So, how can chiropractic serve someone battling cancer?  First you need to understand that chiropractic care   involves gentle adjustments to the spine that restore normal range of  motion to spinal segments and remove stress from the spine and nerve      system.  Not only does this often   result in relief from aches and pains but by removing tension and stress from the nerve system your whole body is allowed to function more   optimally.  Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments directly    affect the central nervous system,   creating a more relaxed state or parasympathetic state.  In a parasympathetic state anxiety is less and        digestion and immune function are both improved, all essential to healing.  In my own practice I have seen the profoundly positive effect chiropractic care can have on someone  battling cancer. 

 If you or someone you know is faced with cancer, please consider an  integrative approach utilizing  vitalistic principles and chiropractic to enhance quality of life and support the body’s innate ability to heal and be well.

 According to the CDC, the percentage of Americans that took at least one prescription drug in the last month        increased by 10% over the last decade. Multiple  prescription drug use increased by 20% and the use of five or more drugs increased by 70%. As of 2007-2008 half of all Americans used at least one prescription drug. What I find especially alarming is that 1 in 5 children and 9 out of 10 adults over 60 are on one or more prescription drugs. The cost of all this medicine is astounding. In 2008 $234.1 billion dollars was spent for prescription drugs in the U.S. According to the study that is more than double what was spent in 1999.

 Although the study was simply to report the trends of     prescription use in the U.S., the authors seemed to find it necessary to put in a plug for the drug companies when they stated,” As new drugs are introduced and new uses for old drugs are found, more patients can have improved health and quality of life with the appropriate use of       prescription drugs.” Sadly, there is no comment about teaching and encouraging people to live healthy lifestyles so that they don’t need to take these drugs.

If you spend some time searching the CDC website you can also find lots of other interesting facts. For example, the World Health Organization rates the health of the      average American 72^nd in the world and rates our health care system 37^th in the world. At the same time our population is getting more obese every year. Finally, we are second in the world in how much we spend on health care measured as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product.

 When you put all this together it seems too absurd to be true, but I encourage you to look into the facts yourself. We spend billions of dollars on health care and       medication while as a nation we are getting heavier and sicker every year. Everywhere you turn there is an     advertisement telling you to take the next great       medication that will help you live a healthy productive life. Unfortunately, the evidence tells another story. I encourage you, if you haven’t already done so, to take control of your health and start making those changes that will enhance your lifestyle in a way that will help you achieve true health and wellness.

 Dr. Brent Reiche

As we approach fall apple orchards across the country are preparing for the fall harvest. Most people have a      favorite apple variety and with 100 commercially grown varieties in the U.S. there is no shortage of options. Apples are a diverse fruit found around the world and are packed with nutrients and fiber.

 Nutritionally, apples are an all star. Vitamins A, C, E, K and B are all found in apples. Minerals, electrolytes, and phytonutrients are also abundant in apples. Apples contain no sodium, fat, or cholesterol and for a medium-sized apple you are looking at about 80 calories. So as you can see it really is a great choice for anyone that is conscientious about what they eat.

 For the maximum benefit eat your apples raw with the skin. The skin of the apple is where you will find your highest concentration of fiber and  nutrients. I recommend that you eat organically grown fruit whenever  possible, but if that is not an option apples are a fruit that can be easily washed. You don’t want to offset the benefits of the apple with the harmful effects of chemicals that may have been sprayed on the fruit.

Finally, if where you live allows it, take advantage of the fall weather and the apple harvest, pile into the car and go apple picking. Many orchards   allow you to pick your own apples and often have special events throughout the fall to draw people in. Make an afternoon of it. Enjoying the     sunshine with loved ones, walking around the orchard in the fresh fall air, and of course eating the fruits of your labor makes for a well rounded day of health and wellness. If you don’t live in a region where you can pick apples, still make a day of it.  Pack a picnic with your favorite food, including apples, and take a trip that includes a nice outdoor hike and    picnic!  How do you like them apples?

 This month I will shed a little light on this “condition” called Sciatica. I have actually had practice members ask me if I can adjust their sciatica bone or other variations of inquiries regarding pain they have in their back and/or down their legs.

 Sciatica as an entity is a very specific issue caused by an irritation, inflammation, or tension on a specific individual nerve root (between the 4^th lumbar and 1^st sacral segments) or the accumulation of these nerve fibers called the sciatic nerve after they have exited the spinal column.

 First of all, sciatica can and often does exist with little to no back pain and can vary symptomatically from a generalized ache to severe pain anywhere from the buttock to the foot. It can have multiple causes including chemical irritation to sensitive neural tissue, chronic mechanical stress on spinal joints that lead to arthritis, disc swelling and/or herniation, and tension in the piriformis muscle (a muscle in the      buttocks) to name a few.

 The most important considerations to be made if you or someone you know suffers with sciatica are:

*What is causing the symptoms of sciatica?         *What needs to be done to correct the cause?

