The "Science" Behind Chiropractic Pt. 1

For 24 centuries most of the world has depended on the doctor of medicine to cure health problems, yet the world is still sick and getting sicker.

But more than forty million Americans have switched their thinking about doctors and each year an additional two million are switching. They are switching to Chiropractic.

Recently (1925), medicine became "scientific" with the appearance of the bacteriologist. Since then, the orthodox education of the medical man has centered around the theory of infection and has been focused almost exclusively on infectious diseases.

Although some progress has been made in the fight against infections, medical science is beginning to realize that it is actually the degree of natural immunity, natural body defense, and vitality which determine the success or failure of any treatment.

Because the medical profession has been preoccupied with germs, viruses and infections, the vast majority of conditions, ills and diseases that trouble mankind, have been ignored.

15,000,000 Americans suffer from chronic headaches, another 28,000,000 have arthritis. Heart disease is still the no. 1 killer. Chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers and nervous disorders still must be dealt with. Hay fever, asthma, sinus and emphysema make hundreds of thousands miserable. Neuritis, bursitis and sciatica plague millions more. Chronic ailments are on the increase every day.

Orthodox medicine has failed to meet theses challenges, while a new kind of doctor - the Doctor of Chiropractic - now over 50,000 of them- have become the second largest healing profession in the world by getting people well - after medicine failed.

None of the body functions "just happen." Your heart doesn't just happen to beat. Your lungs don't just happen to inhale and exhale. Your stomach does not just happen to digest your dinner. All doctors know that your brain and nerve system coordinate these functions which make for life instead of death, health instead of sickness. It's your brain and nerve system which causes your heart to beat 72 times per minute, 60 minutes every hour, 103,680 times every 24 hours and pump 4,320 gallons of blood through nearly 100,000 miles of blood vessels, thus supplying oxygen and nourishment to every cell in the body, some 3 million of them.

Because your brain and nerve system direct it, today you will breathe 23,040 times, digest about 31 /4 pounds of food, drink and process about three quarts of liquid, speak about 4,800 words, move over 750 muscles and execise about 7,000,000 brain cells.

None of those things "just happen" The nerve system - often called the Master System - controls every function taking place in your body. This makes you a whole human being rather than a collection of parts.

Amazing Nerve System

The nerve system resembles an upside-down tree. The main trunk is suspended from the brain and the tiniest twigs end in the cells of the body.

Distribution of nerves throughout the body is so intimate and extensive that if we could dissolve away all other tissues, we would still see the form and proportion of he body in gossamer, a phantom body made up entirely of nerves.

When the nerve impulses flow smoothly and unimpeded as nature intends, a man enjoys health and a feeling of well-being. But when there is interference in normal nerve function, there is bound to be health trouble.

The spinal column is intended to protect the delicate spinal cord and the nerves leading from it. When it becomes misaligned or knocked out of a healthy position (subluxation), the column does not protect. Instead, the misaligned spinal bones impinge vital nerves. This subluxation process causes interference with normal nerve function.

To be continued...

A Chiropractor's Advice for Pregnancy

As many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress placed on the body by the baby, may result in severe discomfort. Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs, and buttocks, irritating her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low-back pain, the problem can become even worse.

During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis. Although a woman's sacrum-or posterior section of the pelvis-has enough depth to enable her to carry a baby, the displaced weight still increases the stress on her joints. As the baby grows in size, the woman's weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well.

While these changes sound dramatic, pregnancy hormones help loosen the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. But even these natural changes designed to accommodate the growing baby can result in postural imbalances, making pregnant women prone to having awkward trips and falls.

What Can You Do?

The ACA recommend the following tips for pregnant women:

Exercise:

Safe exercise during pregnancy can help strengthen your muscles and prevent discomfort. Try exercising at least three times a week, gently stretching before and after exercise. If you weren't active before your pregnancy, check with your doctor before starting or continuing any exercise.

