Healthy News & Views

I can remember as a small child watching Dr. Martin Luther King speaking in front of thousands of people telling them about his dream. He spoke about letting freedom ring, he spoke about equality, he spoke about all people being together. Since those days I have seen that particular speech hundreds of times. To this day, I am still moved to tears when he finishes his speech with "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I’m free at last."

Dr. King’s vision of strength and courage led a movement that went a long way toward removing racial prejudice. And, although there is still much work to be done, at least we have started. The health care industry, and its practitioners and business people, could learn a lot from Dr. King and the civil rights movement.

I can remember an incident where one of my patients returned to me after a few months interruption in her care. She told me the reason she stopped coming is that her MD had told her that he would not take care of her if she continued to go to a chiropractor.  A few weeks earlier one of my staff was calling a pediatric center in my area to get a Medicaid HMO authorization number for two children. The parents of these children had already seen marked improvements with their children from our care. When my staff person asked for the authorization number, she was abruptly told that the entire center was no longer authorizing any chiropractic care. The person on the other end of the phone further stated that they "weren’t paid enough to authorize chiropractic care."

These two examples are not isolated. Every chiropractor can tell similar stories. These incidents hopefully represent a minority of the medical community’s opinion. But no matter what the particular story is, these incidents are all based on the same thing,... ignorance!

Ignorance is what starts stereotypes, grows into prejudice, and ultimately putrefies into racism. While other forms of prejudice and racism are deemed ugly, intolerable, and politically incorrect, "Heath Care Racism" still continues unchecked and in many instances is even governmentally sanctioned.

Over the years I have seen interviews with certain medical individuals who try to suggest that chiropractors are dangerous because they may delay the onset of medical care. Ironically, I have personally seen thousands of cases where medical prejudice has delayed the timely onset of chiropractic care to a patient. Yet, I have never seen anyone persecuted or prosecuted for it.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic I do not wish, nor am I allowed to prescribe drugs. I am also not permitted to tell a patient to stop taking drugs. Chiropractors have been prosecuted for "practicing medicine" by allegedly telling patients to stop taking drugs.

On the other hand, I have never heard of a single investigation or prosecution of an MD for practicing chiropractic without a license by telling a patient to stop chiropractic care. It seems the door only swings one way. In my opinion any MD who makes a decision regarding the necessity for chiropractic care is acting outside the scope of their license and should be subject to prosecution.

Chiropractic is more than just a profession, it is a way of life, a belief system about wellness and health. The U.S. Bill Of Rights provides for the inalienable rights to "...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Certainly the rights to attend to one’s own well being and health are covered under these inalienable rights.

The time has come for the health care industry to leave the age of ignorance and prejudice and enter the age of education and understanding. The public is intelligent enough to make their own health care decisions when given the facts. Racism in any form is ugly, ignorant, and must be eliminated. Likewise, "Health Care Racism" must also come to an end.

Each month, I review hundreds of articles on health and chiropractic that appear in the general media. From these we select the ones that we feel can best be reported on for our patient newsletter. What has become more abundantly clear is that there appears to be more new disease names for conditions that were previously common occurrences. In fact, it appears that corporate medicine has begun a deliberate campaign to create name conditions in order to sell their products.

Probably the most interesting instance of this disease mongering is a new one I’ve seen called “SAD” or “Social Anxiety Disorder.” Notice the acronym is simply “SAD”. On the website for the drug Effexor which claims to treat this situation, they state that symptoms of social anxiety disorder may include; “avoiding social situations, intense self-consciousness in social settings, physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, fast heartbeat, and nausea, and unreasonable fear of embarrassment”. Now maybe it’s just me, but in my earlier days when I was dating, most of these symptoms could just as easily be treated by beer!

Another interesting example is “Restless Legs Syndrome”. This is described as, “An urge to move the legs due to an unpleasant feeling in the legs.” Well EXCUSE ME… but if I have an unpleasant feeling in my legs I’m going to move them! Another is “Male Pattern Baldness”. Hey I take offence to this one. In fact, I’m so proud of my head, I got rid of the rest of that junk called hair. I take it as a sign of a strong male to be losing hair. And, since I genetically have no choice, I’m not going to lose sleep over it.

