effects of subluxation (nerve interference) and corrected), you will know that we are
a family based practice. "Family", meaning children and adults alike. Even though
there is a great deal of interest in having children treated, there have been a few
fears. Please be assured that small spines and nervous systems thrive with regular
care just as adult ones do. Even more so, considering the growth children experience.
I adjust spines as young as 1 hour old (Dr. Dave's own kids), up through 101 years.
Our focus is to ensure that your entire family stays as healthy as can be.
In a recent pediatric case study, a 6-year-old girl named Mellisa
presented
with
severe misaligned vertebrae (subluxation) in her
neck, upper back,
hip and foot.
At such a young age this patient
had quite an extensive history.
She was born
C-section, fell head
first from the changing table, and suffered
several ear infections.
At the tender age of one, Mellisa began nebulizer
treatments for
asthma and at least
once a year was hospitalized for the
effects
of asthma and bronchitis. She had been
on more than twenty
antibiotics
in her lifetime in addition to her other daily medications.
Mellisa began a chiropractic care program starting with regular
weekly visits.
Results
were seen within the first 3 weeks of care.
Mellisa was no longer dependent
upon
daily doses of asthma medication.
After 6 weeks of care, she no longer needed
daily
treatments with
the nebulizer. After only 8 weeks of care, Mellisa was no longer
dependent upon any medication. Prior to chiropractic adjustments,
Mellisa's family
saw no results from years of medical treatment
and drug therapy. Over $100,000
was spent on medical care prior
to her first chiropractic visit.
Every child should start life subluxation free and live life
that way. Just think of the
contribution that child will make.
Children will not be allowed to suffer needlessly if
we are courageous
enough to have them checked.
We have read about the benefits of cold-water fish oils (omega3
and omega6
essential fatty acids) for adults in helping to keep
arteries clean, reducing chronic
and acute pain, etc. It has come
to our attention that supplementing infants and
children with
these essential fatty acids is not only beneficial but is vitally
important
to their growth and development.
Recent studies have shown that fatty acids such as EPA (Eicosapentaenoic
Acid) and
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) are necessary for proper
brain and retinal development.
These studies also suggest that
the absence of adequate amounts of these fatty
acids in the last
trimester and the first few months after birth produce irreversible
problems in the brain and retina.
Human milk contains preformed DHA, and if the infant is breast
fed, he/she
receives
adequate amounts of this essential fatty
acid. There are circumstances
under which
breast-feeding is impossible.
In such cases it is a good idea to use a
form of
supplementation.
We have researched a product for children to use. The
product
is called Infalinic, and the Key Company distributes
it. We believe it to be
the only product on the market specifically
designed for young children. (Call, e-mail,
or stop by the Office
for more information on this product.)
These fatty acids can also help protect the brain from nerve
(neuron) death due
to
chemicals in our diet - including taste
enhancers such as MSG (mono-sodium-
glutamate,
which is in cooked
foods as well as things like ketchup), and sweeteners
like Aspartame,
also known as Nutra-sweet. These chemicals can cause nerve
(neuron)
death with the smallest amount of the chemical in our
food. One common thread
that some researchers are finding in chronic,
neurologic diseases of aging
(i.e. Alzheimer's) are chemicals
such as glutamate.
It is more and more apparent to me that from birth to death,
fish or fish oil
supplements in the diet are extremely important.
a copy of Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by Willet and The Harvard School of Public Health.
This book references the following 11 principles for a longer, healthier life. Read them,
follow them, and be well!
- Maintain your weight
- Don't smoke
- Exercise 30 minutes a day
- Take omega3 and omega6 fatty acids daily
- No trans-fatty acids (i.e. hydrogenated or
partially hydrogenated oil) in your diet
- Use saturated fats sparingly in your diet
(margarine is worse for you than butter!)
- Avoid refined carbohydrates (i.e. pop, candy,
French fries, etc.)
- Eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruit and
vegetables per day
- Eat lots of whole grains
- Moderate protein intake (too much may
cause osteoporosis and liver/kidney troubles)
- Take a daily vitamin with B6, Folic acid,
B12, and D vitamins
During many conversations with patients I have discovered that
many enjoy
drinking
wine. I too enjoy wine occasionally and would
like to share with you a
little bit of
information I've just read
in Wine Spectator Magazine, December 15th,
2001
issue.
It has been known for quite some time that a diet similar to
a Mediterranean diet
as well as frequent use of red wine can significantly
reduce deaths attributed to
heart
disease, cancer, etc. This topic
has been researched heavily in the past ten
plus
years and continues
to be studied by researchers around the world.
It has been found that red wine contains polyphenols (tannis and flavinoids)
which
act as anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants
are similar to the anti-oxidants
we
get from
fruits and vegetables.
They help protect our body from cell destruction
and degeneration
(aging, via oxidation (i.e. rusting)).
The ethanol in wine can protect against heart and arterial disease.
European
researchers
have found that drinking three to five glasses
of red wine per day can:
- Reduce "all cause" mortality rates by 25-50%
- Reduce the risk of heart disease by about
one-third to two-thirds when compared with
beer and spirits drinkers
- Increase HDL (good) cholesterol
and reduce blood clotting
- Reduce the risk of developing age related
dementia and Alzheimer's by 50-80%
(depending upon age when related to non-drinkers)
- Reduce the risk of cancer deaths by 20-22%
I'm certainly not suggesting that we all go out and start drinking
three to five
glasses
of wine per day. Alcoholism is a major problem
in our society. What I am
saying is
that a diet with moderate
red wine use, coupled with reduced red meat,
more fruits
and veggies
and more olive oil has been proven to improve the quality
and
longevity of our lives.
It is well known that one of the biggest causes of breast cancer
as well as other
hormone related health problems in men and women
is excessive estrogen exposure
from diet as well as the environment.
Improving estrogen metabolism can benefit
women with a family
history of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, and conditions
such
as endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome, fibroid tumors,
etc.
Blood sugar metabolism can be regulated through dietary and
lifestyle modifications
such as increased fiber, reducing fat,
losing weight, increasing exercise, and increasing
phytoestrogen
intake. Other chemicals such as B vitamins, magnesium, calcium
D-glucarate and anti-oxidants can also help.
Liver detoxification, testing for and treating any apparent large
intestine dysfunction
and regulating diet (managing blood sugar)
can make a big difference in hormone
based conditions.
There are protocols we use in this office which could potentially
help identify and
treat many of these problems. If you are having
problems with hormone related or
digestion issues, please contact
Dr. Carlson for suggestions.
I read an article in two different printed sources and heard
about the same story on
Good Morning America. It shocked
and amazed me. It made me wonder what people
are thinking!
The
following represents one person's opinion.
The story had to do with heart disease, cholesterol, and drugs.
The article
suggested
that heart disease and high cholesterol
are at an all time high. It stated
"Approximately
32 million more
people will need to be drugged, probably for the rest
of their
lives to
deal with this problem!" The article did talk about exercise,
diet, etc.
While the
exercise
and diet suggestions are essential,
I felt it was just an afterthought;
a suggestion
made after the
drug prescription was emphasized.
I am speechless! Whatever happened to prevention from an early
age; to diet, to
exercise, to parental control over what our children
eat and drink!? We truly are what
we eat, drink and think. It
is not and has never been realistic to believe that we can
go
through life eating, drinking, smoking, sniffing, doing and feeling
any way that
we want to without significant health consequences.
The article on cholesterol is just
another example of the real
crises. While high cholesterol and heart disease are
serious problems,
they do not represent the true problem. It is the lack of basic
common sense (or lack of interest for a large portion of our population);
a failure
of the medical establishment to properly educate and
to put proper weight on preventive
measures such as the use of
diet and exercise instead of better health through chemistry.