Walking, swimming, and stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women because they do not require jerking or bouncing movements. Jogging can be safe for women who were avid runners before becoming pregnant-if done carefully and under a doctor's supervision.

Be sure to exercise in an area with secure footing to minimize the likelihood of falls. Your heart rate should not exceed 140 beats per minute during exercise. Strenuous activity should last no more than 15 minutes at a time.

Stop your exercise routine immediately if you notice any unusual symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding, dizziness, nausea, weakness, blurred vision, increased swelling, or heart palpitations.

Health and Safety

Wear flat, sensible shoes. High or chunky heels can exacerbate postural imbalances and make you less steady on your feet, especially as your pregnancy progresses.

When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. And never turn your head when you lift. Avoid picking up heavy objects, if possible.

Get plenty of rest. Pamper yourself and ask for help if you need it. Take a nap if you're tired, or lie down and elevate your feet for a few moments when you need a break.

Pregnancy Ergonomics: Your Bed and Desk

Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" may be helpful. Lying on your left side allows unobstructed blood flow and helps your kidneys flush waste from your body.

If you have to sit at a computer for long hours, make your workstation ergonomically correct. Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below your eye level, and place your feet on a small footrest to take pressure off your legs and feet. Take periodic breaks every 30 minutes with a quick walk around the office.

Nutrition

Eat small meals or snacks every four to five hours-rather than the usual three large meals-to help keep nausea or extreme hunger at bay. Snack on crackers or yogurt-bland foods high in carbohydrates and protein. Keep saltines in your desk drawer or purse to help stave off waves of "morning sickness."

Supplementing with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day before and during pregnancy has been shown to decrease the risk of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida. Check with your chiropractor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it's safety for you and the baby.

How Can Your Doctor of Chiropractic Help?

Before you become pregnant, your doctor of chiropractic can detect any imbalances in the pelvis or elsewhere in your body that could contribute to pregnancy discomfort or possible neuromusculoskeletal problems after childbirth.

Many pregnant women have found that chiropractic adjustments provide relief from the increased low-back pain brought on by pregnancy. Chiropractic manipulation is safe for the pregnant woman and her baby and can be especially attractive to those who are trying to avoid medications in treating their back pain. Doctors of chiropractic can also offer nutrition, ergonomic, and exercise advice to help a woman enjoy a healthy pregnancy.

Chiropractic care can also help after childbirth. In the eight weeks following labor and delivery, the ligaments that loosened during pregnancy begin to tighten up again. Ideally, joint problems brought on during pregnancy from improper lifting or reaching should be treated before the ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state-to prevent muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort, and shoulder problems.

For more information visit us at www.livewellforlife.com

Source: American Chiropractic Association

Childhood Fevers

Fevers are a common symptom in childhood. Many parents are frightened when their child has a fever, when in fact it is one of the most powerful defense mechanisms we have against disease and infection. It is widely known that a fever activates the child's immune system. In many cases a fever actually strengthens the immune system and helps to prevent susceptibility to other illnesses later in life. As Dr. Uwe Stave, medical pediatrician, states, "Fever attacks can affect children in quite a positive way. Even though his physical strength is reduced, the child may disclose a wealth of new interests and skills. After a fever, the child reveals a spurt of development and maturation."

George Wootan, M.D., author of Pediatrics: A Course For Parents, reports that the height of the fever has nothing to do with the severity of the disease. He states that the child's body will regulate his/her inner temperature as needed. Even Hippocrates, the father of medicine, taught that a fever was a helpful body response to disease and infection.

How does a fever work? 

