Chiropractic care is a lifestyle choice. It fits into a health regimen the same as daily exercise, eating right and getting enough sleep. Once people realize that a healthy nervous system is responsible for every function in the body and that chiropractors keep the nervous system flowing as nature intended it to do, the world will be a healthier, happier place.

 

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What would you say if someone told you that there are only two chiropractic techniques? It might surprise you, as by most estimates there are nearly 100. In fact, there certainly are many named techniques or methods of locating and correcting subluxations. Chiropractors need to have an arsenal of techniques up their sleeve if they are to be prepared for the many different health conditions that present to their office. Not to mention, that no two bodies are alike and each body may respond differently to a different technique. An old chiropractic mentor once said, never question the principle of chiropractic, question it's application. That being said, if results are lacking at one chiropractor's office, success may just as easily be found down the street (with a different technique). If a condition is not getting better, ask your chiropractor if he or she has another technique they could try. In my office, I have six different techniques that I am proficient at. Always keep the lines of communication open.

“Vaccines did not clean up our country, clean living did.”

~ Clarence Gonstead, DC

The average weight of the human head is between 9 and 12 pounds. This copious amount of weight is supported by seven little, moveable bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Any force, what-so-ever to the head, has a negative impact on the cervical spine. When the head is impacted by force, the neck muscles immediately and severely contract to protect the spine from severe injury. This sudden muscle contraction causes the spinal bones to misalign and change the shape of the spinal curvature. One of the most important things a person can do after suffering a head trauma (in addition to medical evaluation) and whiplash type injury is to see a chiropractor for evaluation of subluxation and spinal nerve stress.

“Medicine: The study of disease and what causes man to die. Chiropractic: The study of health and what causes a man to live.”

~ Clarence Gonstead, DC

“The world is indoctrinated in medicine. People are conceived and born in a medicine cabinet. They grow up in a drugstore. They have been brain-washed, hypnotized, mesmerized and drugged to believe that their health / life force comes from the outside-in.”

~ BJ Palmer, D.C., Developer of Chiropractic, quote taken from The Chiropractic Story by Marcus Bach 1949.

Can you imagine if Dr. Palmer was around today, to watch the television drug commercials?
Can you imagine what he would say?

“The basic principle, and the principles of chiropractic, which have been developed from it, are not new. They are as old as the vertebrae… I am not the first person to replace subluxated vertebra, for this art has been practiced for thousands of years. I feel it my bounden duty to not only replace displaced bones, but also (to) teach others, so that the physical and spiritual may enjoy health, happiness and the full fruition of our earthly lives.”

~ D.D. Palmer, the discoverer of chiropractic,1895

“Sleep will recruit rest, exercise will reduce laziness, spinal adjustments restore health. The prescription is good, but the masses do not heed it! Chiropractic is health insurance. Premiums small, dividends large.”

~ BJ Palmer, Developer of Chiropractic. President of Palmer College of Chiropractic 1906-1961

“Disease is not an entity, but a fluctuating condition of the patient’s body, a battle between the substance of disease and the natural self-healing tendency of the body.”

~ Hippocrates

The spine and health are related in a fundamental way, and this relationship is mediated through the nervous system. Chiropractors examine the biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, along with its effects on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and its role in health and disease.

"While other (healthcare) professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body, chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to "suit" the environment."

~ BJ Palmer, D.C.

Someone must teach new things, someone must take the abuse, someone must be ostracized, someone must be called a fraud and a quack. Then out of all of it comes the new truth to become a part of us... Thus we receive new facts to make up our proud possession of knowledge.

~ Fred Hart (1888-1975), Founder, National Health Foundation

Increases in health consciousness among baby boomers will boost demand for chiropractors. Over the five years from 2011 to 2016, forecasts predict that the chiropractic industry will grow to reach $14.8 billion, according to IBISWorld, the nation’s largest publisher of industry information. This number includes growth of 2.2% in 2012. Chiropractic is positioned to take advantage of newfound interest in complementary and alternative care, by providing more integrative care and gaining more consistent referrals from other healthcare professionals. The aging population also will continue to benefit from chiropractic care and healthcare reform will bolster demand.

