So here I am sitting on my couch watching TV after a long two weeks of intense study for Tri 1 Chriopractic practicals and finals and here pops up a Palmer College of Chiropractic commercial. Can't tell you how proud I was to see my school on TV, to see the "Fountain-Head of Chiropractic" speaking to the local masses. As the spot went on, I couldn't help but move from a position of pride to one of disappointment - disappointed in the message that is. Message being that Palmer is here to help you with your BACK PAIN. UGGG!!!
Here we are as a school and a profession whining about how the public perceives us as nothing more than a musculoskeletal adjunct to the wellness model, but here we are at the same time just reinforcing what they already know about us and thereby contributing to that problem. Everyone knows that most Chiropractors are experts in musculoskeletal issues, but those of you who know anything about the profession also know that's just the beginning of it.
The main responsibility of the Chirorpactor is to help the sick get well! It's not about chasing symptoms or manipulating high spots. It's about analyzing, finding and removing the subluxation, which is producing a lack of mind-to-body / body-to-mind communication, thereby producing sickness and dis-ease. I know many Chiropractors these days who aren't concerned with getting the sick well, their interests lie more in the realm of becoming a glorified physical therapist working with athletes etc., which I don't have a problem with. If I have an extremity issue I want a Chiropractor that knows extremities, if I think my Upper Cervical Doctor of Chiropractic can't help to resolve the issue. My problem with many of these glorified P.T. doc's is the fact they don't really get the sick well (as they claim to) because they don't know how to find, nor remove the nerve interference....more on that soap box later.
Back to the commercial.....did Palmer mention anything about the nervous system in this commercial? Nope! Did they mention anything about a subluxation? Nope! Holy Moly Palmer (and other schools) let's not hold back, let's tell the public of this gift we know of, let's not dumb it down. Palmer is considered the "Beacon" of Chiropractic. Are we the Beacon for just back pain or are we the Beacon of hope to those who have no real answers, those who carry with them every day a bunch of filled prescriptions, a laundry list of signs, symptoms, syndromes and conditions?
I don't have my head in the sand, I know why the public sees us as "bone crackers," "back doctors," etc. It's because we are lead by, in some cases, by teachers and doctors in our profession who are a bunch of passive, take-the-road-of-least-resistance, mental midget, wanna be doctors. This is the time for us to be screaming the Chiropractic message to the masses. Look around us, we live in the greatest country known to man, but we suck at keeping and getting the sick well (I'll leave that for a future blog post too). It's time we all, as a profession, speak with a clear, not watered down message of what it is we do and how it pertains to getting the sick and hurting not only better, but WELL!
I need to mention, I'm proud to be at Palmer and I'm proud of its leadership team. I can go on and on all day about why I came here (which I've done on The Atlas of Life and other places) and why I think its one of the best Chiro schools in the country, but it's not immune to criticism, especially when they are doing things that would have Dr. B.J. Palmer himself rolling over in his grave....or at least rolling his eyes.
BTW: to help off-set some of this disappointment, I headed to the Palmer library to pick up Green Book Vol. XXXIX to remind myself that I'm not a future "back doctor," but rather, a student learning how to find subluxations, detect nervous system obstructions and how and when to adjust with specificity!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
What's The Principle?
Boy, been a while since I last blogged! This first Trimester has been pretty intense, but it's almost over. Tri #2 looks quite a bit more difficult, but I'll just do what I did this Tri - one day at a time.
For the last week I've had the opportunity to put my nose in Green Book Vol. XXIV (Fight To Climb) / BJ Palmer 1950. I think I could blog every day (given the time) from this book. BJP was a genius and I have a lot to learn from him.
I wonder how many of my peers in Tri #1 would agree with the BJP quote below? I find myself surrounded by folks who have come to Chiropractic school w/ the idea that the profession is nothing more than a musculoskeletal adjunct to the wellness model of care. I was once one of these folks and it took me quite a bit of time and pain for me to fully appreciate the power of specific chiropractic - namely Upper Cervical Specific. I hope I do my part well to help them understand what makes UC care different from traditional care and how when done properly, nothing else even comes close to addressing the CAUSE of most aches, pains, sicknesses and dis-ease destroying our society today.
Some of my peers have come to Palmer b/c they couldn't make it through medical school, for whatever reason, and decided to "settle" for chiropractic school. How a good friend of mine put it (paraphrased)...."they come in w/ their medical bias, pollute our profession w/ their small thinking, demand/argue "medical stamp of approval" ignorance-based smoke screens, which are used to cover up their inadequacies and disbelief in the principle." These folks are good people, but they are just in the wrong place, looking to put Dr. in front of their name - some will possibly change their position wake up one day and get IT, but most will not.
