Author Archives: Dr. Andrea

Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care for Headaches in Overland Park

13 Oct
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Acupuncture   |  Comments Off on Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care for Headaches in Overland Park

One of the most common reasons people seek Acupuncture and Chiropractic care for headaches in Overland Park is for headaches. Chiropractic care, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling can get you back on the road to a pain free life!

When you have a headache, your eyes hurt, your forehead pounds, your neck is sore and tight, and your scalp feels as if it’s being slowly removed.  Lights bother you and noise sets your teeth on edge. Then there are your children, the house, dinner, your spouse, and the daily demands of life.  You would like to stop the world and get off!

Headaches have been sold to the public as a disease to be “treated”.  Millions of dollars in advertising are spent annually on the benefits of drugs for headaches.  We’ve bought into this carefully contrived thinking.  Let’s look at this from a different perspective.  The word headache simply means ache in the head.  It’s not a disease.  It’s a pain – a symptom.  I’m not making light of the symptom: it can be severe and debilitating.

Most people are so busy treating their pain they forget that pain has a reason for being.  A headache is your body “talking” back to you and you need to interpret that language.  It’s a signal to let you know that your body’s having a difficult time handling something and the vast majority of headaches are found at the base of the head, in the region of the temples or over the eyes.

There are several different types of headaches and several different causes for each type of headache.  Chiropractors have found that many headaches signify a distortion of some of the vertebrae of the neck area affecting the function of the nervous system.  When this happens certain muscles are called into play to protect the nervous system from damage resulting in tension.

Some headaches are not caused by subluxations.  They can be caused by wrong diet, poor nutrition, toxins, hormonal changes, or a disease process.

No headaches should be taken lightly.  Something is not right.  At Stephens Chiropractic and Wellness we will provide a comprehensive examination to help determine the reason for your headaches. Stephens Chiropractic and Wellness will get you back to living a healthy life with chiropractic care, acupuncture, or nutritional counseling.

Chiropractic Solutions to Digestive Issues

16 Aug
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Chiropractic Solutions to Digestive Issues

Chiropractic Solutions to Digestive Issues

Many patients with digestive problems feel that their difficulties are just an inconvenience and that they can get by with only the occasional stomach cramping, constipation, and once a week diarrhea!  They think rectal bleeding is normal, that blood in the stool is OK, and that missing school or work because of these difficulties is just part of life!

I hate to burst your bubble.  It’s not normal.  Symptoms of digestive distress usually are indicators that there is a malfunction somewhere within the system.  Ignoring such signs is akin to cerebral constipation and one thing I’ve learned is that the body does not like to be ignored.  You can find chiropractic solutions to digestive issues you are experiencing!

Your digestive system is essentially a long tube that starts at your mouth and ends at your other end.  It has one purpose – to extract nutrients and energy from the foods you eat.  Digestive organs – esophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, and intestines – are simply modifications of that tube.  Certain digestive enzymes, juices, acids, and other additives are secreted into this system to make the digestion of foods and the extraction of energy more productive.  This system is efficient when it functions normally.

Many children and adults, however, suffer from a malfunction of the digestive system.  In fact the three most common conditions affecting intestinal function that I see in my practice are irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease is the most serious.  It’s a chronic and long-term ulceration of the digestive tract.  It usually extends through the wall of the intestine and involves all layers of your digestive tube.  In essence, the body attempts to heal localized ulcers and sores and produces scar tissue, which then restricts the movement of food through the system.

Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, mainly involves the internal layers called the “mucosa” and the “submucosa”.  An irritable bowel is even lesser on this scale.

Your nervous system runs your whole body and all its functions: your immune system, heart, healing ability, and even your digestive system.  All these function under direct orders from your nervous system.  If there is interference with its normal function, your body will not work the way it should.  We call this interference a vertebral subluxation.  It means that the nervous system is no longer able to control the normal function of your intestinal area.

A subluxation that caused this scope of damage has usually become a pattern the body has learned.  It’s a habit – a bad one!  A chiropractor will, in all likelihood, place a patient suffering with digestive difficulties on an intense schedule of care in order to get a handle on this bad habit as quickly as possible.  We are in fact changing neural programming.  However, it’s not treatment for these conditions.  Rather, the emphasis is to correct subluxations and make the body function normally.  Seeing a chiropractor is crucial in reversing this condition and insuring that the digestive tract is functioning optimally!

