Whether you are running a 5K race or hiking in the great outdoors, it’s your feet that take you there. Doesn’t it make sense to give your feet the support that they need to enhance your performance and efficiency?

 InMotion Stabilizing Orthotics:

• Contains Celliant, which stimulates blood flow and increases tissue oxygen up to 10.2% in active patients.
• Individually designed

 Features: 

• InMotion provides excellent shock absorption, extra propulsion and more stability in the arches for individuals on the go.
•  Includes dri-release® technology to evaporate sweat quickly.
• Infused silver ions help capture and kill noxious odors.
• Dynamic Response System™ Extreme (DRS-Extreme) gives you more comfort, more protection and more performance.
• Enhances your body’s performance and efficiency
• Reduces pain
• Reduces fatigue
• Contributes to your total body wellness
• Helps you live your life in balance

Could InMotion Orthodics improve  your race? Consider scheduling a FREE consultation at Cruz Life Center for a detailed foot exam ($50.00 value).  InMotion Orthotics can improve your overall performance and assist you in reaching your goals!

Call us for an appointment today!

828-682-6157 | 800-772-7955

390 East Main Street, Burnsville, NC 28714

1) Use the link to download and print the appeal to send to Congress.

 2) Sign the document and add your address.

3) Please mail the completed document to the given address.

 Laser Therapy uses red and infrared light for the relief of pain, to accelerate healing and decrease inflammation. When the light source is placed against the skin, the photons penetrate several centimeters and get absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy producing part of a cell. This energy fuels many positive physiological responses resulting in the restoration of normal cell morphology and function.

 Unlike many physical therapy treatments that mask pain or only address the symptoms of disease, Laser Therapy treats the underlying condition or pathology to promote healing. This means that the treatments are effective and the benefits of laser Therapy are long lasting.

 When comparing lasers, the Bioflex laser has 180 diodes per pad compared to 1 to 6 diodes found in other lasers. Bioflex is more effective with chronic conditions because of the larger area being treated.

Cruz Life Center offers the most advanced and updated equipment, which is often not the case with private in home laser systems. In home Laser Therapists can only offer lasers with low diodes, and cannot properly asses the trouble area through the use of x-rays and a certified doctor. At Cruz Life Center, you have the advantage of optional x-rays, a doctor on site, and only the best equipment to aide you in your speedy recovery.

Delicious Blackberry Pancakes topped with real butter and real maple syrup

Mix together:

1 cup of buckwheat pancake mix

1 ¼  cup of blackberries

2 scoops of Chiropractors Blend vanilla protein powder

3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed

2 cups of coconut milk or your favorite nondairy milk

Stir and let sit for 5 minutes

Cook pancakes on hot gridle (you will have to cook them for longer than normal pancakes so try one and make sure it is cooked all the way through)

Top with real butter and real maple syrup…mmm delcious… It’s hard to resist these healthy protein pancakes you can feel good about eating

Frequently Asked Questions about the Fat Flush

Q.  How does the Fat Flush Work?

A.  It cleanses your liver, kidneys, and intestines, flushing out toxins and resetting your metabolism.

Q.  I have failed on so many programs, how is this one different?

A. You will get the support you need to succeed.  You will have energy and feel good while on the program.

Q. Will I feel hungry on this program?

A. No.  You will have many meals and snacks a day.  For some people, they actually eat MORE on the program and lose weight.

Q. What if I don’t want to lose 20 pounds?

A. This is a program that cleanses your system.  You can just do the detox part and  not focus on losing weight.

Q.   If I am a vegetarian can I do the program?

A. Yes, we will customize the menu for you.

• 1 oz. Organic, unsweetened Cranberry juice (Mountain Wood or Lakeland brand)
• 4- drops of Stevia (recommended choices: Clear,Berry, Lemon, or Cinnamon)
• 1 cup water
• 1 heaping Tablespoon of psyllium husks or ground flax seed

Mix and drink quickly

Benefits:
Good for kidneys, intestines/ digestion. A great cleansing Detox for your system.

•Chiropractic aligns your body – so you can be your Best
•Low Intensity Laser Therapy is non-invasive, non-toxic, easily applied, highly effective, with 95% cure rate
•Coaching for Health & Life is necessary to reach your goals
•Proper supplementation is essential for good health
•The impossible can always be possible with God – The Great Physician
•Exercise is necessary for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional & mental state
•Restful Sleep is required for the body to heal
•Regular detoxification of the body eliminates the buildup of poisons which will damage our health & vitality
•Buying organic food, along with all the above, is health insurance for healthy living

Does high cholesterol really cause heart disease?  This is the question that many people are asking. You might be surprised by the answer. 