The fever process works like this: the child develops an infection, to which the body responds by making additional leukocytes (white blood cells). These cells fight the infection by destroying the bacteria and viruses then removing the dead tissue. The activity level of the white cells is also increased as they move rapidly to the site of the infection. This is called leucotaxis, and it is activated by the release of pyrogens that raise the body temperature. Metabolic rate and oxygen consumption increases. An increase in body temperature simply means that the process of healing is speeding up. Also, iron, which bacteria need to survive, is removed from the blood and stored in the liver. This reduces the rate at which the bacteria multiply. As this whole process of defense in the body progresses, a substance called interferon becomes more effective and aids in the fight of the infection. Because a fever is regulated by the body, it rarely, if ever, reaches a level that would be hazardous to the child.

Studies show that reducing a fever may not be in the best interest of the developing child. In such diseases as chicken pox or influenza, a deadly form of Reye's syndrome may result if the child is given aspirin. Because of this, the centers for Disease control and the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics now warn against giving aspirin to children. When a fever is artificially suppressed by any method, the body's defense system is not fully activated.

Antibiotic Therapy

A report in the Pediatrics Infectious Disease Journal evaluated the use of antibiotic therapy in the treatment of strep throat and ear infections. The researchers compared two groups, the first one given the antibiotic immediately after the symptoms occurred, and the other group receiving delayed treatment or none at all. In the immediately-treated group, the symptoms (fever, sore throat, painful swallowing, headache, abdominal pain, swollen glands, lethargy, irritability, and loss of appetite) lessened, and recovery time was reduced. But when the treatment was delayed or not administered at all, there were fewer recurrent episodes of strep throat and ear infections. Over a four month period, the children who were given the antibiotic immediately when the symptoms first occurred experienced two and a half times more bouts of strep throat. Similar results were reported for ear infections when treated immediately; those that received antibiotics immediately had more ear infections than those with delayed treatment or no treatment at all. The researchers concluded that when antibiotics were delayed or not given, children were able to build a natural immunity.

What causes the temperature to rise?

Subluxations cause a neurological disorder that disrupts the communication system between the brain and body activity. This process can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. A rise in temperature may also be due to environmental factors, such as in heat illness brought on by exercising in extremely hot or humid weather. Heat prostration occurs when the normal temperature-regulating mechanisms are overloaded. This is unlike a fever, which is a regulated elevation of the body temperature. Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, medical pediatrician, states, "When the body temperature is elevated due to a cold and influenza it may generate a fever up to 105 degrees, but even at that level it is not a legitimate cause for alarm." Mendelsohn further states that, "More important in determining whether a fever is the result of a mild infection like a common cold, or a more serious one such as meningitis, is the overall appearance, behavior, and attitude of the child."

What should you do?

Author and researcher, Dr. Eden, suggests that the parent remain calm when their child has a high fever. In the rare case that a child experiences a seizure brought on by a fever the convulsions rarely last longer than five minutes and will cease without treatment. After the convulsive episode is over, the child usually goes to sleep, and when he/she wakes up, is fine. "The first time a parent experiences a seizure with a child is almost always frightening," Eden says, "but no permanent damage results and the baby will be fine." Most children, however, never have a febrile seizure.

Parents should help their children understand that a fever is a natural, necessary part of healing and not a disease or sickness in and of itself. A fever should be monitored and not suppressed unnecessarily. The fever should be allowed to activate the child's immune system. This will give him/her the best opportunity to fight off future infections.

Chiropractic Helps

Normal body temperature varies throughout the day and night. If your child has a fever and acts abnormally, call your family chiropractor. Your child may be suffering from a spinal subluxation. This condition interferes with normal body function and can cause many childhood symptoms, including a fever.

A child's room should be comfortable with plenty of fresh air. Dress the child in cotton so that his/her skin may breathe and perspiration will be drawn away from the body. Fevers commonly cause the child to lose a significant amount of fluid. This may lead to dehydration; to avert this process have the child drink plenty of water, about eight ounces an hour. Do not allow the child to become cold, as shivering will increase muscular activity and in turn increase the body temperature. This is a good time to sit with your feverish child and read or talk quietly.

