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Researching Chiropractic: Constipation, Cerebral Palsy, Ear Conditions and more

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 positively to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, reliant on medication and drugs, and facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

Constipation

The patient, a 54-year-old woman, had been experiencing constipation for the past eight months, with less than three bowel movements per week. Along with this, she also complained of bloating in her stomach but without any pain. Chiropractic adjustments were performed on her C1, C2, T6, L4, and sacroiliac joints to address any vertebral subluxations. After receiving one month of care, the patient was able to have at least one bowel movement per day. (1)

Cerebral Palsy in an infant

An infant diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy was brought to a chiropractic clinic at the age of 3½ weeks. The baby boy had suffered from encephalopathy, a brain damage caused by low oxygen during birth. It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, and the infant was already 70 minutes old when he reached the hospital. The doctors had informed the parents that their child might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. However, after starting chiropractic treatment twice a week, adjustments were made to his sacrum, atlas, and cranium. As he progressed, the frequency of visits reduced to once a month over a period of five years. The patient’s mother also provided physical therapy sessions at home. As a result, the patient can now walk, talk, and function like any other normal child, although with slight developmental delays. The patient is no longer wheelchair-bound. (2)

Ear Conditions

Five individuals, ranging from infancy to five years old, were battling with persistent otitis media despite having been on antibiotics for no less than half a year. Each of these patients then embarked on a regime involving chiropractic care. Remarkably, they all showed signs of recovery within the time frame of 3 days to 8 weeks, with the results being highly satisfactory. Among the five, three patients had misalignment at the atlas vertebra; one manifested a dislocation at the occipital bone, while another had both atlas and axis vertebrae out of place. In addition to this, comprehensive spine adjustments were performed on them. [3]

Sciatica and Back Pain

A 30-year-old woman suffered from upper back pain and sciatica. She also had scoliosis and significant pelvic rotation. Medical interventions such as physical therapy failed to make significant improvements to her complaints.

Vertebral subluxations were found at the levels of C2, T6, and Right Ilium.

She was seen twice a week for six weeks and once a week for six weeks. After care, she reported a resolution of sciatica, a significant decrease in upper back pain, and marked improvements in neck and lower back ranges of motion. [4]

Do you know someone with these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

  1. Acosta B. Resolution of Chronic Constipation in a 54-Year-Old Female Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Study & Review of the Literature Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, Volume 2024 Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. January 2, 2024, Pages 1-7
  2. Rubin D, Taylor C. Chiropractic Care & Long Term Follow Up of an Infant with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic, Volume 2023Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ December 12, 2023 ~ Pages 35-42
  3. Fysh PN. Chronic recurrent otitis media: case series of five patients with recommendations for case management. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1996 1(2):66-78. 
  4. Hamstead A. Reduction of Upper Back Pain & Resolution of Sciatica Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation in a 30-Year-Old Female with Scoliosis: A Case Study Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ January 16, 2024 ~ Volume 2024 ~ Pages 8-14

3 Food Myths Could Be Hurting Your Health

These 3 Food Myths Could Be Hurting Your Health, According to a Stanford Nutrition Professor

This article originally appeared in Fortune Magazine by Christopher Gardner and was updated: on Jan 19, 2017.

This week Christopher Gardner, a nutrition professor at Stanford University and a long-time vegetarian, debunks common misconceptions about healthy eating.

Now that the holidays have come and gone, it’s time to hunker down and commit to the resolutions we’ve made. For many of us, this means striving for and more importantly sticking to, a healthier diet.

Unfortunately what that actually entails can be hard to pin down. We live in the age of fad diets: Nutrients, foods, and entire regional cuisines are dismissed as unhealthy, only to be re-embraced shortly thereafter.

If you’re confused, at least take comfort in the fact you’re far from alone. With that in mind, I’ve decided to dispel some fundamental misconceptions about how we approach healthy eating.

  1. Carbohydrates. The anti-carb/low-carb craze has gone too far. No matter the health philosophy you prescribe to — be it veganism/vegetarianism/pescetarianism, or a Paleo/gluten-free/low-carb/high-fat diet — you’re likely in favor of eating a wide variety of delicious and vibrantly colorful non-starchy vegetables, such as heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash, carrots, mixed salad greens, swiss chard, and sweet red bell peppers. For carb watchers, the irony here is that these are all carbohydrate-rich foods (65% to 90% of their calories come from carbohydrates). For the record, beans, whole grains, fruits and all other vegetables are carbohydrate-rich foods, too.

