It is undeniable that most people can benefit greatly by seeing a San Diego Chiropractic professional-from infancy to adulthood. For an athlete, however, it can mean the difference between winning and losing, especially if they want to avoid injury and continue to achieve optimal athletic performance throughout their lives.

Chiropractic is the philosophy, art and science that concerning the restoration of optimal health by maintaining a correctly functioning nervous system. Spinal issues can occur from automobile accidents, bad posture, improper lifting, sleeping or sitting habits. Even the simple act of sneezing can cause the vertebra to become misaligned. Regular adjustments from your San Diego Chiropractic physician will allow your body to do what it has always naturally done-promote vitality, strengthen and heal itself, without surgery or drugs.

Football athletes, however, consistently suffer from physical stress from sudden falls and hard-hitting jars, causing subluxations of the spine. Subluxations are a slight dislocation or malfunctioning spinal column which disturb and irritate blood vessels and nerve roots that branch out of the vertebrae. The San Diego Sports Injuries Chiropractor will manipulate these spineal subluxations back into position. Additional physical therapy may be required if there are injured tendons, joints, muscles and ligaments.

Athletes who see San Diego Chiropractors on a routine basis enjoy increased performance. Speedier recoveries are an added benefit when Sports Injuries do occur. Studies show that reaction time is ramped up by as much as 16.7 percent for the well-adjusted athlete, to those who do not have regular spinal adjustments. Just ask Tiger Woods. He states he has been seeing his Chiropractor throughout his entire life when he swings his clubs the wrong way.

Compare an athlete’s body to that of a well-oiled, sleek racecar versus a sedan. Although the sedan needs routine maintenance checks, the racecar is going to need special care and recurrent tune-ups to continue to perform favorably. When the athlete’s spine is finely tuned and in complete alignment, every piston is firing perfectly.

Whether it is on or off-season, athletes use chiropractic care extensively for that competitive advantage and edge, before they suffer numerous Sports Injuries to their spine. Chiropractors and the world of sports make the perfect team.

Nine out of ten Americans experience headaches and this is not surprising since ninety percent of headaches result from tension in the neck. These are called cervicogenic headaches.   This tension can often come from sitting in the same position for many hours, as is the case with those who use computers all day.  If you are one of those people who suffer from chronic headaches, chiropractors in San Diego might be able to help.

Studies have shown that for those people whose headaches originate in the neck, spinal manipulation helps significantly to ease the pain.  Not only that, but chiropractic treatment for headaches has been shown to have longer lasting results than other types of treatments, and best of all there are no side effects involved.  Other less natural treatments for head pain often involve medication–prescribed or over-the-counter.  Although medication can be a temporary solution, the results of prolonged use can often be worse than the headache itself and can cause more serious health issues.

If you go to a chiropractor in San Diego, you can expect him or her to possibly take an x ray to see exactly what kind of shape your spine is in.  If necessary, a simple pain-free spinal adjustment will be made and then the doctor will give you advice on how to keep the problem from reoccurring.  Often it will be necessary to come in for a series of manipulations.

In the more rare event that the headache is not the primary issue, but rather might have a serious underlying cause, a good chiropractor will not hesitate to recommend that you see another type of specialist who can prescribe a more appropriate treatment.

If you are one of those 9 out of 10 Americans who is repeatedly experience headaches or pain, do not hesitate to get in touch with a San Diego chiropractor today.

Chiropractors were once thought of as charlatans at best, and classified as members of a diabolical cult at worst. After losing an anti-trust case in 1987 the American Medical Association changed its stance and classified Chiropractic treatments as an alternative medicine.

Chiropractic treatments are based on the theory of subluxations. In lamens terms subluxations are misaligned vertebrae, or joints that have become stuck reducing their range of motion. Pain and stiffness is the result of neurological impingement, or pressure caused by the subluxation. The theory also indicates that various diseases and maladies from headaches to asthma may occur if the subluxations persist over long periods of time without being corrected.

