Allergy Season and Your Neck…

You may be wondering what the spine would have to do with allergy season?  A lot, in fact! We know that the brain is the master control center of our entire body… it controls every organ, tissue, muscle, and cell. The system by which the brain communicates with everything else is called the Nervous System, which is housed inside the spine. So, when the spine is out of alignment, our brain cannot communicate at 100% with the rest of the body.

In Chiropractic, we bring alignment to the spine to allow the optimal function of the Nervous System. You may be surprised to learn that the spine and Chiropractic isn’t just about back pain! Let’s take the example of having allergies and see how this system works.

The neck (cervical spine) is where the nerves that control our face/head are located. So when the brain wants to send the message to your sinuses, nose, eyes, and ears, that message must go in this order:

Brain > Nervous System> down the spine/neck > message arrives at the sinuses

And conversely, the messages from the sinuses, telling the brain that it’s having difficulty processing outside allergens, go in the opposite order back up to the brain.

If the neck is out of alignment, that message can’t get through. You might be wondering “well, my neck looks and feels normal – how bad could it be?” Studies show that the weight of a dime sitting on your skin will decrease a nerve’s ability to function from 100% to 40%. Meaning – when your brain sends the message to the sinuses to get rid of that congestion and mucus – it’s only working at 40%. As Chiropractors, this is what we do – we allow the Nervous System the opportunity to function optimally at 100%.

Studies also show that Chiropractic care boosts the overall immune system, making us less susceptible to getting sick. If you suffer from allergies, get sick each year, and have tension in your shoulders – I’d look to the spine as a potential cause of your suffering!

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You’re going to drink WHAT?!

I’m going to drink my veggies. Beets, Aloe, and Lemons, oh my! And I’ll tell you why ….

The actual definition of health, according to reliable sources such as Gray’s Anatomy (the textbook serving as the basis for the entire medical community, not the TV show) and Webster’s Dictionary is: The ability to function at 100% physically, mentally, and socially. So, health IS our ability to function. Health is not about symptoms, its about how well our body works for us. It would also logically follow that health is therefore not available in prescription bottles, it comes from what’s happening within.

I am notorious for saying “FOOD IS FUEL” – like gasoline to our cars. It’s what makes our bodies run, down to the the cellular level. When we eat/drink, our body breaks down that food, uses the nutrients as building blocks for our cells, and processes the waste. What do those important cells even do ? Good thing you’ve asked…. They can either promote health by repairing tissues and working as an incredible machine, or …. they can destroy health by being damaged and disease ridden. So what we eat/drink is actually quite important.

The typical American diet is seriously lacking in nutrients and quality. One of my favorite ways to bring large amounts of macro nutrients from veggies into the body is Juicing!  Juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, improve the immune system, remove toxins from the body, improve digestion, and help you loose weight. Sounds good right?

But, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “Well I am healthy already, I eat plenty of fruit.”  The truth is that we should not be consuming much fruit at all. FRUIT IS SUGAR, no matter how natural or healthy or organic. And what does sugar do in the body? It slows its function down, leading to a lower quality of health, and converts into FAT. Vegetables are the most important food we can consume, and have the most valuable nutrients to promote health.

Why is Juicing better than consuming vegetables by chewing? It allows your body to absorb more nutrients, as well as giving it a break from the work of breaking down and digesting food.

Juicing is not as difficult as it sounds. I find that my juicer is quiet, easy to use, and easy to clean. The majority of my recipes are actually quite tasty too!  I’ll share two of my favorites below….

“The First – Time Juicer”  is 3 parts apple, 3 parts carrot, 1 part ginger. Note: This is a great recipe for an upset stomach, or promoting clear skin. 

“The Detox Juice” is a great recipe for detoxing the body:  1/2 green apple, 1 lime (can leave skin on),  1/2 beet (raw with skin on),  2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1” piece of ginger.  Note: Ginger is great for digestion! Beets (use sparingly, they can be dangerous) help our liver to detox toxins and waste from the body, and carrots are great for the eyes and skin. 

Advice in these articles does not substitute working with your physician on your personal nutritional status. Please comment with questions or recipe suggestions!

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Keeping Seasonal Allergies At Bay

Keeping Seasonal Allergies at Bay

As we enjoy this incredible spring weather in Chicagoland, I am noticing that many of you are affected by seasonal allergies. Read below for a few tips to manage your allergies:

1)  When you’re symptomatic, avoid all sugar, dairy, and carbs (i.e. pasta, bread, etc). These products assist the body in forming mucous, so avoid them at all costs!

2)  Drink plenty of water. To find out how many ounces of water you need to consume each day, see my previous post on the “Hydration Calculation.” Water also helps our body flush away toxins and excess waste, including mucous.

3)  Acupuncture is a great way to decrease your symptoms and actually treat the cause of a problem. This type of Chinese Medicine focuses on the balance between our energy pathways. Sinus congestion or allergy symptoms would indicate a stagnation of the flow of energy in one or more of the major pathways. During the change of a season, it is considered a “weak point” for our body in Traditional Chinese Medicine which means it’s also the best time to get in for a treatment.

4)  Many people report improvement of their symptoms with the use of a Neti Pot. This is a nasal irrigating device that flushes mucus and debris from the nose and is readily available at any health food store.

5)  Herbal Steam Bath for Sinus Congestion –  boil 8 cups distilled (i.e. chemical free) water in a large pot. Then, transfer to a large glass bowl, and add 8 drops of Eucalyptus Oil (readily available at any health food store). Sit in front of the bowl, with a towel over your head and your face a safe distance from the water. The steam will become trapped, and you will be able to breathe in the eucalyptus vapors. Every few minutes, take a break to blow your nose. Stop when the water has cooled, and repeat daily until symptoms resolve.

6)  Place a dot of Eucalyptus Oil just under your nose and breathe deeply. This oil has powerful anti inflammatory and decongesting properties! Repeat several times throughout the day.

7)  Stimulate the Acu-point that controls our entire face and head. It’s called “Large Intestine 4” and it’s located in that lump of skin between our thumb and first finger. Rub this point with moderate pressure for 30 seconds, break for 30 seconds, and repeat several times.

Spring time for me means putting my running shoes back on…. I hope you are all enjoying the fresh air as much as I am. Dr. Kristen

You are what you eat – the Do’s and Don’ts of Eating

Ever heard the phrase “you are what you eat?” That phrase is literal – our food is our fuel for our body. Food makes this amazing machine run, even down to a cellular level. If you put junk in, your insides will also be junk! Somewhere in time, we became accustomed to using food as entertainment, with feelings, and so forth. This country is in desperate need of a shift of our mind set – back to thinking that we “eat to live,” not “live to eat.”

A few DON’Ts for Eating:

a)     Don’t overeat and don’t go for that second helping. If you are trying to lose weight, try to eat about 50% of what you would typically put on your plate.

b)    Don’t eat foods that are full of sugar and carbs. When consuming food, ask yourself “How does this food benefit me? What nutrients does this have to actually improve the way my body functions?” I can say with certainty that a “coffee and doughnuts” type of breakfast will not make the cut. If you can’t answer this question – it’s time to rethink your approach to food!  

Some DO’s:

a)     Consume a diet that is about 45% cooked vegetables, 30% raw vegetables and fruits, and 25% nuts/grains/proteins/beans/meat.

b)    Do take charge of your health! You are the only one who is responsible for your health, and you are in the driver’s seat! And, it is never too late to start making some changes.

Earth Day: My Adventures with Homemade Cleaning Products

For many years, I have dabbled in making my own household products. There has been one thing I have been avoiding doing though …. Making homemade laundry soap.  Well, I finally took the plunge and I wanted to share some tips, photos, and recipes with you all!

The biggest advantage, I think, to making homemade or more natural household projects is safety. There are way too many chemicals, perfumes, dyes, and unknown ingredients in the products we typically use. Find a label on something in your home right now – there’s probably a few ingredients in there that you can’t even pronounce! I like to know what I

put on my skin, on my countertops, on my clothes, and in the air I breathe. It’s also very cost-effective to make your own products.

Take a look at the two photos below. The one on the left is a piece of fabric sitting in liquid Tide….. all of the phosphates/chemicals have sunk to the bottom, and that will be deposited into our water system. On the right, is a natural company’s alternative to traditional laundry soap… the photo speaks for itself.

(photos courtesy of Kathy Rosner)

Below is my recipe for laundry soap, and I find that it works just as well as “regular” products:

Mix all ingredients into a glass container:

3 cups Borax

2 cups Baking Soda

2 cups Washing Soda

1 bar of grated Fels Naptha Soap

In place of Fabric Softener (which is one of the most notoriously dangerous household products there are), I use ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar. It keeps your clothes soft and doesn’t leave a strange smell (I promise)!

Another simple laundry soap idea? Just use 1/4 cup liquid castile soap for each load.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge into homemade products, at least consider using some safer, cost effective alternatives. For more information on alternative products, contact: Kathy Rosner (KrosMail@aol.com).