Got a Pain in the Neck?

Have you ever sat at your desk at your office and felt tension in your neck? How many times have you woken up in the morning and can’t move your neck properly? If you say “never,” you probably already see a chiropractor. If you say “yes,” you must read on.

Body signals, such as neck tension or pain, require serious attention! Your body is trying to communicate with you that something is wrong. It is just like the lights on your dashboard in your car. If your oil light comes on, do you change the oil or cut the cord that travels to the light? Well, it’s kind of a dumb question right? Let’s say, you decide to choose the second option or just simply ignore the light. The car may last a few days or even months with the oil light on but eventually you will run into a worse, more expensive problem. Your body is no different! If you take medications to numb your pain, you would be doing the same as turning off the light instead of changing your oil.

Are you taking pain killers for Neck Pain relief?

Many people with aches and pains take over-the-counter drugs assuming they are safe for chronic use. Do you know what the most common cause of death by liver failure is? No, it is not alcohol… Acetaminophen, which is found in products such as Tylenol and Nyquil, is the leading cause of liver failure.  500 people die every year from Acetaminophen overdose due to liver failure. What about NSAIDS/Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve or Naproxen? According to the American Journal of Medicine, it is estimated that minimally 16,500 people die every year among arthritis patients alone due gastrointestinal complications. Another option, cortisone shots may provide temporary relief but side effects can occur and it doesn’t correct the problem.

A better pain relief option:

When traumas occur to our spines, from car accidents to a bad working environment, vertebral misalignments can occur which cause conditions such as neck pain, tingling/numbness in the hands, and headaches. These misalignments of the spine are called Vertebral Subluxations. When subluxation occurs, the misalignment causes interference along the nerves that travel through the vertebrae. The first sign of subluxation is restricted range of motion. An easy test to see if you have subluxation is to turn your head as far as you can to one side and then the other. If one side does not go as far as the other, you may have subluxation. Chiropractors are trained to examine and correct subluxations providing neck pain relief to patients of all ages.

There have been many studies showing the benefits of chiropractic care for patients with neck pain. In the Annals of Internal Medicine (2012), a study compared pain relief results by medication versus chiropractic care. It showed that 57% of the patients had at least a 75% pain reduction with chiropractic care after 12 weeks. Only 33% of the patients who took medication had the same pain reduction.   Chiropractic not only helps to alleviate pain in the neck, but also helps relieve muscle spasm, headaches, TMJ dysfunction and boosts your immune system. Chiropractic treatment called adjustments is both safe and effective in keeping the spinal joints healthy and mobile.

It is very important to take care of the aches and pains in your body but it is even more important to prevent those problems from ever occurring. Whether you have pain or not, you must take care of your spine especially the neck. Many patients who have spinal degeneration or arthritis in their necks do not have pain or symptoms at all. Proper alignment and movement in the spine is extremely important to maintain good spinal health to prevent arthritic changes from occurring in the first place.

Whether you have pain or not, be sure to have a spinal check-up regularly to ensure better health! A healthy spine equals a healthy brain and body!

Call 978-969-6105 for a free consultation with Dr. Jamie Engel at Aligned for Life Chiropractic in Beverly, MA!

What is TMJ and What Causes Jaw Pain?

“This is helping my TMJ!” exclaimed one of my patients while finishing his mechanical traction. Mechanical traction is one of the supportive rehabilitation procedures that our office utilizes to combat forward head posture and restore a proper neck curve. This particular patient, who has been a chiropractic patient of mine for years, has been a dentist in our community for about 50 years specializing in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.  I remember being so excited that he made the connection between forward head posture and the alignment of the jaw. After his realization, I promptly found some research articles to give him that validated head posture as a cause of TMJ dysfunction. He has been a great patient and chiropractic care advocate ever since!

The temporomandibular joint is a very common source of pain especially in people who are stressed. It is known to be caused by grinding your teeth at night and/or the clenching of the jaw. Now, scientists are discovering another cause: abnormal head posture. Even the Brigham and Women’s Physical Therapy website validates “postural dysfunction” as a cause for TMJ disorders.[1] According to the TMJ Clinic website, Dr. John Summer describes the importance of the link between head posture and jaw function. He describes that most patients who have TMJ disorder also have forward head posture because of the spinal biomechanics which he demonstrates in the diagram below. The big block on the top represents the head and the small block represents the jaw with the person facing to the right.  As shown in the diagram, forward head posture puts strain on the back of the neck as well as the muscles/ligaments that support the jaw. The normal posture has the muscles/ligaments in a neutral, healthy, symptom-free position.[2]