Many families consider chiropractic care for children a routine and common practice. Dr. Gerald W. Clum, of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress states, "Chiropractors and parents appreciate it as an important element of a healthy lifestyle and an orientation to wellness, in general. With adults or children, if the chiropractor finds restricted motion or other imbalances when palpating the spine or other joints, then a chiropractic adjustment is appropriate."

~ Dr. John Webster, Appen News, Ga.

The chiropractic spinal adjustment may be akin to the flu shot, research shows that regular chiropractic care boosts immune system T-cells, white blood cell production, serum thiol levels and resistance enzymes, all important factors in staying healthy and flu free!

A study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine showed that people who used what the study called Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) received a “great deal” of benefit. Chiropractic was included in what this medical study defined as CAM care. The study surveyed people who had suffered from back pain and had used at least one CAM therapy in the last 12 months. Of these participants, the results showed that over 60 percent found remarkable relief using the top six CAM treat-ments. Those treatments were chiropractic care, massage, yoga / tai chi / qi Cong, acupuncture, herbal therapies and relaxation techniques – with chiropractic care being the most popular choice. Medical News Today reported, also, that back pain is the second leading reason people walk into a doctor’s office. Gerard Clum, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress spokesperson and president of Life Chiropractic College West noted: “What we are seeing with these studies is compelling evidence that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for back pain sufferers, and that light is chiropractic care and other CAM approaches.”

You cannot have true health if the nervous system is not functioning properly. The brain needs to send its messages to the body's organs and systems through the spinal cord and spinal nerves without interference. If the nerve flow is true, the body will work better and be healthier. This is the main virtue of chiropractic care.

~ Dr. J. Zimmerman, D.C.

Chiropractic offers a unique place in modern health care. On the one hand, it draws upon modern scientific knowledge and techniques. On the other hand, it utilizes the ancient concepts of self-healing, life energy and natural healing. Chiropractic teaches us that the best way to improve our health is by removing the elements that interfere with normal body function. Along with spinal nerve pressure, these include drugs, unnatural foods, pollution, chemicals, excess tension and other forms of emotional distress.

~ Tedd Koren, D.C.

"As I began preparation on a new article scheduled a few weeks from now about products still made in America, it occurred to me to also write about a health care profession that is an American original: Chiropractic. The profession of chiropractic originated in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa. I encountered chiropractic care as a patient in the early 1980s. I went to see a chiropractor in Nashville for a back injury. As he examined me, he said, “Tell me about your headaches.” Since I had not mentioned headaches in my history, I asked how he knew I had a problem with headaches. “When I examined the X-rays of your neck, I discovered several signs of previous injury that have affected your cervical spine. If you did not have headaches and neck pain I would be very surprised,” he replied. He showed me the areas where I had sustained damage to the joints in my neck apparently years previously. My parents had taken me to several medical doctors, but no reason was found for my headaches. As the chiropractor worked with me to resolve the back injury, the headaches disappeared too. I realized a few months later that I had not had a single headache since I began having chiropractic care for my neck. Considering that only months previously, I would literally be miserable for two or three days per week with head and neck pain, I was extremely pleased with my care."

~ Dr. Mark Kestner, Murfreesboro Post

One of the biggest annual American surveys of its kind has found that users of chiropractic were highly satisfied with the outcomes of their care, unlike many other forms of complementary and alternative therapy. The annual questionnaire conducted by the U.S. Consumer Reports National Research Center surveyed 45,601 Consumer Reports subscribers online, and found that three out of four were using some form of alternative or complementary therapy for their general health. Chiropractic dominated the lists of helpful approaches for particular conditions, whereas other alternative treatments used for 12 common health problems were usually deemed far less helpful than prescription medicine.

The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct the spinal subluxations detected during the examination. To do that, the doctor applies pressure to the bone and "unlocks" it from its improper position. The bone will then be free to align itself correctly. Many people think that the chiropractor forces a vertebra back into its "proper" place. But only the individual's own Innate Intelligence knows for sure what the proper place for each bone is. The role of the chiropractor is to free up the vertebrae. Then, the body can do its job and put them back in the correct position.

