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Chiropractic Discovery: Where did modern chiropractic come from?

We say “modern chiropractic” because spinal care is thousands of years old and found in cultures all over the world.

But this natural, drug-free, powerful, and yet safe healing art was, as happens too often, lost amidst the sands of time. Mankind then became infatuated with drugs, chemicals, and surgery.

Spinal care was rediscovered in 1895 by Dr. Daniel David Palmer who practiced in Davenport, Iowa. DD Palmer was a magnetic healer (energy healer), scientist, and researcher who “accidentally” restored a man’s deafness by adjusting his spine. This discovery was the seed from which modern chiropractic grew.

This newspaper ad, “Are You Sick and Disheartened”, was one of a series of broadsides from the turn of the century. Dr. Palmer describes his old/new discovery and invites the public to discover for themselves this amazing drug-free, natural, safe, and powerful healing art, science, and philosophy. The list of people suffering from nearly every condition who benefitted from his “hand ministrations” (his original name for chiropractic) was impressive. Many people traveled far and wide to experience and benefit from DD Palmer’s discovery.

Dr. Palmer opened a school to teach others; soon his students spread to all parts of the US, Canada, Europe, and beyond.

This made-in-America healing art has brought relief, health, and healing to millions of people from infants to the elderly and everyone in between. Please tell your friends and relatives that there is a safe alternative to drugs and surgery that has no side effects – except satisfaction!

Researching Chiropractic: Eczema, ADHD, Meniere’s

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, or facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? 

Probably most of them.

Eczema, Ear infections in a 28-month-old

A 28-month-old boy suffering from eczema, ear infections, and poor balance was brought in for chiropractic care.

The child had a persistent rash since the time of his first birthday. The mother tried numerous emollients and lotions without success to help with the intense itching.

Subluxation-focused chiropractic adjustments were administered. The child had 27 visits over a 3-month period. At his 3-month re-assessment, his mother reported his eczema to be gone. The patient remains under regular chiropractic care and experienced only one eczema outbreak over the following 3 years. His ear infections resolved, and his balance improved. (1)

ADHD in a 5-year-old

A 5-year-old boy was brought to a chiropractic office for an examination, for the detection and correction of subluxations. Vertebral subluxations were located, and the child received a total of 54 adjustments in the upper cervical (upper neck), thoracic (mid-back), lumbar (lower back), and sacrum over six months of care. The mother noted improvements in behavior. (2)

A 63-year-old woman with Meniere’s

Meniere’s disease is characterized by a spinning sensation (vertigo), hearing loss, ear ringing (tinnitus), and ear pressure. Vertigo may be so severe that the sufferer could experience severe nausea and imbalance. 

This is the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented to a chiropractic office with a 10-year medical history of right-sided Meniere’s disease that included tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo. Medical care included surgery: cutting her right vestibular (cranial) nerve that was believed to be causing the problem. The surgery failed to reduce and/or resolve original symptoms.

Eventually, she decided to explore chiropractic care. A chiropractic examination revealed a vertebral subluxation of the first cervical (C-1 or atlas) vertebra. These are the vertebrae immediately below the skull. Her atlas vertebra was adjusted, and her Meniere’s symptoms were painlessly and non-surgically reduced with eventual complete resolution. (3)

Do you know someone with any of these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

  1. Herring R, Piehl L. Resolution of Eczema, Ear Infections & Balance Problems in a Boy Undergoing Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation: A Case Study & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~April 18, 2022, ~ Volume 2022 ~ Pages 26-32
  2. Boman C, Stolarski K. Improvement in ADHD Symptomatology Following Chiropractic in a 5-Year-Old Male: A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ Volume 2022 ~ May 2, 2022, Pages 33-43
  3. Pennington D, Miller JD. Successful Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Meniere’s Disease post-Vestibular Nerve Section: A Case Report. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ November 30, 2015, ~ Pages 34-40.

Posture and Depression

Research shows that poor posture or abnormal spinal alignment can take years off your life! And create stress associated with mental depression and other disorders. If that doesn’t tell you posture is important, what does?

For over a century chiropractic care has been improving posture and function. As you continue through your care in our office you will notice drastic improvements in your posture as well as your overall health. Including your mental attitude. There have been many studies relating posture to physical and mental health.

posture and depression

Depression

Researchers found that people who were depressed experienced an improved mood after they changed their posture to be more upright. In one study sixty-one men suffering from mild to moderate depression were chosen to sit with their usual posture or upright posture. Changes in facial expression, fatigue, and speech were assessed. 