By the time a person has high blood pressure or high cholesterol,
it is a crisis! We need
to get away from a crisis way of thinking
and work on serious prevention, from an early age.
Genetic factors aside, there are many ways to prevent a host
of medical challenges
such as these. A diet full of fruits, vegetables,
fiber, clean filtered water, plenty of rest,
clean air and exercise.
We should be eating more fish (the fatty acids can help in
keeping
our arteries clear and healthy). We can be taking multi-vitamins,
including
the B vitamins. B vitamins have been shown to reduce
the damage that homocysteine
can cause to our arteries. (If you
don't know what homocysteine is, please ask. You
need to know!)
We counsel patients on issues like these every day.
I hope some of you see the basic flaw in the old way. Live as
you wish, let your doctor
worry about the consequences later,
through medication. By then, the only options you
may have are
drugs and medications.
I know that most of my patients are very well educated. They
take a very learned
part in their health. They are afraid to question
the health care decisions that are
made on their behalf. I applaud
that effort. My hope is that more Americans will take
notice,
get involved in their own lives and the lives of their families.
I hope that they
will make better decisions and not rely on the
old way: which is to wait until a crisis
develops, then rely on
the M.D. to fix it all with drugs. This is not dress rehearsal.
This is our only shot at a healthy, happy life. We owe it to our
families and ourselves.
Every one of us needs to lead by example!
Yours in Health!
Dr. Carlson
On February 27th, 2002, there was an article presented on ABC
News about High
Blood Pressure and Acupuncture.
Dr. Randal Zusman of Massachusetts General Hospital has been
prescribing drugs
for high blood pressure problems for years.
He has recently been searching for
alternative methods of controlling
the problem.
Evidence is showing that acupuncture can control high blood pressure,
without the
side effects such as fatigue, depression, and dizziness.
Some patients in the study brought their blood pressure down
from 145 / 90 to
130 / 80. They were able to maintain this "normal"
reading without medications.
Dr. Carlson has been doing acupuncture for years and would be
glad to talk over
what acupuncture may be able to do for you!
When you are injured in an auto accident, the last thing you need to worry about is:
- Will my insurance company pay my doctor?!
- When/If they pay my doctor, will he be paid at 100%?
- Will I have to make up the difference on what is not paid by
the
insurance company?
- Will I have to pay a high deductible to see the doctor of my
choice?
- Will I get the type of care that I most need, when I need it,
as long as
I
need it in order to fully recover from my injuries and get back to my life?!
- If during the course of my treatment my insurance company sends
me
for an outside examination by another doctor, will this doctor be a
medical doctor or nurse working for the insurance company or will
he/she be picked from an impartial panel of other chiropractors?!
These are questions that will directly impact your life and
future if you are injured.
It is extremely important that you
find out whether you have signed on for PPO
(managed care) Auto
Insurance. PPO Auto Insurance dictates your care and generally
does not pay 100% of your bills. What you lose, greatly outweighs
what you will gain
from a premium discount.
added fuel to the concern over the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.(1)It has also
begun to address the recent concern of scientists about the increasing occurrence of
asthma in the United States.
The researchers surveyed parents of grade school age children
attending the Rudolph
Steiner schools in New Zealand. These six
schools were chosen because the schools'
philosophy of illness
causes it to "include a significant portion of parents who have
rejected the use of conventional treatments, including antibiotics."
A survey was sent to the parents of 612 students, of which 456
(75%) were completed
and returned. The survey was based on questions
from the International Study on
Asthma and Allergies in Children
(ISAAC). The history of the children revealed:
- Antibiotic Use (ever) 74.7%
- Antibiotic Use (first year of life) 36.3%
- Any Vaccinations 75.5%
- Ever Had Asthma 15.8%
The study looked at the odds ratio (risk) of children experiencing
asthma symptoms
based upon if, when, and how often they had taken
antibiotics. The most decisive
factors were when (before or after
the first year of life) and how often. The results
are quite sobering:
An "odds ratio" of 1.0 means the likelihood of a particular
event occurring is equivalent
whether or not a child has taken
antibiotics. Thus, a child given antibiotics during the
first
year of life has an odds ratio of 4.05, which means the child
is over four times
more likely to develop asthma symptoms than
the child who has never taken antibiotics.