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

Infantile Colic and Chiropractic Care

09 Aug
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Children, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Infantile Colic and Chiropractic Care

Infantile Colic

Of all the health challenges that seem to plague infants, this is probably the one that causes the most upset with parents.  Imagine for a moment feeding your child, when all of a sudden he/she begins screaming at the top of their lungs, arms curling in, legs drawing up, with what seems to be agonizing pain.  All the common remedies associated with “over-the-fence” and grand motherly advice seem to be of no avail.  Colic and ear infections are the two that tug at mothers’ and fathers’ heart strings more than any other condition that you will see. Infantile colic and chiropractic care need to go hand-in-hand in minds of parents when their child is suffering from something this horrible.

Most text books describing colic mention that it usually happens in the evening hours.  I have not found that to be the case.  I found that it tends to occur at any time of the day and seems to have no rhyme or reason.  Colic, it seems, tends to start sometime in infancy, around the first few weeks of life, and persists for a number of months.

For those who are not familiar with infantile colic, and have never had the pleasure of dealing with a child who is so afflicted, you have no idea how devastating it can be on parents’ nerves.  Why?  I’ll tell you.  It is characterized by constant crying, screaming, whining, pain in the stomach area, and acute irritability.  (This is not cute irritability, this is acute irritability…big difference between the two).  The spells of crying can last for hours and parents’ nerves are shot at the end of such spells.  This type of crying leads to aerophagia, which means the swallowing of air.  This then causes distention or enlargement of the bowels which then creates more pain which creates more crying which creates more air being swallowed which then becomes a cycle.  Colic is also characterized by passing an exorbitant amount of gas and abdominal distension, which simply means the stomach area is enlarged and bloated.  As well, the infant does not appear to be ill, is gaining weight, and has a good appetite.  If either of those are absent, then the incessant crying can be caused by a problem different from colic.

There have been many theories people have used in the past to attempt to explain what colic really is and why it occurs.  Some authorities have blamed lactose intolerance, some felt it is caused by stress of the parents, stress of the baby, abnormal gallbladder function, higher levels of intestinal hormones, allergic reactions, digestive hormone instability, etc.  None of these seem to be it.

One of the biggest concerns of a child having colic, is that there is a potential for possible child abuse.  To be very frank, try to imagine a child screaming for hours nonstop.  I find that this will sometimes get on parents’ nerves and on occasion we see a condition which is called “shaken baby syndrome”.  This is a condition whereby the baby is literally shaken by the parents to somehow stop him/her from crying. This only takes place when mom and dad are at the very ends of their wit.  But, there is a no excuse for this behavior.  Shaking an infant can cause irreparable damage to a baby and even death.  I am not suggesting that this is a huge problem, but there is potential for abuse of an infant who happens to be colicky.  If you do ever feel that you as a parent are close to “losing it”, remember that there is a reason this takes place.

Colic is usually caused by a vertebral subluxation in the spine affecting the way the nervous system is controlling bowel functions.  Any chiropractor involved in seeing children will attest to this fact.  You must understand that the digestive system is essentially a long tube and is made of muscle walls, which are under the direct control of the nervous system.  I find that a vertebral subluxation will reduce the amount of information flowing from the brain to the large intestine in the case of colic – thereby reducing the normal function and motility of the large intestine.  This causes food to “stick around” in the large intestine longer than it should, and it tends to produce gas.  This gas causes distention of the intestinal wall, causing pain and crying.  The cry of the baby is really for help.

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

Children who are affected by colic generally show a wonderful response in the hands of a chiropractor.  If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 913-681-6013!

Chiropractic Care and Asthma

12 Jul
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Blog, Children, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Chiropractic Care and Asthma

Let’s chat about a condition that strikes fear and anxiety into the heart of almost every parent:

Asthma:

Most likely someone you know is suffering with this condition: Could be your child, a parent, someone close to you, or even yourself. I say this because there are thousands of children (and adults) afflicted by difficulty with breathing.

