This Wallet Says it ALL!!

Are you kidding me with this wallet?! My friend, Dr. JC Doornick, posted this picture on Facebook and it has stuck in my head ever since. This was in a new patient's back pocket and OF COURSE he came to the office with lower back pain and sciatica.   If you haven't heard, SITTING ON YOUR WALLET CAUSES LOWER BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA!!!   

I guess my issue with this wallet is my issue with America in general and how disconnected we are with our bodies and what we do to them.  I would not be surprised if this person blamed genetics on their problems! (oh, my father had sciatica, too!) WAKE UP AMERICA!  Sitting on a 4 inch thick wallet will cause problems. BIG PROBLEMS!! Funny thing is that there was less than $20 in that sucker. 

I can't believe what people do to their bodies!  There is a victim mentality when it comes to the state of people's health:

• "It runs in my family" is the biggest excuse I hear
• My husband "gave me" his cold - your immune system strength is your responsibility 
• "Oh, it's just Stress" - like there is nothing that can be done about it.  FYI: Stress KILLS!

I am writing about this because I am on the front lines when it comes to helping people get well and the insanity by which people live boggles my mind. There are so many excuses that I hear on a daily basis and the truth is that when the time comes where health slips away, no amount of time, money or energy will be enough to bring it back. 

Please let me help you help yourself. I am here to assist and yet cannot do it for you. I can't make you eat veggies, drink water, get adjusted, exercise, relax and be good to yourself.  

Lets work together so that You Can Be Well, too!!


P.S.  Check out this link to give you more info on why NOT to put a wallet in your back pocket.  

The Wallet-in-Back-Pocket Back/Pain Connection

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Vitamin D – The Super Vitamin

Every day, I have patients interested in the new, hot vitamin du jour.  This year it seems to be Vitamin D.  I have included in my blog today a number of studies that talk about the benefits. I really believe the video of Joe Prendergast, MD that I have included below gives the best synopsis of why Vitamin D is an essential nutrient. He has been a leader in this area and speaking about it long before it was in fashion. 


Bottom line, most people need to supplement with Vitamin D, especially those that are living in winter climates like Chicago where there is an appalling lack of sun. Sun is essential to making Vitamin D in our bodies. Most MDs are now including Vitamin D levels in the yearly blood work done at a physical. Don't wait, this vitamin can be added TODAY to help your immune system, mood, heart, and a host of systems of your body. Check out details below...

Vitamin D – The Super Vitamin

U.K. and Canadian scientists have found vitamin D to be even more so vital to health and well- being than previously thought. Their new findings have revealed vitamin D as a direct influencer of more than 200 human genes. One such gene is related to both cancer and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. According to scientists, vitamin D deficiency makes us susceptible to a wide host of diseases. Other diseases thought to be influenced by vitamin D deficiencies include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and dementia. Vitamin D is naturally produced in the body as a result of direct sun exposure to the skin. Vitamin D is also present in larger amounts in fish oils – a common source for most vitamin D supplements. It’s important to note that in larger quantities, vitamin D is also toxic. A number of experts recommend daily dosages of vitamin D ranging from 2000-5000 IU/day.

Source: Reuters. August 24, 2010

Vitamin D To Conquer Your Cold

New research indicates vitamin D may be effective at reducing infections and colds. In this new study, researchers found that a group of young military men who supplemented with 400 IU’s (international units) daily for 6 months versus those who supplemented with a placebo experienced a significantly higher likelihood of having no days missed from work due to a respiratory illness. Moreover, of those taking the vitamin D supplement, half remained healthy during the 6-month study as compared with approximately just one third of those taking the placebo. While more studies are needed, this new research does appear to indicate some benefits of vitamin D in reducing sickness or at least, the severity of sickness. It should be noted that vitamin D when taken in higher dosages is toxic and negative side effects can and do occur beyond 2,000 IU’s per day.

Source: Journal of Infectious Diseases Online. July 15, 2010.

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Colds
Study Shows Vitamin D May Have a Role to Play in Preventing Colds and Flu

A walk in the sun may be better than popping a vitamin C tablet for boosting your chances of preventing the common cold or flu.

A new study adds to mounting evidence that vitamin C may have been stealing the spotlight all these years from the real cold fighter, vitamin D.

The study, the largest to date on the link between vitamin D and common respiratory infections, shows that people with the lowest vitamin D levels report having significantly more cases of cold and flu than those with higher levels. Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight and is also found in fortified foods such as milk.

Researchers say that although vitamin C has been used for the prevention of common colds and other respiratory infections for decades, there is little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. However, several recent studies have suggested that vitamin D, better known for its role in building strong bones, may also play a critical role in immune system function.

"The findings of our study support an important role for vitamin D in prevention of common respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu," says researcher Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, of the University of Colorado, Denver, Division of Emergency Medicine.  "Individuals with common lung diseases, such as asthma or emphysema, may be particularly susceptible to respiratory infections from vitamin D deficiency."

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

The Safety of Chiropractic: It's literally is safer than aspirin!

The safety of any procedure, medical or chiropractic, is the first concern for the public safety. One wonders what this means when it comes to drug ads that end with a laundry list of side effects, including serious health problems and even death. Does chiropractic present any dangers to the public and if so, what are they?

The risk of chiropractic procedures has been the subject of much study. With millions of chiropractic adjustments given each and every day around the world it's important to the public, the profession and of course, the malpractice insurance companies. Because chiropractic has historically kept itself separate and unique from the medical profession it has found itself to be the object of attacks from medicine. Since evidence for the effectiveness of chiropractic in many health conditions continues to grow, the attack on chiropractic has moved to safety. What do the facts say regarding risk?

You are seven times more likely to get hit by lightening than have a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment.

