It takes a spine to benefit from chiropractic care
Animal chiropractors say their drugless, non-surgical adjustments are cheaper than vet care
By Sue Manning, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Thirty years ago, Dr. Gene Giggleman was a veterinarian who thought chiropractors were quacks. Since then, he says he's straightened out thousands of dogs and cats, not to mention the occasional snake, hamster, gerbil and guinea pig.
"And I know people who have adjusted pigs, goats and rodeo bulls," said Giggleman, a professor at Parker University in Dallas, which specializes in chiropractic care.
In Southern California, Dr. Rod Block has tended to an elephant, a paralyzed iguana, a turkey, pigs, llamas and countless dogs and horses.
"You have to be very much in tune with the being of the animal you are working with," said Block, who limits his work these days to house calls throughout Southern California, where he works with several veterinarians.
"A chiropractor promotes the flow of energy within the body. Anywhere there is an obstruction or blockage of energy due to subluxation or a dysfunctional group of muscles, what the chiropractor does is normalize that function," Block said.
Giggleman spends most of his time teaching but still sees patients one day a week. Ninety percent of his patients need chiropractic care and 10 percent need traditional care, he said.
"I'm not an extremist either way. I am for whatever fixes your dog," he said.
The vets say any human or animal with a spine-related problem can benefit from an "adjustment."
Unlike Giggleman, who started as a veterinarian, Block spent 30 years as a human chiropractor before he switched gears 20 years ago and became certified by the Bluejacket, Okla.-based American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.
Classes take about a year of extra study, Block said.
The AVCA has certified over 1,000 veterinarians or chiropractors since 1989, said Leslie Means executive director of the group. There are 560 active members today and they have to be recertified every three years.
However, the certificates are not licenses to practice medicine. In states like Nevada and Oklahoma, getting a certificate is the only way you can set up shop. But states like California and Texas require those with certificates to work under the supervision of a veterinarian.
As a result, in many states, veterinarians and animal chiropractors work out of the same offices. They can make referrals to one another and even merge their telephone and online listings.
"We are more concerned about the quality than the quantity of life," Block said. One of his patients is a 38-year-old horse, owned by a veterinary professor. "He's not rideable, but he's mobile. He's off steroids and free to roam around and enjoy the remainder of his life relatively pain-free," Block said.
The horse doesn't get top billing in his new book though. "Like Chiropractic for Elephants" describes how he treated a gimpy elephant at a private sanctuary, how her herd accepted him and how she used body language to help him find her pain.
Through the book, Block said he hopes "to demystify chiropractic. People think that it's dangerous and that it's quackery. I really want to illuminate the differences between what allopathic (mainstream) veterinary medical care does and what chiropractic does and how the two integrate well even though they are at opposite ends of the pole.
"Above all, I want people to become more aware of the relationships they have with their animals, which I think is evolving," he said.
The story of Giggleman's first chiropractic success is included in "Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul."
Sparky, a cocker spaniel, appeared to be having seizures, was on three drugs from three different vets and was going to be euthanized if Giggleman couldn't help him.
"I examined the dog. Although I was a fledgling, I could tell the dog's neck was out of whack or subluxated," he said. "When I reached down and petted the dog, it hurt him so bad, he flipped over and started shaking."
Giggleman adjusted Sparky and the dog lived another six years without seizures, he said.
On the spot, that made a convert out of Giggleman. He went on to co-found the Parker University animal chiropractic program.
"Chiropractic care is a drugless, non-surgical approach to treating animals," Giggleman said. And, he added, much cheaper than traditional medicine with its surgeries and drugs.
Leslie Means, the AVCA director, had a show dog, an 85-pound Siberian husky who was trained in hand signals. "She misread a signal and jumped off the front porch. There was a 10-foot drop," she said. X-rays were negative for broken bones but the dog cried constantly.
After seeing six vets and finding no relief for the dog, Means found the nearest animal chiropractor and made an appointment.
Means drove eight hours to get there, but after the appointment, the dog walked out of the office and jumped into the back seat of the car without so much as a whimper.
When Giggleman started teaching a course on how to adjust animals over a decade ago, the bulk of his students were chiropractors. "Now, for the first time, we are seeing more veterinarians than chiropractors," he said.
"There is no cure-all discipline," he said. "Chiropractic is complimentary care. There are times when pets need surgery."
Animals often get more out of chiropractic care than humans, he said.
"Animals don't lie. They are either better or not. They are very demonstrative with their adjustments. They don't have all the mental trash we deal with on a daily basis. They hold their adjustments better because they don't have all the stress we have."
Pet owners know when their animals need an adjustment, Giggleman said. "If you pay attention, you can tell something is wrong. There is a slang term we use in Texas — somebody will come in and say, 'He's ADR.' That means, 'Ain't doin' right, Doc,'" he said.
Giggleman teaches full-time and is semi-retired after 31 years of practice, but he sees patients one afternoon a week.
About once a month, a pet owner will come in and tell him: "If you can't do anything, I will have to put my pet to sleep."
He said he's able to save 80 percent of those animals. For the others "we get the animals out of some of the pain they are in and help the owners work through the whole issue as they prepare to part with their beloved pets."
There is a double blessing for those he saves, Giggleman said, "because not only are you making the pet better, but saving a life."
Natural Remedies for Headaches
Author: Maria Kuzmiak, Wellness Writer
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Headaches are one of the most common complaints presented to doctors. Headaches, of which there are several types, can be caused by anything from stress and eyestrain to sinus infections and problems with blood vessels. No matter what kind of headache you experience, if it is a chronic problem, your quality of life is probably suffering needlessly. The good news is that several natural remedies offer very effective headache relief.
If you suffer mostly from tension headaches, the best remedies are those that promote muscle relaxation, while migraine sufferers may do better with remedies that have anti-inflammatory properties. Other underlying causes of headaches, such as infections or dehydration, can also be treated naturally. Here are six effective ways to reduce headache pain without drugs:
Magnesium
Magnesium, an essential mineral that acts as a muscle relaxer, may be deficient in chronic headache sufferers, particularly those who typically get migraines. Taking a magnesium supplement or eating more magnesium-rich foods may help to reduce the occurrence of these headaches. Nuts and seeds, particularly pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflowers seeds, Brazil nuts and almonds, are rich sources of magnesium. Other sources include cocoa powder and dark chocolate.
Proper Diet
Since headaches can be caused by food allergies and sensitivities, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your diet to see if your headaches are triggered by the foods you eat. Some of the more common headache-causing foods are caffeinated beverages, certain cheeses, food additives, alcohol and very cold foods like ice cream.
Essential Oils
Applying essential oils to the forehead or neck can help alleviate headaches. Peppermint and lavender oils, for example, are said to be effective in reducing headache pain. Oils like lemon balm and rose have a calming effect that can also help if you are prone to stress-related tension headaches.
Water
Many headaches are actually caused by dehydration. Drinking a large glass of water every few hours can help to prevent headaches and even alleviate them if you drink the water as soon as you feel a headache coming on.
White Willow Bark
White willow bark is an herbal remedy whose active ingredient, salicin, is related to the active ingredient in aspirin. In fact, willow bark is often called “natural aspirin”. Aspirin is salicylic acid, a synthetic form of salicin. Unlike aspirin, however, white willow bark will not upset the stomach.
Feverfew
An aromatic herb native to southeastern Europe, feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful as a remedy for migraine sufferers. The herb has been used to treat headaches for nearly two thousand years. A study in England showed that people who took feverfew for four months had fewer and less severe migraines than those who did not take it.
If you’re not sure what kind of headaches you suffer from, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and get a full evaluation. Once you know more about the type and cause of your headaches, you will be able to choose the best approach to treating and preventing them.
Related Products
Headache Soothe™
MiGone Plus™
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Headaches are one of the most common complaints presented to doctors. Headaches, of which there are several types, can be caused by anything from stress and eyestrain to sinus infections and problems with blood vessels. No matter what kind of headache you experience, if it is a chronic problem, your quality of life is probably suffering needlessly. The good news is that several natural remedies offer very effective headache relief.
If you suffer mostly from tension headaches, the best remedies are those that promote muscle relaxation, while migraine sufferers may do better with remedies that have anti-inflammatory properties. Other underlying causes of headaches, such as infections or dehydration, can also be treated naturally. Here are six effective ways to reduce headache pain without drugs:
Magnesium
Magnesium, an essential mineral that acts as a muscle relaxer, may be deficient in chronic headache sufferers, particularly those who typically get migraines. Taking a magnesium supplement or eating more magnesium-rich foods may help to reduce the occurrence of these headaches. Nuts and seeds, particularly pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflowers seeds, Brazil nuts and almonds, are rich sources of magnesium. Other sources include cocoa powder and dark chocolate.
Proper Diet
Since headaches can be caused by food allergies and sensitivities, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your diet to see if your headaches are triggered by the foods you eat. Some of the more common headache-causing foods are caffeinated beverages, certain cheeses, food additives, alcohol and very cold foods like ice cream.
Essential Oils
Applying essential oils to the forehead or neck can help alleviate headaches. Peppermint and lavender oils, for example, are said to be effective in reducing headache pain. Oils like lemon balm and rose have a calming effect that can also help if you are prone to stress-related tension headaches.
Water
Many headaches are actually caused by dehydration. Drinking a large glass of water every few hours can help to prevent headaches and even alleviate them if you drink the water as soon as you feel a headache coming on.
White Willow Bark
White willow bark is an herbal remedy whose active ingredient, salicin, is related to the active ingredient in aspirin. In fact, willow bark is often called “natural aspirin”. Aspirin is salicylic acid, a synthetic form of salicin. Unlike aspirin, however, white willow bark will not upset the stomach.
Feverfew
An aromatic herb native to southeastern Europe, feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful as a remedy for migraine sufferers. The herb has been used to treat headaches for nearly two thousand years. A study in England showed that people who took feverfew for four months had fewer and less severe migraines than those who did not take it.
If you’re not sure what kind of headaches you suffer from, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and get a full evaluation. Once you know more about the type and cause of your headaches, you will be able to choose the best approach to treating and preventing them.
Related Products
Headache Soothe™
MiGone Plus™
Natural Remedies for Dry Skin
Author: Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Our skin is our largest organ. It provides our first line of defense from toxins, injury, and solar radiation. It also provides a barrier to infection. The skin is not a solid barrier, but a permeable one. What we put on our skin is as important as the food we eat. The products that we use on our skin need to nourish the skin’s layers in order to keep this valuable organ in tip top condition. Healthy, glowing skin can make a person look young and vibrant.
Many people suffer from dry skin. Dry skin is fragile and is prone to wrinkling. It may also be itchy and tight feeling.
Here are seven tips and ingredients that prevent and heal dry skin.
Drink lots of water. Skin needs hydration to plump up cells and look vibrant. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are dehydrating so avoid or minimize your consumption of them.
Protect your skin from the elements. Use a broad spectrum sun block. Exposure to the radiation of the sun dries skin out quickly. Remember that wind and cold air also dry the skin. Keep your skin covered if the weather is harsh.
Consume foods that are rich in omega -3 and omega- 7 fatty acids. Nuts, whole grains, flax seed, and vegetable oils are excellent sources of omega rich nutrients. They are needed for skin repair and promote a smooth, supple complexion. Consider using an internal supplement such as flax, borage, evening primrose or sea buck thorn oil for additional benefits.
Use skin care products that contain antioxidants. They prevent skin damage from the elements and aging. Green tea, resveratrol, and red tea are natural ingredients that are rich in antioxidants.
Be sure that your skin care products contain natural, nourishing oils. Apricot kernel oil is luxurious and rich in vitamins A and B. It is great for people with sensitive, dry skin. Jojoba oil is actually a wax. Jojoba is a fine ingredient as it absorbs easily and benefits mature skin. An outstanding oil for dry skin is squalene oil, which is found naturally in human skin. The squalene used in cosmetics is derived from olive oil. Squalene provides a moisture barrier for skin to help retain moisture.
Give yourself an avocado facial as a special skin treat. Simply mash a peeled, seeded avocado and apply to freshly washed skin. Lie down, with your feet up, and eyes closed for at least twenty minutes. Rinse off and moisturize with your usual moisturizing product.
If your environment is dry, try misting your skin with rose water. It feels refreshing and provides moisture. Rose water balances pH which helps prevent skin injury and further dryness.
The above remedies will make your skin moist and radiant. Using ingredients that are nourishing to your skin will make you look and feel vibrant and youthful.
Related Products
YouthShield Naturals™
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Our skin is our largest organ. It provides our first line of defense from toxins, injury, and solar radiation. It also provides a barrier to infection. The skin is not a solid barrier, but a permeable one. What we put on our skin is as important as the food we eat. The products that we use on our skin need to nourish the skin’s layers in order to keep this valuable organ in tip top condition. Healthy, glowing skin can make a person look young and vibrant.
Many people suffer from dry skin. Dry skin is fragile and is prone to wrinkling. It may also be itchy and tight feeling.
Here are seven tips and ingredients that prevent and heal dry skin.
Drink lots of water. Skin needs hydration to plump up cells and look vibrant. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are dehydrating so avoid or minimize your consumption of them.
Protect your skin from the elements. Use a broad spectrum sun block. Exposure to the radiation of the sun dries skin out quickly. Remember that wind and cold air also dry the skin. Keep your skin covered if the weather is harsh.
Consume foods that are rich in omega -3 and omega- 7 fatty acids. Nuts, whole grains, flax seed, and vegetable oils are excellent sources of omega rich nutrients. They are needed for skin repair and promote a smooth, supple complexion. Consider using an internal supplement such as flax, borage, evening primrose or sea buck thorn oil for additional benefits.
Use skin care products that contain antioxidants. They prevent skin damage from the elements and aging. Green tea, resveratrol, and red tea are natural ingredients that are rich in antioxidants.
Be sure that your skin care products contain natural, nourishing oils. Apricot kernel oil is luxurious and rich in vitamins A and B. It is great for people with sensitive, dry skin. Jojoba oil is actually a wax. Jojoba is a fine ingredient as it absorbs easily and benefits mature skin. An outstanding oil for dry skin is squalene oil, which is found naturally in human skin. The squalene used in cosmetics is derived from olive oil. Squalene provides a moisture barrier for skin to help retain moisture.
Give yourself an avocado facial as a special skin treat. Simply mash a peeled, seeded avocado and apply to freshly washed skin. Lie down, with your feet up, and eyes closed for at least twenty minutes. Rinse off and moisturize with your usual moisturizing product.
If your environment is dry, try misting your skin with rose water. It feels refreshing and provides moisture. Rose water balances pH which helps prevent skin injury and further dryness.
The above remedies will make your skin moist and radiant. Using ingredients that are nourishing to your skin will make you look and feel vibrant and youthful.
Related Products
YouthShield Naturals™
Five Tips to Avoid Leg Cramps During Yoga
Author: Bethany Pinto, Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT 200®
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Practicing yoga on a daily basis can be very beneficial to your overall health and well-being. Studies show a link between regular yoga practice and a significantly lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes. Many people in the West have adopted yoga as a way to construct long, lean muscles because the asanas (poses performed during practice) require you to hold your body in position for several breaths, creating an isometric contraction for some muscles while stretching and lengthening others.
If you've ever gone to a yoga class at a gym or studio and found yourself sitting out halfway through because you've developed a leg or arm cramp from holding a pose for so long, you are not alone. This happens to both newbies and experienced yogis alike. If you take a class that is not suited toward your experience level or is a style that does not fit your needs, or if you let your ego bully your body (i.e. you push yourself), you may be setting yourself up for pain or injury.
Here are 5 tips to avoid muscle cramps in your practice:
1. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your practice. It's very important to be well hydrated since our bodies are comprised of at least 60% water. Our muscles alone are made up of 75% water. In yoga, you are placing your spine and limbs in positions that were designed thousands of years ago by yogis to help naturally rid the body of toxins. By keeping the water supply plentiful, you'll allow the muscles to remain supple as well as help flush out the toxins that are released during practice.
2. Warm up first! Whether you are practicing at home or taking a class, begin with some poses that will create warmth (i.e., get the blood moving) in the large muscles of your body.
While standing in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), inhale and sweep your arms out to the sides and up above your head, then exhale them back down. Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times, moving with your breath.
Take a wide step to the side so your legs are more than hip width apart, place your hands on your hips and inhale, lifting your chest up as you bend your back slightly. Then, exhale hinging at your hips with your legs straight as you lower your chest toward the floor. Breathe for a couple of breaths, then bend your knees as you exhale into a squat, inhale and straighten them again. Repeat the squats for 2 or 3 more breaths. Straighten your legs and flatten your back, inhale and raise your torso back up to standing.
These are just two suggestions for warm ups before your practice. You can also do a series of poses called Sun Salutations that are an excellent way to prepare your muscles for a safe, cramp-free practice.
3. Listen to your body. Yes, it is beneficial to hold poses for several breaths (sometimes as long as 5 minutes). But remember, this is like holding a barbell up for an extended period of time instead of just doing a set of curls. There is definitely a chance of cramping here. While it is good to breathe and challenge yourself to stay in the moment, if you need to come out of a pose, certainly do so! If you do feel a cramp, stop and relax the muscle and breathe deeply, gently rubbing the spot until it subsides.
4. Increase your intake of electrolytes. A deficiency of such minerals as potassium and magnesium significantly contributes to muscle cramping and spasms. When taken on a consistent basis (rather than as a drug you'd take for immediate results), these nutritional supplements may help prevent their occurrence. Magnesium is often used in recovery after strength training. It is very important for skeletal muscle health, and not getting enough can lead to severe muscle spasms and tension. Good food sources of magnesium are black beans, raw broccoli, halibut, pumpkin seeds and cooked spinach. Also consider drinking a low sugar sports drink or coconut water before, during and after your practice to replenish this and other important electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
5. If you were not able to avoid a muscle cramp, there are some natural herbs you can take that are known to relax muscles and may relieve the pain. The root of the cramp bark plant has powerful muscle relaxant effects, and in large doses (30-60 drops every 2 or 3 hours) can ease acute muscle pain or spasms due to a cramp. Be careful not to take it with aspirin or to exceed the recommended dosage, as side effects such as mild nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. Cramp bark is also known to ease menstrual cramps.
Kava kava is another very good muscle relaxant. It is extracted from a root found in the islands of the South Pacific and it is traditionally used as a ceremonial drink in that region. Kava is an effective herbal muscle relaxant and anesthetic. It can be chewed or taken in drop or pill form. It is used most often as a treatment for anxiety.
If you take the precautions outlined here, you are sure to enjoy a safe and rewarding yoga practice that will allow you to return to the mat each day cramp-free.
Article courtesy of Native Remedies
Practicing yoga on a daily basis can be very beneficial to your overall health and well-being. Studies show a link between regular yoga practice and a significantly lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes. Many people in the West have adopted yoga as a way to construct long, lean muscles because the asanas (poses performed during practice) require you to hold your body in position for several breaths, creating an isometric contraction for some muscles while stretching and lengthening others.
If you've ever gone to a yoga class at a gym or studio and found yourself sitting out halfway through because you've developed a leg or arm cramp from holding a pose for so long, you are not alone. This happens to both newbies and experienced yogis alike. If you take a class that is not suited toward your experience level or is a style that does not fit your needs, or if you let your ego bully your body (i.e. you push yourself), you may be setting yourself up for pain or injury.
Here are 5 tips to avoid muscle cramps in your practice:
1. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your practice. It's very important to be well hydrated since our bodies are comprised of at least 60% water. Our muscles alone are made up of 75% water. In yoga, you are placing your spine and limbs in positions that were designed thousands of years ago by yogis to help naturally rid the body of toxins. By keeping the water supply plentiful, you'll allow the muscles to remain supple as well as help flush out the toxins that are released during practice.
2. Warm up first! Whether you are practicing at home or taking a class, begin with some poses that will create warmth (i.e., get the blood moving) in the large muscles of your body.
While standing in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), inhale and sweep your arms out to the sides and up above your head, then exhale them back down. Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times, moving with your breath.
Take a wide step to the side so your legs are more than hip width apart, place your hands on your hips and inhale, lifting your chest up as you bend your back slightly. Then, exhale hinging at your hips with your legs straight as you lower your chest toward the floor. Breathe for a couple of breaths, then bend your knees as you exhale into a squat, inhale and straighten them again. Repeat the squats for 2 or 3 more breaths. Straighten your legs and flatten your back, inhale and raise your torso back up to standing.
These are just two suggestions for warm ups before your practice. You can also do a series of poses called Sun Salutations that are an excellent way to prepare your muscles for a safe, cramp-free practice.
3. Listen to your body. Yes, it is beneficial to hold poses for several breaths (sometimes as long as 5 minutes). But remember, this is like holding a barbell up for an extended period of time instead of just doing a set of curls. There is definitely a chance of cramping here. While it is good to breathe and challenge yourself to stay in the moment, if you need to come out of a pose, certainly do so! If you do feel a cramp, stop and relax the muscle and breathe deeply, gently rubbing the spot until it subsides.
4. Increase your intake of electrolytes. A deficiency of such minerals as potassium and magnesium significantly contributes to muscle cramping and spasms. When taken on a consistent basis (rather than as a drug you'd take for immediate results), these nutritional supplements may help prevent their occurrence. Magnesium is often used in recovery after strength training. It is very important for skeletal muscle health, and not getting enough can lead to severe muscle spasms and tension. Good food sources of magnesium are black beans, raw broccoli, halibut, pumpkin seeds and cooked spinach. Also consider drinking a low sugar sports drink or coconut water before, during and after your practice to replenish this and other important electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
5. If you were not able to avoid a muscle cramp, there are some natural herbs you can take that are known to relax muscles and may relieve the pain. The root of the cramp bark plant has powerful muscle relaxant effects, and in large doses (30-60 drops every 2 or 3 hours) can ease acute muscle pain or spasms due to a cramp. Be careful not to take it with aspirin or to exceed the recommended dosage, as side effects such as mild nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. Cramp bark is also known to ease menstrual cramps.
Kava kava is another very good muscle relaxant. It is extracted from a root found in the islands of the South Pacific and it is traditionally used as a ceremonial drink in that region. Kava is an effective herbal muscle relaxant and anesthetic. It can be chewed or taken in drop or pill form. It is used most often as a treatment for anxiety.
If you take the precautions outlined here, you are sure to enjoy a safe and rewarding yoga practice that will allow you to return to the mat each day cramp-free.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)