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How Neurofeedback Therapy Can Help TBI

The use of neurofeedback therapy to alleviate and treat the symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has evolved significantly, becoming a promising option for the treatment of this condition. This process works by measuring patterns and outputs of your brain and then comparing it to ideal brain function and cognitive states.

What Is A TBI?

TBI pertains to a sudden injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. It is known to cause problems with behavior, cognition, attention, and emotional sensitivity. According to an analysis by Jacobson (2015), two million cases of brain injuries occur every year in the United States. Some of the patients recover entirely, but around 50% continue to endure symptoms for six months or more after the injury.

When a brain injury occurs, the damage is usually focused on the frontal lobe. Frontal lobe damage can cause changes in a person’s personality and mood and affect one’s ability to plan, concentrate, control their emotions, sustain attention, and form memories. In some cases, the loss of the sense of self occurs. However, most of the brain injury patients remember themselves and how they use to function.

What Are The Symptoms of a TBI?

The symptoms that come with TBI ranges from mild to severe. While it is possible for the symptoms to be serious, most patients experience only mild symptoms such as concussions. TBI’s more severe symptoms sometimes lead to severe psychological and physical problems, coma, and death, in some cases.

How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Help TBI?

In cases of TBI, neurofeedback is probably better than any medication or supplement. – Richard Brown, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia  College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY

Neurofeedback therapy is one of the most common methods used to treat and alleviate TBI’s symptoms. By utilizing Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG) and specialized computer software, the neural functions are regulated, training the brain’s self-regulating activities through the process of operant conditioning. If you want to find out more about neurofeedback check out this article- What Is Neurofeedback?

What Does The Research Say About Neurofeedback Therapy and TBI?

From a systematic review conducted by Wang, Mantini, and Gilbert (2017), the outputs demonstrated that training promotes learned brain signal modulations, varying at both behavioral and neural levels. Furthermore, the review showed that this technique is also a useful option for stroke rehabilitation.

A review of Foster and Thatcher’s (2014) research verified the efficiency of using neurofeedback therapy in treating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The studies established that it only takes around ten neurofeedback sessions before starting to see improvements in patients. As the neurofeedback methods improve, the number of sessions needed to see gains are reduced.

Zorcec (2011) studied the utilization of neurofeedback training and its effects on 6 TBI patients, all of them sustaining car accident injuries. Cognitive difficulties were considered the primary concern after conducting a QEEG assessment on the patients. After 20 neurofeedback sessions, 5 out of 6 patients were able to resume their education, all reported improved quality of sleep, mood, and cognitive abilities.

Moreover, neurofeedback was used to treat brain injury patients in a study performed by Ayers (1987). Two groups were involved throughout the process. One received psychotherapy while the other received neurofeedback. The neurofeedback group reported reduced symptoms of anger, outbursts, anxiety, and mood issues. On the other hand, the other group showed no improvement with these symptoms.

Conclusion-

Neurofeedback therapy is a research-proven method to improve brain function through the use of intensive brain-training exercises. As a patient, you can expect the process to be simple, non-invasive, and painless. The program is generally developed to help you alter your brain activity, just like how you learn other skills through practice and feedback.

If you are looking for a safe, effective, and drug-free way of relieving symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, you need to check out neurofeedback therapy. At our wellness center in Littleton, CO, we help people daily improve and heal from TBIs. Find out if neurofeedback therapy will work for you we offer a free, no-obligation, evaluation to see if this is the right treatment for you. Schedule online today or call our office to find out more information.

July 22, 2020
New Vaccinated vs Un-Vaccinated Study- Health Outcomes

One of the most significant holes in vaccine research is that there are no studies on the health outcomes of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated children. Well, a new study is out that looks directly at that issue.

Most people are aware of the “anti-vaccine” movement that has been gaining traction for some time. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, a new study by epidemiologist Brian Hooker, Ph.D., has cast some more light on the situation.

Read on to see how this new knowledge might change how you view vaccines for anyone curious about the different health outcomes of vaccinated children and unvaccinated children.

The Study Uses Medical Clinic Data

Hooker looked at three different data sets from three medical clinics across the United States. The final data set analyzed 2047 children under the age of 1, spanning a decade from 2005 to 2015. The authors of the study compared children who received vaccinations in their first year of life, to those who did not receive vaccinations.

The researchers followed each child from birth to the age of three to look for specific diagnoses. The study looked at four particular diagnoses: developmental delays, asthma, ear infections, and gastrointestinal disorders in the children.

Health Outcomes of Vaccinated Children vs. Unvaccinated Children

This study aimed to compare the health of vaccinated versus unvaccinated pediatric populations. The research shows that vaccinated children are, ironically, suffering from more health issues than unvaccinated children.

Based on the information, it appears that problems such as developmental delays, asthma, and ear infections all occur at an increased rate in vaccinated children compared to unvaccinated children.

Even more importantly, these issues, when present, seem to have a more severe presence in those children who have received a higher amount of vaccines.

What Was The Increase In Health Problems with Vaccinated Children

The vaccinated group had a 4.5 times higher chance of having asthma. This increased risk of asthma was highly statistically significant. There was over a two times greater risk of ear infections and developmental delays. The study’s authors wanted to look for specific developmental delays such as autism. Due to the limitations of the data set, for example, these were medical clinics that cared for unvaccinated children. The data was not sufficient to draw any conclusions.

Inspired By CDC Whistleblower

This new study was inspired by a whistleblower from the CDC, who contacted Brian Hooker. At that point, Hooker had made somewhat of a name for himself in the anti-vaccine, or anti-vax, movement. The whistleblower, a CDC scientist named Dr. William Thompson, gave Hooker some new hints about where he should be focusing his research on vaccines. With these hints leading him in a new direction, Brian Hooker went about performing this study. The results don’t shed vaccines in a very positive light.