No one pays closer attention to injury statistics than Malpractice Insurance carriers. Scott Haldeman, MD, DC reviewed malpractice claims records for a 10-year period between 1988 and 1997. In reviewing the outcomes following the application of 134.5 million cervical manipulations (commonly referred to as the chiropractic adjustment), the records indicated that there were 23 reported cases of stroke or vertebral artery dissection (VAD). Of this group, 10 of the patients had the complicating factors of high blood pressure, use of oral contraceptives, or a history of smoking, all of which are associated with vascular disease. The actual incidence of stroke or VAD following cervical manipulation was found to be one per 5.85 million cervical adjustments. That means that the average chiropractor would work for 1430 years (or practice 48 full chiropractic careers!) before they would see a single case of this type of incident.

The chart below shows the comparative risk of a number of common procedures and events to that of a chiropractic adjustment. Even the risk for stroke of something as common as birth control pills is over 200 times greater than a stroke from a chiropratcic adjustment.

Risk for	compared to chiropractic
Death from spinal fusion surgery	100,000
Death from cervical (neck) surgery	34,483
Death from hospital mistake	30,000
Death from laminectomy (spinal surgery)	25,000
Death from prolonged Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Aleve use.	4,166
Paralysis or stroke from back or neck surgery	3,571
Death from automobile accident	750
Stroke from Birth Control Pills	235
Get struck by lightening	7
Death from aviation accident	2.5

Notice you are 7 times more likely to get hit by lightening! Other reports listing a higher frequency of adverse events have been compromised by the tendency of those authors to inappropriately list the practitioner as a chiropractor, even when it turned out that the injury was caused by a medical doctor, a physical therapist or even a kung fu teacher and a hair dresser! And yet the reports typically refer to the treatment as a "chiropractic adjustment."

The National College of Chiropractic Clinic reported that over a 15 year period over 5 million neck adjustments were given without a single vascular injury - and this is a student clinic with relatively inexperienced doctors performing the procedures.

Rather than raising concerns about the safety of chiropractic, these studies emphasize that spinal manipulation, in the hands of a in the hands of a trained chiropractor, spinal adjustment is extremely safe. However, in the hands of unskilled practitioners they can be dangerous, and the practice must be closely regulated. This is why chiropractic exists as a separate profession. To provide you with safe and effective care, not a physical therapist or a medical doctor who attended a weekend course on spinal manipulation (yes, they do have these). All chiropractors complete 2 years of pre-doctoral training followed by 4 years of doctoral training and a one year internship. I had my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition from Ohio University prior to chiropractic school.

The American Journal of Pediatrics found that chiropractic is the most used alternative health care choice for children. One of the largest studies on chiropractic safety is the New Zealand Federal Government's 18 month "Inquiry on Chiropractic" published in 1979. The study concluded that "chiropractic is remarkably safe" and further stated that "chiropractic is the only health profession equipped by their education and training to carry out this procedure."


Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Do you "Believe in Chiropractic?"

As a Chiropractor for over 16 years, I hear this statement all too regularly..."I don't really believe in Chiropractic." I guess it cracks me up (no pun intended) that people still view my profession as some kind of religion to be believed in or not.

The truth is that Chiropractic research is abounding. This is not about believing the dogma, it is about science.  I am still amazed after over 100 years that I hear people question the safety and effectiveness of Chiropractic. The fact that I spend more on car insurance than I do on malpractice insurance should be enough to convince people, yet old habits and dogma die hard.


Wilk v. American Medical Association


I understand what people mean when they say they don't believe. It is about people believing in the stories perpetuated by the medical profession. I am not just being a conspiracy theorist, this effort to stamp out the profession of Chiropractic is well documented and the year I entered Chiropractic school, the Wilk's case had just been decided. Wilk v. American Medical Association, (7th Cir. 1990), was a federal antitrust suit brought against the American Medical Association (AMA) and 10 co-defendants by chiropractor Chester A. Wilk, DC, and four co-plaintiffs. It resulted in a ruling against the AMA, saying they had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession." (Wilk v. American Medical Ass'n, 671 F. Supp. 1465, N.D. Ill. 1987). The judge further wrote that the "AMA had entered into a long history of illegal behavior". And, this judge issued a permanent injunction against the AMA to prevent such future behavior.

I BELIEVE IN CHIROPRACTIC!  I also believe that if people knew what I knew, they might do what I do.  This Oprah quote, as great as it is, requires a person to not only be open to new ideas, it also depends on someone letting go of ideas that are not working for them. We as a society, we are getting sicker and sicker (the US uses more prescription drugs than the rest of the world combined).  I am going to commence a series on Safety, Efficacy and Satisfaction as it relates to Chiropractic.  I hope you learn something new that will lead you to a greater expression of health, especially using Chiropractic as the foundation of that healing.

I believe in Chiropractic FIRST!!  Enjoy!

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Ergonomic 101 - Proper Lying Posture

As I was wrapping up my series on ergonomics, I was reminded that I had left out one of the most important positions:  SLEEPING!  This is the number one question that new patients ask and very crucial because approximately 1/3 of our life is spent lying in bed, on the couch, and on the floor. Like other positions, there is a right way and a wrong way to lie. For individuals suffering from pain, modifications may be necessary to obtain a "pain-free" position or a position which does not aggravate the pain.

Lying On Your Stomach (the evil position)

Extended periods of "stomach lying" should be avoided. This can be the sole reason patients experience pain.  This is because excessive stress is placed on the joints of the low back and because excessive rotation must take place in the neck. Neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, as well as arm paresthesias are commonly experienced when in this position for an extended period of time. If you must lie in this position to relieve pain or for some other reason, keep one leg bent with the same side arm raised with approximately 90 degrees of flexion at the shoulder and elbow joints.

Lying On Your Back

Most people find lying on their back to be a relatively comfortable position. For individuals suffering from back problems, placing a folded pillow underneath the knees will help reduce tension in the lower back and make this position more tolerable. Some individuals may also find placing a small pillow or towel under their lower back to be helpful. This will help to maintain the natural curve of the lumbar spine.

Lying On Your Side

Lying on your side is a favored position by many individuals. It may also be a comfortable position that provides relief for individuals with back problems. It's important while in this position to have adequate support for the head and neck. A pillow which fills the gap between the head/neck and the bed should be used to keep the head and neck in line with the rest of the spine. Additionally, placing a pillow between the knees will help reduce lumbar and pelvic torsion. Women with larger hip and small waists will find a small pillow under the waist will prevent lateral bending of the spine while lying on the side.

Choosing A Pillow

Choosing a pillow which supports the cervical spine is extremely important, especially for those with neck or upper back problems as well as those with a history of headaches. There are a number of cervical pillows on the market, however, many of the inexpensive pillows (those under $20) are poorly designed with rigid foam which does not conform to the natural contours of the head and neck. Look for a cervical pillow which will contour to the shape and size of your head and neck while still providing support. Don't be scared to spend a little extra on a high quality pillow - it's well worth the money, and besides, it's something you'll use everyday.

Ergonomics 101-Proper Lifting Techniques

This is the final installment in my series on Ergonomics. I find that little injuries built up over time are cause of most of my patient's problems. My wish is for everyone to learn a little something that they can take back to work that will keep them just a bit safer. This series is full of helpful hits. Dig in people!!


Dr. Steph


The Squat Lift - Ideally, objects should be lifted via the squat lift. With the back relatively straight, the knees are bent so that low back stress is minimized. While this does not seem as easy or natural as simply bending forward at the waist it significantly minimizes the lower spinal stress which can lead to numerous injuries including intervertebral disc herniation. Also, keep the feet wide apart when lifting the object and be sure to keep the object as close to your body as possible.


When Bending The Knees Is Difficult - For individuals who cannot fully bend the knees in order to pick up objects some bending of the spine may be necessary. In these cases, be sure the object being lifting is not heavy and most importantly, be sure to keep the object as close to the body as possible. The farther the object is away from the body the greater the stress on the spine.


The Golden Rule of Lifting - As stated above, be sure to keep objects as close to the body as possible during the lifting and carrying of objects.


Repetitive and Heavy Lifting - Even when proper lifting techniques are used repetitive stress injuries to the spine will occur if objects are too heavy or lifting is done continuously to the point that the spinal musculature becomes fatigued. Never lift heavy objects alone - get assistance or use a dolly. Never lifting continuously to the point that spinal muscles become fatigued. This will dramatically increase the odds of sustaining spinal injury.


Diagonal Lift - The diagonal lift is useful for heavier items that are close to the ground, such as a heavy box. Because this lift requires that you get down close to the item, you protect your back by making your legs do the lift.


Instead of approaching an item straight on, come at it diagonally from one corner. Lower your body down and place one knee on the ground. Gather the item onto your thigh and into your lap. With your back straight and your arms secured around the item, set your core muscles, and stand straight up - making sure your head rises before your hips.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Ergonomics 101-Setting Up Your Workstation

Having a well planned, ergonomically designed workstation increases productivity, minimizes repetitive stress injuries, increases employee morale, and increases the bottom line. Since everybody has different tasks and different body types, no one workstation setup is ideal for everyone. There are, however, some basic guidelines that should be abided by when designing a workstation.

Space - There needs to be adequate space for you to comfortably accomplish all tasks required of you. If you're constantly running into others or cannot properly function due to lack of adequate space physical and emotional stress increases while productivity decreases.

Equipment - Having the proper equipment which has been designed for the task at hand is essential. Equipment should be compatible with other equipment and be ergonomically designed to conform to your specific duties. Chairs should move freely in the work area and fit under desks and tables, lighting should fully light all work areas while not reflecting off of monitor screens, and computers and monitors should fit desks properly so screens can be read in comfortable positions and computer discs can be inserted without getting on all fours under the desk.

General Layout - Plan ahead. If you know what tasks you will be performing and what equipment you need, draw a floor plan and include equipment, furniture and accessory placement. Be sure keep those items used most frequently within reach are nearby to minimize strain and twisting. Commonly used equipment and other materials should be within reach from your primary workstation position.

Accessories - Add stackable document holders, have your Rolodex nearby, purchase telephone headsets and any other items which can help to organize your workstation and keep all important and frequently used materials within your reach.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Ergonomics 101-Proper Telephone Techniques

Probably one of the biggest problems facing my patients with office positions....the dreaded phone-propping (note the picture)!  My hope is to give some pointers on how to manage this tricky task. Remember, headsets are the BEST!! Good luck and enjoy! Dr. Stephanie

Spending prolonged periods of time on the telephone can lead to chronic neck, shoulder and upper back pain disorders. Using the proper techniques and equipment is key in preventing these problems from developing.

Phone Location - The telephone should be located close to the main working area such that it is easily reached without having to twist, bend or overly stretch.

Shoulder Rests - For individuals who like to have their hands free when on the telephone we highly recommend not using a shoulder rest extension on your receiver. This still requires you to cock your head in order to keep the receiver next to the ear. This position places stress on the supporting structures of the neck and can throw the neck out of alignment. Rather, purchase a headset device. They have become plentiful and fairly inexpensive. Note the WRONG phone position in the above photo!

Speaker Phone - Using a speaker phone allows for maximum flexibility to work while talking. However, for some this may not be appropriate such as during times that clarity, volume and professionalism are required. If this is the case, look into purchasing a headset.

Headsets - Headsets are the most versatile telephone utility. They enable you to work uninhibited while on the telephone and keep your body in an ergonomically safe position.

Writing Materials - Be sure to keep a pen and pad of paper near your telephone so messages can be immediately taken without changing position or straining to grab the appropriate materials.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Ergonomics 101-Adjusting Your Monitor

Maintaining the correct monitor height will prevent many problems with your eyes, neck and upper back. A monitor improperly positioned can irritate neck musculature, alter the normal spinal curves, induce eyestrain and even initiate migraine headaches.

Monitor Distance - The monitor should be located directly in front of the area where you're positioned to view the monitor. The preferred distance from your eyes to the actual screen varies with the size of the monitor and the current resolution settings. A 17 inch monitor should be located no less than 20 inches away. For smaller monitors you may need to be a little closer and for larger monitors a little farther away.