Just a few short years ago, a report on the status of Asthma in the United States conducted by the Pew Environmental Commission, estimated that Asthma cases will double by the year 2020. This means that one out of every 14 people will suffer from this condition. One out of fourteen? That is huge! I have to tell you that I am absolutely not Ok with that!
Currently, Asthma care costs over $11 billion annually and it is the number one reason for school absenteeism. It accounts for almost 2 million hospital visits and over 5000 deaths yearly in the United States alone!

From 1980 to 1994 the overall number of Asthma sufferers increased by 75 percent and 160 percent specifically in youngsters under four. The Department of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2000 Initiative) includes an Asthma strategy, although this report[1] states, “it will not be effective in reversing this alarming trend.”  A review of the research budget revealed that 70 percent of the funds designated for Asthma were spent on treatment and drug research while less than 9 percent was targeted for prevention.

“Almost nothing is going towards tracking the disease and very little is going
towards prevention and discovering the cause of the disease,” states Dr. Paul Lock, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission.[2]

It is estimated that in the next twenty-five years, 50 percent of all children will have difficulty in catching their breath —Did you catch that? 50%! That is not OK!

Why is this “dis-ease” becoming so rampant? Fabulous question! The medical community has no clue! We, on the other hand, have our suspicions! So….What can be done? Well, let’s see….United Kingdom scientists are beginning hospital trials to see the affects of certain bacteria on Asthma. “There is a global network of biological Asthma research which has demonstrated that the lower the exposure of a baby to certain types of bacteria, the higher the risk of Asthma,” states Dr. Charles Warner, child coordinator and professor of child’s health at the University of South Hampton.

As a matter of fact, researchers are adding a low dose of bacteria, which is commonly found in dirt to the diet of some 400 babies whose families have a history of Asthma. They will then study and assess the child’s risk of developing asthma. It is hoped that these bacteria will eventually play a role in boosting the children’s immune system.

Consider this: Consumers have been driven to be afraid of bacteria, fostering an inappropriate use of antibiotics (“just-in-case” prescriptions), and a market saturated with antibacterial soaps and cleaners. Not only have we created an environment in which resistant super-bug bacteria can thrive, but we also kill bacteria, which are actually beneficial and essential to balance the internal environment of our own bodies.
Not very smart or intelligent, is it?

Let’s look at Science of Breathing: Your body takes air from the outside. This air then passes through your nose, windpipe, and your bronchi. These are all parts of your personal “air conditioning” system, so to speak. This air is then filtered, purified, cleansed, warmed, and humidified before it enters your lungs. Think about the science behind this for a moment. There are amazing biofeedback loops at work here that inform your brain whether the air you are breathing in is too cold, too dry, too polluted, etc. These messages are relayed to your brain, which then makes minute corrections to your ‘program’ every second that you are alive. It is an amazing process and happens very exactly under the perfect guidance of your nervous system. Yes, your nervous system is responsible for this function – it is responsible for your breathing!

So, what is Asthma then?

In children (and adults) who have Asthma, the small tubes in the lungs, called bronchioles, become inflamed and irritated. They then contract and even spasm and produce mucous, which tend to plug up the breathing passages. Children can literally gasp for air. These “attacks” can last minutes or hours and can persist for a lifetime.

It is generally felt that an Asthma attack can be triggered by allergies, stress, pollen, pollution, lack of water, heredity, etc.
And it can be life threatening!

These children (and adults) are condemned to a life of bronchodilators, drugs, and steroids, all of which have serious side effects. These side effects can be either immediate or develop over a lifetime of chronic drug use. Asthma is said to be the leading cause of chronic illness among children. Not a fun thing to have. It is definitely a condition best avoided.

Here is the catch however, and I want you to really think about this for a moment: Have you ever wondered why some children subjected to the same stresses, pollens, etc., develop Asthma while others do not? After all, if Asthma was caused by all the factors the public has been taught and led to believe, then all children absolutely would have it.
Right?
Wrong!
Only some do, and their numbers have been rising at an alarming rate!