This excerpt was taken from an interview between Dr. Mercola and Uffe Ravnskov, MD, phD. 

            Q: When did you begin to suspect that the cholesterol theory of atherosclerosis might be wrong?  What led you to this conclusion?  Before then, had you believed the cholesterol theory?  Was this part of your training? 

            A: I never thought that it was true.  I heard about it for the first time in 1962 shortly after getting my MD.  My biochemical knowledge was still intact at that time and I knew that cholesterol was one of the most important molecules in your body, indispensable for the building of your cells and for producing stress and sex hormones, as well as vitamin D. 

            The idea that cholesterol in the blood should kill us if its concentration is a little higher than normal, as they wrote in the Framingham paper, seemed to me just as silly as to claim that yellow fingers cause lung cancer.

            Q: If the cholesterol hypothesis is error, does this mean that all of its therapies- low cholesterol diet, cholesterol lowering natural therapies, and medications- are wrong?

            A: Absolutely! This type of treatment is meaningless, costly, and has transformed many healthy people into patients.

  I receive hundreds of emails a year from patients, who have regained their health after having stopped their cholesterol-lowering treatment.

            Q: Specifically, what are your views on statins?

            A: Their benefit is trivial, and has been seen only in male patients who already have heart disease.  Worse is their many adverse effects are ignored or cleverly belittled by the trial directors.  Independent researchers have found many more adverse effects and in much higher numbers.  If they are true, it means that today, millions of previously healthy people probably consider their weak and painful muscles, their bad memory, their sexual failure, and their cancer to be a consequence of increasing age, and so do their doctors.  The risk of cancer is most alarming.  Both animal experiments, epidemiological studies, and several of the statin trails have shown that low cholesterol predisposes to cancer. 

            This widespread use of statin treatment probably explains why the decrease of the smoking habit that has been going on in many countries hasn’t been followed by a decrease of cancer mortality.  We should have seen a decrease because smoking predispose not only bronchial cancer, but to all kinds of cancer.

            Q: Drug companies market vigorously the highest, strongest doses of statins.  Lipitor is pushed at the highest dosage, 80 mg.  This dosage is the most powerful for lowering cholesterol and LDL, but it also causes more adverse effects and costs more than lower doses.  What are your thoughts about this?

            A: The outcome of these trials is a further demonstration that the small benefit from statin treatment has nothing to do with cholesterol.  For instance, although cholesterol plummeted and remained about 50 percent below the initial value during the whole SEAS trial, it did not change morality, but it increased the number of cancer with statistical significance. 

            Q: If statins can be helpful in reducing the incidence of heart attacks, who should take them?

            A: In my view, nobody. 

            Q: From the data I have seen, statins have not produced a reduction in overall cardiac deaths.  Do you have any ides of why this is?

            A: As you know, the statins block not only the synthesis of cholesterol, but also of other vital molecules, for instance coenzyme Q10, and muscle cells, including those of the heart, cannot function properly without Q10.

            Q: Do you think that mainstream medicine will ever relinquish its view that elevated cholesterol causes heart disease, and that statins are the magic bullet?

A: I hope so.  The failures of the most recent statin trials have been commented on by several journalists in the major U.S. newspapers.  In Sweden, a revolution is going on.  Here, a general practitioner treated her own obesity successfully by eating a low carbohydrate diet with a high concentrate of animal fat.  When she advised her obese and diabetic patients to do the same, she was reported to the National Board of Health and Welfare for malpractice.  After a two-year-long investigation, she was acquitted, as her treatment was considered to be in accord with scientific evidence.  The subject has gained general attention due to a number of radio and television shows, where critical experts, including myself, have discussed the issue with the representatives of the official view. 

Most important, thousands of patients have experienced themselves that by doing the opposite as recommended by the current guideline, they have regained their health!

            Q: Are there any other risk factors that should be followed? Such as: C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, homocysteine, lipoprotein A…  Any other factors?

            A: Such analyses may be helpful for doctors to put the right diagnosis in patients with a disease of an unknown origin.  But to check healthy people’s blood to find deviations from normal is the freeway to unnecessary medication.

            Q: Are there any other alternative therapies besides statins that people might consider?

            A: There is no reason for healthy people to take drugs, or anything else, to prevent heart disease, as long as we do not know the very cause.