In the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation in 2002, another study demonstrated a positive correlation between lateral bending of the neck and teeth clenching. This study concluded that imbalances of the sternocleidomastoid muscles, located in the anterior neck, causes a head tilt which in turns causes teeth clenching on the side of the tilt.[3] Even worse, in the Journal of Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research in February 2008, the authors noted a correlation between head posture and osteoarthritis of the joint itself![4]

Now, add some stress to the picture. Basically, adding tension to already tight muscles can be unbearable. Stress can make neck tension and jaw pain even more severe and eventually turn into headaches. Imagine having tension on your neck and jaw muscles anyway due to poor posture and then adding emotional stress to them… yikes!

 So how does Chiropractic Care help TMJ pain and disorders?

Corrective Chiropractic care can restore the proper alignment in the neck significantly decreasing the forward head posture and other postural distortions (ie. Head tilts) that attribute to TMJ and neck pain. Forward head posture, also called anterior head carriage, has been linked to many problems from general neck pain/headaches to respiratory issues. As seen in the diagram below, the more forward the head is the heavier it becomes due to physics. It would be like holding an object away from your body. The further the object is away from your center of mass, the heavier it becomes and harder it is to hold. As the head becomes heavier, the spine will actually deform causing a person to become shorter, joints to immobilize and eventually degenerate leading to osteoarthritis. This is also what causes rounded shoulders and a “hump” on the upper back/lower neck area of the spine.

Due to our computer-centric lifestyles, including texting on cell phones, chiropractors are seeing more people especially teens with forward head posture. Unfortunately, forward head posture is progressive meaning that it will not correct on its own and become more severe with time if left untreated. Specific chiropractic adjustments with spinal rehabilitation (exercises, traction, etc.) can correct forward head posture.

How do you know if you have forward head posture?

Have a friend, family member, or co-worker look at your posture from the side. Your ear should line up directly over your shoulder (see diagram above). If your ear is forward of your shoulder, you have forward head posture and it needs to be corrected. Correction of this posture could be the key to unlocking many symptoms which you face every day.

At Aligned for Life Chiropractic in Beverly, MA, we specialize in postural correction. We teach our patients how to avoid common lifestyle practices that attribute to forward head posture. We also give our patients specific spinal exercises and stretches to prevent further problems in their spine.  Just remember, bad posture is progressive and can not be corrected solely by exercise. It would be like trying to brush and floss a cavity away. Bad posture is not genetic either. The sooner you start care, the easier it will be to correct. Start today and schedule a consultation!

Bibliography

1. Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dept of Physical Therapy Website: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Patients_Visitors/pcs/rehabilitationservices/Physical%20Therapy%20Standards%20of%20Care%20and%20Protocols/TMJ%20disorder.pdf
2.  Portland TMJ Clinic website: http://portlandtmjclinic.com/tmj-disorders/theroleofbodyposture.html
3.  Kibana, Y et al. (2002) “Occlusal Support and head posture” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 29:1, pp 58-63.
4.  Loi, H et al. (2008) “Relationship of TMJ osteoarthritis / osteoarthrosis to head posture and dentofacial morphology” Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research 11:1, pp 8-16.

10 Tips on How to Beat the Winter Blues

With a big winter storm predicted to come in this weekend, stress levels among our community are at a high whether you are in line at a grocery store, stuck in traffic, getting your house ready, or waiting to fill up at a gas station. It is important to remember to count our blessings and have some fun. This blog was written to help you remember how fun the winter can be. Enjoy!

Dr. Jamie Engel’s 10 Tips on How to Beat the Winter Blues!

1. Try a winter sport: Ski, snowboard, cross-country, snow shoe, ice climb… get out there and have fun! Never done it before??? Take a lesson! There is no substitute to sun on your face and fresh air even in the winter. Movement is a nutrient just like food. Your body needs it to be healthy. Motion in your spine stimulates your brain and keeps it healthy! The endorphins also cheer you up! Keep moving even in the cold! Stay tuned for a healthy movement workshop at Aligned for Life Chiropractic.

2. Watch a Comedy Show or a Funny movie: Laughter is an amazing therapy. Did you know there is such a thing as laughter therapy? Laughter therapy is shown to help with muscle tension, stress hormones, immunity, and it’s just plain silly! The way we think actually creates physiological change throughout our entire body. Don’t believe me? How did you feel the first time you saw the love of your life? Remember how your heart rate increased, your hands got sweaty, etc. That’s because those thoughts promoted physical change. That’s why positive thinking (ie. laughter) is so important!

