• Is your head on straight? Improper head and neck alignment can disturb the blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow around the base of the brain. This can lead to a decreased amount of dopamine activation.  This is what we take care of in our office.
• Deep and controlled breathing
• Gargling water for 15-20 seconds

The heart and soul of our office is the exam. I know that might sound mundane and routine but without the exam nothing that we do in the office would make any sense. If you look in our office we have walls, a front office area, a lobby, a few hallways, and a bathroom. If you walked into our office accidentally you could easily think that you were in a dentist’s or a relator’s office. What we are doing within the walls is what makes us different.

The exam allows us to see if you have what we look for in our office, underlying structural abnormalities in the spine. These structural abnormalities causes havoc in two main ways. They disrupt proper neurological function primarily the involuntary nervous system and causes structural weakness within the body. You can read more about these negative affects of these misalignments here.

The results of the exam also establishes a baseline. Why is this important? Look at it this way.

Would you watch a football game with no scoreboard, down and distances, and yard markers? How do you know who was winning? If you were losing how would you know? If you are trying to score, how could you strategize and plan?

It would be very difficult. In most cases within healthcare, baselines don’t really matter since most care is geared toward symptom and pain management. As long as symptoms change and pain is reduced then most providers are satisfied.

At our office, we look beyond pain and symptom management, we are looking for the restoration of proper structural and neurological function. This makes our exams and your baselines the foundation of all we do here.

Here are the components to our examination:

3D Structural Analysis

Structural Radiographs

aOS (Autonomic Operating System)

Neural Thermal Analysis

A mentor and instructor of mine used to tell me, “either it works or it doesn’t”. Some might have took his words as comfort for the work that we do but I took his words as a challenge to always measure and test and push forward our understanding.

If you are looking for something beyond pain and symptom management schedule a consultation with us and let us see whether our care can work for you.

Spring Doesn’t Have to Mean Suffering from Allergies

Springtime is wonderful, but for some, it can signal the start of allergy season.  That can mean itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, and headaches.  Fortunately for our patients, their bodies become more adaptable and better equipped to handle the environmental changes that spring brings.  In addition to keeping your body’s wiring system (the central nervous system) tuned up and functioning optimally, there are other natural options for people who are prone to dealing with allergies this time of year:

• Local honey – eating a tablespoon of raw, locally sourced honey each day can help keep seasonal allergies under control by building up a tolerance to the pollen that is prevalent in your area.  One of the reasons why this natural remedy works so well is because of the bee pollen, which is known to help fight infection, boost immunity, and ward off allergies.  Honey makes a delicious addition to your tea, smoothies, or oatmeal!
• Neti pot – clearing the sinuses of congestion and pollen is a great solution for seasonal allergy sufferers.  When using a neti pot to rinse the sinuses, make sure to use warm, distilled water with sea salt.
• Eat anti-inflammatory foods – reducing overall levels of inflammation in the body can help with allergies and many other health problems.  Nutrient-dense foods will give your immune system the boost it needs to repair your body and fight off common environmental allergies.  Some of the best inflammation-fighting foods are:

o   Garlic

o   Leafy greens

o   Lemons

o   Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, miso, etc.)

o   Bone broth

• Eucalyptus oil – using this oil can help to reduce inflammation and harmful environmental microorganisms that can trigger an allergy attack.  Eucalyptus oil can be diffused, or you can try adding a few drops to your laundry detergent during allergy season.  It can also be mixed with a carrier oil (i.e. coconut oil) and rub it on your chest before going to sleep.

Allergies don’t need to have their own season.  By increasing the adaptability of your body, strengthening your immune system, and giving your body the proper nutrition, suffering every spring can be a thing of the past.

What is Cross Crawl?

Cross crawl refers to movements in which we use opposition such as crawling, walking, running, and swimming. Opposition means that opposite sides of the body work together to coordinate the right arm and left leg, then the left arm and right leg.

