The following tips can help you take better care of your spine:
1) Make sure you have a firm mattress that keeps the spine aligned and supports its natural curve. The best sleeping positions are on your back or side.

2) When standing for extended periods, rest one foot on a small stool to maintain spinal curvature and relieve pressure. The knees should be bent when bending forward. Low-heeled shoes may help by maintaining spinal curvatures and cushioning your weight.

3) Use chairs that promote good posture and support your back. Placing a lumbar support in the lower portion of your back may help support your spine's natural curve. Readjust the seat of your car so that your knees are level with your hips.

4) When bending forward, bend at the knees and hips, but keep your back straight. This will help to keep your spine's curvature in proper alignment. When lifting, keep your spine straight while using your legs to do most of the work. Hold the objects being lifted close to your body to keep the weight on your spine to a minimum.

Vertebral subluxations are displacements of the spinal bones (vertebrae) that can cause stress to your spinal cord and nervous system. Subluxations may be caused by poor sleeping habits, poor posture, strenuous exercise, injuries, auto accidents, sports, slips or falls, and in some cases, the birthing process itself.

Chiropractic adjustments are very helpful in correcting subluxations and restoring optimal health.

The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts:

1) the structure and condition of the body influences how the it functions and the ability to heal itself; and
2) the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.

Although chiropractic shares much with other health disciplines, a unique emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Chiropractic philosophy gravitates toward a holistic ("total person") approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit. It maintains that health depends on observing natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness.

The increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that "The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary care medical nationwide," and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapies.

A follow-up report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with "overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%." Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year.

The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher and researcher. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the same building as Dr. Palmer, in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered a "lump" on Mr. Lillard's back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which he then repositioned the vertebra with a gentle thrust. After several such treatments, much of Mr. Lillard's hearing was restored.

Since Dr. Palmer's first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic has progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment, scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes chiropractic a popular health care choice.

Acupuncture is a form of therapy that promotes natural healing of the body. The science and art of acupuncture involves insertion of needles into specific points along the meridians of the body.

Acupuncture forms a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which originated in China over 5000 years ago. Currently, acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy and an increasingly popular form of healthcare that is used by a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.

The major benefits of Acupuncture are as follows:

• Drug-free pain relief

• Assists prevention against disease

• Treats the cause as well as the symptoms

• Holistic approach to illness, linking body, mind and emotions

• Effectively treats many common ailments

How does acupuncture work?
Many people who have experienced the therapeutic effects of Acupuncture will vow that it truly does work. The common yet difficult question that follows on from this is, “How does Acupuncture Work?”
It is important to note there are two important explanations to this question, which must be considered. These are the Traditional Chinese Medicine Explanation and the Western Scientific Explanation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an integrated system, which has been used for thousands of years to treat injury and illness. Acupuncture forms one of the key components to the TCM approach to curing disease and disorders of the body.
In the TCM system of medicine, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle.
TCM likens the human body to a highly complex electrical circuit. Like any electrical circuit it must be kept in good working order if it is to function effectively, and if the circuit breaks down the result is illness. Among the major assumptions in TCM are that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a “balanced state” and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”, meaning vital energy) along pathways known as meridians.
TCM theorises that it is essential for qi, as well as blood to circulate in a continuous and unobstructed manner for good health of the mind and body. Acupuncture meridians or channels are the pathways through which the energy flows throughout the body. Acupuncture points lie along the meridians and are the holes that allow entry into the acupuncture meridians. The acupuncture points provide gateways to influence, redirect, increase, or decrease body’s vital substances, qi (energy) & blood, thus correcting many of the body’s imbalances.
The theoretical concepts on which Traditional Chinese Medicine is based can be divided into 5 areas. These can be summarized as:
I. Philosophical – The Yin & Yang Theory & the 5 Element Theory
II. Morphological – Zang Fu (Organ) Theory, Meridian Theory & Theory of Fundamental Substances.
III. Pathological – Theory of Exogenous Pathogenic Factors & Theory of Internal Pathology from imbalances in yin & yang caused by lifestyle or emotions.
IV. Diagnostic – Observation, Questioning, Palpation
V. Therapeutic – Needling techniques, Moxibustion & Herbs.

Acupuncture was introduced into western medicine in the 1950’s and 60’s and has gradually become more accepted, as research has shed light on the mechanisms underlying its effects on the human body.

Western Scientific Explanation

Currently, there is not one western scientific theory that collaboratively explains all of the physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of Acupuncture. This is because Acupuncture has a variety of therapeutic effects on the body thus the action must vary depending on the type of pathology. However it is proposed that acupuncture primarily produces its effects through regulating the nervous system. Regulation of the nervous system aids the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones. These affect the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate a person’s blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.
In summary, scientists have deduced a number of theories from observing a number of individual clinical effects of acupuncture treatment. These theories and the observed clinical effects on which the theories are based can be summarised as the following:
Augmentation of Immunity Theory - Increased Immune Function & Resistance to Disease
Endorphin Theory - Reduction of Pain
Neurotransmitter Theory - Inflammation Reduction & Promotion of Feelings of Well Being
Circulatory Theory - Improved Circulation & Smooth Muscle Relaxation
Gate Control Theory - Increased Pain Tolerance
Motor Gate Theory - Hasten Motor Recovery from Paralysis
Homeostatic or Regulatory Effect - Regulation of Body’s Homeostasis to Disease or Abnormal Conditions
Bioelectric Theory - Stimulation of cells of tissue growth & repair
Nervous System Theories - Central nervous system, spinal & peripheral nerve stimulation, resulting in some of the above-mentioned effects.

 

Nutrition is a science that studies the relationship between diet and health. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases as well as psychological and behavioral problems. The science of nutrition attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health.

The human body is made up of chemical compounds such as water, proteins, fats, nucleic acids such as DNA/RNA, and carbohydrates. These compounds in turn consist of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, iron, or zinc.  All of these chemical compounds and elements occur in various forms and combinations in the human body.

The human body through necessity includes these elements that it eats and absorbs into the bloodstream and feeds our cells that  regulates our organs and the body's systems such as the nervous system, cardiovascular-circulatory system, endocrine system and gastrointestinal system. Our cells are the basic living units in our body and require carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to make energy for the body. The quality and amounts of these nutrients makes a vast difference in how efficiently our cells can make energy. So it makes sense to state that if our cells do not have the proper nutrients-compounds then our organs and body systems will not work at their optimal level.

It is important to consume these compounds/elements in the proper quantity and quality on a daily basis to build and maintain healthy bodily function. Poor health or imbalance of the body's systems can be caused by an imbalance of nutrients, either an excess or deficiency, which, in turn, affects bodily functions cumulatively. For example , because most nutrients are involved in cell-to-cell signalling, deficiency or excess of various nutrients affects hormonal function indirectly. Thus, because they largely regulate the expression of genes, hormones represent a link between nutrition and how our genes are expressed. The strength and nature of this link are continually under investigation, but recent observations have demonstrated a pivotal role for nutrition in hormonal activity and function and therefore in health.