Pathways to Family Wellness - Issue #11

Quarterly Publication of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Associationissue 11

brought to you courtesy of:

i.c.p.a. International ChiropracticPediatric Association

The Myth of ADD

Herbal Antibiotic Alternatives

If It’s Not Food, Don’t Eat It!

ADHD: A Patient’s Perspective

Interview with Birth Guru

Breastfeeding and Chiropractic

A Look at Stress

Joyful Positive Parenting

$7.95 USD

Chiropractic Family Wellness Lifestyle

ABOUT ICPAThe ICPA values and respects parents’rights to make informed health caredecisions for their children.

Through education, training andresearch in the care of children andpregnant women, the ICPA is advancingawareness of the chiropractic familywellness lifestyle.

Pathways is a quarterly publicationof the International ChiropracticPediatric Association.

Editorial Board of AdvisorsSarah Buckley, M.D.Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.Stephen Marini, Ph.D., D.C.Jeanne Ohm, D.C.Larry Palevsky, M.D.Jane Sheppard

Executive EditorJeanne Ohm, D.C.

Assistant EditorsTracey Beck-CampbellAlissa Pond

ICPA327 N Middletown Rd Media, PA [email protected]

© 2005–2006

Design by Tina Aitala Engblom www.taedesign.com

Issue 11, Sept/Oct 2006

i.c.p.a.

issue 11

International ChiropracticPediatric Association

The individual articles and links to health care informationin Pathways are based upon the opinions of the respectiveauthor, who retains copyright as marked. The informationprovided is not intended to replace a one-on-one relation-ship with a qualified health care professional and is notintended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing ofknowledge and information.

The ICPA encourages you to make informed health caredecisions based upon your researched knowledge and in partnership with a qualified health care provider.

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The Myth of ADD

Herbal Antibiotic Alternatives

If It’s Not Food, Don’t Eat It!

ADHD: A Patient’s Perspective

Does Your Doctor Know Squat?

Breastfeeding Difficulties and Chiropractic


A Look at Stress

Discipline is the Problem

Helping Athletes Succeed…Naturally!

News to Know and Share

ADD and Chiropractic

Crawling Concerns

F E A T U R E

W E L L N E S S L I F E S T Y L E

N U T R I T I O N A L N U G G E T S

C H I R O P R A C T I C F O R L I F E

P R E G N A N C Y & B I R T H

B R E A S T F E E D I N G

PA R E N T I N G

M I N D — B O D Y

FA M I LY L I F E

S E A S O N A L S E C T I O N

R E S E A R C H R E V I E W

PA R E N T ’ S P E R S P E C T I V E

FA M I LY W E L L N E S S F O R U M

from the editor jeanne ohm,dc

with this industry’s reluctance to provide benefits for true

health care, parents are opting out of policies covering

drug and unused visits. By doing so, they are saving on

monthly premiums and investing these dollars into more

holistic and safer family care.

Natural-based care cannot compete with the pharmaceuti-

cal industries’ seemingly unlimited ability to advertise on

TV. It is through testimonials from satisfied people whose

quality of life has been improved that

the life changing results of natural care

are promoted. Hearing personal experi-

ences often propels individuals to step

away from slick pharmaceutical adver-

tising ploys and search for real practical

health care. What each and every one

of us has experienced with wellness

care needs to be made known.

It is truly a time of change and momentum. Parents are

claiming the rights and responsibilities for their families’

health. Today’s families are participating in wellness

lifestyle changes that are making a huge impact on their

present and future well-being. We are proud to play our

role in offering information that supports the family well-

ness lifestyle in Pathways and on our website. We respect

and appreciate parents’ rights to choose wellness and we

will continue to provide our readers with resources and

perspectives that offer the solutions they are seeking.

Many Blessings,

Jeanne Ohm, DC

These days, you only need to be remotelytuned to the news media to realize that the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs are

frequently more hazardous to our health than helpful. When

government agencies are no longer considered capable of

overseeing multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industries

and our families’ lives and health are in jeopardy because of

it—we have a serious crisis at hand.

Thankfully, parents are no longer trusting that agencies and

industries are working in our best interest. Informed parents

are taking the initiative to seek natural, safe ways to restore

health and well being for themselves and their children. Tired

of the dying paradigm—suppressing symptoms with drugs

and surgery—today’s parents want solution-based wellness

care that is safe and effective.

Today is fortunately the age of information; we are privy to

knowledge previously kept from the public. The Internet has

allowed us to explore and research information on our own—

as opposed to being misled by persuasive advertisements

on TV. We are challenging the legitimacy of the entire system

as numerous drugs and procedures “proven safe and effec-

tive” are turning out to be not-so-effective and—even

worse—unsafe. “Evidenced-based” research and any prac-

tice based on it no longer carries authority because the foun-

dation of its integrity is in question. Rather than relying on

industries that substantiate their own products/interests

through biased trials, parents are embracing care that offers

their families true results with improved quality of life.

Additionally, it is becoming evident that the insurance indus-

try is not supporting our rights to choose wellness for our

families. The question arises: why they are not covering well-

ness care that prevents further sickness and disease and

rather continuing to cover services with questionable effica-

cy that frequently lead to greater health problems? Faced

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Make an ImpressionDonate to Chiropractic Research

For over 100 years, families have enjoyed the benefits of chiropractic care for their overall health and well-being. Many of these people see ways to give back to the source which improved their overall quality of life.

www.icpa4kids.org610-565-2360

With your donation we are able to…

• Conduct research relevant to health in pregnancy, birth and childhood

• Promote family wellness lifestyles

• Offer parents resources to makeinformed health care choices

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With a donation of $100 or more, you will receive a free subscription to Pathways magazine.

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f e at u r e

4 pathways | issue 11

Over the past thirty years, attention deficit disorder

(ADD), or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),

has emerged from the relative obscurity of cognitive psy-

chologists’ research laboratories to become the “disease

du jour” of America’s schoolchildren. Accompanying this

popularity has been a virtually complete acceptance of

the validity of this “disorder” by scientists, physicians,

psychologists, educators, parents, and others. On closer

critical scrutiny, however, there is much to be troubled

about concerning ADD/ ADHD as a real medical diagnosis.

pathways | issue 9 5pathways | issue 11 5


f e at u r e

There is no definitive objective set of criteria to determinewho has ADD/ADHD and who does not. Rather, there are a loose set of behaviors (hyperactivity, distractibility, andimpulsivity) that combine in different ways to give rise to the “disorder.” These behaviors are highly context-dependent.A child may be hyperactive while seated at a desk doing a boring worksheet, but not necessarily while singing in a school musical. These behaviors are also very general innature and give no clue as to their real origins. A child canbe hyperactive because he’s bored, depressed, anxious,allergic to milk, creative, a hands-on learner, or has a difficulttemperament, is stressed out, is driven by a media-mad culture, or any number of other possible causes.

The tests that have been used to determine if someone has ADD/ADHD are either artificially objective and remotefrom the lives of real children (in one test, a child is asked to press a button every time he sees a 1 followed by a 9 on a computer screen), or hopelessly subjective (many ratingscales ask parents and teachers to score a child’s behavioron a scale from 1 to 5: these scores depend upon the subjec-tive attitudes more than the actual behaviors of the childreninvolved).

The treatments used for this supposed “disorder” are alsoproblematic. Ritalin use is up 500% over the past six years.

Yet, Ritalin does not cure the problem; it only masks symp-toms. In addition, there are several disadvantages to Ritalin:children don’t like taking it, children use it as an “excuse” for their behavior (“I hit Ed because I forgot to take my pill.”),and there are some indications it may be related to later substance abuse of drugs like cocaine. Behavior modificationprograms used for kids labeled ADD/ADHD work, but theydon’t help kids become better learners. In fact, they mayinterfere with the development of a child’s intrinsic love oflearning (kids behave simply to get more rewards), they mayfrustrate some kids (when they don’t get expected rewards),and they can also impair creativity and stifle cooperation.

ADD/ADHD is a popular diagnosis because it serves as a tidyway to explain away the complexities of turn-of-the-millenniumlife in America. Over the past few decades, our families havebroken up, respect for authority has eroded, mass media has created a “short-attention-span culture,” and stress levels have skyrocketed. When our children start to act outunder the strain, it’s convenient to create a scientific-sound-ing term to label them with, an effective drug to stifle their“symptoms,” and a whole program of ADD/ADHD work-books, videos, and instructional materials to use to fit themin a box that relieves parents and teachers of any worry thatit might be due to their own failure (or the failure of the

fiftyWAYS

There is no definitive objective set of criteria todetermine who has ADD/ADHD and who does not.

Provide a balanced breakfast.

Consider the Feingold diet.

Limit television and video games.

Teach self-talk skills.

Find out what interests your child.

Promote a strong physical education program in your child’s school.

Enroll your child in a martial arts program.

Discover your child’s multiple intelligences

Use background music to focus and calm.

Use color to highlight information.

Teach your child to visualize.

Remove allergens from the diet.

Provide opportunities for physical movement.

Enhance your child’s self-esteem.

Find your child’s best times of alertness.

Give instructions in attention-grabbing ways.

Provide a variety of stimulating learning activities.

Consider biofeedback training.

Activate positive career aspirations.

Teach your child physical-relaxation techniques.

Use incidental learning to teach.

Support full inclusion of your child in a regular classroom.

Provide positive role models.

Consider alternative schooling options.

Channel creative energy into the arts.

Provide hands-on activities

Spend positive times together.

Provide appropriate spaces for learning.

Consider individual psychotherapy.

Use touch to soothe and calm.

Help your child with organizationalskills.

Help your child appreciate the value of personal effort.

Take care of yourself.

Teach your child focusing techniques.

Provide immediate feedback.

Provide your child with access to a computer.

Consider family therapy.

Teach problem-solving skills.

Offer your child real-life tasks to do.

Use “time-out” in a positive way.

Help your child develop social skills.

Contract with your child.

Use effective communication skills.

Give your child choices.

Discover and treat the four types of misbehavior.

Establish consistent rules, routines, and transitions.

Hold family meetings.

Have your child teach a younger child.

Use natural and logical consequences.

Hold a positive image of your child.

Editor’s note: In this issue of Pathways we have an article titled:ADHD: A Patient’s Perspective. It explores cases where childrenexperiencing the symptoms of ADHD have had amazing resultswhen they received chiropractic care. I would like to add to theabove list:

Have your child checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic. Find a doctor who works with children here:www.icpa4kids.org

For detailed information about each way, see The Myth of the ADD Child. Order by calling: 1-800-247-6553.

to Improve Your Child’sBehavior and Attention Spanwithout Drugs, Labels, or Coercion

fiftyWAYS


broader culture) to nurture or teach effectively. Mainly, theADD/ADHD label is a tragic decoy that takes the focus off of where it’s needed most: the real life of each unique child.Instead of seeing each child for who he or she is (strengths, limitations, interests, temperaments, learning styles etc.) andaddressing his or her specific needs, the child is reduced to an“ADD child,” where the potential to see the best in him or her is severely eroded (since ADD/ADHD puts all the emphasis on the deficits, not the strengths), and where the number of potential solutions to help them is highly limited to a few child-controlling interventions.

Instead of this deficit-based ADD/ADH paradigm, I’d like to suggest a wellness-based holistic paradigm that sees each childin terms of his or her ultimate worth, and addresses each child’sunique needs. To do this, we need to provide a wide range ofoptions for parents or teachers.

Contact Thomas Armstrong via email: [email protected] his website: www.thomasarmstrong.com

For references and additional information about the author and topic, please visit: www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm

I encourage all parents, teachers and practitioners inter-ested in pursuing their understanding of ADHD to read the profound writings of Thom Hartmann. His refreshingperspective takes ADHD out of the realm of a psychiatricdiagnosis and its common treatments with drugs, to a theory of a genetic coding he labels the “hunter gene.”