For more information visit us at www.livewellforlife.com


Source: The Baby Adjusters

Allergies and Chiropractic

Millions of people suffering from a wide variety of conditions, allergies included, have benefited from chiropractic care even though chiropractic is not an allergy treatment. Why? Because chiropractic is a method of health care that permits your body to function at its best. That is especially important if you suffer from allergies. But first, let's find out, what is an allergy?

Your immune system keeps you 100% natural, organic, unadulterated you! It recognizes and destroys anything not supposed to be in you: bacteria, *viri, pollutants, dust, pollen, drugs, tumors, dead pieces of your own cells, and even artificial hearts and donor organs.** (Metal and plastic, however, don't trigger an immune reaction.) A healthy immune system means high resistance to disease and infection, better ability to deal with stress, and greater health and well-being.

Immunological Diseases

Your immune system is influenced by your nerves and hormones, by your diet and by emotional stress. If unhealthy, your immune system may fail to recognize and remove abnormal cells (such as cancers); may not overcome infection; may overreact to foreign substances (bee stings, penicillin, foods or drugs); become depressed (as in AIDS) or even attack itself!

Allergens & Allergies

The most common immune disorder is the allergic reaction which occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen (dust, pollen, milk, dog or cat dander, strawberries, etc.) and produces too many neutralizing chemicals (especially histamines) to counteract it.

* Bacteria normally live in some parts of your body (i.e. your gut and skin). When bacteria travel to places they shouldn't be, then your immune system will attack them.

** Organ recipients must take drugs to suppress their immune systems so these "foreign" organs are not rejected.

Your immune system keeps you 100% natural, organic, unadulterated YOU. It recognizes and destroys anything not supposed to be in you.

What Causes Allergies?

No one knows for sure, though according to some authors childhood vaccinations are suspect. As writer Walene James has stated: "Vaccination lays the foundation for autoimmune diseases and other disorders of the immune system such as rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma.... It is reasonable to assume that our contemporary 'epidemic' of allergies has at least some of its roots in the practice of vaccination."

The Orthodox Medical Approach To Allergy Treatment

Orthodox medicine has no cure for allergies, only treatment, and, according to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D., "You can depend on most doctors to largely ignore the cause ... unfortunately, their treatment is often worse than the disease, especially since the relatively safe folk-measures of yesteryear have been replaced by the sophisticated, dangerous drugs of modern medicine."

Since runny eyes, irritation, redness, fullness in the sinuses and other allergy symptoms are caused by histamines, antihistamines are often prescribed to dry mucus membranes. However, antihistamines can cause serious heart problems and should not be used with alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. More recently Canadian researcher Lorne Brandes, in an article published in the May 1994 journal of the National Cancer institute, has produced research showing that certain antihistamines (Claritin'", Hismanal" and AtaraXT") make cancerous tumors grow faster in lab rodents.

Breastfeeding

Clinical studies have shown that breastfed babies have fewer allergy problems than formula-fed babies. Non-breastfed babies also have a higher incidence of more severe infections.

The Chiropractic Approach

By releasing stress on the nervous system, chiropractic permits the immune system to function more effectively-something all allergy sufferers need. A nervous system without stress functions more efficiently. Recent understandings in psychoneuroimmunology reveal that when the nervous system functions better the immune system benefits.

Chiropractors correct a basic cause of body malfunction to improve the function of your immune system. Please note that the chiropractic approach is to remove vertebral subluxations, a common spinal distortion that puts stress on your nervous system. Freed of nervous system stress, your body will work more effectively to neutralize the allergy-causing chemicals in your environment. As Dr. Kurt Donsback has said: "A healthy body is capable of neutralizing these toxic substances and a body which has malfunctioning defense mechanisms cannot. The emphasis on allergies must be on building a healthy body, not on trying to use evasive tactics by eliminating all the allergens."

