Vitamin D and Back Pain

By TIANAREEVES • Nov 25th, 2009 • Category: HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS, UNCATEGORIZED

 Numerous clinical studies have confirmed low levels of vitamin D in
 patients with chronic back pain. In one study, 95% of patients with chronic back pain, had their  pain vanish or significantly reduce when given Vit D3
supplements for 3 months. According to pain management researchers, the
 currently recommended levels of up to 600 IU per day is way too low.
 Most children and adults need at least 1,000IU’s per day and persons
 with chronic pain would benefit from 2000 IU’s and more per day.
 Researchers called Vitamin D the neglected analgesic for pain and
 stated it is safe, affordable and effective. Dr Levitt said while Vit D
 is not a cure for all back pain conditions, it is an important tool to
 be used in conjunction with other pain management treatments.

Tagged as: BACK PAIN, D VITAMAN

All posts by TIANAREEVES

I Thought this response was well thought out, but use your own judgement.

1. TED HUTCHINSON on NOVEMBER 26TH, 2009 AT 2:17 AM:
   Ideally 1000iu/daily/D3 is required for each 25lbs you or your child weighs.
   Up to 10,000iu/daily is known to be absolutely safe.
   Given 20~30minutes full body non burning sun exposure our skin generates 10,000~20,000iu of Vitamin D3. It does this for a reason and that reason is to prime our immune system. This only works at maximum power when there is a reserve of D3 stored in tissues available to deal with crisis.
   Human’s only have adequate reserves of stored D3 when 25(OH)D levels above 50ng/ml that is why at levels above 55ng/ml we find least chronic illness at human breast milk replete with D3 at around 60ng/ml.
   There is no logical reason to use daily a mere tenth of the amount of vitamin D you skin would naturally produce daily given the chance.

Read More

Can Drug Research be Trusted?

By TIANAREEVES • Jan 9th, 2010 • Category: LEAD STORY, NEWS

In the US, Canada and most industrial countries, the largest funders of medical research on new drugs are the manufacturers themselves. These tests determine which drugs the government will approve for sale. A favorable outcome on a drug trial can mean millions, even billions in profits for the drug companies. We should all be skeptical about results that involve such large scale financial conflicts of interest.

Industry backed research often compares a new drug to a placebo or to an inappropriate drug of second choice in order to report a more positive result. Independent research favors comparing the best currently available drug to the new drug. This comparison is a more reliable indicator of whether a new drug is a true innovation rather than just marketing hype.

Comparisons of research funded by drug manufacturers vs independent sources consistently reveal an alarming pattern. Research funded by a drug manufacturer is far more likely than independent research to produce results that favor the manufacturer’s product. How much more likely?

In one example, researchers at the University of California in San Francisco examined 192 PUBMED studies comparing various statin drugs. When the results of the statin being tested were favorable, the manufacturer was 20 times more likely to have paid for the trial. According to lead researcher Lisa Bero the bottom line is that most of these 192 trials didn’t need to be done, they were performed purely for marketing purposes. The link between study funding and study outcomes was disturbingly consistent. She also pointed out that 8 of the 9 members on the US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) had financial ties to the statin manufacturers.

In another example, researchers analyzed 30 previous studies done on different drugs between 1966 & 2002 and found manufacturer funded trials were four times more likely to report a favorable result vs independent studies. According to study leader Joel Lexchin, “What we found was that in almost all cases there was a bias -a rather heavy bias- in favor of a drug when the study was industry funded. It does have implications in terms of whether or not we can believe the results of research they are funding.”

Our patent based, monopolistic, profit driven system places the financial health of shareholders ahead of the health of average citizens who may be sick or vulnerable. How can any of us make informed health decisions when research results cannot be trusted?

Read More

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g_RmL85oS5Q

Bob needs a Chiropractor

The doctor of the FUTURE will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.
Thomas Edison - January 2, 1903 

The doctor of the PRESENT will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of DIS-EASE. BE PRESENT.
Dr. Eric Plasker - October 25, 2010 

Read More

Headaches - Natural Remedies

Headaches - Natural Remedies

• 
• 

Dear Health-Minded Readers,

Occasional headaches can be a nuisance and really put a damper on your day. As I tell my patients, headaches can come on for a number of reasons (see below). Migraine headaches, are a little more complicated, and can be painful to the point that they are debilitating. Unlike regular headaches, migraines usually have more specific triggers that are peculiar to the person getting them, i.e., specific hormone changes or even allergies.

