One of my favorites

Posted on February 19, 2019 by admin

Things don’t always go as we’d like. Sometimes on this journey called life, it feels like nothing ever goes the way it should. That’s exactly when we need to stop, take a breath and put things back into perspective.

To get started, here’s a couple of my own: I’ve never had to go a day without enough to eat and on a few occasions I’ve been lucky enough to be charitable with others. I was blessed with parents who saw the benefit of a good education, and cared enough to help me get one. I’m fortunate to have been accepted into the chiropractic profession where we get to see the awe inspiring improvements in the people we work with every single day. As an educator in a leadership role, I gained the respect and admiration of honest colleagues, and even tasted the bitterness of betrayal by a few who hadn’t yet come to know integrity. For all of these experiences I remain thankful.

In presentations before graduating classes I used to quote the following verse that I hoped might help them on their journey.

“ANYWAY”
(Found written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s children’s home in Calcutta, this poem may have been originally composed by Kent Keith)

Mother Teresa

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered…love them anyway.
If you do good people will accuse you of ulterior motives…do good anyway.
If you are successful you win false friends and true enemies…succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow…do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable…be honest and frank anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs…fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight…build anyway.
People who need help may attack you for helping them…help people anyway.
No matter what you do or what you give, someone will not be happy with it…give your best anyway.

It all reminds me of something that Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Happiness is a perfume which you cannot pour on someone without getting some on yourself.” I hope that his words helped to lift someone today.

 

 

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An essential

Posted on January 28, 2019 by admin

A common misunderstanding is that chiropractic care is an alternative form of medicine. Nothing could be further from the truth. Chiropractic is not an alternative form of health care. In fact it’s an essential life enhancing service that compliments anything else that an individual is doing to enrich their health and well-being. Think of chiropractic as an essential service that improves a person’s function and performance. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have received it can’t imagine going through life without it.

Chiropractic care can be a life changing experience because people of all ages function better with a good nerve supply. It only makes sense that proper nerve supply plays such an important role in a person’s ability to function. That’s because the brain is responsible for the coordination and control of all other parts of the body. Everyone is better off with a good nerve supply, and since chiropractic gets rid of nerve interference, it brings out the best in you and your family.

The brain uses a vast network of nerves to communicate with, and direct the function of the rest of the body. That delicate, vital wiring system is protected by the bones of the spinal column (vertebrae). When a vertebra is doing what it is supposed to be doing, it provides a movable protective device for the spinal cord. However, if a vertebra gets misaligned it can fail to protect, and actually become an insult to the central nerve system. The scientific term for that is vertebral subluxation.

A vertebral subluxation is a small thing that can make a huge difference. Distorted nerve supply may not produce immediate symptoms, but it always interferes with normal function. Unfortunately, we may not even feel anything wrong for prolonged periods of time.

Previously we stated that chiropractic is an essential service that improves a person’s function and performance. Let’s consider what that means. We all learned in elementary school that there are certain essentials necessary for health and function. We learned that good nutrition, adequate exercise, sufficient rest, pure water, clean air, and good hygiene were so vital that if we failed to provide our body with any of these there would be predictable, measurable functional problems leading to ill health and poor performance. A good nerve supply is also a basic essential, and arguably the most important and crucial of them all. That’s why we consider chiropractic to be an essential rather than an alternative. It doesn’t replace any of the other essentials, but it remains a key fundamental way of reducing nerve interference.

Many people don’t seek chiropractic care until something doesn’t feel right. The good news is that a precise chiropractic adjustment does much more than just pain relief, it actually improves life in many ways as the body begins to function more normally. That brings us to an important thought. Getting one’s spine checked for subluxation and receiving a precise, gentle adjustment long before anything hurts can go a long way toward improving a person’s life.

Chiropractic exists to identify and make safe and effective correction of vertebral subluxations. Reducing nerve interference allows babies, children, adults and elderly to perform at their best.

 

 

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Not a Household Word

Posted on December 29, 2018 by admin

Vertebral subluxation (VS) is not a household word, but it should be. That’s because it’s a common situation that has a big effect on the well-being of people of all ages.

Although VS can greatly disturb a person’s life and health, it is the most overlooked of all the important things that should be watched for. Few health care providers have any training to recognize the presence of VS. And while chiropractic offices may provide some information about vertebral subluxations, few people are even aware of it. That’s why we tell people that everyone should have their spines checked for subluxation.