Postscript

No matter what disease or condition you have, you can benefit from a healthy spine. Spinal health can be as important for your overall healing as proper nutrition. Are you and your family carrying the vertebral subluxation complex in your spines? Only a chiropractic spinal checkup will tell. Among the many things contributing to your health: the quality of the air, food and water you take in; how you handle emotional stress; your inherited weaknesses and strengths; your use of drugs; exercise; and relaxation-a healthy spine is absolutely essential. In some people it is a major factor and can make the difference between a life of health, strength and vitality or a life of disease, weakness and disability.

A healthy spine can improve your life-see your chiropractor for periodic spinal checkups.

For more information visit us online at www.livewellforlife.com


Source: Koren Publications

Stress & Chiropractic

April is known for being "Stress Awareness Month" but how does it tie into chiropractic?

Stress and Your Nerve System

Ultimately, it is your nerve system that is responsible for handling stress.  Stress comes from three categories of sources:  chemical, physical, and mental.  That is, stress results from unhealthy choices in how you eat, how you move and how you think.  Once your body encounters stress, however, there is a common response from your body.

The physiologist Hans Selye was the first to coin the term "stress" just over 50 years ago.  The hallmark of the response to stress inside your body (the stress response) is the release of stress hormones.  As discussed below, the release of these hormones is controlled by your nerve system.  When your body perceives something as stress, it sends signals to release hormones.  These signals are controlled by a part of the nerve system called the sympathetic nervous system.   Adrenalin and noradrenaline, also known as epinephrine and norepinephrine, along with cortisol are the initiators of a system-wide stress response in your body.

Fight-or-Flight, Rest and Repair, and Your Nerve System

Just like being awake and being asleep are two separate and distinct states, being stressed and being in a state of healing and repair are two separate and distinct states.  When our bodies are in a state of stress, the hormonal release stimulated by the nerve system prepares the body for a state of activity.  This means tearing tissue down, preparing to burn energy, and preparing to move.  Blood is sent to muscles away from organs, blood pressure rises as vessels tighten, digestion slows, and immune responses weaken as the body prepares for action.  This feeling of stress, often referred to as the fight-or-flight response, is directed by the sympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nerve system is used by your body in response to stress, or, in other words, anything that your body perceives as a threat.  Acting intelligently, your body’s response to threats is to prepare for action:  fight-or-flight.  Even thinking of a stressful event, taking the time to do so now, you will be experiencing the influence of the sympathetic nerve system in your body.

To do this, however, there is a cost.  Spending energy to deal with a threat means halting the activities of rest and repair.  The sympathetic nerve system activity has an opposite system in your body dedicated to rest and repair called the parasympathetic nerve system.

Your parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the activity of digestion, relaxation and reproduction.  This is the system your body activates during times of safety for healing, tissue repair and procreation.  In order to heal and repair effectively, you want to be in a state of rest and repair.

Recent research over the past twenty five years has shown how far-reaching the influence your nerve system has on the function of two other ‘”super-systems” inside your body:  your immune system and your endocrine, or hormonal, system.

The Hard-Wired Connection Between Your Hormones, Immune System, and Your Nerve System

Prior to about twenty five years ago, mainstream science did not understand the intimate connection between the immune and nerve systems.  Patients of chiropractors, however, reaped the benefits of improved nerve system function for decades before this.  There is an example of life-saving results that patients of chiropractors (doctors trained to remove interference to nerve system function) had during the flu pandemic of 1918.  (Link...)

In fact, every immune organ in your body is richly influenced by communication from your nerve system.  Immune organs located in your body, including your network of lymph nodes, your thymus, spleen and bone marrow, and also most importantly in your digestive system, have their activity directed by your nerve system.

This connection is also one of the underlying mechanisms why you are more susceptible to becoming sick when you are stressed.  During a period of stress, you shift into a more sympathetic fight-or-flight mode, promoting the release of stress hormones.  Chronic stress hormone release makes you more susceptible to illness.

Today, research showing how the immune system, hormonal system and nerve system are hard-wired together continues to grow more and more.  To read more, check out these links on this growing field of psychoneuroimmunology:

- Dr. Ader and the origins of psychoneurobiology (Link...)

- Textbook of Medical Physiology.  Guyton and Hall, Tenth Edition.  Pages 678-679

Stress Management During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and stress don't have to go hand in hand. Here are a variety of simple tips and techniques to shift your mood and focus to a more positive place. These natural remedies for stress and anxiety will help you reconnect with your playful inner child and allow you to actively celebrate and enjoy your pregnancy:

- Cultivating gratitude and appreciation: Worries about pregnancy and stress from the day can be effectively displaced by focusing on gratitude. You may choose to keep a gratitude journal or simply begin and/or end your day by remembering things you appreciate or are grateful for. Choose five things in the morning and five things before going to sleep. This practice sets the tone for a positive day and restful sleep.

- Appreciate your body and the changes that are happening: Take a moment to notice and admire your body whenever you pass a mirror, in the shower and getting dressed. Invite your partner to take lots of belly shots to document your changing body.

- Dance: Turn on your favorite music and boogie! Besides being fun and stress relieving, it's good exercise, too. And dancing cultivates body awareness and develops strength, tone and flexibility in your hips and birthing muscles. This will translate to more confidence in your body and easier birthing.

- Sing: In the car, in the shower, wherever... It will lighten your spirits and the baby will love it!

- Smile: In his book "Peace is Every Step," Thich Nhat Hanh writes of the importance of smiling for cultivating awareness, peace and happiness. He suggests remembering to smile when you wake up each morning. Then throughout the day remember to smile as often as you can. Allow your smile to radiate in all directions until it encompasses your entire body and aura.

- Laugh out loud: Seriously, lighten up! Can you remember the last time you had a teary-eyed belly laugh? I don't know if you're like me, but I tend to be on the serious side. I realized one day how little I laughed out loud and became intentional about seeing the humor in life and getting the giggles more often. Laughter really is the best medicine for stress.

- Connect with your baby: Take at least 5 minutes every day to put your attention on your belly and growing baby, focusing positive energy and warmth there with a smiling heart. Talk to your baby as it feels natural to do. You can trust that you and the baby are bonding and experiencing tremendous benefit from these interactions.

- Pamper yourself and do things you enjoy: A massage, a manicure, a bubble bath, a walk on the beach, reading, baking...whatever feels good to you feels good to the baby. Adorn yourself with pretty, sparkly jewelry. The more you fill your own cup with these acts of love for yourself, the more you have to share. Also, you may have to give some of these things up for a while or modify them considerably once baby comes, so enjoy these while you can!

- Enjoy intimacy with your partner: Intimacy comes in many forms: physical, mental and emotional. Take advantage of the many ways to enjoy and connect together. Sex during pregnancy can be tricky at times, but overall it's a great opportunity to deepen your relationship as you prepare for a new addition to your family.

- Get out in nature: Being outside is simultaneously soothing and invigorating. When you're feeling stressed, get outdoors if at all possible. Be mindful as you experience nature with all your senses. As you move beyond your thoughts and tune into the wisdom of nature, you can appreciate how your body, pregnancy and upcoming birth vibrate in harmony with this wisdom.

- Relax: There are many relaxation techniques available and mastering a few will be beneficial for pregnancy and stress relief, as well as in coping with the sensations of labor. Relaxation can be rooted in a physical, mental or emotional practice, however, they are all interconnected.

- Get Adjusted: Chiropractic has been shown to tremendously reduce the stresses an expectant mother undergoes with her new body changes. When the nervous system is freed from stress patterns our bodies become more at ease. So don't forget to include this crucial aspect of having a natural pregnancy!

The more you integrate these ideas into your daily life, the more you will eliminate any negative effects related to pregnancy and stress.

