Quote of the Week

Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Leg Straight

Topic of the Week: Zap Your Zits Using Natural Methods

Acne vulgaris, or simply acne, affects 40 to 50 million Americans and almost 85 percent of all people develop acne at some point in their lives, states the American Academy of Dermatology. Many observers note that acne is a disease of Western civilization, that it is rare in indigenous cultures (except in those individuals or groups who adopt Western dietary and lifestyle habits).

Acne is an often distressing and persistent health problem, especially among teens. Acne lesions most commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders, and can cause significant emotional distress and skin scarring.
Conventional approaches to acne treatment vary considerably from more natural methods. In this edition of the Wellness Express, we will examine the factors that lead to acne and discuss several powerful natural methods of resolving this health problem. Ask your chiropractor about his or her thoughts on this health topic before making any treatment decisions about your - or your child’s - acne.

Important Factors to Consider
When it comes to acne and its underlying causes, there are 3 important factors to consider: bacteria, sebum, and terrain. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors:
• Bacteria: Bacteria, specifically Propionibacterium acnes, is linked to the skin condition acne. In people with acne, this bacteria generates byproducts that weaken the cell walls of follicles and cause inflammation.
• Sebum: Sebum is the oily and waxy product of sebaceous glands, which are primarily located on the scalp and face. Sebum helps lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair. P. acnes proliferates in sebum, altering the skin and forming plugs, called comedones. The sebum produced in people with acne is of poor quality, and P. acnes bacteria living off this poor quality sebum generate further acne-inducing byproducts.
• Terrain: Terrain refers to the skin itself, specifically the health of the skin and the factors that influence the development of skin diseases. Improper diet (more on this later) can start a cascade of events that narrow the sebum canal and pores leading to acne.

What Are Conventional Therapies?
The conventional medical treatment of acne attempts to inhibit sebum production, kill bacteria, reduce inflammation and boost skin cell turnover, notes the Mayo Clinic. Some of the most common conventional acne therapies include the following: over-the-counter topical treatments, prescription topical treatments, antibiotics, oral contraceptives (in women) and other prescription medications. Listed below are several of the most potent natural treatment methods. Natural approaches are designed to encourage healthy bacteria (in both the skin and colon), promote healthy sebum production and reduce inflammation.

Natural Method #1: Fasting
Fasting can be an extremely helpful natural approach to acne. A fast presents an opportunity to reduce dependence on addictive substances (sugar, caffeine, nicotine) and step away from foods that can aggravate or worsen acne, such as chocolate, cola, coffee, nuts, milk products and greasy or salty foods. Dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods (bread, bagels, chips), notes the Mayo Clinic, may be particularly likely to trigger acne. Therapeutic fasting plays an important role in decreasing the burden of acne-inducing foods on your body and optimizing wellness, and it can be helpful for treating and preventing acne, especially when it is combined with a well-rounded treatment plan that targets acne’s fundamental cause. Fasting can also be an excellent way to identify food sensitivities.

Natural Method #2: Eliminating Refined Sugar From Your Diet
If you change only one aspect of your diet to help treat your acne, let it be the elimination of refined sugar. According to a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a low glycemic-load diet improved acne lesions in young males.5 Another study, published in 2008 in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, states that diets with a high glycemic load may aggravate some of the factors (such as sex hormones and insulin growth factors) associated with acne development.6 A further study, still, published in 2009 in the International Journal of Dermatology, reports that the hormonal effects of certain dietary components, including glycemic index levels, can control the effect of diet on acne risk.

Botanical Medicines
Botanical medicines have long been used to help control or eliminate acne. Botanical medicines can have strong effects on the body and should always be used with caution (and only under the supervision of your chiropractor or other healthcare professional). Botanical medicines that have historically been used topically to help treat acne include tea tree oil, azelaic acid and Calendula succus. Botanical medicines that have historically been used internally to help treat acne include chastetree (for hormone imbalances), gugulipid, Oregon grape, usnea, and gumweed.

Considerations
Speak with your chiropractor before using any therapeutic approach to help treat your acne. Your chiropractor can instruct you on the safest and most effective way to use natural approaches to help resolve your acne, as well as suggest other treatment approaches that may be more appropriate for your specific health circumstances.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsYM

Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Cross Over

Quote of the Week

Topic of the Week: The Role of Chiropractic in Treating Childhood Bedwetting

Childhood bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is a relatively common phenomenon affecting approximately 5 million children in the United States alone, reports the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also notes that, of individuals over the age of 18, about 2 to 3 percent experience nocturnal enuresis. This health problem, which involves the accidental release of urine during sleep, occurs with greater regularity in boys and commonly occurs even after children have been toilet-trained. Bedwetting, though not a serious health condition, can cause significant stress, shame, or embarrassment for the child and concern among adults. In this edition of the Wellness Express newsletter, we will take a closer look at childhood bedwetting to determine what causes this problem and how natural approaches, including chiropractic care, can help resolve it.

