Recently I had a friend send me this message:

My daughter has been getting ear infections one right after another for a few months now, and I was told that taking her to a chiropractor may be able to help and or take them away? I'm hoping you can give me some sort of answers, like if this actually works or what it all entails.

I thought that this would be a great question to write a blog entry about.  So first of all thanks to my friend for the question and I hope this information is helpful to you and whoever reads this.

First of all it is important to understand what the nature of the condition is.  Most ear aches are either not infections or very mild self-limiting infections.  Most of the time antibiotics are not necessary and the problem will resolve on its own.  Unfortunately these drugs are still frequently prescribed for "preventative" measures.  Often these prescriptions are made to treat concerned parent rather than to prevent an infection.

The next consideration is what could be causing the recurring ear aches.  There are a few usual suspects:

1. Allergies.  Children may have some sort of allergy or sensitivity which can lead to ear ache.  Some common allergens for kids include: Cow's milk, egg whites, apples, corn, wheat, chicken, and more.

2. Vitamin Deficiency.  Vitamin A, Zinc, Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3s & 6s).  I recommend that kids take a good multivitamin.  By good I mean not gummy bears pretending to be vitamins.  I give my kids intraKid from Drucker Labs.  It is an excellent liquid multivitamin which is easily digested and tastes great.  My daughters wake up every morning and the first thing they ask for is vitamins.  (Strange I know).

3. Day care.  Children who attend day care are twice to four times as likely to experience ear infections.

4. Season.  There are more ear infections which take place in the winter.

5. Secondary Smoke. Children in smoking households are three to four times more likely to experience ear infections than children in non-smoking households.

6. Bottle feeding.  Breastfed infants are far less likely to experience an episode of ear ache than bottle fed infants.

Ear aches can commonly be caused when fluid accumulates in the eustachian tubes.  These tubes drain fluid from the inner ear to the throat.  These tubes are developing as a child grows and may be small or blocked preventing them from draining.  This can create pressure in the ear and this area is where bacteria can grow.

So.... What can chiropractic do?  Studies have shown that chiropractic is effective for short term relief from ear ache symptoms.  Adjusting of the upper cervical spine has been shown to relieve ear ache symptoms in some cases.  There is anecdotal evidence that adjusting the smallest joints in the body, which are in the ear, can give relief as well.  Besides adjusting there are other techniques such as massage strokes which encourage drainage of the eustachian tubes.  Some chiropractors will use a technique known as an Endonasal procedure where the doctor will manually open the eustachian tubes from inside the throat using his finger.

As for a long term outcome, stopping recurring ear infections the results with chiropractic are not consistent.  However, there is no harm in trying chiropracitc before undergoing a more radical procedure such as ear tubes which will leave scar tissue on the ear drum even into adulthood.

Things that you can do at home to help to give some relief include:

 * Warm compress on the ear.
 * Warm (NOT HOT or COLD!) organic oil (any edible oil) in the ear.
 * Massaging with a finger from just under the ear, downward along the back of the jaw bone.
 * Motrin for pain relief.

In my opinion and experience chiropractic wellness care provides a boost to the immune system.  The goal of chiropractic care is to remove all obstacles from your body caring for itself.  People, including children, who receive wellness care including adjustment, nutrition and lifestyle counseling will enjoy better health.

At Body of Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center we use all of the methods listed in this article.  If you would like more information or to schedule a consultation please contact us by calling (541) 753-1287.  Or reach us by e-mail staff@yourbodyofhealth.com.

        

Yesterday I was playing basketball as I usually do at lunch on Mondays.  One of the players injured his hamstring while making a spin move.  It was bad enough that he had to stop playing for a while and you could tell that it was very frustrating for him.  I told him that he should come in to the clinic and we could see what I could do for him to get him playing sooner.  Another player overheard that advice and quickly responded, "No, no, no... Its a muscle thing not a bone problem.  You don't need a chiropractor."