Why is that? (I love that question)
The standard medical first-line approach to dealing with Asthma is to prescribe inhalant steroids, the so-called “puffers.” These often reduce the frequency and intensity of Asthma attacks, but not without a price – and they certainly do not “cure” it. Steroid use has been linked to osteoporosis, stunted growth in children, nerve damage, and cataracts. The effects of long-term use are unknown since these drugs are still fairly new, believe it or not.
Steroids substitute for and decrease the body’s ability to make its very own steroids,
in response to stress. They also cause a major suppression of the immune system. Those taking high doses of these drugs are warned to avoid vaccinations that are made up of live viruses (MMR, Polio, Chicken Pox). If any of these viruses are contacted while steroids are being used, it could be life threatening. Although these drugs are often taken by pregnant and breast-feeding mothers they have not been tested for safety under these instances (though it stands to reason that these drugs will have similar effects on babies).

Many moms do not realize that all drugs cross the placental barrier and affect their baby. According to a recent study, “the majority of adults and children with Asthma experience unwanted side effects of medication; such as feeling generally restless, shaky hands, shaky feet, racing heartbeat, etc. These side effects have prompted 1 in 3 adults to reduce their medication and cause one in four to skip a dose at some point.”

Some authorities feel that Asthma is really a reaction to a lack of proper hydration of the body; that it is a lack of water. They, therefore, suggest drinking plenty of pure water to hydrate the body. In my practice, I have not met many children who like to drink pure water – it is boring. If you believe this is the solution, I recommend that you use a fruit concentrate, such as Ribena Blackcurrant Concentrate, mixed with 5 parts water for taste. It is an English drink but moms can pick it up in most grocery stores. Or you can use any other fruit drink that is not loaded with sugar.

Many researchers, on the other hand, have found that Asthma seems to be related to our current vaccination program: There are increasing numbers of scientists and practitioners who support this conclusion. Bart Classen M.D., of Classen Immunotherapies in Maryland, is among the most vociferous. (You are welcome to visit his web site at www.vaccines.net).

How does this work? Here is the reason: Vaccination alters the normal immune response and makes a child’s immune system overreact to something perfectly innocuous, plus, it introduces a foreign agent into their body – I shudder at the thought (I will be discussing vaccination and its effects on the health of our children in later issues of this newsletter)!

As a result, a child’s immune system is over-stimulated and becomes over-sensitive. Air, for example, that would not normally bother a person, can have an adverse effect on a child whose nervous and immune systems are “overloaded.” You may be surprised to learn that Asthma, difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, etc., are actually only symptoms.

It means that your child’s body (or yours) is not able to deal with this problem on its own!

To understand this better, I want you to think about this for a moment: D. D. Palmer, the Discoverer of Chiropractic, once explained it this way in 1885, “I desired to know “what is it that causes one man to be sick, while his partner, sitting at the same table, eating the same food, drinking the same water, breathing the same air, is healthy?”

If you understand this, you are on your way!

Doctors of Chiropractic like myself have been helping children with chiropractic care and Asthma for years. We need to remember that we are dealing with children, NOT their Asthma. Our approach recognizes that difference. We feel it is important to deal with the child, NOT his label.

Let’s take a look at how the body functions; Your Health is based on four profound principles:

1.    Your Body is self-healing

Yes, your Body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. It is designed to heal itself and regulate all its functions. Amazing!

And it follows a very exact program in order to perform all of its amazing functions.

You could say you are on “Auto Pilot!”

2. Your Nervous System runs and
controls your whole body and all its
functions. It controls the way you breathe, the way you digest food, what you see, the way you move, your immune system, and everything else.

3.   As long as there is no interference to the normal function of your nervous system, you should experience the best of health.

Period!

If something interferes with the function of the nervous system, it will no longer be able to control the body as it was meant to.
Your body will not work as it should.

It will do its “own thing.” This is called

Malfunction!

And if a part of the body is malfunctioning,

it will slowly start to become sick.

This is called Dis-ease.

When your body is no longer able to handle the disease stage, it will then “talk” to you in a language you can easily understand.

The language your body uses is called “Symptoms.”

So… what can interfere with the function of your Nervous System? Well….If one of the vertebrae of your spine becomes subluxated, it will interfere with the way the nervous system controls your body functions. You will no longer be able to function normally. Your body will do its own “thing”.

4.  My mission is to correct these Vertebral Subluxations.

This restores normal nervous system balance and all body functions start to improve – including Breathing!!! And no drugs are involved! I like that!

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

If you know someone who is suffering with Asthma, please have them talk with me. I can help!