However, did you know that you don't need to run to the drugstore to treat either of these types of headaches? That's right. There are several home remedies that you can try first and I'd like to tell you about them. Let's talk first about what might be causing your headaches.

What Causes a Headache?

Knowing the variety of things that can trigger a headache, regular or migraine, can help you avoid them and help get rid of them when they occur. They include the following:

Fatigue - not getting enough sleep can cause headaches as well as brain fog and clumsiness. Fatigue triggers inflammation in nerve pathways that leads to headaches.

Dehydration - very hot and very cold temperatures can trigger headaches due to dehydration. Your brain is 85% water that needs to be maintained to prevent spasms.

Stress/tension - eliminate whatever is causing you stress or tension and/or find a way to stop events from bothering you to the point they cause painful tension headaches.

Temperature changes - (see also dehydration above) drops in barometric pressure that occurs just before it rains, and/or sinus pressure buildup can trigger a headache.

Chemical smells - soaps and cleaners in our homes or the detergent aisle of a grocery store, perfumes, can trigger headaches. Also, strong outdoor smells like smoke, tar, gasoline, chlorine, sewage, etc, can trigger headaches, especially migraines.

Allergies - seasonal allergies from flower/plant pollens in the spring and mold spores from wet leaves in the fall can trigger headaches. Also, food allergies may be the culprit.

Tight neck muscles - from slumping over at your desk, cradling a phone between your shoulder and ear, wearing tight ponytails, or head gear, can tense up the muscles along the base of your head and those of your neck and shoulders.

Exertion - some people get a headache after working out strenuously or even after sex from the pressure that builds up in blood vessels.

Foods - migraine headaches are especially sensitive to foods, like cheese and red wine that contain tyramine. Sulfites in wine and other foods, as well as sodium nitrite found in cold cut meats, may also trigger migraines in some people. Caffeine can both help relieve a headache and bring one on in different people. Abrupt caffeine withdrawal can trigger a bad headache, so taper off use gradually.

Banish That Headache Naturally. If you get headaches only on a rare basis then you may just want to go for symptomatic relief at the moment they occur. However, if you get headaches, or migraines, on a fairly regular basis, you will want to try some of these recommendations:

1. Keep a headache diary - this is important in identifying, and avoiding, important triggers such as those things listed above that can bring on your headache. Document what you were doing, eating, drinking, exposed to, etc just before your headache began and try to avoid it.

2. Massage/Physical Therapy - when a headache occurs get a neck/shoulders massage from a friend or a professional. Neck and back of head muscles get very tight when a headache occurs. Releasing this tension can almost always release the headache as well.

3. Decompress - getting some exercise will relieve stress induced muscle tension and a tension-based headache. Swimming leisurely in a cooler pool will unkink your tense muscles and almost always relieve a tension headache quickly. Walking or swinging your arms, loosens stiff neck muscles and helps stop a headache.

4. Eat - low blood sugar headaches and brain fog can occur from not eating regularly throughout the day. Eat carbohydrates and a protein, like milk and bread, or nuts and fruit, to raise your blood sugar back up, keep it stable, and knock out your headache.

5. Natural Pain Relievers - White willow bark works similarly to aspirin without the side effects. In fact, it is the precursor herb that aspirin is made from. Found in health food stores.

6. Ice/cold, or heat compresses - either, applied to the back of the neck/head muscles can help unkink tense muscles that are causing the headache.

7. Soak your feet - the warm water moves blood from your head to your feet and helps relieve the vascular congestion in your head that may be causing the headache.

8. Magnesium - frequent migraine headaches caused by muscle tension may indicate a magnesium deficiency. Try taking 400 mg of magnesium with a glass of milk and lie down. Ask your doctor for specific lab tests to see if you are deficient in magnesium.

9. Valerian - a natural relaxant, a few drops in warm water can help relax and de-tense you, and end a headache quicker.

10. Potassium - Like magnesium, potassium can help knock out a migraine, especially if you are deficient in it. It is often the ingredient in some prescription migraine drugs. Found in potatoes, bananas, milk, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, and nuts. If you have kidney disease, or take ACE inhibitors or antibiotics like trimethoprim sulfa, however, ask your doctor how much potassium is safe for you to consume.