So instead of stripping out all carbs from your diet, which would mean eliminating healthy and delicious foods such as the veggies listed above, focus on reducing your intake of added sugars (i.e. sugars not naturally found in fruits and other plant foods) and refined grain.

The average American consumes far too much of both. While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that less than 10% of our daily calories should come from these sugars, the typical American exceeds that benchmark. This is true across all age groups, particularly for children two to 19 years old. On average, boys and girls in this demographic get around 16% of their daily calories from added sugars. Because the body breaks up and absorbs sugar very quickly, a sugary diet floods the bloodstream with high amounts of glucose. Over time, this can lead to a range of metabolic problems including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

In addition to sugar, as a nation we’re eating far too much refined flour, the main ingredient in household staples such as white sliced bread, cereals, cookies, crackers, and pastries. Unlike whole grain flour, refined flour grain is milled to remove its bran and germ, which also removes most of its nutritional value, leaving behind starchy carbohydrates. Because starch is essentially just long strings of glucose, a diet high in refined flour can lead to many of the same problems as a diet packed with added sugars.

Bottom line: Instead of vilifying carbohydrates focus on eating whole, unprocessed meals and avoiding processed foods that often contain refined wheat and added sugars.

  1. Protein. Judging from the explosion of protein products — a category that includes bars, smoothies, and even protein water — you’d think our national diet is deficient in this basic food component.

Which, frankly, boggles my mind. As a country, we consume more protein per person than any other nation.

While some demographic groups do fall short of protein recommendations, including teenage girls and the elderly) others greatly exceed it. Teenage boys and adult men, for example, average 100 grams of protein a day, nearly double the recommended 56 grams.

In reality, it’s not hard to find naturally protein-rich foods. This goes for vegetarians and vegans as well. (Side note: Stop asking these folks where they get their protein. They are fine, really!) While lean meats such as chicken and salmon are good sources of the stuff, protein is also found in plant foods. And despite the widespread misunderstanding around the topic, it’s possible to get all 20 amino acids (including the nine essential amino acids not synthesized by our bodies and thus supplied only by our diets) from a combination of legumes, whole grains, nuts, vegetables, and fruits

Bottom line: Our obsession with artificial protein products is a distraction. In lieu of seeking out the protein powder, bars, etc., focus on eating a balanced diet (think lots of vegetables, legumes/beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains and fruits, and less processed snacks and foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar).

  1. Fiber. What with all the attention being paid to carbohydrates and protein, it’s easy to forget about fiber. We shouldn’t, though. Fiber, which is a form of carbohydrate that we can’t digest and thus can’t be absorbed in our upper small intestine, travels on to our lower intestine and feeds the microbial community living in our colons. This may sound gross, but it’s important: A slew of recent research has connected the health of our gut bacterial populations, known as the microbiome, to our overall health, impacting everything from digestion to weight, to mental health.

In the absence of enough fiber, the microbiota chew on, and subsequently thin, the colon’s protective mucus lining, which wreaks havoc with our immune function and promotes an inflammatory state that can contribute to a variety of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

If you’ve noticed a theme in this column, the trend doesn’t stop here. The solution to getting enough fiber is simple: eat more whole foods, especially nutrient-dense vegetables and other plant foods that are rich in fiber.

The final word: Don’t buy into the industry-driven hype. Stop fearing carbohydrates, and stop obsessing over protein products. Healthy eating isn’t about adding supplements or avoiding entire nutrient categories. Instead, it’s about consuming plenty of carbohydrate-rich (which usually means fiber-rich) plant foods, and balancing those with smaller amounts of grains, dairy, meat, and the occasional treat. Love your food, and let it love you back.

 

Your most protected organ

Did you know that your brain and spinal cord (called the central nervous system because they are in the center of your body) are the only organs in your body surrounded by solid bone? Your brain is surrounded by your skull and your spinal cord, (an extension of your brain that goes down your back) is surrounded by the bones of your spine. The column of bones going down your back is called the spinal column or vertebral column. 

protected organ

This simple fact tells a lot about the importance of the brain and spinal cord; they play a vital role in the health of the human body. 

Many, many muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and meninges are connected to your spine. They attach from your spine to your head, arms, legs, shoulders, hips – just about all your body structure. That’s why you keep stable as you sit, stand, walk and move. Without them, you would be a pile of disconnected bones laying on the ground. Yeech!

The job of your chiropractor is to keep your head, spine, hips, discs, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and the rest in proper alignment. You should be straight from the front, and from the side, it should have natural curves. If you are not properly aligned, you’ll lose energy, and have possible nerve interference going to internal organs that cause dis-ease (body malfunction) and even mind/body problems.

