Highland Hikes

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June is finally here! Which means it’s time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. As the warmer weather approaches we wanted to take the opportunity to invite you to join us for a hike to Table Rock Saturday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Bring your family and friends, everyone is welcome! FREE gifts will be given away at the event. You won’t want to miss it.

To register, click HERE.

Highland Hikes

For all the latest on Highland Hikes, follow us on social media. Don’t forget to like and share the above photo.

We look forward to seeing you June 25th!

Which Herbs are a Reliable Alternative for Chronic Pain?

Blog Graphic_HerbsMany people who suffer from chronic addictions, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and chronic pain feel that the only solution is pharmaceutical drugs. But what if there was a reliable alternative? An alternative that would not have side effects and would allow patients to work through the pain.

Herbal Alternatives
There are several herbs that are used for pain/discomfort. This does not necessarily mean that these herbs act identical to the pharmaceutical drugs, however sometimes they do. Below are some examples of herbal alternatives:

Pain: Inflammatory (osteoarthritis and sports injuries)
Pharmaceutical Drug: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Herbs: Willow bark, Ginger, Turmeric, Celery

Pain: Autoimmunity (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
Pharmaceutical Drug: Corticosteroid drugs
Herbs: Turmeric, Feverfew

Pain: Spasm pain (tension headaches)
Pharmaceutical Drug: Antispasmodic drugs
Herbs: Corydalis, Wild yam, California poppy

Pain: Neuralgic pain (cancer pain and fibromyalgia)
Pharmaceutical Drug: Opiates, Antidepressants
Herbs: California poppy, Corydalis, Jamaica dogwood

All the herbs mentioned can be useful alternatives for the types of pain described. They may need to be utilized in high doses but according to research they are safe and surprisingly effective with beneficial effects in pain relief.

Reference: Bone, Kerry. Author of Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy and the Essential Guide to Herbal Safety.

How to Beat Spring Allergies

Blog Graphic_May16

Spring is finally here! Which unfortunately means the return of spring allergies. The dreaded sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching has become more prevalent than ever before for not only adults but children as well. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 23.6 million Americans were diagnosed with hay fever in the last year alone. So what has caused this increase? The pollen hasn’t changed. The answer is it’s the difference in how our bodies react to the pollen. Two trends that play a major role in how out bodies react differently are hygiene and diet. 

Hygiene: Today, our bodies no longer need to fight germs as much as they did in the past because we have developed a cleaner lifestyle. In other words, we are too clean and we don’t get enough exposure to common germs to keep our immune system in tip-top shape. Being so clean has resulted in the immune system developing more allergic reactions. 

Solution: Don’t think you need to sanitize everything! Let things get a little dirty. It will keep the immune system running efficiently.

Diet: Researchers are discovering that processed foods impact the immune system, which influences allergies.  The immune system acts as a barrier to protect the body against impurities. When it is broken down by sugar, grains and processed foods the body is less able to protect itself against allergens.

Solution: Avoid sugar, grains and processed foods. Eat more fresh produce, fish, nuts and drink LOTS of water. 

Chiropractic Care: A healthy immune system can be achieved by visiting the chiropractor regularly and here’s why. A healthy spine is essential for a healthy nerve system, which coordinates ALL of the other systems. After countless studies it is now known that chiropractic care has a beneficial effect on balancing the immune system. In addition to the growing research, there are numerous case studies of patients who have witnessed drastic improvements in their health and allergies.

 

 

Misconceptions of Healthy Food Labels

Blog Graphic_May6Going to the grocery store can be an easy task when looking for healthy foods, right? All you have to look for are words such as all-natural, organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, etc. However, relying on those terms alone can be misleading.

The term “health halo” refers to the perception that a food is healthy, whether it is or not. This perception is often times accomplished with clever marketing that focuses on covering the packaging with buzz words (organic, all-natural, gluten-free, non-GMO). While most of these foods are healthy some of them are not. They are processed junk food. Marketers use these words for a reason because research has shown that using a label that says organic on foods that are not truly organic can trick even the most educated shoppers into paying more. In fact research has shown that shoppers pay up to 23 percent more.

Instead of relying on labels and the buzz words that flood the packaging do the complete opposite. Try to fill the grocery cart with foods that do not contain labels. Don’t think the health claims are always correct, be hesitant. The health claims are truly only there to sell the product. One of the many positives of eating real food (fruits, vegetables, nuts.) is that you know what is in them. Remember, next time you are in the grocery store, “health halo.”

How to Ground Your Kids The Right Way

As a parent we’re always looking for ways to help our kids.  Now even if you don’t have any kids, this still applies to you. Read on and see why you need to ground YOURSELF and your kids right now.

You might be thinking this has to do with discipline.

And it does.  But probably not the discipline you’re thinking of.