Please…if you have any questions, or would like any information on any health topic, it would be my pleasure to help you!

 

Spinal and Disc Degeneration

27 Jun
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Spinal and Disc Degeneration

Last month I chatted with you about a condition that I see in my practice every single day – Osteoarthritis, Disc, and Spinal Degeneration. And I mentioned to you that it usually has a start in childhood – from a fall off a bike, off a tree, off a fence, hockey, skateboard, etc., – the causes are numerous.

Whatever the incident, it produces a Vertebral Subluxation which your child’s body then needs to adapt to. And it starts to learn how to adapt – the Vertebral Subluxation becomes a habit. It becomes a neurological pattern. And it affects the function of the nervous system. And it starts to affect body functions. And we have a problem.
I also mentioned that as the Subluxation escalates and becomes a habit, it tends to produce a progressive sequence of spinal and disc degeneration in four very specific phases.

I have also mentioned earlier, that for years there has been a general feeling that arthritis and all the Phases of Degeneration I described to you in the last issue of this newsletter, is simply just a normal part of aging – you are getting older. I would like to state emphatically that this type of thinking is absolute nonsense. It is like having Cerebral Constipation!

We know for a fact that Osteoarthritis and Spinal Degeneration are NOT caused by aging. This is not some “aging disease.” And it does not mean that your fate will be some rocking chair – your hands all gnarled and stiff – unable to walk. No. This is caused by some of the vertebrae of the spine being subluxated – and being that way for years – while others are perfectly normal.

Consider a case, for example, which I would see quite often in my office. This is an example of an individual who came to see me in pain, perhaps in the back, legs, weakness, numbness and tingling, cramping in the calf, and possible difficulty with bowel or bladder function. In most cases, this person would seek the opinion of the family medic who would perform an examination, followed by x-rays, and would discover that the bottom disc of the spine is severely deteriorated while the disc, two or three above that one, would be perfectly normal. This person would then be told that they have arthritis and degeneration because they are getting old!

Let’s look at the logic closely: How many of you would feel that the two discs and vertebrae I just described, because they belonged to the same person, are most likely the same age?  If you said yes, you are definitely on the ball. If the deterioration of this person’s disc (and spine) was due to his/her age, then the disc above it, below it, and everywhere else would look exactly the same. Is that logical? I’d say so. And, in almost every case I have seen at my office, there is usually one, or two, or perhaps three discs that are deteriorating and the rest are quite normal.

The point I am making is that Spinal Degeneration has little to do with aging.

I repeat – nothing to do with aging. It has everything to do with the fact that there is a subluxation in their spine which has been there for decades and has never been corrected! And….that person is allowing it to remain! Crazy!
Would you be in trouble? Yes! I would definitely agree with you! Yes!

What if it controlled your bladder? You’d be running to the bathroom constantly! And even dribbling!

And what if that nerve controlled your breathing? You would have difficulty catching your breath – Asthma.

Subluxations – they are not fun! And they can be likened to a dental cavity – causing destruction of the surrounding tissues over the course of time!

Earlier, I mentioned subluxations occurring during the process of delivery, and this is the very reason I very often find the beginnings of Spinal Degeneration in children who are ten, six, or even five years old. It is the beginning of the process. If I then saw this particular child as an adult at the age of thirty five, I would most likely see that same condition but much, much, more advanced – probably where you are!

But not all is Doom and Gloom. This next bit of news may just brighten up your day: A number of years ago, approximately fifty chiropractic doctors, from the Province of Ontario, Canada, were involved in a major research study that involved literally thousands and thousands of patients. They discovered that if a patient was placed on a schedule designed to actually correct their Subluxation habit and pattern, it was then possible to not only slow down the process of Spinal and Disc Degeneration, but also eventually arrest and stop it, and even reverse the damage. It could be reversed! Let me repeat this sentence to make sure there is no misunderstanding:

Spinal and Disc Degeneration can be not only slowed down and stopped, but also reversed. That’s profound!

Just a few years ago in October, he published a sequel to that original research paper where he found that over 85% of children demonstrated the beginnings of Spinal Degeneration! 85%! I am not ok with that!