Monitor Settings - In conjunction with setting up the ideal distance between you and your monitor you may additionally need to alter the monitors resolution, contrast and brightness settings. This will allow characters and images to display clearly preventing squinting and eyestrain. The settings will vary depending on the distance you are from the monitor, the background you have on your active screen, the amount and type of lighting at your workstation, and the quality of your vision.

Lighting and Glare - Improperly positioned lighting can also wreak havoc on your ability to comfortably view your monitors display. Solutions include moving your monitor, moving the lighting, closing blinds or curtains, adjusting your monitors brightness setting, installing an anti-glare screen on your monitor, changing your background color to a lighter color, or even taping paper or cardboard along the edges of the monitor to act as a "visor".

Monitor Height - The proper monitor height is vital in preventing gradual neck and upper back strain. The most effective way to determine correct monitor height is to sit correctly in your chair or where ever you view your monitor. Next, close your eyes and position your body and head in a neutral and comfortable position - your spine should be straight and head centered over your shoulders. Then, open your eyes and note at which point your eyes are initially focused on. This area should correlate to the center of your monitors screen or the part of the screen you view most frequently.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

If I Could Only Adjust ONE Nerve Level.......

Subluxation of the Week:  1C

The first spinal vertebra under the skull is called the Atlas or the first cervical.  The Atlas is a single, 2 oz. doughnut-shaped vertebra at the top of the spine. Trillions of nerve fibers from the brainstem travel through the small opening in atlas and flow down into the spinal column. Because of the smallness of the opening and because of the atlas’ close proximity to the brain stem, if the atlas has moved out of position even a fraction of a degree, very serious things can result.

The atlas (C1), according to our Neuro-Anatomy chart, is involved with providing the primary nerve supply from the control centers in the brain to the head, face, brain, pituitary gland, eyes and ears.   It is commonly found to be an area that is subluxated (misaligned producing abnormal nerve system transmission of information) leading to such common health complaints as headache, migraine, earache, colds/flu and sore throat.

Atlas (C1) subluxation can be caused by physical, chemical, emotional and/or environmental stress or a combination of these stressors beyond the body’s ability to cope.  Common stressors affecting this part of the spine and nervous system include: caffeine withdrawal, alcohol abuse, unmanaged stress, anger, confusion, despair, exhaustion and ergonomic stress like repetitive motion or long periods of inactivity.

Perhaps of greater importance than these local affects of subluxation of 1C, are the global affects of subluxation of this area because this is the one area where the entire spinal cord and brain stem may be affected by spinal misalignment.  This can cause effects throughout the body ranging from remote problems like low back pain to impairment of the immune system of the person.  In fact, research conducted with HIV positive patients found that those adjusted in this exact area enjoyed a 48% improvement in immune system function over time while the non-adjusted group experienced an 8% decrease in immune system function over the same period of time.


Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net

Cell Phone Kids YIKES!!

A Kaiser Family Foundation study (Generation M2) found 8-18 year-old spend in excess 7.5 hrs/day using some form of mobile device.  Also, 7th - 12th graders report spending an average of 1:35 a day sending or receiving texts. (Time spent texting is not counted as media use in this study.)

As a result, these youngsters are sure to develop a condition known as Forward Head Posture (FHP), which can cause neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, and/or numbness and tingling into the upper extremity. Please talk to your youngster about this. This is not a GOOD THING!!!!!!!!!!  Avoid the problem from the start and look to Chiropractic care to help insure these pediatric spines (spine still has growth plates until 22 years old) are balanced as kids continue to grow.

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds is the third in a series of large-scale, nationally representative surveys by the Foundation about young people's media use.  It includes data from all three waves of the study (1999, 2004, and 2009), and is among the largest and most comprehensive publicly available sources of information about media use among American youth.  Below is a graph to summarize:



5 Tips For The Correction Of Forward Head Posture:

Forward head posture is a very common imbalance seen today from excessive cell phone use and from bad posture. Correction of forward head posture takes awareness, resolution of underlying causes, and repetition to make a lasting impact. These five tips will help you get faster results.

1. Focus on lifting your chest, not just tucking your head back.

In most cases, forward head posture is accompanied by rounded shoulders and a slouched upper back posture. In this scenario, simply retracting your head will not correct the problem. In fact, this can cause a jamming of the lower cervical vertebra. A simple instruction to help you lift you chest is to imagine you have a helium balloon attached to each of your chest muscles, and they are lifting them toward the ceiling. Many times, just lifting the chest causes a natural retraction of forward head posture.

2. Perform "chin retractions".

A great way to re-program yourself to get rid of forward head posture is to perform 10 chin retractions every hour on the hour throughout the day. If you do this throughout an 8 hour workday, along with lifting your chest, you will have done 80 postural corrections! This will help you re-pattern your posture easily and effectively.

3. Ensure you have proper ergonomics in your phone use, car, at work, and at home.

Make sure your computer height is optimal at work and home. Another great trick to do in your car is to move your rear view mirror just an inch higher. This will remind you to sit straight while driving.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER prop the phone up with your shoulder & make sure you lift the phone so that you can look straight on when texting or surfing the web.

4. Eliminate food allergies.

Food allergies, particularly to gluten, soy, and dairy, can cause your nasal passages to clog, and make it more challenging to breathe. Forward head posture is very common to individuals that mouth breathe. Think about it, what do they teach during CPR to help someone open their airway? Tip the head back. In a standing position, this is done by extending the cervical spine, which inevitably leads to forward head posture.

5. Stop doing endless amounts of crunches.

Excessive amounts of abdominal training, particularly crunches, can cause an adaptive shortening of the abdominal muscles, which then pulls down on the upper body, leading to forward head posture. This can easily be corrected by performing an appropriate amount of exercise for the muscles that lift the chest and shoulders back and down.

5 Reasons to Visit a Chiropractor

5 Reasons to Visit a Chiropractor

Of course we think of visiting a Chiropractor when we have an injury or pain in our lower back or neck. We also tend to think of them following an automobile accident.

While these are all great reasons to schedule your visit with a Chiropractor, there are also many other reasons we should be considering chiropractic care. Every Chiropractor is different and specializes in different types of treatment options.

