How to Make the Most Out of Your Google Search

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When you sit down at your computer and do a google search, don't type like this:

Google:  back pain
Google: headaches
Google: Lyme disease
Google: Fatigue

And most of all, don't type this:   Google: chiropractic

Why?  Because you have a better head on your shoulders than you think, don't you?   You don't resort to simplistic thinking do you?

Of course when you google chiropractic the first thing that comes up is the wikipedia entry.  Are you a fan of wikipedia?  I think it's ok for introductory information. Wikipedia is a place on the internet that can be very generic and should get you started on more specific searches.  

If you scroll down through the wikipedia entry, you come to the paragraph that says there is hardly any evidence supporting that chiropractic is good for anything.....Yup.  That's what it says. 

But here's what irks me.  We presume everyone is the same and that all you need to do is one type of intervention to make yourself all perfect and back to health.  They take a bunch of people, adjust them a few times and record what happens.  Not a really complete scenario.  Sometimes they use fake adjustments so it's similar to a placebo.  It's a good college try, but it has it's limitations.  

The truth is nothing works that way.  Not even a drug.  Taking an antibiotic is not a total cure for a bacterial infection.  There are so many body processes involved.  The antibiotic is only one aspect. If you zap a germ with an antibiotic, your body still has to process the dead cells and clear them out of the body.  What if you're too sick to do that?  Also, antibiotics wreak havoc on gut structures and make people sicker.  The body has to deal with that, as well.  Recently I've been reading about balance problems and neuropathy associated issues with antibiotic use, among other unpleasant side effects.  So, there are always other considerations that impact how you approach a health problem. 

Do I assume chiropractic is a treatment for back pain, headaches, and other health problems?  Of course not.  That's why a generic search on google for a named disease or label is not the way we learn about our health.  

Often, when looking for the quick answer, you get a lot of disappointment.  

If you watched the orientation video and talk to me for less than 15 minutes, you know that we must understand where good health comes from and focus on that.  Disease names take us all over the place in so many directions they don't connect to a solid healing path.  

When you sit down at your computer and type a search term, the following will give you real explanations:

How the body heals

How does the body work?

How to keep the body systems in balance

Unfortunately, when I actually do that, the answers are just as goofy.  
Why? Because we shouldn't be looking for a one size fits all answer.  We should be deciding what kind of philosophy to follow.  

Philosophy is the study of knowledge and how one categorizes information, Generally you make your own conclusions based on how you value the process of understanding information. 

So, when asking the question: what makes me feel better?  You have to pick a philosophy that fits your preference for healing. 

My own preference is without drugs, and risky surgical procedures. As I progressed through my educational career, the profession of teaching and pedagogy, mental health counseling, and then chiropractic, I have focused on an approach that continues to give a person self confidence.  This must come from a person's ability to feel self empowered.  

That means a teaching approach should inspire action in the learner. The learner should demonstrate a finely tuned behavior whether is is the ability to write, speak, perform a musical instrument, play a sport, design a structure, create a piece of art, aid someone in distress, etc. 

In mental health, I wanted so see people reshape their own self perception, demonstrate assertiveness, and choose relationships that are mutually beneficial.  

In chiropractic, I want folks to understand how they add health to their lives and inadvertently deplete health from their lives.  This approach encourages people to consider what is natural to the body and what is unnatural to the body.  This includes what nurtures the body and what puts the body into an emergency state of survival until the body can reestablish balance again.  

 Sadly, if we don't reclaim that balance, the body prioritizes systems until it becomes too weak then it finally loses its resilience. 

Understanding the stage of survival you are in helps you realize there is a multi-step approach.  Life is full of multiple stressors. Health issues stem from overlapping causes, with compensating effects. This is why a one-step-drug, or one healing activity is not going to make a dent in your total well-being. 

Also, with this philosophy, a passive approach isn't congruent.  Your confidence level and self-direction matter.

In conclusion, part of my philosophy is to make healing a meaningful and rewarding practice, because  we use ongoing habits that should be woven into your life on a daily/weekly basis.  

The body heals 24 hours a day.   This is amazingly cool!!! 
 What you do will influence how well your healing gifts take care of you for a long time.

If you've been on the blog long enough you will read about the B.F.A. Protocol, (Brain First Always).  This is how I introduce people to making their healing power the best it can be.  