The point I want to emphasize is that it is very important to have children checked to determine whether or not they have subluxations. Not only from the perspective of insuring normal health and function of the nervous system, but also to make certain that there is no error in the function of the vertebrae that would then cause this degenerative process to start.

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

So… please have your kids checked at our office – I want to make sure they are the
best they can be! It is a smart thing to do! And it would be my greatest pleasure to be able to check your kids! Simply ask me to schedule time for their check-up and I’ll take it from there. Easy!
I am very dedicated to the health of our children. I want to make certain that their generation grows up believing in the Power that makes their body function as it was meant to!


Can Chiropractic Help Menstrual Cramps?

21 Jun
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Can Chiropractic Help Menstrual Cramps?

YES!  Chiropractors in Overland Park have been helping women with menstrual difficulties for years.  I recently saw a 19 year old woman with such terrible menstrual cramps that she required hospitalization a number of times.  Her pain was nothing short of excruciating, I am happy (and so is she) to report she no longer suffers from menstrual cramps and now leads a normal life.

You may find this surprising, you probably thought chiropractors in Overland Park deal only with conditions such as back pain, neck pain and headaches.  That perception is beginning to change.

To understand how chiropractic can help with menstrual cramps, it is important to understand that chiropractic health care is based on four principles.  The body is a self-regulating organism designed to heal itself; the nervous system is responsible for running all body functions; any interference to the normal function of the nervous system will affect the way the body functions.

As chiropractors in Overland Park, our mission is to restore normal nervous system function, thereby restoring health.

Menstrual cramps are just one signal the body produces to let you know when something isn’t right.  There are others, including low-back aches, tingling in the legs, bowel problems, urinary difficulties, and leg cramps.

Dealing with these symptoms without determining their root cause is like placing a bucket under a leaky ceiling without repairing the roof.

In the case of menstrual cramps, it is important to find out why your daughter is suffering.  There is a reason.  Chiropractors in Overland Park are there to help and can provide recommendations.  In the case of the young woman I mentioned earlier, she had a vertebral subluxation at the bottom of her spine that affected the way her nervous system controlled her reproductive functions.  Such a subluxation is somewhat like a misalignment of one of the vertebrae of the spine affecting the delicate nerves responsible for menstrual functions.  By correcting this, normal nerve function is restored and symptoms disappear.

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

Chiropractic and Scoliosis

20 Jun
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Chiropractic and Scoliosis

Your child has just come home from school with a note from the public health nurse stating that he might have scoliosis.  The recommendation is that he be checked further. Your initial reaction is one of panic, followed by a good measure of guilt.  After all, you should have noticed this first.  You’re the parent.  This seems to be a very common scenario.  Most parents do not know what scoliosis is, how to detect it in their children or what to do about it. Chiropractic and scoliosis is what should come to your mind when you get this news.

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine.  When examined from the back it is bent laterally (sideways), compared to a normal spine, which should be straight.  It can damage a child’s health in a number or ways.

In advanced cases scoliosis tends to place pressure on the heart and lungs.  It can also lead to the development of advanced arthritis in the areas of the spine under maximum stress.  Posture becomes affected.  Clothing doesn’t hang properly and this could lead to problems with self-esteem.  Athletic ability can be compromised as well.  Other complications of scoliosis are too numerous to mention; ultimately it is a situation best avoided.

POSTURAL PATTERNS

There are essentially two types of scoliosis:

FIXED – This is caused primarily by certain genetic malformations of the spine and is very rigid. In other words, a child with this type of curvature always has it no matter what position he or she tends to assume.  Although very difficult to deal with, this type is extremely rare.

FUNCTIONAL – This is by far the most common.  This spinal curvature can “unwind” or “straighten” when a person assumes certain postures or positions.  It is most often labeled by family doctors and/or specialists as “idiopathic” which means “no known cause.”

Over the years, there have been a number of breakthroughs but they have all proven relatively unsuccessful:  body casts, corsets, physiotherapy.  Even Dr. Bobechko’s muscle stimulator implants of the late 70’s all have relatively dismal success rates.  Those curvatures which progressed rapidly were eventually scheduled for spinal surgery where any number of Steel Harrington rods were screwed into the spine in the hope of straightening it:  A barbaric ritual.