Author Thom Hartmann introduced this theory of the“hunter gene” in his ground-breaking book, AttentionDeficit Disorder: A Different Perception. In its introduction,Thom Hartmann states, “This book is the first I know of topresent the idea that ADD is not always a disorder—butinstead may be a trait of personality and metabolism; thatADD comes from a specific evolutionary need in the histo-ry of humankind; that ADD can actually be an advantage(depending on the circumstances); and that, through anunderstanding of the mechanism which led to ADD’s presence in our gene pool, we can recreate our schools and workplaces to not only accommodate ADD individuals,but allow them to again become the powers behind thecultural, political, and scientific change which they so oftenhistorically represented.”

Bob Seay from Additude Magazine has this to say aboutThom’s writings: “People who have AD/HD owe much toThom Hartmann, who stood up nine years ago and daredto disagree with the conventional wisdom. Hartmann’stheories about AD/HD provided the hope and self-respectthat had been missing from the medical model of the “dis-order.” His thoughts about AD/HD, education and othertopics are sometimes controversial and always compelling.”

Seay refers to research which has emerged verifyingThom Hartmann’s original theory. He writes, “In an articlepublished in the January 8, 2002 edition of the JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of theUnited States of America, Dr. Robert K. Moyzis and otherresearchers speculate that early humans with AD/HD traits such as novelty-seeking, increased aggression andperseverance were more likely to survive. These traits have been associated with the DRD4 7R gene. Up to half ofAD/HD individuals have this same variant gene, accordingto Moyzis, one of the authors of the study…Research likethe Irvine study can help doctors, teachers and parents tobetter understand how their AD/HD children think andlearn. But for those of us who have AD/HD, the Irvine studyprovides an important link to our past and hopeful possi-bilities for the future. “

Thom Hartmann has taken his quest to educate us allabout ADHD with his many insightful books. Additionally,he has opened a school in New Hampshire, The HunterSchool for ADHD children. From the school website welearn, “We view children with ADHD as possessing a pow-erful talent to learn and succeed. Children with ADD thinkfaster and can perceive a wider range of stimuli than otherchildren. They are, in fact, able to simultaneously perceivemany things.”What a refreshing and enlivening perspective!

— Jeanne Ohm, DC, Executive Editor of PathwaysFor more information please visit: www.icpa4kids.org

The Wild ChildScott Noelle

Domesticated animals confined to farms, zoos,and similar unnatural habitats lack a certain“spark” found in their wild counterparts. They’vebeen bred or trained to live apart from theirnature. They’ve adjusted to their lack of freedom.

Put a wild animal in a cage for the first time and behold the fury! What else would you expectfrom a creature who still knows it’s supposed tobe free?

Children are born free and wild, and they don’treadily submit to “domestication.” And thankgoodness for that! Because those who retain that spark are the ones who will uplift the nextgeneration of humanity.

Today, look for evidence of the spark of wildnessin your child…and celebrate it! Trust that s/hewill civilize in due time. And meantime, let thatspark ignite the flames of an authentic, passion-ate life.

pathways | issue 11 9For references and additional information about the author and topic, please visit: www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm


wellness lifestyle

Humans exist in symbiosis with bacteria living all around and

inside us. Children migrate towards bacteria. They are inher-

ently fond of the same things bacteria treasure—things like

bread, cheese, soil, and sticky fingers. Occasionally eating

bacteria boosts a child’s acquired immunity. Antibiotics have

been rightfully deemed “miracle drugs” because of the count-

less lives they have saved from potentially lethal infections

such as meningitis. Yet, the word “antibiotic” means “against

life.” These powerful drugs kill bacteria in the body. Our soci-

ety has initiated a foolhardy war on bacteria, forgetting that

bacteria support life more regularly than they do harm.

Herbal Antibiotic AlternativesCeara Foley

garlic

echinacea

lemon balmpathways | issue 11 11

Hundreds of beneficial types of bacteria live in our bodies, helping to protectagainst the harmful ones. While antibiotics are effective in killing bad bacteria, theyalso kill the good bacteria—an important part of the immune system— that line thedigestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts. Without protection from friendly bacteria,disease-causing agents take hold more readily.

Antibiotic use often causes an overgrowth of yeast, as seen in babies that presentwith thrush after treatment. Yeast overgrowth further weakens the immune system.The prophylactic prescription of antibiotics is a major contributing factor to chronichealth conditions. David Bell, Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinator for the Centersfor Disease Control, clarifies one reason for this: “The overuse of antibiotics is thedriving force for bacteria to become resistant.” Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic is effective in killing some of the bacteria, but the surviving bacteriamultiply and mutate to become resistant to the antibiotic should they meet it again.

Antibiotic use can also lead non-disease–causing bacteria to mutate into more per-nicious, disease-causing strains. Often, a vicious cycle is created: taking antibioticsand breeding new and more resistant strains of bacteria while the immune systembecomes increasingly degraded. Drug-resistant bacterial infections affect nearly twomillion Americans. “If you’ve had antibiotics recently, you are three to nine timesmore likely to have a resistant infection than someone who has not had an antibiotic,”Bell explains. Yet, US doctors prescribe around twice as many antibiotics as Englishdoctors and four times as many as doctors in Germany, often for ailments such as thecommon cold or a sore throat.

Antibiotics are ineffective in killing viruses. Still, in 1992, American doctors wrotetwelve million antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory infections, a category of illnessesusually caused by viruses. A staggering ninety percent of all antibiotics prescribed inthe United States are either prescribed inappropriately or used inappropriately bythe patients. This overuse is largely due to the American desire for quick results thatensure our daily routine is interrupted as little as possible. Antibiotics are strong andoperate fast. This “quick fix” mentality is especially harmful to our children. Someday care centers have seen the number of children infected with penicillin-resistantstrep as high as twenty-nine percent. Over prescription occurs most often between 1and 6 years of age, when ear infections are common.

Herbal treatments are very effective in treating bacterial and other common child-hood infections. (Please consult an herbalist for age- and condition-appropriate dosing). Several herbs such as garlic, goldenseal, myrrh, usnea, and uva ursi haveantibiotic effects. The difference between an antibiotic drug and an antibiotic herb isthat the drug is an isolated constituent limited to the power of that one chemical,whereas the herb contains several constituents with a variety of healing properties,producing a synergistic effect. The herb can actually kill only the bad bacteria whilenot harming the good; the drug does not have the wisdom to differentiate.Furthermore, most bacteria are not fooled by an isolated compound; often the drug

burdock

yarrow

becomes ineffective or the cells mutate eventually to become resistant to thedrug. The organic herb is nature’s match for the bacteria.

Care for your child first by using prevention. I believe it was Benjamin Franklinwho eloquently conveyed, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Herbs

are wonderful allies for boosting the immune system. Focus on boosting your child’simmunity before they go back to school, one place where contagions are readilyspread. Fresh garlic is an antibiotic, antibacterial, and antifungal immune stimulant.Add it to foods to prevent illness. Lemonade made with garlic, ginger, and honeynips colds, flu, and respiratory ailments in the bud before they have a chance tobecome infectious. Oddly, this drink is so yummy that most children will fake an illnessto get it! Immune-boosting herbs that make tasty additions to soups are astragalus,codonopsis, burdock root, nettles, medicinal mushrooms, and seaweeds. It is increas-ingly important to incorporate these healing foods into the child’s diet during thechange of seasons, when the immune system is most vulnerable.

Garlic and mullein flower oil are soothing and, along with omission of dairy, wheat,and sugar, an effective treatment for ear infections, whereas inappropriate antibioticuse may perpetuate the problem instead of solving it. See a doctor if your child’stemperature is over 103°F, ear discharge presents, or the pain lasts for over an hour.

Calendula tea is one of my favorite initial remedies for almost anything a child contracts. Make a tea for eczema, allergies, chronic respiratory infection, colds, flus,fevers, or coughs. Calendula tea alone, or with myrrh, can be used as a gargle for gum, mouth, and throat infections. Myrrh is especially beneficial for mucus mem-branes and stimulates white blood cell production. Use calendula in combinationwith the immune stimulant Echinacea for tonsillitis. If swollen glands are present,add a lymphatic cleanser such as cleavers.

When your child gets a skin injury, try herbs instead of antibiotic ointment.Calendula is an extremely effective, yet gentle, herb. It is an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antiseptic wound healer that induces detoxification through sweating andstimulation of the lymph. Calendula has been proven effective against staphylococ-cus bacteria, which is responsible for causing skin infections and has become resist-ant to many antibiotics. Use a tea or diluted alcohol extract to cleanse the woundfirst. Then use a salve made from calendula-infused oil to inhibit infection andinflammation and promote the growth of new skin.

Another versatile antibiotic herb to include in a salve is usnea. The unique blend ofantibiotic chemicals in this lichen protects the plant from microorganisms. It affectshumans the same way. Used topically, usnea will kill germs, fungus, and molds and internally it will fight conditions such as bronchitis and urinary tract infections.Usnic acid is effective against streptococcus, staphylococcus, and bacteria thatcause pneumonia.

Honey is another miraculous wound healing enhancer that is exceptional in its treatment for burns. Honey will keep the wound or burn moist which aids tissue

calendula

ginger

honey

regeneration and inhibits scarring. While moisture provides an excellent environ-ment for bacteria to thrive, the natural hydrogen peroxide present in honey makes ita powerful antibacterial. My two-year-old daughter is sometimes wary of salve, butis always excited to have honey applied to a boo-boo.

Antibiotics are abundantly (and often mistakenly) prescribed for children withfevers. Fevers are a symptom of an underlying invasion in the body. The fever resultsin an effort to burn the antigen to its demise. Fevers under 102°F should be allowedto run their course for at least 24 hours, providing that your child is taking fluids welland not excessively out-of-sorts. Support the fever in doing its job more efficientlywith “febrifuge” herbs and diaphoretics. My favorites for children are yarrow, whichis also antiseptic; catnip, which aids the child in getting some sleep; lemon balm, anantidepressant antiviral; and elder, a magical mothering plant that enhances immu-nity especially where allergies are present.

When using an herbal therapy, improvement should occur in your child within 24–48hours; with continued treatment, the infection should clear up within 7–10 days. If symptoms persist, please consult a physician. If antibiotic treatment is necessary,make sure to support the body through this intense therapy. Follow-up with probioticsthat restore healthy gut flora. Plain live yogurt is an ideal source of acidophilus andbifidus, but supplements are available as well. Inulin is a probiotic found in the rootsof dandelion and burdock. These versatile healing roots will also aid the liver, kidneys,and urinary system in their effort to cleanse the antibiotic pharmaceutical from thebody, as will the use of aforementioned diaphoretics that aid the body in sweating.

Increase your child’s vitamin C consumption. Leafy greens are a great source, as arerose hips, hibiscus, and violet flower teas, all of which children will enjoy drinkingand helping to prepare.

Make sure to involve your child in her or his treatment. As with any relationshipbetween living things, plant medicines work better when there is respect and friend-ship present. Explain to children the amazing work their bodies do to keep them welland encourage their convalescence. Whether using pharmaceuticals or herbal treat-ments, be sure to have your child rest for at least two days after all symptoms havesubsided. Illness is a way the spirit works through the body to remind us to take timeoff from work and school to care for our loved ones and ourselves. It is truly a giftthat demands that we integrate nurturance into our busy schedules.

Ceara Foley is the director of The North Carolina School of Holistic Herbalism. NCSHHoffers Earth Sprouts! Herbal Appreciation and Earth Awareness Camp for Children as wellas in-depth, hands-on courses for beginning, intermediate, and advanced adult herbalenthusiasts. Contact NCSHH at 828-350-1221 or visit www.HerbsHeal.com


hibiscus

When Brenda first started nutrition andhealth coaching she was depressed,overweight, extremely fatigued, hadhypothyroidism, and severe PMS—among other things. In addition, her 11-year-old son had daily headachesthat brought him to tears and frequent-ly prevented him from playing; her 14-year-old daughter had dramaticmood swings and an attitude that was“unbearable” to live with; and her hus-band had debilitating digestive andeliminative disorders.

Brenda knew that making dietarychanges could be beneficial to yourhealth. She was skeptical, however, asto whether doing so would work for herand her family and the many problemsthey were facing or not. She reluctantlysought nutritional consulting onlybecause she was concerned about theincreasing number of medications theywere all taking, and the fact that mat-ters were getting worse, not better.

Although skeptical at first, Brenda wasdelighted when, in just a few short

weeks, she began to see significantimprovements in her and her familymembers’ health. She had been able to stop taking all but one of her med-ications, had lost excess weight, hadabundant energy, and was generallybeginning to feel much better.

In addition, the excruciating headachesBrenda’s son had experienced hisentire life completely stopped. Herblossoming teen daughter’s emotionshad balanced out and she was “almostpleasant” to be around. And, her nor-mally resistant husband was develop-ing an enthusiastic curiosity about thechanges taking place in the householdcuisine, as his digestive problems hadbegun to subside as well.

What did Brenda do to achieve suchdramatic results so quickly?She simply began toswitch from thelow-quality,chemical-laden,

n u t r i t i o n a l n u g g e t s

If It’s Not Food,Don’t Eat It!No-Nonsense Guidelines for Creating an Eating-

for-Health Lifestyle the Whole Family Can Enjoy

By Kelly Hayford, CNC


Although skeptical at first,

Brenda was delighted when,

in just a few short weeks,

she began to see significant

improvements in her and her

family members’ health.

processed food she had been feedingher family for years, to higher quality,additive-free, natural food she boughtat the local health food store. She alsobegan to include a couple servings offresh produce into their diet each day.

How can this be so? This is because the most popular brands of processed,packaged chemical-laden foods (pseudo-foods) so widely consumed today, areinjurious to the body. Aside from theobvious diet-related conditions such asheart disease, diabetes, or obesity, fewpeople realize that poor nutrition in gen-eral, is the primary cause of all chronicdis-ease, including depression, fatigue,headaches, arthritis, sinus problems,digestive disorders, and more.

Food MattersLike Brenda and her family, an increasingnumber of people are becoming awareof this relationship between diet anddis-ease and revamping their diets.Following is a brief overview of fiveEating-for-Health Guidelines that canhelp you and your loved ones stay, or get back on the road to health—nomatter what’s ailing you!

1. If it’s not food, don’t eat it!The very definition of “food” is

that it is nourishing to the body.

Consequently, anything that is not

nourishing to the body (pseudo-

foods containing refined sugars,

hydrogenated oils, and chemical

additives such as MSG, artificial

colorings and sweeteners, etc.) is

not food—don’t eat it! And if you

do, wait a long time before you do

it again so your body can recover.

2. Eliminate or relegate stimulants to rare occasions.Stimulants or extreme foods send

the body’s chemistry soaring out

of balance causing a variety of

symptoms including fatigue, brain

fog, attention deficit, irritability,

and weight gain. Stimulants include:

sugars and other refined carbohy-

drates (high fructose corn syrup,

white refined flour, etc.), refined

salt, caffeine, and alcohol. Less

stimulants equal more health, more

energy, better attitudes, and fewer

colds and flu.

3. Eat an abundance of whole, fresh, natural foods.Anything that comes in a box, can,

or package is a processed food

(with the exception of some

unprocessed brown rice or legumes,

for example). Whole, fresh, natural

foods (preferably organic) such as

produce, meats, fish, poultry, whole

grains, legumes, and seeds are

always the best choice for your

family. When you do consume

processed foods, natural brand

foods are best, as they do not

contain toxic, chemical additives.

4. Account for food allergies and sensitivities when making wise food choices.The most common food allergens

(wheat, dairy, soy, corn, etc.) are

notorious for causing a host of

conditions, especially in youngsters,

including digestive problems,

diarrhea and constipation, sinusitus,

recurrent ear infections, learning

disabilities, and more. Most people

today are allergic or sensitive to one

or more of these foods—and most

The Standard American Diet

In America between 1980 and 1997, the average per capita consumption of major food commodities per person, per year included:

111lbs. red meat

580 lbs. dairy products

29lbs. ice cream

53gallons soft drinks

66 lbs. fats and oils39gallons alcohol

150 lbs. wheat

24 gallons coffee

154lbs. sugar

US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract 1999

don’t know it! Follow a basic elimination diet to learn

which foods may be affecting you or your family.

5. Account for ailments when making wise foodchoices. There isn’t any condition in the body that can’t

be improved by improving your diet. As you start improv-

ing the quality of your family’s diet, you’ll all start feeling

better and improve the overall quality of your health.

Also, learn which foods exacerbate or improve any specific

conditions in order to give each individual

every opportunity to heal.

When applied consistentlyover time, these fiveEating-for-HealthGuidelines produce

“amazing” results as Brenda can attest. It’s miraculous whatthe body can do when fueled properly—energy is restored,excess weight is shed, body systems are regenerated,moods and emotions become balanced, disease is reversed,and headaches, and nagging symptoms in general, disappear.

To help your family regain equilibrium, start with the basics:if it’s not food, don’t eat it!

Kelly Hayford, CNC, is the author of the award-winning book, If It’s Not Food Don’t Eat It!–The No-Nonsense Guide to anEating-for-Health Lifestyle. As a former junk food junkie turnednutrition and health coach, Kelly has helped thousands reversedis-ease, and restore their health, energy and natural weight.She is a regular guest on health-oriented radio programs and a sought-after keynote speaker.

To order the book or learn more, go to:www.IfItsNotFoodDontEatIt.com or call 303-746-8970.

For references and additional information about the author andtopic, please visit: www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm


I recently watched a tv news show in which a doctor was being interviewedabout Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Apart from the increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with thesedisorders, the doctor claimed that around 4% of the US adult population was also suffering from the disorder. Ah! I thought here we go—yet another marketopportunity opens up for pharmaceutical companies. It made me think about current drug advertising. Some of the current drug advertisements make you feellike you are missing out on something and that you should run straight to yourdoctor to get a prescription! Isn’t it amazing to think that a product that is supposed to help sufferers of diseases is peddled as if it was the latest consumer‘got-to-have!’? Such are the dynamics of a global multi-billion-dollar drug industry.

Mercola and Droege reported in 2004 that “well over 1 million American children are on drugs for ADHD” and “that drugs for attention disorders bring in $2.2 billiona year” despite evidence that “the effect of treatment beyond four weeks has notbeen demonstrated. In other words, no one knows what the long-term effects willbe.” Mercola and Droege further state that “Although it is estimated that more than8 million adults in the United States have ADHD, the disorder is typically thought of as something that is outgrown during adolescence. Why, then, would adults needthese drugs? Perhaps it has something to do with one pharmaceutical executive’sstatement in a Reuters interview, ‘The adult market is three times the size of thechildren’s market. The market is ripe and is moving in the right direction.’”

A newspaper article recently reported the case of a woman who was incorrectlydiagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD and subsequently prescribed medica-tions. According to the article, she “suffered a drug induced psychosis from therange of medications which included Prozac and dexamphetamine.” Additionally,she was told that her 7-year-old son had ADHD, which turned out to be yet anothermisdiagnosis. The article goes on to say that “doctors are increasingly prescribing

c h i r o p r a c t i c f o r l i f e

ADHD A Patient’s Perspective Greg Buchanan

This article looks at Attention Deficit

Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADD/ADHD). As there is an

increasing tendency for drugs to be

prescribed to our children and lately

adults for the treatment of this condi-

tion, it is timely to provide some infor-

mation from an upper cervical chiro-

practic perspective.


drugs to treat an array of conditions including ADHD” and“despite ongoing education campaigns and research intoADHD, debate about the prevalence and treatment of the condi-tion continues.” Further, a report in the lower house of the WestAustralian parliament “estimated 11,500 children in that state—some as young as two were prescribed psychostimulant drugs,mainly dexamphetamine, for ADHD.” Perhaps even more dis-turbing is that a survey of parents “found 11 percent thoughttheir child was suffering from the symptoms of ADHD.” The articleconcludes with figures showing that prescriptions for dexam-phetamine (the top-selling ADHD drug) rose from 46,000 in 1994to 246,000 in 2004 in Australia. Sadly, this trend is increasing.

As addressed in a previous article, Dr. Fernandez-Noda’s assertion and findings that Parkinson’s and other diseases(Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy) may well be a consequence of a reduction of oxygenated blood flow to the dopamine producing cells of the brain and compression of the brachial plexus of nerves; the assumption being that therestoration of correct blood flow and nerve impulse amplitudemay well have a positive effect on individuals’ health and gosome way towards reversing this condition.

Why is Parkinson’s disease mentioned in an ADHD article, youask? Well, as I started to research various treatments I foundthat the dopamine link could also be found in pharmaceuticalapproaches to treating ADHD. Many imaging studies of childrenwith ADHD have found an imbalance of the neurochemicaldopamine. Methylphenidate, (Ritalin) a dopamine reuptakeinhibitor, is the most common pharmaceutical treatment forattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder despite there being littleevidence of any long-term benefit, nor knowledge of potentialchronic side-effects. However, according to Gottlieb, reportingon an article in the Journal of Neuroscience, “Methylphenidateworks in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disor-der by increasing levels of dopamine in children’s brains.”Apparently, “the drug seems to raise levels of the hormone byblocking the activity of dopamine transporters, which removedopamine once it has been released.”

If Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, andnow ADHD drug treatments target dopamine depletion, could

there be a common causal link? If the end result is dopaminedepletion, then the causal link could be something whichreduces the production of dopamine? Could Fernandez-Noda etal be correct in their conclusion that it is muscular compressionof structures (arterial and neurological) that is the causal factorin the lack of dopamine production? Seems quite plausible and certainly worthy of at least some amount of focus fromresearch organizations. Given that all of these conditionsreportedly respond positively to upper cervical chiropracticadjustments to realign the relationship between the skull and cervical vertebrae, could the causal link be upper cervicalsubluxations causing compression of neurovascular structures

at the base of the skull and/or further down at the base of theneck, where it meets the shoulders?

The phenomenon of upper cervical subluxations causing varioushealth issues needs to be researched vigorously now, and allGovernments should pour funds into upper cervical chiropracticresearch. I have found it no use whatsoever approaching variousresearch organizations to get them to put some of their fundstowards chiropractic research. They are usually polite but dis-missive, believing that chiropractic would not produce any pos-itive results. Surely scientists need to keep an open mind whenit comes to research and investigate all avenues and claims.

Conservative treatment for ADHD is becoming a viable alternativeas my research shows. In particular the application of manualtherapy (chiropractic) appears to result in both resolution of thesymptoms and the elimination of the need for administration ofpharmaceuticals.

I came across a really wonderful book Manual Therapy inChildren edited by Heiner Biedermann, MD, that communicatesthe benefit of manual therapy in the treatment of children forvarious disorders including ADHD. When reading this book, it would be easy to think that it was a chiropractic textbookbecause it discusses and advocates the manipulation of theskeleton including the upper cervical spine using many of theapproaches developed by chiropractors over decades. Thebook is a great reference for any practitioner and has contribu-tions from various medical doctors including surgeons. In the


Introduction, Biedermann says “the problems associated withand labeled ADHD have a close connection with problems origi-nating in functional spinal disorders. “

In Chapter 12, “Attention deficit disorder and the upper cervicalspine,” Theiler discusses findings relating upper cervical spine(sub-occipital) subluxations or what they call KISS (kinematicsub-occipital strain syndrome) to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD.In particular, he notices that children diagnosed with ADHDexhibit postural distortions and associated movement deficitsof the upper cervical spine. He notes that, following manualtherapy applied to the cervical spine, not only do postural

deficits resolve in the children but, concentration and cognitiveabilities improve as well. As such, visual concentration spanand thus reading difficulties were improved immediately following manual manipulation. “Ten children achieved an oralreading fluency appropriate for their age usually in the daysfollowing therapy.” Interestingly, there is a discussion aboutone of the main findings being “reduced capacity for process-ing information” which is “an expression of deficiencies inexecutive functions, which are carried out in the dopamine-dependent structures of the frontal lobe and corpus striatum.”

The chapter finishes with the discussion of three case studies of ADHD, the first one of a 7.2-year-old female who apart from a“fall from a swing” had no other trauma. She showed “persistentpostural asymmetry and insufficient gross motor functions” and “her attention span was short and she was impulsive whenassigned tasks.” Examination revealed head tilted to the rightand rotated to the left with a C1/C2 blockage. Her upper cervicalspine was adjusted. Apart from initial giddiness, her posturestraightened and motor coordination improved and her verbalcapacities and visual component became better than an 8 yearold. A later reoccurrence of the subluxation was subsequentlycorrected following a return of symptoms, and after the correc-tion function normalized.

The second case study is of 6.5-year-old female who was bornwith a fractured clavicle. It was noticed that as she developed,her clumsiness was remarked and her drawing and scribblingskills lagged compared to her age group. At age 6 she could

not use scissors nor fasten her shoes and jumping on one legwas impossible for her. Fine motor tasks were also below parand her memory capacity and processing capacity were 1.5years below average. An examination revealed impaired sidebending of the head and reduced left sided rotation, as well as abnormal mid back curvature. X-rays showed upper cervicalsubluxation. The doctor administered a specific upper cervical“adjustment.” Two months post the manipulation and eventhough the mother reported no change, the doctors found thechild now had unhindered head movements, could “jump a bit on one leg now,” was more considered and less impulsivewhen working, was able to concentrate longer, and had a

verbal memory +2 years her age. Her mother conceded animprovement when showed comparisons of test results.

The third case study is of an 11.5-year-old female with concen-tration and long-term attention span problems, fine motorcoordination difficulties with increasing speed, problems withwriting, and becoming impulsive when tackling difficult tasks.“In copying of dots and in repeating nonsense syllables, her performance was at the level of an 8 – 8.5 year old.”Examination revealed scoliosis with associated postural devia-tions, a blockage at the SI joint, right head tilt, C1/C2 blockedon the right and x-rays revealed “an offset of the atlas to theright.” The family decided upon Ritalin therapy and the girl’ssymptoms improved immediately. After a time, manual therapywas finally applied and simultaneously the medication wasstopped. She was able to function normally without medicationbut the parents requested resumption of the Ritalin to see ifthey could get further improvement. When it was determinedthere were no more “perceptible gains” the medication wasstopped. The improvements have lasted well into the nextschool year. The authors conclude “we are in favour of examin-ing and treating functional problem of the cervical spine...evenif a pharmacotherapy seemed to have already resolved theproblem at hand.”

Erin Elster reports in a case study about a 9-year-old boy suffering from Tourette’s syndrome, Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, asthma, insomnia,and headaches. He had been born via forceps delivery and


was taking various medications for his conditions. Chiropracticexamination revealed evidence of an upper cervical subluxa-tion and he began care with an upper cervical chiropractictechnique. After 6 weeks of adjustments all 6 conditions wereabsent and all medications, except a small amount of one,were discontinued. Five months post, all symptoms remainedabsent. Elster suggests a link between the patient’s traumaticbirth, the upper cervical subluxation, and his neurological dys-function. Further research is suggested.

In another case, Giesen, Center and Leach discuss 4 of 7 children

who showed statistically significant improvement in theirADHD condition following specific chiropractic care andalthough not conclusive the authors suggest that chiropracticmanipulation has the potential to become an important non-drug approach for children with hyperactivity.

Interestingly, a newspaper article suggests “Head injuriescould be responsible for some behaviour disorders in childrenand adolescents, a study has found. As many as 20 percent of children who have suffered mild head injuries through sportor playground falls may develop symptoms years later. Thesesymptoms, according to University of New England lecturer Dr. James Donnelly, may be misdiagnosed as ADD or attitudeor motivational problems. ‘Blows to the head that causechanges in the child’s ability to think clearly, especially thosethat cause a loss of consciousness, may have jarred the brainin the skull,’ Dr. Donnelly said.”

A well known Sydney neurosurgeon once told me that theresults of brain injuries are usually evident immediately and do not become evident years later. Many conditions arecaused by head and/or neck trauma, with the injury possiblyleading to an upper cervical subluxation. Daniel G. Amen theauthor of Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That AllowsYou to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD runs a clinic for ADD in California. When someone goes to his clinic, they will beasked no less than 5 times whether or not they have sustaineda head injury. In addition, many people on discussion forums

question whether or not a head injury was the initial eventprior to the onset of their symptoms. Many people do recall a head injury prior to the onset of symptoms.

In a case study, Bastecki et al report that a medical practitionerdiagnosed a 5-year-old patient with ADHD. Ritalin treatmentfor 3 years was not effective. The patient exhibited reversedneck curve and underwent multiple chiropractic adjustments.During the course of chiropractic care, the child’s facial ticsand behavior vastly improved and the child’s pediatrician stated that the child no longer exhibited signs of ADHD.

The reduction in symptoms was significant enough to discon-tinue medication. The authors suggest a possible correlationbetween cervical kyphosis and ADHD symptoms.

A 1995 study by Lahat et al of 114 children with ADD concludedthat they have brainstem dysfunction as measured using BAEP(brainstem auditory evoked potentials) and that BAEP dysfunc-tion may contribute to the diagnosis of ADD. In their SIDSbook, Wehrenberg and Mulhall-Wehrenberg discuss how anupper cervical (atlas) subluxation can affect the brainstemarea in SIDS kids.

Hospers presents case studies of 5 children, two with petit mal(absent seizures), two with hyperactivity and attention deficitdisorder, and one rendered hemiplegic (one-sided paralysis)following a car accident. Following upper cervical adjustmentin the seizure patients, a reduction in the frequency of seizuresresulted, for the ADHD symptoms, increased attention spanand improvement of social behaviour were reported and in thehemiplegia case the child was able to utilize his arm and legwithout assistance.

McPhillips et al, as discussed in Kirk Eriksen’s book, studied 60 children with “persistent primary reflexes (relating to thebalance system) and reading difficulties.” In a number of studies, a correlation between movement disorders or problemsand reading difficulties has been seen. The McPhillips et alstudy also found such a link and the authors suggest a “newapproach to the treatment of reading difficulties involving


f e at u r e

www.icpa4kids.org/e-news.htm

More and more parents are taking an active role

in choosing wellness for their families.

Our free e-newsletter brings pertinent research

and topics right to your desk so you have the

resources to make informed health care choices.

makethe

choice!assessment and remediation of the underlying neurologicalfunctioning.”

Robert Goodman presents a case history of a 9-year-oldfemale diagnosed with ADD “with signs of hyperactivity,short attention span and poor impulse control.” Examinationrevealed postural distortions consistent with upper cervicalinsult and x-rays revealed atlas subluxation complex andhypolordotic cervical curve. A NUCCA upper cervical adjust-ment was delivered (see www.nucca.org) and follow-upresults indicated a complete remission of the symptomsassociated with ADD. (Case study available at:www.nucca.org/articles/attention_deficit_disorder.htm).

There are two further references in Kirk Eriksen’s book. One is a case from Peet of a 4-year-old child whose ADHD and asthmatic symptoms improved following upper cervicaladjustment. The second is from Hospers et al and details a case of a 15-year-old with a history of head injury and con-cussion. His EEG showed “lack of synchronization of alphaand beta frequencies between left and right hemispheres”and he exhibited restlessness and “compulsively handledobjects around him.” Following upper cervical adjustment,the restlessness and compulsiveness resolved and his social communication improved. A follow-up EEG revealedsynchronisation between alpha and beta frequencies.

Summary

It seems quite plausible that sub-occipital strain caused byupper cervical subluxations can cause problems for youngchildren. It also makes complete sense that following a welladministered precision upper cervical adjustment that theirsymptoms improve or disappear. The explanation can only bethat these skull base subluxations do occur and do interferewith the body’s normal control mechanisms and blood flow toand from the brain. Let’s get serious and put at least a fairerportion of available research funds toward ‘correction utilizingupper cervical chiropractic methodologies and techniques.’We owe it to our kids to open up every avenue and analyzeevery possible option for the eradication of the symptomsassociated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

For references and additional information about the author andtopic, please visit: www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm

Photos courtesy of Westwood Family Chiropractic.


p r e g n a n c y & B i r t h

Does your doctor know squat?An interview with “Birth Guru” Henci Goer

Award-winning medical writer Henci Goer, author of The Thinking Woman’sGuide to a Better Birth and Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities, makes the case that mothers are being kept in the dark. Contributing writer Brian Wimercaught up with Goer during an East Coast tour, promoting the Mother-FriendlyChildbirth Initiative.

Wimer: Why did you first begin writing about evidence-based childbirth care?

Goer: There is a gap, you may even say a chasm, between what the research estab-lishes as safe and effective care and what conventional practice is. I essentiallywrote the book that I wanted on my shelf but didn’t exist...in the same way thatConsumer Reports does the research and presents it to people who want to knowwhat car they want to buy...this car has a poor repair record, this car gives you abumpy ride, this car explodes on impact.

Wimer: Why is there a gap?

Goer: I don’t think that many obstetricians are reading the research. At best theyare reading the digest that they get in their trade magazines.

Why do OB/GYNs have women

labor in beds when squatting is

the better way to birth? More

importantly, does your OB/GYN,

in particular, know the research-

based facts regarding obstetrics

in America? Or, is your OB/GYN

perpetuating the myths that

keep pregnant women from

making practical, logical deci-

sions for childbirth?

Brian Wimer


Wimer: Is it because they aren’t aware ofthe clinical research? Or, it is more willfulthan that?

Goer: The American College ofObstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)could play the role here in leading obste-tricians to practicing evidence-basedcare...but they have, quite honestly, chosen not to do that.

They [ACOG] are a trade union. They arethere to protect the interest of their doctors.Sometimes that overlaps with what’s bestfor women and babies. But, where it doesnot, they will follow what’s best for theirmembers.

Wimer: Are you saying that ACOG is notalways interested in what’s best forwomen and babies?

Goer: I just came from a conference at the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, inwhich, on a panel, I heard the very recentpresident of ACOG state that one of theroles of ACOG was to protect its fellowsfrom liability. What she was saying wasthat where there’s a conflict in what prac-tices ACOG should back, they back theones that protect fellows against liability.

I proceeded to make myself unpopular bypointing out that that went against theirown code of ethics which says that wherethere’s conflict of interest it must beresolved in what’s in the best interest ofthe patient.

Wimer: During his campaign, PresidentBush said that, due to malpractice liability,“OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice theirlove with women.” Is that so?

Goer: (laughs) They do tend to get sued.But, to a great extent, they’ve brought iton themselves. The subtext to the contractbetween [the doctor and mother] is: “If you don’t submit to all this high-techmedicine, that I think you should have,then I can’t guarantee a healthy baby.”Well, what happens when there isn’t ahealthy baby?

Wimer: What do you believe are thebiggest myths regarding childbirth?