There are many reasons to visit a Chiropractor aside from spinal related items; however I want to share just a few of them with you.

1. Fertility- That’s right. Fertility. When trying to conceive a child there are many things you need to focus on to allow your body. If you prefer a more natural, holistic way to help your body become pregnant, than ask around and find out if your local Chiropractor specializes in Fertility. If he/she doesn’t they would be happy to refer to you to a Chiropractor who does.

2. Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes -We should remember that issues with shoulders, knees, hips and basically all moveable joints can be treated by your Chiropractor. If you are living with pain or numbness in any of your joints, please discuss them with your Chiropractor.

3. Weight loss- Many Chiropractors have received training on weight loss programs and can assist you with meeting your weight loss goals. By developing a custom training program and discussing nutrition, your Chiropractor can help you with safe weight loss and help you learn better habits.

4. Quit smoking- Ready to give up the ghost and stop smoking? You can visit your primary care doctor and receive a nicotine patch or prescription drugs, however have you thought about asking how your Chiropractor might be able to help and help you stay away from the prescriptions? When you are ready to stop smoking, please talk with your Chiropractor.

5. Sports Performance or general well being. If you are an athlete or just want to feel your best while running, biking or playing with your children or grand children, then a routine schedule of Chiropractic care should be part of your schedule. Keeping your spine in proper alignment not only reduces your chance of injury, but keeps your body operating at its full potential.

Remember, Chiropractors can help with many of your needs. They work hard to resolve these issues in a variety of natural methods.

New Research Shows: Chiropractic Care for Children is Safe and Effective

I find it important to share the current research being done in the Chiropractic field, especially as it relates to kids.  In a world that uses prescription drugs on kids without testing (Ritalin & antidepressants just to name a few), it is nice to see research supporting the safety and efficacy of a Chiropractic adjustment for children.  Enjoy!!

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association's (ICPA) ground breaking study, The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network, was published this month in the prestigious, biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

The results of the study determined that the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care of children was “wellness care.” The most common reasons for parents seeking symptom relief care were muscles conditions, ear, nose, and throat, respiratory and digestive disorders. Out of 577 children, with 5438 visits, doctors reported only 3 adverse events. Out of 239 children, with 1735 visits, parents reported only two adverse events. These events were minor discomfort after the adjustment and were readily resolved with continued adjustments. All children remained under chiropractic care. Both parents and doctors indicated a high rate of improvement with respect to the children's presenting complaints. In addition to these improvements, respondents reported better sleeping patterns, improvements in behavior and, improved immune system function while under chiropractic care.

Dr. Joel Alcantara, ICPA Research Director and presenting author said, “this paper shows the preliminary results of the ICPA’s Children’s PBRN – Phase One. Phase Two is well under way and we have initiated similar research pertinent to pregnancy. We are pleased that a major CAM Journal respects the importance of chiropractic care for children and we foresee greater collaboration with the CAM community on the importance of chiropractic care for children.”

Dr. Jeanne Ohm, executive director of the ICPA says, "I am pleased to be affiliated with an organization dedicated to chiropractic family wellness research. It is wonderful to see research substantiating the safety of chiropractic care for children and the overwhelming satisfaction of parents with children under care."

The ICPA is the oldest and largest pediatric organization in the chiropractic profession. Their mission is Research, Training and Public Education on behalf of family wellness. To find out more about children and chiropractic and to locate a doctor who cares for children visit www.icpa4kids.org

Former NFL Wide Receiver Jerry Rice Reveals Secrets to Long, Healthy Career

Legendary NFL wide-receiver and three-time Super Bowl champ Jerry Rice scored a touchdown among attendees at Parker Seminars Las Vegas — the world’s largest chiropractic seminar — by sharing all the ways he is being a champion for chiropractic. He was joined onstage by fellow chiropractic supporter Linda Cohn, veteran sportscaster and one of the first women to report for ESPN. Both Rice and Cohn are spokespeople for the Foundation for Chiropractic, an organization dedicated to generating positive press for the chiropractic profession, and traveled to Parker seminars  to encourage chiropractors and their assistants to continue delivering natural, quality health care to patients around the globe.

Thinking back to his football career, Rice credits his success on the field largely in part to chiropractic care. "If I had everything in alignment, I knew I could play my best football," said Rice. His training routine included twice-weekly chiropractic adjustments which helped his body recover from all the hard hits and countless tackles. Because Rice firmly believed in the benefits of chiropractic , his teammates began to favor this natural care over the medications that trainers traditionally give. "I wanted to set the standard within football," said Rice. "I knew if chiropractic helped me put up outstanding numbers, it could help my teammates do the same."


Former NFL superstar Jerry Rice

And Rice’s accomplishments are indeed a testament to chiropractic: he was twice named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, won three Super Bowls, and still holds nearly every record as a receiver. He retired as the league’s career receiving leader. Rice was recently announced as a 2010 NFL Hall of Fame candidate.

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP) made its own version of a "Hall of Fame" induction by presenting Rice with a medal for his commitment to chiropractic. "The Foundation for Chiropractic is getting the word out there, and [being a spokesperson] is a way for me to give back," said Rice. "Chiropractic made football great for me. I was at my best and was always at 100 percent."

Resolving to "Be Well" in 2010!

Jan 12, 2010 – Chicago, IL – (prlog.com)  – New Year’s resolutions, love them or hate them, bring new energy to people’s yearning to improve their health.  In her book, You Can Be Well, Dr. Stephanie Maj focuses on helping people with these changes to aid them in recapturing the health and vitality that has slowly been eroding away people’s lives.

“I have always used New Years to help my patients set health goals.”  Dr. Maj said.  “It amazes me that people are so unhealthy that on all the Top 10 Resolution lists, health related items account for over half the resolutions.”

This general lack of health in our society is one of the reasons she wrote the book; to help people find the critical steps necessary for success.  There are thousands of books on wellness yet Dr. Maj has found all these books are missing the most vital step of all.