On a positive note I'm also find myself surrounded by a small minority that gets IT (though I haven't found them all yet)! They understand the power of specific chiropractic care, they understand the power of UC care and they know that one day, when their skill matches their heart they will be helping the sick get well. Darn near brings a tear to my eye. As Dr. Tom Forest says, "The patient will not be denied!"
So here I leave some BJP w/ you to chew on - have a great night everyone!
(Green Book Vol. XXIV (Fight To Climb) / BJ Palmer 1950 p. 290)
"Primary principle of Chiropractic is that a vertebral subluxation reduces quantity flow of energy which slows up tissue cell action which produces dis-ease. Fundamental behind Chiropractic is TO RELEASE imprisoned impulse; RESTORE flow, INCREASE reduced quantity, increase tissue cell action, to rebuild health."
For the last week I've had the opportunity to put my nose in Green Book Vol. XXIV (Fight To Climb) / BJ Palmer 1950. I think I could blog every day (given the time) from this book. BJP was a genius and I have a lot to learn from him.
I wonder how many of my peers in Tri #1 would agree with the BJP quote below? I find myself surrounded by folks who have come to Chiropractic school w/ the idea that the profession is nothing more than a musculoskeletal adjunct to the wellness model of care. I was once one of these folks and it took me quite a bit of time and pain for me to fully appreciate the power of specific chiropractic - namely Upper Cervical Specific. I hope I do my part well to help them understand what makes UC care different from traditional care and how when done properly, nothing else even comes close to addressing the CAUSE of most aches, pains, sicknesses and dis-ease destroying our society today.
Some of my peers have come to Palmer b/c they couldn't make it through medical school, for whatever reason, and decided to "settle" for chiropractic school. How a good friend of mine put it (paraphrased)...."they come in w/ their medical bias, pollute our profession w/ their small thinking, demand/argue "medical stamp of approval" ignorance-based smoke screens, which are used to cover up their inadequacies and disbelief in the principle." These folks are good people, but they are just in the wrong place, looking to put Dr. in front of their name - some will possibly change their position wake up one day and get IT, but most will not.
On a positive note I'm also find myself surrounded by a small minority that gets IT (though I haven't found them all yet)! They understand the power of specific chiropractic care, they understand the power of UC care and they know that one day, when their skill matches their heart they will be helping the sick get well. Darn near brings a tear to my eye. As Dr. Tom Forest says, "The patient will not be denied!"
So here I leave some BJP w/ you to chew on - have a great night everyone!
(Green Book Vol. XXIV (Fight To Climb) / BJ Palmer 1950 p. 290)
"Primary principle of Chiropractic is that a vertebral subluxation reduces quantity flow of energy which slows up tissue cell action which produces dis-ease. Fundamental behind Chiropractic is TO RELEASE imprisoned impulse; RESTORE flow, INCREASE reduced quantity, increase tissue cell action, to rebuild health."
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Ear Infections - Visit A Specific Chiropractor
No doubt children are much more susceptible to ear infections, as their anatomy isn't fully developed etc., but that doesn't mean the infections should be the norm, or expected. An ear infection should be viewed as the childs body telling the parent(s) that the structure and function are not working as they should!
We have been blessed that our 22 month old has never experienced an ear infection. He could come down with one tomorrow, but it's very unlikely. He's no different than most any other child, in that he has all the same organs that the others do, has the same nervous system and body systems etc., but what's different is how we care for him and what we haven't subjected him to. Don't get me wrong, it's not that we love him more than a parent of an ear infected child, that's not it, but the philosophy behind what we do for our son is one that many others have adopted and no doubt is far superior than the allopath model.
We have kept his upper cervical area well adjusted by specific chiropractors, given him the gift of nursing, and kept him away from foods (sugar, flour, grain, etc) and toxins (vaccinations) that weaken and or destroy his immune system. Like most all children, when he's teething he will produce more mucous, and he's even had a couple of colds (maybe 3) and one stomach virus, but never anything serious and the mucous is always clear. We make sure he's adjusted and if he's teething hard we apply some homeopathic ear drops to make sure the clear fluid stays clear and keeps moving.
Parents, hear my plea...please, please have your child checked out by a specific chiropractor that knows how to remove nerve interference. Even if your child hasn't had any ear infections, they could have something out of alignment and causing nerve pressure, which will at some point cause less than optimal health or much, much worse.