Reprinted by permission

Visit Mercola.com to read the entire article or more great articles about health.

Dirty Dozen Foods You Should Always Buy Organic

The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) is a nonprofit organization that advocates in Washington D.C., for policies that protect global and individual health. Among the many valuable services they provide is a Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It is based on the results of nearly 43,000 pesticide tests performed on produce and collected by federal agencies between 2000 and 2004. Nearly all of the data used took into account how people typically wash and prepare produce – for example, apples were washed and bananas peeled before testing.

Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, these had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic versions – or to grow organically yourself:

•Peaches
•Apples
•Sweet bell peppers
•Celery
•Nectarines
•Strawberries
•Cherries
•Lettuce
•Grapes (imported)
•Pears
•Spinach
•Potatoes
Why should you care about pesticides? The EWG points out that there is a growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can have adverse effects on health, especially during vulnerable periods such as fetal development and childhood.

THE CLEAN LIST
Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, the following twelve foods do not have to be organic. These had the lowest pesticide load, and consequently are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume from the standpoint of pesticide contamination:

•Broccoli
•Eggplant
•Cabbage
•Banana
•Kiwi
•Asparagus
•Sweet peas (frozen)
•Mango
•Pineapple
•Sweet corn (frozen)
•Avocado
•Onion

The Masters golf tournament symbolizes the beginning of golf season so now is the perfect time to get fit with a competitive advantage. You take your game seriously, and to you, each stroke matters. You’ll do anything to improve your game – whether through better equipment, instructional DVDs, or lessons from pros.

ParFlex Plus® Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers were proven in JMPT published studies to increase the club head speed of experienced golfers by 3-5 mph, which equals 9-15 yards of increased distance! The Stabilizers improved proprioceptive balance and helped increase pelvic rotation. They also had a positive influence on stride length, components of gait, symmetry of gait movements and the reduction of fatigue. This combination can help our golfers generate more acceleration in the downswing, thus increasing club head speed creating greater ball flight.

Want a “performance edge” in your golf game? Get fitted for your custom pair of ParFlex Plus® Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers today.

Gout – A new treatment for an old problem  

Testimony From Our Patient

    Karen Gilliam

Recently, I had a terrible case of gout in my big toe.   The most recent attack of gout is presently being treated, but the pain is very much less since this last laser therapy session yesterday.  I think the cold laser therapy is wonderful, and a great invention!  My husband has had severe attacks of gout in the past, and I told him that the next time he has an attack, to forget the very powerful pain medication the doctor prescribed to him, and drive over to Burnsville and try the cold laser.   I thank God for helping me to find a natural alternative to treat pain!  All of the staff at Cruz are wonderful too.  It gives my spirit a lift just to go there once a week. 

Gout

Gout (also referred to as gouty arthritis) is a debilitating form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and tendons. It is an intensely painful disease that results from an increased uric acid concentration in the bloodstream. The most frequent location of symptoms is the 1st toe (75% of initial attacks), although it can also affect many other joints such as the ankle, knee, digits and spine.

In medieval times the disease was thought to be the result of a decadent lifestyle, as purine rich foods were only available in quantity to the wealthy. The stereotypical victim was a lazy, obese, middle-aged man over indulging in rich food and alcohol. Over the centuries many famous people have suffered from gout; these include Henry VIII, Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Presently, gout is associated with renal disease, diabetes, obesity, leukemia and also the result of the use of diuretics. Improvements in the diet of the “common” man have increased the frequency of this previously somewhat rare disease. It is now no longer associated with a “posh” lifestyle and unfortunately has become a more “common” illness.

 Acute gout presents without warning. The exact cause of the disease is not known, although it is linked to a deficiency in purine metabolism. It can also be associated with minor trauma, overindulgence in purine-rich food, alcohol, surgery, fatigue, emotional and other stress. Purine is an organic compound that is common in the body and is metabolized into uric acid. Individuals suffering with gout usually have an increased concentration of uric acid in the blood, the result of increased production of uric acid and/or an impaired excretion thereof. This increased concentration of uric acid (hyperuricema) results in local deposits of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in relatively avascular tissues (i.e. cartilage, tendons, ligaments, etc.) around the cooler distal peripheral joints . In severe long standing cases, this condition can also result in MSU crystals being deposited in larger central joints as well as also the kidneys (renal calculi). Uric acid is normally processed in the kidneys into a form of urate for excretion.