Goer: One is that cesarean is safe...and

that it’s superior to vaginal birth becauseit protects the pelvic floor. Both of thosestatements are demonstrably untrue.Anyone who wants to know more aboutthat can go onto the Maternity CenterAssociation website at www.maternity-wise.org. Cesarean section is not safe. It does not protect the pelvic floor.

The second myth is that there’s no harm in inducing labor...when, in fact, inducinglabor increases any number of risks over aspontaneous onset of labor...chief amongthem: a woman who is a first-time motherroughly doubles her odds of cesarean sec-tion if she has labor induced. Most of thereasons that are given to women such asthe baby’s too big, you are past your duedate, or your membranes have ruptured...are not supported by sound research orare not supported by research at all.

Wimer: But a woman still has a choice asto how she wants to birth, right?

Goer: Yes and no. Women are makingchoices, and they may even be happy with those choices, but they often are not making informed choices...becausethey are making them on the basis of noinformation, inadequate information, oroutright misinformation.

There is what I believe to be a corruptionof evidence-based care. You will see, published in very prestigious journals,

studies that are incredibly flawed...flawedto the extent that it’s difficult for me tobelieve that nobody noticed. They areessentially propaganda, not research.

Also, women have bought into this cultureas deeply as their obstetricians have. Thephilosophical underpinning to obstetricsis that birth is a difficult, dangerous busi-ness. Women believe this right along withtheir doctors.

And, there’s a more disturbing trend,where women are being coerced intoagreeing to interventions. Women are sovulnerable (during childbirth). If you couldconvince a woman that you needed to cut off her arm to save her baby...mostwomen would hold their arms out and say, “How high?”

Wimer: Since you first wrote your books,has the situation gotten better or worsefor pregnant women?

Goer: One thing that has gotten worse isVBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) denial.It has become acceptable to tell a womanthat she has to agree to major surgery inorder to get medical care. That’s actually a human-rights violation. The fact thatthat is commonly accepted has changed in a very fundamental way on an uncon-scious level how we think of the rights of women once they become pregnant.

Wimer: Last question: If you were to meeta pregnant woman and had one minute to tell her something, what would it be?(Other than: “Read my books.”)

Goer: Find out your caregiver’s cesareanrate because that’s the tip of the iceberg.If it’s an OB, it should not be more than15%. Research consistently shows cesare-an rates can safely be 15% or less. Yet,you’ll rarely find an OB who’s rate is inthat range.

Think of it this way: The cesarean rate is over 25%. If you knew that your carmechanic recommended an extremelyexpensive repair that had the potential for damaging the engine for one out ofevery four cars that came in for routinemaintenance...would you stay with thatcar mechanic?


Henci Goer, author of TheThinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth and Obstetric

Myths Versus Research Realities

b r e a s t f e e d i n g


Breastfeeding Difficulties and ChiropracticModern birthing procedures, even those

with seemingly minimal intervention,

are known to cause trauma and stress

to the infant’s cranium and spine.

In a leading pediatric textbook on manual therapy for

children, one author tells us,

“When considering injuries and dysfunctions of the

spine and its associated structures, the significance

of birth trauma is often underestimated, and the

resulting symptoms frequently misinterpreted.”

In the case of breastfeeding difficulty, as with many

childhood disorders, the cause of the problem often

traces back to undetected biomechanical injuries to

the spine and cranium at birth. The failure to recognize

these biomechanical injuries and their relationship to

difficulty in breastfeeding leads to incorrect conclusions

and therefore, inadequate recommendations and treat-

ments. Without real solutions, mothers become discour-

aged, successful breastfeeding is not achieved, and

women stop trying out of frustration.

Breastfeeding is by far the best choice for infant feeding

for numerous reasons. Significant research shows that,

from a nutritional, immunological, digestive, neurological,

developmental, mental, psychological, and emotional

standpoint, there is no replacement. Today, more and


more women are choosing the healthy, natural

benefits of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeed-

ing is the optimal feeding mode for an infant’s

first 6 months of life. Many women initially plan

to breastfeed for that length of time, yet fall

short because of difficulties that seem to have

no solution. Many of the care providers they

consult are unaware of the biomechanical

disorders in the infant’s spines and craniums

that cause the difficulty in breastfeeding.

This lack of knowledge leads to ineffective

recommendations with unsatisfactory results.

Unless the biomechanical causes of these

difficulties are addressed, women may become

frustrated and abandon their original intent to

breastfeed their babies. In these instances, it

is imperative that parents seek family chiroprac-

tors who offer mothers and infants the care

appropriate to their needs.

In 24 years of practice, it has been my experi-

ence that when infants presented in our office

with any of the indicated difficulties (see side

bar), once evaluated and adjusted accordingly,

they responded favorably with chiropractic care.

Normal function in the infant was restored and

breastfeeding continued without further compli-

cations and hindrances. Providing the mother

with effective solutions allowed the mother and

child to continue to benefit from this superior

practice of bonding and feeding.

I encourage all parents to incorporate a chiro-

practic exam as a necessary part of their

newborn’s wellness evaluations. Among other

numerous benefits of chiropractic care for

infants, the ability to successfully breastfeed

has life long consequences for the baby’s future

health potential.

Including chiropractic care for your newborn

may very well be one of the most important

choices you make in support of the family

wellness lifestyle.

For references and additional information aboutthe author and topic, please visit:www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm

Photos (right) courtesy of Cory Webb, DC.

fi s and Chiropractic Jeanne Ohm, DC

• Babies who cannot latch firmly

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• Babies who are unable tosmoothly coordinate suckling,swallowing, and breathing

• Babies who can feed in only one position

• Babies who seem dissatisfiedwhen nursing or who remainfussy and distressed through-out the day

• Babies who chew and dam-age the mother’s nipples

• Babies who may not feed any better from other devices

• Babies who have the need to suck 24/7

Some of the most common indicatorsof difficulty with breastfeeding are:

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pa r e n t i n g

Learn more about Joyful Parenting and How to Create a Joyful, Positive Parenting Experience at www.healthychild.com/wheresthejoy.htm

Jane Sheppard is the Executive Director of the Holistic PediatricAssociation (www.hpakids.org) and editor and publisher of Healthy Child Online (www.healthychild.com). Jane is a child healthadvocate, parent educator, and the author of Super Healthy Kids:Strengthening Your Child's Resistance to Disease, helping toempower parents to make informed choices to protect the health of their children. She lives with her daughter in Northern California.


Imagine how powerful a person could be if parented in this

way. What if there were no limiting beliefs or thoughts and

fears about lack, inadequacy, or failure? What if ALL you

knew was that you are a magnificent, amazing, loving person

who lives life to the fullest, expressing your passions and

contributing your unique gifts to others? What if a huge

number of the next generation of children were raised in this

way? How different would the world be?

Be with Children in the Present Moment

Joy comes from within. It is our nature to be joyful. It is what

we are when we are free of negativity, distractions, anxiety,

and worry. We experience joy when we live in the present

moment, which is right now. Being in the now means being

fully aware of the present moment with all of your senses

without thinking or judging. If you are always rambling on

inside your mind, thinking about what happened in the past

or what is going to happen in the future, you will lose your

experience of the present moment.

Most moms are used to doing many things at once, with

many thoughts and stimuli competing for our attention.

These extraneous thoughts can greatly diminish our energy.

When we are in the now, we are not planning our child’s

birthday party, or thinking about all the bills we have to

pay, or what someone said to us, or what happened at work

yesterday, or what we are going to cook for dinner tonight.

We are right there—free to fully experience this precious

moment. In this moment, we find pure energy, creativity,

and focus. In this moment, we create our true desires.

The greatest gift you can give your children is your full atten-

tion and awareness. This means to fully be there with your

children in the present moment with all of your senses.

Look deeply into your child’s eyes—fully experience her voice

and what it sounds like. Feel what she is conveying to you

through her words, facial expressions, and gestures. Breathe

in your child’s unique smell. Touch her and really feel what

her skin feels like.

It may be difficult to do this all the time, but start practicing

now and you will see amazing results in your experience

with your children. The more you can give your children

your undivided attention, the more joyful your parenting

experience will be.

When you give this type of quality attention to your children,

you validate them. The message they get from you is that

they are valuable and special. This motivates them to fully

express who they are in their own unique way. Children

who know they are valuable grow up to be happy, successful

adults. Without negative programming, they can create

exceptional lives.

Children can teach us so much about joy and spontaneity.

This is their natural state. They are not in a hurry and don’t

have all the distractions, inhibitions, and stresses that we

do. Children spend most of their time living in the present

moment. When you get into being with your children in

the present moment, you will find out how much fun they

are to be with.

Jane Sheppard

Joyful parenting in a positive and unlimited way respects children for who they trulyare and nurtures their greatest potential.


Copyright 2005 Holistic Pediatric Association.

Ways to experienceListen to classical

music, and tellwhat things from

nature your mindsees while you

listen. Rake theleaves into a big

pile and taketurns jumping

into them. Bringout all the

crayons, paints, markers, and

colored pencils, along with reams

of paper and just create whatever

comes into your imagination.

Have a laughing session.

Just start laughing

together and soon

you’ll be laughing

u n c o n t ro l l a b l y.

Do unexpected, kind

things for people on

a regular basis.

Be silly and goofy. Make a funny

face, walk into walls, fall down unexpected-

ly, and then jump right back up. The belly laugh

that you get from your child will be well worth it. Put

on some music and dance with your kids. Really feel the

music and move your body without caring how you look.

Imagine your dream house together. Create each room,

along with the outdoors. Don’t forget the play structure,

the magical playhouse and any animals or fairies that

may join you in your new home. When your kids are tak-

ing a bath, blow bubbles with a straw in the bathtub.

Form a marching band with children and play

music with them. March around the neigh-

borhood. This will truly delight your neigh-

bors. Form a rhythm band and make music with

your bodies (clapping, snapping, swishing,

thumping). Take plenty of nature walks

and experience nature with all

your senses.

Do things that are

spontaneous. For

example, if you

and your child are

out walking and

come across a rain

puddle, go ahead

and jump in it!

When you see your

child delightedly and

intensely watching

something, no mat-

ter how mundane it

seems to you, join

her in the experience

and try to see what she sees.

Make a list of all the things you

are grateful for. Pop popcorn

and do it without putting

on the lid. with your children


m i n d — b o dy

How two people perceive an event or situation may dictate vastly differentresponses by the body if one interprets stress negatively and the other positively.

Selye’s research showed that stress has two opposing counters: “dis-stress,”which is a negative interpretation, and “eu-stress,” which is the positive.Simplified, one is processed as bad stress the other as good stress. The bodyneeds both.

To interpret our world, we use our senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing, andjoint and body perception. To interpret an experience, we require a variation orgradient—opposing information. To see light, we need to understand dark. Tounderstand hot, we need to have the experience of cold. To experience hunger, we need to know satiety.

Likewise, to build and have a strong muscle, we must load, or “stress,” it. By loading the muscle, we cause its elements to break down and reorganize intostronger and larger components. The muscle doesn’t become strong at the time of stressing, but once repaired, its strength has increased.

A Look at Stress

“It is not the strongest or the smartest

of the species that survive,

but the onemost able

to adapt to change.”

Liz Anderson-Peacock, DC

Dr. Hans Selye believed that stress is necessary for adaptation. As

Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest or the smartest of the

species that survive, but the one most able to adapt to change.” Stress

is a requirement for adaptation. Many times we think of stress as a

negative or an overtaxing drain mentally, physically, or emotionally.

Negatively interpreted stress has been shown to initiate and contribute

to many disease processes and can aggravate current diseases.

Even our blood vessels are under stress,as the pumping of blood through arter-ies meets the resistance of the vesselwall. Our lungs inflate and deflateagainst a resistance of the tissues.