Therapeutically, cross crawl refers to any intentional cross-lateral activity in which you cross the mid-line of the body, such as touching opposite hand and knee or foot.  Performing this movement builds the bridge between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, allowing for electrical impulses and information to pass freely between the two, which is essential for physical coordination as well as cerebral activities, such as learning language, reading, and hand-to-eye coordination.

Why is Cross-Crawl Beneficial?

As soon as we start to crawl, this cross-lateral pattern of movement stimulates more complex brain and nervous system development and integration.  In addition to firing neural pathways in the right and left brain hemispheres simultaneously, a cross crawl movement stabilizes the pelvis while mobilizing the shoulders, reinforcing the walking-gait reflexes .

In short, any time you do cross crawl, you are re-integrating your brain and nervous system and re-organizing your mind-body connections . Because we are daily, hourly, being bombarded and impacted by multiple stimuli and tasks, practicing cross-crawl throughout the day is one of the best self-care activities you can do for yourself.  This Valentine’s Day, love yourself and your family by building cross-crawl into your daily schedule.  Think of it as a basic part of wellness, like drinking plenty of water.  You will not only feel clearer, you will behave and perform better. Try it before homework, testing, or an important meeting, after anything stressful and between different kinds of activities.  If you’ve been reading and it’s time to go play soccer – cross crawl.  If you’re frustrated with a project – cross-crawl. You need to clear some cobwebs or recharge – cross crawl!

Through mind-body science, we now understand that physical coordination precedes cognitive coordination.  The ability to do cross-lateral movements with the body literally lays the foundation for other cognitive abilities, such as readiness for fine motor academic work.  Though it seems to be a fun, simple exercise, here’s what cross-crawl is doing for you physically and mentally:

1. Stabilizes your walking gait coordination – builds core strength
2. Energizes your body and calms your mind – releases tension and stress
3. Improves your eye teaming skills – essential for focus, reading, and writing
4. Enhances whole brain thinking – your left and right hemispheres work together
5. Develops proprioception – your spatial and kinesthetic awareness

Cross crawl also offers an effective way to reboot your nervous system and re-integrate mind and body.  You can use it regularly to both discharge and recharge your attention and energy.  It’s a great break from over- focusing and it works just as well to bring body and mind online.  As a stress buster or a warm-up for doing your best, cross crawl has significant social-emotional benefits:

1. Increased self-awareness
2. Situational insight
3. Clarity of thought
4. Impulse control
5. Physical coordination in general

See below for examples of cross crawl exercises!

As 2018 is starting to unfold, many of us have made resolutions or set goals that will get us closer to achieving better health and quality of life.  We know as well as everyone else does that these changes are sometimes hard-earned, but are always well worth the effort.

To help you along the way, we’d like to share a few items that have been game-changers when it comes to supporting a healthy lifestyle.  If you’ve also taken steps in the NeuroStructural Chiropractic realm to improve your body’s ability to adapt and function, these recommendations will also help you to protect your structural alignment and get the maximum benefit from the investment you’ve made in bettering your health.