3. Bust out an old board game: When was the last time you played Monopoly or Scrabble? Old games are just as fun now as they were when you were a kid. It’s good to get away from the computer and TV especially on a snow day. Want to get out of the house? Bring the game to a local café or coffee shop!

4. Try a New Recipe:  This is the perfect time of year to try some new soups and stews. Most of which can be frozen and eaten throughout the week as a quick meal. Making soups from scratch is ridiculously easy and much healthier than any canned product. Studies have shown that people who spend more time cooking are less likely to suffer from obesity.

5. Make a Snowman: You are never too old to make Frosty! Become a kid again! Get creative! How about a snow bear or bunny? Dress him up as a Bruins fan or use an old Halloween costume. Have fun! With the nor’easter this weekend, there may be plenty of snow to play with!

6. Get a chiropractic adjustment: Did you know the chiropractic adjustment travels the same neurological pathway in the brain as a happy thought??? I have actually had many patients notice mood improvements while under regular chiropractic care.  It also keeps your immune system working strong by decreasing your stress levels (see my blog on Chiropractic and the Immune System). This is why many of our patients just don’t get sick as often. 

7. Make a Dream Board: What would your dream house look like? How about the car you’ve always wanted? What place would you love to travel to? Cut out pictures of them and put them on the board. Put it up on your wall and remember it can come true! Positive thoughts, such as reminding yourself of your dreams, are great for whole body health. Set some goals! 

8. Go to an Open Mic or local artist show: Remember how great music was before all the production work became main stream. There are great local venues right here in Beverly or your local town with local artists performing their hearts out. Plus, it’s free or much lower cost than any city venue! Music stimulates the brain.

9. Try a Zumba class:  My old assistant used to call it an “hour spasm.” Seriously though, it’s super fun! A great way to boost the endorphins and warm you right up! Like I stated above, keeping your body moving keeps your brain stimulated and your whole body healthy. Zumba classes keep your heart healthy by increasing your heart rate. It’s also a great way to meet people. 

10. Learn an instrument: It is never too late to pick up an instrument and learn how to play. It keeps your brain healthy and decreases stress. There are excellent instructors out there ready to help you learn!

Hope everyone stays warm and safe this weekend! Take care!

Dr. Jamie

Stress Relief through Chiropractic Care

In 2007, a gold standard double-blind placebo study was presented in the Journal of Human Hypertension, which demonstrated that a chiropractic adjustment, to the upper neck region, lowered blood pressure significantly. In a group of 50 people with early stage hypertension, 25 people had the chiropractic adjustment and 25 did not. None of the patients were allowed to take medication during the eight week study. The patients that had the adjustment saw an average drop of 14mmHG systolic blood pressure and 8mmHg diastolic. Interestingly enough, it would take two blood pressure medications to have the same effect. The researchers also noted that none of the patients getting the adjustments had any adverse reaction to the chiropractic treatment. In my opinion, the coolest part of this study is that they eliminated the patients who had complaints of neck pain. That’s right, they were all asymptomatic patients which means that they had no musculoskeletal complaints anywhere in their bodies. A link to the study is found at the end of this blog.

So why would a chiropractic adjustment decrease blood pressure?

It is the same reason, neurologically, that the adjustment would decrease overall stress in the body. When a spinal segment is subluxated (see subluxation blog for more information), or misaligned causing a restriction in range of motion, it interferes with the neurological message to the brain. The small joints in the spine constantly tell your brain where it is in space and time. Also, movement of the spine actually stimulates your brain. Why do you think toddlers like to move around and get into just about everything? They are learning and their brains are growing. This is also why it is counterproductive to have kids sit all day in classrooms without proper movement. When these joints are not moving, the brain receives stress signals from the body called nociception. Nociceptive signals activate the sympathetic nervous system or “fight or flight” response. It is the same response that would activate if the body was in trouble (ie. Saw a bear). This response is quite healthy short-term; however, it is devastating to the body’s overall health when chronically activated. Now, here’s the big question: If you saw a bear, would your heart rate and blood pressure increase or decrease? Silly question right? Of course your heart would pump like crazy to get blood to the organs which would get you away from the bear or attack it (hence why it is called “fight or flight”).

On the other side, the adjustment, which realigns the spinal joints by putting proper movement into them, not only decreases nociception but clinically increases proprioception. Propioception is the healthy stimulation to the brain which overrides the nociception thus decreases the stress response. Cool right? So every time anybody gets adjusted, it decreases the stress in their bodies meaning that all stress responses in the body will decrease. This would explain why chiropractic care throughout history has been anecdotally known to help stimulate immunity, improve digestive problems, difficulty breathing, reproductive issues, and so on. All of these symptoms or conditions are a reaction of the sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous system. When you turn it off, these symptoms decrease significantly.