This is our specialty – keeping you and your family in balance, alignment, and with peak energy.  Thank you for being part of our practice.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547

Researching Chiropractic: Fibromyalgia and depression, Vomiting, Daily Headaches

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.

Fibromyalgia and Depressionwoman-593141_1920

A 48-year-old female suffering from mid-back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and depression due to fibromyalgia sought chiropractic care as an alternative method of pain control and to improve her quality of life. Multiple drugs had failed to resolve her problems. 

After performing a case history, physical examination, and chiropractic examination, it was revealed the patient had spinal subluxations in her neck (cervical spine) at C1 and C5-T1. The patient was analyzed at each visit and adjusted to reduce and remove her subluxations. After six months of care, her fibromyalgia symptoms had decreased by 75% and her MD considers it in remission. Her overall quality of life has improved. She continues with weekly chiropractic visits. (1)

Two pediatric patients experiencing vomitingbaby-3036925_1920

One pediatric patient presented to a private practice with complaints of suddenly “feeling sick” and vomiting. He had been very active playing various year-round sports: football, basketball, and baseball. His parents stated, “He gets hit and falls pretty hard on a regular basis while playing these sports.” 

His subluxations were located and corrected (adjusted). The parents reported that the next morning when he woke up, he did not feel sick and was not vomiting. 

The other pediatric patient was a seven-year-old boy complaining of random vomiting after eating (approximately once every six weeks). After two weeks of chiropractic care, there was a complete resolution of vomiting after eating. (2)

Daily Headacheswoman-613309_1920

 A 44-year-old, single female school teacher with daily headaches of 2-year duration. The pain was described as so disabling (6-8 out of 10) that she could not maintain daily activities without painkillers. She began to have feelings of overwhelming sadness and was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and given a combination of drugs for depression. She had recurrent thoughts of suicide. 

MDs found no cause. She tried acupuncture, traditional Chinese therapy, and alternative medications to no avail. Chiropractic analysis revealed multiple spinal subluxations. After 3 months of chiropractic care, the patient regained confidence in her health and started reducing the dose of medications. She rated her headache as 3-5/10 on the pain scale. After another 3 months of care, all of her symptoms disappeared. She was able to discontinue all medications after 6 months of chiropractic adjustments. 

As of this writing, she has enjoyed being headache-free and free of depression for the past 6 years.  The patient is continuing maintenance care on a monthly basis. (3)

Do you know anyone who is suffering from any of these symptoms or issues? Please share this article with them and encourage them to make an appointment with us.

Call to make an appointment:  517.627.4547

  1. Dunton TA, Hirshowitz N. Remission of fibromyalgia & resolution of depression in a 48-year-old female following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case study & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 16, 2020:131-134.
  2. Hoying M. Resolution of vomiting, improved health outcomes & structural changes following chiropractic in two pediatric patients with pseudosubluxation: a case series. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. September 8, 2020:34-40.
  3. Chu ECP, Ng M. Long-term relief from tension-type headache and major depression following chiropractic treatment. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2018 May-Jun;7(3):629-631. 

How Was Chiropractic Discovered?

Chiropractic was discovered by Dr. DD Palmer of Davenport, Iowa in 1895. Dr. Palmer learned that his building’s janitor, Harvey Lillard, had become deaf after being in an accident 17 years prior. The accident produced a slight distortion in his spine.

Dr. Palmer asked Mr. Lillard to lie down on a bench and gently guided the distortion back into alignment. Mr. Lillard’s hearing returned.

Dr. Palmer was intrigued by this spine-disease relationship. His next patient had a heart condition and when Dr. Palmer located and “adjusted” his spine, the heart condition was relieved.

Soon hundreds of people began to flood his office for “Dr. Palmer’s hand treatments” as they were then known. Dr. Palmer began to teach his methods and so began the profession of chiropractic.

Learn more about the Palmer family at Palmer College of Chiropractic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_David_Palmer

 

Diet Sodas and Juices Are Linked to Higher Stroke Risk, Study Says

Researchers found that older women who drank more diet drinks had a higher risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as a higher risk of diet cokedying early from any cause, compared to women who drank fewer of the drinks.