Ready to dive in?  Call the office and get on board.   315-277-1362.
BFA Crash Course

Office Orientation Video

How You Can Benefit From My Nerdiness

I admit it.  I am a nerd.  I am especially interested in how the brain works so I can help you get the most out of your chiropractic care. 

You, see there are people who walk around a track, going in the same circle over and over.  There is nothing wrong with that, but I want to send you on an adventurous hike with beautiful scenery and an exhilarating climb up a mountain.  I want to give you the mental ambition to try new and challenging activities. 

We use chiropractic to promote healthy brain wave activity.  What else can you do between visits?
Let this article give you a few great clues.  After all, the way you use your brain matters.  

Let's talk about how you can make your chiropractic and brain building activities meaningful and rewarding. 

--Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

********

Top 15 Insights on Neuroplasticity, Brain Training, Emotions, Cognition And Brain Health. Ready?

Copyright (c) 2014 SharpBrains

Curious about modern brain and mind science and about what it has to offer to improve education, health and quality of life?

Here you have some of the most popular ideas and highlights, courtesy of dozens of experts and thousands of book readers worldwide. Which of these highlights surprise you the most? Why?

1. "Emotion is the system that tells us how important something is. Attention focuses us on the important and away from the unimportant things. Cognition tells us what to do about it. Cognitive skills are whatever it takes to do those things."

2. "Working memory is the type of memory that allows us to both hold information in mind and work on it as needed."

3. "The central concept in this new approach is neuroplasticity, the brain's lifelong capacity to change and rewire itself in response to the stimulation of learning and experience. This includes both the lifelong ability to create new neurons - neurogenesis - and to create new connections between neurons - synaptogenesis."

4. "Controlling and managing emotion (including stress and anger) is crucial for performing successfully in anything."

5. "Sometimes our hypothesis will be right, and sometimes it will be wrong. The fear of failing, the fear of looking not smart, is a key obstacle to learning that I see too often, especially with people who want to protect perceived reputations to such an extent that they do not let themselves try new learning cycles."

6. "...a healthy brain is a brain that has the right amount of plasticity"

7. "Meditation is one of the techniques to change both brain activity and structures, and may give us unique control over attention by promoting broadening and focus."

8. "Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neuronal networks, through experience."

9. "...true brain fitness refers to having the brain functionality - cognitive, emotional, executive - required to thrive in the environment we face each day."

10. "The only leisure activity that has been associated with reduced brain function is watching television. This has been shown, for instance, by one study which followed more than 5,000 individuals, aged 55 years and older, for 5 years."

11. "A consequence of the brain's plasticity is that the brain may change with every experience, thought and emotion, from which it follows that you yourself have the potential power to change your brain with everything that you do, think, and feel. 

So brain fitness and optimization are about much more than crossword puzzles and blueberries; they are about cultivating a new mindset and mastering a new toolkit that allow us to appreciate and take full advantage of our brains' incredible properties."

12. "In every field, elite performers devote more time to practice than to the actual performance. To perform at the highest level, you need to protect and optimize practice and learning time."

13. "We need to expand our vocabulary: "IQ" and "memory" do not encompass all of the brain's functions. The brain is composed of neuronal networks serving distinct functions, including various types of memory, but also language, emotional regulation, attention, planning, and many others. 

This is important because our life and productivity depend on the functionality of all these brain functions, not just one."

14. "... the more a network of neurons is activated (i.e., the more often the neurons fire together), the stronger the connections become. If a network supporting a brain function is repeatedly stimulated through practice and training, it will become stronger, contributing to the optimization of that brain function...the less a network of neurons is activated the weaker the connections become, and weak connections end up dying. 

This accounts for the popular idea "use it or lose it" - brain functions that are not stimulated end up losing their efficiency since the neural networks supporting them weaken or dissipate."

15. "Physical activity and physical exercise are different...Physical exercise (e.g. swimming) refers to the effortful activity of particular parts of our bodies. While both may bring benefits, it is clearly physical exercise that helps build capacity and muscle strength. 

It is thus physical exercise that contributes to staying physically fit. This is the kind of exercise that also brings brain benefits."