The Importance of Breastfeeding

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) now recommends women breastfeed for at least 1 year starting within 1 hour after birth and breastfeed on demand. They also recommend pumping and storing your milk if you cannot directly breastfeed. Approximately 60% of new mothers breastfeed but only about 20% are still breastfeeding after 6 months. The AAP also recommends not introducing solids until 6 months so that the baby gets only breastmilk (if possible) during this important time. Commercial formulas attempt to immitate breastmilk. However, there are many things that science cannot reproduce. Some of the amazing facts about breastmilk include:

- Premature babies who were breastfed for the first 4-5 weeks had an average of 8.3 points higher on IQ tests 7.5 years later.
- There are at least 400 nutrients in breastmilk that are not found in formula.
- The nutrients in breastmilk are specifically designed for the human infant and therefore are more easily absorbed by the baby's system. For example, between 50-75% of the iron in breastmilk is absorbed whereas only about 4% of the iron in formula is. Since less nutrients are absorbed from formula, the nutrients are passed through your baby's digestive system as waste (explaining why the stools of formula fed babies smell while those of breastfed babies do not) and may over-tax the waste-disposal system of formula-fed babies. The stools of breastfeed babies are non-offensive because there is less waste from breastmilk.
- Breastmilk composition changes according to the time of day, and changes as your baby grows, giving him exactly what he needs.
- Each drop of breastmilk contains white blood cells and immunoglobins which help reinforce the baby's immature immune system.
- Colostrum contains an antibody (IgA) only available to the baby by breastmilk (it is not passed through the placenta) which protects the baby from germs which enter the baby from the throat, lungs, and intestines. These germs are only a problem after delivery and therefore the mother provides this for the infant at its time of need (delivery) through colostrum. These antibodies are most plentiful a few hours after birth so it is important to feed the baby during this time.
- Mother can make antibodies on demand for germs encountered by baby. If a baby is infected by a germ for which an antibody is not present in the mother, the germ is passed from the baby to the mother by sucking at the breast. The breast in turn produces an antibody for the germ and passes it back to the baby.
- Body fat of a breastfed infant is different from that of a formula fed infant and specifically designed for the baby. The fat in breastmilk contains high levels of cholesterol which not only help the brain and nervous system develop but may protect the grown adult from having high cholesterol levels.
- Long term benefits include increased immunological protection.
- Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, bacterial meningtis, and lower risk of SIDS. It may also protect against diabetes and childhood lymphoma.
- Studies have shown breastfed babies have better oral development and fewer dental problems. - Breastmilk contains sleep-inducing proteins to relax your baby. Also the act of baby sucking releases hormomes in the mother which relax her.
- Breastmilk contains a large amount of water so breastfed babies normally do not need any additional juices or water.
- Women who breastfeed reduce their risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, and early breast cancer.

Ecological Breastfeeding

Through ecological breastfeeding, women can naturally space their babies without using any birth control. This involves frequent nursings by the baby (breastfeeding on demand). This is achieved through mother/baby togetherness, having breastmilk be the primary food for baby (not supplementing with formula), feeding frequently at night (hormomes that encourage ovulation are released more at night), and not using pacifiers which may reduce the baby's need to suck at the breast. It is the frequency of the baby sucking which allows this to happen. When the baby sucks at the breast, it signals the mother to release hormones which supress ovulation.


Reference: The Natural Family Site

Autism, The Nervous System and Leaky Gut

What is the common link between childhood conditions such as autism, ADD/ADHD, allergies and asthma? A growing community of parents and medical professionals are focusing on the leaky gut syndrome, or increased intestinal permeability.

Research has focused on the importance of the relationship between events that affect the function of the central nervous system (brain) and the influence these factors ultimately have on the function of the intestines via the specialized enteric nervous system of the intestine (The Brain Gut Axis). The central nervous system controls the communication pathways to and from the enteric nervous system which monitors visceral sensation and intestinal motility.