It is extremely important to makes sure your spine has optimal health so that your entire body functions without stress. The stress response is not supposed to be used chronically but only in short-term situations to get us out of the stressful environment. Nowadays, with deadlines and rush hour traffic, stress is extremely hard to avoid and that is why it is important to get your regular spinal adjustments, exercise by moving those spinal joints, and keeping your mind at ease through meditation. Regular chiropractic adjustments keep your stress levels down and your body functioning better.

To find out if you are a good candidate for chiropractic care, give our office a call and schedule a free consultation. It’s time to take the stress off of your spine and your entire body! 978-969-6105

Link to information on the study

The Secret to Boosting Your Immune System

During my undergraduate college days at the University of California at Davis, I interned at a chiropractic office in Woodland, California. I had previously interned in the Pediatrics department at a medical center in Sacramento, and decided that I did not want to become a medical doctor anymore. I absolutely loved interacting with the children but I was very disappointed in the results and the quality of life these children obtained through the conventional treatments they received. After looking through the internships available, I found the listing to intern under a chiropractor. I had seen a chiropractor in high school for tennis injuries and migraine headaches but never really considered becoming one myself. I figured I loved Anatomy, Physiology and working with my hands so why not give chiropractic a try? Well, I loved it so much that I maximized my internship credit in the office.

One day, I showed up for my internship with the beginning of a cough/cold. Being a college student, instead of staying in bed and taking care of myself, I showed up anyway. The chiropractor looked at me in my sick state and told me to get adjusted before I left. I was confused. I did not have any neck or back pain. At that point, I thought chiropractic care was only for musculoskeletal purposes. How could an adjustment possibly help my cold?

After getting my spine adjusted, my cold/cough was about 50% better. I got adjusted one more time that week and my cough was completely gone. Now here’s the kicker. My roommate had gotten the same cold at the same exact time and the poor girl had the same cough/cold for two more weeks. She was very upset with me so now I make sure to adjust her every time she visits!

So how is this possible?

Can chiropractic help the immune system or was it all just luck?

Neurologically, the chiropractic adjustments stimulate nerves that fire to the brain which is called “proprioception.” Proprioception is healthy nerve stimulation that tells the body where it is in space. It is like the body’s GPS system. When a spine has proper alignment and full range of motion, the healthy proprioceptive nerves fire to the brain. When a spine is misaligned, or subluxated, and not moving properly, “nociceptive” or stress nerves fire to the brain. Interestingly enough, stimulation by nociceptive nerves create an unhealthy stress response in the entire body which is the body’s natural defense mechanism to get out of a dangerous situation. This stressful nerve input to the brain can actually lower the immune response in the body since your body is purely focused on getting away from the stress stimulus/environment. The chiropractic adjustments actually increases the proprioceptive (healthy) nerve stimulation that override the nociceptive nerve signal which in turn stops the stress signals which put a damper on the immune system. Bottom-line, the chiropractic adjustment gives you an immune system boost! This is why my cold/cough got better so fast.

It is no wonder that patients every day in every chiropractic office claim that they just don’t get sick anymore or if they do it’s short-lived and mild. I joke and call them chiropractic colds. I had a patient who was a nurse in a pediatrics department of a hospital who was the only staff member who did not get sick for an entire year! Everyone else passed around Strep Throat and other nasty colds/flu.

When the nervous system works better, the whole body works better. The nervous system controls every cell, tissue, and organ in the body including the immune system. Subluxations, or misalignments, interfere with the nervous system which is the body’s central communication line. If the body’s communication line is not working, the body cannot heal properly. If I called you with one bar of cell on my cellphone, would you get a clear message? Of course not! Your body’s messages get interfered with when your spine is subluxated (Read my subluxation blog for more information).

It is important to keep your spine and nervous system healthy so that your whole body works to its optimal potential! Chiropractic care must be a part of everyone’s health regime. You must eat right, think right, and move right!  If an apple a day keeps a doctor away, then an adjustment a week keeps your health at a peak!

If you know someone who needs an Immune System boost, have them make an appointment or invite them to a Wednesday night workshop at our office.