 You will notice that I have highlighted the word cause   because the cause is the culprit that is affecting your health and wellbeing and if that is not addressed properly, the symptoms will only get worse as the condition continues to manifest in future damage to the bones, ligaments, and nerve tissue in the spinal regions effected.

The first line of evaluation and care for Sciatica should be a comprehensive health history followed by a neurological and physical exam and in most cases a spinal      x-ray to determine the cause and to develop an effective and safe program of care to correct it. In my opinion this should be done by a chiropractor, as we are best equipped to provide these conservative and effective services. The first line of care or evaluation should not be expensive and in most cases unnecessary diagnostic procedures, steroid injections, physical therapy, or spinal surgery because these are primarily aimed at treating the symptoms of sciatica as opposed to detecting and correcting the cause.

 With 14 years of experience, I truly believe that you are better off making a healthy choice for a lifetime than you are spending a single minute in a medicine cabinet or on an operating table.

All of us are getting older every second, but are you passively letting time tick by and simply accepting the outcome or are you actively    engaged so that you have a greater say as to how you age? A few months ago we lost a   pioneer in health and fitness, Jack LaLanne. Jack, known as the Godfather of Fitness, lived a long and    fulfilling life until his passing at the age of 96. He is a great example of a human being that lived life on his terms in a healthy manner. “The only way you can hurt the body is not use it,” LaLanne said. 

“Inactivity is the killer, and remember, it’s never too late.” 

We can see all around us how the health of the average American is getting worse   because of chronic disease primarily due to unhealthy lifestyle. Jack’s example stands in stark contrast to how most Americans live. The question we all have to deal with is which path are we going to follow?

Often, when the subject of longevity and lifestyle come up there is always someone who knows someone that smoked, drank, and ate fast food their whole life and lived to 100. That does happen sometimes and if you want to take your chances with that model I wish you all the best. However, we all know that those examples are rare and your chances of attaining the same result are extremely slim.

On the other hand, by living a healthy lifestyle there are no guarantees, but you do greatly increase the odds that you can avoid many of the health challenges that are plaguing   millions of Americans.

So what is your plan? If you want to make changes toward a healthier lifestyle and don’t know where to start, talk to your chiropractor. As chiropractors we understand the   connection between lifestyle and health. We want to help you on your journey towards a long and fulfilling life.

 By the way, Jack LaLanne was a chiropractor. Not a bad example to follow!

In chiropractic we have a principle that states, all processes take time. In some instances the time is so short we can’t register it with our conscious mind, and other processes are measured over    thousands or millions of years.  One question all patients have is, how long is it going to take to feel better and get well? Unfortunately, there are rarely simple answers to this question.

Here is an undeniable truth; your body wants to be well. It is always working to create balance or homeostasis.  Through the detection and  correction of subluxations, by way of an adjustment, your chiropractor is          removing an obstacle for your body to achieve that balance. Once an adjustment has been made, then the body requires time to integrate that adjustment, restore balance and heal itself. Of course, this assumes that you have not surpassed your body’s healing   capacity, which can happen.

Once an adjustment has been made there are many variables that will  determine how long it will take for a person to get well. First, is it  possible for the body to heal or has there been too much damage? What is the severity of the damage, how long has it been there, and what is the overall health of the individual? A person that lives a healthy lifestyle and is actively      engaged in their care will generally respond better than the malnourished, stressed out couch potato that wants the doctor to fix them.

So if you are having a health        challenge and you are feeling anxious to start feeling better, we understand. We want to help you get well as soon as possible. While we can help the process along by working together to    create a plan that is going to help you achieve your goals, you need to work the plan and give it time!

So it’s important to mention these issues even if you think they are not related.  For instance, you might be coming in for mid back pain, but also have heartburn or reflux.  The nerves in this area of your spine go to your stomach and other upper digestive organs.  Interference from stress at these levels can interfere with optimal function and lead to ,digestive complaints.  The same rings true at other levels in your spine.  Headaches are commonly associated with problems in the neck.  Constipation and menstrual issues may be related to stress in the lower back.  The list goes on and on because all functions in the body are controlled and regulated by your nervous system which is housed and  protected by your spine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been working with a client and they realize that since starting care they haven’t been experiencing a problem they were having that they never even mentioned in their initial visit.

Chiropractors use literally hundreds of adjusting techniques and not everyone responds the same to every technique.  What works well for one may not work as well for another.  So it is imperative that you let your chiropractor know how you are responding.  I’ve had a handful of clients who have discontinued care for unknown reasons.  Then I see them somewhere and ask how they are doing and they say well, I’m still having the problems I was having when I came to see you but when I got adjusted I was sore for awhile afterwards or I would get a little bit of a headache.  Now these reactions are not common, but sometimes people have these experiences when first starting care because of all the pent up stress in their spine.  So in these cases it may be normal to experience some mild discomfort initially.  It can be like starting a new exercise routine.  In other cases, however, it may be that they don’t       respond well to a specific technique.  I’ve had clients who achieve dramatically different results with what seems like minor adjustments in technique.  If there are multiple doctors in the office you are going to, you may ask to be adjusted by another doctor.  Sometimes a    different set of hands makes all the difference.

