Posts Tagged "Disease"
Fried Food…..NOT Bad For You?
Immune Responses to Spinal Manipulation
I decided to find an article about how spinal adjustments can help boost the immune system which helps prevent illness and disease. With the cold and flu seasons lurking around, I feel it’s necessary to explain to patients that a chiropractic adjustment is the BEST way to naturally prevent sickness. I really enjoyed this article that I have included some excerpts below. I also included the link to the full article if any of you would like to read it. Stay healthy, GET ADJUSTED!
For many years, chiropractors have observed in their own practices that their patients sometimes demonstrate improvements of complaints related to immune problems: the disappearance or lessening of allergy symptoms, quicker recovery from or less frequent and severe colds and other respiratory infections, and so on.
Early Research on Manipulation and the Immune System
Research in the 1990s laid the groundwork for the more recent papers published in the past five years. Brennan, et al., [4] published a paper demonstrating that upper thoracic spinal manipulation resulted in markers indicating significant increased phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes compared to a sham manipulation or soft-tissue treatment. The findings suggest that a certain force threshold was needed to elicit the response.
In a second study, Brennan, et al., [5] concluded that their data suggests spinal manipulation, which generates a force over a certain threshold, elicits viscerosomatic responses that affect both neutrophils and mononuclear cells phagocytic activity, at least over the short term. And in a very small 1994 study, [6] the study authors concluded that upper cervical adjustments increased CD4 “helper” T-cell counts, which initiate the body’s response to viruses in HIV-positive subjects, by 48 percent over the six-month duration of the study.
Neural immunoregulation: Communication Between the Immune and Nervous Systems
These earlier papers have now been followed-up by a series of recent studies within the past five years. Teodorczyk-Injeyan, et al., [7] described the interplay between the nervous system and immune system as neural immunoregulation. The authors note that immune homeostasis is based on the reciprocal communication between the immune and the nervous systems executed by the actions of cytokines and neurotransmitters. In addition, the paper explains the close association of autonomic nerve terminals with macrophages and lymphocytes, which facilitates a chemically mediated transmission between nerves and immune cells.
This research group has published a series of papers that explores the relationship of spinal manipulation, spinoautonomic reflexes and their influence on activity of cells involved in immune and/or inflammatory responses. These interconnections may have great clinical relevance because studies [8] on the pathophysiology of discogenic low back pain, sciatica, and ligamentous tissue damage-related pain [9] reveal that the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), are major factors in the genesis of pain and functional changes in neural activity. Furthermore, studies of the hypoalgesic effects of spinal manipulation have already been reported in the literature, suggesting that an anti-inflammatory mechanism might be activated by spinal manipulation. [10-11] Recent clinical studies have shown that chemical blockage of TNF-a is highly effective in reducing sciatic pain. [12]
The Take-Home Message
The studies described above demonstrate an accumulation of evidence that indicates spinal manipulation may influence the immune system’s response to various stimuli. Three of the studies suggest that manipulation consistently reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with tissue damage and pain from articular structures. Two studies provide evidence that manipulation consistently reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with tissue damage and pain from articular structures. Two studies provide evidence that manipulation may induce and enhance production of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-2 and the production of immunoglobulins as well.
We must acknowledge that these results are preliminary because most are performed on asymptomatic subjects and the duration of the effects so far have only been demonstrated to be short-lived. Nevertheless, this research opens the door to further exploration of the possible neuroimmunoregulatory effects of spinal manipulation and confirms what many of us have observed in practice: Adjustments reduce pain and inflammation, and may improve immunoregulatory functionhttp://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Immune_Responses_to_Spinal_Manipulation.shtml
Read MoreCranberries
Well it’s that time again for lots of good food, family, and football!! It’s Thanksgiving week and with this in mind I wanted to share with you some of the health benefits of one particular food that many of you will be consuming. Now I’m sure some of you will be eating the canned cranberry sauce and some will even have the homemade kind. I shouldn’t have to explain that canned cranberry sauce is full of fructose or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). From my previous blog, you now know how unhealthy HFCS is for you. So you should definitely make your own cranberry sauce with fresh organic cranberries and all natural sugar.
Cranberries are a great source of antioxidants that can help you protect yourself against cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Research has shown that cranberries, compared to 19 other fruits, have the highest amount of anti-oxidants. Cranberries also help prevent urinary tract infections (UTI’s) by altering the e.coli bacteria from causing an infection and keeping the bacteria from adhering to the wall of your urinary tract. Some animal studies have shown that cranberries can help lower cholesterol and even prevent tooth decay.
So on Thanksgiving Day, it’s okay to have an extra serving of fresh cranberry sauce! Yummy! 
Don’t forget in order to keep your body healthy, nutrition is great, but Chiropractic care is a MUST! So, make an appointment and get the spine adjusted!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Perfect Cranberry Sauce (foodnetwork.com)
Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (organic is BEST) into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1-cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving.
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Curcumin: The Most Powerful Cancer Gene Regulator
You may be asking your self, “What? There is something that can regulate a cancer gene? And if so, how?” The answer is YES. After many years of research it is becoming more widely known that cancer is NOT pre-programmed into our genes. Cancer genes are only allowed to be expressed when we have an environmental trigger. The following can alter, damage, or mutate DNA and cause an alteration in the genetic expression which triggers the cancer gene: poor nutrition, toxins and pollutions, chronic inflammation, chronic stress, free radical damage, and thoughts/emotional conflicts.
Curcumin is a part of the popular Indian spice Turmeric. It has been used historically as of part of Indian Ayurvedic Holistic Medicine for many ailments and diseases. Curcumin has been widely studied over many years and has evidence based literature to support its’ use against cancer. Once curcumin is in a cell it can affect over 100 different pathways. Research has found that it can: inhibit the spreading of cancer cells, decrease inflammation, inhibit transformation of cells from “normal” to “tumor” cells, inhibit the synthesis of a protein thought to be in a tumor, decrease blood supply to the tumor to prevent further growth, and help destroy the mutated cancer cells so it can’t spread throughout the body.
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are your body’s way to eliminate free radicals and slow down the aging process. Free radical oxidation is what puts the most impact on our aging process. With that being said, it’s so important to include antioxidants in your diet. Curcumin is said to be 5-8 times stronger than vitamin E and vitamin C.
Curcumin also helps:
- Reduce Cholesterol
- Reduce Thrombosis and Myocardial Infarction
- Suppress symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
- Increase bile secretion to aid in a healthy digestive system
- Suppress symptoms related to Type II Diabetes
- Suppress symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Enhance wound healing
- Fight against cataracts
- Reduce symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Reduce inflammation and pain associated with Osteoarthritis
- Promotes healthy bones and joints
- Promotes healthy heart and liver function
- Inhibit HIV replication
This is only skimming the surface of what this incredible Indian herb can do to benefit your health! I recommend adding this spice into your diet immediately. Look for a 100% organic-based (certified organic product) turmeric extract with at least 95% curcuminoids or you can find it in a powder form. Look in your local health food stores to find the best quality products. You can add it to tea, casseroles, curries, meats, soups, and healthy veggie stir-fries. Remember to maintain a healthy immune system you need to also get a Chiropractic adjustment regularly as well as maintaining a healthy diet.
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Osteoporosis and Chiropractic?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes a loss of bone density. When this happens the outcome can be painful fractures, loss in height, and can take away independence. Many people suffer with osteoporosis and although more women are affected, men can be as well. The unfortunate fact is that this disease is usually symptom free until a fracture occurs that causes pain. By the time fractures occur it is too late to take preventive measures. Experts state that prevention of this disease needs to start as early as childhood. There are some basic steps to start at any age.
Read MoreAbout Me
Dr. Charles Heuser was born and raised in Colorado Springs and graduated from Logan Chiropractic College in 1976. When he first started out, Dr. Heuser was the sole treating doctor in the office. In 1987, he ventured out to open other clinics in Arizona, Texas, and Missouri. It was that year that he began to bring in other associates to help treat his patients. Dr. Heuser has extremely high standards for his associates, and always makes sure they are paramount in their field of practice. They come from the best chiropractic colleges. Not only that, he makes sure their philosophy and practice are held as highly as his own, ensuring you the finest in chiropractic care.Connect With Us