As you can see, much food for thought, and much room to start transferring these findings and concepts from research labs into our daily lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This is an adapted excerpt from the new book by neuroscientist Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg and educator Alvaro Fernandez, titled "The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: How to Optimize Brain Health and Performance at Any Age," described as "An essential reference on the field of brain fitness, neuroplasticity and cognitive health" by Highlight Health. You can learn more at http://www.sharpbrains.com/book/

http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/self-help/top-15-insights-on-neuroplasticity-brain-training-emotions-cognition-and-brain-health-ready.html

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Can You Control What's Not In Your Control? Mastering the Brain

Chiropractic helps us maintain the nervous system's ability to assess and adapt to the changes around you.  We use the spinal joints as our access points to re-calibrate a busy brain.  

It sounds so simple yet it profoundly impacts your health in positive ways.

So much of our brain activity is subconscious.  It happens automatically.  As your body notes changes in your surroundings and inside your body it responds.  For example, if you eat a spoiled food, your brain goes into action by causing your GI tract to reverse course and cause you to vomit, or speed things up and send you running for the toilet.  Your brain doesn't take a vote or mull it over; it does it very efficiently.  But, what if your nerves were already over-stressed or unresponsive for any various reason such as a weakened immune system, infection, or physical damage from a trauma?  Your body may not be able to expel the toxins and you may stay sick and suffer more.  

When you begin to climb a flight of stairs, your brain needs to be in communication with your legs, so your body knows to ramp up your circulation with a faster heart rate.  Anykind of weakness will prohibit your ability to climb the stairs. 

It's not always apparent when your body is about the hit the wall and fail on you.  That's why we utilize chiropractic to maintain brain function and we address stresses that we can modify so they are not as damaging to overall health.  

Chiropractors have their own set of measurable vital signs that let you know how well your body can respond to appropriately to the highs and lows of your life.

Your body is like a dam and the water could be rising without any warning, because the other side of the dam is dry without a drop of wetness.  However, it only takes one minor rise in the water level to break the dam and a powerful flood can occur.  That's one unsuspecting way to ruin your day.  Have you ever had a pipe burst in your house at the most inconvenient time?

As chiropractors we want your care to be meaningful and rewarding.  It all turns back to how you desire to live your life, follow your calling, and make your dreams come true.  Chiropractors want to celebrate your life with you and we want to keep you inspired and proud of your achievements.  We help you do that with a healthy, performing brain. 

This article about the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the nervous system nicely explains how special the brain truly is.  Enjoy this information and ask me how we promote a meaningful brain building routine. 

Why Does Chiropractic Need to Look at Brain Activity?

By Irma Palmer 

Chiropractic's primary focus is the nervous system. Insofar as the brain is the central organizing authority, it benefits us to have some objective method of knowing that something is amiss in the Central Nervous System and even more compelling, that our care has improved neurological function. The best researched and simplest method today is via electroencephalograph or EEG studies. 

B.J. Palmer, developer of Chiropractic, taught that the subluxation (or less energy) is found in the nervous impulse, so what better area to examine than the seat of neural activity. Brain waves are created by cortical activity (outer layer of the brain) and are a very accurate method of revealing normal or abnormal brain activity.

Moving from the cortical function, we next need to look at the matured part of the brain - the limbic system. Within this region we find all the life sustaining activities of the nervous system. The limbic system is the center of the Autonomic Nervous System and it is divided into two parts: the sympathetic which is responsible for getting our other systems up and running and our parasympathetic system which is responsible for slowing everything down. 

The activity between these two systems allows us to respond to tasks or threats (sympathetic activity) and then to recover (parasympathetic) from the efforts of these high energy demanding situations. Research shows that Chiropractic adjustments improve Autonomic Nervous System function.

While we think, consciously, that we are in control, 84% of our brain activity is subconscious which is why the majority of time we have no idea that our systems are out of balance. We only become aware of a problem once the relationship between the two become so badly out of balance that symptoms appear.

In order to determine real neurological function we must look at the systems under duress and then recovery to see if they can adapt to a stressor and then recover to normal once the stressor is removed. This is the reason we do dynamic and static testing over time and events.

The Limbic System controls other body systems including: heart rate, hand temperature, skin moisture, respiration rate, general muscle tone, and heart rate variability as well as others.

So, now as a truly neurologically based Chiropractor we can see the importance between cortical activity and limbic system response, but how does that relate to our patients? By understanding what the Neuro Infiniti Screening system is measuring and what we are looking at you will see how important it is we evaluate the connection between the brain and the rest of your body.
Autonomic Neurological Function

Heart rate - Ideal 56 to 66 BPM

Why is heart rate important? As cardiac events are the number one killer, knowing what is going on with heart function is self evident. The Neuro Infiniti provides a great deal of cardiac information including simple heart rate and heart rate variability. 