Let's stop turning to drugs and surgery for everything that sniffles, coughs and aches and address the root-cause of these and other symptoms - please seek the expertise of a doctor of chiropractic that understands that the human body is a marvelous masterpiece that heals itself when given the opportunity.
Please take a look at this first article (reprint authorization granted) authored by, Dr. Erin Elster, D.C. She is a highly educated and very specific doctor of chiropractic (an Upper Cervical one) that sees results everyday! If you would like to know more about her and what she does, please visit her site here.
Please check out the video as well.
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Chronic Ear Infections: New, Non-Surgical Drug-Free Treatment
We have been blessed that our 22 month old has never experienced an ear infection. He could come down with one tomorrow, but it's very unlikely. He's no different than most any other child, in that he has all the same organs that the others do, has the same nervous system and body systems etc., but what's different is how we care for him and what we haven't subjected him to. Don't get me wrong, it's not that we love him more than a parent of an ear infected child, that's not it, but the philosophy behind what we do for our son is one that many others have adopted and no doubt is far superior than the allopath model.
We have kept his upper cervical area well adjusted by specific chiropractors, given him the gift of nursing, and kept him away from foods (sugar, flour, grain, etc) and toxins (vaccinations) that weaken and or destroy his immune system. Like most all children, when he's teething he will produce more mucous, and he's even had a couple of colds (maybe 3) and one stomach virus, but never anything serious and the mucous is always clear. We make sure he's adjusted and if he's teething hard we apply some homeopathic ear drops to make sure the clear fluid stays clear and keeps moving.
Parents, hear my plea...please, please have your child checked out by a specific chiropractor that knows how to remove nerve interference. Even if your child hasn't had any ear infections, they could have something out of alignment and causing nerve pressure, which will at some point cause less than optimal health or much, much worse.
Let's stop turning to drugs and surgery for everything that sniffles, coughs and aches and address the root-cause of these and other symptoms - please seek the expertise of a doctor of chiropractic that understands that the human body is a marvelous masterpiece that heals itself when given the opportunity.
Please take a look at this first article (reprint authorization granted) authored by, Dr. Erin Elster, D.C. She is a highly educated and very specific doctor of chiropractic (an Upper Cervical one) that sees results everyday! If you would like to know more about her and what she does, please visit her site here.
Please check out the video as well.
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Chronic Ear Infections: New, Non-Surgical Drug-Free TreatmentThe Boulder County Parent , January 1999
Boulder, Colorado.
by Erin Elster, DC.
Boulder, Colorado.
by Erin Elster, DC.
A new health care technique known as IUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractic has proven to be remarkably effective in the treatment of otitis media (middle ear infections.) Max, a 9-year-old in Boulder, struggled with chronic ear infections for many years before his parents found IUCCA Upper Cervical Care. Max's mother described his struggle. "My son, Max, was plagued by ear infections almost from the time he came home from the hospital (after a difficult forceps birth.) After many rounds of antibiotics, he eventually had 3 sets of tubes, a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy by the time he was 5 years old. At age 9, he once again had 2 very poor hearing test scores because his ears were full of fluid. The ear doctor told me that Max would need another set of tubes," she said.
Max's ear infections were later corrected by IUCCA Upper Cervical Care. "Max saw Dr. Elster for treatment and then went back to the ear doctor for a checkup. The doctor could almost not believe that his eardrums were clear and pink with perfect movement. The audiologist tested his hearing on the spot and burst out of the room with a huge smile on her face and said his hearing was great. The change was miraculous," she said. Currently Max has been free from infections and has had normal hearing for a year.
Otitis Media Prevalence in Children
Seventy-five percent of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. Almost half of these children will have three or more ear infections during their first three years. Otitis Media is second only to the common cold in frequency of occurrence among preschool children. It is estimated that medical costs and lost wages because of otitis media amount to $5 billion a year in the United States. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1997) What is Otitis Media? Otitis Media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. The middle ear includes the tympanic membrane (eardrum,) three bones called the auditory ossicles, and the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat. This inflammation of the middle ear often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other respiratory problems spread to the middle ear. Signs that a child might be experiencing inflammation in the ear include unusual irritability, difficulty sleeping, pulling at one or both ears, fever, fluid draining from the ear, loss of balance, and hearing difficulty. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1997)
Why is Otitis Media So Common In Children?
Disturbances in Eustachian tube functioning frequently result in otitis media. When functioning properly, the Eustachian tube, a passage between the middle ear and the throat, keeps air pressure equalized on both sides of the eardrum. If there is negative pressure in the middle ear, this results in pain and possibly a "plugged" sensation. When the Eustachian tube is blocked, fluid builds up in the middle ear cavity and may become infected. Because the Eustachian tube is smaller and more horizontal in children than in adults, it can be more easily blocked by conditions such as large adenoids and infections (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1997.)