Things Don’t Look Good for Vaccines

On top of the revelations above, some aspects of the study indicate things might be even worse than they seem. For instance, the study primarily focused on three-year-olds who had been vaccinated; however, they included some five-year-olds as well. The five-year-olds appeared to show higher and more severe instances of the issues mentioned above than their three-year-old counterparts.

What this suggests is that issues caused at a young age by vaccines may not even show up until many, many years later. Further research is certainly going to be needed to figure out just how much damage vaccines truly cause infant children as they progress through life.

Stay Skeptical and Stay Safe!

Admittedly, this data should be fascinating to skeptics who aren’t sure where to stand on the whole “anti-vaccine” issue. While it’s hard to reach an utterly conclusive judgment based on the information we currently have, we can undoubtedly say that some of these health problems need to be examined further. Certainly, there’s more to the story than we know, and approaching the issue of vaccines and children with a healthy amount of skepticism seems like an absolute must going into the future. If you want to read more about this topic check out our other article on this subject, Vaccinated vs Un-vaccinated Kids: Who is Healthier?

Source:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32537156/

July 14, 2020
What Is Functional Nutrition? You Need to Know
Functional nutrition, what is it? You need to know! This article will walk you through the basics of functional nutrition and how it has the potential to change your health forever!

Most of us know what it’s like to be stuck in a dieting cycle that never seems to end. Maybe the goal is to lose weight, or have more energy, or even to reduce gastrointestinal issues. Whatever your reason, the constant adjusting and readjusting of one’s diet can be exhausting.

It’s time to put an end to the dieting cycle and start eating for health and wellbeing.

So stop with the one size fits all such as fasting and the low-carb and the no-dairy nonsense. Try something that will actually make you feel better—functional nutrition.

What Is Functional Nutrition?

Functional nutrition was developed based on the ideas of functional medicine. Functional medicine is a unique way of treating and preventing illness. This method addresses the whole self, not just the apparent symptoms.

For example, say you went to visit your doctor because you were experiencing flu-like symptoms. They might send you home with a prescription and check in with you after a few days.

But with functional medicine, the doctor would try to address why you developed these symptoms in the first place. Was it stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, or some combination of those things? The doctor would then try to address those underlying issues from all body systems.

The goal of functional medicine is not only to cure any existing issues but to prevent future ones.

These same principles can be applied to nutrition. Functional nutrition is a highly personalized plan of eating for health. Functional nutrition is all about using food as medicine, mainly to help a person increase their health and wellness.

How Does It Work?

Now you know the basics—functional nutrition is based on functional medicine, aiming to treat all body systems. It does this by addressing the root cause of the symptoms rather than the symptoms themselves.

So now, let’s review how functional nutrition works in practice.

A person visits their doctor complaining of abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and bloating. While a standard diet or nutrition expert may suggest a particular meal plan, a functional medicine dietician would likely run more tests.

They may try food sensitivity testing or other labs to learn more about your individual system. Then they can use the tests to see how your body responds to certain foods. These types of tests can narrow down which foods or additives are causing the body to react negatively.

Additionally, a functional medicine dietician can test for specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies that could contribute to your symptoms.

A functional medicine dietician may recommend an elimination diet. An elimination diet is when you cut out certain foods to determine whether they may be the culprit of your health issues.

Then, the functional medicine practitioner might suggest certain supplements or foods that will replenish levels of vitamins or minerals that may have been missing from your diet.

Once your functional medicine dietician has established the right diet for you, they may want to dive deeper into other lifestyle conditions.

Sleep, stress, activity level, and other factors can make have an effect on how and when you experience certain symptoms. Therefore, functional nutrition aims to address these factors, as well.

Increasing sleep and activity level while reducing stress may have just as big of an impact on symptoms as the foods you consume.

How Is This Approach To Nutrition Unique?

Maybe you have already sought help from a professional for your gastrointestinal or other gut health issues. How would seeing a functional nutrition expert be any different from that?

Here’s how!
1. Treating the Whole Person-
  
  A functional nutrition practitioner’s ultimate goal is to help you alleviate your symptoms. But more than that, they want to make sure you are holistically well. They believe that each of the body systems is interconnected. So, in order to promote optimal wellness, functional nutrition advises on diet and lifestyle conditions.
2. A Personalized Approach –
  
  Functional nutrition is all about personalized care. No two people are exactly alike—even if their symptoms are the same. Functional nutrition diet plans take into consideration everything that makes you unique.
  
  This approach increases the likelihood that you can find a sustainable, long-term solution to your health issues.
3. Different Models For Care-
  
  Functional nutrition practitioners use unique systems and models in practice -for example, the functional medicine matrix. The matrix is made up of various sections, each of which addresses factors that contribute to your health.
  
  The 5-R protocol is another common tool used by functional nutritional practitioners. This protocol is defined by the following steps: remove, replace, repopulate, repair, and rebalance. It describes the way in which a functional nutrition practitioner would study and treat a person with gastrointestinal issues.
Where Can I Get Personalized Nutritional Services?

If you are interested in getting a consult with a functional nutrition practitioner, there a few places you can look. There are independent dieticians that are experts in functional nutrition as well as groups that use functional medicine, including functional nutrition.

Centers for wellness may be another good place to look. When you are looking for functional nutrition services, check out testimonials from other patients to see what you can expect.

When you meet with a functional nutrition practitioner, feel free to ask any questions you may have. They can walk you through the testing and treatment processes.

Now That You Know What Functional Nutrition Is, What Are You Waiting For?