~ World Chiropractic Alliance

Chiropractic and Pregnancy. Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body in pregnant women, chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in the low back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. In some cases, fewer headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Many chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their daily practices. Most important is that chiropractic helps the expecting mother by improving nerve system function. For over 100 years Chiropractic has been based on correcting interference to the nervous system, known as subluxations. With a properly functioning nerve system free of subluxations it is easy to see how many aspects of this important time for an expectant mother will be made easier. Many women rely on chiropractic care as a regular part of their pre-natal routine.

~ ChiroResearch.org

Chiropractic is a philosophy of health care that concentrates on helping the body function the way it was designed. What do I mean by that? Consider how many times in your life you had to REMIND your body to breathe, pump blood or digest food. These functions of life happen automatically. Quite frankly, when the body works well, it works VERY well! However, the realities of life give us certain circumstances that interfere with the normal functioning of our bodies. Since the brain and nervous system control body functions, Chiropractic focuses on maintaining the health of your nerves, organs and connective tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) so that the body can continue to operate normally. Emphasis is given to the body's ability to heal itself.

~ ChiroWeb.net

Chiropractic care can help headache sufferers. A recent study was performed that included a group of people who suffered with tension headaches. These headache sufferers were divided into two groups – those that underwent six weeks of chiropractic care and those that took traditional medication for the same six week period. At the conclusion of the study, both groups of patients had experienced noticeable improvements. However, it was duly noted that the patients who underwent chiropractic care treatment had far fewer side effects. Once the six week treatment concluded, those that underwent chiropractic care did not experience a return of their headache symptoms. Those that had taken traditional medication saw their symptoms return almost immediately.

~ EQuickNews.com

Regular chiropractic care maintains the integrity of the spine and nervous system to help prevent health problems. Chiropractic can also be a successful alternative to risky, invasive procedures. Chiropractors work with the spine, not necessarily because it's the source of neck and back pain, but because it houses and protects the spinal cord and nervous system. Every vital life sustaining process depends on the integrity of this communication network between the brain and the body.

~ YourSpine.com

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 (Sounds like Chiropractic to me! FYI, a recent Snopes.com question
asked if this quote was actually said by Thomas Edison. According to the fact finders, Edison
regularly made predications and this quote was taken from him, directly, in 1903.)

Chiropractic is a potential alternative for reducing the risk of immune breakdown and disease. Chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have, so that you can fully resist serious disease.

~ Ronald Pero, Ph.D., Chief of Cancer Prevention Research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute

Do you have forward head posture? Does your head seem to lean or jut forward from the front of your body? This lean is indicative of forward head posture. For every inch your head moves forward, the head gains 10 pounds in weight as far as the muscles in your upper back and neck are concerned, because they have to work much harder to keep the head (chin) from dropping forward onto your chest. The extra weight forces the muscles that raise the chin to remain in constant contraction, putting pressure on the 3 Suboccipital nerves. This nerve compression may cause headaches at the base of the skull, and may even mimic sinus headaches.

~ Chirozine.com

Retired Brigadier General, Rebecca Halstead, diagnosed with chronic fibromyalgia after 27 years of service, was forced into an early retirement because of the pain and symptoms associated with the disease — such as fatigue, sleep deprivation, and depression. She went to numerous doctors and specialists to resolve the pain, but didn’t experience successful relief until she discovered chiropractic. “The doctor of chiropractic was the one place I could go and walk out feeling better,” said Halstead. Today, Halstead receives tremendous relief from her chiropractor who provides routine adjustments, nutrition and supplement counseling. “Now I look at my old bottles of prescription drugs and think life is great and I don’t take one of them,” said Halstead.

Problems with the lower extremities (feet, ankles, knees and hips) directly affect the function of the spine and pelvis. A popular saying in chiropractic is that structure affects function. If the structure is off, the body cannot work properly. When dealing with an altered gait (walking posture) from a foot, knee or hip problem, the spine easily goes out of alignment. This misalignment then negatively influences the spinal muscles and nerves that dictate how the body works. Over time, the misalignment can lead to muscular symptoms such as pain and/or nerve related malfunctions that can lead to ill health.

"Water consumption is also extremely important in helping chiropractors to correct spinal subluxations in their patients. Many patients with neurological symptoms and chronic muscle aches and pains will not hold their adjustment if they are dehydrated. Dehydration can prevent the body from healing properly. A simple test I use for dehydration is to simply ask the body if it is dehydrated using the occipital drop analysis. The analysis can even configure how many glasses of water are needed to free the body from dehydration."