 Stages

 Gout can be subdivided into four distinct stages

1. asymptomatic

2. acute

3. intercritical

4. chronic

In the first stage (asymptomatic), the uric acid levels in the blood increase, but there are no symptoms. The initial attack of gout marks the acute stage. These attacks generally resolve rapidly although severe attacks can last several days and can even extend several weeks.

Low Intensity Laser Therapy has been clinically demonstrated to shorten the duration of the initial outbreak in addition to relieving the pain associated with this stage. Following the initial attack, the patient enters a period of dormancy, known as the intercritical or symptom-free stage that may last for a long period of time. The majority of gout sufferers experience their second attack generally within 6 months to 2 years. In the chronic stage of the disease, attacks of gout become more frequent and polyarticular (affecting more than one joint). Large tophi (deposits of crystals) can be found deposited in many joints during this phase.

 Signs and Symptoms

 The onset of gout is generally confined to nocturnal pain in a single joint (monoarticular), although it can be associated with multiple joints. The pain becomes progressively more severe and at times can be excruciating. The symptoms often mimic those of acute infection with edema, elevated temperature and erythema. The soft tissues overlying the joint are usually extremely tender and in some instances even the presence of blankets touching the skin can be irritating. The overlying skin is tense, warm, shiny and red or purplish in colour. Fever, tachycardia, chills and malaise may also be present.

The secondary attacks usually affect only one joint and last only a few days, but subsequent attacks can affect several joints simultaneously or sequentially and persist for weeks if left untreated.

 Diagnosis

 Gout has such a distinct clinical signature that it can often be tentatively diagnosed by history and physical examination alone. Elevated serum urate (7mg/dL) supports the diagnosis but is not specific. This is due to the fact that 30% of the patients have a normal serum urate level at the time of their first attack. The definitive diagnosis of gout can be readily obtained from light

  Treatment

 The first treatment administered should be directed to relieve pain. Conventionally this has consisted of the use of NSAID’s and analgesics to temporarily diminish pain sensation. Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) properly applied can significantly reduce the pain and swelling associated with acute outbreaks of gout immediately, with concomitant elimination of the requirement for pharmaceuticals. LILT acts rapidly to reduce the inflammation surrounding the joint capsule in addition to relieving the debilitating pain. At our clinics generally there is a total relief of pain following 1 to 3 treatments on sequential days. A recent publication on the use of laser therapy in treating the acute stage of gout demonstrated that “both laser therapy and diclofenac (NSAID) achieved rapid pain relief in patients with acute gouty arthritis, similar in efficacy. Laser therapy was more effective than diclofenac in patients with chronic pyrophosphate arthropathy and in patients with chronic apatite deposition disease”.

Following the reduction of these initial symptoms the conventional therapy is to administer colchicine which reduces the serum concentration of uric acid in the blood. As with most pharmaceuticals, colchicine produces undesirable side effects including GI tract symptoms. Avoiding purine rich foods such as meat, fish, dry beans, mushrooms, alcohol, in addition to consuming purine-neutralizing foods (i.e. fresh fruits and vegetables) could help reduce the concentration of uric acid. Even with a change in diet the success of this approach is limited in reducing the symptoms of gout. In addition to changes in diet, increasing the volume of liquids ingested, particularly water, aids in the body’s ability to excrete uric acid.

Recently Allopurinol has been developed as a long term treatment of gout. This treatment is useful in reducing the serum uric acid levels with concomitant reductions in the outbreaks of gout. Again there are obstacles with this approach as this treatment cannot be administered until after the attack has subsided. Other side effects include GI tract distress, hepatitis and a potentially harmful eczema. An additional negative aspect of this treatment is that it is a lifelong decision; ceasing treatment with Allopurinol causes an almost immediate relapse of gout due to the sudden rise in serum uric acid levels.

During the past month at the Meditech clinic, we had 2 complex cases of gout in rapid succession. Routinely, we treat 30-40 cases of gout per annum and in all cases we obtain rapid resolution of symptoms without early recurrence. The majority of patients on initial presentation have been on medications including Indomethacin, Colchicine, Allopurinol, etc. Most patients had continued to have persistent pain and presented in order to obtain more effective alternative therapy. Rapid resolution of pain and inflammation are infallible indicators of change in the affected joints. These two patients noted nearly 100% reduction in pain following their first treatment. Whereas this approach is highly effective, patients should also be cautioned to alter their dietary habits in order to maintain low uric acid levels. Our experience at Meditech indicates that LILT instituted at the onset of pain is the treatment of choice in both acute and chronic gout.