Can there be life without stress? Oursimple answer is “no.” Being aliverequires a balance of stressors in thebody. This balance is called homeosta-sis. Our body is in a constant state ofcreation and destruction, with formationof new cells and removal dead cells. We need stress to live. How we interpretour life within our body and our environ-ment is important. Have you noticedthat stress may lead to one person’sdemise while another may thrive? Is thisattributed to training, preparation, andinterpretation by the individual? Or, is ithaphazard?

We affect how our body interprets stressthrough training. This is why someonetraining for a marathon has to train overmany months to physically stress thebody’s tissues and give them time torespond by strengthening and adaptingto the strain of the extended, prolongedrunning. If one were to run a prolongeddistance without training, trauma to the body would probably result, but ifone takes a number of months to slowlyallow the body to adapt to increasingamounts of stress (yes, a form of trau-ma), the body can interpret the eventwith much less damage and have a pos-itive experience.

The same goes for certain careers. For example, a firefighter who hasundergone basic training then preparesboth the body and the mind for furtherscenarios they may encounter. For anuntrained person, running into a burn-ing building without training could leadto his demise; fear and lack of prepara-tion could leave him unable to thinkrationally and clearly. A firefighter, how-ever, has learned through experienceand training what limits can and cannotbe breached. He’ll experience stress,

but the body will demonstrate a controlled, effective response.

Selye says the general adaptive stress(GAS) response is when we initiallyexperience an event, interpret it asstress, and go into an alarm phase. Inthis phase, the body prepares itself withphysiological changes intended to dealwith the stress. Remember the fight-or-flight response? Our body prepares tofight an invader or “run” to save our-selves. With this reaction come chemicaland hormonal changes in the body, anelevated heart rate, faster breathing,greater muscular tension, and moremental acuity. If the stressor recedes,

our physiology returns to normal. Over time, if we continue to confront the same stressor, the stress responseenters the resistance phase, whichkeeps us in an elevated state of pre-paredness. However, our resourceseventually become fatigued or some-thing breaks down and we hit a wall—the exhaustion phase. This is oftenwhen we see symptoms.

It becomes important to recognize howwe each deal with our stress, how wetake it on, and how we release it.

First, note what you experience when under stress:

Is there a pattern you can observe regarding where, when, or how you have this experience?

What triggers it?

With whom do you have it?

What do you feel when you become stressful?

How does your breathing change?

How do you hold stress in your face? And in your jaw, shoulders, neck, and upper and lower back?

How are you holding your posture?

Is there tension in your stomach?

Is your heart pounding?

How are you communicating to others?

What is your rate and tone of speech?

What kind of decisions are you making with family, friends, co-workers?

How are you communicating with your family, friends, and colleagues?

Are you planning your life, or is life happening to you?

How are you sleeping?

Mindful-based meditation

Deep balanced abdominal breathing

Exercises—research shows even a halfhour of walking daily can relieve mild to moderate depression

Yoga

Music—chants, classical, ambient music

Nature walks

Journaling your thoughts

Movies that make you laugh

Safe exposure to sunlight

Healthy sleep patterns

A well-balanced diet of minimallyprocessed foods

Being in control of your innermostdominant thoughts and outward actions

Crowds of people

Unproductive meetings

Financial concerns

Negative emotions

Anxiety for others

Cold or hot weather conditions

Lack of sleep

Diet

Violence

Chemicals

Loud noise

Overwork

Poor fitness

Arguments

Lack of job satisfaction

Worry

Lack of time, over commitments

Not following your dreams

Consider these questions:

How can you be thankful for your stress?

What is the stressor telling you about your life?

Is change needed in your priorities?

What can be interpreted as negative stress? Perceived negatives may be:

How can you reset from daily sources of stress? You might wish to investigate the following:

m i n d — b o dy


Assignments

Identify your stressors and journal them. These stressors can also belabeled things that you resent. For instance, you may resent not feelingwell, or a close person’s illness in your life making your life feel difficult;or a stressor could be that you resent your partner coming home late at night; or that someone is selfish, mean, greedy…remember thatthere are 4600 human traits and we all demonstrate every trait…onlywe demonstrate them in different forms (one may be greedy withmoney, and another may be greedy with their time).

Identify your response for each item.

Now identify 5 other responses you could choose for each item.Note what changes could occur by changing your response.

What would be the benefit in choosing a different response?What are the benefits to you in your spirituality, your knowledge, your career time, your profitability, your fitness level, your socialization?Finding the benefits of an emotional charge causing the perception of stress, will allow you to be grateful for the so called “stressors” that exist.

What lessons have you learned from each stressor? This might includeincreased awareness of how or where you hold stress in your body or it might include new strategies in dealing with situations or people.

Is there a benefit in staying with the present response you are choosing and is there a benefit in changing your response?

What are the benefits for both?

If your behavior stays the same and does not change, how will the response change?

If your behavior, actions, or response changes will a different outcome occur?

Who controls how you respond to stress?

Who controls your ability to change your perception, your action, and your response?

Remember, the greatest questionthat will serve your life towardgreater horizons is:

“How does this person or situation serve me in my future growth and love for life?”



When things in my classroom hit bottom,

there were days when I was convinced

that the kids stayed up nights plotting

ways to make my life miserable. It was

only later that I realized their disrup-

tions were basically just intended to

make the time pass faster.

Alfie Kohn

fa m i ly l i f e

Discipline Is The Problem— Not The Solution

Discipline Is The Problem— Not The Solution


And it was later still before I could admit that I didn’tblame them. The problem wasn’t with the students—itwas my curriculum and my reliance on textbooks, work-sheets, and a diet of disconnected facts and skills. Did I really expect my students to be eager to learn about “Our Friend the Adverb”? Given these types of assignments,it would have been amazing if they hadn’t acted up.

Of course, most articles on disciplining students wouldbrush aside such reflections. Instead, they’d remind me thatit’s my right to demand that the students act “appropriately”—which is to say, do whatever I tell them. They’d offer anassortment of tricks to get the students to comply with mywishes. In fact, the whole field of classroom managementamounts to techniques for manipulating students’ behavior.

This is awfully convenient for teachers because it takes forgranted that the fault lies completely with the children.But consider:

• Maybe when there’s a problem, we should focus notonly on the child who doesn’tdo what he’s asked, but alsoon what he’s being asked todo (and how reasonable it is).

• Maybe when a student is offtask, the right question toask isn’t “How do I get himback on?” but “What’s thetask?”

• Maybe when a student doessomething inappropriate, we should look at the climateof the classroom that we have helped to create.

Working with students to build a safe, caring communitytakes time, patience, and skill. It’s no surprise, then, thatdiscipline programs fall back on what’s easy: punishments(“consequences”) and rewards.

Do they work? Yes and no. Threats and bribes can buy a short-term change in behavior, but they can never helpkids develop a commitment to positive values. In a conse-quence-based classroom, students are led to ask, “Whatdoes she want me to do, and what happens to me if I don’t do it?” In a reward-based classroom, they’re led toask, “What does she want me to do, and what do I get fordoing it?”

Notice how similar these two questions are. Rewards andpunishments are really two sides of the same coin. Andnotice how different either one is from what we’d like

children to be thinking about: “What kind of person do Iwant to be?” or “What kind of classroom do we want tohave?”

To help kids engage in such reflection, we have to workwith them rather than doing things to them. We have tobring them in on the process of making decisions abouttheir learning and their lives together in the classroom.Children learn to make good choices by having the chanceto choose, not by following directions.

Suppose it’s been taking a long time for your class to getsettled after returning from lunch. What are your options?You could threaten to take away a privilege or humiliatethe slowest kids. You could dangle the equivalent of adoggie biscuit in front of the class if things improve tomor-row. Or you could set up one child as an example tomanipulate the behavior of everyone else (“I like the wayDoreen is taking her seat so quickly!”).

All of these “doing to” strate-gies are about demanding obe-dience, not about helping kidsthink their way through a prob-lem—or pondering why what’shappening might even be aproblem in the first place. As a result, the need for disciplineand control never ends.

But what if you engaged thestudents in thinking for them-selves?: How long is it taking

us to get settled? Why? What can we do about that? Thisapproach saves time in the long run, reduces the numberof problems, and ultimately gets kids started thinking theirway through their problems.

Each time I visit such a classroom, where the teacher ismore interested in creating a democratic community thanin maintaining her position of authority, I’m convinced allover again that moving away from consequences andrewards isn’t just realistic—it’s the best way to help kidsgrow into good learners and good people.

© 1995 by Alfie Kohn. Reprinted from Learning magazine with the author’s permission. For more information, pleasesee www.alfiekohn.org.


All these “doing to” strategies are

about demanding obedience, not

about helping kids think their way

through a problem…as a result the

need for control never ends.


s e a s o n a l

Helping Athletes Succeed...

Naturally!

This quote is an inspirational and motiva-tional mantra by which teenage athletesshould live–not die. Unfortunately, every-day, teenage athletes across America areplaying Russian roulette with their health,as well as their lives. They seem desperateto gain any competitive edge they can,and the frightening reality is that many of them are not even aware that they areputting themselves at risk.

What are these teens doing to them-selves? Simple: the same thing many oftheir professional idols are being accusedof doing—taking anabolic steroids. Thisis a real problem. However, as athleticmentors and physicians we can do some-thing about it.

Like any difficult situation, the solution isnot easy or quick. It requires acknowledg-ing and understanding the problem, thenspeaking out by educating parents, train-

ers, coaches, and, most importantly,teenage athletes.

What are steroids, what do theydo, and why are they dangerous

Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugsdesigned to mimic the hormone testos-terone. Some of the most commonlyabused steroids are taken orally in pillform. They include Anadrol 50, Oxandrin,Dianabol and Winstrol. Injectable steroidsinclude Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone and Equipose.

Users get these drugs from a number of sources, including over the Internetfrom foreign markets. If you think it isonly the football players, baseball play-ers, and weightlifters who use steroids,think again: men and teenage boys whobelieve they are small and weak; femaleathletes; and women and girls, who thinkthey are too fat and flabby. People usesteroids to not only improve the appear-ance of their bodies, but to boost theirself image as well.

Surveys suggest that the greatestincrease in anabolic steroid use is among

teenage athletes who are motivated bylooking, feeling and performing better,regardless of the dangers. A teenage athlete once said to me, “God does notcreate men equal, so ‘juice’ makes up for his mistakes.” The funny thing is, anabolic steroids do increase musclestrength and size, but they do not improveagility, cardiovascular capacity, or skilllevel. Ultimately, it is a person’s skill thatmakes a great athlete, not muscle.

Steroids cause serious, multiple health problems

1) The premature closing of the growthcenters. The long bones in teenagerswho haven’t finished growing shutdown; once the growth centers close,they cannot be reopened. This couldresult in a shorter stature than naturehad intended.

2) Weakened tendons. These patients willalso become more susceptible to tendoninjuries because steroids have beenshown to weaken tendon structures.

3) Gender-specific side-effects. In men,prolonged steroid use can result in

“Being good is notenough, when you dream of being your best!”

Victor N. Naumov, DC


reduced sperm count, impotence, bald-ness, the development of breasts, anddifficulty or pain in urinating. In women,the side effects of taking steroidsinclude the growth of facial hair, a deep-ening of the voice (which in most casesis permanent), breast-size reduction,and changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle.

4) Additional side-effects. Both men andwomen are at risk for clotting disorders,liver damage, premature heart attacksand stroke, and elevated LDL choles-terol levels. Users who share needlesare also at risk for developing HIV/AIDSand hepatitis, which causes seriousdamage to the liver.

Chiropractors, family physicians, andsports-medicine doctors are in a uniqueposition to watch out for signs of steroiduse. Teens who use steroids may haveacne—sometimes severe—on their face,back and chest. They may appear bloated

in the face and in overall appearancebecause drug use causes the body toretain more water. Parents may mention a period of rapid weight gain in a relativeshort period of time, as well as behaviorchanges such as a quick temper and lackof patience.