In this entry I'll be taking advantage of an opportunity to say, "I beg your pardon" and to educate everybody about just what it is that chiropractors do.  My hope is that by reading and understanding these things you will understand the broad scope of problems that chiropractors deal with as well as a bit more about your body.

First of all, Chiropractors have been pigeon-holed as "Back Doctors".  This is for obvious reasons.  Our main method of treatment: Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, or adjusting, primarily involves working on a person's back.  Also, spinal manipulation is the most researched treatment for low back pain and has been consistently found to be the most effective when you consider the low probability of adverse side effects.  But chiropractors are not simply, "Back Doctors".  We are first and foremost "Nervous System Doctors".  The adjustment is focused at removing irritation and inhibition from the nervous system.  We take advantage of neurological reflexes by mechanically manipulating the spine.  Since most of your central nervous system resides in your spine, this is a major focus of chiropractic care.

Second we are experts in treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system.  Musculoskeletal means Muscles + Bones.  Consider my friend's hamstring injury.  Those hamstring muscles attach bones in the femur and tibia (leg bones) to the pelvis. 

Muscles which attach to bones do exactly two things: 1) They stabilize a joint to keep it from moving 2) They move a joint through its range of motion.  You never have a problem that is purely a muscle problem or a joint problem.  It is impossible to isolate them from each other since each needs the other to function.  This is not to say that a hamstring problem has to involved joint damage but it will affect the function of hip extension/flexion and knee extension/flexion.  Besides adjusting the spine, chiropractors also adjust extremities including the knee, ankle, wrist, etc.  Chiropractors typically incorporate a variety of muscle and soft tissue techniques both traditional and cutting edge.  For example, in my clinic I use ultrasound, electro-stim,Graston technique, Kinesio Taping (seen extensively in the last summer olympics), assisted stretching and muscle energy techniques, and strength training/rehab. 

Next time you have any type of muscuskeletal injury give your chiropractor a try.  You might be surprised to find that your back AND your muscles feel great.  If you would like a consultation about chiropractic care for you and your family please call Body of Health at (541) 753-1287 or e-mail us at staff@yourbodyofhealth.com.

        

Health care is a hot topic these days and the crux of the issue is cost.  Health insurance prices are rising about 10-20% annually while covered services are being continually reduce.  That's right... you're paying more for less.  The government is trying to "fix" the problem by creating a new health care option.  Yes, the same government that brought us Medicare (for those of you who have never dealt with Medicare count your blessings).  Instead of waiting for somebody else to fix the problem we are taking some action.

        

Would it surprise you to find out that every day over 6,400 Americans are injured in auto accidents? About 30% of these injuries are severe, resulting in some type of long term or permanent disability.  Many people do not even realize that they have been injured initially but later develop problems such as pain, headaches, or even difficulty concentrating.  The consequences of auto accidents can impact your quality of life for years to come even if the collision was low speed, happened in a parking lot, didn't involve any damage to vehicles, or didn't require an ambulance. Fortunately, if you have been injured in an auto accident it is easy to get effective help that will allow you to make a full recovery if possible.

If you have to have an auto injury, Oregon is a good place to have one.  Oregon auto insurance help protect drivers and passengers who have been hurt in a crash.  State law requires auto insurance for all drivers and vehicles.  This means that your likelihood of being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver is very low here.  There is a minimum of $25,000 of coverage that each driver must carry.  A portion of that coverage, referred to as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), is meant specifically to cover medical costs from injuries sustained in a crash.  The minimum PIP coverage in Oregon is $10,000. Oregon is a "No-Fault" state. This means that if you have been injured in a car accident then your insurance company will pay for your medical treatment regardless of who was at fault for the collision. 