With the stress/recovery measurements we can objectively see what the heart activity is during emotional stress and physical activity. We can see if the patient has any conscious control on his/her heart rate.

Heart Rate Variability - high bars in the low frequency range

This is a relatively new form of heart function testing and with research now in place, it is important that we use measurement as an evaluation for the effectiveness of Chiropractic care in a clinical setting. 

There are several instruments available in the market today; however, the Neuro Infiniti is unique in its application and combination. The fact that we use HRV findings in conjunction with measured respiration rates and during stress events and recovery, a great deal more information on all three of these procedures is provided.

Respiration Rate - Ideal 6 to 12 BPM

There are several vital sign measurements used in the health field. Brain activity, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate are some of the most common. There is more to respiration than just the rate. Upper respiratory breathing is a sympathetic response to a stressor and involves elevating the upper rib cage rather than using the diaphragm to breathe. 

Diaphragmatic breathing involves the Vagus nerve (conveys sensory information about the state of the body's organs) and Phrenic nerve (conveys sensory information about the upper abdomen liver and gall bladder) and the parasympathetic nervous system. This system helps the body stop the stress response. Rapid breathing is very detrimental to the body and can create an imbalance with the body chemistry. Damage to the Phrenic nerve can cause abnormal breathing patterns.

Skin Conductivity - Ideal 0.8 to 1.5Su

The study of Skin Conductivity (SC) or Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) has been ongoing over the last 100 years. While SC measures the conductivity of electrical current, GSR measures the resistance. Both reflect the electro-dermal activity of the skin as affected by the sweat glands. 

There have been many studies over the years which establish the power of the subconscious emotions within the Central Nervous System to control sweat gland activity. With this knowledge and data, we have the opportunity to record the emotional responses to stressors and the ability to neutralize the responses.

Hand Temperature - Ideal 94F to 96F - 34C to 35C

While typical medical practice tends to look at core temperature as a vital sign, there is another area which tells an important story about health response much earlier than at the core. The extremities are very important in reporting on the neurological state of the patient. 

Given any stress of threat, the typical neurological response is to close down the blood flow to the hands and feet and pool the blood into the central core. This is a typical fight/flight response as blood will be required in the heart and lungs to provide oxygen and nutrition to the major muscles. Long term stress patterns keep the patient in this state and cold hands and feet will be a constant.

Muscle tone (sEMG) - ideal 0.5 to 2.5

Over the years, Chiropractic has been associated with musculoskeletal function. In the last 15 years we have seen the development of instrumentation which recorded static para-spinal muscle activity. 

What is important here is to look for the way stressors affect muscle tone. The three areas most reactive are the trapezius (shoulder area), the masseter (jaw area) and the temporalis (eye area) muscles. These muscles provide a window into the effects of stressors on general muscle tone.

As you can see, observing and measuring brain activity is crucial and very important to chiropractic and patients which have a desire to maximize their health. It is our job to assess your nervous system and either jump start it or slow it down by means of the chiropractic adjustment. 

Restoring it to the wonderful and normal state of balance is our intention. In addition, we are able to offer simple retraining methods to augment the power of the chiropractic adjustment.

We welcome your feedback as well as the opportunity to help you and those you care about reach your optimum potential. Ideally, you shouldn't be very off track. Your health is your most valuable asset so please do not wait for symptoms to arise before you take action. 

Always remember to be proactive about your health, not reactive. The shameful trend reveals that most of our society decides to become proactive when health crisis occurs. Individuals spend a large chunk of money trying to regain their health that was lost as opposed to cherishing it along the course of life. 

It makes better sense to spend money on ways to enhance your health so you can be enjoying your life throughout your prime years on this planet.

We encourage being aware at the earliest signs possible. The Neuro Infiniti technology provides that opportunity from a neurological systems point of view. Problems can be revealed much earlier and by doing so, the road to recovery is much shorter. 

Bottom line: determining early what your systems are doing and where we are starting from can save you years and dollars in the future.

Dr. Irma Leon Palmer is available at Chiropractic Today in Inverness. Schedule your Stress Response Evaluation today by calling (205)991-3511 or visit http://www.ChiropracticToday.com to learn more.