Chiropractic treatments, known as adjustments, are given after the initial evaluation of the patient. The evaluation often includes x-rays in addition to a physical examination. Normal courses of treatment include two or three adjustments per week until the condition improves. The entire treatment often incorporates a regime of rest, heat, ice, and physical therapy. As the condition improves patients usually receive “monthly adjustments” to maintain normal function.

Patients report varied levels of success ranging from temporarily reduced back and neck pain, to significant relief of migraines, and other headaches. Overall the effects seem consistent with other medical treatments including prescription drugs. Chiropractic treatments appear to be safe with local discomfort in the affected area the most common side effect. Most patients seek Chiropractic therapy as an alternative to prescription drugs, or surgical solutions. Some patients seek relief when standardized medical solutions have no effect on their condition.

Caution and careful consultation should be sought prior to receiving cervical adjustments. Overall the risks, side effects, and benefits of Chiropractic treatment for neck and back pain are consistent with conventional medical treatments. Chiropractic treatments remain a viable holistic approach to pain relief.

People who suffer from back pain, leg pain, excessive weakness in the legs, and abnormal functions of the lower extremities are often diagnosed with a herniated disc. The question is – exactly what is a herniated disc, and how is it determined if this is causing the symptoms?

An intervertebral disc is made up of an outer, fibrous ring, and a central soft portion. The disc itself receives nourishment through the motion of the vertebrae above and below it moving and “squishing” the blood and fluids through the disc. If this movement does not occur, the outer ring can dry and tear which allows the soft portion of the disc to bulge out. This is what is commonly known as a herniated disc. (Also called a slipped disc, bulging disc, disc protrusion, etc.)

Not all herniated discs cause pain or discomfort. It is when the bulge puts pressure on the exiting spinal nerve that pain, or an inflammatory reaction, will occur. It is therefore very important to have a full understanding of what is causing the pain.

What is Subluxation?

Another term important to understand in the diagnosis of a herniated disc is subluxation. Subluxation is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position. The result can be a herniated disc. If this creates pressure on spinal nerves, problems will result. This pressure or irritation on the nerves causes the nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.

Symptoms can be one or more of the following:

• Pain spreading over the buttocks, down the back of one thigh, and into the calf
• Pain may be in one leg (more common) or both legs
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs or feet
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both arms
• In severe cases, inability to find comfort even lying down
• Sudden aching or twisted neck that cannot be straightened without severe pain
• Bowel or bladder changes and/or numbness in the groin

Treatment

Treatments for a herniated can range from physical therapy, to anti-inflammatory medication, to cortisone shots to surgery. Because back surgery is extremely invasive, and because surgery is not always totally successful in correcting the problem, it would be wise to seek out the services of a doctor of chiropractic first. Before resorting to a surgical approach, it just makes good sense to try a more conservative procedure.

A doctor of chiropractic is trained to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This can be accomplished through a series of chiropractic adjustments designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be experts at correcting subluxations. There are methods to decompress the vertebrae which allow the disc the ability to heal itself.

Early Diagnosis

Be aware that few treatments – even chiropractic treatment – can make up for years of abuse and neglect of spinal health that many people endure. Poor nutrition, poor posture, lack of proper exercise, and even incorrect lifting methods are among the many ways the spine suffers abuse.

Early diagnosis and conservative treatment is the best way to begin correcting the pain suffered from a herniated disc. And the chiropractic approach is an excellent first choice for extended pain relief and for a healthier spine in the future!

“You don’t have to be an astronaut or a world-class athlete to want your body operating efficiently. This technology will allow us to have a greater impact on the overall health of our community,” said Personalized Chiropractic’s Dr. Robert Walcher.

The Insight Discovery Subluxation Station was developed by Chiropractic Leadership Alliance (CLA), a New Jersey-based company, and has been certified by The Space Foundation, a non-profit agency founded in cooperation with NASA. The Insight allows chiropractors to scan their patients’ neurospinal health. These scans easily and accurately identify areas of nerve interference that may be preventing one’s nervous system from operating efficiently. When one’s nervous system is functioning at peak capacity, the human body has more energy, a greater resistance to disease and less need for pain. Once pinpointed via the technology, chiropractic adjustments are then utilized to remove the area(s) of nerve disruption.

NASA used an earlier version of sEMG technology on two shuttle missions—STS48 and STS50—to evaluate the physical attributes of astronauts. The space agency and CLA were recently praised on Capitol Hill for introducing this technology to the general public.

“Lost in the romanticism of space travel is NASA’s development of technologies that are changing – if not saving – lives,” stated Representative Nick Lampson (D-TX), who leads the effort to increase government funding for space exploration and scientific technology development.

Personalized Chiropractic’s investment comes at a time when chiropractic’s popularity is rising while an over-medicated public has become wary of the pharmaceutical industry.

“We can now offer proof as to the need for care and the progress that one make while under care. The short story is, we’re changing lives,” concluded Walcher.

Remember the days of school lockers in the halls where students could keep their books and supplies until they needed them? Those days are long gone and replaced by heavier books and more supplies being the burden of families since school cuts have crippled classrooms nationwide. The biggest problem with these new demands on students are health concerns related to carrying heavy backpacks.

Research published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics found that students carrying excessive weight in their backpacks may develop long-term back pain and other serious health conditions including numbness of the shoulder, muscle spasms and posture deterioration.

“Loose straps, slinging the backpack over one shoulder instead of properly worn, to item overload – these common misuses cause a shift and will require an altered posture to compensate for the extra load.” advises local wellness expert and Chiropractor, Dr. Robert Walcher of Personalized Chiropractic.

Research suggests limiting bag weights to no more than five to 10 percent of body weight and to making sure one accurately positions the bag for even weight distribution. This can significantly decrease the risks of spinal and neck injuries and discomfort.

“A backpack may not seem like it would affect posture or mobility. However, over time, especially 5 days out of the week, the weight takes its toll and can lead to a greater potential for injury.” adds Dr. Walcher.

Parents must realize that turning backpacks into personal portable lockers has now proven to be detrimental to students’ health. So how do parents keep their kids from being at greater risk for backpack-related injuries?

1. Choose backpacks with multiple compartments. This design can effectively position and distribute weight while providing students with alternative storage options.
2. Choose backpacks with wheels.
3. Find out if you child can have access to the books they need at school in the library or media center.

To get more information or to schedule an informative segment/interview on the backpack safety, student wellness and injury prevention from Dr. Walcher, contact Michele at Personalized Chiropractic 858-866-3345.

Dr. Robert Walcher of Personalized Chiropractic is empowering the community to live a healthier life with 5 easy steps to wellness and stress relief.

San Diego, CA-July 21, 2011 - Dr. Robert Walcher isn’t your typical wellness expert. He likes to listen to a little Katy Perry, brings lunch to local businesses at no cost to them and talks to employees about the importance of decreasing stress on the job. Why? He is committed to people being happier, healthier, more productive employees and to breaking the stigma attached to the chiropractic care field.

“I have heard people say that chiropractors are always after patients of workman’s compensation claims. In actuality, chiropractic care is part of a total wellness and preventative care approach. I aim to decrease the number of employees getting injured and suffering from pain due to stress on the job or in their personal lives.” Dr. Walcher explains.

Dr. Walcher has devoted his career to providing care to individuals holistically which enables them to function more effectively and enjoy health and well-being through a program that includes diet, exercise and chiropractic care. Going into his office in Pacific Beach is only one aspect to taking care of your body by ensuring a healthy spine. The rest is up to the individual to implement easy yet affective ways to gain some ground towards a healthier lifestyle.

5 Easy Tips to Wellness and Stress Relief:

1. Move It or Lose It-Getting up and getting out of your house and out of over-thinking will relieve anxiety and get much needed blood flow and oxygen into your system.
2. Don’t Stress Your Body Out-Stretch It Out-Stretching has a multitude of benefits, including pain relief, increased energy, greater flexibility and range of motion, and improved posture. Set aside 10 minutes each night for stretching exercises.
3. Mama Told You So- That old saying “Sit up straight” is an important piece of advice. Good posture can relieves stress on the neck and spine that causes headaches and fatigue.
4. Cure Boredom with a Board Game-Don’t underestimate the power of laughter and unplugging from the TV or computer for a board game. Giving your mind a break from the digital images and information that it is being bombarded with day in and day out is essential. If not a board game, take a walk, meditate, turn on music without lyrics, and just give your mind a break.
5. Give it a Rest-Americans are getting less and less sleep these days. Get away from late nights at the office or tweeting and get back to a pattern of getting the rest your mind and body needs to rejuvenate.

With employer costs reaching into the millions of dollars each year with a high percentage being related to stress, it’s no wonder alternative means of living a healthy lifestyle is becoming more popular. The San Diego Police Department just announced the implementation of a department wide wellness program and the Fire Department has an effective wellness program that has been in place for 5 years. These programs, and by having wellness experts speak to employees, opens up a whole new way for business to get funding and grants for employee wellness programs.

To get more information on the methods and techniques for living a healthier life that Dr. Walcher offers, or to schedule an interview or consultation with computerized Stress Analysis, contact Personalized Chiropractic at 858.866.3345 or VERB Entertainment Group at 760-579-1032. www.personalizedchiropractic.com

In my practice as a San Diego Chiropractor, I take the overall health of my patients very seriously.  Keeping them informed of health dangers is one of the ways I can guide them toward more optimum health.  One of the health dangers high on that list is the milk found in the dairy section of the grocery store.

Drinking milk and consuming high amounts of dairy products is almost a national pastime for most Americans.  After all, what’s more American than an ice cream cone?  Or a cheeseburger.  Or a grilled cheese sandwich.  And of course we’re all familiar with the famous “Got Milk?” ads.

Is There a Need?

For decades we have been inundated with American Dairy Association ads in an attempt to hammer home the point that “we never outgrow our need for milk.” When in fact, there never was a “need” in the first place.

As with most areas that are concerned with our food, the bottom line is not health or nutrition, but money – clear and simple.  In the past, their main focus was that dairy products provide the calcium needed to build strong bones.  More recently their ad campaigns focus more on weight loss – if you can believe that.  Losing weight by consuming dairy products is a pipe dream.  Nevertheless The National Dairy Council, has spent more than $200 million promoting that concept since 2003.

The entire U.S. dairy industry, which includes cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts is worth $70-billion a year.  Add to that the fact that subsidies for our dairy farmers are estimated to be nearly $15 billion or equivalent to over 40% of production costs.  One doesn’t have to be very smart to see that money is the determining factor for convincing the public that dairy products are safe and good for you.  The truth is dairy products are neither safe nor good for you.

What’s In It?

Most cow’s milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses. Because the determining factor here is money, various hormones are given to dairy cows to increase their production.

The hormone rBST (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin) is injected in about 20% of U.S. dairy cows to increase milk production.  Due to lack of space in this article, it’s impossible to cover all the problems with this practice.  Suffice to say that rBST milk is supercharged with high levels of the natural growth factor (IGF-1), which is readily absorbed through the gut.  Excess levels of IGF-1 have been cited in well-documented scientific publications as causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. Additionally, IGF-1 blocks natural defense mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers.

This means not only does rBST milk open the door to possible cancer, it actually prevents the body’s defense system from warding off early cancerous growths.  It’s a nightmare in the making.  T Colin Campbell, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, said that “cows’ milk protein may be the single most significant chemical carcinogen to which humans are exposed.” Now add to this the list of other diseases that can be traced back to high dairy consumption such as heart disease, diabetes and anemia.