Disturbances, or neuropathophysiology, of the brain-gut axis are among the key factors in generating multiple gastrointestinal conditions that can be of primary etiology or exacerbations of other primary conditions. Neurological disturbances can be caused by psychosocial factors such as stress, environmental factors, chemical factors, inflammation, and physical factors such as macro trauma, micro trauma (repetitive strain) or even the birthing process.

Disturbances in the brain-gut axis and leaky gut syndrome can present as gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis (inflammatory bowel diseases) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Symptoms include painful cramping, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and bleeding that result from the malfunction of nerves that control the gastrointestinal system.

The focus of autism research migrated from psychological studies to exploration of the biologic basis of this disorder. Whether the behavioral disturbances are of psychological origin, biological origin or both, neuropathophysiology is the primary underlying cause. Today, there is significant information that is documenting the relationship of behavioral and gastrointestinal disorders being affected by the nervous system. Unrecognized gastrointestinal disorders may contribute to the behavioral problems of the non-verbal autistic patients.

With regard to the behavioral disorders that often present with the leaky gut syndrome, the presentation can also vary widely depending on the Autism Spectrum. Wide variations can occur in language development, social interaction, eating, and sleeping habits. “Typically, they either reported that the gastrointestinal symptoms manifested at almost the same time as the behavioral symptoms or that they were present since birth.”

The focus of the chiropractic treatment plan is to remove nervous system interference and restore function. A recent study, published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research concluded that the clinical outcome of chiropractic care showed higher efficacy with upper cervical adjustment when compared to full spine adjustment in autistic children. Restoration of function and removal of nervous system interference at the level of the brainstem and upper cervical spine so that the body may heal itself and have optimal vitality is imperative. With the nervous system functioning at 100% the body has the potential to heal itself from even the most complex of ailments.

5 Risks of Labor Induction

1. Increased risk of abnormal fetal heart rate, shoulder dystocia and other problems with the baby in labor.

Labor induction is done by intervening in the body's natural process, typically with powerful drugs to bring on contractions or devices that are used to break the water before labor starts. Both of these types of induction can cause the baby to react in a manner that is called fetal distress as seen by fetal monitoring.

The nature of induction like contractions may also be more forceful than natural labor. This can cause your baby to assume or stay in an unfavorable position for labor making labor longer and more painful for the mother. It can also increase the need for other interventions as well.

2. Increased risk of your baby being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Babies who are born via induction have not yet sent signals to the mother to start labor. This means that they simply aren't yet ready to be born. This risk is worth it if the baby or mother's lives are in danger, but simply to take this risk for elective reasons may not be well advised.

When a baby is in the intensive care unit there is less ability for you to be with your baby or to hold your baby. Breastfeeding usually gets off to a rocky start as well. This can usually be avoided by giving birth when your body and baby say it is time.

3. Increased risk of forceps or vacuum extraction used for birth.

When labor is induced babies tend to stay in unfavorable positions, the use of epidural anesthesia is increased and therefore the need to assist the baby's birth via the use of forceps and vacuum extraction is also increased.

4. Increased risk of cesarean section.

Sometimes labor inductions don't take, but it's too late to send you home, the baby must be born. The most common cause of this is that the bags of waters has been broken, either naturally or via an amniotomy. Since the risk of infection is greater, your baby will need to be born via c-section.

A cesarean in an induced labor is also more likely for reasons of malpresentation (posterior, etc.) as well as fetal distress.

5. Increased risks to the baby of prematurity and jaundice.

Induction can be done before your baby is ready to be born, because your due date is off or because your baby simply needed more time in the womb to grow and mature their lungs. Your baby may also be more likely to suffer from jaundice at or near birth because of the induction. This can lead to other medical treatments as well as stays in the hospital for your baby.

Being born even a week or two early can result in your baby being a near term or late preterm infant. This means that your baby is likely to have more trouble breathing, eating and maintaining temperature.