Researchers studied data from more than 81,000 post-menopausal women. After an average follow-up of nearly 12 years, the scientists found that women who drank two or more artificially sweetened drinks a day had a 23% higher risk of having any type of stroke, and a 31% increased risk of having a stroke due to clotting in brain blood vessels, compared to women who reported drinking fewer than one beverage a week (or none at all). (1)


A Daily Diet Soda Habit May Be Linked to Dementia – Both Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Drinks Might Have Negative Effects On The Brain

MRI scans and cognitive exams of about 4,000 people ages 30 and up found that people who consumed more than three sodas per week – or more than two sugary drinks of any type (soda, fruit juice, and other soft drinks) per day – were more likely to have memory problems, a smaller brain volume and a smaller hippocampus (an area of the brain used in learning and memory. Drinking at least one diet soda a day was associated with smaller brain volume, as well. (2)

  1. Mossavar-Rahmani Y, Kamensky V, Manson JE. artificially sweetened beverages and stroke, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality in the women’s health initiative. Stroke. 2019;50:555-562.
  2. Paseabc MP, Himalidbd JJ, Jacquesbe PF et al. Sugary beverage intake and preclinical Alzheimer’s disease in the community. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2017;13(9):955-964.

Takeaways from Canada’s Food Guide

Meat and dairy are out. Plants and water are in.

These appear to be the biggest takeaways from the newest version of Canada’s Food Guide, which was released Tuesday1/22/19 by Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

fruite and ve

 

“It puts more focus on what, when and how we eat, and less on food groups and servings. It gives clear, concise advice that everyone can easily apply to their everyday lives,” Petispas Taylor said at the guide’s unveiling event in Montreal.

One of the most notable changes is the elimination of the four traditional food groups, which had been part of the federal government’s nutrition advice, in one form or another, since 1942.

Whole grains, vegetables and fruits are still listed as an integral part of a healthy diet, but the traditional focus on the likes of meat and milk is gone in favour of the broader category of proteins.

There is a specific recommendation that Canadians consume plant-based proteins “more often” and cut down on their intake of processed meats and saturated fats, which can contribute to cancer, diabetes and other diseases.

Recommended proteins in the guide include “lentils, lean meats, fish, unsweetened milk and fortified soy beverages.” Meat and alternatives had previously been a separate food group, as had milk and alternatives.

The new guide also places a heavy emphasis on water, saying it should be the “beverage of choice” for Canadians. Coffee, tea, lower-fat milk and plant-based beverages are listed as other options, though less preferred.

Fruit juices are not recommended because of their sugar content. The previous edition of the food guide had suggested 100 per cent fruit juice as a way of achieving an optimal amount of fruit. Reducing consumption of sugars, saturated fats and processed foods was a key goal for the government in the development of the new guide.

Beyond specific foods

Also gone from the guide is specific governmental advice on how much food to consume. Health Canada officials say most Canadians found the portion size guidance confusing.

A document to be released later this year will include suggestions on healthy eating patterns, but those suggestions will be targeted toward people creating meal plans for hospitals, prisons and similar settings, and not the general public.

The new guide goes beyond simple nutritional advice, adding information on healthy eating habits such as cooking with raw ingredients, sharing food with other people and being aware that food producers may attempt to influence consumer habits through marketing programs.

“Healthy eating is more than just the food that you eat,” Petitpas Taylor said.

…………………/

Although not necessarily top-of-mind for many people, the food guide is considered to play a key role in shaping Canadian nutrition habits. Its recommendations help influence what food is served in public buildings and are promoted by the health-care and education sectors.

Many of the changes announced Tuesday were based on similar concepts already in use in such countries as Belgium, Sweden and Brazil.

Industry and professional reaction  

The new guide received immediate acclaim from various groups of medical and health professionals, including the Canadian Medical Association, Heart & Stroke and Dietitians of Canada.

Dietitians of Canada CEO Nathalie Savoie said she was happy to see a recommendation that publicly funded institutions align their food offerings with the guide’s advice.

“When it’s easier to purchase vegetables, fruit, whole grains and protein foods than it is to buy highly [processed] foods and beverages, Canadians will make healthier choices,” she said.

Canada Beef spokesperson Joyce Parslow said her organization was pleased with the food guide’s suggested meal approach of 50 per cent fruits and vegetables, 25 per cent whole grains and 25 per cent proteins.

“We’re very supportive of plant-based eating, and we do need to eat more fruits and vegetables,” she told CTV News Channel, adding that she hoped Canadians would continue to consume the “complete protein options” of beef and other meats.

A less positive reaction came from the Dairy Farmers of Canada advocacy group, which said it was “concerned” by the new food guide’s lesser emphasis on milk. The group also took issue with the food guide’s promotion of lower-fat milk only.

“Current and emerging scientific evidence does not support a continued focus on lower fat milk products as it reveals that milk products that contain more fat are not associated with harmful health effects and could even provide benefits,” Isabelle Neiderer, the organization’s director of nutrition and research, said in a statement.

