Many people do not understand the health benefits of Chiropractic care for themselves let alone their children. When I tell people that I am a pediatric chiropractor, I often get an inquisitive stare in return. Most seek Chiropractic for conditioned based “treatment,” of pain or symptoms. However, Chiropractic is not intended for the treatment of any condition or ailment and does not claim to alleviate symptomatology at all. The only benefit to humanity that Chiropractic can offer is the unification of the Neurologic system within the body to allow its full expression of the innate intelligence which keeps all living things healthy.
“As a mom, I want to ensure that my child has the ability to adapt to his changing environment. He is constantly learning new things and exploring new areas and I want him to be able to take it all in and enjoy every moment..“
Our son had his spine checked within the first hour of his life. As a family, we live by the principle that health comes from within the body. The neurologic system is constantly expressing this state of health which is why it was so important for us to make sure Max’s spine was free of subluxation. When the nerve system is free of interference and the spinal bones are in their normal alignment, children are able to respond better to the sensory input from their external environment.
There are many reasons to have your child’s spine examined by a Pediatric Chiropractor. When choosing a Chiropractor for your child, it is essential to make sure the doctor you choose has training in pediatric Chiropractic. From the time of birth, through infancy and into the teenage years, kids are exposed to many traumas, both physical and emotional.
“If our nervous system is not functioning to its optimal level, our perception of the world is distorted and our ability to respond appropriately is compromised. This not only affects our physical health, but also our emotional and psychological function as well.” – Dr. Christopher Kent
The premise of Chiropractic health care is the prevention and early detection of subluxation in the spine that could potentially manifest later in life as a medical “diagnosis” or “condition." Children with medical conditions such as Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus, Cranial Distortions, Colic, Learning DIsabilities, Dyslexia, Asthma, Eczema, and Allergies all have one thing in common, abnormal neurologic communication within the body.
1. To encourage good neural plasticity (brain and nerve development).
Neurologic interference causes micro-trauma to the nerve tissue. Over time it can permanently damage the nerve. When this happens, the nerve can no longer function naturally to integrate ideas, sensory information, emotions, and learn. When the nerve is able to transmit the signal at its maximal speed, the brain is able to adapt more quickly.
2. To support nerve communication between the brain and all systems of the body.
The brain and body should always be in constant communication, in the same way a mother and child should always keep constant communication. When communication is blocked between the two, the body will easily become frustrated, short fused, and become ill from an unbalanced internal state. Returning nerve supply, returns communication and life!
Above: Dr. Henk checks for short leg and potential nerve irritation in the legs of 3 yr old.
3. To help strengthen your child’s Immune System.
The thymus gland regulates and initiates the immune response in the body when instructed by centers in the brainstem. It’s as simple as this, if the nerve which travels from the brain into the spinal cord and out to the thymus gland is being interfered with, the immune system will be compromised.
4. To help resolve Breastfeeding Issues, Colic, and Acid Reflux.
Initial stress to the upper cervical spine during birth or trauma can alter the functionality of the nerves in neck. When this happens, proper control of the tongue, throat, and sphincters in the digestive tract will not function as efficiently. This can lead to all kinds of symptoms and difficulties for both you and baby!
Read more about how Chiropractic care helps with Colic and Acid Reflux HERE!
5. To reduce the detrimental environmental impact on your child’s health.
Children as they say are well….children. They bump their heads, they scrape their knees, they stay up late, go to school, walk the dog, and do all other things that kids do. Naturally they must experience these stressors to curve the learning experience. However, sometimes they can impede the child’s health if the external stressor becomes too much for the internal body to handle. Ensuring that a bump on the head has not progressed into a subluxation is paramount.
6. To encourage digestive strength and development.
Everyone knows the importance of a healthy eating lifestyle. However, many people do not know that healthy eating can be a complete waste if the nerve system is not able to send the appropriate signals to promote digestion. The nerve system tells the stomach to secrete acid, the pancreas and liver to release enzymes, and the intestines to open its pores for absorption while creating movement. It also allows for healing to occur in the gut if it becomes damaged.
Above: Gentle Upper Cervical Technique resolves eczema, colic, and difficulty breast feeding!
7. Subluxation may be impacting your child’s ability to learn and concentrate.
Learning involves many different actions of the nerve system. From the processing of auditory sounds, visual cues, smell, taste, and touch, the nerve system transmits these messages into the spine and brain. Neuroplasticity occurs to create new connections and are trained through repetition and practice. Nerve interference distorts the transmission of normal stimuli, reduces neuroplasticity, and reduces a child’s ability to concentrate and learn.
8. To promote body balance and spatial awareness.
Stand up. Close your eyes. Are you still standing? You can thank your nerve system for that ability called proprioception. This allows your body to maintain balance without visually seeing your environment. Coordination of posture stabilizing muscles requires nerve integration in the brain. Reduction in signaling and non-coordinated firing of the nerves that go to muscles will force the body to compensate through abnormal posture.
