Monday, November 27, 2017

The Cranial Rhythms

    The bones in our head have very subtle rhythmical motions, called the "cranial rhythms." 
    These motions are not synchronized with either our heartbeat or our breathing. They are related to the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that bathes our brain and our spinal cord. 
     Aberrances, or abnormalities, in these rhythms can be associated with headaches, vertigo, or sometimes just a general feeling of "being out of sorts." 
     Every treatment in my office includes balancing the patient’s cranial rhythms as part of a full-body balancing.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Wearing Your Shoulders for Earrings?

       
Are you "trying to wear your shoulders for earrings?"
     Sounds like a joke, doesn’t it? But there’s a very real anatomical basis for saying this, and it can cause a lot of trouble in the upper back and neck. 
     If you carry your shoulders in a “perpetual shrug,” holding chronic upward tension, and pain runs from your shoulderblades all the way up your neck, maybe also involving a headache, you may be doing this. 
     Particular muscles, called the levator scapulae, attach to the upper part of the shoulderblade, and to the vertebrae in your neck. If these muscles are on chronic contraction in a “perpetual shrug,” they become exhausted and painful. 
     This can be relieved by precise Activator Chiropractic adjustments of the underlying bones and joints, re-setting the tension in the muscles with the Activator instrument, and stretches and exercises at home. 
     In my office, I include ergonomic counseling to correct stressful postures that may be aggravating the problem.  

Monday, November 13, 2017

Medicare = EXCELLENT Insurance!

     The current Medicare deductible is just $183 per year.  Where else can you get health insurance with such a low deductible?
     And, yes, Medicare covers care of your spine by your Chiropractor. 
     Be sure to inform your Chiropractor as soon as you are covered under Medicare.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Leave the Leaves!

     One of the best things you can do to support pollinators---bees, butterflies, beetles, & moths---is to let fallen leaves stay on the ground! Fallen leaves become food & shelter to insects that overwinter in our landscapes, protecting them from predators and the cold.
     Although Monarch butterflies migrate, most butterflies and moths spend the winter in the landscape as an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, or adult, & all these stages use leaf litter for winter cover. Fallen leaves may become the first food of caterpillars in the spring.
     Some bees burrow into the soil to hibernate for winter; a layer of leaves helps protect them.
     Fallen leaves are free mulch. They suppress weeds and retain moisture, and the decaying organic matter enriches the soil. 
     Go to  https://xerces.org/2017/10/06/leave-the-leaves/  to learn more.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Scoliosis---Early Intervention is Critical

     Schools offer scoliosis screening for good reason; the earlier it is detected and addressed, the better chance that conservative care can be effective. 
     My treatment plan, preferably begun early, includes chiropractic balancing of the entire frame, special exercises, and ergonomic counseling. 
     This approach has successfully stopped advancement of the curvature for several girls in their early teens.