2021

Chiropractic is the method of natural healing most chosen by those seeking complementary/alternative health care for acute and chronic conditions. Chiropractic is a type of complementary medicine with various definitions in different articles and other scientific resources. Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic treatment procedures emphasize manual techniques, including joint adjustment and/or manipulation, with a specific focus on subluxation.

Many individuals compare the services of chiropractors to physical therapists.

Of course, both of these professionals help patients achieve a better quality of life, but the focus of their services is different from each other.

While you may first visit a chiropractor to relieve pain in the lower back or to treat sciatica, neck pain, whiplash, or headache, you will find that a chiropractor views you as a whole person and not the sum of your parts. A chiropractor will work in partnership with you to ensure your optimal health and wellness.

Chiropractors recognize that many factors affect your health, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, environment, and heredity. Chiropractic focuses on maintaining your health naturally to help your body resist disease, rather than simply treating the symptoms of the disease. One of the best things about receiving chiropractic adjustments is that they are a completely drug-free path to healing the body naturally. Chiropractic benefits include helping to naturally improve problems such as:

• Back pain
• Headaches
• Bowel regularity
• Improved mental clarity
• Ear infections
• Neck pain
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Scoliosis
• Asthma
• Blood pressure
• Healthy pregnancy
• Organ function
• Surgery prevention

When you visit a Doctor of Chiropractic, you will be evaluated using time-honored methods, including consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis, and X-ray examination. In addition, you will receive a careful chiropractic structural examination, with particular attention paid to the spine.

A broad range of techniques is used to locate, analyze,  and gently correct vertebral misalignments (subluxations) in the spine. Chiropractors may use manual adjustment, electrical muscular stimulation, ultrasound, or massage. But they never use pharmaceutical drugs or invasive surgery. Chiropractic is a natural method of healing that stimulates the body’s communication system to work more effectively to initiate, control and, coordinate the various functions of the cells, organs, and systems of the body.

Doctors of chiropractic work in tandem with other healthcare professionals. If your condition requires attention from another branch of the healthcare profession, that recommendation or referral will be made.

Many people are living day to day with aches and pains. They suffer through this with no end in sight and often times no treatment. Given the ongoing challenges of chronic pain management coupled with the consequences of the opioid epidemic, pain management practitioners and their patients are searching for effective and safer alternatives to opioids to alleviate pain. With the legalization of marijuana in many states and resulting cultural acceptance of this drug for recreational and medical use, there has been an increased interest in using cannabis for a myriad of medical problems, including pain. CBD is emerging as a promising pharmaceutical agent to treat pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC. The role of CBD in pain management continues to evolve, and evidence from animal studies has shown that CBD exerts its pain-relieving effects through its various interactions and modulation of the endocannabinoid, inflammatory, and nociceptive (pain-sensing) systems.

Cannabidiol has gained popularity as a promising complementary remedy for various health issues, including anxiety, epilepsy, and pain management. CBD is one of several cannabinoids that are naturally present in the cannabis plant. There is a vast range of CBD products, including oils, tinctures, balms, and candy, all of which may help people who are experiencing physical pain.

CBD and other cannabinoids act on cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body. These receptors, combined with naturally occurring cannabinoids, make up the endocannabinoid system. The ECS consists of complex cell signaling pathways in the central nervous system and immune system.

There are endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids. Endogenous cannabinoids are naturally occurring lipids that the body produces. The body does not produce exogenous cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids, both endogenous and exogenous, bind to endocannabinoid receptors attached to cells. CBD does not bind very well to endocannabinoid receptors.

CBD comes in several different forms, including:

• oils and tinctures
• gummies
• oral capsules or pills
• creams, balms, and salves
• topical patches

CBD gummies and capsules are for oral ingestion. Topical CBD products, on the other hand, are for external use only. People can apply these products to specific areas of the body, such as sore muscles or aching joints.

CBD oils and tinctures are more versatile than other forms. They usually come in tinted glass bottles with a dropper. People can either add a few drops of CBD oil to food or beverages or place a few drops under their tongue, where they can hold the oil for up to 1 minute before swallowing.

Products that undergo third-party testing will have a certificate of analysis, which is a document that contains information about the product’s CBD potency, the presence of THC and other cannabinoids, and safety test results.

Guest post from Rehabilitation in Humble TX

While nearly 70% of adult smokers say they want to quit smoking and about 55% attempt it every year, only about 10% are successful in quitting for six to 12 months. If you are one of the 60% of people who want to quit but have not succeeded, these tips can help.