Call today! 978-969-6105

Better than the Flu Vaccine: 10 Tips to Kill a Cold or Flu Naturally

With the winter season here, I get asked this question all the time from patients, family members and of course friends. They have all heard how antibiotics really aren’t what we thought they were twenty years ago. It has become more common that even medical doctors are advising patients not to take antibiotics as most of the time the bacterial infection is already immune to it. Even worse, antibiotics kill all the “good” bacteria in your body that supports a healthy immune system. It would be like trying to control a pest problem by setting your house on fire. What happens if the fire does not kill the pest? Well, now you have a messed up house! This is exactly what can happen to the body.

The first thing you must understand about colds and flu is that they are not caused by luck and just because your partner has a bug it doesn’t mean you are going to get it too. Sickness is caused by your cells having to adapt to an unhealthy environment. Let’s think of it this way: When do we get sick? The winter right. Are there any holidays during the winter where we eat poorly? Candy on Halloween, pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, cookies on Christmas, or even champagne on New Years? Do we get sunlight daily for immune promoting Vitamin D? Not in New England where I live! Are we exercising during the winter? Are we stressed during the holidays when buying presents and watching our bank accounts diminish? Do we forget to get our weekly adjustments? Well, hopefully not if your one of my patients but you get my drift. Your body has to be in an unhealthy state to become ill. Healthy cells must be put in an unhealthy environment to become sick.  This is the case in all diseases or illnesses!

So how do we keep our cells in a healthy environment so we can deflect illnesses?

Here are Dr. Jamie’s 10 tips that can help you through the winter whether you have a cold, flu, or just plain don’t want to catch anything in the first place:

1. Get adjusted by your local Chiropractor!

Of course I am going to start with the most important system in your body: your nervous system! Neurologically, when you have subluxations or misalignments in your spine, your body elicits a stress response which inhibits your immune system. It is devastating to your entire body, so keep up with your regular adjustments! It is no wonder that chiropractic patients get sick less.

2. Eat leafy greens!

If you don’t maintain the pH balance in your pool or hot tub what happens? You get a pool full of muck! Your body is the same way! Eating greens alkalinizes your body so that bugs can not live in it! Don’t like to eat greens? Look for green drinks available at your local health food stores. Make sure they do not contain artificial sweeteners.

3. Avoid sugar and dairy:

What happens to sour cream if you don’t eat it by the expiration date? It becomes a science project very quickly! Bacteria love dairy and sugar. The same thing happens in your body when you consume these products. Milk products and sugar are awful for your immune system. Pathogens feed on sugar and dairy! Sore throat? Stay away from ice cream! Try some tea with lemon (vitamin C) and honey.

4. Eat garlic, ginger, and onion:

All three of these items are God’s gift to the human immune system! They are natural antibiotics! Eat them up! Raw if possible! (see tea recipe below)

5. Vitamin C (1000mg) & Vitamin D:

For proper daily Vitamin D, get that sun on your face if possible for five minutes a day. If not, supplement with Vitamin D in a liquid form. Liquids always absorb in your body much better than pills. Look for whole food supplements, not synthetically made supplements. If you are in a hurry or travelling, there are plenty of Vitamin C Boosting Packs available that you mix with water. Just as with everything else, check the ingredients.

6. Rest!!!!

Stress does awful things to the body! Sleep is your body’s natural way to heal. Keep your immune system high by getting 8 hours a night! If you do get sick, take the day off and stay in bed. One day out is better than getting worse and having to take off a week!

7. Echinacea & Goldenseal:

Did you get sick? Take these if you are coming down with something. The sooner, the better, so don’t wait! Liquid source is always better if you can stand the taste. Organic is always better but a bit tougher on your wallet (but well worth it!).

8. Think healthy thoughts:

I had a teacher who once said, “If you tell three people you are getting sick, you will get sick.” Taking time to count your blessings and deep breathe will help boost your immune system. Always remember: thoughts promote physiological change good and bad.

9. Watch out for unhealthy cough drops!

Always check the ingredients for high fructose corn syrup and toxic artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, sucralose, etc.) Organic Zinc Lozenges with Echinacea or Vitamin C is the way to go! Menthol may feel good but is not as constructive as Zinc when it comes to repair.

10. Add some spice to your food!

If you can handle spicy food, try adding a bit of hot sauce or Cayenne pepper to your food to drain congestion naturally. A nice bowl of spicy Thai soup or curry flushes out those sinuses. Can’t take the heat? Try Steaming! Put boiling water into a bowl with a couple drops of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and cloves. Put a towel over your head and breathe!

I hope you enjoy these tips! Do you have any good tips to share? Please comment below! I would love to hear what you do when you are sick!

Stay healthy!