Hearing Loss and Speech Impediment
Otitis media can often cause hearing loss. As sound enters the ear canal, it hits the eardrum and causes the small bones in the ear to vibrate. If there is fluid in the middle ear, the bones do not vibrate as efficiently as they should. Sound energy is lost and the individual does not hear at a normal loudness level. Because normal development of speech and language requires good hearing skills in early childhood, speech and language may not develop at a normal rate if a child's hearing is impaired. (Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center, 1998)
Medical Treatment and Reoccurrence
Typical medical treatment for recurring ear infections includes multiple dosages of antibiotics, decongestants, and pain medications. If the infections still persist, a physician will recommend a surgery called a myringotomy. This procedure under anesthesia involves a surgical incision into the eardrum and the placement of a tube into the opening to keep it open and allow fluid drainage. This tube may need to remain in place for many months and care must be taken to keep water out of the child's ears. In addition, many physicians will recommend multiple sets of tubes and surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids. However, as we saw previously in Max's case, even after many courses of antibiotics, three sets of tubes, and the tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, his ear infections and hearing loss still persisted until Upper Cervical Chiropractic treatment.
How IUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractic Works
IUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractic works by correcting irritation to the nervous and immune systems, the original cause of ear infections. Misalignments in the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine (upper neck), cause irritation to the nerves traveling between the brain and spinal cord that are supplying the ear and the immune system. By correcting the vertebrae in the upper neck, chronic ear infections can be corrected and prevented without the need for drugs and surgeries. Typical IUCCA Upper Cervical Care involves an initial spinal exam, specific x-rays of the upper neck, computerized spinal scans known as Computerized Infrared Thermography to measure nervous system irritation, and specific adjustments by hand to correct the misaligned vertebrae in the upper neck. Causes of misalignments to the spinal vertebrae include traumas, auto accidents, sports injuries, bike and ski falls, and poor posture. Even the birth process can put stress on a newborn baby's neck, possibly resulting in upper cervical misalignments, which can result in health problems early on in a child's life. As described in Max's case, he had a difficult birth and his ear infections started soon after he left the hospital.
Dr. Erin Elster is an IUCCA Upper Cervical Specialist and treats many childhood ailments including asthma, allergies, chronic infections, attention deficit disorder, headaches, and many more. She is currently the only IUCCA Upper Cervical Specialist in Colorado and practices in Boulder. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and Palmer College of Chiropractic, Iowa. For further information, please call (303) 442-5911 or browse her web site: www.erinelster.com
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dippin' Sauce!
I survived orientation and the last couple of days....it's been pretty crazy, but I think next week will be a little better once, we as a family and I as a student, figure out the new groove.
Tonight, my son thought his chicken "dippin' sauce" would be a great hair lube. Think I can get any kickbacks from the producer of this stuff? :)
Tonight, my son thought his chicken "dippin' sauce" would be a great hair lube. Think I can get any kickbacks from the producer of this stuff? :)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Day One!
How much chiropractic school orientation can any one person take? I'll let you know. Looks like a pretty jammed packed day ahead, but I can't wait to see what's in store!
All you prospective students out there.....hang in there.....the road getting here was so worth it!
All you prospective students out there.....hang in there.....the road getting here was so worth it!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Foodless-Food
I'm not one to believe that ALL we need is a free and clear nervous system to live a healthy, productive and free from chronic and degenerative disease life. We need appropriate amounts of exercise, sleep, sunshine (without sunscreen), fresh air, relaxation, clean water and nutrient dense wholesome foods.
We need to fuel the body with the vitamins, minerals etc. that it needs, but in order for the body to use them optimally and function properly, we do in fact need a free and clear nervous system. Has your nervous system been checked lately by a subluxation based, specific chiropractor? Let me know if I can help you find one.
Before pulling into that foodless-food drive thru today......
We need to fuel the body with the vitamins, minerals etc. that it needs, but in order for the body to use them optimally and function properly, we do in fact need a free and clear nervous system. Has your nervous system been checked lately by a subluxation based, specific chiropractor? Let me know if I can help you find one.
Before pulling into that foodless-food drive thru today......
Friday, July 10, 2009
Letting My Heart Defeat My Mind!
By the title some might assume I'm going to post some cool A&P material huh?...not this post. I received the email and letter in the mail yesterday that I have been officially accepted at Palmer College of Chiropractic - a transcript oversight held things up a bit.