Today someone asked me, “Just what is a vertebral subluxation?” I’m really glad she asked because it provided an opportunity to put together the following answer and share it with others:

“Vertebral subluxation is why chiropractic exists. It’s what happens when a spinal bone becomes misaligned, and insults the nerve system. It’s a little ironic because vertebrae are actually designed to protect the nerve system. When the spinal cord is properly sheltered by the movable bones of the spine, life can be good. If, on the other hand, a vertebra fails in that task, then life can’t possibly be as good. The reason is simple. The brain communicates with and coordinates the function of all other body parts through the nerve system.

Vertebral subluxation at the top of the neck

When messages between the brain and body are interfered with, body tissues still receive signals through the nerves, but they are distorted. Receiving jumbled instructions from the brain causes tissues and organs to function erratically. Some malfunctions produce symptoms, while others might manifest for prolonged periods of time before a person has any idea that something is wrong. Simply stated, vertebral subluxations interfere with life in the body.”

It’s safe to say that life is always better without vertebral subluxations. That’s why so many people make a point of seeing their chiropractor regularly. We know that these subluxations occur when the outside insults of everyday life overcome our internal resistance. There are various ways that can occur and the research suggests that these upsets can happen when a physical, chemical or emotional trauma gets the best of us. It’s easy to understand how being in a car accident, taking a fall, or some other impact can disturb the proper position of a vertebra. But clinical experience has shown that VS also occurs in the presence of emotional upsets, and when injurious chemicals enter the body. Unfortunately, that sometimes includes medications, even though taken with the intention of helping a person. Whether due to high-stress lifestyle, low-quality foods, or just living day to day in this often unnatural environment, VS always interferes with one’s ability to express our fullest potential.

All of this makes it a good idea to get your spine checked, and adjusted if a vertebral subluxation is found to be present.

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Asociación Quiropráctica Argentina

Posted on December 9, 2018 by admin

Charlene and I returned from our visit to Argentina on Wednesday. I was invited there to present a seminar before the Asociación Quiropráctica Argentina (AQA), which is the national chiropractic association in their country.

The people were wonderful, the weather warm and pleasant, and the food was great. Accompanying us was also Dr. James Healey, a distinguished colleague from New Jersey.

After several very long flights, we arrived in Córdoba, Argentina, where we rested for a few hours.

Hotel Evita, Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, Argentina

Later that afternoon we traveled by car to the beautiful resort community of Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, where we stayed at the Hotel Evita. It was a well-chosen site for the seminar, with rolling hills, fresh, country air, and wonderful food.

Our activities began on Friday morning, as we conducted proficiency testing for Argentinean chiropractors. The seminar began later, on Friday afternoon when Argentinean chiropractor, Gabriela Pasquali, presented a session on the care of pregnant women, babies and children.

(R to L) Charlene, Gabriella & Myron

Her session was followed by presentations on the principles, practice and philosophy of chiropractic from James Healey and me.

The seminar concluded on Sunday afternoon. A highlight of the trip was Saturday evening’s grand celebration, marking the Asociación Quiropráctica Argentina’s 25th anniversary.

(L to R) James Healey, Gabriela Pasquali, Myron Brown

There were ceremonies recognizing the founders, and many individual members of AQA, who have been pioneers in the development of the chiropractic profession in their country. Following the formal observance AQA threw a party, complete with cake, champagne, live music and dancing, which was still going strong when Charlene and finally I slipped off to our room at 2:30 a.m. to get some rest. We are told that the festivities continued through to the wee hours of the morning. Somehow, despite the late night, everyone was up and ready for breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, and the seminar resumed with my presentation at 9:00 a.m.

Many people are unaware that chiropractic is a relatively new healing art, which was founded in the United States and the demand for it is rapidly growing in many other parts of the world. The AQA is diligently working to create a university career path in Argentina for practitioners to enter the profession. It has been a special honor and privilege for us to be playing a part in this important pioneering effort.

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Vertebral subluxation

Posted on November 15, 2018 by admin

Chiropractic offices often have information about vertebral subluxations and we tell people that everyone should have their spines checked for subluxation. But we know that the term may not be all that meaningful to most people. Subluxation is not a household word, but it should be. That’s because it is a common situation that has a big effect on the well-being of people of all ages.

Today someone asked me, “Just what is a vertebral subluxation?”