Dr. Jamie

QUICK IMMUNE BOOSTING HEALTHY RECIPE:

Dr. Jamie’s special “tea”: Pour boiling water into a big mug over some chopped up ginger (without the skin), big slice of organic lemon, a few cloves and local organic honey. Peeling ginger is easiest with a spoon or if you get lazy just chop it off with a knife. Enjoy!

Beverly Family Chiropractor screens local community at North Shore Mall in Peabody, MA

Free chiropractic consultations at North Shore Mall in Peabody, MA

Beverly Family Chiropractor, Dr. Jamie Engel from Aligned for Life Chiropractic is doing free health checks at North Shore Mall for the month of January. Come by to meet the doctor, have your posture checked, and take advantage of our new patient specials!

Dr. Jamie Engel will be checking the local community and educating them about the effects of vertebral subluxation on whole body health. Because poor posture is linked to an unhealthy spine and nervous system, Dr. Engel will be giving free posture evaluations for any mall attendees to help them learn how they can achieve better health in 2013 and beyond!

Have you made a New Years resolution to take better care of yourself in 2013! Maybe get fit by joining a gym or eating a healthier diet? How about starting the New Year with a healthier spine and nervous system.  There is no better or easier way to jump start your health than with a healthier spine and nervous system!

The nervous system controls every cell, tissue and organ in your body. Research has shown that Vertebral Subluxations, or small misalignments of the vertebral joints, ignite a stress response throughout your entire body. That’s why chiropractic adjustments can improve many symptoms besides aches and pains, including but not limited to digestion, circulation, and even stress!

Are you a good candidate for chiropractic care? Stop by the North Shore Mall in Peabody, MAand find out today.

What does this free screening include?

1. A Free Consultation with the doctor: Does your child have health problems? Do you have symptoms and wonder if chiropractic care is appropriate for you? The doctor will be available to answer all your questions about your health and how chiropractic may help you!

2. Weight imbalance: The doctor will check if your body favors one side by putting you on two scales. One scale will be under your left foot and the other under your right foot. Any weight shift bigger than 5lbs is abnormal. Children should always be even. If you put a ten pound block on one side of your car, what would happen to the wheels and tires on one side? It will wear and tear faster on the side of increased pressure. Biomechanically, this is what happens on one side of your body. Poor biomechanic pressure on one side of the body can result in abnormal stress in the spine, hips, knees, etc. making the body more prone to disc problems and degeneration. It is important to maintain equal weight balance in your body. Do you have a abnormal weight shift causing problems throughout your body?

3. Posture check: The doctor will also check your posture. She will look for level shoulders, level hips and head in the center of your shoulders. Any deviation from this normal posture is a big indicator of subluxation. If your posture is crooked, your spine is probably crooked as well! Look in the mirror. Is your posture crooked?

4. If the doctor finds indicators of vertebral subluxation, she will strongly recommend further examination in the office. For mall clients only, she is offering a full examination at a specially discounted rate. Unfortunately discounts can not be given to Medicare patients. Terms and conditions may apply.

The North Shore Mall in Peabody MA. hours are 11am to 6pm on Sundays and 10am-9pm Monday to Saturday. We will be doing screenings every weekend for the month of January. Our team will also be at the mall at specific times during the week. If you don’t catch us at the mall why not stop by our office at 317-319 Rantoul Street Beverly MA. or call for a free chiropractic consultation 978-969-6105.

I look forward to meeting you and discussing your health goals for 2013. I will answer any questions regarding your future health!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jamie

10 Tips on How to Get Healthy in 2013

First and foremost, Happy New Year Everybody! Who’s excited about 2013???? I sure am! I love the New Year! It’s a great time to look back on the previous year and make goals for the year ahead especially when it comes to your health.

But where do you start when it comes to getting healthy? Let’s make it easy!

I do not believe in weight loss fads or gimmicks because they are not long term lifestyle choices! Some celebrity who is paid to tell you how to lose weight, have better skin, what pill to take, etc. is a joke! Don’t fall for it! Losing weight, having more energy, feeling great, and looking radiant are all side effects from making healthy lifestyle choices every day!

On that note, here are some tips to getting healthier this year. I look forward to having a wonderful year with you!

 Dr. Jamie’s 10 Easy Tips for getting healthier this year:

1. Eat something green or raw with every meal

Throwing spinach in your eggs or kale in your tomato sauce, soup, or smoothie is so easy and you won’t even taste it.  Start easy with eating a banana with breakfast or carrots with lunch! Finding it difficult to get enough greens in your diet? Try Supplements. Find a high quality multivitamin to take every day. Throw out generic store bought, cheap, synthetic ones since you literally flush them down the toilet anyway.  Start adding healthy items to your diet and your taste buds will literally change. Your body will crave what you put in it!