~ Tedd Koren, D.C.

Menstrual Problems Helped With Chiropractic. On May 23, 2011, a case study appeared in the scientific periodical, The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documenting the case of a 21-year-old woman who had not had a menstrual cycle in 5 years and was helped by chiropractic care. In this case, a woman with a history of amenorrhea suffered from back pain and went to a chiropractor. Amenorrhea is described as an absence of a menstrual cycle for more than three months. The patient in this case started to have menstrual cycles at the early age of 7. Her medical doctor treated her with Lupron injections, a drug used to stop menstrual cycles and the onset of puberty. At the age of 9, her medical doctor discontinued the treatment, believing that the girl was old enough to start menstruation.

Upon seeking help for her back pain as an adult, a chiropractor performed an examination consisting of a postural evaluation, static and motion palpation, thermography and surface electromyography. The chiropractor determined that subluxations were present and initiated care, which consisted of regular specific adjustments to correct the subluxations. As care progressed, the woman reported experiencing better posture, more energy and an improvement in overall health.

Approximately 12 weeks into care, the patient reported the start of her menstrual cycle for the first time in 5 years. Further examinations continued to show improvement to the woman's overall health. She reported a loss in weight and the continuation of normal menstrual cycles. In their conclusion, the authors of the study discuss how subluxations can have a detrimental effect on body functions, including reproduction. They stated, "This case, as well as the reviewed literature, shows that chiropractic may play a beneficial role in reproductive health."

"The idea behind chiropractic therapy is that proper function of the musculoskeletal system allows the rest of the body, particularly the nervous system, to function properly as well. When this happens, the body is able to heal itself, fight disease, and maintain optimal health."

~ Sean Redman, D.V.M.

"Someone must teach new things, someone must take the abuse, someone must be ostracized, someone must be called a fraud and a quack. Then, out of it all comes a new truth to become part of us. Thus we receive new facts to make up our proud possession of knowledge."

~ Fred Hart, Founder, National Health Federation

"The purpose of an adjustment is NOT to depress, NOT to stimulate, but to remove interferences with the transmission, or pressures from the affected nerve, thus restoring normal nerve supply. The the inner wisdom of the body, with her exact knowledge, decreases or increases activities in the various organs or parts, as she finds necessary."

~ Carl S. Cleveland, Sr., D.C.

"Not having chiropractic care in your life is like driving the car with the emergency brake on. It can be done and perhaps not even noticed, but once the brake is removed the car has more "energy" and performs better."

~ Reggie Gold, D.C.

"268 miles per hour is the speed at which communication signals travel along the spinal cord, the fastest transmissions in the human body."

~ Valerie Ross

Chiropractic care reduces interference in the communication signals coming from the spinal cord through the spinal nerve, making sure that the communication between the brain and the body performs at an optimal level, maintaining health.

"Lung Function Improves With Chiropractic Care" is a study presented in the September, 1997 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. The study found that patients who participated in the research project experienced "significant positive changes" in breathing capacity and lung function under chiropractic care. Of the participating patients, 55 were studied in a private office setting. Of the 55, 33 (60%) had lung function below the normal range. All of the patients were monitored with spirometers (instruments that measure lung capacity and function) before and after chiropractic care. While the average lung function of all 55 patients improved, the 33 whose breathing was most impaired had the greatest response to chiropractic care.

Chiropractors may be many things, but they are definitely not chickens. The philosophy of chiropractic goes against the grain of conventional society's idea of health. Each and everyday, chiropractors fight against medical opinion and pharmacuetical tyranny. Chiropractors stand their ground and fight an uphill battle for the principle of chiropractic, that the inner wisdom of the body directs, regulates and controls every bodily function and is responsible for health.

In a 1986 project at the University of Lund, in Lund, Sweden, researchers performed tests to gauge people's resistance to hazardous environmental chemicals. The researchers hypothesized that people with cancer would have a suppressed immune response to such a toxic burden, while healthy people and those receiving chiropractic care would have a relatively enhanced response. Measuring resistance enzymes in 107 individuals who had received long-term chiropractic care, the research produced surprising findings. The chiropractic patients had a 200% greater immune competence than those who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than those with cancer or other serious diseases.

Respected rheumatologist Dr. Frederick Wolfe points out that chiropractic treatment helps fibromyalgia patients. Dr. Wolfe is a well-known investigator of fibromyalgia, and is clinical professor, Department of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine. In 1985, he and his colleagues interviewed 81 fibromyalgia patients and 81 control subjects using a structured questionnaire. Dr. Wolfe wrote, "In our current series, we asked patients to indicate if a drug or treatment had reduced their pain ... Of interest is that patients reported more benefit from 'life-style' modifications such as rest and relaxation than from other interventions. Chiropractic treatment also scored among the most effective measures".

"The Dr. OZ Show," hosted by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, , recently featured New York chiropractor Dr. Steve Shoshany. During a segment dedicated to chiropractic, Dr. Shoshany performed an adjustment on Dr. Oz's "assistant of the day." Dr. Shoshany, a graduate of Life University, explained to Dr. Oz and audience members that chiropractors attempt to find the root cause of pain, rather than trying to mask it with pain-relieving medication. Dr. Oz set up the chiropractic segment by emphasizing the prevalence of back pain in the general population and how many common daily activities can put the spine at risk for pain/injury. He also referenced the recent Cochrane study, February 2011, that suggests chiropractic adjustments are as effective as pain medication. Dr. Oz told viewers that chiropractic is a viable option for dealing with pain.

~ Dynamic Chiropractic

If chiropractic adjustments help the body regulate and disperse of methyl groups around genes, it would explain why it has such profound effects on so many different health issues. The brain signals the changes needed in the epigenome, and chiropractic helps that signal reach its destination without distortion or interference. Of course, much more neurological testing has to be conducted in order to test this hypothesis.

~ Terry Rondberg, D.C., President World Chiropractic Alliance

Most chiropractors' offices are equipped to care for patients with severe cases of osteoporosis. Gentle, low force adjusting instruments are extremely safe to spinal bones with low bone density levels. Soft tissue techniques used by chiropractors also offer relief from muscular related spinal problems. It is also important to remember the nervous system's role in the building of bone tissue. When the nervous system is working properly, the body performs better, including the manufacturing bone cells.

Chiropractic and bedwetting: “Chiropractic adjustments correct the misalignment which allows the nerve to carry information freely and completely between the bladder and the brain,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer. “If enuresis or bedwetting is an effect of the misalignment, the chiropractic adjustment can restore normal night-time dryness.”

The essence of the use of chiropractic care is that you don't need symptoms, you don't need pain, you don't even need to be sick. It's like walking into a room where the lights are on a dimmer and they are constantly set for 75%. Most people live their lives that way. Chiropractic makes sure that they are living their lives at 100%. Chiropractic care, by removing nerve interference, makes sure your life is "turned on" to its fullest potential and you can function at a level you may have never known was possible."

~ Armond Rossi, D.C.

"The fact that chiropractic focuses on nerve intervention makes it unique as a profession. If the nervous system is subluxated, is interfered with, and is not allowing the body to function at its highest potential, the person will never be as healthy as he or she was meant to be. That is the uniqueness of chiropractic."

~ Fabrio Mancini, D.C. President of Parker College of Chiropractic

A recent study shows that hamstring and lower limb muscle strain injuries can be dramatically reduced through the inclusion of a sports chiropractor in the traditional injury management programs adopted by sports teams which generally involve a mix of physiotherapy, massage and strength and conditioning management. "The study lasted an entire season and involved 59 players from two Australian Football League clubs," Dr. Wayne Hoskins, study author, said. "The group which included chiropractic management had a four per cent chance of a hamstring injury and a four per cent chance of a lower limb muscle strain. The group which received the traditional management had a 17 per cent chance of hamstring injury and a 28 per cent chance of a lower limb muscle strain."

~ BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Chiropractic care for children offers many benefits to enhance your family's lifestyle, health and vitality. The focus of chiropractic care is on the function of the nervous system and body. Through (the) nervous system, your child perceives the world, responds to stress, coordinates all body parts and functions, expresses emotions and creates conscious reality. Eighty percent of the nervous system develops by age 2, a time when the average toddler falls 38 times per day. Through spinal assessment and specialized testing, chiropractors can detect stored tension in your child's body and nervous system caused by physical, chemical and emotional stress. This stored tension can result in altered expression of life force, decreased vitality, poor posture, physical and/or emotional symptoms and disease. Using precise, artfully applied touches to the body, known as chiropractic adjustments, chiropractic care helps children release the stored tension and achieve optimum function and health. To learn more about the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle, visit icpa4kids.com.

~ Parent Survival Guide, The Advocate Weekly

Giving birth might become an easier and safer experience through chiropractic techniques that are being researched by New Zealand specialists. "We are working with a number of pregnant women here in New Zealand; and the University of Australia in Sydney, which is also involved in the study, is testing hundreds of women," Dr Kruger said. "We are using state of the art 4D ultrasound to visualize the pelvic floor of women, pre and post chiropractic adjustments. We want to see whether spinal adjustments can alter the way the pelvic floor works. That way, their health professionals can work with them before birth and take special precautions once they are in hospital, to give them the best chance of having a safe, trouble-free birth." New Zealand Chiropractors' Association spokesman, Dr Simon Kelly, hoped the results would mean health professionals were able to offer pregnant women a greater level of preventive care and support.

~ Wellington, April 8 New Zealand

A recent article published in January 2010 edition of the "Journal of Pediatrics, Maternal and Family Health," highlights how important a well adjusted spine is to the health and developement of young children and babies. The Journal reports the case study of a 2-week-old male patient who showed symptoms of colic, constipation and a troubled sleep pattern. In the case of this 2-week-old, the mother wanted to try chiropractic care. When the child was presented for his initial examination, he was crying and in distress. The examining chiropractor found the existence of subluxations in the child's spinal area. After the doctor performed the first adjustment, the infant had an immediate bowel movement and fell asleep. The patient underwent a regular program of chiropractic care, including spinal adjustments. After the fifth adjustment, the mother reported that the baby's bowel movements were becoming more regular. After a series of adjustments, the child was sleeping better and all symptoms of constipation and colic were resolved.

Irritation to a young person's nervous system can begin in utero. The baby's position during delivery (natural or cesarean) can create stress on the baby's nervous system. Even a "normal, healthy" birth can induce 40-50 pounds of pressure on a newborn's neck and spine. Dr. Carrie Getzmier, Chair of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association Communications Committee says, "Gentle chiropractic care not only removes this nerve interference, but also stimulates the immune system, enhancing the child's overall health." Dr. Getzmier explained that some of the symptoms parents should watch for include ear infections, colic, sleep disturbances, tilted head position, difficulty breast-feeding, reflux, and constipation or diarrhea. Any bumps and falls can also create joint dysfunction and nerve irritation to a young person during the developmental years. This may present as:

Headaches Growing pains Osgood-Schlatter's (Jumper's knee) Difficulty sleeping Bed-wetting

Difficulty concentrating or staying focused Stomach aches, heartburn, or indigestion Skin Disorders Asthma Allergies

~ PR Newswire

"If you want to maintain health and have your nervous system function at its best, while staying away from drugs and surgery, the solution is chiropractic care. This is a natural procedure of maintaining good health. The nervous system is the central processing unit of the body, which means that every action, reaction or function of the body is directed and observed by it. Therefore any problem created at this end can result into minor to major ailments. This is the reason why the chiropractic profession is becoming more and more popular, day by day."

~ Amit Pathania, TopNews.com, Top News Magazine, India

Chiropractic Reduces Blood Pressure. According to the March 2nd, 2007, Journal of Human Hypertension, Chiropractic adjustments were better in lowering blood pressure than 2 medications combined! George Bakris M.D. said, “Not only does it work, we saw no side effects and no problems!” This was an 8 week study, where 25 patients who were receiving medication to treat early-stage high blood pressure were specifically adjusted. They significantly lowered their blood pressure compared to 25 similar patients who received sham or fake adjustments. Those patients who received specific chiropractic adjustments saw an average of 14mm Hg greater drop in the top number, and an average of 8mm Hg greater drop in the bottom number. George Bakris M.D. said, “when the statistician brought me the data, I actually didn’t believe it. It was way too good to be true.” The statistician said, “I didn’t believe it either, but we checked for everything and there it was.”