Canada’s revamped Food Guide represents its first update since 2007.

The government doesn’t plan a similar decade-plus wait before its next changes, instead saying the guide will now evolve gradually as new nutritional evidence comes to the government’s attention.

your kidneys

 

Researching Chiropractic: Food allergies, Sleep apnea & Plagiocephaly

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.

Food allergies and other complaints. nut allergy

An 8-year-old girl who suffered from hip pain for six months and internal foot rotation for three years was brought in for care. She also suffered from peanut, pecan and walnut allergies. After thirty-eight weeks of chiropractic care, her hip pain cleared up, her internal foot rotation was improved and her allergies had dramatically decreased. (1)

Sleep apnea and chiropractic care. sleep apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is described as loud snoring, choking and awakening due to gasping that occurs especially during dreaming and may repeat all night. It is believed to be due to a loss of tone in the upper throat muscles. People with OSA have a greater chance of getting into car accidents (because of lack of sleep) and a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. CPAP therapy, placing a mask over the face, is a popular treatment (not a cure). Even throat surgery has been used. 

In this case, a 51-year-old man suffering from OSA for eight years began chiropractic care. He began to see improvement after three visits and after 33 visits his OSA completely resolved. (2)

Resolution of plagiocephaly in a 4-month-old male. 

Plagiocephaly (Greek for oblique head) is a common skull deformity seen at birth in as many as 61% of deliveries. They are often the product of stress applied on the skull during difficult delivery associated with forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery. baby headConventional treatment methods for plagiocephaly include and are not limited to skull-molding helmets, osteopathy, physical and positional therapy, botox injections into the muscles and surgery.

In this case, a 4-month old baby boy had plagiocephaly and in addition could barely move his neck. Chiropractic examination revealed subluxations at the upper neck (C1) and the sacrum. They were corrected. Improved neck motion was observed immediately and the plagiocephaly completely resolved. (3)

  1. Korthuis MA. Improved allergen-specific IgE levels in an 8-year-old female following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case study & selective review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2017;2:82-92.
  2. Mankal K, Jenks M. Resolution of obstructive sleep apnea following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. June 12 2017:113-118.
  3. Walker S, Russell D. Resolution of deformational plagiocephaly in a four-month-old male following chiropractic care to reduce subluxations: a case report. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2017;2:78-81.

The Latest from Charmaine: December 2018

April 2018Greetings all,

As I write what will be the last newsletter of the year. Our year draws to and end and with that we start making plans for the various festivities that a year end brings. On a practical note, I want to be sure to remind ALL of you that if your insurance is changing/has changed….please give me a heads up.

I will be asking EVERYBODY to fill in a new patient information sheet from January one to ensure that I have your latest up to datest details.

ALSO, ALL MEDICARE practice members….PLEASE get your new card to me ASAP as pretty soon the deadline for that will be implemented.

I finished this year strong with 3 new State records at the State meet (Records I set in June that broke records that had stood for 14 years)

 

HAVE A PEACEFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

SEE YOU IN THE OFFICE, ON THE TABLE/MAT, UNDER THE BARBELLS OR IN 2019

Please be aware of our holiday hours this December:

Friday 12/21 am hours ONLY  (last appt at 12)

Monday 12/24 no office hours

Tuesday 12/25 no office hours

Wednesday 12/26 am hours ONLY( last appt at 12)

Thursday 12/27 pm hours only

Friday 12/28 am hours ONLY (last appt at 12)

Monday 12/31 8-12 and 3-5

Tuesday 1/1/2019 no office hours

Wednesday 1/2/2019  back to normal!!!!! (define normal??)

Researching Chiropractic: Hand Numbness

Do you ever experience hand numbness? Have you tried chiropractic care?hand numbness

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.

Hand numbness and neck pain in a 46-year-old womanhand numbness

A woman with hand numbness and neck pain began chiropractic care. Spinal analysis revealed that she had upper cervical (neck) subluxations, concurrent nervous system imbalance, a loss of the normal cervical curve and spinal degeneration.

Over a 4-month period she received 8 chiropractic adjustments.

Her neck pain decreased from 4/10 to 0/10 and her hand numbness completely resolved after two months of care.

Are you experiencing neck pain and hand numbness? We can help!

Call and make an appointment today:

517.627.4547

Herman C, Harris J. Resolution of neck pain, upper extremity paresthesia & dysautonomia in a 46-year-old female with loss of cervical curve and spinal degeneration using Blair Upper Cervical technique: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. July 9, 2018:26-32