ADAPTIVE RESPONSES

As parents you need to be aware that scoliosis DOES have a cause.  It doesn’t descend upon your child out of the blue.  It will eventually cause other postural changes to which many parents have responded in a predictable manner: “stand up straighter,”  “pull your shoulders back,” “hold your chin up.”  These strange postures children assume are not to annoy parents.   The child is most likely unaware of the problem.  A child’s development of upright posture, walking, sitting and other complex movements is a critical period of time.

The young developing nervous system assimilates, differentiates and adapts to internal and external signals and data.  By these processes, this young nervous system learns new postural patterns and new future habits and reactions by responding to repetitive stimuli.  Such a developing nervous system is not always able to distinguish between proper and improper data.  It responds to both.

The response of this young nervous system is again neither “good” nor “bad”, but rather adaptive to the data that it is continually being conditioned for future response.  This process of neurological “learning or programming” of the nervous system with respect to movement, posture and body function, starts a few short months after birth and continues through preteen years and adolescence.  What this means is that the nervous system causes some muscles of the spine to become very tight and others to relax.  This simple example will tend to produce a curvature of the spine.  If the nervous system produces a different command, a different form of adaptation will take place.  I see this as a learned response.

SUBLUXATION

Dr. Fred Barge, past president of the International Chiropractors Association, wrote a wonderful book on scoliosis and he attributes this phenomenon to vertebral subluxation.  In other words, a misaligned vertebra affecting the way the nervous system transmits and processes information about its internal and external environment.  The misalignment causes the input data flowing to a child’s nervous system to erroneous.  The nervous system responds to this faulty input by abnormal muscle function, thereby producing a curvature in the spine as a means of best dealing with the data.  So you see, scoliosis is rarely the problem.  It is most often simply the result of a longstanding vertebral subluxation the nervous system is attempting to adapt to.

The possibility of the number of effects upon normal development by improper nervous system response and faulty programming are vast and far reaching – scoliosis is only one result.  In the care of children, a pediatric chiropractor is mainly concerned with the constant, chronic faulty data that disturbs normal nervous system function. It then becomes of paramount importance to prevent and eliminate this faulty programming before improper and inefficient habits are learned.  I see vertebral subluxations as a major threat to people’s health especially in children.  Please get your children checked by a chiropractor.

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

 

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

03 May
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Blog, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Pregnancy and Chiropractic

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and balances maternal pelvic muscles and ligaments. This in turn reduces torsion in the uterus, a cause of intra-uterine constraint of baby and allows for optimal fetal positioning in preparation for birth.

Chiropractors work with the body’s ability to adapt and function the way it is designed to. Pregnancy and chiropractic care, it is vital to the normal physiological function of both the mother and baby in pregnancy and birth:

In the mother:

-Prepares the pelvis for an easier pregnancy and birth by creating a state of balance in pelvic bony structures, muscles, and ligaments.

-Removes tension on the ligaments that support the uterus thus reducing torsion (intra-uterine constraint) to the woman’s uterus.

-Reduces interference to the mother’s vital nerve system which controls and co-ordinates all of her systems and functions.

-Allows for a safer easier birth for the mother decreasing the potential for intervention.

To the infant:

-Removes interference to the mother’s nerve system allowing for better baby development.

-Allows the baby the room to develop without restrictions to its forming cranium, spine, and other skeletal structures.

-Offers the baby the room to move into the best possible position for birth.

-With proper fetal positioning, there is a significant decrease in dystocia and the resulting birth trauma caused by intervention.

ASPARTAME

25 Apr
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Blog, Health Tips   |  Comments Off on ASPARTAME

ARE YOU POISONING YOUR KIDS?

How many of you have felt uneasy about the amount of diet soft drinks your children are consuming each day?

As a chiropractor, I am very concerned with the increasing use of artificial sweeteners especially in children.  The most widely used of these is aspartame – marketed as NutraSweet, Equal or Spoonful.

At a recent World Environmental Conference, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that there was an increasing epidemic of multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus caused by unknown toxin.  It was soon discovered that the toxin in question was aspartame.

When the temperature of aspartame exceeds 30C, the wood alcohol (methanol) in aspartame converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which causes metabolic acidosis.

If you think this is not a problem – think again.  Body temperature hovers around 37C – perfect conditions for aspartame to be converted to formaldehyde.  This affects the retina of the eye which is not a pleasant side effect.