2. Go without TV or computer at least once a week

As a culture, we have become TV and social media obsessed. Give your brain a rest!  Better yet, make a no phone date with your spouse or a friend where you turn off your phones. Talk to each other. Listen to each other without any distractions.

3. Set goals

Stop and write them down! Start with what you want to accomplish this year. Better yet title it what you WILL accomplish this year. Do this for health, finance, career, family, etc. List at least three goals for each topic and tape it to your fridge.

4. Change one bad habit

Whether you always get popcorn at the movies or that Monday afternoon latte, try to change it! Behavior modification is the most important tool when pursuing optimal health.  You may not even realize some habits that you have formed throughout your life. Write them down and just pick one at a time. Start easy on yourself!

5. Stretch your body

What does a baby do when it wakes up? What do our pets do when they wake up? STRETCH! It is just as important to stretch your body after resting as it is after strenuous activity.  Stay tuned for our easy at home spinal stretches which are as important to do daily as brushing your teeth!

6. Go to bed early

Sleeping when you’re dead is too late! The best rest we can get is by 10pm anything earlier is a plus! Getting 7-8 hours a night is extremely important. When you sleep you heal and your cells regenerate. Avoid food 90 minutes before you go to bed for optimal rest. Turn that TV and computer off at least one hour before bed. Keep those electronics out of the bedroom and turn your cellphone off as it can interfere with your sleep patterns.

7. Quit soda and alcohol

Cutting down on the last of the legal drugs, as I like to call it, will change your life. I don’t care if your soda has no calories or caffeine or you drink skinny martinis.  It is “poison” as my grandmother always says. Drinking water with lemon while out at restaurants will not only save you money, but illness and calories. Use the extra money you save and put it towards upgrading to organic food.

8. Cut down on sugar

There is an abundance of information out there that sugar is toxic. It feeds the pathogens in our body that causes illness. It is also very addictive and the more you eat it the more you crave it. See if you can go one whole day without eating anything with sugar in it. Completely cut out high fructose corn syrup! It is very toxic. Watch out for “glucose-fructose syrup” while overseas which is the same compound but a different name… so sneaky.

9. Count your blessings

As said by the great Bing Crosby, “count your blessings instead of sheep.” It is extremely important to appreciate every gift we have even when life is tough. Think about what you are grateful for every night before you fall asleep. I remember having an older patient who said “every morning you can get out of bed is a good morning.” I could not agree more.

10. Get adjusted! (Saving the best for last!)

Did you really think I was going to skip this one? Like I have said many times before, it is imperative for your health to get your spine adjusted. The health of your spine and nervous system is directly correlated with the health of your brain and your body. Waiting for pain in your back to see a chiropractor is as foolish as waiting for a skin infection before showering. Without proper care of your spine, your spinal joints will deteriorate. When joints become subluxated, motion and alignment become lost, leading to improper signaling and communication in the body. Bottom-line, getting your spine adjusted is by far the most important and easiest way to get healthier this new year. You can eat the most organic fresh off the farm veggies but if the communication to your digestive system is interfered with than the food will not be digested optimally. This is why it is so important to take care of your spine and nervous system for whole body health!

Find a chiropractor near you or if you live in the north shore of Boston area, find us at 317-319 Rantoul Street, Beverly, Massachusetts and stop in for a free consultation!

Most importantly, do not give up! If you cheat or make a mistake, it is OK! Tomorrow is always a new day!  It’s never too late to regain better health! Let’s make 2013 your best year yet!!!! Stick with this blog and I will help you with no endorsements or gimmicks. Feel free to give your input! Ask questions, give me blog topics, and comment below. Please share it on your favorite social media account if you like it and believe others can benefit from it.

Stay tuned for more blogs on how to take back your health in 2013!

A Heart Full of Gratitude after Grand Opening

I am posting this blog today with an amazing amount of gratitude after the event we had last night. Last night, we celebrated the Grand Opening of my new chiropractic office in Beverly, Massachusetts, Aligned for Life Chiropractic. It was truly a wonderful event which was kicked off by a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Beverly, Bill Scanlon. I am so grateful that he was able to stop by and officially open our business.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, we had a fun open house full of music by DJ Willy of Atomic Entertainment, kids having their faces painted by Face Paint Fantasy, new patients getting tours of the new office and of course lots of healthy food. I want to thank everyone that was able to attend! Thank you to Jana from Associated X-ray in Haverhill, Laura from Eastern Bank, Jess from Glovsky & Glovsky in Beverly, our go to graphic guys Lenny and Kevin from The Graphic Jam in Beverly, and everyone else! It was so wonderful to see old and new faces!