Soriano F, Campana V, Moya M, Gavotto A, Simes J, Soriano M, Soriano R, Spitale L, Palma J. Photobiomodulation of pain and inflammation in microcrystalline arthropathies: experimental and clinical results. Photomed Laser Surg. 24(2): 140-50, 2006.

  Presented 2 months after initial symptoms with severe pain and the inability to bear weight.

Following treatment; normal ROM and pain totally relieved.

Patient 2: Male 53 years;

Gout of the 1st toe (metatarsal-phalangeal joint).

3 treatments over 5 days.

Erythema and edema were reduced rapidly.

Complete elimination of pain following two treatment sessions.

Throughout the years, mankind has been increasingly plagued by the all-inclusive term known as “back ache”.

Transformed over the centuries from an active hunter/farmer with a powerful musculature, based on the axiom of “survival of the fittest”, the human race has become largely sedentary and in the age of technology, relatively immobile.

The result – muscle atrophy, diminished bulk, tone and flexibility; good posture is relegated to the past, and the spinal column literally collapses. This deterioration creates numerous biomechanical imbalances. The result of these developments places increasing stress on the vertebrae, discs and ligaments that form and maintain the basic infrastructure of the body.
The spine, which is the pillar of the architecture, is no longer supported by a vibrant musculature. This is comparable to the bricks and mortar around a steel skyscraper and when this breaks down it results in numerous pathological conditions which can be extremely painful and physically restrictive.

The inherent problems are compounded by weekend or periodic strenuous activities on the part of the individual whose tissues are dormant during the week and are then subjected to physical stress for which they are not prepared. The recommended “minutes” of stretching prior to activity is really of minimal help. This is one of the major mobility problems facing bipeds in the age of technology. As people live longer, tissues are also subjected to the “wear and tear” of the aging process, characterized as “degenerative osteoarthritis”. The combination of disuse due to the sedentary factor and degeneration of the tissues as a result of aging, produces multiple problems of the joints, cartilage and soft tissues of the spine, for reasons which are readily apparent. The spine supports the weight of the upper body and the functional stress imposed by the lower body and by virtue of its perpendicular state the complexity of the discs, vertebrae, facets, etc. make it the largest and certainly the most vulnerable structure in the entire body.

As degeneration progresses there is increasing osteophyte formation, chronic and acute inflammation of the surrounding tissues, scar tissue formation, joint contracture, etc. Other more ominous complications accompany these events (i.e. stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal with compression of the cord and the foramina through which nerve roots exit from the spinal canal).
In high level athletes the process is dramatically accelerated. Excessive exposure to high levels of activity speeds up the wear and tear phenomenon. It is not unusual in our practice to see fifteen year old gymnasts with spinal X-rays and symptoms that resemble someone in the 6th or 7th decade of life; a rather elementary conclusion one might add. Whether secondary to activity, trauma or degeneration, back-ache has become one of the major healthcare problems in our society and the economic impact is astronomical.

Few individuals go through life without back problems and the burden on the healthcare system increases exponentially as people live longer and increasingly develop arthritis. The elderly whose problems all too frequently are neglected, often end up in a wheelchair; the younger and healthier members of society following traumatic episodes lapse into a lifetime of inactivity. Both add to the socio-economic burden.

Back problems are seldom simple and often complex. Even a routine disc herniation occurring in a teenager while sneezing during a moment of relaxation of the musculature, results in nerve root compression and scar tissue formation. Chemicals released from the disintegration of the nucleosus pulposus may cause acute/chronic irritation of nerve roots much as osteophytes, disc fragments and scar tissue result in nerve root compression, often with loss of sensation or even motor paralysis.

Maintenance and Prevention
Muscle strengthening, stretching and maintenance programmes based on exercise are helpful. In the advancing years, these should be moderate in degree but daily and vigorous; generally one half hour plus in duration (i.e. stretching, swimming, walking, Pilates, Yoga, etc.). This will keep the muscles strong and the tissues flexible. For optimum health this measure should be complemented with a balanced diet, vitamin and mineral supplements and the avoidance of inappropriate stress both physical and mental.

If the above methodologies are instituted in a disciplined, systematic fashion, most pathological conditions are minimized, delayed or avoided completely. Once symptoms have become established and cannot be controlled by conventional measures (i.e. analgesics, anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), muscle relaxants and cortisone) a serious problem develops. The aforementioned measures simply mask or modulate symptoms but have no healing effect on the cells which compose the various tissue structures.