Headaches can be a real pain in the neck and interfere with our daily activities. As I always stress to my patients, with headaches, however, a little prevention can go a long way in helping assure that they do not unduly interfere in your life. When a headache strikes, I hope you'll try some of the natural remedies detailed above first before turning to over-the-counter pain relievers! It is always my pleasure to provide you with the best Health Answers.

Read More

• 

  Pain Management: Natural Ways To Ease Your Pain

  • 
  • 

  People with chronic pain are always looking for ways to manage or ease their pain in safer and more natural ways. Both over-the-counter and prescription pain medication are starting to be unpopular choices among those who are suffering from chronic pain. This is due to the possibilities of getting addicted to pain medications because of long-term use. People have also grown wary about the side effects of over-the-counter medications such as damage to the liver, stomach bleeding and ulcers.
  The current trend in pain management is avoiding taking too much pain medication and engaging instead in activities and alternative procedures which are also known to ease and reduce pain but without the ugly side effects. This shift to more harmless and natural ways of managing pain are even encouraged by pain management specialists.
  This is why pain management clinics now offer alternative options in handling pain. Among the most popular are deep-tissue massages, chiropractic, regular exercise and herbal and dietary supplements. All these options are universally and widely accepted because of the health benefits that they provide. Even if they do not necessarily cure or treat pain instantly, no one doubts their long-term positive effects on the body. Best of all, these pain management options have no negative or harmful side effects.
  Massages have been known to relax the body and treat common illnesses and pains. A regular massage, especially a deep-tissue massage, can stimulate pressure points in muscles and tissues. Applying moderate pressure to these points can greatly reduce or prevent the sensation of pain in that area. This is also the same concept used in chiropractic and yoga. Stimulating the right points using moderate pressure seems to be the key which is why it is important to make sure that your therapist or chiropractor is well-trained.
  No one can argue about the benefits that one gets out of regular exercise. All persons, whether or not in pain, should regularly exercise to stay fit, to improve their health or to remedy certain diseases and conditions. Exercise resolves a whole range of illnesses and conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, sleeping disorders and arthritis, among others. Many if not most of these ailments cause chronic pain. It is a known fact that people who exercise more are less likely to experience or suffer from chronic pain.Another alternative to pain medications is the taking of herbal and dietary supplements. This pain management option is slowly gaining popularity also because of other health benefits that are provided by these supplements. Pain management specialists and most doctors have admitted to the usefulness and effectiveness of these supplements in restoring and maintaining balance and order in the body. They should not, however, be mistaken for cure or treatment. They aid the body by replenishing nutrients and repairing damage. The process though takes several weeks or even months before anyone can start to see any sign of improvement. Others who are not too keen on waiting for results prefer to revert to over-the-counter pain medications.
  Seomul Evans is a senior Medical Marketing consultant expert for a leading Pain Management Specialist clinic.
  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/648116

Read More

Today's Chiropractic

It is important to note that chiropractors seek the origin of illness in order to eliminate it, instead of simply treating the symptoms.

Chiropractic doctors practice natural, drugless, non-invasive health care and rely on the body's ability to self-heal. Sounds ideal, but just how does it work?

We look at the whole picture

Like other health-care providers, we follow a standard routine to gain information about the patient. We consult, review the case history, conduct a physical examination, and we may request laboratory analyses and/or x-rays. Unlike other health-care providers, however, chiropractic physicians also conduct a careful analysis of the patient's structure and pay particular attention to the spine. We also ask you about your life- Do you eat well? Exercise at all? How do you deal with stress? Do you have children? What do you do for work? And so on.

We seek the origin of the problem

Using this information, a diagnosis is made. Included in the diagnosis is the probable reason for your pain or discomfort. It is important to note that chiropractors seek the origin of the illness in order to eliminate it-we do not simply treat the symptoms.  If your roof is leaking, do you simply catch the drips in a bucket for years on end, or do you repair the roof to prevent it from leaking? Similarly, if the migraine headache you've had all week is being caused by misaligned vertebra and an irritated nerve, do you continue to take pain killers indefinitely, or do you realign the vertebra to prevent the pain? You get the picture.