Let’s get one thing straight–  life is stressful.  As an adult you might realize that you had it pretty good ‘back in the day’ where your stresses were slightly smaller, and more manageable.  However, stress is all relative to the individual.  So even though we look back and think, “Wow, I had it good…” we need to remember that the reason that the past seems “easier” now, is because our point of reference has changed.

You have stress. Your kids have stress.  The idea that one person’s stress is easier or more manageable is not always the case.

When stress builds up, emotions run high and we can become more volatile and less rational.  Living in a state of stress causes a decrease in your ability to fight illness, it causes acne, hair loss, irregular appetite, and an increase in heart attack and stroke risk.

As we age we experience and learn how to manage our stress. Then things like two hours of homework and a mid-term paper seem easy, and even preferable to adults, but can be the cause of overwhelming amounts teenage stress. Experience in life helps us consciously gage, reduce, and even override our stress response.

Another very helpful way to reduce stress in yourself and your kids is through a good grounding.

Grounding is also called Earthing.  It is a simple way to decrease stress and tension, while energizing and detoxifying the body.  Not only is grounding helpful in clearing mental stress, it LITERALLY will decrease your stress hormones (specifically cortisol) in your body and allow you to be healthier.

How to Ground Yourself or Your Kids

  1. Set aside 10-15 minutes in your day
  2. Kick off your shoes and socks
  3. Walk on barefoot on grass, soil, or sand
  4. Breathe
  5. Smile
  6. Repeat

Every day after work, there is nothing that stops me from kicking off my shoes and socks and heading straight outside to be with my kids in our garden, or running around on the grass.  The health benefits are too great to NOT do this.

 

HighlandChiropractic_Grounding

(The picture above has up in our office for quite some time as a healthy reminder for grounding)

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What do you do in the winter?

So of course this is difficult because true grounding is when your feet come in contact with the earth, not just hardwood floor, carpet or cement. There is still benefit in doing this, but if you’re serious about grounding year round, you can always buy a grounding mat at www.earthing.com. They also have grounding sheets, pillowcases and computer mats.

 

What is the Underlying Cause of What You Are Feeling?

Imagine an iceberg that is barley sticking out of the water. From above it looks simple to steer your boat clear of by only paying attention to the surface of the water…but is it true that we could be missing a dangerous obstacle underneath the surface?

In today’s healthcare system, the primary focus is to reduce symptoms. With that type of focus, we will only continue to see the same results appearing (such as that of the tip of the iceberg) and not the underlying cause of what you are feeling (such as the obstacle underneath the water). Physicians today are unable to train all individuals how to eat healthy, exercise, avoid harmful toxins, and address the effects of a spinal abnormalities so instead they do what they know how to do best; prescribe medication and perform surgery… which in the end is only reducing a symptom and not the underlying cause.

So, What is the Underlying Cause of What You Are Feeling?

Our body is capable of sending out and array of signals to let us know that something is not right. Whether this signal is through pain, fatigue, or headaches, the purpose of the signals is to let us know that something is wrong that needs to be fixed. The tendency is to fix that specific symptom when in reality we need to identify the cause of that symptom. In some cases, structural shifts in the spine are leading to neurological communication errors which can be the result of underlying issues that are preventing you from functioning at your highest.

Shifting our goal from treating symptoms to looking into the body’s natural healing capacity and why it is not functioning 100% properly can save us from excessive amounts of unnecessary prescriptions and surgeries. A chiropractic checkup at our Meridian chiropractic office is a great way to determine the underlying issue that you may be suffering from.  When you are ready, we are here to help.

Mind Blowing Experiment – Your Thoughts Matter

When was the last time you evaluated your daily thoughts, feelings and words?  What kind of effect do these have on your health and those around you?  At Highland Chiropractic we believe that eating well, moving well, and thinking well are all essential to living an optimal life.

If you’ve been to one of our recent workshops or in our office over the past couple weeks you may have seen this first hand!  Anyway, this experiment is best illustrated in a video instead of writing, so I recorded this for you…

 

How Can the Birth Process Affect Your Baby?

Did you know that nearly 60 to 90 pounds of force takes place on a child’s head during a typical birth? This large amount of force can cause a structural shift in the spine which can lead to secondary conditions including difficulty sleeping, feeding issues, colic, constipation, etc.

The structural shifts that occur in today’s birthing process have three aspects
1. Misalignment
2. Fixation
3. Nerve interference

Normally, the birth process is the first injury a baby obtains in their cranial area, upper neck, and spine. These injuries can occur from interventions that take place during the birthing process such as inductions, forceps, vacuum, C-sections etc. The greater amount of interventions, the more likelihood your child will obtain a significant spinal structure shift.

Thousands of years ago we did not have the modern intervention methods and a technique that we use in today’s birthing processes. Nearly 40% of children were brought into this world without the use of drugs, anesthesia, and surgical tools which lead to less structural shifts of the spine in the newborns.