9. To reduce emotional stress.
Emotional stress is by far the most detrimental to our health. A body that is neurologically compromised (subluxated) no longer has the ability to adapt to the external environment. This lack in ease of nerve flow causes its cells to grow into a dis-ease, an unbalanced state within the body which will eventually grow into a sickness. Many people focus on this sickness which removes their mindset from focusing on the joys of life causing intense emotional stress. When health is regained, so is the emotional state because you no longer have to live life around your “diagnosis” or “condition.”
10. To help your child stay in his or her best health.
Pediatric Chiropractic care is about ensuring that your neurology is functioning at an optimal level so that it can properly adapt to all of life's stress. When your child is able to adapt to the environment at an optimal level, normal and natural growth and development occurs. Without chiropractic care of the spine and nervous system, there will always be neurological stress hindering the natural expression of the body.
Thank You all for reading. Please add any comments or questions below or email me to request more information.
Dr. Kenzie Henk
Perinatal and pediatric Chirorpactor
Transcendence Family Wellness Center
(586) 943-0584
Resources:
http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Chiropractic/chiropractic-care-for-children.html
#Chiropractic #Children #FamilyWellness #ICPA #Pediatric #Neurology #Pregnancy #Health
It has been said that our senses are the most valuable abilities given to us to experience the pleasures of our world. Could you possibly imagine what life would be like without eyesight or the ability to hear? Take your imagination further and try to imagine what life would be like without any senses at all. When you do this, your mind will wonder to a place that is unimaginable. That is because you probably have lived your entire life with the ability to use all of your 5 senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
So how exactly is it possible for your eyes to see, your ears to hear, or to feel something with your hands? The answer is simple, the Central Nervous System. In fact, you don’t exactly experience these sensations with your organs, you do so with your mind.
As an example, when you touch something that is smooth, the free nerve endings on your fingertips become excited according to amount of and duration that these nerve endings are being exposed to the texture. You then perceive the texture of smooth based on comparison of textures that are rough. The same goes for the nerve endings in your eyes, ears, nose, and tongue.
The moment a sensation is received by a nerve ending, the information is sent along the nerve pathways towards the brain. This information acts much like traffic along a highway in route to its destination. In using the sensation of touch as an example, think about what happens when you touch a hot stove.
The sensory information is received by the hand, travels up the sensory nerves in the arm, into a synapse (nerve connection) within the spinal cord, and eventually up to the brain. Once the brain processes the sensory information from the hot stove, a reflex will occur that causes you to pull away your hand before serious tissue damage occurs...usually this happens automatically without you even thinking about it.
The automatic processing of sensory information in the spinal cord will create an adaptive spinal reflex mechanism using the spinal cord and brainstem to autmomatically respond to unwanted stimulus. That same information will eventually reach the brain with a less than a second after the spinal reflex occurs. This is a time when you consciously become aware of the pain and sensations which further prompt you to take further action by squeezing the hand and running it under cold water. This example plays out in every instance of sensory processing. Both the subconscious and conscious parts of your brain receive the sensory input and will ignite a reaction in response to the stimulus.
"Our nerve systems transmit impulses of intelligence from brain to body and back to the brain. Any impairment to this transmission affects our ability to express life fully."
- Dr. Jeanne Ohm
What would happen if you touched that hot stove, heard a loud sound, or were exposed to extremely bright light and your Nervous system DID NOT respond?
You guessed it! Chances are your body would become damaged. Every second of every day your brain is processing information from all of its sensory organs. At the same time it is receiving and process information, it is also making decisions and executing countless orders along trillions of nerve endings out to every cell in your body! When sensory information is not processing properly, this could be a sign that there is neurological interference that is distorting these messages at the brainstem and Upper Cervical Spine.
Above: Upper Cervical Subluxation injury causing disruption to brainstem function and sensory processing between the brain and body.
Think about your nerve system like our highways and the traffic flowing along these highways represent the sensory information. Now think about what happens when a car accident or debris is blocking all or part of a lane. How well does traffic move when this happens? Not well at all. This is exactly what happens when the spine is not in proper alignment. All information from the body must first travel through the spine before it is able to be processed by the brain. If there is a traffic jam in the spine, sensory traffic will back up and the processing ability of the brain will slow down.
It is absolutely essential to understand this principle of sensory processing when dealing with health conditions and also in healthy individuals who want to experience life to the fullest. Many times after clients come into the office for upper cervical chiropractic care, they tell me their food tastes better, their sense of smell and ability to hear improves, balance normalizes, and even eyesight begins to change.
Not only is the sensory information to the brain interfered with, but also the information that we consciously and subconsciously send to our muscles and organs! This is why it is absolutely essential to ensure the spine is in proper alignment, so that you can interpret and adapt properly to your environment, 100% of the time.
There are several professionals such as behavior therapists, occupational therapists, and aromatherapists that try to improve the quality of neurological processing through external treatments and therapies. However, if the INTERNAL neurology and the spine is not in proper alignment, you will not receive the full benefit of what these therapies are trying to accomplish. Upper Cervical Chiropractic care restores natural processing of sensory information by removing physical interference within the body. The ultimate results being...FULL EXPRESSION OF YOUR LIFE!
Everything we experience, from our thoughts, our emotions, our 5 senses, and even that extra 6th sense many of us feel is processed via the neurological system. The spine is the door man which protects this ever so important system and it is absolutely paramount that we keep the doorman happy and protecting the experience of life. Care for your 5 Senses by getting regular Chiropractic check-ups and fueling it with proper nutrition and healthy thoughts.
Chiropractically Yours,
Dr. Josh
CEO - Transcendence Family Wellness Center
(586) 943-0584
#sensoryprocessing #chiropractic #Neurology #Children #Pediatric #FamilyWellness #ICPA #Health #UpperCervical #health
Breast thermography can detect new blood supply from tumor growth, up to 10-15 years before a mammogram. Mammograms are not recommended for screening before the age of 40, however most cancer cells begin to develop in the 20's and 30's. Breast Thermography Institute recommends breast thermography screening yearly for all women beginning at 20 years of age. It should be the first choice for pre-menopausal women whose breasts tend to be denser. Thermography can differentiate fibrocystic tissue, scars or breast implants from that of cancerous cells. Mammograms tend to have trouble differentiating cells in fibrous tissue.
Diagnosis of breast cancer cannot be made through any one method. Only a biopsy can confirm cancer cells. However, screening tools can be an effective strategy to decide whether or not a biopsy is even necessary. Thermography is a great adjunct test due to its accuracy and early detection ability. Should you discover a lump from your self-examination, a thermography will be able to give you a more conclusive diagnosis as to the type of lump/growth it is. If there is excessive blood supply, it may be necessary to then move on to using an ultrasound, mammogram, or biopsy.
The best part is thermography can be done as often as every 3-6 months to see if the treatment or care plan is working. This is especially important for individuals who are wanting to first try a natural route. A scan can be performed to monitor the changes over time without putting any radiation into the body.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=f1NbV-Oh7yk%3Fautoplay%3D0%26mute%3D0%26controls%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.tfwellnesscenter.com%26playsinline%3D1%26showinfo%3D0%26rel%3D0%26iv_load_policy%3D3%26modestbranding%3D1%26enablejsapi%3D1%26widgetid%3D3
It doesn’t make sense to use high exposure to radiation from mammography to find what we know is caused by radiation! Especially when thermography and ultrasound have a 97% accuracy with identifying malignant tumors!
With thermography, you will be required to sit in front of the camera which detects infrared waves that are emitting from your body. Thermography is non-contact, non-invasive, uses no painful breast compression, nor emits any harmful radiation.
Infrared waves emit naturally from all living things. They provide information about the function of your cells which can be detected using an expensive and highly sensitive metallic lens. Thermography is so safe that it can be used on pregnant and nursing women without any side effects whatsoever. It’s merely taking an image of your body heat, like shooting a photo!
Since Infrared thermography is not covered by insurance, there are not many doctors who offer this as a service. However at an average cost of $249 - 400, most women feel it is a small price to pay for peace of mind and non-invasive monitoring. In addition, there are only a few reputable companies such as BTI, that offer medical readings of images. Finding an Infrared Center may be difficult, however you can find a scanning location near you by going to www.BTIscan.com.
Dr. Joshua M. Henk and Dr. Kenzie Henk are clinical thermographers that are able to perform these scans and include a wellness program. You can schedule an appointment for thermography in Warren, MI by calling the phone number below.
Transcendence Family Wellness Center
5701 Chicago Rd. Warren, MI 48092
(586) 943-0584
Work Cited:
#breastthermography #infraredthermography #diagnostictests
When people come into my office seeking help for their headaches, we are usually the last place they have tried. Early in practice, I often wondered why chiropractic care was the very LAST thing patient's resorted to for help. Eventually, I caught onto the realization that people just had NO IDEA that chiropractic care could help them to begin with. The even bigger problem was that most people have been to several doctors and specialists without any results. So whats missing here?
"Over 80% of all types headaches are cervicogenic, meaning they are generated in the cervical spine of the neck. The other 20% of cases are related to toxins, mental stress, and lifestyle habits that the patient has yet to explore"
-Dr. Henk
Why Docs Aren't Telling Their Patient's This:
There are many different doctors to choose from when you have a health issue; DC, MD, and DO to name a few. Doctors of Chiropractic and Medicine or Osteopathy are trained to look at the body differently. Chiropractor's focus on the relationship of the spine and nerve system because of its ability to maintain proper function of the entire body. Medicine is focused on the relationship of disease and its effect on the individual parts of the body. One looks at the body as a whole connected body and the other looks at is a machine with individual parts.
The reason many people are unable to resolve their headaches naturally is because their doctor is blaming headaches on disease and bad genes while treating the pieces of symptoms separately. Instead they should be focusing on the whole person and searching for interference to the innate wisdom that is self regulating the body.
To begin healing the whole person from within, we have to look at the source of headaches as an interference within as opposed to a disease from the outside. These interferences can be either physical, chemical, and emotional. Disharmony between any of these areas will create the symptoms of a headaches...just know that the headache is NOT THE PROBLEM it is the effect of the problem(s).
TOP 3 Causes of headaches that Your Doctor Probably Hasn't Explored:
1. There is a Loose Screw In Your head:
You have probably been asked at some point in your life if you have a screw loose in your head. Most of the time it's from our parents after we do something completely out of the ordinary. But did you know that there is actually a screw that can become loosened in your head and neck? Not only does such a screw exist, but it has been the cause of over 80% of all the headaches and migraines in my office.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex occurs when the upper neck bones of the spine become misaligned from an injury or repetitive bad posture. This misalignment will cause the fluids in the neck to flow incorrectly, pressure upon nerves, and narrowing of blood vessels. If the subluxation has been there for some time or is severe enough, it usually causes death and damage to normal tissue.
Every case of headaches and migraines have been associated with prior impacts to the head from a variety of sources such as sports, car accidents, slips and falls, and other accidents. Usually the subluxation is overlooked by the typical doctor and the problem will become worse with repetitive stress to the head and neck. Special diagnostic protocols such as infrared thermography, posture analysis, and x-ray imaging are needed to care for areas of spinal subluxation.
Proper locatation, analysis, and correction of Subluxation should only be performed by a doctor of chiropractic trained in upper cervical care. Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a strict discipline within Holistic Healing that focuses on screwing your head back on straight so that your body can function naturally.
2. Rebound Effect's from Chemical Toxicity :
Every natural chemical of the body is created, fine tuned, and released by the brain to have a specific rhythm and effect for your life. The brain uses chemicals to digest food, create and burn energy, repair damaged cells, and generate nerve impulses. These same chemicals that digest our food come from the building blocks within the food and complete the metabolic cycles of life.
Vitamins, minerals, and essential molecules are farmed in the gut by the bacteria and then transported using the nerves, arteries, and veins to the various organs and packaging centers. Each organ creates a specific chemical for a specific function in the body. Without the proper building blocks, the body will rob nutrients and alter body functioning. This will lead to "rebound effects" caused by fluctuating hormone chemicals and thyroid regulation of oxygen and metabolism. A simple loss of 3% of body oxygen or 2% loss of water is enough to trigger a headache or migraine.
Abnormal chemicals that are brought directly into the body through food, drink, inhalation, and other routes are normally filtered through by the liver. However, when there are too many toxins in the blood stream, the liver will slow down and the toxins will build up and deposit in the organs.
Chemicals such as poly-carbon parabens found in plastic containing compounds such as cosmetics, shampoos, water bottles, and packaging are known hormone inhibitors. Neurotoxins such as such as aluminum, lead, mercury, fluoride, chlorine, formaldehyde can be found in vaccines, cigarettes, food, air, and especially drinking water. Pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, and MSG are also neurotoxins will destroy the gut where healthy chemicals are made and kill nerve cells in the brain. Even the prescription drugs and medications are building up and slowing down the liver and causing rebound effects. Rebound effects from chemicals will cause headaches, migraines, and many other health issues along with it.
Every patient that we work with is screened for chemical toxicities as a possible cause. Not only that, but we work them through a process to test which chemicals are abnormally building up in the body. We then offer natural methods to detoxify and rejuvenate the cells that have been damaged.
3. Emotional Overload Syndrome :
Believe it or not, emotions utilize more energy than any other process in the body. That is because the whole purpose of the body is so that you can have a conscious experience of life...free of headaches and pains. The brain uses all of the body's energy to give you life. Life is a spiritually emotional experience between the realities of the mental and physical worlds.
Emotional overload is something I see a lot with people suffering with headaches because our brains are constantly being stimulated by different things that immediately create fluctuations in emotional state. We live in a time where if something doesn't hold our interest for more than 30 seconds, our mind will wander to the next entertaining thing. Jumping from one emotional task to another may seem like a good trait to have, but emotional multitasking is actually a cause of all the headaches!
Relaxing the mind and focusing on one task at a time will keep brain chemicals firing in a fluid state and the brain will no longer feel like it is being pulled in different directions. It will prevent brain stress which causes inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and improves circulation of cerebral spinal fluid. Research shows that as a little as 15 minutes of meditation, sensory deprivation, or neuralfeedback therapy will alter brainwaves to the Alpha and Theta state of relaxation. This allows blood vessels in the head and neck to calm and muscles to lose their tension and assume normal tone.
Binaural Beats is a new and emerging technique that utilizes alternating sound wavelengths to help the brain. I use this technique during all of my patient visits while they rest following any type of care. A good 15-30 minute session usually calms the brain frequency to a healing state so that the mind can recenter itself and normalize its chemicals.
I hope you found value from reading this article! Please share with anyone you know who is in search of hope and healing for themselves and their family.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Josh
CEO - Transcendence Family Wellness Center
Upper Cervical Doctor Chiropractic
Masters in Nutrition and Human Performance
(586) 943-0584
Chiropractic is comprised of 3 distinct areas: Philosophy, Science, and Art. In fact, if you take a look at any business…each has their own philosophy behind their product or service, a scientific way of creating value, and an artistic form of product or service.
Chiropractic’s Philosophy was born in 1895 when Dr. DD Palmer accidentally moved a bone in a patient’s neck which subsequently restored his hearing loss. Dr. Palmer began to scientifically study the body and make artistic adjustments to areas he believed were being interfered with. He understood that the body had an innate wisdom and that a bone that was out of alignment would interfere with neurological, blood, and cerebral spinal fluid supply. He called this Subluxation.
5 Elements of Subluxation:
1. Misalignment of Vertebra
2. Decreased Space
3. Decreased Function of Nerve, Artery, Vein, and CSF fluid
5. Abnormal Tissue Formation
6. Torqued Misalignment
Sub – “Less," Lux – “Light," Ation – “condition of”:
Therefore a Subluxation is a condition of less light in the body! Now of course at the time we didn’t fully understand the true magnitude of Subluxation, but over the last 120 years, we have come to see that Subluxation has an effect on every area of the body. While science had thought Dr. Palmer had found the cure for deafness, what he actually found was the intimate relationship between the brain, body, and healing!
Finding and fixing Subluxation is the hard part:
There isn’t a single scientific or diagnostic instrument that can diagnose the 5 Elements of Subluxation alone. It takes a detailed health history, neurological analysis, and specific imaging to determine the correct location and degree of Subluxation. Once the Subluxation is located, these scientific tools will also be used to correct the alignment of the vertebra. As a result, normal function is restored and the body gets well again!
To find Subluxation in our office, we use:
1. Infrared Paraspinal Thermography: To Determine Neurovascular Dysfunction
2. EEG Brainwave Analysis: To Determine Neurological Dysfunction
3. Specific Digital X-Ray Analysis: To Determine Structural Alignment
4. Lab Test Interpretation: To Determine Tissue Dysfunction
Once We have applied the scientific method and located the specific area that the Subluxation is located it is time to fix the problem. You can read the article "How to fix spinal Subluxation," to learn more about the painless and non-invasive care that we offer for correction of the Subluxation.
Feel free to reach out via email, give us a call, or stop into the office to find out if spinal subluxation could be plaguing your mind, body, and spirit.
Chiropractically Yours,
Upper Cervical Chiropractor
Toggle Recoil Specialist
Masters in Nutrition and Human Performance
CEO - TF Wellness Center
(586) 943-0584 | drhenk@tfwellnesscenter.com
#headaches #chiropracticcare #subluxation #uppercervicalcare #uppercervicalsubluxation #uppercervicalchiropractor #NeckPain
If you are looking for the cause of vertigo, chances are you have been searching for quite some time. That is because the majority of vertigo cases are very difficult to care for because symptoms are abrupt and may involve a combination of other conditions. It is estimated that 40 percent of adults over the age of 40 years old will encounter vertigo at least once in their lifetime. Traditional medical treatment utilizes drugs, physical therapy, and even surgical intervention to manage the symptoms. The problem is that even with all of this, most cases of vertigo do not resolve.
Vertigo involves the sensation of dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in ears), lightheaded, imbalance, migraines and headaches, nausea, neck pain, and may even be accompanied by other symptoms. The science and research tells us that this has most likely has to do with the functionality of the vestibular nerve which controls balance of the fluid levels in our ears.
When fluid levels change direction in the ear, tiny hairs in the middle ear are stimulated and relay this information to the brain centers where balance is perceived. The vestibular nerve is found in the brainstem at the junction of the upper cervical spine and skull. This nerve is involved in the natural Writing Reflex which keeps the entire body in alignment with surface of the Earth!
The brainstem is the portion of the brain that feeds the cerebellum (balancing centers), cortex, and hypothalamus (pain processing) with information from the body. It regulates all of the information that goes into and out of the brain. Unique condyles and joint biomechanics in the upper cervical spine make it very difficult to evaluate from a clinical standpoint.
In taking care of vertigo, the doctor must consider a structural AND functional approach to in assessing brainstem functionality. The cause is both physical and neurological and requires the special training to correctly evaluate.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic has been helping patients in our office for years recover naturally from vertigo without medical intervention! Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a strict discipline within the chiropractic profession that focuses on structure and function of the top two vertebrae in the spine (atlas and axis). These vertebrae are especially important because they protect the functionality of the lower portion of the brainstem while holding up the weight of the head.
“The upper cervical spine has more proprioceptors (positional sensors) than any other place in the body!”
- Dr. Josh Henk
Injury to the upper cervical spine will likely damage underlying structures such as the vestibular nerve. In such cases of vertebral subluxation of the upper cervical spine, the bone actually moves out of place and causes damage to the brainstem and surrounding positional sensors. Subluxation to the upper cervical spine can result from either a traumatic injury such as a car accident, concussion, sports injury to the head, and/pr repetitive injury such as prolonged working with the head down or "text neck.". Often times most Upper Cervical Chiropractors are able to trace the subluxation injury to combination of both an initial injury and repetitive small injuries.
Above: Upper Cervical Subluxation with compression on the brainstem.
Natural vertigo relief begins with caring for the underlying cause as opposed to dealing simply with the symptoms. An examination by a trained Upper Cervical Chiropractor will aid in determining the presence of any misalignment in your spine that may be a causing nerve pressure to the Vestibular Nerve. Chiropractic adjustments are performed only once x-rays and infrared spinal thermography scans have confirmed the presence of Subluxation. Vertigo cases tend to improve in approximately 12 visits or 3-6 months of continuous upper cervical chiropractic care, typically with complete resolution.
Above: Infrared Spinal Thermography is used to detect before and after changes with care.
The reason upper cervical chiropractic care is successful in dealing with vertigo is because it addresses the root cause of the problem- which is a neurological dysfunction in the spine. When the neurology is stabilized, the body will regain its sense of balance and normal life function returns. It sounds simple because it is! Over 80% of the people who seek out care for vertigo with us succeed in getting well!
Schedule your Free Thermal Examination! - www.tfwellnesscenter.com/free-thermography-scan
Chiropractically Yours,
Dr. Josh Henk
Transcendence Family Wellness Center
(586) 943-0584
Vertigo Testimonial :https://www.youtube.com/embed/BgcUjBqJW9k?autoplay=0&mute=0&controls=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tfwellnesscenter.com&playsinline=1&showinfo=0&rel=0&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&enablejsapi=1&widgetid=11
#thermography #vertigo #dizziness #menieresdisease #BPPV #chiropracticcare #headaches #migraines
Its getting cold outside and the so-called experts out there advise us yet again the “flu-season” is coming! The only problem is that their recommendations for preventing and caring for the cold and flu include vaccinations, cough syrups, anti-biotics, nasal sprays, allergy meds, the list goes on…..I’m not here to promote any of that! I want to show you how to prevent the common cold naturally by fixing a common mistake that you are probably making!
What is the cold anyway?
In eastern philosophies, the “common cold” is believed to be due to what is known as a Cold Invasion. This means that the external cold environment has found its way into the warm body. This cold air energy becomes trapped in different organs and areas of the body. In response to get the cold wind invasion out of the body…you begin to have symptoms such as sneezing, increased mucous, cough, and fever! This is the way the body is able to overcome the cold that is trapped within!
Modern medicine has blamed the cold and flu on bacteria exclusively. The reality is that not everyone gets the cold and flu, but some people do! This is because some of us are adapting better than others. Your ability to adapt is intimately correlated with the lifestyle habits and rituals you have allowed! Remember that the only time the cold invasion can occur is when the body is left open and vulnerable! Most of the time we are creating these vulnerabilities without even knowing it!
Breathe Through Your Nose, Not the Mouth!
Our breath is the medium through which oxygen is transported into our bodies, to the lungs and organs. A Cold Invasion happens when we breathe cold air into the lungs. It creates spasms in micro-capillary beds, inhibits mucous secretion, and lowers the protective enzymes and antibodies within the lungs.
Breathing through the nose is the BEST may to prevent the invasion of cold air into the lungs. This is because the nasal mucous and sinus cavities warm and humidify the air before entry into the lungs. The hairs and oils within the nose also act to soften turbulent air flow and catch and hitchhikers along the way! Breathing through the mouth bypasses all of these steps! Of course there are many other aspects to consider from a Holistic perspective, but this is a very simple mistake that can be fixed and will almost always work in helping to prevent the unfortunately common, cold and flu.
I hope this quick tid-bit helps you get through this winter warm and healthy! Reach out if you need any additional help along the way!
Chiropractically Yours,
Dr. Josh Henk
Transcendence Family Wellness Center
(586) 943-0584
#coldandflu #breathingtechniques #naturalcoldremedies
What music will you listen to during your birth?
But, there is so much more to using music for birth than putting on a really long playlist of songs you like and hoping to be done with the birth before you run out of music. Music can help you prepare for the birth and can be a tool that supports the couple physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually during birth.
As a music therapist, I love being with couples as they prepare for and birth their babies. Music can help them stay calm, bring familiarity to a new situation, move or dance, pass the time, sleep, and so much more. I love helping clients have better births and even heal from past births. Some of my couples have reported my services even helped them grow closer to each other.
I am passionate about birth, but I am not alone. In St. Louis, there are so many services beyond the OBs, nurses, or midwives. Transcendence Chiropractic is one of our Preferred Partners. Their commitment to healthy, smooth, and safe birth through chiropractic care is one that resonates with the heart of what we do at St. Louis Birth Rhythms. They look at each person and each family holistically. They understand all parts of a person’s body, mind, and spirit work together.
I believe birth is profound and that it affects the mother, her partner, and the child for the rest of their lives. I believe that birth happens to the family as a unit-not just the birthing woman. Family deserves evidence-based care, emotional support, education, compassion, and respect as they prepare for and experience this monumental event.
Maura graduated with her music therapy degree from Illinois State University in 2005. She is certified in the CAB program and working on certification for MTACB. She provides consult services and is an essential oil educator. She writes the blog posts for St. Louis Birth Rhythms.
#music #musictherapy #stlouisbirthrythyms #chiropractic #birth #naturalbirth #essentialoils
We all want the best for our children. With the arrival of a new baby, parents often renew their commitment to proper nutrition, eliminating harmful chemicals, and other measures to be as healthy as possible. Essential oils can give us natural alternatives for many synthetic products, as well as support for our bodily systems in their normal functions. Moms already know they have to be careful about taking medications when breastfeeding, but what about using essential oils?
"Likely exposure in breast milk to most essential oil constituents is less than 1% of the maternal dose. This suggests that no particular caution is needed, except possibly from oral doses." ~Essential Oil Safety
Some sources, including the one quoted above, advise against using certain essential oils while breastfeeding, but it's lumped in with essential oil use during pregnancy, when the baby's development could be affected. Breastfeeding is not the same as pregnancy! I haven't found any evidence that a particular essential oil would not be safe for use during breastfeeding, as long as it is generally considered safe when not breastfeeding.
The U.S. essential oil industry is only lightly regulated, though, so there is wide variation in quality. When choosing an essential oil brand, you need to ask questions — lots of them!
How was the plant grown, and how was the essential oil distilled? If the growers used chemical fertilizers or pesticides, there may be residues on or in the plant at harvest time, which will wind up in the essential oil. Some companies also use harmful chemicals in the distillation process. Since essential oils are highly concentrated, chemical residues will be highly concentrated, as well. That pretty much defeats the purpose of using natural products!
What is the chemotype (botanical name) of the plant? When was the plant harvested? What parts of the plant were used to produce the essential oil? All of these affect what therapeutic qualities the essential oil will possess. If a thyme plant is harvested at the wrong time of year, for example, its essential oil will have higher levels of carvacrol, a skin irritant. Lavandula x intermedia (lavandin) is commonly sold as lavender essential oil, but its composition is significantly different than Lavandula angustifolia, and lavandin will not have the same effects as true lavender. Likewise, essential oil distilled from leaves and stems of a plant will have different attributes and effects than oil that comes from the flowers only.
What kind of tests does the company do to ensure purity and potency? Who evaluates the tests? More and more essential oil companies are conducting gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) tests, and some even make copies of the tests publicly available. This is often just smoke and mirrors, though; companies know the average consumer has no idea what to look for — most of us aren't chemists. In addition, synthetic technology is clever enough to appear natural in the raw data of GC/MS tests, so the qualifications of the person evaluating the results can make a huge difference. And is he/she affiliated with the essential oil company, or an independent third party? In the end, even when an essential oil "passes" GC/MS testing additional tests are necessary to ensure it is free of synthetics or other adulteration.
In this video, Dr. Robert Pappas of Essential Oil University explains various testing methods used to ensure an essential oil is natural and has the right chemistry to achieve the desired effects. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LtWq6jkoi9o?autoplay=0&mute=0&controls=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tfwellnesscenter.com&playsinline=1&showinfo=0&rel=0&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&enablejsapi=1&widgetid=13
Once you've found a brand you trust, there are essential oils that can be helpful for breastfeeding in particular. Throughout history, fennel has been recognized as a galactagogue, and some moms have seen similar effects with basil essential oil. Dilute either fennel or basil oil in a carrier oil and apply to the breast tissue, avoiding the nipple, several times each day, to support the natural process of making milk. Fennel also relieves occasional digestive troubles; as a tiny amount transfers into your milk, it will soothe your baby's tummy, as well. Bonus! If used too much, however, fennel can begin to have the opposite effect, decreasing milk supply. For best results, use fennel for up to 10 days, then take a break for the same amount of time.
Essential oils can't fix breastfeeding problems. Work with a lactation consultant to troubleshoot supply issues, tongue ties, latch problems, and your baby's digestive function before attempting any oil protocols.
Finally, be aware that about one-third of women experience a decrease in milk supply when using peppermint essential oil.
"With some moms, peppermint has no effect, and for others just smelling it will decrease their milk supply ... just experiment and see how your body responds." ~Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies
The good news is that if your supply is adversely affected by an essential oil, discontinuing use of that oil and nursing on demand will allow your supply to quickly rebound.
Essential oils can be a wonderful tool and blessing for any family, whether or not you are currently breastfeeding. Make sure to do your research before selecting a brand, and select trustworthy advisors and resources for protocols, as well. Then take control of your family's health!
Joan's journey to a more natural lifestyle began 6 years ago when she was pregnant with her first child. That interest developed into a passion, which she now shares with others via the Play the Grace Notes community and by teaching wellness classes in the St. Louis area. To learn more about essential oils or get support on your journey to natural health, whether you're only beginning or have been on the path for a while, visit www.playthegracenotes.com.
#breastfeeding #essentialoils #lactationconsultant #Pregnancy
Breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural process. It helps both you and your baby to be healthy. It helps you and your baby to connect with each other. It can be relaxing and save a lot of time and money. It is earth-friendly.
Connect. Connect with other mothers who have had successful breastfeeding experiences. They may be relatives or friends. Or, you may wish to join a breastfeeding mothers group, such as La Leche League (www.lllstl.org ).
Research-based information. Have some excellent research-based information on hand when you have questions or concerns. Some books I recommend are The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Breastfeeding Made Simple. If you have concerns with milk production, Making More Milk is another wonderful resource. Or, if you’d like to hit the web, check out www.llli.org or www.kellymom.com.
Get your partner on board. Research has shown that when the partner is educated about breastfeeding, the mother is likely to choose to breastfeed and to breastfeed for a much longer time. Partners can provide emotional support; take a breastfeeding class with you; create a comfortable area for you to nurse; bring you lots of water, juice, or herbal tea while nursing; and bond with your baby in other ways besides feeding.
Plan for the most natural childbirth possible. A natural childbirth isn’t for everyone. If you are planning on one, then great! If not, planning for the least amount of medical intervention will help get breastfeeding off to the best possible start. Childbirth interventions can impact both mother’s and baby’s instincts and abilities to breastfeed.
Breastfeed soon, and frequently. Putting baby to breast during the first hour after birth is a great way to initiate breastfeeding when your baby’s instincts to breastfeed are at their peak. As soon as the baby is born, place her skin-to-skin on your bare chest for at least the first hour after birth. This is an active, alert time for baby and an excellent opportunity for baby’s first breastfeed. Avoid physical exam, bathing, eye drops, vitamin K injection, or hepatitis B vaccine until after baby has had her first feed. Unless medically necessary, avoid bottles or pacifiers until breastfeeding is well established. Keep your baby close to you (rooming-in at the hospital) and breastfed frequently, at least 8-12 times per day, watching for baby’s early cues for feeding readiness such as rooting, squirming, sucking on hands – crying is a late cue for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be part of your written birth plan, so feel free to include in your birth plan and discuss with your OB all or any of the above suggestions for initiating breastfeeding during your hospital stay.
Take care of you. When your needs are taken care of, it is easier to instinctively know how to care for your baby – and that includes breastfeeding. Also, a well-rested, well-hydrated, and well-nourished mother is likely to make more milk. So get rest, drink plenty of water, eat well, and get as much help around the house and with older children as you can.
When you set the stage for breastfeeding success, oftentimes difficulties can be avoided. However, challenges can occur despite all of our efforts to prevent them. If you find you are having breastfeeding difficulties that the above suggestions cannot resolve, get help from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) right away.
Breastfeeding is an amazing gift you can give to your baby and your baby can give to you. Get a good start if possible and don’t hesitate to ask for help – excellent support is out there if you need it. Good luck with your breastfeeding journey!
Alyssa has been helping mothers and babies in the St. Louis area with breastfeeding for the past 13 years. She has been accredited as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2009. Her private practice, Sweet Pea Breastfeeding Support, provides prenatal, pre-adoption/surrogacy, and postpartum lactation consultations. Alyssa enjoys working with all mothers and babies, but she has an extra special place in her heart for helping mothers through adoption and surrogacy to breastfeed their babies. She is the author of “Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers Through Adoption, Surrogacy, and Other Special Circumstances”. Alyssa is the proud mother of three breastfed children, two by birth and one by adoption.
Learn more about the services Alyssa provides at www.sweetpeabreastfeeding.com.
#breastfeeding #baby #nutrition #lactationconsultant #naturalbirth