But what about the claim that dairy products supply the body’s need for calcium?  This is faulty reasoning due to the fact that calcium must be partnered with equal amounts of magnesium in order to be absorbed.  The problem is most Americans are notorious low in their magnesium intake.  This means even if dairy products were beneficial in providing calcium, without magnesium the body will absorb precious little of it.  However, that same body has no problem absorbing all of the harmful ingredients that come with a tall glass of cold milk.

Seeking Alternatives

What are the alternatives to dairy?  As with any diet change, my advice is always to take it slowly.  Never try to eliminate every dairy product from your life all at once.  And always attempt to replace rather than totally eliminate.

In Europe people intent on improving health are turning to soymilk in record numbers.  This trend is also taking hold in the U.S.  Other alternatives include oat milk, rice milk, pea milk, nut milk, quinoa milk and even hemp milk.  At any health food store, you will also find a wide variety of ice cream and frozen dessert alternatives made with soy and rice.  Choosing organic cow’s milk is yet another alternative to be considered.

Health or Illness – It’s a Choice

While some may complain that these alternatives are too expensive, my only comment is: “Have you considered the price of illness?”  No matter how chemotherapy is administered it comes with an exorbitant price tag.  How about heart surgery?  Or blood pressure medicine?  Or any prescription for that matter.  Medical bills have been known to bankrupt many a family.

Compared to illness, the price of wellness is a bargain. Especially when you factor in the stress, loss of productivity, and compromised quality of life that comes along with illness.

I encourage all of my patients to invest in good health.  And eliminating most or all of the dairy products from your diet is a great way to begin.

If it’s going around, you’re pretty sure your kids are going to get it, because they are in a daycare setting.  Does it have to be this way?  Do you have to spend every “season” waiting and dreading for your child to get what all the other kids are getting?

My answer to that is a vehement NO. Your children can be healthy no matter what germs may be floating around in the air or are being passed from one little dirty hand to the next.  The fact is that children can’t live in a bubble.  They are exposed to such disease-producing organisms as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.  But just because they are exposed doesn’t mean they have to catch each and every bug.  If that sounds impossible to you, read on.

Why We Get Sick

First of all, it’s important to understand why we get sick.  We get sick because the immune system is compromised or weakened enough to allow an illness or condition to take its hold on the body.  A strong immune system, on the other hand, provides a child with the natural defenses to fight off disease.  This means even if they do get a cold, the flu or a tummy bug, the body will fight it off quickly and easily.

In my Pacific Beach Chiropractic practice, education in nutrition is offered right along with chiropractic adjustments.  We especially like to help parents in these problematic areas.  It’s one thing to tell parents to help boost their child’s immune system, but I like to give tips on how that can be done.  Here are a few important ones that are easy to implement.

Eliminate Empty Calories

Look in the refrigerator and in the kitchen cabinets.  Look for foods items, and snack food items that might be high in salt and sugar.  Some of these products offer nothing more than what is known as empty calories.  In other words, they offer little, if any, nutritional value.

If that’s not bad enough, these items are filled with harmful additives which work to weaken the immune system.  When your children snack on these nutritionally empty foods, their appetites are spoiled for healthier, more nutrient-dense foods.  Begin now to eliminate such items from your home.  When they’re not around, kids forget all about them.

Substitute these food items with good quality snacks such as fruit and vegetable sticks, whole-grain breads with a nut butter spread, homemade fruit smoothies or roasted nuts and seeds.

Whip up tasty smoothies in the blender using frozen fruits (such as strawberries and bananas and berries) and soy milk (or other non-dairy milk products).   Tofu is another healthy ingredient you can add. Get creative with flavors such as vanilla extract and lemon.  If it’s too tart, blend in a little honey or rice syrup.  The whole family will love these.

Dairy Dangers

The evidence has become so overwhelming it’s hard to imagine any parents who is unaware of the prevalent dangers of dairy products.