We fix the origin of the problem

Chiropractors have a term for misalignments: subluxations. A vertebral subluxation is a misalignment of the bones that protect the spinal cord. It's a leak in the roof. Or a kink in the wiring of your nervous system.  The severity of the subluxation can vary, and there are a number of potential contributing factors that can be physical, emotional, mental, or chemical. The subluxation can be caused by any number of incidents, from birth trauma to an auto accident to simple repetition or over-use.

Categories

• Wellness vs. Medical Care
• What is Chiropractic?
• Effects of Chiropractic Care

Business Hours

Day	Open	Close
Mon	9:00am	6:00pm
Tues	9:00am	6:00pm
Wed	9:00am	6:00pm
Thurs	By Appointment	Only
Fri	9:00am	6:00pm
Sat	By Appointment	Only
Sun	Closed	Closed

Follow Us!

Claremont Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected with us.

Visit Our Blog

Read More

Effects of Chiropractic Care

Health is not merely the absence of disease. The body has an innate intelligence that runs a series of complex systems that rely on proper balance and coordination in order to function correctly.

Wellness requires you to be a proactive agent for your body. You need to treat it well and not wait until you hurt before you decide to take care of it. As we've said before health is not merely the absence of disease any more than wealth is an absence of poverty. Let's remember health is not simply "feeling fine," for we know that problems may progress for years without causing any symptoms whatsoever. As you know by now, heart disease for example, often develops unnoticed for many years before it strikes: in fact, the first symptom of heart disease that many people experience is a heart attack or death.

Now let us be clear that we are not under the illusion that everyone who creates a wellness lifestyle will be immune from pain, sickness, and disease. There are many people who do everything right and still get sick and die. Some will argue that there are many people who do everything wrong and live long, seemingly healthy lives. However, since we have no way to predict who is who, we have to do our very best to reduce our risk and promote our health.

Over the years in private practice, we have seen how neglecting their health has drained people of thousands of dollars, sometimes to the point of bankruptcy. We have seen people who have saved up and waited their entire lives to take a dream trip or to send their kids to college, whose savings and dreams were siphoned away to pay for health care expenses. We have seen people with work injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or neck/back pain who have been unable to work, unable to drive, and even unable to sleep without pain. We have seen family members whose entire lives become dominated by the necessity to care for another family member who is sick or in pain. The effects of long-term illness or disability on a family can be devastating; in many cases, it happens to families who are already over-stressed, under-loved, and emotionally maxed out.

On the other hand, We have seen people who have been unemployed due to their pain or health condition choose to adopt new healthy habits: within a short period of time they are back at work making money, taking care of themselves and their families again, and are able to put away savings for their retirement.

We have heard every excuse you can imagine as to why people believe they can't afford the time or money to invest in their health. But the truth is that you must invest in your health today, or disease may bankrupt you in every way later. If you don't have the time and money to improve your health while you feel good, what makes you think you will have the time and money to improve your health once you have lost it? As Anthony Robbins once said, "you can make time for wellness now or you can make time for sickness later." The choice is yours.

With regards to your wellness, the three main ideas that we really want to drive home . . .

1. Health is not merely the absence of disease.
2. The body has an innate intelligence that runs a series of complex systems that rely on proper balance and coordination in order to function correctly.
3. By living a wellness lifestyle you can enrich your life with vibrant health.

Business Hours

Day	Open	Close
Mon	9:00am	6:00pm
Tues	9:00am	6:00pm
Wed	9:00am	6:00pm
Thurs	By Appointment	Only
Fri	9:00am	6:00pm
Sat	By Appointment	Only
Sun	Closed	Closed

Follow Us!

Claremont Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected with us.

Visit Our Blog

Read More

 

What is Chiropractic?

Both infants and adults can benefit from ongoing chiropractic care. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy.

What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations.  The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "somewhat or slight" (sub) and "to dislocate" (luxate).  So the term 'vertebral subluxation' literally means a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine. 
When a subluxation occurs, a chiropractor can correct the misaligned bone and allow it to return to its proper position. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both.  Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas that sounds like a "crack."  The sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually relieving.  Occasionally, minor  discomfort is experienced, especially if the surrounding muscles  are in spasm or the patient tenses up during the chiropractic  procedure.  There are times when the audible "cracking" does not occur.   This is often due to either significant  muscle tightness or that the patient may be having a hard time relaxing during their adjustments.  However, the chiropractic adjustment is still important.  The leak is fixed. The wiring is fixed. Information is flowing again. To keep the wiring fixed, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary, in addition to massage, physical therapy, stretching exercises, or strengthening exercises. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy.
There are actually five components that contribute to the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC).