“It is the elimination of nerve interference that NO ONE is talking about and I feel can no longer be ignored. As a chiropractor, I focus on removing the interference in the nervous system, the master controller of all the organ systems of body.  Without removing this nerve interference, no other steps will get the patient to their desired health goal.”

“I find that people misunderstand what health and wellness really are to them.  Most people want to be healthier yet have no idea what health really is and exactly how to go about achieving it.”  In her book, Dr. Maj talks about the 5 critical steps to wellness, four of which are action steps that every self-help health book talks about:  Eating right, stress relief, exercise and eliminating toxins.

Dr. Maj has noticed that others are out there speaking and writing about wellness and what it means and yet fail to address the interference in the nerve system that Chiropractic corrects.  The reason this is so important is that the body is a self-healing organism and the nerve system is what controls that healing.  When there is interference in the nerves, there is interference in the body’s ability to heal properly or fight disease (like cancers and viruses).  Chiropractic removes interference in the nerves so the body’s own natural defense systems can be restored.

Research shows that when you have interference in the nerve’s function at the spinal level, this leads to a cascade of harmful results.  Some of those results include:  Increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes), increased stress hormones, decreased immunity (cancer & infections), decreased sense of well being and a decrease in complex learning abilities.

“I understand that achieving health and wellness is not as simple as only getting a Chiropractic adjustment.  I address other steps in my book, “You Can Be Well.”  Eating right, exercising, combating stress and eliminating toxins are needed as well.”

Dr. Maj states, “The mission at Community Chiropractic is to check as many people as possible for hidden health problems and to save them from a life of drugs and surgery.  We do this in Chicago everyday yet if you aren’t in my practice; there is no way of knowing these vital steps.”

The biggest promise I have for people is that You Can Be Well, too!

Dr. Stephanie Maj is the clinic director for Community Chiropractic, a full service wellness center offering family health care, acupuncture, massage, orthotics and nutritional counseling. Dr. Maj has been practicing in the Lakeview area for 14 years.  Her book You Can Be Well,  can be purchased on Amazon.com or on her website, youcanbewell.net.

The Ear Infections Epidemic - The Truth Every Parent Needs to Know!

Dr. Maj adjusting young Samantha

Dr. Stephanie Maj answers the most pressing question in her pediatric practice: What is the cause of ear infections and what can we do to heal them without drugs or surgery?

Chicago-Ask any parent about ear infections, and you will likely hear one horror story after another. Ear infection or Otitis Media, is the most common reason for visits to the pediatrician’s office. In fact, visits to the pediatrician’s office for ear infections have increased over 150% from 1975 to 1990. It is estimated that over 30 million visits are made every year in an attempt to deal with this problem.

In my practice, we have an effective, safe solution to the problems plaguing parents. What we find is most parents fail to understand what is happening with these infections.

Otitis Media is the general name for several conditions affecting the middle ear. The most common symptoms are earache, a feeling of pressure, and perhaps difficulty hearing due to increased amounts of fluid. Teething often produces similar symptoms, therefore, the child should be carefully observed before jumping to any conclusions.

Historically, the treatment for ear infections has been antibiotics. This method of treatment has come under severe attack over the past several years for many reasons. One of the reasons, the overuse and over prescription of these antibiotics, has led to what is termed “antibiotic resistant bacteria”. These bacteria have “evolved” and changed so that the antibiotics no longer affect them. Because of this phenomenon, stronger and stronger antibiotics are being used, which is leading to more and more resistance. (http://tinyurl.com/yep3y33)

Another reason use of antibiotics has come under fire is because study after study has demonstrated that they are not effective. In other words, they do not work! This is why so many children are on one antibiotic after another, stronger and stronger each time. Sure, many times the infection will go away, but it quickly returns with a vengeance, and so begins the antibiotic roller coaster.

The reasons they continually reoccur is two-fold: First, antibiotics kill off most bacteria in the body including the helpful “good” bacteria our bodies need. This depletes our children’s natural immune system, making them vulnerable to many more infections of varying types.

Secondly, antibiotics merely attempt to treat the symptoms of ear infections, they do not address the actual cause and therefore the infections return.

The real question then is what is the cause of ear infections? The reality is that ear infections themselves are merely a symptom of a greater problem. The vast majority of them are secondary to a cold or another infection, which may be due to a depressed immune system.

The other more physical reason children suffer from ear infections is because of the actual anatomy of the young ear.

In children, the Eustachian tube is nearly horizontal, gradually acquiring a near 45-degree angle. This often slows draining of these tubes and with stagnant fluid, infection may appear.

The obvious question from most parents now is: what can we do? The answer lies in a new level of thinking.

As a chiropractor, my primary objective is to address the root cause of health problems. Treating symptoms, as mentioned earlier, has been proven unsuccessful at best. When dealing with your children and ear infections, my goal is to correct the actual cause, and to allow the body to function at its optimal potential. (http://tinyurl.com/ybqlymw)

There is a direct link between the nerves in the neck (the superior cervical ganglion), the muscles of the Eustachian tubes (tensor veli palatini) and the middle ear.

Let me explain: The middle ear drains any fluid through the Eustachian tubes. These tubes open and close through the action of a muscle and that muscle is controlled by a nerve. This nerve originates in the neck. When this nerve is not functioning normally, the tensor veli palatini muscle may go into spasm, which constricts the Eustachian tube, restricting drainage and causing fluid buildup in the middle ear. This fluid, combined with a stressed immune system, may result in an ear infection.

Ultimately then, this “nerve interference” can cause your children to suffer as they do. My job as a chiropractor is to detect this nerve interference called subluxation, and correct it. A subluxation is a misalignment of a bone in the spine that pinches, stretches or twists a nerve resulting in interference.

By correcting this interference, the child’s body is given the potential to heal and be well. With proper chiropractic care, your child will be able to live a life free from nerve interference, and free from unnecessary medications and antibiotics.

Chiropractic adjustments for children are very gentle and differ tremendously from the adult version. Imagine you are putting a contact in your eye or testing a tomato to see if it is ripe, that is the extent of the pressure used in these treatments. There is no twisting, popping or pulling involved.