In due course, surgery may be necessary (i.e. joint replacements, laminectomy, discectomies, fusions, etc.). In essence these therapies have limited curative benefit with regard to cellular health and indeed in most cases produce a long term deleterious effect that may be more harmful than the original disease.

All conventional therapies currently in use modulate symptoms but do not cure the pathology. Surgery attempts to repair the problem and is sometimes successful, but more frequently than not it falls short of its objectives and may make the condition worse and irreversible.

Factors Contributing to Back Problems

1. Lack of exercise accompanied by loss of muscle mass, tone and flexibility
2. Dietary imbalances, depriving tissues of the proteins necessary to maintain muscle bulk
3. Depletion of hormone production (i.e. H.G.F. Estrogen, Testosterone)
   - concomitant with aging, systemic diseases, etc.
4. Obesity which further increases the stress factor of the spinal column
5. High level sports accelerating the wear and tear process
6. Vehicular accidents resulting in STI, fractures, whiplash type injuries, etc.

Classification of Therapies:
Symptom Modulation:

• - Analgesics & NSAIDs
• - Muscle relaxants
• - Cortisone
• - Interferential Current
• - Ultrasound
• - Diathermy/ Ice
• - Manipulation
• - Massage (shiatsu, swedish, etc.)

Definitive Therapies:

• Surgery
• Laser

Economic Impact of Back Ache/Pain
Statistics (U.S. Based):

• 90% of all individuals experience severe pain at some point in their life
• 26 million adults in the US suffer from back ache ( 10% of the population at any one time)
• 5 million Americans are permanently disabled in varying degrees by back pain
• 2 million Americans cannot work as a result of back problems
• Low back pain is responsible for close to a hundred million work-days lost per annum
• The economic loss is over 5 billion in healthcare dollars on an annualized basis
• Pain secondary to arthritis affects 40 million Americans and results in over 4 billion dollars in lost income per annum
• Close to 50 million Americans suffer chronic recurrent headaches resulting from back problems and spend close to 5 billion dollars a year on a variety of medications. The toxic effects of the numerous medications are incalculable (i.e. hepatic failure, renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.) This seriously impacts patient health.

Pathological Conditions

1. Myofascitis (inflammation of overlying muscles and fascia, adhesions, scar tissue)
2. Herniated/bulging discs
3. Degenerative disc disease (D.D.D.)
4. Scar tissue contractures
5. Osteophyte formation
6. Stenosis – foramina, spinal canal
7. SI joint dysfunction
8. Facet joint syndrome

Conclusions
Probably the greatest beneficiaries of our technology are individuals that suffer from back pain and arthritis. This includes athletes suffering from myofascitis, facet joint syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction and disc herniations with nerve root compression. More significantly, dramatic effects are obtained by sufferers of chronic degenerative osteoarthritis accompanied by spinal/foraminal stenosis with attendant neurological complications.

Many of the patients who come to us, either through word of mouth or referred by healthcare providers, arrive in wheelchairs or utilize canes; many have been bedridden for years. Usually after five to twenty treatments which are totally noninvasive, painless and easily applied, they become ambulatory and voluntarily lose their drug dependencies along with their mechanical supports. More significantly they experience the elimination of pain and regain mobility and quality of life.
Included are patients who have been taking up to thirty Tylenol tablets per day and over the past years have taken as many as fourteen medications at the same time. The latter in itself often results in addiction problems, sometimes worse than the basic pathology.

The most promising and least known technology currently available and one that can be delivered in a highly scientific non-invasive fashion is Low Intensity Laser Therapy. Unfortunately most patients and therapists including MDs, chiropractors, physiotherapists, etc. have little knowledge or awareness of this approach, and in the economic climate today, have little interest in exploring new technologies that are superior, but are not included in the “spider web” of compensatory codes imposed by HMO’s, insurance companies and governments.

At Meditech we have developed a delivery system that is currently the most advanced on a global basis achieving a significant improvement/cure rate with all the above entities. Low Intensity Laser Therapy is truly the ideal therapeutic approach for back problems in the 21st century.
The therapy acts by converting light into biochemical energy, resulting in normal cell morphology and function, which causes symptoms to disappear. Aside from the gradual elimination of inflammation, various degrees of the ablation of scar tissue, and osteophytes at all levels, there appears to be little question that a thin layer of cartilaginous regeneration can occur. In our teaching clinic, attached to our corporate headquarters, we perform 600 patient treatments weekly and our significant improvement/cure rate is in excess of 93 percent.

