Did you know there are currently only two known hormones that every cell in the body communicates with? These two hormones are Vitamin D and Thyroid Hormone. Much attention has been given to Vitamin D; however, the treatment of thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism (low thyroid), has been drastically neglected by both the medical and the alternative healthcare communities.
Hypothyroidism or low thyroid function is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms. Poor memory, depression, loss of alertness, muscle weakness, lethargy and constipation can be some of the more common findings.
Approximately 90 percent of hypothyroid cases are due to an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In Hashimoto’s, the body’s own immune system attacks the thyroid gland. There are many causes that trigger the immune system to attack the gland.
Medical and alternative healthcare treatments to date have grossly under served hypothyroid patients. Medical treatment involves supplementing the patient with thyroid hormones. This approach works well to ease symptoms and avoid further damage to the body from low thyroid hormone levels. It does not address the underlying autoimmune causes and triggers, however. The autoimmune attack on the thyroid continues.
Many alternative practitioners have simplified treatment to taking general supplements for thyroid support. Many of these are not well researched and prove to be ineffective. Unfortunately some can even drive further damage. Iodine, for instance, has been shown to worsen Hashimoto’s patients.
It is important to address the underlying triggers of this autoimmune attack. There are options for patients who are not happy with the results they are experiencing. If you have a hypothyroid issue or suspect one, call AWC for a free consult. We’ll work with you to address the underlying triggers and arrest the condition before it gets worse!
Healing Tip of the Week
Much of the cutting-edge research in this field is being done by a chiropractor named Dr. Datis Kharrazian. He has a great book that explains these concepts called, “Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal?” If you suspect a thyroid condition, pick it up! Copies are available online or at AWC.
Neck pain is an interesting cascade of symptoms that leave many confused and searching for answers. The most interesting part about neck pain is where you feel your pain is rarely the true cause of your discomfort. Here is a short list of things that can cause neck pain.
Posture: As our society flexes forward at work, while texting and in the car, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in neck pain. Muscles become imbalanced, and the neck usually gets the brunt of the abuse. The problem with posture is, once a faulty memory is set, it rarely goes back to normal by just “sitting up straighter.”
Subluxation: As defined by the American Chiropractic Association: “A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed, and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational and empirical evidence.” Full spine subluxations are a hidden key to neck pain reduction and/or elimination. I have seen countless patients leave my treatment room free of chronic neck pain and headaches after removing the subluxations in their spine. Research recently showed chiropractic is effective in the treatment of neck pain when combined with exercise 60% of the time … compared to medical visits and pain meds 10%, and exercise alone 20%. Now those are some stats!
Breathing: Many people breathe from their upper chest instead of their diaphragm. This is a neurological dysfunction that needs to be fixed in order for neck pain to go away.
Inflammation: Most U.S. diets are pro-inflammatory, which means they create inflammation. The foods we eat increase acidity and heat within our bodies, which lead to an increased pain sensation and increased healing time.
Jaw clenching: Going to bed with unresolved emotion and stress can cause you to clench your jaw in the night. My personal theory is: once parts of the body become paralyzed in certain stages of sleep, the jaw and breathing muscles must stay active. Individuals literally “grind” their way through their problematic dreams. Also, if there is a jaw or upper neck subluxation, the brain will grind the teeth to attempt to make them congruent.
Emotion: Suppressed emotion can express itself in many ways (see breathing and jaw clenching). When the limbus brain, the emotional center, is overactive, it sends excess messages to the muscles of the body causing them to be chronically tense.
Posterior Line Fascial Restriction: Coined by Thomas Myer, the Posterior Fascial Line is a link of connective tissue starting in the feet and going all the way to the cranium. Checking fascial restrictions from head to foot is an integral aspect of eliminating many types of posterior body pain.
Healing Tip of the Week
If you have neck pain, check your breathing. Are you taking deep, even breaths all the way into your diaphragm and exhaling slowly? If not, try it!
Vinegar has been around for thousands of years, and is credited with many health and hygiene properties.
An important health effect of vinegar is its ability in aiding blood glucose control. It was reported first by Japanese researchers in 1988. Several other studies have pointed out the same findings; that is, vinegar reduces the speed at which sugars get absorbed into the bloodstream.
One study by Italian researchers published in 1995 shows that when healthy subjects consumed about 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of vinegar as a salad dressing with a meal that included white bread with a little less than two ounces (50 grams) of carbohydrates, there was a 30 percent reduction in their glycemic response, or rise in blood sugar. That is compared to the same meal without vinegar.
Separate placebo-controlled trials have corroborated the meal time, antiglycemic effects of 20g vinegar in healthy adults. Sugiyama and colleagues documented that the addition of vinegar or pickled foods to rice (e.g., sushi) decreased the GI (Glycemic Index) of rice by 20 to 35 percent.
From these studies, we can safely deduce that making salad dressings involving the use of vinegar is a healthy habit to support a healthy lifestyle.
Flatulence may be a laughing matter for some, but it’s still socially inappropriate in most settings. So why do some people have it more than others and what can you do to save yourself the embarrassment of excess gas and “letting one go” accidentally?
Excess gas is commonly caused by the body’s inability to digest certain carbohydrates (for example, beans and legumes, sugars, starches and fiber). When the body doesn’t have the right enzyme to digest the food, it ferments in the large intestine where it gets broken down by beneficial bacteria. This process produces hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. This gas produced in the colon needs to exit! Hence, flatulence occurs.
If excessive gas becomes a problem for you, your healthcare practitioner can offer effective treatment. You may be asked to provide a food journal to review your food and drink intake and decipher which food may be the culprit. Certain digestive herbs or supplements may be recommended to help resolve the issue.
Want to get to the bottom of your gas? Write us a question or comment, and we’ll offer suggestions and/or let you know how we can help!
Healing Tip of the Week
Some of the healthiest people eat simply and chew food thoroughly, as do many children, who are more in touch with their instincts. This makes it easier for the body to manufacture the enzymes to properly digest food.