Through advances in technology such as Surface EMG and Thermal Scans, a chiropractor can easily detect these subluxations and monitor their correction as well. This enables chiropractors to be accurate and objective, allowing you the best care possible.

A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics now indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. 332 children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the children in this study experienced NO ear infections within the six-month period following their initial visits. The six-month period included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks.

Correcting the cause through chiropractic has been shown to help over 80% of all children with ear infections.

Treating the symptoms of ear infections with antibiotics has proven to be ineffective. Give your children a fighting chance with chiropractic; it could change your lives!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Stephanie A. Maj has been helping children and adults experience life at their maximum potential through Chiropractic for over 14 years. She is the author of the book, “You Can Be Well” and lectures throughout Chicago on a variety of health issues, and may be contacted at 773.528.8485. Community Chiropractic is located at 1442 W. Belmont, 1E Chicago, IL 60657. Her website is www.communitychiropractic.net.

Local Chiropractor takes her Practice to the Children of the Dominican Republic

Chicago – The people of the Dominican Republic live with staggering poverty, having very little access to any form of health care and no access to chiropractic care. Dr. Stephanie Maj has just returned from a chiropractic mission to help supply much needed health care and funds to the poorest of the poor in the Dominican Republic.

“I have vacationed in the Dominican Republic and although I knew it was a poor country, I saw first-hand how poverty can affect people,” Dr. Stephanie Maj said. “One community was living on the side of a trash dump, with poor Dominican kids wandering the trash heaps with no shoes. Their toys were old tires and bottle caps.”

In some ways, Dr. Maj notes, the people in the U.S. are more stressed out. The Dominican people lead a simpler life, free of the repetitive stresses such as sitting over a computer all day. Poverty and nutrition are the two biggest factors affecting the health of the Dominican people. The nutrition in the U.S. can be blamed as the biggest factor affecting health as well.

Maj adjusted 900 people in a three-day period. “I would say 75% of the people I helped were children. We would go to a school and adjust every kid in the school, as well as the teachers and staff.” That was for the children lucky enough to be able to attend school. Thousands of Dominican children are abandoned each year by parents who can’t afford to provide for them.

“One barrio we visited, Ponch Mateo, our guide was a teacher named Dumy. He runs a school named ‘Mano a Mano por el futuro’ (hand by hand for the future). Dumy showed us his one room school-house attached to his home. When I say home, I mean a wooden and tin shack with a dirt floor. He has no money to pay teachers and yet supplies a place to help kids get education as well as caring for orphans.”

Dr. Maj practices in the Lakeview neighborhood. She traveled to the Dominican Republic with a group of 30 doctors and 30 students intent on giving free chiropractic care to people. The group was organized by ChiroMission and as a group adjusted 35,000 people in a three-day period.

ChiroMission is the “Doctors without Borders” of Chiropractic. The idea is to teach less fortunate people in Third World countries how to take care of themselves so they’ll have a better shot at avoiding medical problems. ChiroMission has just expanded to Australia to take care of the Aborigines.

“I will never forget the children. Even with these tough conditions, there was joy in their eyes. All they wanted was to hold my hand and to hug me. For every one child I helped, they came back with 5 more. If I helped just one, I consider this trip a success.”

This group had their Chiropractic miracles as well. One man showed up with neurologic problem, a hand tremor like in Parkinson’s disease and drop foot. After being adjusted a couple of times in the morning, he hunted the doctors down at their next location. He walked up exclaiming in Spanish that not only had his tremor disappeared, he no longer had drop foot.

This trip changed Dr. Maj’s perception of poverty and life here in Chicago. “We think this economy is bad yet when you witness first-hand a different reality you realize things aren’t that bad. We need to be grateful for the abundance we have at our fingertips.”

Dr. Maj states, “The mission at Community Chiropractic is to check as many people as possible for hidden health problems and to save them from a life of drugs and surgery. We do this in Chicago everyday yet I realized after this trip that the world needs our help as well. I have been hit by a lightning bold and will never be the same.”

Dr. Stephanie Maj is the clinic director for Community Chiropractic, a full service wellness center offering family health care, acupuncture, massage, orthotics and nutritional counseling. Dr. Maj has been practicing in the Lakeview area for almost 14 years.

Chiropractic Cuts Blood Pressure says WebMD!

The above headline comes from a March 16, 2007 article on WebMD (http://tinyurl.com/chirpbp). The article is based on a study done at the Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago Medical Center and published in the March 2, 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension.

In this study, 50 patients with hypertension were divided into two groups of 25 each. One group of 25 received a specific light force chiropractic adjustment (administered by a chiropractor) to the Atlas vertebrae (uppermost bone in the neck). The other group of 25 received a similar procedure but with no adjustment being given. Researchers called this procedure the "sham adjustment". Since the type of adjustment given was very light force, the patients involved in this study did not know if they were receiving the real or sham adjustments.

The results were surprising to even the medical researchers conducting the study. After 8 weeks of care the 25 people in the group receiving the real chiropractic adjustments all showed a significant reduction in blood pressure compared to the group that received the sham adjustment. Those patients who got the real adjustment showed an average of 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure count), and an average of 8 mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom blood pressure number) over those who got the fake or sham adjustment.

In his interview with WebMD, study leader George Bakris, MD commented, "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination. And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems."

When they first analyzed the data, Dr. Bakris and his statistician had trouble believing the data. He noted, "When the statistician brought me the data, I actually didn't believe it. It was way too good to be true. The statistician said, 'I don't even believe it.' But we checked for everything, and there it was."

X-rays were used to confirm that the chiropractic adjustments actually changed the position of the Atlas vertebrae. Dr. Marshall Dickholtz was the chiropractor who performed the specific adjustments and commented in WebMD, "At the base of the brain are two centers that control all the muscles of the body. If you pinch the base of the brain -- if the Atlas gets locked in a position as little as a half a millimeter out of line -- it doesn't cause any pain but it upsets these centers."