I’m really glad she asked. And here’s what I answered: “Vertebral subluxation is why chiropractic exists. It’s what happens when a spinal bone (vertebra) becomes misaligned insulting the nerve system. Vertebrae are actually designed to protect the nerve system. When the spinal cord is properly sheltered by the movable bones of the spine, life can be good. If, on the other hand, a vertebra fails in that task, then life can’t possibly be as good. That’s because the brain communicates with, and coordinates the function of all other body parts through the nerve system. When messages between the brain and body are interfered with, body tissues receive distorted signals, resulting in malfunction. Some malfunctions produce symptoms, while others might manifest for prolonged periods of time before a person has any idea that something is wrong. Simply stated,vertebral subluxations interfere with life in the body.”

It’s safe to say that life is always better without vertebral subluxations. That’s why so many people make a point of seeing their chiropractor regularly. With the holiday season upon us our stress levels increase, making it a good idea to get your spine checked, and adjusted if a vertebral subluxation is present.

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No costumes required

Posted on October 29, 2018 by admin

On Friday I was helping someone schedule an appointment to get her spine checked and we settled on October 31st. She said “Oh, well that’s Halloween.” I wasn’t sure if she was planning on going out for trick or treat; or was she simply making an observation. So I answered “No costumes required to get your spine checked. And what better time to make sure that you’re expressing all your life’s potentials?” I must admit that she looked at me like I was a little daft, then we both laughed. This was someone who has been under care in our practice for a long time and she knows all about what we do and why we do it. But it made me think about just how far what we do is from most person’s reality.

Later that day I was asked to give someone a quick explanation of what I do in my work. Being limited to a short amount of time to explain something important can be challenging, so I decided to start by telling him what I didn’t do. That may sound strange, but I’ve found that most people seem to have misconceptions about what chiropractic is for. They often think that persons with headaches or back pain need to see a chiropractor. But chiropractic really isn’t about pain, nor is it about a person’s back, it’s about their life.

We begin our relationship with all new practice members by discussing what to expect from chiropractic care since they usually arrive here with pain oriented goals. They need to know that getting out of pain is the least important part of what we do.

Improving a person’s life is what we really do. A precise chiropractic adjustment reduces interference in the nerve system, thus restoring communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The benefit is better function. A body that is able to function better performs better on all levels. Children receiving this care have the opportunity grow up with a good nerve supply, and that makes all the difference.

 

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How are you?

Posted on September 18, 2018 by admin

One of the greetings that we hear most often is “How are you?” The phrase comes out almost like a reflex, and often the answer does, too. We answer “Fine, how are you?” Then the greetings are over and regular conversation begins. All too often it’s nearly meaningless. In fact I’ve noticed that sometimes people share that greeting while quickly walking by each other in opposite directions! The hollow gestures are polite, even though trivial, but have you ever wondered why do we do it in the first place?

I think it has something to do with our concern about others, especially about their health and well-being. We all know that everything that’s important to us depends upon staying well. That includes caring for our family, art, music, our favorite sports, hobby or anything else we value. Whether performing or just enjoying these activities, it all depends upon our health. That’s why Gandhi said “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

When we feel well it’s easy to forget just how much is going on within to keep us thriving. With every breath we take we’re changing our body chemistry and adapting it to the needs of our environment. Everything we eat requires a complex series of chemical and physical changes that can change a banana into a part of our walking, talking living body. Thousands of adaptive processes occur within the body all day long, and all of this is controlled by the brain, which communicates with the rest of the body through the nerve system. That’s why a good functioning nerve supply is essential to our well-being. It’s also why we should see our chiropractor when we feel fine, not just after something hurts. When was the last time your kids had a chiropractic checkup?

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Back to School – It’s an adjustment!

Posted on August 31, 2018 by admin

Special opportunity on September 8th

Back to school time has come and gone again.  The children are returning to their routine. Teachers are ready, and we parents have worked hard to prepare our children to get the most out of their education with the right clothes, shoes, backpacks, tech supplies and other school necessities.
We all want them to learn and perform at their highest level whether it’s in the classroom, on playing field or in the library.  That’s why a visit to the chiropractor is so important at this time of year.  A spinal adjustment is one of the few things that enhance kid’s health naturally, and its fun for them to go see the chiropractor.

If your kids haven’t been checked by the chiropractor yet don’t worry.  

 

As a service to our practice members we are offering a special opportunity for school-age children to visit the chiropractor on Saturday morning, September 8th. All children checked that day will be seen on the Cooperative System. That means their parents will be able to self-determine their fee, even if your family isn’t already on the Cooperative System. Just call Dr. Brown’s office at 803-366-8100 to schedule your child’s back to school visit.

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Dental professionals need chiropractic

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

While reviewing some recently published research reports, I was interested to see that several studies in PubMed™ have confirmed what we have been seeing in clinical practice. Dental professionals need to be particularly diligent about getting proper chiropractic care.