If you would like to find out more information about me,my practice, my philosophy or my blog please visit http://www.chiropractictoday.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Irma_Palmer/60701

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Minor Brain Injuries: We Are All at Risk

The brain makes the body and you make your life.  This is one of my favorite sayings.  What is your awareness of brain injury?  How much stress does it take to harm the brain?

I prefer we do a lot of preventive work to protect our brains, but sometimes we are struck with injury even if it seems minor.  We should never underestimate the stress on the brain and it is important to act quickly to assist in the brain's healing. 

This is why S.T.A.R. Sessions are so beneficial.  We could call it chiropractic on steroids, however, we use natural means to regain and maintain our health, so pardon the pun.  

For more information on TBI and minor TBI, I found this article written by a chiropractic neurologist.  He emphasizes how an injured brain has difficulty with metabolism and healing can be impaired.  
 Enjoy the article: 

Hope and Help for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

By George Kukurin D.C

When we think of traumatic brain injury we think of severe head trauma, coma and hospitalization for weeks or months. But research is finding that mild or moderate traumatic brain injury, we call it mTBI for short, can occur with even minor insult to the brain. 

The symptoms can include a foggy feeling (brain fog), lack of concentration and other signs of what brain researchers call cognitive dysfunction. Usually the patient with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury(mTBI) will complain about headaches. They can be mild daily headaches often with frequent migraine-like episodes. Also patients who have suffered a mTBI will feel dizzy or unsteady. Some have full blown vertigo. These symptoms can last days or for unfortunate patients, years after their injury. 

In chronic cases patient complain of vague feeling of anxiety and love ones might notice personality changes after long term symptoms. Millions of Americans are injured and develop symptoms of mTBI every year. 

Researchers believe that the condition is missed or under diagnosed by physicians. The symptoms of mTBI can be debilitating and last a lifetime. The lack of proper diagnosis and the long term impact of symptoms of traumatic brain injures is creating a significant health care crisis. What is even more unfortunate is the fact that currently there is no drug treatments that have proven effective to treat the chronic form of mTBI.

Lets take a quick look at what happens to the brain after trauma. We know that seemingly minor head trauma like from sports or a minor rear end auto accident can produce profound life changing effects in the brain. When the brain is traumatized there is local damage at the site of impact. 

However, the damage often does not stay localized. Unfortunately there is a second wave of injury that spreads far from the initial site of the damage and may encompass the entire brain. Obviously this is a serious problem. The brain is an extremely complex organ and its reaction to even minor trauma is likewise very complex. What we know is when the brain is jostled it loses its ability to burn sugar for energy. 

Since glucose or sugar is the brain's main fuel source, this is a serious problem. The mTBI causes widespread metabolic changes in the brain while at the same time it knocks our brain's power supply. To put it simply, the brain requires increased energy utilization after injury to try to re-boot, but at the same time the energy supply for the re-boot is severely compromised. This is why symptoms of mTBI can continue for months or even years. 

Furthermore antioxidants, which the brain uses to protect against ongoing damage, are consumed rapidly, leaving the brain vulnerable to future injury. While there are undoubtedly many more events that occur after brain injury, another important consequence is secondary inflammation that occurs. This neuro-inflammation as it is called, kills off healthy nerve cells. This inflammation further perpetuates the damage weeks or months after the initial injury.

What is even worse is the fact that there are few, if any, current medications that have been shown to reverse or even alleviate these metabolic changes in the brain that occur after trauma. But there is hope for treating both the symptoms and the underlying cause of persistent mTBI symptoms. 

You may have heard about Professor Ted Carrick, the chiropractic neurologist that was part of the team that helped Sidney Crosby recover from his TBI. Chiropractic neurologists have developed rehabilitation protocols specifically designed to address lost function of the nervous system following a TBI. They can be particularly effective dealing with balance issues. 

Following TBI, the patient is assessed to identify lost neurological function and a highly specific individualized set of neurological rehabilitation exercises is implemented. On their own, these exercises can be quite effective in the restoration of lost neurological function. 

Over the last decade, Professor Yuri Danilov and his research team at the University of Wisconsin have pioneered a technique called Cranial Nerve Non-invasive Neuromodulation or CN-NINM for short. What Danilov and his team have found is that stimulating the brain while applying neurological rehab techniques amplifies the rehabilitation of lost neurological function. The results of the combining Dr Danilov's brain stimulation techniques + chiropractic neurological rehabilitation can be truly amazing. This offers great hope for folks suffering from ongoing traumatic brain injury symptoms. 

