Of course, you just want them to be healthy. How do you keep them that way?

It should really come as no surprise that women are the ones in charge of their families’ health care choices. Because they are the primary care givers in the family, for the most part, choices about the types of doctors to see, and when, generally fall under their “job description.”

So… how do you choose what’s best for your family, given the variety of health care alternatives today? Basically, it comes down to two main categories of health care: the traditional medical model (allopathic) and the alternative natural health care model. They differ greatly in their approach to illnesses/disease.

Medical Health Care Model
In the medical health care model, disease is the result of genetics and germs. It “happens” to us; we have no real control over it. The body is made up of parts and each part is cared for by a unique provider who is only interested in that part, rather than the body as a whole entity.

Symptoms and testing determine diagnosis, which is typically treated with medications, surgeries or other treatment therapies/modalities (i.e., radiation therapy). What works for one person must work for all, and doctor knows best – so patients are expected to follow all instructions.

Natural Health Care Model
The natural health care model, on the other hand, views the individual as largely responsible for his/her own illnesses based upon lifestyle choices, reactions to stress, exposure to environmental factors, etc. This model views the human body as a whole; any threat to one body part is a threat to all body parts.

The body has the ability to heal itself, without drug or surgery interventions, with the help of natural therapies that work differently for different individuals. Individuals play an important role in maintaining their health, which is more than just the absence of disease.

True health is optimal well-being in all aspects of oneself – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Which Model is Right?
It is your duty to be informed about the aspects of both health care models so that you can make intelligent decisions about your family’s health care. You may subscribe to one model and use the other when necessary, but you no longer have to adhere to the principles held by those who came before you – your parents. Both models have merit, but only when they are used as needed to provide the very best that health care has to offer.

We encourage you to try all-natural chiropractic care as your first choice. It is conservative, safe and non-invasive. If you determine that chiropractic care is not helping you or a family member, we can certainly refer you to another provider. Please give us a call to discuss your condition and how we might help you.

Stretch your muscles instead of stretching to reach the sugary snacks!

It’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon and you’ve been sitting at your desk all day. You debate running to get yet another cup of coffee to stay alert, because what you really want to do is curl up in the corner of your cubicle and take a nap! This is the time to do some “desk stretches” to revive your energy. Without the caffeine!

We often find ourselves sitting tense at our desks in front of a computer monitor for hours. Our wrists start to hurt, our necks get sore, we slump over in our chairs and our shoulders and upper backs feel tight.

Here are some stretches to do at your desk to reduce tension. Try them now:

• Shoulder Stretch
  Lift your shoulders up to your ears until you feel a slight tension in your neck and shoulders. Hold for 3-5 seconds and relax shoulders. Do this 2-3 times at first sign of shoulder or neck tension.
• Neck Stretch
  Tilt your head to one side, trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds and then return to normal. Repeat the stretch on the other side.
• Spine Stretch
  Raise arms over head. Stretch your right hand to the ceiling and hold for 3-5 seconds, while you exhale. Relax. Repeat with the left hand.
• Lower Back Stretch
  Place your hands on the edge of your desk and roll your chair back. Lower your head between your outstretched arms and arch your back while you exhale. Inhale, raise your head and arch your back in the other direction.

Do these exercises whenever you first notice the tension or stress from impending deadlines or long periods of sitting. While they’ll never take the place of your chiropractic adjustments, they’ll help keep you alert without resorting to caffeine or a sugar fix.