Results

Those who assumed better posture had less fatigue compared to those keeping their usual posture. Also, the upright group exhibited less negative affect and lower anxiety. It seems that developing good posture habits can help you feel more confident, energetic, and happy. If you’re slouching as you read this, pause and pull your shoulder blades back and together, relax your shoulders down away from your ears, and look up. The more you work on it, the easier it will get, and simple changes like this can result in a noticeable difference in how you feel day in and day out.  (1, 2)

Severity of Depression

It was found that there was a relation between the severity of depressive symptoms and the degree of spinal curvature. This was especially noticed in working environments. (3) 

Chiropractic helps promote a natural body alignment. Do you know anyone who is miserable and sad all the time?  Send them our way.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547

  1. Wilkes C, Kydda R, Sagarb M, Broadbenta E. Upright posture improves effect and fatigue in people with depressive symptoms. Psychiatry, Vol. 54, March 2017, Pp. 143-149. 
  2. Canales JZ, Fiquer JT, Campos RN et el. Investigation of associations between recurrence of major depressive disorder and spinal posture alignment: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Gait Posture, 2017 Feb; 52:258-264.
  1. Kim YK. The Association between Working Posture and Workers’ Depression Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Mar 3;10(3):477.

Researching Chiropractic: Defiant behavior, GERD, High BP

How many people suffering, on drugs, or facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?   Probably most of them.

Non-verbal and defiant behavior in a 3-year-old

A 3-year-old girl who was non-verbal and had been exhibiting defiant-like behavioral issues since age two was brought in for chiropractic care. She was unable to connect with family members verbally, emotionally, and physically. Medical interventions, such as speech therapy, failed to make significant improvements.

Chiropractic adjustments were given to address her vertebral subluxations. She received care once a week for 20 weeks.

The mother reported that she was able to start communicating and connecting with her family, loved ones, and the outside world with no complications following the delivery of chiropractic care.  Improvements included falling asleep and quality of sleep, ability to concentrate, attention and focus. In addition, she was no longer displaying defiant-like behaviors. (1)

High blood pressure in a 52-year-old woman

A 52-year-old woman with a chief complaint of high blood pressure began chiropractic care. Her initial blood pressure reading was 185/90 mmHg.  She was advised by an MD to take medication but decided to seek chiropractic care first. 

She received one adjustment a week for 12 weeks. Adjustments were needed in the cervical (neck), and thoracic (mid-back) regions of the spine as well as the pelvis. At her second visit, her BP was reduced to 165/88 mmHg. At the 7th office visit, BP proved to have significantly decreased to a reading of 130/86 mmHg and by the 12th visit, it had reduced to 106/62 mmHg. The experience, in this case, has been found to be consistent with other studies showing chiropractic’s benefit for hypertension. (2)

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD)

A seven-month-old girl suffering from unresolved acid reflux for two months was brought in for chiropractic care. Pediatrician-prescribed drugs (Pepcid T and Zantac) were ineffective. The child was unable to sleep through the night due to the pain and discomfort from being gassy and constipated. 

By week four, the mother says her daughter is like “a new baby!” The mother has taken her off all reflux medications and her signs and symptoms have subsided.  The child was now responding to others, pleasant, and sleeping well. (3)

Do you know anyone suffering from any of these health issues?

If you know anyone who may be experiencing these issues, please share this article with them and encourage them to make an appointment with us. Call 517.627.4547 today!

  1. Hock S, Miller, C. Resolution of Defiant Behavior and Improved Speech in a Non-Verbal Toddler Following Reduction of Vertebral Subluxation: A Case Study. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ March 25, 2022 ~ Pages 17-21
  2. Martin S, Rauch M. Reduction in Blood Pressure Following Chiropractic Care in a 52-Year-old Female: A Case Study & Review of Literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ March 14, 2022 ~ Volume 2022 ~ Pages 65-70
  3. Scott Gill S, Gill. Resolution of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder in an Infant Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ April 8, 2022 ~ Pages 22-25

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the most popular drug-free, non-surgical, natural, scientific, and philosophical healing art in the world. Millions of people, from infancy to the elderly, have found their health restored by chiropractic care.

Imagine healing without drugs and surgery! Your body has an amazing healing ability; the job of your chiropractor is to ensure that your healing potential is as close to 100% as possible by freeing your body of deep stress – the subluxation. 

Subluxation is a physical distortion of your spine and structural system that stresses your nervous system and weakens your muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and discs. Sometimes subluxations result in pain and stress, and sometimes subluxations are pain-free. Chiropractors spend thousands of hours in chiropractic school learning how to locate and correct (adjust) subluxations. 

Do you have any subluxations in your body? Do your children? Does your spouse? Come in for a chiropractic evaluation and discover why millions of people visit their neighborhood Doctor of Chiropractic every year.

No Pain Means I’m Healthy?

Sometimes I think it’s a shame

When I get feeling better when I’m feeling no pain

Sometimes I think it’s a sin

When I feel like I’m winning when I’m losing again

Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown”

Using Painkillers

It’s sad when people are dependent on drugs, especially painkillers. While a blessing to those who are suffering, painkillers do not correct the cause of the pain, can cause addictions and can have serious side effects and adverse reactions.

Pain, per se, is the result of tissue damage. Getting rid of pain with drugs does not deal with the cause of the pain. 

Chiropractors are famous for telling people that their body is the world’s greatest drugstore. That means that when functioning properly, with life energy flowing and communicating to all its parts, the body will make all the drugs it needs – and it’s all for free! Of course, it’s important to give your body good raw materials (good nutrition) from which to make your internal “drugs” (chemicals). 

It is for that reason that people often say that DC stands not only for “Doctor of Chiropractic” but also “Doctor of Cause.” 

Chiropractors are known for helping people with (neuromusculoskeletal or MSK) pain. Let’s break up the word – neuro (nerve) musculo (muscle) skeletal (skeleton) pain. In lay terms, we’re describing back, neck, hip, arm, leg, hand, wrist, knee, and many other pains.

Why wait until you have pain or feel sick? 

Chiropractors specialize in locating and correcting (adjusting) a condition that weakens the muscles, joints, ligaments, discs, spine, and other body parts. It’s called a subluxation and it’s a “silent killer”, painlessly and slowly undermining your body’s integrity and health. Like termites, subluxations can undermine your health even if on the surface you are feeling “okay.” Your energy may not be ideal, your sleep may not be restful, and your digestion and elimination may not be what they once were – why wait until pain occurs?

Even though you are pain-free, don’t assume your body is subluxation-free. Chiropractors can locate the hidden subluxations that are undermining your health now before obvious symptoms occur. if you are not feeling 100%, get thee to a chiropractor to ensure you are free from subluxations. 

Getting checked and adjusted for subluxations will help you and your family stay healthy your entire life.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547

Researching Chiropractic: GERD, Low Back Pain, Sleep Problems

How many people suffering, on drugs, or facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?   Probably most of them.

Eight-month-old with GERD, sleep disorders, torticollis, and more…

An 8-month-old boy who experienced birth trauma was suffering from severe gastrointestinal disorders (GERD), constipation, torticollis, plagiocephaly, developmental delays, and abnormal sleeping patterns after a traumatic delivery. Medical care and physical therapy had failed to help.

Chiropractic care was applied to correct vertebral subluxations.

The patient’s mother reported complete resolution of his GERD. He was able to discontinue the use of Zantac and Prilosec. His sleep problems and constipation were resolved. In addition, he had complete resolution of his torticollis with a full neck range of motion. He began to reach his developmental milestones. (1)

Low Back Pain, Radiculopathy, and Concomitant Depression

The patient is a 44-year-old man with low back pain and nerve symptoms going down his legs. His symptoms occurred after a fall 6 months prior. 

After six weeks of care, all lumbar radiculopathy symptoms resolved. (2) 

Sleep Problems, Digestion, Behavior, and Allergies in a 5-year-old girl

A 5-year-old girl with a CASK gene mutation presented for chiropractic care complaining of poor sleep, allergies, poor digestion, and other issues.  The patient was under care over the course of three months and her mother reported:

“[Her] sleep improved very soon after we started to care. Prior to chiro care, she was waking 2-3 times per night…soon decreased to less than once a night within the first month of care…digestion improved; bowel movements previously occurred 3-5 times a week and within the first month or so they began occurring daily… would crumble to the floor in absolute despair, and if left to ‘cry it out’ would last upwards of 45 min…the episodes were shorter, less dramatic, more manageable, and less stressful for the whole family… [her] allergies [were] so bad…she was not able to blow her nose or clear her sinuses, and would have an open mouth just to breathe, allowing for drool…allergy attacks have been completely manageable with a couple of days of allergy medicine, natural remedies, and adjustments. No more need for bibs….”