Again, the most important key to all relationships is communication.  So speak up!

It seems like every six months I hear of a new miracle supplement on the market that contains the juice or    extract from some exotic fruit found only in a small region of the world and is supposed to help me achieve the health and vitality I’ve been   looking for!  Although these  supplements may have healthy    properties, no supplement can replace a healthy diet. 

Learn more here.

             In our culture Wellness   practices are replacing the old “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” model.  People are more interested now more than ever in how to take better care of themselves.  We are living longer and as we         anticipate more years of life we want to add life to those years!  We know that exercise and a positive mental attitude are keys to healthy living, but the most important aspect of a healthy lifestyle is healthy nutrition.  You can’t expect to perform well if you are fueling yourself with garbage.  As I so often say, if you put garbage in, you’ll get garbage out!

What should you be fueling your engine with?  Human beings are designed to eat a diet consisting mostly of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, accented with whole grains and healthy meats.  Your dinner plate should consist of 70-80%   produce and the rest healthy proteins and whole grains.  Water should be your staple beverage.  Although no single formula fits every individual, if you’re not drinking at least eight        8-ounce glasses of water per day you are not getting enough.  Avoid highly processed foods and sugary drinks.  Remember, if you want to be more alive than dead, eat foods that are more alive than dead!

So, where does supplementation come in?  As the nutrient value of food declines with over-farming and transportation of food over long     distances, supplementing your diet is important.  With so many options available on the market it’s important to seek guidance from a holistic healthcare professional when deciding which supplements you should be   taking. Not all supplements are created equal and not all people have the same requirements.  In general, most people should be taking a quality multivitamin/mineral to ensure adequate intake of vitamins and minerals; an Omega 3 supplement, such as fish oil; Vitamin D, especially if you work indoors or live in a northern state; and lastly a probiotic to ensure a healthy gut.  As I said before though, you should consult a qualified healthcare professional that specializes in nutritional recommendations to ensure that you are not literally flushing your investment down the  toilet! 

Until next time, Live Well!

Dr. Brent Reiche

Prep & Ready Time: 4.5 Hours     Yields: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed ripe melon
• 1 cup unsweetened apple juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• Fresh mint leaves ( ganish)

 Directions:

1.   Combine melon, apple juice and lime juice in a blender; puree until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch glass pan.

2.   Place the pan on a  level surface in your freezer.  Freeze, stirring and scraping with a fork every 30 minutes, moving the frozen edges in toward the slushy center and crushing any lumps, until the granita is firm but not frozen solid, 3-4 hours.

3. Remove from the freezer; use a metal spatula or large spoon to break up the frozen ice into small slivers.  Pack into an airtight plastic container and freeze for at least 1 hour more.

4. Remove from the freezer about 20 minutes before serving to soften slightly.  Use a wide spoon or ice cream scoop to scrape the granita into shallow bowls.  Sprinkle blueberries and raspberries over each portion and garnish with mint leaves, if   desired.

Enjoy

 It turns out that constrictive clothing helps create the ideal environment for yeast to grow and flourish, which leads to an increased risk of yeast infections, particularly in women during warmer months.  Constrictive clothing can also   increase intra-abdominal pressure leading to heartburn and acid reflux.  Tight jeans, whether they’re fashionable or because you need to go up a size, can put pressure on nerves going into the legs causing numbness and tingling into the thighs.  For men, wearing collars and ties too tight has been shown to decrease mental clarity, cognitive brain function, and increases pressure in the eye, which is a    precursor to glaucoma.

 A more subtle problem with constrictive clothing is that it can affect the flow of lymph in your body.  Unlike your arteries and veins which carry blood, your lymphatic      system is responsible for removing wastes, carrying       nutrients, and is an essential part of your immune system.  Unlike your circulatory system though, lymph is not      circulated by the heart.  It is circulated by slight muscle contractions and breathing.  Wearing constrictive    clothing such as bras that are too tight may interfere with the removal of toxins in the body which could increase your risk of cancer.  It has been noted that women who live in cultures where bra wearing is uncommon are less likely to develop breast cancer.  Now this doesn’t mean you should avoid wearing a bra, just make sure it is not too tight and doesn’t leave angry red lines.  You could also take stress off your lymphatics by going a few hours a day or night not wearing a bra.  The same goes for other clothing such as underwear and socks.  As a chiropractor I routinely find that women have problems with their spine where their bras cross their backs.  This may cause back pain there, but more importantly it can alter function of the nerves in that area of the spine which can affect optimal organ function and leave     digestive challenges.

So, when you get home tonight inspect yourself for those angry red lines.  If you have them or feel like your clothing may be too constrictive, loosen up!  Your body may just thank you for it!

Dr. Brent Reiche