A New Approach to Flu Season

What’s the Deal with the “Flu Season”?

Come fall time, we start to hear a lot about the “Flu Season”. Should we get the flu shot? Should we not? Do the Benefits outweigh the negative aspects and risks, and vice-versa? With the vast amount information out there, many find it hard to choose which route to take. That’s why we’re here to help! So to start, first, let’s take a look at some of the facts surrounding the Flu Shot.

 

Fact #1

A review of 51 studies involving more than 260,000 children ages 6-23 months old found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo.

Fact #2

One study found that those who receive the flu vaccine each year for 3 to 5 years have a 10 times higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s Disease than people who choose not to receive the flu shot.

Fact #3

Many medical experts now agree that it is more important to protect yourself from the flu shot than it is to protect yourself from the flu virus itself.

Fact #4

There are many different types of flu virus. This makes choosing which version of the flu virus to utilize for the flu shot extremely difficult. Attempting to predict which strain of the flu virus is going to hit during a year’s “flu season” is much like attempting to predict the winning Powerball numbers.

Fact #5

Ingredients present in the flu vaccinations may cause serious neurological disorders along with permanent nerve damage.

Speaking of some scary ingredients in the flu vaccination, check out this list of potential threatening ingredients you’re subjecting your body to when you choose to receive the flu shot:

• Mercury

  • Mercury is a heavy metal known to be hazardous to human health
  • An injection of the flu vaccine guarantees that 100% of the mercury in it is absorbed because it passes through the gastrointestinal tract.

• Formaldehyde

  • Formaldehyde is the substance used to preserve dead bodies.

• Gentamicin Sulfate

  • Gentamicin Sulfate is a medication that has serious side effects associated with it such as nerve damage, permanent hearing loss, kidney problems, and the inability to balance when standing or sitting upright.

• Latex

  • Latex, although it is used in a lot of common products, is a substance that many people are allergic to. For those who have the allergy but have not been specifically diagnosed with a Latex allergy, choosing to receive the Flu Shot could be very costly to them, depending upon their level of reaction to the vaccination.

• Bovine Cow Serum

  • Bovine Cow Serum has the potential to cause connective tissue disorders, arthritis, and Lupus.

• Glycol

  • Glycol is a component used in the antifreeze you put into your vehicles.

 

So now knowing a bit of the breakdown of what the Flu Shot truly entails, most people tend to turn away from the vaccination. This raises the next question: How do I combat “Flu Season” if I’m no longer going to be receiving the Flu Shot? There are 5 main things we recommend:

• Chlorella

  • Chlorella is a whole food supplement that helps to support the immune system.

• Spirulina

  • Spirulina is full of essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals to help support the immune system.

• Vitamin D3

  • Vitamin D3 is another great supplement that is great at supporting a healthy immune system, which is necessary for fighting off various forms of the flu virus.

• Probiotics

  • Probiotics contain the healthy bacteria necessary to fight off the flu virus.

• Use Your Common Sense

  • Drink plenty of water

    • You should be drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces per day

  • Wear the right clothing for the weather conditions

    • Sometimes you just have to say no to those cute little heels and skirt when it’s 30 degrees outside, even if you do look absolutely fab.

  • No junk food

    • It’s no mystery that what your fuel your body with directly affects the way you feel, so put good in to get good out!
    • Especially stay away from refined sugar as it compromises the immune system.

Hopefully this information will be a good start to helping you figure out a few of the ins and outs of the fall time flu issues. For further questions, ask us! Give us a call! Shoot us an email! Stop into our office! We’re here to help, so always feel free to use us as a helpful resources for all your health-related needs!

Beginning Essential Oils

Essentials oils are the perfect alternative healing solution as their uses range from pain management, to skin care, to internal health, and more! Now, if you’ve ever done any essential oils research on your own, you’ll quickly realize there is a multitude of different essentials oils and even more applicable uses. So, if you’re looking for a few to get you started that are used most commonly, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a quick “Essential Oils Starter Kit” with some of our favorites as well as an easy guide for their uses.

 

 

Lemon

Lemon essential oil is great for a number reasons. One of the most common ways it’s used is as a detoxifier. Lemon oil is a great way to detoxify a variety of different organs. We recommend using about 3 -5 drops for a 16oz glass of water, depending upon how strong you want it to taste. Lemon essential oil is also commonly used to help aid in soothing sore throats as well as treating seasonal allergy symptoms.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus essential oil does wonders for the respiratory system. Like Lemon essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil is also great for battling those pesky seasonal allergy symptoms. It’s great at breaking up congestion, allowing you to breath more easily. One way to use Eucalyptus essential oil is to put it into a diffuser whenever you run across any stubborn respiratory issues.

Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is another great essential oil because of the variety of uses it has. Perhaps one of the most common uses for Peppermint essential oil is to help relieve pain symptoms associated with headaches and migraines. Simply place a drop on your temples, neck, and even forehead, depending upon where you’re experiencing the majority of your pain. Another use for Peppermint essential oil is to help soothe an upset digestive system. Place a few drops into your water, as you would the Lemon essential oil. Peppermint essential oil is also great for staying awake. If you’re having a groggy morning or slow afternoon and want a quick little pick-me-up without having to turn to caffeine, give some Peppermint essential oil a try! The smell alone is enough to alert your senses and perk you back up.

Lavender

Lavender essential oil is often referred to as the calming essential oil. Lavender is known to promote deep, restful sleep as well as tackle symptoms associated with anxiety. You can place Lavender essential oil into a diffuser before bed, or there are various pillow sprays you can spritz on your pillow or sheets. Lavender essential oil is also calming in the way that you can use it to soothe skin irritations and treat burns. Using it for treating burns provides instant pain relief and has the potential to heal burns within just a few hours, depending upon the severity of the burn.

Oregano

Oregano essential oil is the ultimate healing essential oil! It works wonders to fight off virus and infections. We recommend putting a few drops into an empty capsule and taking it orally. It is a great essential oil for a multitude of viruses and infections, so next time you’re struggling with one of these, give Oregano essential oil a shot before turning to antibiotics.

Clary Sage

Clary Sage essential oil is the ultimate essential oil for women. It’s very helpful in helping to treat abdomen pain and cramping commonly associated with PMS and menstruation. It also can be used to help with symptoms of menopause. Clary Sage essential oil can be a life-saver for new moms. It’s commonly used to help control hormones as well as aid in stimulating breast milk supply.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass essential oil is a good essential oil to use for regulating your system internally. We suggest oral consumption in either an empty capsule or in your water, if you like the taste of it. It is also great for treating joint pain. For joint pain, simply rub a few drops over the joint or area experiencing pain to help aid in the dismissal of pain.

Melaleuca/Tea Tree Oil

Melaleuca essential oil is a great oil for treating various skin conditions. You can use it on bug bites, dry skin, skin irritations, and more! It’s the perfect go-to solution for almost anything skin-related.

Frankincense

Frankincense essential oil, like many other essential oils has a variety of uses. It has both internal and external benefits, but it is also emotionally beneficial. Internally, Frankincense essential oil is great for treating thyroid issues. Just place a few drops of the oil under your tongue daily. Externally, Frankincense essential oil is great for acne, age spots, wrinkles, etc. For external use, you can put the oil directly on the affected area of the body. As for emotional benefits, Frankincense essential oil is commonly used to help treat emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Text Neck

What is Text Neck?

According to the Text Neck Institute of Plantation, FL, Text Neck, also  known as Forward Head Posture (FHP), is the “overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a forward and downward position at any hand held mobile device, i.e., mobile phone, video game unit, computer, mp3 player, e-reader. This can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, breathing compromise, and much more.” Some signs of Text Neck or Forward Head Posture (FHP) are neck soreness, back pain, and tingling sensations throughout arms and fingers.

What are the Negative Effects of Text Neck?

Text Neck has a large variety of negative health effects, ranging from short to long term as well as minor to severe health concerns. Take a look at just a few of the possible negative outcomes relating to Text Neck/Forward Head Posture (FHP):

 

• Respiratory Dysfunction
• Early Arthritis
• Disc Compression
• Flattening of Natural Neck Curve
• Gastrointestinal Dysfunction, particularly in the Large Intestine
• Long-Term Muscle Strain
• Pinched Nerves
• Loss of Healthy Bowel Movements
• Increase Weight on Neck and Shoulders

 

These are just a few of the possibilities for those suffering with Text Neck/Forward Head Posture (FHP). To help visualize the amount of weight and stress added on to your body when suffering from Text Neck/Forward Head Posture (FHP), take a look at the diagram below.

 

 

Text Neck/Forward Head Posture (FHP) is something we need to learn to be more mindful of. Just 1 inch forward from where your natural posture is supposed to align can increase the amount of stress pressure on your body by 10 pounds!

 

What Can You Do to Treat and Prevent Text Neck?

 

#1: GO SEE YOUR CHIROPRACTOR!

• Chiropractic Care can help with both Prevention and Treatment of Text Neck/Forward Head Posture (FHP). Ask your chiropractor for specific stretches and exercises that can also help in addition to regular Chiropractic Adjustments.

#2: Be Mindful of the Angle You’re Holding your Phone of Other Electronic Device!

• Rather than holding your phone to the point where your next has to stretch downward to read it, instead, hold it up to your facial height. This will take a great amount of stress and weight off your neck, allowing you to view material on your device at a more appropriate height for your body.

#3: Take advantage of new technology that can help!

• There’s now a Text Neck App that tracks your posture, letting you know when you need to adjust the device your viewing for optimal viewing.
• Here’s the link: http://text-neck.com/text-neck-indicator–a-mobile-app.html

 

Chiropractic, Colic, and Irritability

Colic and irritability can be one of the most frustrating feats for both newborns and their parents. Many of the “traditional” approaches to treating colic have proved to be unsuccessful and, even sometimes, detrimental to the child’s health. Chiropractic adjustments for newborns with colic and irritability has proven to significantly reduce the amount of stress a child’s body is under, therefore allowing for less colic and irritability. The beauty of treating colic and irritability through chiropractic care is there is no introduction of new chemicals or foreign substances into the child’s body to produce positive, successful results for both the child and parents.

Where’s the proof?

Besides countless testimonials from parents with children who have suffered from this, there is also plenty of well-documented research behind the claim. There are two studies that are often cited in relation to the topic of treating colic and irritability with chiropractic care. The first is a study done by JM Wiberg in 1999. The second is a study completed by E. Olafsdottir in 2001.

JM Wiberg took a group of infants suffering from colic and irritability and randomly selected two groups. One group received “light fingertip pressure” chiropractic manipulative adjustments while the other group was administered a drug typically used to treat colic in traditional medical settings- Dimethicone. Wiberg chose one chiropractor to administer all adjustments throughout the study. After the first week of observation, the Dimethicone group experienced a decrease in crying of 1 hour. The chiropractic adjustment group had resulted in 2.4 hours of reduced crying. By the second week, the Dimethicone group was still at a rate of 1 hour of reduced crying while the chiropractic adjustment group had extended to 2.7 hours of reduced crying time. Thus, the study concluded that chiropractic adjustments did, indeed, significantly improve colic and irritability.

E. Olafsdottir also had two groups of infants. He decided to have one group of 46 infants receive “light fingertip pressure” therapy while the opposing, control group of 40 infants received no treatment. Olafsdottir chose a group of 14 chiropractors to be his reference for this study. At the end of the study, Olafsdottir reported that 32 of the 46 infants receiving treatment experienced improvement, and 24 of the 40 control group infants experienced improvement. Because the results were similar (69.9% compared to 60.0%), Olafsdottir concluded that chiropractic adjustments were not successful in treating colic and irritability.

Why such different results?

Being that Wiberg chose to have the same chiropractor complete all the spinal adjustment’s throughout the trial kept the results consistent, leaving room for fewer variables, and, therefore, adding consistency to the trial. However, the biggest discrepancy between the two studies is the type of chiropractic care utilized for the treatment of colic and irritability. Both studies used methods of “light fingertip pressure”, but Wiberg’s study performed chiropractic spinal manipulative adjustments, while Olafsdottir performed “light massage over the Lumbosacral region“. So, in conclusion, even though Olafsdottir’s study is often used as competing information for Wiberg’s study, it is, in fact, unfair to do so because of the vast difference in techniques used.

To sum it all up…

At a most basic level, chiropractic care works to keep the body aligned so that nature can run its natural healing course. If a child is not receiving chiropractic adjustments, their alignment and nervous system is going to be thrown for a loop, and often these symptoms become categorized as colic and irritability. Regular chiropractic adjustments are a healthy way to provide your child with relief from discomfort they are unable to voice themselves without subjecting them to various rounds of medication and therapies.