Chicago Chiropractic News

Chiropractors are highly trained professionals that analyze your body structure for distortions known as subluxations. Subluxations put stress on your nerves and can affect the function of your discs, muscles, joints, internal organs, and your immune, digestive, eliminative and other body systems.

Using the art of the chiropractic adjustment, Doctors of Chiropractic correct your subluxations, restore your body structure and release stress from your nerves. The result is a healthier, happier you.

This is a photo of one kind of spinal adjustment to the atlas vertebra that sits just under your skull. There are many ways chiropractors can adjust the atlas (C-1). An atlas subluxation can affect your entire spinal column and therefore the health of your entire body. Chiropractic has developed over 100 different safe, gentle and effective ways of analyzing and adjusting your spine so you'll be free of health-damaging subluxations.

Labels: What Chiropractors do

Your neck is made up of seven bones, referred to as cervical vertebrae, with discs between them.

There are a lot of structures in your neck. Your bones are strapped together with ligaments; tendons attach your bones to muscles and your neck is full of muscles that attach from your head and vertebrae to your ribs, shoulder blade (scapula), collar bone (clavicle), breastbone (sternum) and other structures in your chest. You've also got millions of nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels all over the place. In addition, there's a food tube (esophagus), an air tube (trachea), a voice box (larynx) and so many more things it would take many pages to discuss them all. Your neck is a very busy place.

Your neck vertebrae are numbered from top down, C-1, C-2, C-3 all the way to C-7. Two neck vertebrae have special names: C-1 is also called the atlas (because it holds the globe of the skull) and C-2 is referred to as the axis (because it is involved in the turning of your head).

Chiropractors pay particular attention to the neck because inside your neck, inside your vertebrae, is a special canal: the spinal canal. Your spinal cord passes through your spinal canal. If the neck vertebrae are not properly aligned, the billions of nerves making up your spinal cord may be affected.

The result? A misalignment (subluxation) of a cervical (neck) vertebra can cause almost any health problem. Your resistance to disease, your immune system, your brain, your internal organs - all can be adversely affected by an unhealthy neck.

Labels: Yor Incredible Neck-Jefferson Park Chiropractor-Northwest side

In the largest study of its kind, researchers at Montreal's McGill University followed 14,000 children over a six-year-period. They found that those breastfed at least three months and exclusively breastfed would have different mental qualities later in life. The children were tested when they were six. The breastfeeding group had IQ scores three to eight points higher and scored better in reading and writing. Researchers say that the unique mix of nutrients and mother-baby bonding may be the reason for the improved brain development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics babies should be breastfed for a minimum of six months and weaned when the child is ready. (14)
14. Kramer MS et al. Breastfeeding and child cognitive development. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2008;65(5):578-584.

Millions of people have discovered the magic of chiropractic. No matter what condition you may have, remember - you always need to be free from subluxations: internal physical distortions that cause nerve and energy interruption.

Parkinson's Disease, Meniere's Syndrome, Trigeminal Neuralgia and Bell's Palsy. The author found a subluxation putting pressure on the brain and spinal cord in individuals suffering from Meniere's syndrome (16 people), Parkinson's disease (2 people), trigeminal neuralgia (2 people) and Bell's Palsy (2 people). Each had experienced a trauma before their condition appeared. The author writes: "All 22 patients improved dramatically after one or two [chiropractic] adjustments." (15)


Tourette Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Asthma, Insomnia, and Headaches. A nine-year old boy with Tourette Syndrome (TS), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, asthma, insomnia, and headaches since age 6 began chiropractic care. Forceps were used during his delivery. He was vaccinated. His medications included AlbuterolT, DepakoteT, WellbutrinT, and AdderallT. After 6 weeks of chiropractic care to correct his subluxations all 6 conditions were no longer present and all medications were discontinued with the exception of a half-dose of WellbutrinT. At the conclusion of his case at 5 months, all symptoms remained absent. (16)


15. Burcon MT. Parkinson's Disease, Meniere's Syndrome, Trigeminal Neuralgia and Bell's Palsy: one cause, one correction. Dynamic Chiropractic. May 19, 2003:34,41-44, 48.
16. Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a nine-year-old male with Tourette Syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, asthma, insomnia, and headaches: a case report. JVSR. July 12 2003;1-11

Labels: Subluxations Cause Disease

Back surgery - just say no

Know anyone contemplating back surgery? Send them this little quote from one of the world's top orthopedic journals, and then send them to a chiropractor.

"There is no acceptable evidence of the efficacy of any form of fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylosis, back pain, or instability." (8)

This is not new information. Although back surgery has an incredibly high failure rate and is less effective long-term than doing nothing, orthopedic surgeons still tell patients they need it.

8. Deyo R et al. fusion surgery - the case for restraint. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350(7):722-726Spinal

Labels: Back Surgery

Where did you come from, baby dear? Out of the nowhere into here. - Nursery Rhyme

If you are pregnant one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby is to see a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractic care provides so many things a pregnant body needs: a flexible and balanced spine, hips, pelvis; and body structure; internal organs without postural stress and freedom from subluxations - all essential for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

In short - along with a nutrient dense diet; exercise; and avoiding drugs, vaccines, alcohol and cigarettes - chiropractic care is an essential part of a pregnant woman's healthcare regimen.

Drug-free healthcare

One of the best reasons for chiropractic care during pregnancy is that it is a drugless healthcare system. Drugs, whether prescription or over-the-counter, can harm a growing fetus. Almost all types of drugs and medications have been linked to fetal damage or malformations. (1- 2) As Robert Mendelsohn, MD, the famed pediatrician, stated, pregnant women should "stay away from X-rays, diagnostic ultrasound, doctor-prescribed medication, and every other form of dangerous obstetrical intervention." (3)

Can chiropractic help?

Many professionals have observed that chiropractic may help maintain pregnancy, control vomiting during pregnancy, help deliver full-term infants with ease and produce healthier infants. (4) Chiropractic has demonstrated success with back pain, (5) premature contractions (6) and back labor. (7)

1. Beeson PB, McDermott W. (Eds.). Cecil - Loeb Textbook of Medicine (13th Ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1971:16.
2. Vaughan VC, McKay RJ. (Eds.). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics (10th Ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 1975:323.
3. Mendelsohn RS. The people's doctor: A medical newsletter for consumers. 8(10):3.
4. Stein K. The value of chiropractic care in cases of pregnancy. ACA J Chiropractic. July 1964:19.
5. Brynhildsen J, Hansson A, Persson A, Hammar M. Follow-up of patients with low back pain during pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 1998;91(2):182-186.
6. Phillips C. An effective drug-free approach to premature contractions. ICA Review. Oct 1998.
7. Phillips C. Back labor: a possible solution for a painful situation. ICA Review. July/August 1997

Labels: Pregnancy and Chiropractic