Now that you know much more about what functional nutrition is, it is time to take action. If you have consistently struggled with diet, GI issues, or nutrition-related illnesses, it is time to try functional nutrition.

Now that you can answer the question, what is functional nutrition, it is time to experience the benefits for yourself. Find a functional nutrition expert in your area and contact them today!

If you want more information on functional nutrition and overall wellness promotion, check out our other blogs!
July 1, 2020
What Is Koren Specific Technique? The Ultimate Guide

What Is Koren Specific Technique? The Ultimate Guide

Looking to learn more about what the Koren Specific Technique is? Not sure where to start?

Well, you’re in the right place. KST is a revolutionary adjusting chiropractic technique, and now you can learn more about it.

In this article, we will cover what the KST is, what ArthroStim is, the three Cs of KST, and the benefits.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Is KST?

The Koren Specific Technique is a revolutionary chiropractic adjusting technique, which provides any practice members with lasting and effective results. It was discovered in 2003 by Dr. Tedd Koren, and the entire premise of it is powerful results through gentle adjustment.

Most often, the process is done via a tool called the ArthroStim, which allows precise and accurate adjustment without the need for popping, cracking, or twisting.

All people of all ages can benefit from KST. And because of its neurological nature, KST chiropractic is an ideal method for asking the body to naturally make its corrections.

Allowing the body to make corrections is vital because the process honors the wisdom and knowledge of the brain/nervous system by never over-exceeding or undermining its ability.

What Is ArthroStim?

ArthroStim is an FDA-approved tool that has been developed in Oregon by IMPAC technology. It has been perfected, refined, and updated over its 22-year presence in the industry.

It involves introducing force and energy to the body for the removal of nerve pressure and segment realignment at a speed of 12 hertz (taps) per second. It is accurate, fast, and low-force.

The device allows patients to experience specific adjustment, which only attributes to a particular area of the body, and does not involve cracking, turning, or twisting the entire body. This technique allows adjustment to be made in a variety of positions and postures.

And this is critical to the healing process’s success because some problems can only be reproduced in a specific posture. An injury might not reveal itself unless it is placed under certain conditions, shown only in a particular position of the body.

The “position of subluxation” is even more noticeable when people experience pain, neurological issues, TMJ, and much more.

The Three Cs of KST

As mentioned earlier, KST has three crucial Cs. And they are:

Challenge

The challenge is the analytical part of the process. In a short period of time, the entire human body’s infrastructure can be challenged and checked. The technique starts with the skull, spine, discs, all the way to the legs, hands, and feet.

Anything out of position can be analyzed.

Check

The check allows the practitioners to determine if a body part is out of position. The base of the skull is the metric for a yes/no response. It’s called the occipital drop. However, Dr. Dody has progressed to using the shoulder blades to assess the body.

This system is very similar to muscle testing in kinesiology, where a muscle weakness when attached via a negative impulse. The occipital drop is the same principle, but passive.

Correct

The “correct” portion of this technique is the adjustment of the area that requires the Arthrostim device. There is no manual adjustment, no popping, no cracking, no noise, except for that produced by the device.

What Are the Benefits of KST?

If you’re not sure of the benefits, let’s take a look at some. Here is a shortlist of some reasons why you might want to add KST to your health regiment.

Minimal Force

If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy high pressure on the body, then KST is ideal for you. As mentioned earlier, it applies steady-paced quick low-pressure taps, which are comfortable, unlike twisting the spine. It is very different from the traditional manual chiropractic adjustment.

Immediate Effects

KST often provides immediate positive results of the issues that bring people into the office in the first place. The improvement means that you can perform functional movements without pain. Seeing quick changes helps us make sure you are in the right place to get the care you need.

All-Positional Adjustment

KST is useful because it can be applied in all positions of the body. Sitting, standing, lying, whatever is comfortable for you, works with KST.

Works on Stubborn Bodies

Even the most stubborn of bodies experience great results with KST. We often see tough cases that other therapies have not helped. You are no exception.

Good for All Ages

KST is perfect for people of all ages, and it does not discriminate. It involves gentle manipulation, which can work for anyone at any age.

No Testing Required

With KST, you don’t CAT scans or X-rays. The entire process is designed for minimally invasive testing and quick adjustment.

A Note on KST

Through KST, subluxations in the body that represent locked stress in the body/mind can be found out and addressed directly. These can include but are not limited to allergies, ADD/ADHD, asthma, dyslexia, PTSD, emotional issues, bad habits, toxicity, disc issues, athletic performance, neuromusculoskeletal pain, and weight issues.

The most significant breakthrough of KST is the value of correction of a patient in the position of subluxation, whether emotional or physical.

So what are subluxations? Well, they are quite sneaky. They come and go as they like, and move when we move, sit when we sit, stand when we stand.

An example of this could be a car accident victim. If they were to sit and hold the steering wheel (imaginary), you could visibly see subluxations, which might not be seen when the patient is lying down on a correction table.

Therefore, correction through all-positional KST can address these subluxations and correct issues stored in the body and physiological memory.

The Koren Specific Technique for You

Now that you know all you need to know about the Koren Specific Technique, you are well on your way to experiencing it first hand. If you want to take your health to the next level, say goodbye to traditional chiropractic and say hello to KST.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment, get in touch with us now, and our friendly staff will contact you as soon as possible.

July 1, 2020
How to Find an Excellent Chiropractor in Littleton, CO
How to Find an Excellent Chiropractor in Littleton, CO

Finding a chiropractor in Littleton, CO is essential for your spinal health. The spine is one of the most critical parts of the human body. When your spine is subluxated (out of alignment), it can cause untold pain, stiffness, and a wide variety of health problems. If you live in Littleton, CO, and suffer from spine-related problems, chiropractic offers a proven solution that’s both safe and natural. This article will tell you how you can find an excellent chiropractor in Littleton. Also, we’ll share with you the most common reasons that people seek chiropractic care. Enjoy.