1. Bone Component-where the vertebra is either out of position, not moving properly, or are undergoing degeneration.  This frequently leads to a narrowing of the spaces between the bones through which the nerves pass; often resulting in irritation or impingement of the nerve itself.
2. Nerve Component-is the disruption of the normal flow of energy along the nerve fibers, causing the messages traveling along the nerves to become distorted.  The result is that all of the tissues that are fed by those nerves receive distorted signals from the brain and, consequently, are not able to function normally.  Over time, this can lead to a whole host of conditions, such as peptic ulcers, constipation and other organ system dysfunction.
3. Muscular Component-since nerves control the muscles that help hold the vertebrae in place, muscles have to be considered to be an integral part of the vertebral subluxation complex.  In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the VSC.  A subluxation can irritate a nerve, the irritated nerve can cause a muscle to spasm, the spasmed muscle pulls the attached vertebrae further out of place, which then further irritates the nerve and you have a vicious cycle.  It is no wonder that very few subluxations just go away by themselves.
4. Soft Tissue Component-the VSC will also affect the surrounding tendons, ligaments, blood supply, and other tissues as the misaligned vertebrae tug and squeeze the connective tissue with tremendous force.  Over time, the soft tissues can become stretched out or scarred, leaving the spine with either a permanent instability or restriction.
5. Chemical Component-is the change in the chemistry of the body due to the VSC.  Most often, the chemical changes, such as the release of a class of chemicals called "kinins," are pro-inflammatory; meaning that they increase inflammation in the affected area.

These changes get progressively worse over time if they are not treated correctly, leading to chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, muscle trigger points, the formation of bone spurs, loss of movement,  as well as muscle weakness and spasm.  Chiropractors have known the dangers of the vertebral subluxation complex ever since the birth of the profession. More and more scientific research is demonstrating the tremendous detrimental impact that subluxations have on the tissue of the body.  In order to be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations.  Chiropractors are the only health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation complex through chiropractic care.

Business Hours

Day	Open	Close
Mon	9:00am	6:00pm
Tues	9:00am	6:00pm
Wed	9:00am	6:00pm
Thurs	By Appointment	Only
Fri	9:00am	6:00pm
Sat	By Appointment	Only
Sun	Closed	Closed

Follow Us!

Claremont Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected with us.

Visit Our Blog

 

Read More

Wellness vs. Medical Care

When the body heals and maintains itself well, there is another level of health that goes beyond "asymptomatic" or "pain-free" which reveals an opportunity for vitality.

What's the main difference between wellness care and standard medical care? Wellness care seeks to turn on the natural healing ability, not by adding something to the system, but by removing anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it. Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside - a medication, a surgery or procedure.

Inside Out vs. Outside In

If a patient has high blood pressure, a standard medical approach would be to choose a drug that lowers blood pressure, and ask the patient to take the drug. This may serve to lower the blood pressure, but ignores the underlying cause that is making the blood pressure high, and runs the risk of side effects complicating the person's recovery. Whether it's a nutritional issue, faulty control by the nerve system or a manifestation of stress, the medication could decrease the blood pressure, leaving the problem causing the symptom of high blood pressure unaddressed.

The Wellness Approach

Wellness is a state of optimal conditions for normal function… and then some. The wellness approach is to look for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruption (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments would optimize the conditions for normal function. That environment encourages natural healing, and minimizes the need for invasive treatment, which should be administered only when absolutely necessary. When the body is working properly, it tends to heal effectively, no matter what the condition. When the body heals well and maintains itself well, then there is another level of health that goes beyond "asymptomatic" or "pain-free" which reveals an open-ended opportunity for vitality, vibrant health, and an enhanced experience of life.This is true for mental and emotional health as well as physical health. While some people may suffer psychological disorders, creating an atmosphere of mental and emotional wellness will address all but the most serious problems.

Business Hours

Day	Open	Close
Mon	9:00am	6:00pm
Tues	9:00am	6:00pm
Wed	9:00am	6:00pm
Thurs	By Appointment	Only
Fri	9:00am	6:00pm
Sat	By Appointment	Only
Sun	Closed	Closed

Follow Us!

Claremont Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected with us.

Visit Our Blog

Read More