~ Dr. Kate and Patrick McCann, D.C., Brookfield Now.com

Q: Why would my child benefit from chiropractic care?

A: Simply put, children with properly aligned spines have a better opportunity to be healthy. Beginning at birth, children go through many different micro-traumas, (such as) frequent falls as they learn to crawl, walk and eventually run. Chiropractic adjustments give children an edge by reducing many physical stressors they endure throughout life.

The child’s spine is developing rapidly in the first 10 years of life. (Seemingly) innocent events, such as wearing backpacks, using the computer, having poor posture and getting injured playing sports, can create spinal subluxations (misalignments) in the child’s spine. Subluxations can put pressure on the child’s nervous system. When the nerve isn’t functioning correctly, it can result in symptoms related to organs, muscles and various systems of the body. Symptoms such as colic, asthma, ear infections, stomach ache, bed wetting, poor posture, hyperactivity and frequent colds or flu might be evidence of subluxations.

Through safe and gentle adjustments, a chiropractor can realign the child’s spine with specific contacts, reducing the pressure on the nervous system, allowing the body to heal and reduce symptoms. Like dentistry, many parents also see the benefits of providing preventive care for their children and see this as an important role in their child’s overall health and wellness.

~ Dr. Jeff Ludwick, PennLive.com

"Chiropractic is not a natural cure for any condition or disease. That's not what this is about at all. We, as chiropractors, are not treating; we are enhancing normal body function by removing spinal nerve interference. It's not just a play on words, (where we come from) is a completely different base... That's what makes the difference."

~ Jeanne Ohm, D.C. Editor and Chief, Pathways magazine

"You needn't be sick to benefit from chiropractic care. All you must have is a desire to express your life to its fullest potential, and if you have that desire, the chiropractor can assist you by identifying and correcting areas of interference."

~ Christopher Kent, D.C., FCCI, J.D.

What came first, the chicken or the egg? In relation to the spine: What happens first, the spinal bone misaligning or the muscle straining? A very common question to the chiropractor is whether the bone is out of place or whether it is just a muscle pull. The answer is, one can't happen without the other. First, the back or neck muscles undergo an unusual amount of stress (such as a strain). Since the spinal muscles are attached to moveable spinal bones, the muscle exerts a force on spinal joint and "pulls" the bone out of its proper alignment. Once the spinal joint is misaligned, the muscle stays stretched and irritated. The only way to get the muscle to correct itself is to realign the spinal joint. Treating the symptom with ice, heat, electric muscle stimulation and massage will only temporarily relax the muscle tissue. As long as the spinal bone is out of alignment, the muscle will stay in a state of imbalance. Thus the purpose of chiropractic, to adjust the spine, balance the musculature and correct the condition.

The brain sends mental impulses down the spinal cord and out through the spinal nerves to all of the body's systems, organs, tissues and cells. This is how the body (including the heart!!) works, functions and lives. If there is a disturbance, disruption or interference in the brain's mental impulse and nerve flow, the body cannot be as healthy as it was meant to be. Chiropractic removes nerve flow disruption along the spine. It improves the brain's communication network, thereby improving bodily function, performance and health!

Since I have already mentioned the term "Silent Killer," did you know that the chiropractic profession has used that term as well? Misaligned vertebrae (called subluxations) have often been referred to as a "silent killers." The majority of subluxations that exist in our bodies' spinal columns, exist without causing symptoms (pain). A misaligned vertebra places pressure on vital nerves that come from the spine, and the subluxation interferes with nerve flow. Nerve interference causes a decrease in function to all of the systems, cells and tissues in the body. Overtime, the interference leads to a decrease in bodily function, performance and health. As with blood pressure, the only way to know if you have subluxations is to be checked, in this case, by a chiropractor. A chiropractor will re-adjust out-of-place vertebra by a using a simple, pain-free technique. When the vertebrae are properly in place, your nerve flow will be at its fullest capacity.

"I'm always astonished by how little is needed for an adjustment on babies and children, and how incredibly they respond physiologically. My greatest miracles in practice - some of them have been truly life-saving, a matter of life or death - were with babies. The parents knew very clearly that if those babies had not been adjusted, they would have died. Their medical situation was very complex and documented (by) some of the best children's hospitals in Pennsylvania. Then came the chiropractic adjustment and their entire physiology shifted, and that child lived. So, that to me has always been the bewildering factor about chiropractic."