Conditions that Chiropractic Care Can Help

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor, you might be surprised at some of the common conditions they help alleviate. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that chiropractors don’t treat your condition. Instead, they focus on the spine, including the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae as well as the sacrum and coccyx.

The reason why they focus on the spine is called a subluxation. A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine due to an accident, fall, injury, years of poor posture, or congenital problems. When the spine is subluxated, the vertebrae put pressure on the delicate spinal nerves that lay between each vertebra. This nerve pressure is the unlying cause of many health problems, including;
- Dizziness
- Problems with Balance
- Neck, Mid-back, and Low-Back pain
- Muscle Stiffness and Soreness
- Weakness throughout the body
- Muscle Spasms
- Reduced Mobility or Flexibility
- Sciatica
- Chronic Headaches
- Numbness and Tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Hip Pain
- Frequent Illnesses
- Excessive Fatigue
- Discomfort when sitting, standing, and laying down
- Respiratory issues
This is, frankly, a shortlist of the health problems a subluxated spine can cause. It’s also why, rather than treat your symptoms; chiropractors focus on removing the subluxation and the pressure on the nerve(s). Once your body is connected, it returns to normal function, and your symptoms will subside and go away.

How To Find an Excellent Littleton Chiropractor

Finding a caring chiropractor in Littleton, CO isn’t tricky if you have some information. Here are a few useful tips:
- Look for a chiropractor who uses gentle techniques like Koren Specific Technique (KST).
- Read reviews online on review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and others. These can be quite helpful.
- Use social media sites like Facebook to see what Littleton chiropractors are posting and how they interact with the public.
- Ask friends and family for a recommendation, and ask them why they like their particular chiropractor.
- Find a chiropractor that offers no-cost consultations to meet with them and discuss your health problems and concerns.
- Look for a chiropractor who uses state-of-the-art scanning techniques to determine your specific spinal problems.
Why Choose Dody Chiropractic Center for Wholeness

At Dody Chiropractic, we’ve been serving the Littleton and Bow Mar area for over 17 years. During that time, we’ve helped thousands of families get well and stay well through gentle, effective chiropractic care. Dr. Dody specializes in KST, the Koren Specific Technique, which is gentle, safe, and unique. It doesn’t involve the typical twisting or ‘cracking’ of traditional chiropractic techniques. It’s safe and very effective for all ages.

If you have any questions about finding a chiropractor in Littleton, CO, need health advice, or want to schedule a no-cost consultation, please leave your name and contact information below, and one of our friendly staff members will get back to you within 24 hours. Thank you, and be well.
June 23, 2020
How To Keep Your Immune System Healthy During Challenging Times

Maintaining a healthy immune system and ready to fight off any invaders is hard during these challenging times. Hi, this is Heather from Dody Chiropractic Center for Wholeness. I just wanted to reach out to you guys today with a couple of things that you can do to keep your immune system healthy as our society is starting to open back up after the coronavirus quarantine.

A robust immune system is essential because, during the quarantine, our immune systems had no challenges. They have gotten acclimated to the bacteria and viruses around our house because we weren’t going out very much. But, typically, our immune systems build up strength and stay healthy by coming into contact with different people, places, and things and by going outside and being exposed to all of that.

Staying at home has kept our immune systems’ from being challenged. Not facing many germs can weaken our body’s ability to recognize and fight invaders. That’s why it’s vital to support our immune system as businesses start to open up and as we’re able to begin to leave our houses more. We want to help our immune system and make sure that we stay strong so we can fight any pathogens in our environment.

Get Adjusted

The first way that you can boost your immune system is to get adjusted. The nervous system directly controls the immune system, and it’s crucial to get adjusted regularly. We talk about how chiropractic adjustments strengthen our immune system in an article titled, “What Does Science Say About Chiropractic and Immune System Function?”

Immune Regulating Supplements For Healthy Immune System

My second recommendation is to take supplements; however, not just any supplements. Most people, when they think about supporting their immunity, think about vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D. Those vitamins are great, but I want to give you a few things that you can take beyond those vitamins. Many people take vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D regularly without the worry of a coronavirus, so I will give some recommendations for this virus.

Let’s look at some specialized supplements that can boost your immunity. The first thing I want to talk about is a product called IG 26 from Xymogen. This product provides immunoglobulins and immune-regulating molecules. The research on IG 26 has also shown a role in cytokine modulation. Controlling your immune system response is very important for this coronavirus.

I don’t know if you guys have heard, but there’s been a lot in the news about the cytokine storm. If you come into contact with this virus, your body tries to fight it, and your body has a hyper reaction called a cytokine storm. When you have this hyper response from your immune system, it’s not a good thing. Significant inflammation happens, which damages tissues and can lead to severe problems. IG 26 would help with this reaction of the body along with another product from Xymogen called OncoPlex ES.

OncoPlex ES is a broccoli seed extract, and this is going to provide long-lasting antioxidants. It’s also going to support the immune system, the nervous system, as well as the cardiovascular system. OncoPlex ES could be a big player in supporting your health against this coronavirus.

Another supplement that I wanted to talk about is Immunotix 250. This formula primes and mobilizes the cells that support the body’s first-line response of the immune system.

As you go out and you’re coming into contact with different germs that your body hasn’t seen in a couple of months, Immunotix will help prime and mobilize that first line of defense of your body. When it comes into contact with a pathogen, it’s able to fight that pathogen off.