Even with the overwhelming results, the authors of the study were cautious in their conclusions and posed several questions. They commented, "The mechanism as to why this improvement in blood pressure occurs is unknown and cannot be determined by this study”. They continued, “The data presented, however, raise a number of important questions including: a) How does misalignment of C1 affect hypertension?; and b) If there is a cause and effect relationship between C1 misalignment and hypertension, is malposition of C1 an additional risk factor for the development of hypertension?"

When Pigs Fly Flu

Enjoy my guest article by Dr. Harte.  He says it better than I could.

WHEN PIGS FLY FLU by Don Harte, D.C.

The nation... the world... is on alert. A super zoonotic infection may be on the march. (A zoonotic infection is one that crosses from animal to human.) In this case, the latest flu outbreak is apparently part human, part pig, part bird... hence, "When Pigs Fly Flu." I doubt the CDC will come up with a better name. They surely will not dub it the Mexican Flu, since that would be so un-PC. For the same reason, they will not close the border, though common sense public health standards demand such. If and when this gets out of hand, you will know whom to blame. Ah, when science and politics mix, stupidity almost always arises.

So, what's the deal here? Might we have a catastrophic epidemic, what is known as a pandemic? Yes. Why do I say that? Three reasons. (1) This is very much out of flu season. (2) Many of the dead were young adults, unlike the usual targets of the very young and the very old. (3) Time of the appearance of the disease and death were short. (The Mexican archeologist who gave President Obama a tour was dead from this flu, so it is sometimes reported, the day after.) All three characteristics appeared in the Flu Pandemic of 1918. Certainly gives me pause...

But then, nothing might happen. Let's go back to the Swine Flu of 1976. Government health authorities spread panic, rushed a vaccine to production, which lead to 517 cases of paralysis and other very serious problems, and 23 cases of death, from Guillane-Barre Syndrome. Yes, all this was from the flu vaccine, not the flu. What was the actual toll of the swine flu of 1976 itself? 13 actual cases of the flu, one death. So, mortality-wise, the flu vaccine was 23 times more deadly than the flu itself. (You still trust these people???)

What does this mean? I urge you to think before you line up for the flu vaccine now, which is NOT the same strain as the current flu. (It almost never is.) DO NOT consider it a wise precaution. Besides have little to no preventive value, the substances in the flu vaccine carry substantial health risk. Despite what the "talking heads" of the media and the government may have to say, there will be virtually no benefit, and substantial risk getting this vaccine.

What about when they have the new vaccine ready in a few months? Remember the 1976 disaster. What will you do if you wake up paralyzed? Should you question to alleged experts? You betcha! Keep in mind the vast amounts of money that the pharmaceutical industry is destined to make on this. We are talking BILLIONS. You can be sure that they are leaning on all of their government contacts to make sure that everything (your tax dollars) is in place to enrich their coffers, despite the dangers, despite the lack of effectiveness.

So, what to do, to be prepared? Instead of following the "experts," like sheep, may I suggest that you THINK. Infection? Your defense is your immune system, which is run by your nervous system. My suggestions?
1. Get adjusted! If you are already under chiropractic care, make sure that you maintain your intensive care or your wellness schedule. Even a little extra, just to make sure, wouldn't hurt. Why? Again, your defense is your immune system, run by your nervous system. If you have interference, Vertebral Subluxation (most of the time, there is no pain), your immune system will be at a disadvantage in fighting what seems to be a totally novel virus. Vertebral Subluxation is corrected by chiropractic adjustment. There is no substitute. IF YOU ARE NOT YET UNDER CHIROPRACTIC CARE, call me now.
2. Eat well. Avoid junk food. Avoid excess sugar. Take supplements of Vitamins C and D.
3. Get some sun. (Good for Vitamin D activation.)
4. Get plenty of rest.
5. Have fun. Maintain a good mental attitude. Relax. Maybe meditate.
6. Exercise regularly. Yoga is good, too, but different.
7. Avoid crowds.
8. Make sure that you understand, and act on, #1.

If and when the When Pigs Fly Flu becomes dangerous? Do more of steps 1-8. That will surely be the critical time to get your family and all of your friends in here to get checked for Vertebral Subluxation. If you are not yet a practice member, get here as soon as you can. If it really hits the fan, there might not be any room here. WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT???

The Flu Pandemic of 1918. 25 to 40 million died. Here's the figures. In 1979, Walter Rhodes wrote that, during the Pandemic, medical doctors in Davenport, Iowa treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths, in other words, one out of 15 under medical care succumbed to the flu. At the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, 1,635 flu cases were adjusted, with only one fatality. Outside of Davenport, Iowa chiropractors adjusted 4,735 flu cases, with only six deaths - one out of 866. In 1919, Palmer College of Chiropractic published "The Flu and You." The ratio of flu cases cared for vs. deaths were as follows: Medical care: 1 out of 17 died. Osteopathic care: 1 out of 36 died. Chiropractic care: 1 out of 886!

Do the math. Outside of the BJ Palmer clinic, chiropractic care was 59 times more effective in saving lives than Medicine. Inside the Palmer Clinic, Chiropractic was 110 times as effective. No matter what preconceptions or prejudices you or someone else may have, what works... works. And, it makes sense. If you can't follow this, the time to come to my "Chiropractic: The Big Idea" class is now! It will all make perfect sense.

So, you can follow the so-called experts like sheep, or you can do what intelligent people do, use common sense, and learn from the lessons of history.

What are the 5 Critical Steps to Wellness??

1.  Remove Nerve Interference

2.  Supply Nutritional Sufficiency

3.  Reduce Stress

4.  Exercise is a Nutrient

5.  Remove Toxicity

Removing nerve interference is the my unique position in the wellness landscape.  Not that they are not important, yet there are a million books talking about steps 2-5.

My position on this is simple:  You can not have WELLNESS without Chiropractic.

1.  The body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism.

2.  The nervous system is the master controller of all the functions of the body.

3.  Interference in the nervous system causes interference with the body's ability to heal itself (immune system) and function properly.

4.  Chiropractors remove the interference.

Simple yet powerful!!