How Do You Know if Your Baby Experienced A Structural Shift?
There are many physiological signs of a structural shift that you as a parent should be on the lookout for.
Cervical Spine
1. The head is constantly turned toward one direction
2. There is difficulty rotating the head and neck
3. Discomfort and resistance when the base of the skull is touched
Hip/Pelvis
1. Hips rotate forward when holding the infant up under arms
2. One buttocks crease is higher compared to the other
3. Arched back
4. Uneven crawling
Skull
1. Cranial bones are unsymmetrical
2. Back of the head is flattened
3. Eye orbits are uneven

Early chiropractic checkups are beneficial in preventing these structural shifts from becoming a larger issue in the future. Pediatric adjustments are gentle and harmful to the spine with the use of light pressure along the spine area.

5 Easy Tips for a Better Night Sleep

Are you constantly having trouble sleeping at night? Trust me, you are not alone. More than one-quarter of the U.S population struggles with sleeping issues frequently. Sleep is a very important factor in living a healthy life. Inadequate hours of sleep can lead to body weight issues, low concentration levels, and a weaker immune system. It is recommended that adults get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Here are 5 simple tips for you to obtain a good night sleep.

1. Exercise
By simply exercising for 20-30 minutes each day, you will be able to better fall asleep at night. Researchers found that the natural cool down that occurs after exercising can help the decline in a core body temperature that is associated with sleep. Sleep is an important time for your joints and muscles to recover after an exercise.

2. Creating the Environment
The environment you chose to sleep in can play a large role in how well you are sleeping at night. Your bedroom should be equipped with soft lighting, comfortable bedding, and no harsh noises. Be sure to set your room temperatures at a lower setting and block any light that may come from electronics. Even the slightest bit of light that crosses through your optic nerve to your hypothalamus can signal your brain that it is time to wake up- which is not good when you are trying to sleep.

3. Consider the Natural Way
Instead of relying on pills to help you sleep, consider chiropractic adjustments. Studies have shown that patients who receive chiropractic adjustments significantly improve their sleeping patterns. Both acute and chronic pain can be a disturbance to your sleep, which can be reversed with chiropractic care.

4. Establish Your Routine
Your body can be more easily relaxed once it has developed a routine. Routines could include meditating, reading, or deep breathing before bed each night. Being consistent with the times you wake up and go to bed will help your body develop a sleep rhythm which will make it easier to fall asleep and wake up easier each morning.

5. Improve Your Diet
The less nutritional foods that you consume daily will result in the less daily function of your body, including sleep functions. By adding more fresh fruits and vegetables and less processed foods you can change your body’s chemistry which will result in better sleep. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, your body will become healthier from improving your diet. Stress levels can also be reduced by improving your diet and we all know that better stress management leads to better sleep quality.

Is Your Spine Aligned Correctly?

Is your spine aligned correctly?  Misalignment of the spine can cause many symptoms that most people are not aware are related to a misaligned spine. Having your spine and nervous system checked out will ensure that there is proper communication throughout your body.

Here are 15 warning signs of an unhealthy spine.

Your Heels Wear Out Unevenly: This can be due to stress along the spine or uneven leg length.

Taking a Satisfying Deep Breath is Difficult: Restricted breathing can happen from subluxations in the upper back and ribs.

Clicking of the Jaw: This can occur from tension and misalignment of the neck.

You Have to “Crack” Your Body Often: This is your reaction to your body telling you that something is misaligned.

Your Head and Hips Don’t Twist or Turn Easily or Equally: Misalignment in the spine can reduce range of motion.

Constantly Tired: An unbalanced spine can reduce your daily energy.

Lacking Concentration: Your brain and body connection can be interrupted when your spine is out of alignment.

You Have Low Resistance to Disease: Chiropractic adjustments can significantly help reduce nerve pressure which has been shown to increase your white blood cells. Interleukin-2(IL-2) levels are increased after adjustments which are the cells that are used to kill viral and bacterial infections.

Your Feet Flare Out: Notice which direction your feet point as you are walking, in, out, or forward (don’t cheat). If one or both of your feet flare outwards, this is a sign of issues may be occurring in the lower spine or hips.

One Leg is Shorter Than the Other: With your shoes on, lie down, and have someone stand behind you and look down at your feet. If one leg is shorter than the other, your hips and spine may be out of alignment.

Poor Posture: You may be able to tell when you physically have bad posture. Another way to test your posture is to stand on two scales and notice the weight distribution of each side of your body. If the weight is not distributed equally then your spine, hips, or head may be off center.

Frequent Headaches, Back Aches, or Sore Spots in Muscles and Joints: These are all common symptoms of a misaligned spine.

Constant Stressful Feeling and Tension in the Muscles and Joints: Nerve irritation from a misaligned spine can cause your body to feel stressed and tense.

Stiffness in Your Back or Neck: Stiffness can be a result of degenerative changes in your spine.

Something is Just Not Right: If you are feeling like you have overall poor health this could mean that your nervous system is out of balance, which in the end means that your health is not in balance.

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