Another exciting and promising research development in the field of traumatic brain injury is the findings that the damaged brain can shift from utilizing glucose or sugar for energy to other energy sources (acetate for one).

Researchers have found in the animal model of mTBI, that increasing certain nutrients in the diet leads to increased energy production in the brain. This is important because as we discussed earlier in this article, the brain needs to expend a tremendous amount to energy to repair itself following even mild injury. 

A shift from glucose metabolism in the brain that is impaired following brain trauma to other forms of energy production that can be enhanced through the diet is indeed exciting news for people suffering from traumatic brain injury. It offers the potential to provide the brain the energy it needs to reboot and repair. 

Combining proper brain nutritional supplementation, adding specific neurological rehabilitation techniques developed by chiropractic neurologists while at the same time amplifying the effects of these techniques through Dr. Danilov's methods, offers the first real hope for chronic traumatic brain injury patients in years. 

The complexities of traumatic brain injury are being unraveled through basic scientific research and individualized and comprehensive methods of functional brain restoration are emerging based on this new information. After years of frustration for both patients suffering from mTBI and the doctors who treat them, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi I am Dr. George Kukurin, licensed to practice chiropractic & acupuncture. I'm also one of a few chiropractic physicians who are Diplomats of the American Chiropractic Academy of Neurology. I have a keen interest in conditions of the nervous system like Traumatic Brain Injury and Parkinson's Disease. I am a former faculty member of the Post Graduate Neurology Department of Parker College.

The results our patient have obtained have been presented at Johns Hopkins Medical School and at the Peripheral Nerve Society scientific meetings. I have post-graduate education from the Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. 

The treatments we have pioneered for our patients have produced some amazing results. They have been seen on local Fox and ABC newscasts and published in medical journals indexed in the National Library of Medicine.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/George_Kukurin_D.C./199765

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7239897

Brain Recipe: Taxing, Interesting, and Motivating

I like to learn about other people's paths to healing. Their stories can be inspiring and it's nice to know people are able to turn their struggles into successes.  

In my interest in finding ways to communicate how the brain can be rewired, I found this short article by someone who found his own path to find wellness after an auto-immune challenge disrupted his life.  He uses simple analogies to explain the brain.  As sophisticated as the brain is, it is our partner in life and we can be our brain's best friend.  

Enjoy this short article by Peter Winslow. 

Natural Healing From Rheumatic Illnesses Like Ankylosing Spondylitis: The Science of Neuroplasticity

By Peter Winslow

I experienced first-hand the healing power of the human body when I recovered from the pain and symptoms of a chronic autoimmune disorder called Ankylosing Spondylitis, or AS.

"Chronic" disease means medicines cannot cure it. AS is considered "incurable" because there isn't a drug or medical treatment to reverse it. Yet people have recovered from this and other chronic conditions by using the healing power of their own bodies. How is it possible?

I began to understand the power of the human body to heal itself when I studied anatomy and physiology in college. Among other things, I learned:

The body you lived in yesterday is different than the one you're in today. In a process called cellular mitosis, the cells in your body birth new cells repeatedly and die off naturally throughout your lifetime. In fact, in a few years you'll have a completely different body altogether.

The body rebuilds itself again and again throughout your lifetime and it's plainly evident. Watch a youngster grow up and age over the years; what you're witnessing is the process of cellular growth and regeneration that occurs with the passing of time.

Some cells reproduce faster than others. The cells that lined your stomach two hours ago have already been replaced with new ones whose daughter cells will soon be born; other cells reproduce in a matter of months.

Neuroscientists tell us that brain cells, called neurons, are programmed a bit differently than the other cells. They adapt to their environment depending on what you learn and what new behaviors you acquire.

In a process called neuroplasticity, the map-like structure of the brain can be remodeled. Using MRI technology, doctors can observe the process in patients who've suffered head injuries and are creating new neural pathways to compensate for the loss.

In cases of head injuries that cause blindness, neuroscientists have observed amazing changes in the brains of the victims. Using brain imaging scans they have isolated electro-magnetic energy emitted by the visual cortex, a portion consisting of approximately one third of the brain, and found that this region has adapted and retrained itself in these patients to supervise completely different skills.