Both subjective and objective improvements were observed in our patient progressively throughout her care plan and guided the practitioner in his application of care. (3)

  1. Boman C, Allen J. Resolution of Severe Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Chronic Constipation, Sleep Disturbance & Developmental Delays Following Chiropractic in an Infant with Birth Trauma: A Case Report & Selective Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ July 14, 2020, ~ Pages 18-25
  2. Gianopulos SG and Harris J. Chiropractic Care of a Patient with Low Back Pain, Radiculopathy and Concomitant Depression: A Case Report. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ April 20, 2015, ~ Pages 39-42
  3. Bronstein D, Clifford C.  Improvement in Sleep, Digestion, Behavior, Allergies, and Gait in a Child with a CASK Gene Mutation Undergoing Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ February 4, 2022, ~ Vol. 2022 ~ Pages 1-5.

Do people sometimes feel worse after a chiropractic adjustment?

This is a common question we get asked in our office.

ANSWER: As deep stress is released people may experience “retracing.”

retracing

Retracing is a beneficial healing phenomenon that is seen when there is deep stress release.  It may make patients think they are getting worse – they are, in fact getting better. Chiropractic care wakes up your inner healer and that often results in relaxation, a decrease in pain, comfort, balance, and more energy. Retracing may cause the patient to think they are getting worse when the opposite is happening.

For example, old injuries that haven’t healed completely may “reawaken” for more complete healing.  

As your body rebalances it begins to use muscles differently and you might temporarily feel “charley horse” or muscle soreness.

Some people may experience diarrhea or even a dormant cold may come to the surface. This is usually a cleansing (detoxification) of the body which is a good (though temporarily uncomfortable) reaction. An extra glass or two of water, a bath with Epsom salts, or a sauna may help flush the toxins. 

Memories and feelings associated with an injury may come to the surface. 

Dreams may be unusual, intense, or revealing aftercare. 

The Most Important Benefits

The true benefits of the adjustment are usually found below the level of consciousness. It is when the nerve communication to the heart, lungs, joints, sexual organs, skin, eyes, ears, and the brain itself are improved that the true benefits of chiropractic are experienced.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547

Are you adapting? What is adaptation? 

Have you ever coughed or sneezed? Did you ever have a fever? Do you sweat when hot? Shiver when cold? Do you get out of breath after you run? Do you get hungry? Thirsty? Do you run from danger?

What are these questions about?

Adaptation.

adaptation

Adaptation is your ability to respond to changes in the environment physically and mentally, internally, and externally to maintain your balance or homeostasis (a word coined by the great American physiologist Walter Canon.) (1)

Adaptation is terribly complex and can involve all your organ systems. It is of supreme importance. Your ability or inability to adapt can make the difference between health and sickness, even life and death. Some of the ways you adapt are by ridding your body of toxins, (coughing, sneezing, fever).  Another way you adapt is by utilizing oxygen and food for energy, digestion, ridding your body of wastes, and hundreds if not thousands of other day-to-day functions you probably don’t think about.

You don’t have to, your body’s wisdom takes care of your many needs. Simply put, the better you can adapt to change the better off you are in
every aspect of your life.

Your nervous system

The key to adaptation is your nervous system. Your brain, spinal cord, and nerves are the most sophisticated communications system in the universe!

Every moment billions of messages are streaming into your brain and spinal cord from the world around you and from the world inside you – cells, pores, blood, glands, muscles, joints, organs, and other body parts.  At the same time, billions of messages are being sent out from your brain and spinal cord along your nerves to every cell, pore, gland, muscle, joint, organ, and body part.

The better you are at adapting to change, the healthier you are. That means higher resistance to disease, better ability to neutralize germs, viri, poisons, drugs, pharmaceuticals, cancer cells, malformed cells, genetic mutations, and more!

Keep your nervous system free of stress.

Chiropractic care helps keep your communication lines open and free from stress, so messages can travel without interference. Your ability to adapt is at its optimum. Adaptation is the key to health and life.

The Subluxation

There is a condition that causes stress to your nervous system and prevents it from communicating, it’s called the subluxation. Subluxation is a distortion that can cause nerve interference, “static” over your communication lines (nerves). Subluxations can be due to a difficult birth, chemicals, toxins, drugs, pharmaceuticals falls, accidents, or emotional stress.

Chiropractors spend years learning how to locate and correct (adjust) subluxations.

Come in for a chiropractic check and correction (adjustment) and bring your family too so you all can adapt as fully as possible to all the stresses in your life.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547

  1. What is homeostasis? Scientific American.  Jan. 3, 2000. 

Researching Chiropractic: Migraines & Asthma

How many people suffering, on drugs, or facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? Probably most of them.

Chronic Migraines in a 15-Year-Old

A 15-year-old boy came to the chiropractic office complaining of migraine headaches.  They began when he was three years of age! At that age, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. When he came to our office, he was averaging one migraine every 3 weeks. Research has revealed that 10% of school-age children and 28% of adolescents (i.e., between 15-19 years of age) experience migraine headaches.

X-rays revealed a possible upper cervical (upper neck) vertebral subluxation involving C-1, the first vertebra beneath the skull, and C-2, which lies below C-1. 

On the first visit, the patient was adjusted to remove/reduce his subluxations. Immediately the sharp pressure he was experiencing prior began to alleviate. Over the next 24-months, he experienced only 5 migraine headaches. (1)

Asthma in a two-year-old

Asthma in children is very prevalent in the general population with 9 million U.S. children under 18 being diagnosed with asthma. In 2005, an estimated 22.2 million people in the U.S. suffered from asthma. Asthma is the leading cause of school absence in the United States.

 

In this case, a twenty-four-month-old boy suffering from asthma, chronic colds, and respiratory issues since birth was brought in by his mother for a chiropractic evaluation.  When he came in for care he was taking two medications prescribed by his pediatric pulmonologist, Flovent and Singulair, daily. 

The child was delivered prematurely at 31 weeks by emergency cesarean section. 

At the initial chiropractic examination, the patient was “fully vaccinated.” 

Both upper and lower spinal areas showed evidence of subluxations. 

Multiple subluxations and the subluxations were adjusted. The child’s care plan was initially set at 2-3 times a week for the initial four weeks however after the 4th visit, the mother stopped giving her son the prescription medications due to his improvement in symptoms. As of this writing in the past two years, the child has had no asthma symptoms and has reported only one cold. (2)

Numbness and Burning in the Arm, Stiffness in the Neck

The patient suffered from chronic progressive cervical radiculopathy (pain and numbness radiating from the neck) for two months prior to seeing a chiropractor. The patient had numbness and a burning sensation in the right arm and stiffness in the lower cervical spine.

The patient received chiropractic care to adjust vertebral subluxations. After 11 visits the patient reported a significant improvement in numbness and tingling in her arm and an improvement in quality of life. (3)

If you know anyone who may be experiencing these issues, please share this article with them and encourage them to make an appointment with us. Call 517.627.4547 today!

  1. Esarco J, Alcantara J. Resolution of Chronic Migraines in a 15-Year-Old Male Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ Volume 2022 ~ January 11, 2022  ~ Pages 1-6. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, Volume 2022
  2. Davis H, Barley A. Correction of Subluxation and Alleviation of Asthma Symptoms in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Study. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – July 19, 2012
  3. Davis H, Barley A. Correction of Subluxation and Alleviation of Asthma Symptoms in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Study. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – July 19, 2012.  Lorigan AL, Smith S, Bennett JL. Resolution of Cervical Radiculopathy in a 61-Year-Old Female Receiving Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care: A Case Report. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ September 9, 2015 ~ Pages 154-156.

Why is Your Nervous System Important?

The goal of Chiropractic is to locate and correct subluxations to release stress from your nervous system. Why is that important?

Why is your nervous system important?

Without it you’d be in the ultimate sensory deprivation tank – not be able to connect with anything or anyone not seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or moving. You’d be completely alone inside yourself. 

It’s your connection to your inner and outer worlds – to all your body parts.  You need it so all your body parts and cells (billions and trillions of them) will work together in a coordinated, harmonious manner.

Your nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and more!  You’ve got billions of nerve fibers – and they make up the most powerful communications system in the universe – and it’s inside you.

A healthy nervous system is needed for your entire body and mind to work at their optimum. A subluxation is a distortion in your body structure that stresses your nervous system and interferes with its function. This interference can cause dis-ease (body-mind-energy malfunction) and dis-ease can in time result in disease. Your Doctor of Chiropractic is an expert at locating and correcting (adjusting) subluxations helping your nerve system/communications system function without interference. The result is an improved function in every system of your body.

Call us to make an appointment today!

(517) 627-4547