Other marketing examples of disease mongering include, “Female Sexual Dysfunction” (obviously created by a man), “Erectile Dysfunction” (I wonder if this was created by a woman), “Irritable Bowl Syndrome”. How about Road Rage Disorder, now called “Intermittent Explosive Disorder” (IED). So if you flip the bird while driving, there is a medication just waiting for you.

This new wave of disease mongering has been pushed by the pharmaceutical industry under the guise of “disease-awareness”. Even normal processes such as menopause are being classified as a disease and now require medications.

In some cases, disease mongering involves taking real, but obscure conditions, and inflating them to the point where most of the population believes they suffer from this disorder. For some strange and unexplainable reason, much of the population feels more at ease if the symptoms they have, or perceive to have, have a name disorder attached to them. It makes it neater, and easier to mentally handle. “I’ve got XYZ disorder, and thank goodness there is a new drug xyz-ease just for me”.

The chiropractic profession has not taking this approach. We do not have the marketing resources available to us to create a new condition that only we can treat.  Chiropractic has always been about correction of subluxations. Subluxations create nerve interference and therefore affects all systems and functions of the body.

The answer to disease mongering, is to think about proper function. The concept of better function through removal of subluxation does not challenge the misconceptions of disease mongering, but they do render them irrelevant. If a person understands that they can achieve wellness and health, they no longer have to worry about fighting marketing created diseases.

It is my observation that most health decisions today are based on fear. By this I mean that the choices that people make about their health on a day to day basis are not because they want to enhance their individual health, but rather out of fear of succumbing to some sort of sickness or disease. This type of fear is usually so engraved in people’s decision making that they are not even aware that they have succumb to it. Even prevention itself is not wellness, but rather an attempt not to be the victim of a sickness or disease. Getting rid of fear in your health decisions means doing more than just avoiding sickness. It means enhancing your wellness.

Here's an analogy that may help clarify the difference.  Ask yourself the following question.

 If it's dark, and you’re at home, why do you turn on the lights?

a.    To be able to function better and be more productive in your house and carry on your needed household activities.

b.    To be able to move around in your house without tripping over anything and possibly injuring yourself.

c.    You turn on the lights because you’re afraid of the dark.

It's probably obvious that answer "c" is an action taken out of fear. But what is probably not as obvious is that so is answer "b". If the answer "b" came into your decision making, then you were turning on the light for preventative reasons. In fact you were turning on the lights because you were afraid of being injured. Only choice "a" is the choice that was not motivated by fear.

Now I'm sure that you don't run around the house at night in deep thought as to why you turned on your lights. The decision to turn on the lights is at this point automatic. But the basic reasons why you turn on the lights are still present, even if you don't consciously think about it. The same is true with how most of society makes decisions on health care. In many cases the decision is not based on deep thought, but rather, automatic. But even if automatic, the underlying reasons for most of the decisions about health today are based on fear.

In order to better illustrate this, and to see if you make your decisions based on fear, take the short quiz below. Some of the answers may seem obvious. Others may seem on the surface not to be based on fear, but upon a closer look, are based on prevention, which is a form of fear. See if you make your health decisions out of fear, or an attempt to enhance your own personal wellness. After you've answered all the questions, check to see if your answers were based on fear.

Question One

If your child falls and scrapes his or her knee, and you decide to put something on it like mercurochrome, bactine, iodine, peroxide or something similar, why did you do it?

          a. If you don't infection will set in and serious problems could occur.

          b. Applying medicine kills bacteria and prevents infection.

          c. The medicines help your child's body heal the cut faster.

If your answer was "a", your response was strictly out of fear. Fear that something serious would happen to your child if you didn't act to help. Whether or not something would happen doesn't matter, you’re not taking any chances. Making this decision out of fear doesn't make you a bad parent or anything, but fear does close your mind to other options that may exist. If you say that there aren't any other alternatives that make sense, then it was fear that kept you from ever searching for them.

If your answer was "b" you’re still acting out of fear. By trying to prevent something you are in fear of it. Although this fear is not as great as answer "a", your decision in this matter is still clouded by fear of a consequence rather that an honest attempt for a positive effect.

Only if your answer was "c" did you not act out of fear. If you believed that the medicine enhances your child's defenses and helps him or her heal faster, you acted without fear. Unfortunately answer "c" in not true. Medicine in no way enhances anyone's innate healing abilities. But by answering "c", you are probably not blinded by fear and are open enough to see other methods that may in fact promote healing and wellness in your child.