Neuroplasticity is the process by which many blind people develop their highly acute senses of hearing, touch, taste and smell and are often able to master completely new tasks and creative endeavors that the rest of us find challenging and even impossible to do.

Until the mid 1990's it was believed that brain cells do not regenerate beyond the formative years of development, after about two or three years of age. Scientists now know that's incorrect. Through a process called neurogenesis brand new neurons are created when you enrich your environment by taking up new and interesting mental exercises like learning a foreign language, or using mind-body practices like meditation.

Tackling challenging skills like these helps to ward off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia because the process increases cognitive ability and rebuilds memory function. This means that new and challenging mind-body activities enhance neuroplasticity in the brain. Here's the catch: doctors say the initial changes are only temporary because you have to be emotionally engaged in the process to retain the results.

Permanent plasticity occurs when you feel passion, élan, savior faire and a zest for life because positive thoughts and a sense of wellbeing are critical for the release of the specific neurotransmitters and the other brain chemicals that enable the changes to stick.

Your new skills must be taxing, interesting and highly motivating for the results to become permanent. This is solid proof of the mind-body connection; you must consciously choose to feel passion and motivation before your brain can make the physical benefits lasting and permanent.

Neurologists have learned that neuroplasticity works in two ways; it can be either positive or negative. An example of negative plasticity: many elderly people are understandably afraid of falling. Trying to avoid an accident by looking down at the ground in front of them while they walk narrows their field of vision which in turn trains the brain to decrease physical coordination and balance.

The negative effects are due to the mind-body connection; fear is the motivation and it's a strong emotion that powers the process. The resulting changes in the brain actually impair physical mobility and increase the likelihood of a fall, the one thing they were focused on, but trying to prevent.

Researchers tell us that chronic pain is also an example of negative plasticity. It's the result of the brain repeatedly firing specific neural pathways over time until what was once temporary information has now become an ingrained bad habit.

It's like driving a truck on a muddy dirt road; the more you drive over them, the deeper the grooves become. The repeated pain sensations in your body construct an "information superhighway" on the roadmap of the brain, but it is not necessarily a permanent fixture.

Researchers have learned that chronic pain in the body can be reversed through the process of neuroplasticity. You have to adopt new habits, behaviors and exercises that replace the old patterns to permanently change the terrain.

As the mature cells within you constantly give birth to new ones, you're actually building an entirely new and different body, a process that completes itself every few years. The work is alive and ongoing throughout your lifetime, and you can take an active role in the process. Physical exercise is an excellent way to do so.

If you want to build a healthier body than the one you've got now, you can certainly do it. Incorporating mind-body techniques with your exercise regimen is proven to reverse chronic pain and illness, and is uniquely valuable for reversing the pain and symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis. The sooner you begin, the better off you'll be.

About the author: I'm Peter Winslow, a Life Coach, Counselor and Trainer assisting you in reversing the pain and symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis and other illnesses.

I battled Ankylosing Spondylitis for more than ten years. Today I am completely free of all pain and symptoms.

With years of training and experience in the fields of health and healing, combined with my own recovery from AS, I am uniquely qualified to help you with your personal health issues and emotional challenges.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona (AZ), assisting clients locally and worldwide.

Get your free report, What Your Doctor Hasn't Told You About AS at http://www.helpinghealing.com.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peter_Winslow/742581

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6883517

** F A Q **

FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ  FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome!  I'm glad you stopped by.
       
Chiropractic is a person-to-person service.
Making a phone call is the best way to get started.
       315-277-1362

Is this office the right fit for you?  Watch the Orientation Video

Q- I'm in a lot of pain.  How soon can I come in?

         A-  Tuesday and Thursday mornings are set aside for new  
                people who are comfortable enough to sit for a 90
                minute interview to get a detailed history on your
                situation.  Other times may be available as well, so
                most people can be seen within 1-3 days after calling
                the office. 
               
               Be sure to watch the orientation 
                video before your first visit so you can decide if this                          office is the right fit for you.
                

                Please call 315-277-1362

                 If you need Urgent Care or the E.R., go there first and 
                 call later when your functioning is more manageable.

Q- Do you accept my insurance?

           A- Please call and ask.  Only a few government plans are 
                accepted.    315-277-1362
                We also have cash discount plan.
                Most insurance plans will not reimburse Dr. Homic   
                because brain-based-subluxation care is not
                a reimbursable service.  The language of insurance 
                considers most types of chiropractic care 
                "not medically necessary" even though consumers
                 give it a high satisfaction rating.  Your health is more
                 important than a 3rd party system's determination. 