• According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, cow’s milk is the number one-cause of food allergies in children.
• According to the former director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Frank Oski, there is evidence to indicate that up to half of U.S. children have some allergic reaction to milk.
• According to a report published by the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology Committee on Adverse Reactions to Food (part of the National Institutes of Health), the allergies of up to one third of children tested cleared after milk was removed from their diet.

While the American Dairy Association wants you to think you “never outgrow your need for milk,” the truth is you never needed cow’s milk to begin with.  And your children don’t either.  Most cow’s milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses. Because the determining factor here is money, various hormones are given to dairy cows to increase their production.

I encourage parents to remove as much dairy from their children’s diets as possible.  Begin shopping around for tasty substitutes such as soy milk, soy ice cream and soy-based frozen desserts.  (Soy is just one of many.  Do your research.)

Antibiotic Addictions

As a nation we’ve become addicted to the quick fix.  That quick fix often means antibiotics.  As soon as a child comes down with an ear infection or the flu, a trip to the doctor’s office often results in a prescription for antibiotics.

Think of what this name is actually saying.  Biotic means life or living organism.  An anti-biotic means against life.  The human body is host to many types of living bacteria, some good and some bad.  Antibiotics can’t tell the difference and therefore kill the good along with the bad.  Antibiotics upset the delicate balance of good bacteria in the digestive system and thereby weaken the immune system.

As with the subject of dairy, the evidence of problems with the overuse of antibiotics is very disturbing.  Rather relying on a prescription drug to heal the body, the better and smarter way is for the body to be healthy enough to heal itself.
Be aware there are chewable probiotics available especially for children.  As you might imagine from the name, pro-biotics are the antithesis of antibiotics.  These supplements actually contain live bacteria cultures that are so necessary for good digestion.

Check them out!

It may take a major change in mindset on your part to back off of a continual reliance on antibiotics.  But it will pay off in big rewards later on down the road.

Happy Healthy Home

Children thrive in a safe, loving, peaceful environment.  Hugs and words of encouragement can be as important to the well being of a child as a healthy meal.   Take the time to hug your children.  Hold them, embrace them, talk to them with eye-to-eye contact.

Laughter and positive thinking help to strengthen immunity too.  Laugh with your children and help them learn how to enjoy life.  This too will help boost their immune system.

Make sure the daily routines are set so they know what to expect each day.  Children thrive where there are predictable routines such as regular meals, baths, naps and bed times. Routines minimize stress and make for a peaceful environment.

Even routines before bedtimes such as quiet stories or soothing music will make for a good night sleep. Sleep is also vital in optimum health, because this is when the body repairs itself.

Summing Up

Now you see why I’m so quick to say that parents do not have to expect their child to catch every illness that’s “going around.”   The answer is to take the necessary steps to build up a strong immune system that will be less susceptible to viruses and bacteria.

And of course one of the best steps in keeping children healthy is with regular visits to the chiropractor.

This list is certainly not a complete one, but I hope it has given you insight and some great ideas of how to get started.
The added bonus is that as you help your children to become healthier – you will become healthier as well!  And it’s my goal to make Pacific Beach the healthiest community in San Diego!

Picture this scenario:  The water is overflowing from the bathtub.  The bathroom floor is flooding.  There’s a woman with a mop in her hand.  She’s mopping up the water as fast as she can and squeezing it into a bucket.  The faster she mops more water spills over from the tub.

Well, she can mop for forever and still get nowhere – because the faucet is on full blast!

Herein lies the question: Do we want to treat symptoms or find the cause?

While this seems pretty silly, this is a very good allegory to describe health care in America.  (Even the term health care is a misnomer.  It’s really sickness and disease care.)  Always looking for the quick fix, this society wants a pill or cream or potion to take care of any adverse symptoms that might crop up.  These can range anywhere from acne medication to cough syrup to weight control to blood pressure medicine to heart pills.  The list is literally endless.

It seems that very few people are willing to take the responsibility, or the time and effort, to get to the root cause of the problem.  The sad thing is, the longer a problem is masked by fighting the symptoms (mopping the flooded bathroom floor) the worse it becomes.  Plus the fact that medications have numerous side effects which can cause even more medical problems.

