This is why we do what we do!19 Nov
Last week Dr. M went to a weekend conference in New Jersey. These are always exciting experiences for us. Not only do we get to learn about new technology, new techniques, etc, but we also get the chance to spend time with other chiropractors from around the country (and world), some who are old friends, some whom we’ve just met, who have the same outlook on health and wellness that we do, and who are working in their communities to bring about a more positive, more effective message of health and wellness. Some of you have met some a couple of these great doctors, Dr. Martha Nessler (who ran our Ladies Night for us) and, just last month, Dr. Cole Blume.
At this last conference there was a break from normal arrangement of speakers, typically doctors, health and wellness experts, motivational gurus, researchers, etc. In the midst of all the science, technology, health and wellness came out a gentleman who had never even been in a chiropractic office. He was visibly nervous, he wasn’t a professional speaker. Yet for the next hour he held the audience captive as he told the tragic story of his son, Wyatt.
Wyatt’s story sums up the reason that we come to the office everyday. Every day thousands of kids and millions of adults are prescribed medications that are unnecessary. In Wyatt’s case, the use of an antibiotic goes against the American Academy of Pediatric’s recommendation for ear infections. (In fact, the chiropractic adjustment is a better, safer alternative to antibiotics! (Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1997 (Oct); 2 (2): 167–183).) It is the nature of drugs that we don’t know when a reaction like Wyatt’s will occur. The FDA, the CDC, and the drug companies themselves give us stats as to the safety of medications. Why they don’t say is that, due to the bottom line and the almight dollar, they are willing to live with 1%, 5%, even 10% adverse reaction rates. They call these drugs safe.
Unfortunately knowing that amoxicillin is “safe” is no comfort to Wyatt’s family. When, as a society, we condone and prescribe millions upon millions of drugs every year, the shear numbers, even with only a 1% “bad” reaction rate, ensure that we have thousands of cases like Wyatt’s every year. We don’t hear about them, they’re not published in the media or in the official stats. Reactions to prescription drugs (not overdoses or accidents) are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. The only things that kills more people are heart attacks and cancer. Yet we have no pink ribbons, or weekend walks, or yellow bracelets for it. In the eyes of the medical/pharmaceutical industries it is simply the cost of doing business.
I don’t want to live in a world that doesn’t have medications. Yet I never want to have to take a medication and I never want any of my patients to have to take them either. This is why we do what we do! It is life or death! Please, the next time you think about popping a little pill for a head ache, or a back pain, or a runny nose…..think about the consequences. It is vitally important. If you are on a medication, don’t stop. Come talk to us about how we can work with your doctor to put together a plan for you to safely stop.

As silly as it is to hear at O’Hare, “security level Orange,” it is even more silly to assume that everyone is born defenseless against the flu. You see, nobody can actually influence the true strength of your immunity except you. Only you can decide what nutrients you will put in your body on a regular basis for your body to break down an use as energy for the next battle that comes your way. Only you can decide to move your body to charge your metabolism or to sit in a lazy boy and veg out 4 hours a day into total catharsis. Only you can decide to have natural, regular chiropractic care for your family to have an improved nervous system function, or to rely soley on symptom suppressants such a Tylenol, Zyrtec, Aderol, inhalers for asthma, NyQill, Well-butrin, Prozac, and think you are healthy because you feel fine. So you see, there are different types of immune systems. Those that are practiced and ready for battle, and those that are kind of ready, and those that absolutely are waiting to be pummeled by the next opponent.
Just this past Tuesday, I had an MRI to assess the ligament and cartilage of my left knee. I had no significant pain, just simply less flexibility and a tad bit of stiffness in the morning in area of my knee about the size of a quarter. I had also noticed that over the last 6 months that playing basketball made my knee swell a bit for a day or two. That being said, I had worked vigorously to keep my lifestyle and habits in the best condition to allow optimal healing, such as more frequent adjustments with Dr. Arthur, anti-inflammatory diet (basically limited breads and pasta and adding a ton of fruits and vegetables), increased yoga and other flexibility training. While I had helped my initial problem significantly, I still thought I should be better, so I decided to refer myself for an MRI to be sure there wasn’t something more significant that I was missing. Well, sure enough, I had a major tear in the meniscus of my left knee. The exam also showed that my body was already going through degerative changes in my femur ( a leg bone) that would have gotten much worse had I not decided to pursue my injury. I will eventually have a very minor (in and out) repair of the menisci (small cartilage cushion) in the next month or two, and I’ll be back on the basketball court in no time.
An FDA panel (comprised of doctors and researchers, many of whom have financial ties to drug companies) is deciding today on whether to pull the diabetes drug, Avandia off the market due to concerns that it causes heart attacks. Avandia is not a new drug – it has been on the market for decades (its patent will expire in a few years). In fact this isn’t a case of drug manufacturers rushing the drug untested to market, or promoting off-label, untested uses for it. Avandia has undergone numerous human clinical trials. In this case, its maker, GlaxoSmithKline, knew that it increased the risk of heart disease but they covered up the data. Documents released by a Senate Financial Committee include several emails that record GlaxoSmithKline officials suggesting that certain unfavorable studies concerning the drug “never see the light of day to anyone outside of GSK.”
The cost is only $40 (detox is seperate) and all proceeds benefit the Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization who raises money to build wellness clinics in impoverished countries.