Even those who could not attend, I want to thank! I was overwhelmed by the amount of plants/gifts I was sent from those friends and colleagues who were not able to make it. Thank you to Richard from Atlantic Office Furniture Liquidators in Lynn, The Rotary Club of Swampscott, Burba Dental Partners in Salem, Creative Cuts and Color in Marblehead, and of course my parents! My office looked so beautiful today filled with plants in every corner! It makes me feel so supported! Words cannot describe my gratitude!

I also want to give a big shout out to the Millers, my East Coast parents, and Erika for volunteering. You guys are rockstars! The event would not have ran so smoothly without you guys!

Also, congratulations to all the prize winners from last night! I hope you enjoy them!

I am so excited to meet with the new patients from the event this week and teach them about chiropractic. Whether you live locally in Beverly, Massachusetts or across the country or world for that matter, we need to teach people about chiropractic care.  The chiropractic profession sees such a small amount of the population even though it works beautifully to restore a healthier nervous system. Chiropractic should, and I believe will be one day, be a part of everyone’s health regimen just like seeing a dentist. Keep spreading the word and sharing my blogs. I will hopefully upload some pictures from the event this weekend so stay tuned!

With love and gratitude,

Dr. Jamie

What is Subluxation? Your Power is On!

As the electrician was working on my power today, I thought about how we often take for granted the simple luxuries we have in everyday life like having power. Power is what runs our communities and keeps us functioning. The electricity in your body is no different. It is the source of communication, your innate intelligence, and keeps all your cells, tissues and organs communicating properly. On that note, I hope you enjoy this blog.

There’s an old chiropractic saying “Your power is on!” I say it to patients after their adjustments; a saying that easily goes back to the early 1900’s. As chiropractors, we adjust misalignments of the spine called vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations, now recognized in scientific journals like Clinical Neurophysiology, are misalignments of the spine that interfere with the nervous system. As most of us know, the brain is the hard drive of the body controlling every cell, tissue and organ. The nervous system is basically the telephone line, the central communication line, from the brain to the body and back. It is scientific fact that this communication in your body is the basis of your health and vitality. The term “subluxation” translates from the Latin root as “sub” which is “less than” and “luxation” which means “light/energy.” Subluxation interferes with the energy, the lifeline, in the body.

Now there are two places I can diverge here. In Eastern medicine, they refer to the lifeline as “Qi” or energy in the body. I love learning about Eastern medicine! There is so much to be said by it. On the other hand, my science background pipes in and goes into the importance of a well-functioning nervous system. Vertebral subluxation neurologically puts a stress response on the entire body by interfering with brain function. So think about it this way, let’s say I eat the healthiest, organic, fresh off the farm food but my spine has never been adjusted by a chiropractor. The nerves throughout my body are stressed. Can we digest food well when our systems are stressed out??? Of course not!

Some people think: I don’t have back pain so why would I need to see a chiropractor?

Well, what if I said, I don’t have tooth pain so I don’t need to see a dentist. Or even better, I don’t have a skin infection so why do I need to shower or wash my clothes. Gross right? If I had never saw a dentist for my thirty year existence and no one taught me how to brush and floss, what would my teeth look like? Decay? Rot? Degeneration? Lucky if I have teeth??? Exactly! Those are spines I see everyday! Spines that are literally rotting away without the patient knowing it! Now, there are even studies out there illustrating the link between spinal rot and brain rot! Yikes!

As my lights went back on in my office, I could not help to think of all those people out there whose bodies are living like my new office. How dim the expression of light is in so many bodies out there. How subluxated people are. Though just like my office, light can be turned back on. If we get our bodies adjusted and learn how to live healthier lives, our health will come back. If a room is dark, you add light. You can not make a room light by taking out the dark. If a body is sick, you add health not just take out the sickness. It’s never too late to bring full light back into your body!

How do you know if you have subluxation?

A chiropractic examination is the best way to find out if you are a good candidate for care. Once again, it’s NEVER too late to bring health back into your body.

On that note, our office is now accepting new patients. We are located at 317 & 319 Rantoul Street in Beverly, MA 01915. Give us a call and we will schedule you for a full examination. Let’s bring health back into your body! Get aligned for life!