The issue seems to stem from lots of unilateral activities while working with patients and equipment placing unnatural stresses on the clinician’s spinal column, especially in the upper part of the neck. One study involving sixty patients demonstrated that dentist’s necks were the most common site recording abnormal findings (72%). Chiropractors have long known that such repetitive activities in positions like those in which we find these professionals and paraprofessionals engaged can result in vertebral subluxations. When vertebrae become misaligned they can insult the nerve system and distort the vital communications between the brain and body parts. Ultimately that results in disturbed function, vulnerability in various body systems, and reduced overall performance.

Another recent study was conducted on 204 dentists who work in public health clinics in the northwest of São Paulo, Brazil. A shocking 81.4% of those clinicians were found to have musculoskeletal disorders, especially involving the spinal column.

Adding to the frequently awkward positions that dentists, hygienists and assistants find themselves in, clinical areas and equipment, are often set up so that it is difficult or even impossible to work from both sides of the patient. Poor ergonomics isn’t the only insult to the dental professional’s health and safety. There’s the threat of infection from blood-borne pathogens, and the United States Occupational and Health Administration has cited concerns about exposure to beryllium a metal associated with skin and respiratory difficulties including lung cancer. These problems aren’t new, and it seems to begin as early as the years spent as students in dental training programs.

The high percentage of dental professionals experiencing ongoing spinal insults, and the seriousness of continuous distortion to a person’s nerve supply, underscores just how important it is for these health care workers to maintain a good nerve supply. Students really ought to receive information about how important it is for them receive chiropractic care, and not just when they are hurting.  Perhaps dental education programs should recommend good spinal hygiene for these practitioners, as enthusiastically as they encourage good dental hygiene for their patients.

 

 

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Freedom

Posted on June 29, 2018 by admin

These blog entries are written with you in mind. Rather than just filling space, I look for information that is useful to the reader. I often try to think about what’s going on at a particular time, like special events, holidays, things we do to get the kids ready to go back to school, etc.

With summer in full swing now, my thoughts go to next week when we’ll observe the Fourth of July. If any single word can describe that feeling best, it would be freedom. As Abraham Lincoln said, our country was “…conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Now I have little doubt that if Lincoln had written the Gettysburg Address in this century he would have said all men and women. FreedomEither way, Lincoln was reminding us that liberty and equality are the core values upon which the country was founded. He felt so strongly about it that he even capitalized the word, Liberty when drafting his message. Although the nation hasn’t always achieved these lofty goals, we continue to strive toward them.

Being really free involves many facets of our lives and culture, impacting our physical, chemical and emotional well-being in many ways. It seems reasonable to say that our freedom also hinges on our healthiness. With it we are free to think, say and do the things that bring a satisfying life experience, and without it those things surely remain out of reach. In chiropractic we are particularly aware of this, seeing examples of it in our practice members every day. It’s why our practice is clearly focused on one essential objective, living subluxation-free.

Here’s why that’s important. We know that the human body was designed to self-regulate, making complex biological substances from the food we eat, and adapting to the many changes and challenges it faces day in and day out. All of these functions happen without our having to even think about it. The brain is constantly sending messages all around the body over a complex communication system we call the nervous system. The spinal cord is brainthe main cable in that system, and it is protected by the bones of the spinal column, called vertebrae. Thousands of tiny wires called nerves branch off from the spinal cord, carrying messages to every organ, tissue and cell. The movable vertebrae support our body, but their most important function is to protect the spinal cord and nerves. Most of the time this system works great and life is good. However, a vertebra sometimes gets out of its proper position making it unable to properly safeguard the spinal cord or nerves. Instead of protecting the nerve system, it can actually become an insult against it. This is called a vertebral subluxation and it can disturb and distort function anywhere in the body.

This makes a subluxated vertebra a significant threat to a person’s health and well-being. Occasionally a person will arrive for their visit telling me that they are having back or neck pain and they’re surprised to hear me say that it’s good news. It’s good news because their symptoms bring awareness to them. What if that same subluxation were interfering with the nerve supply to their kidneys or heart? It wouldn’t hurt for a long time, until significant damage is done. That’s also why we don’t wait until something hurts to check a child’s spine. Don’t they need a good nerve supply throughout life? I wouldn’t want to wait until their back hurts to check the child’s spine. Please click here for more information about chiropractic care for kids. Or, for research about children receiving chiropractic care please click here.

So the message is a simple one, and it’s all about freedom. Freedom from vertebral subluxation assures a good nerve supply and a much better chance to have a healthy, happy life.

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