Twelve years was a long time to wait, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Knowing what I know now, the roads I have traveled, the disappointments and the joy's that have led to this day were all designed and or allowed by God. It wasn't until my wife and I decided to step out in faith, move up here to Davenport, IA to where we believed God was leading us, did more of the "dots" over the last 12 years start to connect - funny how that works. We know we are in the right place at the right time and there is nothing sweeter.
To all of you out there actively pursuing your dreams, whatever they may be - don't quit! And most importantly, don't forget to live in-the-here-and-now. It's easy to become uncontent with wherever you may be while you wait for your door to open....or stop striving for other fine and noble things in life while waiting for it to open. Live life, work hard, keep your dreams alive, surround yourself with those that stoke that fire inside of you, and those that speak words to try and derail the dream God has put in your heart, don't listen!
For me there were both spiritual and physical components to getting where I am today. My heart was always in for this 12 year journey, but my mind and physical body preempted it and said no so many times. My type-A, functional-first-born, control-freak personality played the "what-if" game way too often.
Through my 2 year health battle, I had to learn to trust God with EVERY aspect of my life - and I'm still learning how to do that. Being so debilitated that your wife has to carry you upstairs and dress you for bed will certainly humble most men - it did for me! As tough as those 2 years were, I'm so blessed to have gone through them. I knew God was just chiseling away and getting me ready for what He had in store all along....just didn't know how much more pain that would be and how long that was going to take. He still has a lot of work to do on me, that's for sure, but I'm still in the "race".
As far as the physical component is concerned, it wasn't until an Upper Cervical Chiropractor put my atlas back where it was meant to be, did I start visualising this day without an unhealthy fear or it feeling like such a burden - amazing what happens when cortisol levels get put in check and the human body starts functioning the way it was designed! And that is the gift I hope to give to others one day when I graduate....to help others to live out their life the way God had planned for them.
Alright, enough of me being sappy....I will leave you with my marching song for last few months - please take time out of your busy schedule and listen closely to the words. Thank you friends and family for your encouragement, your support, your prayers, and your love - God has used you all in a very special way, to make this day a very special day, for me and my family! Please continue to pray for us as we head into this next phase of our lives - it certainly wont be easy, but we will do our best to make it fun!
Twelve years was a long time to wait, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Knowing what I know now, the roads I have traveled, the disappointments and the joy's that have led to this day were all designed and or allowed by God. It wasn't until my wife and I decided to step out in faith, move up here to Davenport, IA to where we believed God was leading us, did more of the "dots" over the last 12 years start to connect - funny how that works. We know we are in the right place at the right time and there is nothing sweeter.
To all of you out there actively pursuing your dreams, whatever they may be - don't quit! And most importantly, don't forget to live in-the-here-and-now. It's easy to become uncontent with wherever you may be while you wait for your door to open....or stop striving for other fine and noble things in life while waiting for it to open. Live life, work hard, keep your dreams alive, surround yourself with those that stoke that fire inside of you, and those that speak words to try and derail the dream God has put in your heart, don't listen!
For me there were both spiritual and physical components to getting where I am today. My heart was always in for this 12 year journey, but my mind and physical body preempted it and said no so many times. My type-A, functional-first-born, control-freak personality played the "what-if" game way too often.
Through my 2 year health battle, I had to learn to trust God with EVERY aspect of my life - and I'm still learning how to do that. Being so debilitated that your wife has to carry you upstairs and dress you for bed will certainly humble most men - it did for me! As tough as those 2 years were, I'm so blessed to have gone through them. I knew God was just chiseling away and getting me ready for what He had in store all along....just didn't know how much more pain that would be and how long that was going to take. He still has a lot of work to do on me, that's for sure, but I'm still in the "race".
As far as the physical component is concerned, it wasn't until an Upper Cervical Chiropractor put my atlas back where it was meant to be, did I start visualising this day without an unhealthy fear or it feeling like such a burden - amazing what happens when cortisol levels get put in check and the human body starts functioning the way it was designed! And that is the gift I hope to give to others one day when I graduate....to help others to live out their life the way God had planned for them.
Alright, enough of me being sappy....I will leave you with my marching song for last few months - please take time out of your busy schedule and listen closely to the words. Thank you friends and family for your encouragement, your support, your prayers, and your love - God has used you all in a very special way, to make this day a very special day, for me and my family! Please continue to pray for us as we head into this next phase of our lives - it certainly wont be easy, but we will do our best to make it fun!
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