Oxnard Acupuncture

Dr. Jamie Phillips

Just the other day I read an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine reversed memory loss in aged mice bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article lead with the angle that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.”  It went on to report on coterminous studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that demonstrated that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice that had developed symptoms of the disease.

But, before you opt to add an extra cup of coffee to your morning routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips add that under “Related Stories” on the website were at least two articles reporting on studies that professed to prove the not-so-healthy effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”

In my experience, I’ve noticed that there are more than likely studies that will confirm, or at least bolster, any angle of thought, in particular when it is about health and longevity. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine certainly aren’t, by any means, the only ones. Nonetheless, it did get me to thinking about the likelihood that there will not ever be simply “one thing” that will absolutely assist we, humans, in living longer, healthier lives. We are dynamic, biological creatures. We aren’t raised in unnatural confinement We are free to engage in life. And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease apparently is on the rise, obviously none of us has been “singled out to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t going to be the “one thing” that is going to reverse or prevent it.

Our body is an elegant, complex system that is based on homeostasis (balance). Consequently good health is cultivated by a healthy, balanced way of living, as opposed to our being briefly convinced by the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one specific thing fooling ourselves into believing that it will reverse all of the other immoderate and unwholesome things we do to our bodies.

I believe, as a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, that every single day we have an opportunity to make healthy choices for our body, to decide what will help us to live longer, healthier lives. When it comes to what is good for our body, we know what truly “feels” right and what doesn’t. So, the if you reach for that extra cup of coffee or that second glass of red wine, I hope that you’ll keep this in mind. Neither one of those things is the “one thing” that will do “everything” for your age-related health issues.

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chiropractic and pregnancy

Are chiropractic adjustments safe during pregnancy To begin with, yes it is a smart decision to get your spine checked while you are pregnant. You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through many changes, and these changes will continue as the pregnancy progresses. A subtle change is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. this easing gives the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.

This process, despite the fact that its function is to assist the mother during labor, can produce much discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. As the pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. In combination with the increased size of the baby and uterus, and you have the ingredients for severe low back pain. As an Oxnard Chiropractor, I currently have several pregnant patients coming into my office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but usually it is for their low back pain.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient because they don’t have to fight past misaligned joints.

In answer to the second question above, by all means chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Not only can chiropractic help you with your low back pain and other associated symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, swelling, etc., but it is safe to both you and your baby. In addition, should the need arise, a trained chiropractor can assist a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force manipulation of the uterus that helps to get the baby into the appropriate position for birth. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

To summarize, chiropractic is both beneficial and safe in helping to relieve many of the discomforts of pregnancy. To any pregnant women out there reading this, please go to see your local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up your Oxnard Chiropractor. We can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.

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Tennis Elbow, the common name for elbow pain beginning on the outside, or lateral side, of the elbow arises when one or more tendons of the forearm muscles become irritated or inflamed. These tendons join to the bony protuberance close to the elbow joint, called the lateral epicondyle, ergo the medical name, “lateral epicondylitis,” in essence inflammation of the epicondyle. When the inflammation takes place on the inside, or medial side, of the elbow, the condition is usually referred to as “Golfer’s Elbow” or medical epicondylitis. Golfer’s Elbow, though, is not as prevalent as Tennis Elbow.

There are quite a few reasons for epicondylitis – not just tennis and golf – as any activity or sport that requires repetitive gripping of objects can result in this condition. Improper wrist and arm posture while carrying heavy bags, knitting, chopping food, and/or using a computer can also cause “tennis” or “golfer’s” elbow. Using awkward techniques when initiating any sport, experimenting with new rackets or clubs, or increasing the intensity or duration of an activity or exercise can also generate the affliction.

Epicondylitis can occasionally begin farther up the arm or even in the neck. If an individual has a disc condition or spinal subluxation, the nerves that give function to the forearm muscles may become irritated making the muscles tense and inserting heightened strain on the tendon attachment(s).  This produces a predisposition to elbow pain no matter the exacerbating cause. If ignored, joints of the elbow can become subluxated further, and even arthritis can be a complication of the condition. Evaluation and adjustments by a qualified chiropractor, such as your Mount Laurel Chiropractor can correct the problem and eliminate future complications.

Epicondylitis is a condition that rarely resolves of its own accord and so requires proper health management. A qualified professional such as a chiropractor can determine the exact cause of the problem and initiate the proper care and treatment. This might include modalities such as ultrasound, electro-therapy, massage, hot and cold therapies, bracing, and home stretching and exercises. Mount Laurel Chiropractic management has proved, in the majority of instances, to be extremely effective in the overall management of epicondylities.

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