1. Utilize Behavioral Change Techniques

Habits are hard to break. However, there are scientifically proven techniques that can help you break almost any habit, including smoking. The program at DrJud.com uses behavioral change techniques to help users quit smoking or vaping in 21 days. This step-by-step program was developed by a psychiatrist and neuroscientist and teaches smokers who want to quit about how habits are formed and how they can be broken.

2. Identify Your Reason for Quitting

Because changing any habit is difficult, you need a powerful motivation to keep you going. For most people, simply knowing that they should quit because their doctor says so or the various anti-smoking campaigns have told them so is not enough. The reason needs to be honest and personal. Examples might include, wanting to save money by no longer purchasing cigarettes, or living long enough to meet your grandkids. The important part is that the reason should be motivating to you. It doesn’t need to seem like a “good reason,” to anyone else.

3. Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Quitting smoking isn’t just about breaking habits. The nicotine in cigarettes is an addictive substance. Some people have more success working on their smoking habit if they can reduce nicotine cravings. A nicotine replacement product, such as lozenges, gum, or patches may help some people. However, some users later find they have difficulty weaning themselves off the nicotine replacers.

4. Build a Support Network

Don’t feel like you have to do this on your own. Tell your friends and family that you are trying to quit. They can encourage you when you are struggling. Consider joining a support group or working with a counselor.

5. Identify and Avoid Triggers

Some people have triggers that make it more difficult for them to resist the urge to smoke. If you are used to having a cigarette during a particular activity, such as drinking or after eating, it may be helpful to substitute a different activity, such as brushing your teeth, chewing gum or going for a walk. Try keeping a diary that includes what time of day you feel the urge to smoke and what you are doing when you experience cravings to help you identify what your triggers are.

6. Eliminate Cigarettes From Your Home

Whether you are weaning yourself off cigarettes or quitting cold turkey, once you have decided that you are not going to smoke anymore, remove all traces of cigarettes from your home. Toss your last pack. Get rid of your ashtrays and lighters. Clean any items that smell like smoke, such as clothing, carpets, drapes, and upholstery. Use air fresheners to remove smoke smells from items that you can’t easily clean. Make sure your car is free of smoke smells and cigarettes.

7. Get Some Exercise

Exercise can reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It may also help you combat potential weight gain brought on because nicotine is an appetite suppressant and people who quit often eat more. You don’t have to do an intense workout. Walking your dog or doing some light yard work can do the trick.

Quitting smoking is difficult, but it is not impossible. If you have failed in the past, it doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in the future. If one method of quitting doesn’t work for you, try another until you find what works best for you.

To reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it’s recommended to place a baby on his or her back when sleeping. However, this has also led to an increase in neck and head issues and flat head syndrome. There are different things you can do to prevent flat head syndrome, as well as numerous baby pillows on the market to help. A baby can develop flat head syndrome because their bones are soft and affected by pressure. Even with the increase in flat head syndrome, it’s still important to place the baby on their back for sleeping.

Daily Supervised Tummy Time

Tummy time will help a baby develop shoulder and neck control. When a baby is not on his or her back, they are exercising their growing bodies during tummy time. Your goal should be about an hour of tummy time broken up throughout the day. The best time to start is after your child’s first visit to the pediatrician. Anytime between four and six months, your child will likely start rolling over on his or her own and getting in more tummy time naturally.

Massages

If you are able to tell that your kid has tight neck muscles and is holding his or her head in a certain way then you may want to try a gentle neck massage. This can help relax the neck muscles. Pay attention to make sure the massage is not too uncomfortable for your child since you are moving out of the body’s comfort zone.

Help Your Child Get Moving

When a baby starts to approach two months of age, he or she starts to see things more clearly. This is a great time to start moving around the room so that your child can notice different things in all directions in the room. This provides a passive form of exercise and helps encourage your baby to exercise the neck muscles.

Encourage Playtime

There are different ways you can encourage playtime. Shake a rattle or use your child’s favorite stuffed animal and then move around the room. This will have your child slowly moving the neck and head muscles to strengthen them.

Avoid Long Road Trips

When in the car for an extended period of time, a baby will hold his or her neck in the same position while in a car seat. Although many children will fall asleep in the car, this is not always a safe position and it’s best to place the baby on his or her back when sleeping so that the neck muscles are instead in a stretched out and natural position.

The Use of Baby Pillows

Baby pillows can help position the head to help prevent flat head syndrome. However, it’s important to be the right height and shape to make sure that the baby is comfortable and there isn’t additional strain on the body. Baby pillows can also help with temperature distribution around the head and improve blood circulation.