dairy products may help prevent heart disease

Researchers in Finland found that fermented dairy products such as:yogurt

  • cheese
  • yogurt
  • quark
  • kefir
  • sour milk 

may lower the risk of incident coronary heart disease in men. Conversely, the researchers warn that a very high consumption rate of non-fermented dairy products, like milk, could have the opposite effect and increase a man’s risk for heart disease. (1)

The Bad – fried foods 

Consumption of fried chicken, fried fish or fried shellfish at least once a week (as compared with no consumption) is associated with a significant 12%-13% increase in cardiovascular mortality.

The type of oil used may be a factor. Cooking with olive oil, animal fats and coconut oil is preferred over corn, vegetable, soybean, safflower and canola oils. (2)

fried foods

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. https://www.studyfinds.org/study-fermented-dairy-products-may-help-prevent-heart-disease/
  2. Sun Y et al. Association if fried food consumption with all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal. 2019;364-k5420.