Greetings Friend,

How do we take something that’s known and place it in the center of our consciousness and culture? I’m taking about optimal health, alignment, balance, strength, flexibility, performance and potential. As we move through the first few weeks of January, I found myself contemplating our current health consciousness which is in a state of crises. I couldn’t help but think we could be doing things better and more efficiently.

Unless we are in some kind of mystical state, our focus or consciousness isn’t strongly attached to our core or our health consciousness. Pain or illness does an amazing job at getting us mystical and reconnected to our core. When your back “goes out on you” and sends you to the floor due to physical, emotional, or chemical stress, you’ll do whatever it takes to stand up. And once you stand up….take a stand and make yourself stronger than ever before so you minimize the chance of buckling again so you can perform at your best.

A mystical shift occurs as you move toward strengthening and connecting to your core. When you visualize the “best version of you,” a trajectory is formed to help you see where you are and where you need to go.

You may be asking yourself, “What are the steps that form this trajectory from where I am to where I desire to go?” Innately you have the answer. Normally it comes during random periods. For me it happens after a chiropractic adjustment, a yoga class, during or after mediation, or during a quiet moment while walking on the beach. You’ll sense a spark or a “hit” of that something special. The key is to act upon “that hit.” That’s how you progress along the trajectory of health.

When you get the “hit,” step back and ask yourself why you aren’t expressing yourself maximally. Look at the 3 T’s: Past and current TRAUMAS, TOXINS, and negative THOUGHTS. Examine your habits. Visualize yourself in a misaligned state and then in an aligned state. The aligned state is the “gold standard” at the end of your trajectory. This is such a deep spiritual practice that will help propel you toward achieving your health and life goals.

Most of us have a spiritual resistance to bad habits. Most of us know that eating chicken nuggets from a restaurant at the airport will probably make us sicker than healthier. When the urge to break one of the commandments of health rises, STOP, DROP, & ROLL. Or maybe take a breath and do 10 funky chicken movements with your neck. Resist the urge to do something that will move you toward your “aluminum standard” instead of the “gold standard.”

Your journey to wellness doesn’t have to be a struggle. You don’t have to be a Spartan Warrior or monk from the Himalayas. It can be fun as well as transforming. All you require is a vivid visualization of who you want to be and the will power and courage to get there. Good luck!

Chiropractically Yours,

Dr. Jeremy Brook

Problems in the neck can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or a loss of strength in the hands. How may chiropractic care help? The major nerve controlling the thumb, index, and parts of the middle, and ring finger is called the median nerve. From the tip of your fingers, it travels through the bones in your wrist, past your elbow, up your arm, through your shoulder and neck, and finally to your spinal cord. Problems can develop in one or more of these areas.

The “carpal” tunnel is formed by bones in the wrist. The median nerve, tendons, and blood vessels pass through this opening. If one or more of the bones forming this tunnel should collapse, inflammation, nerve pressure, and painful symptoms in the wrist area can result.

The median nerve connects to the spinal cord through openings between several bones in the lower neck. When these spinal bones lose their normal motion or position, they can cause problems in the fingers and wrist.

After a thorough examination, your chiropractic doctor will perform specific adjustments where needed to help normalize structure and reduce nerve irritation. When given time, conservative, chiropractic care has produced excellent results with carpal tunnel problems – without drugs or surgery.

Injuries to the neck caused by the sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is referred to as “whiplash”. Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may be only slightly damaged.

The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.

The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help return spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.

Consult a Doctor of Chiropractic before enduring constant headaches, depending upon addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery!