Health Newsletter - Winter '09

Spinal Degeneration and Organ Disease Linked - Ever wonder why getting spinal checkups are really important? Here is an old medical study that convinced me, as it should you. Henry Winsor, MD, dissected, correlated, and published his study on human and animal cadavers. He wrote: "The object of these necropsies (dissections) was to determine whether any connection existed between minor curvatures of the spine... and diseased organs... or whether the two were entirely independent of each other. If chiropractors were right in their theory than a misaligned vertebrae that impinged a nerve going to the kidney for example could weaken the kidney and cause kidney diseases. If the theory was wrong then a misalignment in the "kidney place" of the spine would not find any corresponding problem with the kidney organs."

Of the 221 structures of the body found to be diseased, 212 were observed to belong to the same sympathetic (nerve) segments as the spinal vertebrae in the curvature. There was nearly a 100% correlation (WOW!) between "minor curvatures" of the spine and diseases of the internal organs. Some of these were 9 for the stomach, 26 for lung, 13 for liver, 5 for gallbladder, 3 for pancreas, 11 for spleen, 17 for kidney, 8 for prostate/bladder, 2 for  uterus, 20 for heart, and 2 for thymus organs with nerves traced back to their respective spinal levels.  

In conclusion, it is obvious that if one does not take care of the spine the risk of organ disease increases. Unfortunately, all of us degenerate with age but speeding it up due to inflammation from joint misalignments (subluxations) or trauma (accidental falls, impact sports, auto accidents, etc) is detrimental. Once the spine is trained to keep aligned, regular exercise is important to help it stay that way. Of course any subsequent traumas should be treated right away and alignments re-checked so one does not stayed that way for long and speed up the degeneration. Paying attention to your body is very important. It can not be replaced like teeth or tires!

Avoiding Genetically Modified Foods - Why should they be avoided? Dr Mercola's website points out many studies linking genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with toxins, allergies, infertility, infant mortality, immune dysfunction, stunted growth, accelerated aging, and deaths. Whistleblowers have been  fired, threatened, and gagged with warnings by FDA scientists ignored. Excluding the USA most of the world have joined forces to refuse GM foods and crops because of the dangers to health and future food supply. In fact Europe eliminated GMOs from their food supply 10 years ago. However in the United States people are unaware of eating inadequately labeled GM foods every day. An estimated 75 percent of foods in U.S. grocery stores contain GM ingredients. About 7 out of every 10 items in the average grocery cart have been genetically modified with no labeling required. Supposedly the development of GMOs were to increase crop yields, reduce costs for farmers, and less herbicide used. This hasn't happened. Reality is such that:

1. GM soy decreased yields by up to 20 percent, and up to 100 percent failures of GM cotton have been recorded in India;

2. Farmers have increased cost because GM seeds are sterile. Each year they need to be purchased rather than use seeds from their harvest, resulting in more profit to seed companies;

3. Roundup herbicide (Monsanto's product) is toxic to human placental and embryonic cells and used on over 80% of all GM crops; 

4. GM crops have built-in pesticides so eating them means ingesting toxins;

5. GM corn waste impairs aquatic insect growth, which is vital in our food chain;

6. GM food and feed has been linked to deaths and sicknesses from the fields of India and world lab tests.

GM products, and offsprings like maltodextrin, soy lecithin, and high fructose corn syrup, are some varieties of zucchini, crookneck squash, papayas from Hawaii, mike containing rbGH, rennet in hard cheeses, and Aspartame (NutraSweet). Examine the PLU code on fruits and veggies. Normal fruits have 4 numbers, organically grown have 5 numbers prefaced by the number "9", and GM fruit have 5 numbers prefaced by the number "8". Stay away from processed foods since the contain corn and soy products probably modified. Remember consumers have power through their actions so refuse to purchase GM products, ask supermarkets to stock unmodified foods, and buy fresh, locally and organically grown foods. Sure they may cost more but loss of health costs even more. Lastly, let your elected officials know your feeling on GM foods, demand the implementation of extensive long-term unbiased studies be performed before allowing GM foods into the system, and at least clearly label these GM foods so consumers can make their own choice in eating them. For more info on GMO dangers, go to  http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm. Let's have a healthier life.

"Stroke" Recognition - All of us do not want to have anyone experience a stroke (a blood clot affecting brain function). However it is best to be able to recognize the symptoms so maybe one's life can be saved. Neurologists feel that if a stroke victim can be treated within 3 hours of having one, the effects can be totally reversed. Of course the next job is to find out why it happened and prevent any further catastrophes. All of us need know these basic tests to possibly save someone.

Thanks to one of our patients, LM, listed below are 4 basic tests. And to make it easy to remember, think of the word S T R O K E, for when you think something like a stroke just happened. Be insistent when asking the possible victim to do these self-diagnosing tests ASAP, since it is important to catch strokes early as indicated above:

"S" - Ask the person to SMILE. Usually a stroked victim can't or only part of the face can form such;

"T" - Ask the person to TALK by saying a simple sentence, like "it is sunny outside today". Victims have difficulty and slur their words;

"R" - Ask the person to RAISE both arms. Bilateral movements are difficult by victims;

"O" - Ask the person to stick out their tongue and watch as it comes out the OPENING of their mouth. If tongue comes out crooked or moves to one side it is an additional indication of a stroke.

Let's hope that none of us experience having or witnessing a stroke, but at least now we are prepared to help by insisting the victim get medical help even when they think nothing happened.

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