                The PCD program allows us to discount our cash
                fees which means no one actually needs insurance.

Q- What conditions do you treat?

          A- Chiropractic is about people not conditions.  
               The goal is for better healing.  It doesn't matter 
               what the person presents with, it's about an improved
                healing response.  We collaborate to decide what
                type of chiropractic adjustment suits your current
                state of health. 

Q- How long will it take to feel better?

         A- No one can make prediction's about another person's
              healing ability.  Each person has a unique health 
              background and environment.  And since "feeling better"
              is a subjective measurement, we would rather focus on 
                     improving the body's own innate healing ability by
              1- removing subluxations from the spine and 2- come up                 with a plan to reduce the stresses that complicate                               subluxations.

             In general terms, someone can influence his or her own                     health for the better in a matter of weeks to months, 
                   depending on how much damage the body has sustained,                  and how many life style changes someone can incorporate
            into his or her daily routine to make effective change. 
                 
             The goal of Dr. Lisa's office is to make this change
             meaningful and rewarding.  

             Be sure to watch the orientation video to help you decide
             if this office is the right fit for you.
             

       Call the office:  315-277-1362 so I can learn more about you.  

-- Dr. Lisa 
--Your Health Freedom Advocate


           
                
                

B.F.A. Crash Course (Brain First Always)

I made a video a few weeks ago regarding the first steps to the Brain First Always Protocol.  These are "Do It Yourself" activities you can start doing before your first chiropractic visit.   Check out Brain Snob Episode 35.

With today's blog post, I will give you the BFA Crash Course.  I have a hand out in the office that I nicknamed "The BFA Template."  Be sure to ask me for a copy.  My crash course here will not be as detailed, but it will give you a clear picture of the 3 Doorways that boost your brain health.

Here goes:

Speedy Lesson #1

• You have an inborn wisdom or innate intelligence received into your life at conception.
• This innate intelligence is with you from your existence in the womb until your last breath.  
• Your innate intelligence makes cell division happen, along with all other life sustaining activities in the organs.  

Any time a seed germinates and grows into a plant or tree, you are witnessing innate intelligence in action.  Every time your body responds to the environment for protection and healing, that is your innate intelligence in action.  

Speedy Lesson #2

You cannot see innate intelligence, but you see the results when a cut heals, when you your blood pressure rises so you can take a fight of stairs, when a baby is born, and so much more.

Speedy Lesson #3

Life affirming messages are delivered from the brain and spinal cord through the spinal column to the rest of the body.

Innate intelligence partners with the nervous system much like a conductor communicates with an orchestra to make beautiful music.  Innate intelligence and your nervous system partner together so you can live a beautiful life.  

Speedy Lesson #4

Nerve energy can only be received and used by healthy, living tissues.  We must strive to provide responsive/receptive tissues so life can be expressed.  

In other words, you cannot make a fire without materials, oxygen, and heat.  You cannot live without nerve energy, nutrient energy, and functioning tissues/organs.

Lesson 1-4 Round Up:
Healing ability is always there until death. 
Now, how do you participate?

Next:  You can influence this healing power with your self care practices

Speedy Lesson #5

Healing is  starts with your knowledge of how the body works and how this knowledge impacts your confidence in your own body's self healing.  Your confidence plays a role in the healing process.

Knowledge + Confidence = Motivation To Be More Proactive

But we know motivation does not mean change.  Actual action is action.  

Speedy Lesson #6

Adjusting the spine is a profound activity that positively boosts brain activity as measured by EEG studies. 

Check out this blog post showing how the body changes when adjusted.  

Speedy Lesson #7

Your daily self care and stress management practices add more power to your chiropractic adjustments. 

Speedy Lesson #8

The 3 Doorways of the B.F.A. Protocol:
   1- Move the Brain  
       (Chiropractic care & Exercise)
   2- Feed the Brain  
       (Reducing toxins, increasing nutrients, and following a "keto           phasing" eating plan.)
   3- Talk to the Brain  
        (S.T.A.R. Sessions, and my favorite books on brain training.            Get my reading list in the office.)

     What is a S.T.A.R. Session?
     More Info on S.T.A.R. Sessions.
Ready to Dive In??? Great!!
Watch the Orientation Video and call for your appointment.