Formaldehyde is in the same drug class as cyanide and arsenic which are deadly poisons.  It is also used to embalm corpses and as a preservative in vaccines.  It has no business being in your child.

Aspartame changes the brain’s chemistry and has been responsible for many neurological problems such as seizures, manic depression, rage and violence.  This methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis, so people were being diagnosed with MS in error.

In the case of systemic lupus, it is becoming rampant especially in Diet Coke & Diet Pepsi drinkers.  It is triggered by aspartame.  With continued use, it can be life threatening.  When kids get off aspartame those with systemic lupus usually become asymptomatic, but the disease cannot be reversed.

Those diagnosed with MS, when in reality the disease is methanol toxicity, have noticed most of their symptoms disappear.

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in the legs, cramping, dizziness, headaches, joint pains, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision or memory loss you may be suffering from aspartame disease.

This product is being promoted as a weight-loss sweetener.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Aspartame actually makes one crave carbohydrates.  Dr. Roberts, a diabetic specialist and a world expert on aspartame poisoning, stated at an American Congressional hearing that the average weight loss was nine kilograms in people who stopped taking this chemical.  Dr. Blaylock, a neurosurgeon, said that it stimulates the brain causing brain damage of various degrees.

Why has this chemical not been taken off the market?  The manufacturer funds the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association, the American Congress and the Conference of the American College of Physicians.  Need I say more?

For safe and sweet alternatives to aspartame, you can try: fructose, stevia, barley malt, brown rice syrup, honey, dark molasses and demerara sugar.  These are all available at your local health food store.  Let’s take care of ourselves!!

INFERTILITY

19 Apr
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Blog, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on INFERTILITY

INFERTILITY

One of the most devastating problems facing many couples today is not being able to have a child. I see infertility in many of my patients and the anguish is nothing short of heartbreaking for those who really want to have one. Many such couples have been everywhere – clinics for fertility enhancing drugs, vitamin injections, artificial insemination, and counseling.

Understanding the process of conception is important. A fallopian tube is one of a pair of long, slender ducts serving as a passage for the ovum (eggs) from the ovary to the uterus and named after Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio. When a woman ovulates, the egg goes down one fallopian tube one month and then down the other fallopian tube the next. It alternates to give one or the other a “break”.

The egg starts at one end of the tube and ends up at the uterus or womb at the other end. The egg does not swim or have flippers, arms, or, legs. It’s carried along by what we call passive transport. In other words, it’s simply a bystander going for a ride – much like a ride in a convoluted water tube of a water park. The reason this takes place is because of a very exact function of the different muscles that make up the walls of the fallopian tubes. They literally “squeeze” the egg from one end of the tube to the other. The purpose of this function is to meet the sperm at the other end so that fertilization can take place and a fetus can start to develop.

This process is called peristalsis and is similar to swallowing while you eat: the muscles in your esophagus – the tube through which you swallow food – literally guide what you have just swallowed all the way down into your stomach. The same process happens with the fallopian tube.

In most couples who are labeled infertile it seems that the egg is not able to make it through the tube to meet the sperm. Unless that union is allowed to take place, there is no pregnancy, hence no baby.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

Let’s look at this even closer.

The muscles of the ducts propel the egg from one end to the other, in order to meet the sperm. In cases of infertility, however, this does not take place. Why would muscles that are designed and programmed to perform that very special function every month, decide suddenly that they simply won’t do it? Well, the answer is quite simple – it’s not their decision. The muscles of your body do not decide on their own what to do. They are literally ordered or not ordered to do their job.

In cases of infertility, I have found that the muscles are simply not able to take the egg from one end of the fallopian tube to the other. In most cases, it’s the fault of the nervous system that controls that very function. From my experience as a chiropractor in Overland Park, I have found that the culprit is a misaligned vertebra, generally in the lower spine, which interferes with the manner in which the fallopian tubes would normally function. By correcting this and allowing the nervous system to control the function of those fallopian tubes normally, couples can achieve pregnancy.

If you, or someone you know, are having difficulty achieving pregnancy, I strongly suggest they consult a chiropractor in Overland Park for an opinion first, before time is wasted on seeking some new wonder drug or therapy.

 

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