All of these things should raise a red flagduring an examination.

The problem and what you can do about it

This national epidemic has stepped out of the locker room and into the homes offamilies across the country. It is importantto understand that the steroid problemdoes not discriminate, and that it affectsboth teenage boys and girls—not onlyathletes but also those who are looking to improve their physical appearance.There is a silver lining within all this mad-ness, and you can do something about it

and become part of the solution. You canbegin by speaking out and taking a standagainst performance enhancing drugs atevery possible opportunity.

Steroid surveys and the shocking results

In 2004, the National Institute of DrugAbuse of the National Institutes of Healthfunded a study entitled “Monitoring the Future Study.” Conducted by theUniversity of Michigan’s Institute forSocial Research, researchers surveyed45,173 students from a representativesample of 435 public and private schoolsnationwide. The student response was 86 percent.

Of the students who responded, 1.9 per-cent of 8th graders, 2.4 percent of 10thgraders and 3.4 percent of 12th gradersreported using anabolic steroids at leastonce in their short lives.

Bob Goldman, M.D., author of Death in aLocker Room, has conducted surveys ofathletes every two years since 1982. In the survey he asks, “If you were offered a performance-enhancing substance withtwo guarantees, that you will not becaught and you will win, would you takethe substance?” The results are consistentin every survey: out of 198 athletes surveyed, 195 said yes.

Goldman also asked, “You are againoffered a performance-enhancing sub-stance with two guarantees, that you will not be caught and you will win everycompetition you enter for the next fiveyears, but you will die from the sideeffects of the substance. Would you takeit?” More than 50 percent responded yes.

To cheat or not to cheat

Drug abuse in sports is not a new phe-nomenon, but it is growing in scope and

the pressure on athletes is increasingevery day.

One Olympic hopeful said, “Unless youstop the drug abuse in sport, I have to do drugs. I’m not going to spend the nexttwo years training, away from my family,missing my college education, to be anOlympian and then be cheated out of amedal by some guy from Europe or Asiawho is on a government-sponsored drugprogram.”

“To be a great athlete today, you need agreat coach, a great chemist, and a greatlawyer.”—Sports Illustrated, 1997 April 14

I’m happy to inform you that there is silverlining in this national crisis, Acting NewJersey Governor Richard Codey has recentlyappointed an 18-member task force toinvestigate the extent of steroid use be high school athletes in the state.Responsibilities of the task force onsteroids are as follows: 1. Hold public

hearings this fall to determine the physi-cal and psychological effects of steroidson teenagers. 2. Determine the extent ofthe problem among high school athletes.3. Determine the legality and practicalityof mandatory statewide testing of highschool athletes. 4. Develop a steroid education program to be taught in allschools, and determine the appropriatesetting (such as in health class or gym).5. Examine the effects of nutritional supplements and other performanceenhancers, and decide whether to addinformation on them to the steroid education program.

I am happy to inform you that the NationalCoalition for the Advancement of Drug-FreeAthletics (NCADFA) has already contactedGovernor Codey’s office and offered to helpassist the task force in any way possible.

Being aware of and understanding thatthe steroid problem is already big and

It is important to understand that the steroid problem does not discriminate, and that it affects both

teenage boys and girls—not only athletes but also those looking to improve their physical appearance.

growing each day in this country and,quite possibly, in your neighborhood is a key factor in this fight. You can do something about it, and it is just a matter of acting, taking a stand andeducating the youth of today againstthe dangers of steroids.

Get The “Natural” Edge

The most underutilized and overlooked,natural performance enhancing toolavailable to any athlete, (of any age) is the chiropractic adjustment. Why,you may ask? The answer is simple—because only chiropractors are trainedto identify and correct interference inan athlete’s nervous system. It’s impor-tant that you understand, for an athleteto perform at their best, their nervoussystem needs to be a clear as possible.Only regular chiropractic care ensuresthat body consistently is able to per-form at its peak in all areas. This notonly includes physically, but mentallyand chemically as well. Remember, balance, hand-eye coordination, bodycontrol, and reflexive reaction time areall neurological acts which require agood nerve supply to be performed at 100%. Improved skill level makes a better athlete, not simply size andstrength. If you’re looking to get the“Natural Edge” and improve your skilllevel, be sure regular chiropractic careis part of your game.

Victor N. Naumov, DC is the Founder,President and Chairman of NationalCoalition for the Advancement of Drug-Free Athletics, Inc. To learn more aboutthis non-profit educational organizationand its work with teenage athletes, or to become a member, please visitwww.ncadfa.org and help us, help athletes be their best...naturally!

s e a s o n a l

Elite Athletes Benefit from Chiropractic

From the May 19, 2006 issue of the Lawrence Journal-World from Lawrence, Kansas

comes a story of a chiropractor, Dr. Michael Stuart, who has won the trust of some

elite track and field athletes. One in particular is Justin Gatlin, who is the world’s

fastest man. According to the article, Gatlin tied the world record in the 100-meter

dash less than a month after getting his neck, middle back, and lower back adjust-

ed by the chiropractor.

Dr. Stuart started caring for Gatlin, Maurice Greene, and other top notch athletes

during the Kansas Relays. Director of the event, Tim Weaver is the one who facilitat-

ed Dr. Stuart’s entrance into the event. Weaver, a former track athlete, had been a

patient of Stuart for over a year, stated the importance of chiropractic for these ath-

letes by saying, “These athletes, their body is everything, and getting it to perform

at a high level is everything.” He went on to stress how chiropractic helps the ath-

letes perform, “They’ve taken their bodies to extremes and are doing things on the

edge of what evolution is meant to do here in 2006. They’re constantly looking for

things to keep their bodies moving, and this is another way to keep that engine

fine-tuned.”

It was sprinter Maurice Greene who originally requested that Dr. Stuart come help

him at the event. According to the story, it was not long before word started to

spread among other professional athletes that a chiropractor was around.

Weaver tells the story, “They liked him so much they brought him back the next day.


He’s working on once and future world-record holders, and that’s

of great value to the meet. It gives us the added respect, that the

Kansas Relays takes better care of superstars than any other meet

in the US.”

Chiropractor Key to Bonds’ Power?

The above headline excerpt is from the June 10, 2006 “Giants

Notebook” section of the San Francisco Chronicle. This story

reports on Dr. Ron Mitchell, a chiropractor who travels with the San

Francisco Giants baseball team as their team chiropractor. The story

starts by noting that Dr. Mitchell loves to watch Bonds hit home

runs and during Bonds’ recent chase of Babe Ruth’s record, Mitchell

would stop adjusting, and run outside to see Bonds at bat.

Dr. Mitchell is present at the games adjusting players. The story

also notes that pitcher, Jason Schmidt, also loves to get adjusted

and typically does so during the games to avoid the rush of other

players who get adjusted before the games. Ironically, Dr. Mitchell

missed both Barry Bonds’ 715th and 716th home runs as he was in

the clubhouse adjusting Schmidt.

The story noted that Jason Schmidt offered to halt the chiropractic

session when Bonds was at bat chasing home run number 715, but

Mitchell showed his dedication and responded, “No, let’s do what

we’ve got to do. Let’s get you treated and get you ready.” The arti-

cle reported that a few pitches later Bonds hit his 715th home run.

After missing seeing the historic home run Dr. Mitchell comment-

ed, “Schmidty looked and me and laughed, and I laughed, and we

kind of blew it off and that was it.”

It was a few days later when Dr. Mitchell was once again adjusting

Jason Schmidt while Bonds was at bat that Bonds hit number 716.

After this repeat performance all Dr. Mitchell could say was, “There

goes the next one.”

In typical baseball superstition, the players even joked about it

saying that they were going to schedule Schmidt for an adjustment

with Dr. Mitchell whenever the Giants are behind so that Bonds

would hit a home run and win the game.

Even Barry Bonds himself found the situation amusing saying, “I’m

going to have to get on the table with him.” Jason Schmidt, howev-

er, felt bad having caused Dr. Mitchell to miss two historic sporting

events. Schmidt commented, “I kind of felt bad...He takes a lot of

pride on working on Barry, so I felt kind of bad he wasn’t able to be

out there at the time. He’s been out there so many times, and it’s

like, it’s not going to happen this time, so let’s take our chances.”


r e s e a r c h r e v i ew


ADHD Drugs Send Thousands to Emergency Rooms

The above is a headline from the May 24, 2006 AP article appear-

ing on ABC News Health website. According to the story, the US

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention released the first

national estimates of this problem. According to the CDC, these

drugs cause approximately 3,100 people to have to go to the emer-

gency room each year. Of those, the CDC estimates that nearly two

thirds are overdoses and accidental use.

The article notes that an estimated 3.3 million Americans who are 19

or younger and nearly 1.5 million ages 20 and older are taking ADHD

medicines. From the years 1999 to 2003 there were 25 deaths and

54 cases of serious heart problems, including heart attacks and

strokes, that were reported to the US Food and Drug Administration,

(FDA). Additionally, the CDC reported that in the 64 hospitals they

monitored alone from August 2003 through December 2005, there

were 188 emergency room visits due to these drugs. Researchers

extrapolated these numbers to all US hospitals resulting in an esti-

mated 3,075 ER visits occurring each year.

The article noted that many of the incidents were due

to children getting into parents prescriptions, but side

effects such as cardiac problems, chest pain, stroke,

high blood pressure, and fast heart rate were also

noted.

According to CDC epidemiologist Dr. Adam

Cohen, other common symptoms from

ADHD drugs include abdominal pain,

rashes and spasms, and pain or weak-

ness in muscles.

An AP story appearing on the May 3, 2006

InteliHealth website paints a disturbing

picture of increased antipsychotic medica-

tion usage in children. According to a

study done by Medco Health Solutions

Inc., the four years ending in 2005 saw an

increased usage of antipsychotic medica-

tion in children by 73 percent. Additionally,

a new class of these drugs known as

“atypical antipsychotics” used primarily

by people 19 and younger saw an increase

of 80 percent over the same period.

The article did note, that even with the

dramatic increase in usage among the

young, adults were still the overwhelming

majority of those using these medications.

In 2005, 85 percent of prescriptions for

antipsychotic medications were for adults

while only 15 percent were for children.

Dr. Amita Dasmanapatra, Senior Director

of Medical Affairs at Medco noted that she

believes that some doctors are prescribing

the drugs for children with behavioral prob-

lems, which she believes would be better

controlled by other means. She stated,

“Still, the sharp increase is noteworthy

because the powerful drugs are for indi-

viduals with serious psychosis such as

schizophrenia so there is some concern

the medicines may not always be pre-

scribed appropriately.”

The article notes that the atypical antipsy-

chotics aren`t approved for use in children,

but that nothing stops doctors from using

them on children if they wish.

Fish Oil Better Than Ritalin

Fish oil improves the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder (ADHD) without any of the side effects of drugs like

Ritalin and Concerta—and more effectively, a study by the

University of Adelaide in Australia found.

When 130 children between the ages of 7 and 12 with ADHD

were given fish oil capsules daily, behavior dramatically

improved within three months. Further:

• After seven months, the children were not as restless and

showed improvements at school

• Improvements in concentration and attention improved by

one third

• After 15 weeks, 30–40 percent of the children taking fish oil

had improvements

• After 30 weeks, 40–50 percent improved

• Children taking placebo capsules were later switched to fish

oil and subsequently also experienced improved behavior

Improvements were still being seen after the study ended,

which suggests the fish oils may have long-term effects. When

the researchers compared their results to studies of Ritalin and

Concerta for ADHD, they found that fish oils were more effective.