1. Good mattress – how many of us are sleeping on a mattress that is way too old? Probably more than would care to admit it.  If you’re getting an average of 8 hours of sleep per night, you’re spending a third of your day in bed – if you live to be 90, you’ll have spent about 30 years asleep!  During sleep is when your body restores, repairs, and heals.  If you are spending those hours on a worn-out, uncomfortable mattress, chances are your waking hours will be a lot less comfortable as well.  Making the investment in a high-quality mattress will pay off in the long run in your health and quality of life.
2. Shoes with the right support – we’re not just talking about avoiding high-heeled stilettos here.  There are other shoe choices that can wreak havoc on our feet which can cause other joint and back problems over time.  For example, flip-flops offer no arch or heel support and you’re forced to grip them with your toes as you walk to keep them on.  Choosing the best shoe for you may depend on how you spend the majority of your time day to day.  Those who stand or walk a lot for work should choose their shoes accordingly.  No matter what style you chose, a neutral drop (meaning that your heel is level with your toes) will simulate your foot’s natural position, so look for shoes with that feature.
3. Water filter – using the right water filter can help to reduce or eliminate harmful substances not only from your drinking water, but also the water you bathe or shower in.  Contaminants that plague our water include arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, and virus.  More than half of the chemicals found in municipal water supplies are not regulated, and some of the legal limits set by the EPA may be too lenient. Due to these contaminants the water we drink become acidic in nature which unfortunately fosters disease in the body.  Filtering your water becomes even more important if you are pregnant or nursing, suffer from chronic illness, or have a compromised immune system.  There are a wide variety of water filter options to suit your budget and lifestyle.
4. Name-brand supplements – purchasing your supplements from reputable brands (check out our recommended brands below) has its benefits. The most important thing to consider is how the processing and sourcing is done for your supplements. You want to make sure your supplements are not full of fillers and that vitamins are sourced from organic produce and animals. Businesses that sell a lot of their products restock frequently, meaning that vitamins don’t just sit on the shelves degrading and losing potency over time.  If bottles sit on a shelf in too warm of an environment or exposed to direct sunlight, they can degrade even before the stamped expiration date.  Products sold by vitamin chains tend to be more reliable than drugstore brands
5. Cast-iron cookware – a well-seasoned cast iron skillet is naturally non-stick and is not coated by potentially harmful materials that break down and become toxic under high heat.  Traditional non-stick cookware is coated with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that has been linked to numerous health problems including thyroid and reproductive issues.  Cast-iron on the other hand is durable, long-lasting, and actually gets better over time the more you cook with it.  It’s cheap, versatile (you can sauté, sear, and even bake in it), and nearly indestructible.  An added benefit is that using cast-iron to cook can fortify your food with iron, which is extra good news for people who are iron deficient and for pregnant or menstruating women with an increased need for iron.

Some of our favorites:

Mattresses:

• https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Brands-Memory-8-Inch-Mattress/dp/B003XVMAAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515339941&sr=8-1&keywords=classic+silhouette+8+mattress

Shoes:

• https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us
• www.newbalance.com
• www.birkentsock.com/us

Water filters:

• https://www.amazon.com/Berkey-BK4X2-BB-Stainless-Filtration-Elements/dp/B00CYW3EVO?SubscriptionId=AKIAINYWQL7SPW7D7JCA&tag=aboutcom02thespruce-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00CYW3EVO&ascsubtag=4064605%7Cgoogle.com%7C%7C%7C85%2C35%2C29%7C1%7C

Supplements:

• https://www.standardprocess.com
• www.nowfoods.com

Cast-iron cookware:

• https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cast+iron

When you have a check engine light that is lighting up it usually means that something isn’t functioning the way it should. It’s a warning that something is wrong. It could be the oxygen sensor, a loose gas cap or the catalytic convertor. In your body, headaches are also a warning sign that there could be something wrong and one of the most common reasons could be an abnormal shift( a displaced vertebra) in the neck.

Most often when we are thinking about headaches we don’t consider how the neck may be the culprit. But consider the following, vertebras in our neck are designed to protect the important and equally vulnerable central nervous system. What would happen if that vertebra misaligns and compromises those nerve connections? Would it be reasonable that it could cause headaches? See the video below.

Furthermore, vertebras in the neck also protect the blood vessels that feed your brain via the vertebral artery ( see here for more). Keeping the vertebra in your neck properly aligned allows the brain to receive the oxygen it needs to function properly. The brain more so then any area in your body needs a high percentage of oxygen to work. Imagine if this blood flow was interrupted or compromised, could it lead to headaches? Yes, and in fact, this is the reason why in our office we have such a high percentage of successful headache cases.

If you are like me, when a check engine light turns on in my car, I usually try to ignore it. But eventually, you have to take you car in to correct the problem. Don’t put duct tape over your check engine light! Don’t get your mechanic to turn off the light for you! The problem will still be there! Come in for an complimentary consult, lets find out if we can find the underlying problem that your headaches are trying to warn you about.

Why wait and suffer any longer? 

Schedule a consult here.