Question Two

If you’re watching your diet and keeping your fat intake low, why do you do this?

a.    Because fat can buildup in my arteries and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.

b.    Because I want to lose weight, and I want to prevent health problems in the future.

c.    Because I want to eat food that is healthy and will keep my body functioning at its optimal potential.

Here again if you answered "a" your answer was out of fear. Fear that you may come down with some serious illness, disease or life-threatening condition. Even answer "b" of prevention, was based on fear to a lesser degree. Only answer "c" was based on wanting to accomplish a positive effect without fear of some other negative consequence. There is a big difference between wanting a body that is functioning at its "optimal potential", and wanting to avoid disease or sickness. One is based on wanting a positive, the other based on avoiding a negative.

Question Three

If you have your children vaccinated, why do you do this?

a.    Because vaccinations create a healthier immune system in my child and allow the defense systems to function at a high level of their innate abilities.

b.    Because I'm a responsible parent and I don't want to expose my child to any unnecessary health risk.

c.    Because if I don't I run the risk of having my child get some very serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.

d.    Because it’s the law and I don't have a choice.

Probably no issue, more than this one, really tests your health decision making process. Among many people no issue carries stronger feelings. Yet, I can honestly say that none of my patient's actually have all the facts and information needed to make a decision on this topic. I've never met a single patient that has told me that they have done research, or even read much literature on this subject.  Yet most of them have strong opinions one way or the other. My responses on this subject are based upon the personal research I have done during my college years as well as the volume of literature I have read on the subject of immunizations.

If you answer was "a" you did not answer out of fear. Very few people actually use this answer and there's a good reason for this. Nothing in answer "a" is true. Immunizations do not create a healthier anything. Immunizations also do not allow your child's immune system to function at a higher level.

Answer "b" is probably the most common answer given for this question, but it is based on fear. If you don't really know how immunizations are suppose to work, and you don't know the reality about what protection you are, or are not getting, then your decision to immunize your children is based on the fear of the diseases you immunize them against.

If you answered "c" your answer was purely out of fear. Fear of a terrible disease or consequence to your child. This fear is so real that most people accept this fear as reality without ever seeing any evidence themselves. This fear is what drove millions of people to get the Swine Flu vaccine a few years ago. Even though there was never a problem from the Swine Flu, and the vaccination caused thousands of problems that we taxpayers had to pay for.

If you answered "d" the only real fear you have is of the authorities telling you that your child can't go to school, or that you’re a bad parent. Unfortunately this is the weakest argument for getting vaccinations. First of all, it is not true that you have no choice. There are exemptions for religious reasons and health reasons. But the logic behind this escapes me. If authorities want you to believe that immunizations are a good thing, why do they need a law that tries to force people to have them against their will?

Question Four

Why do you go to the chiropractor to get adjusted?

a.    To get rid of my back or neck pain, or whatever else I have, so that I can feel better.

b.    To prevent myself from having future pains or problems like the ones that brought me to the chiropractor in the first place.

c.    To allow my nerve system to function free of interference, therefore allowing my body's own innate abilities to function and express themselves at their highest potential.

Although answers "a" and "b" are the most common reasons that people initially go to chiropractors, they are both based on fear. In these cases it is usually the fear of pain. Pain is a big motivator. It is what makes most people seek out some form of health care. Unfortunately, pain is a warning after a health problem is already present. If pain is your motivation for seeking chiropractic care, this is a response based on fear.

Answer "c" is the only answer that is both true and not based on fear. Wanting your body to function on a better and healthier level is a good non-fear reason for seeking chiropractic care. This is commonly the reason that chiropractors themselves and their families receive chiropractic adjustments. And although this is not the reason that most patients come to the chiropractor, most chiropractors wish it were.

Fear is a strong motivation. It is the reason why most people make the health decisions they do. Unfortunately, decisions based on fear are often not what is best for your health and quality of life.  If we are ever to really improve our health both individually, and as a society, fear has to be replaced by truth, knowledge, understanding, and a respect for the human body. To borrow a quote, "we have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

Take a Walk with Braile Chiropractic at Kennesaw Mountain

How many hours a day do you sit?  If you have children in public school, how many hours a day do you think they sit?  Sitting more than 6 hours a day  can have a huge impact on your health and your chiropractic care.