ADHD drugs are known to carry serious side effects, including

insomnia, changes in personality, cardiotoxicity, heart attack,

stroke, and even sudden death. In the UK, nine children have

died after taking the drugs.

Antipsychotic Drug Use Among Kids Dramatically Increased

Teen Health and Positive Parenting

A fascinating and encouraging report

issued in Canada examined the

association between positive assets

in teenagers’ lives and their level of

health. The five positive assets includ-

ed the teens’ perceptions of parental

nurturing, parental monitoring, school

engagement, volunteerism, and peer

connectedness. The study revealed that

teens who reported more of these posi-

tive assets in their lives also reported

a higher level of health.

A total of 83 percent of 12 – 15-year-old

teens who reported four to five of these

assets also said they enjoyed very good

to excellent health. A report of less of

these positive assets was associated

with lower levels of health. For example,

74 percent of these teens with two

to three assets reported very good to

excellent health. And only 54 percent

of those with zero to one asset had this

level of health.

Another encouraging

finding among these

Canadian teens—

more than half of

the youth aged

12–15 reported high levels of parental

nurturing and parental monitoring, and

three quarters of these teens reported

high levels of school engagement and

involvement in volunteer activities.

According to Jennifer Zelmer, the

Institute’s vice-president of research

and analysis, “This is the first time we’ve

been able to make a clear link between

relationships and health. She said most

analyses of adolescent health tend to

focus on negative behaviors such as

smoking and drug use, but few explore

the influence of the social and home

environment. She also noted that the

healthy teens came from various socio-

economic backgrounds. “There were

rich kids and poor kids with nurturing

parents,” she said.

The study also revealed that the principle

worries of adolescents are lack of money,

lack of time, and not being understood

by parents. Other noteworthy findings -

67 percent of youth reported being in

excellent or very good health, 71 percent

reported high levels of self-worth, and

the teens with more positive assets also

reported less use of tobacco, alcohol,

and marijuana.

Results of a new study reinforce previous analyses thatshow increased suicide attempts and completed suicidesamong children and adolescents treated for depression.Adults do not appear to share this increased risk.

The results showed that children and adolescents treatedwith an antidepressant drug were significantly morelikely to attempt suicide than those who were not (OR1.52). However, the relationship was significant onlyamong white children and adolescents, but not amongminority patients.

The results also showed that children and adolescentswho completed suicide were significantly more likely to have been treated with antidepressants (OR, 15.62).However, Dr. Olfson’s group urges caution in interpret-ing this finding, since it is based on only 8 suicidedeaths.

No such association was observed among adults.

“These findings support careful clinical monitoring during antidepressant drug treatment of severelydepressed young people,” the team concludes.

Strict Parents and Childhood Obesity

A new study released in the journal Pediatrics

shows that overly strict parenting can produce

obese kids. “Children of authoritarian parents

had five times the risk of being overweight com-

pared to children of authoritative [a more diplo-

matic style] mothers,” said Dr. Kyung Rhee, the

study’s lead author. Authoritarian parents are

described as strict disciplinarians, Rhee said,

while authoritative parents are more

respectful of a child’s opinions while

maintaining boundaries. Children of

permissive and neglectful parents

were twice as likely to be overweight

as children of authoritative mothers,

they also found.

Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_684.cfm

Study Supports Antidepressant Link to Suicides Among Children

r e s e a r c h r e v i ew ( c o n t i n u e d )

Why Giving the Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy Doesn’t Make Any Sense

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) rec-

ommends flu vaccination during all trimesters of pregnancy. However,

according to a report published in the Journal of American Physicians

and Surgeons, this recommendation is unjustified, unwise, and should

be withdrawn. Citing ACIP’s own sources, as well as current literature,

the report based its conclusions on the following findings:

• Flu infection is rarely a threat during normal pregnancy.

• There is no “convincing evidence” that the flu vaccination is

effective during pregnancy.

• Studies have not adequately assessed the risk of flu vaccination

during pregnancy.

• Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative present in most flu vac-

cines, has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, includ-

ing autism, in humans.

• Thimerosal has been linked to a number of animal reproductive

toxicities including teratogenicity, mutagenicity and fetal death.

The ACIP maintains that flu vaccinations are necessary because

influenza is more serious during pregnancy than at other times, yet

they cite only two scientific papers to support this statement.

The report concluded that since routine administration of flu vac-

cine during pregnancy is ill-advised and not supported by scientific

literature, and use of thimerosal during pregnancy should be con-

traindicated, the ACIP’s policy recommendation should be withdrawn.

Children May Not Need Antibiotics for Acute Infective Conjunctivitis

The above headline appeared in a June 24, 2005 article from the onlineMedscape from WebMD. This article was based on the findings of a newstudy published in the June 22, 2006 British research journal, The Lancet.

In this study 326 children with a diagnosis of conjunctivitis rangingfrom age 6 months to 12 years were randomly selected from medical prac-tices in the UK. These children were separated into two groups. Onegroup received eye drops of the antibiotic chloramphenicol, while theother group got placebo eye drops. Neither the doctors nor thepatients knew whether they were getting the placebo or the realantibiotic.

The children were re-examined at day 7 and a follow-up wasdone 6 weeks later. Eye swabs were collected for bacterial andviral analysis. The results of the study on day seven showedthat of the 155 children in the placebo group, 128 of them,or 83% were listed as cured. This compared to 140 beinglisted as cured of the 162 children, representing86%, in the group that actually got theantibiotic chloramphenicol. The difference

noted is statistically insignificant, therefore researchers noted no real dif-ference between the two groups.

In the 6-week follow-up researchers found that further conjunctivitisepisodes occurred in seven children (4%) receiving chloramphenicol andin five children (3%) receiving placebo. They also found that any addition-al adverse events occurred at a similar rate in both groups.

Lead author Peter W. Rose, from the University of Oxford, England com-mented, “We have shown that symptoms resolve without antibiotics inmost children with acute infective conjunctivitis. The health economic

argument against antibiotic prescription for acute conjunctivi-tis is compelling.”

The conclusion and recommendations of the authorswere, “Parents should be encouraged to cleanse their chil-dren`s eyes if an antibiotic is not prescribed. Parentsshould be encouraged to treat children themselves with-out medical consultation, unless their child developsunusual symptoms or the symptoms persist for morethan a week.”

www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507276

New statistics released bythe New Zealand Ministry ofHealth show that thenational rate of SuddenInfant Death Syndrome(SIDS) fell by 70%after an educationalcampaign in wrappingmattresses with specialpolyethelene covers was begun. The programbegan after research by a NZ scientist showed a linkbetween SIDS and the toxic fumes emitted by mattresses.

According to the statistics, NZ Maori babies are 10 timesmore likely than NZ European (Pakeha) babies to die of SIDS.Following the implementation of mattress-wrapping by the Pakehacommunity over the last eleven years (with an 85% reduction in theirSIDS rate), New Zealand has the highest inter-ethnic SIDS disparityof any country in the world.

In contrast to the US and UK, where back sleeping has beenadopted as a method to prevent crib death, New Zealand began topublicize mattress-wrapping in 1994, with the practice widely adopt-ed. Since then, the rate of deaths on unwrapped mattresses has con-tinued to increase, while no deaths have been reported for babiessleeping on wrapped mattresses. Another advantage to this solutionis that babies can sleep in a variety of positions and not suffer fromplagiocephaly, or flattened heads.

The results of the New Zealand mattress-wrapping program havebeen published in two peer-reviewed journals of environmental med-icine and far exceed the results of any other SIDS prevention pro-gram in the world.

New Zealand SIDSDeath Rate Decreases

For references and additional information please visit:www.icpa4kids.org/research/references.htm

After chiropractic care following a minor car accident, I spoke to Dr.

Brooks about our son, Trenton, who was a very easily agitated boy with

ADD. We decided to have him checked. I had noticed how one hip was

higher than the other and sure enough he was not in proper alignment.

After the onset of care, we started noticing a change in attitude. He

seemed less agitated and more relaxed. But then it started again with

the short fuse and unhappiness. We went back in to Dr. Brooks and

found Trenton was not in proper alignment.

Following this visit, Trenton made a comment to me that truly convinced

me that this was really helping him! He told me that he felt happier. I

asked him how he felt before and after the adjustments and he said when

he is adjusted it takes the noise out of his head and he feels happier.

It sounded almost to me like static on a radio. Now he is the one who

tells me when it is time to go see Dr. Brooks. And sure enough, I can

usually tell it visually also. This form of chiropractic is very gentle…

in fact, you can hardly tell anything is being done but you can sure tell

a difference in how you feel. We are so thankful and can really see a big

difference in how he feels about himself too!

Patricia Hall

Dr. Robert Brooks practices in Tulsa, OK. He can be reached through his web-site: www.brooksspinalcare.com


Do you have a chiropractic story about yourself ora family member that you want to share with us?

Send it to: [email protected] and we will use itin an upcoming issue in Pathways to allow moreparents to understand the many benefits of familychiropractic care.

pa r e n t ’s p e r s p e c t i v e

He said when he is adjusted

it takes the noise out of his head

ADD and Chiropractic: A Patient’s Testimonial

fa m i ly w e l l n e s s f o r u m Email your questions to Dr. [email protected]

My son is 11 months old. He loves to roll andplay while sitting up, but he shows no interestin crawling. He doesn’t get up on all fours orpull up to a sitting or standing position. We aredoing an early intervention program and physi-cal therapy. I’m just not seeing any results.Should I be worried about his development?

We now know that there are specific movements that develop andstrengthen the neural connections throughout the brain andthroughout the central nervous system. A very important milestone for the developing child is crawling. In order for the twohemispheres of the brain to work together, the left and right brainhemispheres have to be interconnected. The communication path-way, known as the corpus callosum, is composed of specific bundlednerve fibers. These nerve fibers are formed through specific move-ment, crawling being one of them.

Today, infants spend too much time on their backs. The back to sleepprogram, car carriers, and other infant seats keep the infant limitedto this position. As they get a bit older, the modern usage of walkersand other similar types of sitting apparatuses limit the infant’s bellytime. It is essential that we increase our babies’ belly time as thisstimulates their ability to pass into the crawling stage at a reason-able time. This is why I also encourage the use of infant body carri-ers, where the parent is carrying the infant next to their body asopposed to in a hand-held carrier. (The body carriers also allow thebaby to reach important neurological developmental milestones.)

Many parents tell me that their babies “just do not want to be ontheir bellies and they fuss and cry in that position.” I still encourageparents to take the time to put their babies in that position and getdown on the floor with them to encourage their acceptance.Combined with baby carrying, the baby can become more comfort-able and accepting of this new and vital position.

Sometimes, however the babies still complain. Very often there couldbe a spinal misalignment in the infant making it uncomfortable to beon their bellies. Spinal misalignments impair normal nerve systemfunction and therefore development. Spinal muscles may be weak-ened because of the misalignment, making it difficult for an infant tocrawl. So they avoid it.

Spinal misalignment may be caused by physical, emotional, or chemical stress. I frequently point out how today’s “normal birthingprocess” includes all three of these stresses and an infant’s develop-ing nerve system may be affected since birth. If left uncorrected, nor-mal nerve system function will be impaired in some way affectingnumerous neurological functions.

Your family doctor of chiropractic can examine your infant to determine if a misalignment may be impeding your infant’s normaldevelopmental process. Rest assured, the specific techniques a qualified doctor of chiropractic uses to adjust infants is very specificand gentle. Many babies sleep right through the adjustment. Theirspecialty is enhancing nerve system function by reducing any nervesystem stress. Additionally, your family chiropractor can suggestexercises and movement activities you can do with your infant to support your child’s restoration of neurological integrity.

You can find a doctor of chiropractic who works with infants here:www.icpa4kids.org.


International ChiropracticPediatric Association

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Pathways to Family Wellness - Issue #11