Patients at the completion of the treatment often state “Why doesn’t my doctor know about this?” As Marshall McLuhan said, “The medium is the message.” Perhaps the medium should re-evaluate its objectives.

With “back problems” laser therapy should be the universal treatment approach and clearly establish its role as the treatment of choice. Thousands of our patients would agree.

Preventing and Treating Obesity with Chiropractic and Foot Care

It’s no secret that obesity is a growing problem– and according to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide are overweight or obese. Along with other health complications associated with being overweight, such as heart disease and diabetes, the body and feet can also be negatively affected. But we can help! Chiropractic care along with the custom-made support of Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers can work to prevent and treat the conditions associated with obesity.

Extra weight applies more pressure on the feet and can cause the arches to collapse, leading to joint and back pain. The deterioration of the joints, also known as osteoarthritis, is the leading cause for knee and hip replacement surgery. These conditions can be prevented with the help of laser therapy and Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers from Foot Levelers.

Laser therapy provides red and infrared photons to stimulate your cells and promote healing.  Swelling and inflammation are reduced and light energy is converted to biochemical energy, causing healing of damaged tendons, joints, and tissue. 

Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers support all three arches of the foot and help align the feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine to provide a balanced foundation for the body. This custom-made postural support also helps to reduce back and joint pain. Stabilizers are an important adjunct to your care because they help your chiropractic adjustments hold longer, helping prolong your wellness.

When your feet and body feel better, you are more likely to be active!  It is difficult to exercise when your joints hurt.  A healthy diet and regular exercise are both important factors to help you lead a healthy lifestyle.   Along with regular adjustments, Cruz Chiropractic and Laser Center can treat your whole body to get you moving again.  Laser treatments can target osteoarthritis to reduce inflammation and pain.  Health coaching can provide nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.   We can help you look good, feel good, and live your best life now! 

DR. CRUZ ANSWERS THE TOP 5 QUESTIONS HE IS FREQUENTLY ASKED REGARDING CHIROPRACTIC CARE

1. DO ADJUSTMENTS DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN RELIEVE BACK PAIN?
Adjustments are having a direct effect on your spine and nerves; the pain relief comes from improved mobility and less inflammation. This in turn leads to less stress on the nerves and better functioning of the organs supplied by those nerves. Research has shown adjustments have a direct effect on our immune system; you will feel energized and allow you to deal with the stresses of life better.

2. ONCE I FEEL BETTER, IT SEEMS EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE ON, WHY SHOULD I?
The old adage of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure holds true here. Most if not all the patients you see or hear about that see a chiropractor regularly have already discovered this. I tell my patients that if coming to us regularly does not prove to be cost effective over time then you can certainly just come back when it hurts. You will find that regular chiropractic will lessen your need for medication and medical care and if we just prevent you from needing one trip to the hospital we will have paid for a lifetime of chiropractic.

3. HOW IS CHIROPRACTIC DIFFERENT FROM MASSAGE OR PHYSICAL THERAPY?
Massage is very important (I get one monthly) but it is working primarily the muscles and not the joints. Physical therapy focuses primarily on injury recovery and then strengthening which of course is important. Neither of these places much emphasis on the relationship of the spine and nerves to your overall health. Chiropractic does not overlap with these but each will enhance the other.

4. WHY SHOULD I GET AN ADJUSTMENT IF I AM NOT HURTING?
Why should you change the oil in your car if it is running fine? Why should you have your teeth cleaned if you don’t have a toothache? As I already mentioned, a healthy spine and nerve system will lessen your need for emergency medical care (I’ve only had to take an over the counter medication on two occasions in over 34 years). It will keep you working and productive (I’ve only missed a half day of work twice in 28 years in practice, Bonnie who has worked over 20 years for us has never missed a day). If you only want to come when it hurts, you are certainly welcome to do just that but I urge you to take better care of yourself, I think you will love the way you feel!

5. HOW OFTEN DOES DR. CRUZ GET ADJUSTED?
I get adjusted every one to two weeks, never any longer because I want my body to be able to withstand the daily stresses I place on it.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about the benefits of chiropractic. If it has been awhile since your last adjustment, we would love to help to get back under care!

Want to some delicious but nutritious recipes to feed your family?
Do you want your family to eat better but you need help to get started?
Health coaching can give you the support and encouragement you need to be a success.
For a quick reference, try some of our favorite recipes.