All of these odds ratios are adjusted for confounding factors
of gender, ethnicity,
family size, family history of asthma, and
parents' smoking habits. Without accounting
for the confounders,
the odds ratios are as much as six times the risk experienced
by
children who have never taken antibiotics.
So, now childhood asthma is added to the list of potential hazards
to taking antibiotics.
This, along with the increase in antibiotic
resistance, should cause patients to think twice
about taking
antibiotics, particularly where not specifically required.
Parents (and future parents) should be immediately made aware of this potential risk.
Julian Crane, associate professor at Otago University and one
of the study's
investigators, adds a note of caution about the
findings: "Our paper, together with
a study published last year
in Thorax (Farooqi IS, et al. Thorax 1998;53:927-32),
raises the
possibility that broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly in the
first year of
life, may be associated with an increased risk of
atopy and asthma. For reasons that
have been pointed out in both
papers, these results cannot be taken as definitive,
but rather
as hypothesis raising.
"On the other hand, the results are plausible. Broad-spectrum
antibiotics came into
clinical usage in the 1960's, and their
increased use coincides with the time trends
for the increasing
prevalence of asthma. There is a plausible mechanism, namely
that
broad-spectrum antibiotics may alter and reduce bowel flora and
thus switch off
the immunological signals that these gut bacteria
send to the developing immune
system. Much more work needs to
be done to check out whether this effect is casual,
and if so,
what are the immunological processes that cause it," professor
Crane concluded.
(1)Wickens K, Pearce N, Crane
J, Beasley R. Antibiotic use in early childhood and the
development
of asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 1999;29:766-771.
Cholesterol may seem to be a bad word. Is it something to be
feared? Maybe; but cholesterol
has it's good points. It is necessary
for life to happen, yet too much of it can clog your arteries
and potentially kill you.
Changes in diet, more exercise, less stress, and medications
are the currently accepted ways to
deal with cholesterol levels
that are too high and threaten our cardiovascular system. The
most
common medications for dealing with high cholesterol levels
do often help. Unfortunately, they
are also pretty tough on your
body, often creating many side effects, including death.
There is a naturally occurring substance, policosanol,
which has been tested on people and
animals for over a decade
in Cuba. It is showing very impressive results in lowering cholesterol
levels without any significant side effects. It comes from sugarcane
wax and from the wax of
the
common honeybee. While not a drug,
policosanol had been tested against Lovastatin and
Prevastatin (two of a series of statin drugs used
to deal with cholesterol problems). It was
found
during these
randomized double blind studies that policosanol reduced overall
cholesterol,
LDL
and
VLDL ("bad" cholesterol) levels significantly
(equal to or exceeding the statin drugs) while
also
raising the
levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol). This was done without significant
side effects!!!
The
statin drugs also lowered total cholesterol
(LDL and VLDL) levels, but did nothing for the HDL
levels.
In
contrast to lowering cholesterol levels, the incidences of side
effects with the use of statin
drugs
continue to be significant
(i.e. gastrointestinal disturbances, myopathies (muscle problems),
headaches,
and liver dysfunction). People using these therapies
will frequently be asked to have
their liver enzymes
tested every
six months to look for signs of damage caused by these statin
drugs. Remember, policosanol
is not a drug and does not act on
the body the same way as the
statin drugs. Policosanol shows promise
in
reducing cholesterol and has also been found to slow
or
stop
platelet aggregation (blood clotting), which
definitely reduces
the risk of stroke or heart attack.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss using policosanol
in your quest to control cholesterol,
call or e-mail and make
an appointment to find out if this is a therapy best suited for
you.
- Be Well,
Dr. Dave