~ Arno Burnier, D.C.

"Many think that health is merely the absence of pain or symptoms. A wellness approach to health means adopting a variety of healthy habits for optimum function on all levels - physical, mental, social, and spiritual. Because of its focus on the nervous system, chiropractic care can be an important part of a wellness lifestyle. The nervous system controls the function of virtually every aspect of our lives. So, maintaining a properly functioning nerve system is essential if you want to be your very best."

~ Dr. T.J. McKay and Dr. K.B. Jenkins

"Doctors of chiropractic play an important role in helping Olympic athletes prepare for competition and recover from injuries. Their visibility on the U.S. Olympic Committee's (USOC) medical staff has increased steadily over the years. We're taking five chiropractors [to the Olympic Games this year] and that just shows how far chiropractic has come since the first chiropractor joined the Olympic medical staff in 1980," says Dr. Michael Reed, a doctor of chiropractic who serves as a USOC medical director. "It has a lot to do with the requests of the athletes - they recognize the benefits of chiropractic in helping their bodies perform at peak condition."

~ Sentinel-Tribune, Osceola, IA

People have counted on chiropractic adjustments for years. A few cracks of the spine can make a world of difference, but according to Dr. Patricia Cline of the Cline Chiropractic Center, those adjustments can have some long-term benefits many folks may not realize. "You're going to have better resistance to colds and flu," she says. "You're going to feel more rested and may even sleep better."

~ Rob Poindexter, TV 5 News, Bangor, Maine

See Number 10 and apply to your family.

" I am a chiropractor working with the sciences of the universe by turning on the life in man throiugh the art of the adjustment. I do not prescribe, treat or diagnose conditions. I use only my hands. I work with that "mysterious something" which created my body from two cells."

~ BJ Palmer, D.C, Ph.C

"This is the time of year that headache complaints are on the rise. Colder weather, busier end-of-year schedules, holiday stress (and) over-indulgence in caloric foods and alcohol are just a few of the reasons that headaches are increasingly more common. If you have chronic headaches that won’t go away, call your chiropractor. More than ever, patients are finding relief in chiropractors’ offices for chronic headache pain. Tension, sinus and even migraine headaches usually respond to a series of chiropractic treatments."

~ Dr. Mark Kestner, The Murfreesboro Post, TN

“Chiropractic allows the body to heal itself naturally. Chiropractic adjustments free the nervous system to work effectively, which in turn aids the immune system’s functioning, as well the musculoskeletal system."

~ Dr. Todd Shelton, Valley News, Yelm, Washington

"Chiropractors will never be as busy as they could and should be until people lose faith in the unscientific religion of modern medicine."

~ Robert Mendelsohn, MD

Forget back pain and neck pain for a moment. Move symptomatic relief from aches and pains out of your mind. The most important aspect of chiropractic care is that spinal adjustments open up the nerve channels between the spinal bones, allowing the brain to effectively send its messages down the spinal cord and out through the spinal nerves. When the nervous system is flowing properly, the body works better, the body performs better, the body is healthier!

"Spinal misalignments (subluxations) can often flow into pain sensitive structures in the head and neck. Chiropractic spinal adjustments are important to restore normal spinal alignment and eliminate and/or reduce the irritations that can cause headaches. Misaligned vertebrae can affect the spinal nerves, muscles, and blood supply to your head."

~ Daily Observer, Pembroke, Canada

"The body's ability to function properly is based on the integrity of the nervous system. Chiropractic care can maintain a spinal column relatively free of nerve interference and thus enhance the body's innate ability to restore and maintain health."

~ Fred Barge, DC, PhC

"One of our biggest challenges is not the small percentage of people who don't go to a chiropractor, or those who do, it's the vast majority of people that have no idea who we are or what we are about," says Dr. Sigmund Miller, a chiropractor of 35 years who serves as executive director of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.

That's because people don't view chiropractic as a continual vessel for health and well being. They only see it as something that's necessary when the back is out of wack.

"We're primarily focused on caring for patients, adjusting the spine and improving quality of life," Miller says.

~ Courier News, Central Jersey.com

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