Those are a few things that are crucial players as far as keeping your immune system healthy. It is especially true when you’re coming into contact with different bacteria or viruses that your body has not encountered over the past couple of months.

Good Sleep To Recharge Your Immune System

I also wanted to mention a couple of other things to help your overall health, like getting enough sleep. Sleep is vital to our health and our immune system. If you’re getting enough sleep and good quality sleep, your immune system will be ready to fight anything that tries to invade your body. If you’re not getting very much sleep, then your immune system will take the toll. One of the things that you can do if you’re not getting good sleep is a supplement called Melatonin CR.

As we have talked about, good quality sleep is a critical player in fighting any disease. Melatonin CR is beneficial if you’re not getting enough sleep or good quality sleep. Getting proper rest and recharging your body is one of the most important things you can do to fight this virus. Melatonin is also being studied for its ability to help fight the coronavirus.

Pure Water Keeps You Hydrated and Healthy

Another important thing is to drink lots of pure water. I would recommend making sure your water is filtered. Make sure you’re getting at least eight glasses a day. As the weather is starting to warm up, and it’s usually pretty dry here in Colorado, we want to make sure that we’re staying hydrated. Research shows that staying hydrated keeps your immune system healthy.

Exercise- Motion Is Life

One of the other things that you can do is just stay healthy and get some exercise. Get outside, get some fresh air. If you’re not used to exercising very much, we’re not asking you to go out and run a marathon. Take some steps to work your way into exercising gradually. Start with a little bit of yard work, go for a walk, or any other outdoor activity you like to keep your body moving. Exercise will keep you healthy and happy.

Conclusion

These are a few easy things that you can do to stay healthy as you leave your house more often. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can get a hold of us at the office at 303-794-1737.

If you want a more personalized supplement regimen that might be right for you, please contact us. We will be happy to set up an appointment to go over a personalized plan with you.

In conclusion, to keep your immune system healthy, you should get adjusted, take immune regulating supplements, get good sleep, and exercise.

We hope you have a great day, and we hope you stay healthy and stay strong and keep those immune systems functioning well!

May 20, 2020
What We Know About This Virus So Far

WATCH VIDEO BELOW-

There has been a lot of information about this virus in the news. It seems like there are many contradictory stories about what is going on. So what do we know about this virus so far?

What The Experts Are Saying

Our leading medical expert in the US, Dr. Fauci, is stating we need to stay alert and ensure we don’t let this virus and its effects explode again. Of course, he also says that the vaccine may not be effective or may even cause the disease to be worse.

Did We Accomplish The Mission With Lockdowns?

Many states are staying in lockdown because they don’t want a “second wave” of the virus to kill even more people. Do you remember why we started the quarantine in the first place? My guess is that most people may have forgotten. It was to “flatten the curve,” right? Why did we need to flatten the curve? It was to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed by too many severe cases of this disease. I would have to say the mission is accomplished!

What The Data Is Saying

Take a look at The COVID Tracking project, which is a website that takes data from all the local health departments and brings it together in one place. The volunteers who collect the data from each state put a grade on the quality of the data each state puts out. The data shows hospitalizations have declined for 31 consecutive days in the US.

If you look at Colorado’s Department of Public Health & Environment, our state had death counts peak on April 9th. The death rate has steadily fallen from that point until today. You can also see that the number of patients admitted to hospitals has dropped.

What do we know about this disease from facts and data? What is our country reporting? What are other countries around the world reporting?
We need to look at that information.

Dr. David Katz Talks About Covid-19

Dr. David Katz, MD, stated that the data from New York, Iran, and the Diamond Princess show this common number- 20%. He says that twenty percent of the population catches the virus, and eighty percent seem to be naturally immune to it.

According to Dr. Katz, the risk distortion has been completely blown out of proportion. Many other risk factors we deal with daily are much more deadly than this virus. He thinks that a surgical approach to re-open society is needed.

Dr. Zach Bush Explains More About Viruses

Dr. Zach Bush, a triple board-certified medical doctor, talks about how we have had viruses around us since the beginning of time. He talks about the need for viruses and how they are a part of our biome.

He also explains why the United States has higher death tolls than other areas of the world. Vaccinations and medications are complicating factors in death from this virus.

Dr. Bush talks about the virus coming back for one more season. Will the vaccine be our savior? According to Dr. Bush, that is not possible. He explains that it is physiologically and scientifically impossible. He also reminds us that it takes two years for these viruses to disappear, like SARS or MERS.

So, it seems that the questions we need to ask going forward are:

1) What data (actual science) is being used?

2) Why wouldn’t we achieve long-term immunity to this virus? Why would we assume that THIS virus would be any different in that respect?

3) Is it the virus or the host that determines the outcome?

4) Why is it discounted the fact that the human species has faced viruses and bacteria since the dawn of time and has survived every one of them because of the ability of our innate intelligence to adapt and grow?

5) Why people seem to believe they have a body that is somehow weak, defective, and prone to injury, illness, and disease? Is that how our body is designed to be?

6) What if we saw ourselves as powerful beyond measure? What if we were proactive and embraced our full potential?

In Conclusion About What We Know About This Virus So Far-

We need to understand we are surrounded by viruses every day. Our body’s ability to keep the virus from taking hold is really what determines the outcome of whether you get sick or not. You are not a victim that will ultimately be stricken with sickness if you do things to improve your body’s ability to kick a virus out. At your full potential, your body is amazing and you have more control than you think. Make sure you are sleeping, eating healthy, taking supplements, exercising, and getting adjusted. Doing those things will make this or any virus no big deal!

If you would like to help keep the virus at bay, contact our office.

May 15, 2020
What Does Science Say About Wearing Masks
Some of our health experts are recommending mask-wearing based on science. Well, I was curious, what do science and research say about wearing masks? Do masks prevent the spread of viruses? Are masks safe to wear? Who should be wearing masks? How do I wear a mask? I will dive into all of those questions in this article, so keep on reading.

What Is A Face Mask?

A face mask is a loosely fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth. A face mask prevents large sprays and droplets when coughing or sneezing. The face mask differs from an N95 respirator, which is a tighter fitting mask. N95 masks prevent a person from inhaling smaller particles, such as viruses or bacteria, that are airborne. Below is a table describing what different masks are designed for:

Who Should Wear A Face Mask?

According to JAMA, face masks should only be used by people who have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing. They also state that “Face masks should not be worn by healthy individuals to protect themselves from acquiring respiratory infection because there is no evidence to suggest that face masks worn by healthy individuals are effective in preventing people from becoming ill.”

How Do You Wear a Face Mask?

The proper way to wear a face mask is the following:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or use 60% alcohol)
2. Place face mask over nose and mouth
3. Make sure there are no gaps between the face mask and the face
4. Avoid touching mask while wearing
5. If you touch your face mask, wash your hands
6. Remove mask without touching the front of the face mask
7. Discard into a closed bin
8. Wash hands again
This list is the proper protocol to use a face mask to prevent the spread of infection.

Does Wearing a Face Mask Help Prevent The Spread of Infection?

There are many randomized controlled trial studies and meta-analysis reviews of these studies in peer-reviewed journals. Many of these studies show that face masks do not work to prevent the spread of viruses. Researchgate.net put together a list of RCT studies and meta-analysis reviews about face mask use. The conclusion by the researcher was,

“No RCT study with verified outcome shows a benefit for HCW or community members in households to wearing a mask or respirator. There is no such study. There are no exceptions. Likewise, no study exists that shows a benefit from a broad policy to wear masks in public. Masks and respirators do not work.”

UPDATE-

The CDC put out a study in March 2021 looking at how mask mandates affected the daily case and death rates of Covid-19. According to the article summary, mandating masks was associated with a decrease in daily Covid-19 case and death rates within 20 days of implementation. But what they fail to talk about is what that decrease is?

When you read the article published on the CDC website, here is what the research says. They looked at numbers from the county level in the United States. From those numbers, they looked at a reference period before mandates were issued. Then, they looked at the numbers after the mandates were issued. This is what they found-

“Mask mandates were associated with a 0.7 percentage point decrease (p = 0.03) in daily COVID-19 death growth rates 1–20 days after implementation and decreases of 1.0, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.9 percentage points 21–40, 41–60, 61–80, and 81–100 days, respectively, after implementation (p<0.01 for all).”

This is one of the most comprehensive looks at the numbers from counties all over our country that mandated mask-wearing. With these mandates, we had, at most, less than a 2% difference. This small drop was in both cases and, more importantly, deaths. Think to yourself, if masks prevented the spread, wouldn’t we see a more significant drop in the numbers?

How About Professionals Using Face Masks and Preventing Infections?

I always like to visit the Cochrane Library to look at what they find in research. Those of you who saw my video on, What Does Science Say About the Flu Shot vs. Vitamin D, will know that Cochrane is the gold standard in the medical community when it comes to the analysis of research.

They have an article on surgical face masks for preventing surgical wound infection. They searched all the studies on this topic. The outcome of the analysis showed that wearing face masks during surgery neither increases nor decreases the number of wound infections.

So think about this, we are talking about medical professionals who use personal protective equipment regularly. These professionals know the proper protocol on how to use face masks. And it still didn’t make a difference! What is the likelihood that the general public will help prevent the spread of infection with face masks?

Do Face Masks Prevent The Spread of Covid-19?

In April 2020, researchers in South Korea studied whether cloth face masks or surgical masks prevented the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They took four patients who tested positive for Covid-19. They put them in a controlled environment.

They had each patient put on a cloth mask, cough five times into a petri dish. Then they put on a surgical mask and did the same thing. And one more time without any covering. A different petri dish was used to collect each sample. The researchers swabbed the surfaces of the masks on both the outside and inside and cultured them, as well.

Guess what they found? Yep, all the Petri dishes had the virus. Now here is the interesting thing, all the swabs from the outside of the masks were positive for the virus. However, most of the swabs from the inside of the masks were negative. The researchers explained that the virus most likely escaped due to the air leakage around the mask.

So you can see that both surgical and cloth masks don’t seem to prevent the spread of this virus. Also, the fit of the mask is essential. Loose masks like cloth and surgical masks don’t seem to keep the virus from getting out. Or the virus is so small it is getting forced through the mask to the outside.

UPDATE-

A new research study out of Denmark in March 2021 looked at the effectiveness of the mask mandate in preventing the spread of Covid-19. This study was the gold standard, randomized controlled trial of mask-wearing. Two groups of participants were randomly put into groups, one wearing masks and the other no masks. The masked group was given 50 surgical masks along with instructions on proper use. Both groups were encouraged to follow recommended social distancing rules.

Here is what the study found-

“Infection with SARS-CoV-2 occurred in 42 participants recommended masks (1.8%) and 53 control participants (2.1%). The between-group difference was −0.3 percentage point (95% CI, −1.2 to 0.4 percentage point; P = 0.38) (odds ratio, 0.82 [CI, 0.54 to 1.23]; P = 0.33).”

In plain English, there was really no statistical difference between the two groups. Wearing a mask did not reduce the ability to catch or spread this virus. There are limitations to this study because it is very difficult to conduct this kind of study with people. The authors will admit that the results are inconclusive for this study, but the conclusion was that wearing a surgical mask did not reduce the infection rate from this virus for the wearer.

Could Wearing A Mask Be Bad For You?

I found a study in the Journal of Biological Engineering that showed that wearing masks can impact your performance of activities. The research showed that wearing a respirator mask does interfere with your performance, both physically and mentally.

Here are the things they said wearing a mask interferes with:
1. Breathing
2. Regulating your body temperature
3. Vision
4. Communication
5. Feelings of well-being
I find that most people do not like wearing masks; it is hard to breathe, it makes you hot, and if you wear glasses, they fog up. It is hard to talk to people through masks. And let’s be honest, when someone sees you wearing a mask, it causes them to shy away from you because they are scared of catching something.

UPDATE-

An article from Stanford University talked about facemask in the Covid-19 era. The author of the article looked at a health hypothesis that facemasks might be not only ineffective but not safe to wear. This article looks at the efficacy of facemasks like we have talked about above. But it also dives into some of the negative heaths effects that masking can present.

Most people will argue what the harm from wearing a mask is. Well, there are definite physiological and psychological effects that lead to health consequences. See table 1 for a summary of those effects and consequences.

Let me quote the article-

“Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Long-term consequences of wearing facemask can cause health deterioration, developing and progression of chronic diseases and premature death.”

As you can see, it isn’t as simple as just saying to wear a mask; what could it hurt. As you can see, there are consequences for every decision we make in life.

My concern is we have kids wearing masks all day long in school. How is that affecting them? I don’t want my kids to be the test subjects of that experiment.

Conclusion: Should You Wear a Mask?

Wearing a mask is a personal decision. If you are coughing, sneezing, or have a fever and need to go out, then the answer is yes. If you are healthy, without any symptoms, I would say the science and the medical community say no.

The policy of making healthy people wear masks has no scientific validity to it. It is unfortunate that “experts” and policymakers are making these rules that don’t make any sense at all. The decisions of policies regarding this virus are based on fear and not based on any reliable data. Why conduct research studies? I hope it is to collect data and make the best-educated decisions we can make for society. Will it always be right to use science and research? No, but it is better than making decisions without any rhyme or reason.

If you want to do something positive for your health, contact us at our Littleton chiropractic office.
May 5, 2020
Science Behind Immune System Function
Science Behind Immune System Function with Dr. Shiva

The current medical model of how your immune system works is not accurate according to the latest scientific research. Researchers have shown that your immune system is much more than basic innate and adaptive immune systems. It also includes your nervous system and bacteria that live in your gut called your microbiome.

Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai has his doctorate in biological engineering from M.I.T. He holds degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, visual studies, and mechanical engineering, all from M.I.T. as well.

As a scientist, his research has shown that your immune system is like your body’s operating system. You can think of your immune system like the software that your computer uses to run. In this analogy, the nervous system is the hardware of the computer used to run this software.

Dr. Shiva has written several books, with his most recent titled, Systems Health. Using his computer science background, he has been able to use computer modeling for health. What he has found has changed the understanding of our immune system profoundly.

According to Dr. Shiva, your body has a set point, which in scientific literature is called homeostasis. He also showed that this set point is different for every individual. As he says, “It is not one size fits all.” Your set point is the optimal functioning state of your body.

This set point can be altered a little by genetics. However, stresses are what cause the most significant shift. Stresses come in all different forms. Physical stresses; like accidents, sports injuries, or falls. Chemical stresses; like what we eat,and other toxins in our environment. Or mental and emotional stresses; like relationships, work, or other societal pressures like isolation.

Dr. Shiva Talks About Chiropractors

What Is The Old Model of The Immune System?

The old medical model is a two-part system- innate immunity vs. adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the outer layer of the system, which consists of your skin, eyes, nose, and mucous membranes. The adaptive immune system is the internal system consisting of antigens that attack pathogens that get into the body. These two systems need to work together.

The innate immune system is the first line of defense. You know it is working when you get watery eyes or a running nose. It uses immune system cells like macrophages and neutrophils. The main job is to attack the pathogen on the outside of the body.

The adaptive immune system is more specialized and precise. As Dr. Shiva states, “these are more like sharpshooters.” The body takes out the pathogens with specific antibodies. The body’s production of antibodies is the underlying concept of vaccines.

The Old Model Is The Basis For Vaccines

The idea behind vaccines relies on this old two-part model of the immune system. A vaccine tricks the body into producing antibodies to the pathogen. The vaccine stimulates the adaptive immune system response.

We now know that because of the new model of how the immune system works, vaccines are ineffective in providing immunity for an extended period of time. Research shows that most vaccines, like the flu vaccine, lose effectiveness in a few weeks.

Dr. Shiva also talks about the safety of vaccines. To date, there have been no double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on vaccines for safety or efficacy. The Cochrane review also shows that research for the flu shot is neither safe nor effective. The analysis of research showed that 2% of people get the flu without a vaccine, and 1% get the flu with the vaccine.

What Happens To The Body When Is Stressed By a Virus?

As Dr. Shiva described, the pathogen (virus or bacteria) is not what eats away the body. It is the immune system that is trying to modulate itself. In a stressful environment, it will hyper respond cause the breakdown of the other systems of the body. Your body is disturbed or in dis-ease.

The wrong environment, such as eating poorly, not getting enough exercise or social isolation like we are experiencing now, causes many more issues with your immune system response. The immune system in the right environment works perfectly.

What About Germ Theory?

If the medical model of germ theory were correct, nobody would be around to know about it. Germs are all-around use and are attacking our body and immune system daily. Challenging our immune system is a natural part of life.

Think about diseases of the past like scurvy. Doctors at the time thought a pathogen caused scurvy. Not until British sailors realized that eating limes kept them from having this “disease.” We now know that it wasn’t a disease at all but a nutritional deficiency. Once again, emphasizing that the wrong environment, lack of vitamin C, is what causes an imbalance in your immune system and body.

How Does The Neurological System Play a Role In Immune System Function?

If your immune system is like the software you run on your computer, your immune system is the hardware that the software runs on. Scientists have shown that you can’t separate the nervous system and the immune system.

The body’s natural system state relies on the nervous system and immune system working together to help keep your body in homeostasis. As long as the inputs from your environment are allowing your body to stay at it’s set point, then you will be healthy and happy.
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What Steps Should You Do To Help Your Immune System and Body Get Back To Health?

Dr. Shiva talks about 3 steps-
1. Know Who YOU Are
  
  Your body system or any other system in nature has three significant forces of transport, conversion, and storage. Your body system has a unique combination of these forces to stay in balance. Once you know your body’s specific set point for these forces, you have your baseline for where you function best.
2. Knowing When You Are Not YOU
  
  Much like an airplane flying from point A to point B, there are systems to let the pilot know if the plane is getting off course. When you have your set point, then you can find out if day to day stressors are sending you off course.
3. Be Happy, Be YOU!
  
  Once you notice your system is not where it should be ideally, then you can take steps to return to your set point. Things that you can add in to change the forces we talked about in step one are nutrition, exercise, prayer/mediation, and chiropractic adjustments. Adding all of these will get you back to feeling like the best YOU possible.
Dr. Shiva’s Full Video-

Conclusion Of The Science Behind The Immune System

The concept of how the immune system functions have changed dramatically since the 1960s. Our current policies for dealing with pathogens are based on that old understanding of how the immune system worked. The lack of knowledge about the immune system means that vaccine policy is an outdated way of dealing with viruses. There haven’t been reliable double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to validate the use of vaccines.

The new understanding of immune system function that is backed up by science is your immune system helps your body system stay in balance. It uses not only innate and adaptive immunity, but it also uses your nervous system and microbiome to help keep that balance. The most significant factor of your immune and body system getting out of balance is the stressors in your environment.

You can follow the three steps that Dr. Shiva recommends, know when your body is in balance, know when your body is out of balance and do the things to restore that balance. I talk about how chiropractic adjustments help your immune system function in this article- What Does Science Say About Chiropractic and Immune System Function. If you do this, you will be happy and healthy for a lifetime.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help you or a loved one, please contact our Littleton, CO chiropractic clinic here.
April 22, 2020
How To Supercharge Your Immune System

I am often asked what I recommend for supplements to boost immune system function. Here are two protocols I use to supercharge your immune system, whether you are healthy or you need some help with that function. Either way, you may find that we might be focusing on the wrong thing. Let’s dive in and show you what I recommend here at our chiropractic clinic in Littleton, CO.

Immune System Function or Inflammation, What Is More Important?

The obvious answer is both. However, most people tend to focus on supplements that just boost the immune system. What I find is just as important is to keep your inflammation in check and not out of control.

Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process, so it is necessary. Too much inflammation, however, is not a good thing. Some of you might have seen the cover of Time Magazine from Feb. 2004 titled, “The Silent Killer”, talking about inflammation. Here is a link to the article- Health: The Fires Within.

For healthy people, we are going to focus more on inflammation to help boost immune system function. For those who are experiencing challenges with their immune system, we will focus on immunity along with inflammation.

Inflammation Protocol With Focus on Inflammation and Oxidative stress:

The first is an anti-inflammatory protocol. Why would someone be worried about inflammation? If you are generally healthy, then your biggest concern is to keep your inflammation under control. This will help your body fight disease and heal as quickly as possible.

The same function of the body that causes redness, swelling and pain also reduce your body’s ability to fight off infection and disease. Research shows that inflammation is a symptom of many infectious diseases. (1) That is why it is so necessary for you to control your inflammation levels.

Here are the supplements and dosage for this protocol:

Omega Monopure 1300 EC (2 caps daily)

ProbioMax Daily or Probiomax Complete (1-2 caps daily)

NRF2 Activator (1-2 caps daily)

D3 5000(2 caps daily)

MinRex (2-4 caps daily)

S-Acetyl-Glutathione (2 caps daily)

Lauricidin (2 scoops daily)

Infection Protocol with focus on Immunity, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress:

The second protocol is our infection protocol. This is the protocol we recommend for anyone who has a weakened immune system or is fighting a cold or infection. If you feel like you are in this category this is the protocol you would want to follow.

Similar to our first protocol, this protocol looks at inflammation as well but has more of an immunity focus. The additional supplements in this list are used to boost immune system cells that fight pathogens.

Here are the supplements and dosage for this protocol:

Omega Monopure 1300 EC (2 caps daily)

ProbioMax Complete (2 caps daily)

Immunotix 500 (1 cap daily)

NRF2 Activator (2 caps daily)

D3 5000(3-4 caps daily)

MinRex (4 capsules daily)

S-Acetyl-Glutathione (2 caps daily)

ProteoXyme (8 caps daily)

Xcellent A 7500 (2-3 caps daily)

Lauricidin (3-4 scoops daily)

How To Order

I wanted to give you all access to our protocols for inflammation and infection. If you would like to order these products to be shipped directly to you click the links below-

If You Have Any Questions About Supercharging Your Immune System-

If you are not sure which protocol is best for you or where to start, don’t hesitate to call us at the office at 303-794-1737. If you need help ordering any of the supplements, let us know.

Feel free to forward this information to your friends and family members, I know we want to keep our loved ones healthy.

Let’s help fight any virus or bacteria with our last line of defense- THE IMMUNE SYSTEM!

April 7, 2020