Based on these facts there is no reason that you should not be checked for injuries following an accident. Emergency Room doctors are only concerned with treating injuries that may be life threatening and not with long term rehabilitation after an injury.  If you go to an ER doctor they may send you home with a prescription and tell you to get some rest.  If you do have an auto injury, extensive research has shown that pain killers and rest are not effective for long term recovery.  A Chiropractor on the other hand is an excellent choice for your post-accident evaluation and treatment.  Chiropractors are experts in Neuromusculoskeletal (that's nerves, muscles, and joints) injuries and rehabilitation.  You never need a referral to see a chiropractor after a car accident.  Regardless of whether the injury is minor or major a chiropractor can help you to make the fullest possible recovery. 

It is not uncommon for people to suffer from chronic pain and disability from car accidents that they forgot they even had.   Don't be one of these people.  If you or somebody you know has an auto injury seek the help of a chiropractor right away.

Dr. Jason Young is the chiropractor and owner of Body of Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 985 NW 23rd St. in Corvallis.  Dr. Young and his trained staff of Licensed Massage Therapists are experts in treating Neuromusculoskeletal injuries and have helped dozens of people after auto injuries.  Dr. Young is currently accepting new patients.  Call (541) 753-1287 for an appointment.  For more articles by Dr.Young read our blog at: Blog.yourbodyofhealth.com

**This is a copy of an article written by Dr. Young for the High Points Section of the Newspaper: Best of Times

        

Today I was in the doing some personal training with a client.  We were in the middle of an exercise that was particularly challenging for him.  Part way through the set he was struggling and rather than collapse he shook his head and said he couldn't finish and then stopped.  This was a great opportunity for me to teach him one of the great principles of exercising:  You can fail but you can't quit.  Actually the point of resistance training is to final the limit and work there.  Did you know that unless you are exercising at about 80% of your maximum that you will make almost no gains in your strength and ability?  When you reach the point where you collapse or it is physically impossible for you to do another rep then you have reached the holy grail of resistance training: FAILURE!

Examine that principle: You can fail but you can't quit.  Let me tell you what it means to me and I would like to hear your thoughts too.  Quitting is a choice.  When you quit you choose to lose.  Maybe its  your marriage, your health, your kids, or any challenging task.  You look at the weight and decide that it is too heavy for your brain to lift.  You look at your body and decide it's to far gone to fix.  You look at your spouse and decide that the spark will never be there again.  You look at your kids and decide that they will never listen.  All of these are choices based on presumptions.  These presumptions and choices are powerful because your brain is powerful.  You may have heard that "You can do whatever you put your mind to."  Of course this is not true all of the time but the spirit of this mantra is powerful.  People with this attitude actually acomplish MOST of what they put their mind to. 

Now, if you are constantly telling yourself that you "can't" or you "quit" or you'll "never" these presumptions are just as powerful.  Of course sometimes you will or you actually can but MOST of the time you can't or won't because you in a word: Quit.  So what about this idea of failure being ok?  Can you have an attitude that says that you are going to keep going until the wheels fall off?  Can you say that you will keep going until your body, not you mind, stops you?  Can you find the limit?  I think that with an attitude like this, one that says, "I'm not afraid to find the limit" you will find that MOST of the time you will actually won't be working to failure at all because that kind of effort is where you will find your success.

So what do you think?
1) Are there areas of your life where you just Quit rather than working till you can't any more?

2) What do you think your life would be like if you started saying Yes to all of the things that you've told yourself you can't do?

3) Can you identify just one thing that you will commit to work to failure (Ultimately Success)?

I want to hear from you!

        

You may have heard recently that drug researcher and manufacturer Pfizer was smacked with a $2.3 Billion-with-a-B fine for civil and criminal actions.  First of all OUCH!  This is an enormous fine.  But don't worry because billions of dollars is a drop in the bucket for a pharmaceutical firm.  So don't cry any crocodile tears for Pfizer.  What was the fine for?  Off-label marketing.  What this means is that the drug company was promoting the use of their drugs for treatments that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration  (FDA).  Here is an example:  Maybe Drug X can treat a certain disease effectively but the FDA has not approved it for the treatment of that condition.  Doctors can still prescribe this drug for that disease if doing so would not violate the standards of ethical care.  However, drug companies may not promote the drug for this use.  They can only advertise to the public or doctors that it can be used for the FDA approved purposes.