According to the Center for Disease Control,  33.9 percent of adults over 20 are obese and 34.4 percent of adults over 20 are overweight.  The figures for children are even more alarming with 10 percent of children age 2-5 years obese, and almost 40 percent of children ages 6-19 obese.

Walking is a wonderful way to raise your metabolism, ease into an exercise program, and lose weight.  Walking is low impact so it doesn’t stress joints.  Walking after your chiropractic adjustment helps to set your adjustment, according to Dr. Bob.  Walking  also lowers blood pressure, lowers bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) and raises good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins), and reduces the risk or can help manage type 2 diabetes. 

Best of all, walking requires no practice and I bet you know how to do it!  Braile Chiropractic  is starting a lunch walk at Kennesaw Mountain     in Marietta.  We will meet at the Cheatham Hill/Illinois Monument parking lot off Dallas Hwy. at 1:15 p.m. and walk for approximately 30 minutes to an hour.  Bring a sack lunch and water and we can lunch and fellowship at the Illinois Monument. 

What day? That is where we need your help.  Please respond to this post with the best day for you to meet Dr. Bob of Braile Chiropractic, Evelyn, Brandi, and Josh for a great walk at Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta.

by Evelyn Braile

We all understand that if you are sitting in a dark room, and someone opens the door to the next room where the light is on, that the light will fill your dark room.  However, if you are sitting in a well-lit room, and someone opens the door to a room that is dark, the darkness does not rush in and fill your room.

The same analogy can be made with your health.  Being healthy is like being well lighted. Your nervous system being a-kin to electricity, and you body parts like light bulbs. If your electricity flows cleanly to the light bulbs, you are well-lit; or healthy.

It therefore, stands to reason that when you are not as healthy as you could be, you are essentially not as well-lit. People often speak of health problems as something they have “gotten” or “caught”. The terms, “I got the flu” or “I caught a cold”, are common expressions used by many to express their lack of health.  But are these terms accurate in describing health – NO!

When you are not healthy, you did not gain something, you lost something, your health.  Even when someone suffers from a terrible disease, they did not gain that disease, they lost the ability to fight off that disease. Essentially if you are healthy, and someone opens the door next to you to a dark, (unhealthy) room, the darkness (sickness) does not flood in and takeover your well-lit (healthy) body. 

In fact the only way for your to go from your well-lit healthy body to a dark, unhealthy one, is for the lights to be turned down first, then the room becomes dark.

In chiropractic we understand this basic concept of health and sickness. We realize that a lack of health is not the introduction of darkness, but rather the decrease in the light. We understand that the nerve system is like the wiring that brings the electricity to the lights inside your body, and that any interference to this flow of energy to the lights within your body, lead to darkness and less health.

The purpose of chiropractic care is the removal of interference to the nerve systems, called “subluxation”. By correcting subluxations, the energy flow from your brain to your body can flow at it’s maximum, resulting in a “well-lit”, healthy body.  The more light, the more health.

When it comes to your health darkness can present in many forms and with many names. But if we realize the simple elegant truth that turning on the light will eliminate the darkness, we begin to understand the wonder of our own creation, and of the health we were meant to enjoy.

Dr Bob Braile

Top athletes depend upon optimal function to remain on top of their game. Many of the best athletes and performers depend upon chiropractic care to heal and recover more quickly, and perform at an optimum level. Both the New England Patriots and the NY Giant are getting chiropractic care. So, subluxations will not determine the outcome of this Super Bowl.

When it comes to your health you are NOT a victim of random luck. Health is a choice! The choices that you make today can have profound affects on your life in years to come. For this reason wellness chiropractic is the best investment in your future that you can make. People who go to chiropractors for years usually do not do so because they have to go to treat some problem. The do so because they choose to! The understand that a properly function nervous system allows for the best expression of life and health.  So, What's your choice?

You never know
how strong you are,

until being strong is the
only choice you have.

"It is the patient's right to insist upon Chiropractic and nothing more-if he desires to get well."

-Fight to Climb -BJ Palmer

"There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those whom you work, and persistence."

- Colin Powell

"I am amazed by how many individuals mess up every new day with yesterday."

- Chapman