Types & Causes of Bedwetting
The two principle types of bedwetting are primary and secondary nocturnal enuresis. Primary nocturnal enuresis, the most common form of bedwetting, is diagnosed when a child has reached the age where he or she should stay dry through the night but continues to wet the bed 2 nights per week on average, with no long periods of dryness.
Secondary nocturnal enuresis is diagnosed when a child (who has wet the bed in the past) begins wetting the bed again after a dry period of 6 months or longer. In many cases, secondary nocturnal enuresis is associated with other medical or psychological health concerns. According to the Mayo Clinic the true underlying cause of bedwetting is still a mystery but a number of factors may play a role, including small bladder size, inability to recognize a full bladder, a hormone imbalance, stress, urinary tract infection, sleep apnea, diabetes, chronic constipation and structural problems in the urinary tract or nervous system.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help
To those who are unfamiliar with chiropractic care, it might not be immediately apparent that chiropractors treat childhood bedwetting or that chiropractic adjustments and care may be helpful for non-spinal conditions. However, many young patients who suffer from bedwetting have been helped with chiropractic care. Some research studies (along with the clinical experience of many chiropractors) suggest that chiropractic care is indeed helpful for this health problem. According to a 2009 case series published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic care was responsible for a 67 percent resolution rate of primary nocturnal enuresis in children and teenagers with this condition. Another study, published in the same journal, draws a similar conclusion: chiropractic treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis appeared to be an effective therapy in 46 children with this condition.
A case study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics states that lumbar spine manipulation was successful in resolving an 8-year-old boy’s primary nocturnal enuresis, and that the resolution of his condition happened in a way that was independent of time or placebo effect. Another case study, published in 2010 in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia, notes that chiropractic car (spinal and cranial adjustments, specifically) helped eliminate bedwetting, asthma, and allergy symptoms in a 4-year-old boy.

A Holistic Approach to Bedwetting
A holistic, or comprehensive, approach to bedwetting involves first ruling out any major medical causes. Your child’s environment, psychological well-being, toileting skills, medication and supplements are all factors that his or her chiropractor will take into consideration before developing a treatment plan to address the bedwetting. Other natural treatment and prevention approaches (besides chiropractic care), notes Dr. Ray Sahelian, a medical doctor and author, include restricting fluid intake before bed, using an alarm device that sounds when your child wets the bed and having your child assist with clean up in a non-punitive manner.

Considerations
Bedwetting can cause your child considerable embarrassment. This health problem may lead to fear avoidance behavior, such as skipping sleep-overs, camping trips and other group activities because they are concerned about the possibility of bedwetting in a vulnerable situation.
Your chiropractor can counsel you further on the merits of natural approaches to bedwetting for your child.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsTM

Quote of the Week

Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Knees Together

Topic of the Week: 4 Reasons to Take a Break from Your Computer Screen

Let’s face it: many of us spend a lot of time in front of our computer screens - in some cases, probably too much time. It can be difficult to break away from the computer screen but there are a number of compelling reasons to carve out some screen-free time in your life every week. According to the Mayo Clinic, avoiding screens (television, computer, etc.) is an important health habit, particularly for children, as too much screen time has been linked to the following problems: obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral issues and impaired academic performance.
In this edition of the Wellness Express, we will take a closer look at how reducing your computer screen time can benefit your health. Your chiropractor can expand upon these health benefits to give you a more comprehensive picture of the merits of this important health habit.

Reason #1: It Can Save
Your Spine & Joints Reducing your screen time can have a hugely beneficial effect on your spine and joints. Sitting for prolonged periods in front of a computer screen can (in the absence of perfect posture) place a significant amount of strain on your spine and its supporting structures. The Spine Health website states that the leading contributor to neck pain is forward head and shoulder posture - a posture that computer users commonly adopt when working at a computer for hours on end. Sitting in front of a computer can also place a tremendous amount of stress and strain on your mid and lower back joints and tissues and may lead to chronic back pain. Spending more time away from your computer screen can reduce the burden on your spine and improve the health of your spinal joints.

Reason #2: It Can Ease the Burden on Your Eyes
Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time places a large burden on your eyes and may lead to a problem called Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. According to the American Optometric Association, CVS may cause eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes, and it is most commonly caused by poor lighting, computer screen glare, improper viewing distances, poor posture, uncorrected vision problems or any combination of these factors. A review article published in 2005 in the journal Survey of Ophthalmology states that proper lighting, anti-glare filters, ergonomic positioning of your computer monitor, and frequent breaks from your computer screen may help boost your visual comfort, or ease the burden on your eyes.

Reason #3: It Can Help You Keep Your Weight in Check
Limiting screen time can be an effective anti-obesity tool. Devoting some or all of the time to physical activity that you would have otherwise used to compute can have a profoundly beneficial effect on your weight. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that sedentary activities, including using computers, burn very few calories, replace more active pursuits and promote obesity by changing what and how people eat. It is this unfavorable alteration in diet that may be most significant for weight gain, even more so than the reduction in physical activity, states the School.

Reason #4: It Can Help You Recharge Your Batteries
One of the most important (and least discussed) reasons to step away from your computer screen from time to time is the restorative effect this action can have on your energy levels and sense of well-being. It is easy to fall into a pattern of checking email dozens of times every day, communicating with your friends or contacts via Facebook and Twitter in near real-time and watching movies or playing games in your free time. But this may not be the most beneficial habit, both in terms of time management or its effects on your physical, mental and social health.
Excessive screen time can be isolating, in some cases, drawing you away from activities or events where real human contact (not to mention natural light!) could enrich your life and improve your health.

Conclusion
Computers are an extremely important tool that have reshaped how we live and operate in the world. Computers allow us to enjoy many benefits that were previously unavailable in the pre computer era and have become nearly indispensable to our way of life. However, like many things in life, moderation may be the key. Here is one simple exercise you may consider trying: pick one day every week and go screen-free for a full 24 hours. After a few weeks of doing this, you may notice a boost in your energy levels and quality of life. Ask your chiropractor for other ideas about how to step away from your computer screen for improved health and well-being.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsTM