3 Secrets to Relieving Sciatica

  Many patients come in suffering the pain of sciatica---pain down the leg. Typically the pain goes down the back of the leg, but can be in the buttock or down the side or front of the leg as well.

Sciatica is caused by impingement of the sciatic nerve, which is composed of branches of the lumbar nerves that exit the spine between the lower vertebrae and travel through the buttocks and down the legs.

“Impingement” can be caused by abrasion, pressure, “pinching,” stretching, or other irritation. The resulting discomfort can be frustrating, difficult to tolerate, and often impacts patients’ ability to go about their daily activities.

Sciatica can originate where the nerves exit the spine, but it is commonly caused by impingement in the gluteal region---the part you sit on. Sitting too long on a hard surface can irritate the sciatic nerve, and chronically tight gluteal muscles can also be the problem.

The secrets? Don’t spend long times sitting; get up and move. Don’t sit on hard surfaces; use a cushion. Stretch; maintain flexibility and good circulation in your gluteals.

What If Medicare Covered Healthy Food?

“Subsidizing fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods under Medicare and Medicaid could prevent millions of cases, as well as deaths from, cardiovascular disease, according to a new model. It would prevent hundreds of thousands of diabetes cases, as well, and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs.”

This would work by having doctors prescribe healthy foods---fruits, vegetables, etc.---and having insurers (Medicare & Medicaid) help pay for them.

A new study found that “subsidizing fruits and vegetables would prevent 1.93 million cardiovascular events, like heart attacks, and 350,000 deaths from the conditions. 

Subsidizing fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods would prevent 3.28 million cardiovascular events, 620,000 deaths, and 120,000 cases of diabetes. 

The fruits and vegetables program would save nearly $40 billion in healthcare costs, and the addition of other healthy foods would save over $100 billion."

Go here to learn more: 

https://www.popsci.com/subsidize-healthy-food-medicare-savings

https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002761

The Perils of Plowing---Who Knew??

     Since the beginning of agriculture, there have been progressive loss & degradation of soils all around the globe.

“Humanity is losing 0.3 percent of our global food production each year to soil erosion and degradation and 30 percent every 100 years,” according to a United Nations report on soil. 

Loss & degradation of soils have even played a part in the decline of civilizations--for example, Mesopotamia, classical Greece, and ancient Rome.

   “It also caused the downfall of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States as a leading agricultural producer, which it had been in colonial America.” 

It turns out that the PLOW is the villain!

What?!?!

That’s right---plowing exposes soil to erosion; disturbing the soil degrades organic matter, the natural biology of the soil. Farmers have to keep feeding the degraded soil more and more fertilizer.

The answer lies in not plowing (“no till”), keeping soils covered year round using cover crops, and rotating diverse crops in the fields. 

These are the principles of Regenerative Agriculture,  which “stimulates soil microbial activity, the “soil food web,” ....”to build fertile soils, which in turn produce healthy plants.”

Learn more at     https://non-gmoreport.com/articles/soil-health-is-the-next-agricultural-revolution/?fbclid=IwAR2zTzoJpw7bvhWxC-2Sz_c6RstRS5g28Xod98IEYxdZJLxIl8m2Raoueak

Facet Syndrome

       On each side of our vertebrae, toward the back, are bony projections called the “facets.” The facets of each vertebra articulate---or form a joint---with those of the vertebra above. These are synovial joints, similar to other joints in our body.

      These articulations are the only normal points of osseous (bone) contact between our vertebrae, which are separated by the flexible “pads” of our discs. They lend stability to the spine, while allowing movement and flexibility.

      Pain in a facet joint can be due to arthritic changes of aging, or just “wear & tear,” perhaps due to overuse or overexertion, that causes irritation and inflammation. Gentle Activator adjustments, rest,  ice, and stretches help ease the pain. 

      Another common cause of facet pain is restriction; the joint(s) becomes “jammed,” and the area, including adjacent soft tissue, becomes tight. Think of a clenched fist. I see this quite often in my practice, and I use precise, directional adjustments with the Activator instrument to release the tension and relieve the pain. Alternating heat & ice, stretches, and staying mobile are good adjuncts.

Summer is Coming - Who's Minding the Kids?

SUMMER IS COMING---WHO'S MINDING THE KIDS?

"Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County is working hard to make sure that that no child goes without care this summer by providing affordable, convenient, and impactful summer programs and safe places to come during the summer."

Summer offerings at Boys & Girls Clubs include:

     Day Camp

     Summer Meals and Snacks

     Open Swim & Swim Lessons at the Downtown Club

     Field Trips

 Sports

     Creative Arts,

     Chill Out Time

     "Walking Bus" to Junior Guards

     Computer Activities

     Academic Learning With the Watershed Rangers        

Go here for more info:   http://boysandgirlsclub.info/summer-day-camp/

Floating Ribs

  Ribs at the lower ( T12, T11) and upper (T1) regions of the spine typically extend from joints on both sides of the spinal vertebrae at these levels, but unlike the other ribs, do not reach around and attach in front of the chest at the sternum.

Thus they are called “floating” ribs.

This “floating” characteristic is usually inconsequential, except in the upper spine at the T1 level, where these smaller ribs, as they curve around toward the collarbone, may cause an impingement of nerves exiting the neck (called the brachial plexus) and going down into the arms.

The nerves of the brachial plexus pass down through the region where the T1 “floating” ribs come close to the collarbones. The “floating” T1 ribs may press or abrade the nerves against the collarbone(s) (aka clavicle(s) on one or both sides.

This nerve impingement is a condition called “thoracic outlet syndrome,” and can manifest as numbness, tingling, or pain in the arm and hand.

My treatment includes gently separating contact between the T1 “floating” rib and the collarbone with the Activator, teaching specific stretches, and counseling about upper body postures that exacerbate the problem.

"The Biggest Little Farm"--Don't Miss This Movie!

     This is the true story of John & Molly Chester, who "traded city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with Nature."
    John and Molly's farm became a heartwarming adventure of pigs, plants, and perseverance, of discovery and wonder, hard work, and learning the magic of Nature's balance. 
   Their story, the microcosm of their farm, is a model for restoring damaged & depleted ecosystems everywhere, for returning to growing food in equilibrium with the natural world.
   Take the kids and the grandkids! Don't miss this wonderful story!

Stomach Sleeping

  Oh, the deliciousness of being able to sleep on one’s stomach! We may fondly remember doing it, with no negative repercussions, as a kid.

Some adults habitually sleep on their stomach, but often have unpleasant cervical and upper extremity symptoms as a result.

Torquing of the head when stomach sleeping causes aberrant strain on the cervical joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. One may wake up with neck pain or tension, pain or numbness & tingling in the arms or hands, and sometimes headaches.

If this is happening to you, it will benefit you to make an effort to change your sleeping position.  A body pillow can discourage rolling over onto one’s stomach during sleep. 

As you change your sleeping habit, it is a good idea to have your spine and upper body balanced and aligned. I am happy to provide this with my Activator Chiropractic Method of full-body balancing.

Sinus Adjustments

  One of the most valuable new adjustments I learned at my most recent annual Activator Chiropractic update training is one for sinus congestion.

It is done with the Activator on the lowest force setting, contacting the face over the right and left frontal and maxillary sinuses, and applying a gentle impact at each contact.

Patients are reporting significant results---draining of their clogged sinuses, increased ease of breathing, feelings of opening of blocked nasal passages, etc.

I am impressed with the positive results of this new adjustment.

Tale of A Wayward Kneecap

  A common cause of knee pain is when the kneecap “tracks” too far toward the lateral side of the leg. This causes abnormal friction, and if not corrected, can lead to a form of arthritis called chondromalacia patella. 

Why does this aberrant tracking of the kneecap happen?

Every time you activate your quads (quadriceps)--the muscles in the front of your thigh--the kneecap moves up & down, because the kneecap lies embedded in the tendon of the quadriceps muscles. With contraction / relaxation of the quads, the kneecap “tracks” in a groove on the tibia, underneath it.

The outer (lateral) parts of the quadriceps often become dominant, pulling the kneecap laterally, causing it to rub abnormally against the tibial groove. Pain and eventual arthritis are the results.

I correct this with specific adjustments with the Activator instrument, and give the patient exercises to balance the quadriceps & eliminate the abnormal dominance.

Three Anatomical / Geometric Planes

  As an Advanced Proficiency Rated ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I am trained to evaluate and adjust joints of the body in three anatomical / geometric planes.

For example, the “ball and socket” hip joint may become misaligned laterally (in the sagittal plane, which divides the body left / right), superiorly or inferiorly (in the axial, or horizontal, plane, which divides the body up / down), or backwards or forwards (in the coronal or frontal plane, which divides the body into back / front). 

The precision of this geometric assessment, with accompanying corrections, contributes significantly to the effectiveness of Activator Chiropractic Method, and helps patients heal and return to normal functioning in a quicker, more lasting way.

Compression in the Carpal Tunnel

  I frequently find that patients have compression in the carpal tunnel at their wrist(s), especially if their activities involve a lot of use of their hands.

This compression can develop slowly over time, prior to full-blown Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

The carpal tunnel is a passageway through bones in the wrist. The median nerve goes through this passageway. With repetitive motion / overuse of the hand & wrist, this nerve can become impinged or irritated due to pressure on, or abrasion of, the nerve inside the tunnel. The irritated, inflamed nerve may swell, further complicating the situation.

Unrelieved, the end result can be the painful, and often difficult to resolve, condition of CTS.

When I find the aforementioned compression, I gently relieve it with the Activator instrument. In patients whom I know may be prone to this condition, I make it a habit to monitor their wrists.

Ouch!!--Pain at the Base of the Thumb

  Pain and soreness at the base of the thumb may be De Quervain’s tendonitis. Tendons at the bottom of the thumb are irritated, inflammed, and constricted.

There may be swelling, tenderness to touch, and moving or using the thumb is painful. Turning the wrist or gripping something will hurt.

This is called De Quervain’s tendonitis, and it is often caused by repetitive motions or overuse of the hand, wrist & thumb. Tendons attach muscles to bone; repetitive uses of the hand / wrist / thumb, such as gripping, twisting, wringing, chopping, etc., irritates the tendons & causes the inflammation.  

As with other inflammatory conditions, ice is your friend. Protecting the inflammed tendons is key, so limit usage to allow healing. Application of anti-inflammatories such as arnica, as well as ice, is helpful.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare recipients have an option of buying private insurance outside of Medicare, often called “Advantage” plans. These plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare, and often include benefits not provided by regular Medicare, such as vision, dental, etc.

This type of private insurance plan must conform to the rules of Medicare--such as limiting charges for certain services--but is administered by Blue Cross, United Health, or other private companies. Patients still have the rights and protections provided under original Medicare.

For more information, go here:   https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/types-of-medicare-health-plans/medicare-advantage-plans

6 Facts You May Not Know About Carrots

Orange carrots contain beta carotene, but purple carrots have more antioxidants & potentially more health benefits.

Some vegetables are as nutritious frozen as they are fresh, but not carrots. Peeling, processing, freezing, & thawing destroys much of their antioxidants.

Though convenient, baby carrots, pretrimmed & scrubbed, are actually misshapen mature carrots that have been whittled down to smaller, more uniform size. The part that’s thrown away, the outer skin & what’s just beneath it, is much more nutritious. As much as 1/3 of phytonutrients are lost by rimming away the outer parts.

Carrots are better for you when cooked. Cooking breaks down their tough cell walls, making their nutrients more bioavailable. And it matters how you cook them--boiling allows their water-soluble nutrients to leach into the cooking water. Steam or saute them instead. Also, cooking them whole instead of sliced or chopped retains more of their food value and natural sweetness. Cook first; then slice. 

Eating carrots that have been cooked whole may even reduce cancer risks. Carrots contain falcarinol, a cancer-fighting compound. Whole cooked carrots have 25% more of it than those that have been cut before cooking.

Lastly, carrots are best eaten with a healthy fat or oil, because some of their best nutrients are fat-soluble.

     

       (Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health, by Jo Robinson. Little, Brown & Co., 2018)

The Secret is the SOIL!

   Plants absorb carbon and put it back into the soil. 

“All the farmers of the world can contribute to mitigate climate change.” Soil organic carbon “is our bank, it is our fertility, it is the source of everything that we have and what we have to build.”

The 4p1000 Initiative is an international climate agreement that puts agriculture and agroforestry at the center of how we deal with climate change. 

    It "calls for countries to draw down more carbon than they emit, and to store it in the soil. How? By scaling up regenerative farming, grazing and land-use practices. These practices lead to an increase in photosynthesis—nature’s own system for pulling excess carbon out of the air and sequestering it in the soil. They also produce more drought-resistant and resilient crops, and more nutrient-dense food."

Watch this video about restoring and using HEALTHY SOIL for healthy people and a healthy environment:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=210&v=AY9YVwJZDvw