Scary Statistics

To illustrate the point further, here are a couple of statistics:

• There are more than 100,000 OTC drug products on the market today encompassing about 1,000 significant active ingredients        – Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA), 2001

• On top of the $532 million spent every year on over-the-counter drugs, consumers spent $90 billion more on prescription drugs last year than the $64 billion that was spent just six years ago.    -http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/archive/bitter-medicine.htm

These numbers boggle the mind and stretch the imagination.  Millions and billions of dollars spent for hundreds of thousands of drugs – many of which are relatively ineffective but highly advertised. (Mopping the floor.)

Sickness and Disease = Big business

It’s no secret that medicine – drugs and prescriptions – is big business in this country.  The pharmaceutical companies have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than there are congressmen and representatives combined.  Americans need to stop looking at “wonder drugs” through rose-colored glasses and look clearly at the facts and statistics.

The big question is: do you want to treat a disease?  Or prevent it?  Think of the changes that would happen in this country if everyone opted for the latter!  (Get to the root cause of the problem – turn off the faucet!)

Consider Chiropractic Care

This is where chiropractic comes into the picture.  By its very nature, chiropractic goes straight to the root cause of any malady like a well-aimed laser light.

Chiropractic focuses on the spinal column in the human body where all of the nerves originate.  The spine is designed to protect the nerves in the body.  From here the nerves go out to every muscle, organ, and tissue in the entire body.  The healthier the nerves are (the freer they are to function correctly) the healthier the entire body will be.

I like to explain it this way: the spine is similar to a circuit breaker box in the body.  Simply put, chiropractors fix the switch.  Since the spine affects every nerve in the body, the key is to eliminate the subluxations in the spine. (A subluxation is a slight dislocation or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae.) This then allows the spine and the nerves to function properly.

When a patients comes in to Personalized Chiropractic they may come in because of an aggravating symptom such as ongoing headaches, or low-back pain.  Our goal is not to simply alleviate the symptom and send them on their way.  Our goal is to educate our patients on the importance of keeping all parts of the body in tip-top working order.  All the time. Every day.

True Optimum Health

Contrary to popular belief, good health is not simply the absence of disease or illness.  Good health (optimum health) is so much more.  Optimum health equates to high levels of energy, a calm demeanor, restful sleep, and an overall sense of well-being.  Additionally this means one rarely catches the flu or a cold, and experiences freedom from ongoing bouts with allergies , digestive upsets and the like.  It’s a sad indictment on our culture that few people can say they have ever experienced true optimum health.

I’ve never seen it to fail that once a person’s spine is in proper alignment – and pain and fatigue are replaced with energy and vitality – these individuals make every effort to maintain that level of optimum health.

Nutrition

Returning to my opening point about the quick fix – the partner problem in this sad scenario is that not only do people want to treat symptoms (fast), but they are unwilling to make needed changes in their eating habits.  Americans notoriously feast on soda pop, caffeine, junk food, and processed foods, and then seem surprised when they have no energy and catch every bug that comes along.  But why change your diet when you can always pop a pill to make it all okay? Right?

Wrong.  It’s never okay to abuse your body because sooner or later there comes the day of reckoning.  The human body is extremely forgiving, but only for so long.

As I see it, nutrition and chiropractic go hand in hand.  I not only want my patients to feel better by receiving adjustments to correct the subluxations in the spine, I want to see them respect their bodies by eating foods that are nutrient rich.  Foods that will take them on down the road to optimum health.  For this reason I go the extra mile to offer this type of ongoing education at my Pacific Beach Chiropractic practice.

It is the choice of every individual whether to continue to treat symptoms (which masks the true problem); or take steps to get to the root of the health problem and then do whatever it takes to eliminate those problems for the long haul.

I’m doing my part the best way I know how!  It’s my goal to make Pacific Beach the healthiest community in San Diego!