        

Here are a couple of stories from Water Week participants.  These people are entered in the drawing for the Theracane Massager and the Brita Water Pitcher.  Send in your story for your chance to win!

Well, water week wasn't too exciting for me, because here in AZ we drink water a LOT.  It's what i usually drink so nothing changed.  But I thought I would share my thoughts on drinking mostly water lifestyle...one great piece of advice I got years ago and still live by is, everytime someone offers you a drink of water say yes!  whether you are thirsty or not.  Or if they offer you a drink say yes, and ask for water.
 
Here is something I made up when I was working on reducing sugar intake for weight loss.  When I had opportunity to have a sweet drink, I would ask myself this question, "Do I want to chew my sugar, or drink it?"  I love sweet treats!  I would rather drink water (drinks are gone so fast) and then take my time enjoying chewing a sweet treat.  So that keeps me drinking water.  Both drinking and eating sugar is too much, I think.  So I share that with people trying to quit soda pop.
 
I also seldom buy fruit juice.  For one, it's expensive.  I ask myself, "would I rather my kids eat a piece of fruit or chug the fiberless juice?"  I buy the fruit and skip the juice.  Most juice is not 100% and if it is, the sugar is so high that I must serve it with food.  With diabetes in my family I teach my kids to never eat or drink sugary treats on an empty stomach.  Have a protein first and then some sugar is okay.
 
On my trip here in GA, one of the first things we did after we rented the car go buy a case of waters for the car.  It's an AZ habit I developed and I do it everywhere I go.  If you always have waters in the car, you never face temptations when you are out and about.  You'll drink all day and you'll save money and you will tend to drink it if is there.  Also you will tend to eat out less if you always have waters on you and a snack in your purse (Fiber One bars are my favorite.  I always have one on me.  Ask my kids, when they ask for fast food, I just whip that out!  They don't love that about me, yet.)
 
Hope it helps somebody out there!  Long live water!  or rather... Water! and live long!
  

G.M. Mesa, AZ

Here is another one:

Water week was an excellent way for me to lose weight yet retain the same energy and utmost enthusiasm for the activities that I participate in. I actually ate a little more than usual this week, but still lost three pounds. Furthermore, while running my daily 3 miles, I averaged about twenty seconds faster per mile this week compared to my previous weeks. Water week also encouraged me to consume my daily vegetables and fruit rather than to drink the typical fruit juice or v8. All in all, water week helped provide a benefit to my life at a negative cost. I saved about $10 from extra drinks that I buy typically buy throughout the week and now I feel more comfortable to rely solely on water as my main beverage.

M.S Corvallis, OR

        

CONGRATS! To all of you who participated in Water Week.  Some of you were able to go a full week.  Others recommited and restarted (even a couple of times).  Regardless of your results we want to hear how you did.  If you submit your story (it doesn't have to be long) in writing you can enter our drawing for a Theracane Massager.  We have also added another drawing prize: a Brita Water Filter Pitcher.  Submit your story in one of the following ways:

Email: staff@yourbodyofhealth.com  (SUBJECT: Water Week)

Mail:

        

Congrats for making it this far.  Get through today and you are just about half way there.  At this point some of you may have slipped up and forgotten about your goal or had a moment of weakness.  If that is the case you can still do it.  Just start again.  Don't give up!

        

How did you do on Day #1?  It was a little bit tougher than I thought it would be.  I guess that means that even I tend to over do it on the juices and other stuff.  I do know that I felt pretty good the whole day though.  I had plenty of energy and was not hungry very much throughout the day.  Most importantly I noticed that I tended to make better food choices.  Awesome.