Healthier Desserts
Brown Rice Crispies
Coconut Icecream
Chocolate Sauce

Meal Helps
Fat Burning Salad Dressing
Sweet Sensations Soup

January 13, 2010 at 1:00pm–Fat Flush Class-Lose 20 Pounds Fast–Learn Healthy, Recipes and Plan to Develop Healthy Habits to Boost Your Metabolism.

January 20, 2010 at 1:00pm–Cooking for Success–Taste and Learn New Recipes to Be Successful with the Fat Flush
(more…)

As most of you probably know, influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection. Symptoms include: Fever, Chills, Runny nose, Sore throat, Cough, Muscle aches, Fatigue, and Decreased appetite.
Typically, the condition will improve after two to three days of bed rest, although some symptoms may persist for about a week.

What many people do NOT know, however, is that death caused directly by the flu virus is very rare. The vast majority of so-called “flu deaths” are in fact due to bacterial pneumonia – a potential complication of the flu if your immune system is too weak.

The Flu Vaccine Does Not Prevent the Flu, nor Protect Against the Vast Majority of Flu-Related Deaths.

The conventional treatment for bacterial pneumonia is an antibiotic, not a viral flu drug, so to think that taking a flu vaccine will prevent death from pneumonia doesn’t really make sense.

Because study after study, and master studies that compile the results from several studies to get a more objective result, keep coming to the same conclusion: Flu vaccines DO NOT WORK, and in many cases do more harm than good.
In fact, one shocking statistic brought to light in this video is that BEFORE the CDC advocated vaccinating children under the age of five, the number of children dying from the flu was very low, and on the decline.
Then, in 2003, just after children aged five and under started getting vaccinated, the number of flu deaths SKYROCKETED. The death toll was enormous compared to the previous year, when the flu vaccine was not administered en masse to that age group!
How anyone can consider a strategy that yields a higher death toll to be a “success” is a mystery to me.

How Safe is the Flu Vaccine?
Serious reactions to the flu vaccine include, but are not limited to:

Life-threatening allergies to various ingredients

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a severe paralytic disease that is fatal in about 1 in 20 cases)

Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Neurological disorders

Thrombocytopenia (a serious blood disorder)

Last but not least, I think it says a lot that 70 percent of doctors and nurses, and 62 percent of other health care workers do NOT get the yearly flu shot.

The reasons why they opted to not get vaccinated were:

They didn’t believe the vaccine would work

They believed their immune systems were strong enough to withstand exposure to the flu

They were concerned about side effects

For most people the flu shot does not make you healthy; it does just the opposite and weakens your immune system.

Might Influenza be Little More Than a Symptom of Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin,” may very well be one of the most beneficial vitamins there is for disease prevention. Unfortunately it’s also one of the vitamins that a vast majority of people across the world are deficient in due to lack of regular exposure to sunshine.

Read More at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/26/Flu-Vaccine-Exposed.aspx

Protect Yourself in this Germ-Filled Season
Foods to strengthen your immune system and prevent the flu:
-Lemons. They have lots of natural vitamin C. Drink a cup of water with lemon. Sweeten with a little honey or stevia. Try Hot lemon water.
-Red Peppers. Clear out your sinuses and enjoy the high levels of vitamin C
-Ginger–Chew or suck on it. Cleans out impurities in the body. Good for your stomach and breathing.

Enjoy the sunlight on nice days. The Vitamin D boosts your immune system and your mood, preventing Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Get plenty of sunshine, safe tanning bed exposure or supplemental vitamin D3

Eat right for your nutritional type, including avoiding sugar

Exercise

Get adequate sleep

Address emotional stress

Wash your hands frequently. Clean doorknobs, phones, keyboards, and other frequently touched items.

Did you know that getting an adjustment boosts your immune system? After an adjustment, there is an immediate response to your immune system. Your white bookd cell count increases three times within the twenty minutes after an adjustment.

If you feel as though you are coming down with the flu, Take 4000-5000mg a day of Vitamin D.
Take colloidal silver or echinacea 4x a day.
Eat homemade vegetable soup
Drink 4 cups a day of Symphre Tea or Yerba Mate Tea for Colds and Flu

For Body Aches
-Use Olbas oil and rub on the muscles
-Take a hot ginger bath. Use one-half lb of grated ginger and 1 cup of Epsom Salt.

#37.77 – Increases memory and improves sleep (helps your mind wind down and rest) (more…)