April 2015 Newsletter

Chiropractic Office Closed 3:00 – 5:30 Friday, April 24.

The office will be closing at 12:30 on Friday, April 24th so Dr. Pete can attend a seminar to learn more about serving expectant mothers and babies. One part of the seminar focuses on techniques to help babies to shift into more optimal positions for labor while in the womb, so that c-sections can be avoided if possible.

While Dr. Pete will be out of the office, Kelly Nickel will still have availability for massage.

Posture Class with Special Guest Chandler Stevens on Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Are you ready to learn some cool ways to improve your posture and feel strong, supported, and comfortable? Click the above video for more information and join us at Thrive on Saturday, April 11 for either a 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. class with special guest Chandler Stevens. Here is what you can expect:

For most folks, sitting is a fact of life, and forcing rigid posture is just as bad as slouching.What we need is a way to let the body reorganize itself to release chronic tension and strengthen weak stabilizing muscles.

To do this we need to speak the language of the brain: MOVEMENT. Once we learn a bit of this language, we’ll not only be able to HEAR the cues the body gives us (back pain, tight shoulders, etc.) but RESPOND in a way the body and brain can recognize and like.

We’ll draw from a number of disciplines: yoga, MovNat, Bones for Life, Barteneiff fundamentals to find simple solutions for poor posture and aching joints.

Please R.S.V.P. by email or phone to reserve your space. There is a $5 fee for this class, which will last about an hour. We are approaching capacity for the 10:00 class. If you would like to attend, please let us know and we will make sure you can get into either the 10:00 or 11:00 class.

Chiropractic & Babies

Most of you have likely noticed children and babies in the office. Chiropractic care is great for kids’ health. The spine and nerve system of babies and children encounter stresses too, just not often the same types of stress as adults. For example, the stress of birth itself often creates subluxations (misalignments that irritate nerves and decrease function). Fortunately, specific and gentle techniques can help our little ones grow and develop without this stress.

I would like to share with you some points from a study that highlight how important proper alignment and balance is for youngsters. The article is Kinematic Imbalances Due to Suboccipital Strain in Newborns. Journal of Manual Medicine June (No. 6) 1992, pp 151-156, H. Biedermann.

• “Suboccipital” means just below the base of the skull. Alignment of this area is vital for proper health with many nerve, muscle, artery and other structures.
• “Kinematic Imbalances due to Suboccipital Strain” (KISS syndrome) has a wide range of clinical signs and can in many cases be dealt with effectively with manual therapy. Main symptoms are torticollis, unilateral face asymmetry, C-scoliosis and motor asymmetries, often accompanied by unilateral retarded maturation of the hip joints and slowed motor development.
• Suboccipital strain is not confined to local complaints or even mechanical symptoms and is often not taken into account when these children show signs of restlessness and concentration difficulties, etc.
• Adjustments to this region leads to a disappearance of problems that the parents had not reported because they did not see a connection with the spine. These parents would regularly note that their child would eat or sleep much better since the treatment.
• An example of one child in the study: “6-month-old, unable to turn head to left (since birth), pronounced facial asymmetry, cried when picked up, severely retarded movement development, recurrent fever of unknown origin. These problems were resolved within one hour of the manipulation.”

Is Your Sports Drink Helping Your Performance?

Are you or your kids drinking Gatorade or Powerade for sports or exercise? Maybe it is time to think about a better option. We are now stocking the necessary ingredients at our office for you to make a far superior sports drink at home! Thanks to Dr. Gary Huber for this recipe.

Nearly all commercially-made sports drinks are similar to soda with a pinch of table salt. They often contain artificial colors or sweeteners as well. The healthy sports drink option has all the necessary electrolytes and minerals that you will need as opposed to only table salt. Branched chain amino acids quickly convert to energy, protect muscle from breakdown, and aid repair and recovery. Stevia is a tasty and healthy sweetener. If you’re a serious, competitive athlete, add Corvalen Ribose to postpone fatigue, sustain power output, and protect from oxidative stress.
 

• Hammer Endurolytes – $19, 75 servings per container
• Pure Encapsulation BCAA – $43, 68 servings per container
• Sweet Drops Lemon Stevia – $12, 144 servings of 10 drops each per container
• (OPTIONAL) Corvalen Ribose powder – $43, 56 servings per container

The good news is that this healthy sports drink tastes good and it breaks down to only $0.96 per drink for the basic option. With the Corvalen Ribose, the cost per drink is $1.72. I have utilized this sports drink myself for the past 6 months for my training and competitions and have been very pleased. Please ask me or Shawna if you have any questions about the sports drink.

Essential Oils Now Available at the Office

You may have noticed pleasant aromas in the office recently. We now have essential oils available for purchase at the office. While the scent is excellent, the oils offer a variety of therapeutic and cleaning uses and can be used topically, internally, and diffused.

Young Living Essential Oils:

• Lemon: Lemon is an immune stimulant, antiseptic, improves memory, is rich in limonene, extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth. It’s great for cleaning and disinfecting multiple surfaces at home, in dish water, or in the dishwasher.
• Peppermint: Peppermint relieves congestion, asthma, headaches, and muscle cramps. 
• Lavender: Perhaps the most versatile oil. An adaptogenic oil, helping us deal with stress. Great for headaches and general relaxation.
• Peace and Calming Blend: This blend encourages deep relaxation and promotes a peaceful night’s sleep; it contains Tangerine, Ylang Ylang, Blue Tansy, Orange, and Patchouli oils.
• Thieves Blend: This blend contains powerful oils for the immune system. It can be used topically or diffused as a dietary supplement to support the immune system. It contains Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, and Eucalyptus Radiata.

doTerra Deep Blue Rub:

• Deep Blue Rub is applied to areas of sore muscles and joints. It is a pleasant blend of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, German chamomile, helichrysum, and osmanthus oils in a non-greasy, non-oily cream.

Recipe of the Month: Asparagus & Artichoke Gratin

Thanks to Seasonal and Savory for this freestyle gratin dish using asparagus and unmarinated artichoke hearts. We like the vacuum-sealed plain artichoke hearts available in the produce section, but feel free to use frozen or well-drained canned.

Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus, woody ends snapped off
1 package unmarinated artichoke hearts
Juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Pinch sea salt
Scant 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Parmesan flakes

Instructions:
Snap woody ends off asparagus, gently steam to preferred doneness in broiler-proof dish and set aside. Add heaping cup of artichoke hearts, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to food processor or chop by hand. Pulse until chunky and pile on top of cooked asparagus. Sprinkle with Parmesan and run under broiler until cheese melts. If you don’t want asparagus tips to brown, bake at 375 degrees about 12 minutes instead, or until cheese melts.

Bonus Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Verde

Here’s a bonus recipe that’s delicious and so easy you’ll have more time to get outside and enjoy the spring weather. Thanks to Rubies & Radishes for this one.