St Louis Chiropractor

Ladies Night of Indulgence

2012-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

When: Friday, March 30th 5:00-9:00PM

Where: The Height's Community Center Ballroom
8001 Dale Avenue
Richmond Heights

Our annual Ladies Night of Indulgence
is just around the corner. Grab your
friends and head out for a night of
pampering and fun. Local businesses
will be there to provide everything from
free massages and mini manicures to
candles and jewelry. There is truly
something for everyone. Treat yourself
to a night you know you deserve.
We hope to see you there!
Please RSVP via email at healtheventsstl@gmail.com
or 314.266.2632 to reserve your spot.

Our Vendor List Includes:
Edward Jones
Stella and Dot
Arbonne International
Genesis Pure
Mid-County Jaycees
Vital Force Chiropractic
31 Gifts

How to Fight a Cold Faster

2012-01-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year when it’s almost dark at 4PM and bitterly cold outside and all we hear about it “cold a flu season.” I’ve put together a few tips on not only how to fight the cold you’ve already gotten but also how to prepare your body so you can prevent or make the next cold less severe.

1. A different way to look at cold symptoms: When you are in the middle of a runny nose or a full out sinus assault try and see it from your body’s point of view. A runny nose serves a very useful purpose. When we catch that cold the virus stimulates the membranes in the nose to produce mucus which carries germs from the nose and sinuses. When the body’s immune system starts battling it out, the mucus can change color (white or yellow). So as hard as it may be, next time you see colorful mucus in your Kleenex, say “Great going immune system!”

2. An ounce of prevention: So we hear about washing our hands this time of year very often. I’m all for that although I’m against using antibacterial soap. Another reason that many people are more prone to colds and flu is because of nervous system interference. See your chiropractor for a checkup to make sure your nervous system is sending the right signals to your immune system. Lastly, we have an epidemic of low vitamin D levels in the winter especially. Get your D levels checked and keep them optimized with supplements in the winter to stay healthy.

3. So what to do when your body is fighting that cold: Well when your immune system is activated, you may feel fatigued. That fatigue is actually a good thing, use it. Get more rest. They can live without you for one day at work or call a babysitter to play with the kids while you sleep. Do what it takes to get more rest because that is going to cut your recovery time. There are also some supplements that can be beneficial like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Olive leaf, and Echinacea. Remember to keep drinking water and to avoid eating too many refined carbohydrates while recovering. Cold a flu medicines just cover up the symptoms which could be helping your body fight this infection faster.

4. Dr. Bagley’s favorite sore throat remedy: First get checked to see if you need an adjustment. Second mix up some ½ cup warm water, 1 tbsp sea salt, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp cayenne pepper into a “tea.” Gargle with a mouthful a few times until the tea is gone. This is so gross but man does it help get your body going to get rid of that sore throat.

Stay warm out there and remember if you need a St. Louis Chiropractor call 314-596-4070

The Upper Cervical Blog: More Energy for Healing?

2011-12-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Upper Cervical Blog: More Energy for Healing?: How to Get More Energy for Healing, Digestion, and Thinking by Dr. Brandon Harshe “Better than 90% of the brain’s output is directed towards maintaining your body in its gravitational field. Therefore, the less energy one spends on one’s posture, the more energy is available for healing, digestion and thinking.” -Roger Sperry, 1981 Nobel Prize winner for brain research...

This is a great blog post about what is done at Vital Force Clinic in St. Louis. If you need a St. Louis Chiropractor check out our website.

Stay warm out there,
Dr. B

Thanksgiving Food Drive

2011-11-08T12:32:00.001-08:00

We are hosting a food drive to benefit KirkCare. We are accepting non-perishible food items in our waiting room. As a bonus... if you have a friend or family member that may have a health concern, for a food donation we will do our whole new patient exam and x-rays for $27. This expires the week of Thanksgiving.

Need a St. Louis Chiropractor? Call 314-596-4070 today. Vital Force Clinic 10028 Manchester Road St. Louis, MO 63122.

"My Personal Battle with Drugs..."

2011-07-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Many of us have struggled with drugs. Let me tell you my story.

Ten years ago I was struggling with chronic illness. Even in high school I could remember thinking that I wouldn’t make it to my thirties. I was in constant pain in my back, neck and head. This probably led to the depression which actually ended up being worse than the pain. I was dependent on the giant Sam’s Club sized bottle of Advil that would always be empty too soon. Depression medications were my lifeline but I never felt quite like myself on them. Before I knew what I know now, drugs were my only escape from problems. And then something miraculous happened and I no longer need the drugs to live my life. But I still struggle with the question in my profession, Why is there such a craving for the ‘quick fix’ of drugs in this country?

These days I no longer keep the drug companies in business but I’m still fighting the same kind of battle. Let’s face it, as a society we are ‘hooked’ on drugs, both the illegal and the legal ones. Most people don’t know that it’s the legal ones that kill many times more people than the illegal ones.

The ‘quick fix’ mentality (not a true fix at all) is still common, but the good news is that things are changing. People just like you are getting smarter. I recently read that the pharmaceutical industry is now rethinking their strategy, because the medical profession and prescription drugs usually only deal with symptoms, and not the cause of sickness. Chiropractors have dealt with a cause for 116 years now, and have never wavered. And guess what! Now there are more visits to ‘alternative’ health care providers than ‘traditional’ ones.

6 years ago upper cervical chiropractic care saved me from headaches, chronic pain, and depression. The adjustments are gentle and patients don’t feel or hear a pop. I now do my best to help others with the same problems, as well as people with, migraines, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, and digestive problems just to name a few.

Oh, about the photo. Those are my precious kiddos Alexandra on the left and Addison on the right. These kids are a lot of work but one thing they don’t do much of is get sick. They have never been on antibiotics and don’t take any medications. I’m not saying they never get sick, but when they do have a sniffle or a fever the first thing I do is check them to see if they need an adjustment.

Here’s what some of my patients had to say:

“I used to have low back pain all the time… I used to be cranky and in pain and would lay on the couch all evening. I feel like I have my life back because I am no longer in pain… everyone around me mentions how much happier I am.”(Cathy Panopoulos- St. Louis)

“My neck pain was extremely severe when I first came to Dr. Bagley. I had frequent headaches in the base of my skull and even my immune system and attention span were not what they could be. Amazingly, upper cervical adjustments have helped me in all of these areas.” (Erin B. –Kirkwood)

“When I came in I was limping from a previous broken hip and my legs were different lengths. Since getting adjusted, I can walk almost perfectly and I feel generally better. I am so thankful for Dr. Bagley.” - (Marilyn Davis- Ballwin)

“I went from taking 5-6 pain pills a day to maybe 1 or 2 a week in a very short time. This care has changed my life.” (Angela P- Brentwood)

Forty-eight million Americans no longer have health insurance, and those who do have found that their benefits are reduced. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Many people find that they actually save money on their health care expenses by seeing a chiropractor. Another way to save… published, peer-reviewed research indicates that the immune system may be enhanced by chiropractic adjustments. The immune system is the system that helps the body fight colds, the flu, and many other sicknesses. Although all people respond differently to care, maybe you won’t be running off to the doctor as much once you start chiropractic. This is especially important if you are self-employed. And, an entire week of care in my office may cost what you could pay for one visit elsewhere.

You Benefit from an Amazing Offer- Look, it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to correct your health. You are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. When you bring in this article, you will receive my entire new patient exam for $27. That’s with x-rays, paraspinal thermal imaging….the whole ball of wax. This exam could cost you $200 elsewhere. But, please call right away because this offer expires on August 9, 2011, and I don’t want you to miss out. By the way, further care is very affordable and you’ll be happy to know that I have affordable family plans. You see I’m not trying to seduce you to come see me with this low start up fee, then to only make it up with very high fees after that. Further care is very important to consider when making your choice of doctor. High costs can add up very quickly. By law, this offer excludes Medi-care/Medicaid patients.

Great care at a great fee…Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a Cum Laude graduate of SLU. I’m a graduate of the prestigious Logan College of Chiropractic. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to great-grandparents and possibly even your neighbors. I opened up this location in 2008 and live in Rock Hill. I just have that low fee to help more people who need care.

My assistant is Michelle, and she is a really great person. Our office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Our office is called Vital Force Clinic and it is at 10028 Manchester Road (at Sappington) in Glendale. Our phone number is 314-596-4070 and the website is www.vitalforceclinic.com Call Michelle or me today for an appointment. We can help you.

Thank you.
-Beth Bagley, D.C.

P.S. When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member or friend this same examination for only $10.

P.P.S. Your time is as valuable as mine is. That’s why I have a “no-wait” policy. That means we do everything possible to make sure you are seen within just a few minutes of your appointment.

Need a St. Louis Chiropractor. Call our office we can help! 314-596-4070

The Caloric Mistake that Doubles Your Risk of Getting Fat

2011-07-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Artificial Sweeteners like Splenda use deceptive advertising and holes in FDA policies to deceive the public. Did you know consuming artificial sweeteners can cause distortions in your biochemistry, and if you drink diet soda in an attempt to lose weight, they won't help you. Instead, most studies looking at this show very clearly that diet soft drinks actually double your obesity risk by stimulating your appetite, increasing carbohydrate cravings, and stimulating fat storage!

More Deception:
Splenda is not a zero calorie product. In every little yellow death pouch (yes I’m dramatic) there are actually 4 calories. Sucralose (Splenda) is about 600 times sweeter than sugar, so if it was sold by itself we would only need a few grains to sweeten our coffee. So they added a bulking/diluting agent made of a type of SUGAR! So each packet really contains 4 calories which may not seem like a big deal if you are using one packet, but I know of plenty of diabetics that are using 10 or more packets a day, and that can have a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels.

What is it doing to our insides?
The animal study, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found that Splenda:
Reduced good intestinal bacteria by 50%, Increase pH levels and effected a glycoprtein that could have health effects especially people on certain medications. There are no long-term health studies to evaluate the health effects of chronic exposure to splenda (sucralose) which means your family could be the guinea pigs.

What other symptoms could be associated with the use of this drug?
The studies did show a strong association with migraine headaches in humans. In animals there were decreased red blood cells, increased male infertility, brain lesions (very high doses), Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted ptregnancies in the control group, and a 23% death rate in rabbits vs a 6% death rate in the control group.

I’m convinced that splenda is a poison and is not as great as the corporations want you to believe. Do your own research and make your own decisions… its in a lot of things you may have once thought were healthy (breads, sugar chewing gum, children’s OTC medications, health drinks like 5 hour energy, supplements like Airborne and many more). If you want to avoid this for your family make sure to read the labels for Sucralose and/or Splenda. Other artificial sweeteners I also avoid are Aspertame (NutraSweet, Equal) and Saccharine (Sweet’N Low).

Yours in Health,
Dr. B

Need a Saint Louis Chiropractor? Call 314-596-4070
Vital Force Clinic
10028 Manchester Road
Saint Louis, MO 63122

The Young Woman's Breast Cancer Program

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Vital Force Clinic invites you to support The Young Women's Breast Cancer Program at Rosemary Grove's Kirkwood location. Rosemary Grove is located at 101 A Argonne in downtown Kirkwood across from the train station.

This fundraiser will be held on Sunday, June 12th from 10am-6pm. You will get 20% of all art, gifts, jewelry, purses, skincare, make-up and health & wellness products! The 20% that you save will be donated to YWBC.

Special events will be taking place from 11am-1pm. You can enjoy mini anti-aging facials, 3 minute chair massages, Chiropractic posture checks, advice and tips from a cancer exercise specialist and enter a drawing to win a "Fab Facebook Photo Event"

This common problem can make you fat and forgetful!

2011-04-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

We live complex and busy lives. Many of us wonder how we can get just a few more hours out of the day. The problem is to do that we sacrifice the easiest way to stay optimally healthy. Sleep deprivation is a key factor in many health problems including obesity. There are several ways to help you sleep better but insomnia can be an issue with many people. Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when this is a problem that continues over time. Whether it is by choice or because of insomnia, sleep deprivation does cause processes in the body become less optimum.

Why would less sleep cause us to get fat? Sleep-deprived individuals tend to eat more sweet and starchy foods. Researchers suspect the cravings stem from the brain being fueled by glucose (blood sugar) so our brain is searching for carbs. There is also a hormone called leptin which tells your brain that there is no need for more food. Leptin is reduced when we have sleep deprivation. So it makes sense that less sleep could cause someone to gain weight.

In a great FREE health lecture I will be giving on Saturday, April 9th at 11AM, we will be going over the WHY of sleep problems, simple solutions, and the role of your nervous system. I invite you all to come out and attend this breakthrough health talk.
When: Saturday, April 9th at 11:00 AM
Where: Rosemary Grove 101 West Argonne Drive Directly across from the Kirkwood Train Station with Lisa’s Photography.
RSVP: Please RSVP for yourself and guests to Michellevitalforce@gmail.com or call Michelle at 314-596-4070

Looking forward to seeing you there! Dr. Bagley

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Visit us at Vital Force Upper Cervical Clinic 10028 Manchester Road Saint Louis, MO 63122

Free Natural Health Lecture

2011-03-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

How To Wake Up Refreshed.... A Guide To Better Sleep Through Better Health

Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Bagley, DC on Saturday April, 9 2011 at 11 AM.
This lecture will be held at Rosemary Grove, located at 101A West Argonne Dr, across from the train station.

Please reserve a spot for you and a friend by calling Michelle at 314-596-4070 or emailing her at michellevitalforce@gmail.com

This is a free natural health lecture sponsored by Arbonne, Rosemary Grove and Vital Force Clinic.

“What Doctors do when They Feel Rotten…”

2011-01-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

Dear friend,

I bet you have wondered this yourself. “What do doctors do…” Do they just take a ‘magic’ drug that they never told us about? Let’s face it, as a society we are ‘hooked’ on drugs, both the illegal and the legal ones. But, most people don’t know that it’s actually the legal ones that kill many times more people than the illegal ones. A gut-wrenching statistic I just read was that 1 in 4 children are taking a prescription medicine on a regular basis.

Let me tell you a little story.

17 years ago, I was in middle school at Parkway West when I started having serious feelings of depression and anxiety, terrible headaches, and all over body pain. I was scared. Talking to school counselors helped, but there was still something very wrong. I was afraid to tell my parents how I felt. Much of the time I felt alone. I explored the unfortunate route of prescription drugs. One would make me feel loopy or the next would make me feel wiped out but they kept me alive. The pain and symptoms got worse in high school. I honestly thought that everyone lived with pain and so I just accepted the problems.

Then, 6 years ago a friend introduced me to a man that changed my life forever, an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. That didn’t mean much to me at first but I knew he was different. He didn’t pop, bend or crack my neck. He gently and painlessly moved a bone in my upper neck. That week, my headaches were less severe and then gone. Soon after, most of the body pain that had plagued me for years disappeared. Then, there was the biggest change that I never expected. A few months into care I started feeling happier, less anxious, and more positive. The veil of depression and anxiety that had ruled my life for 11 years was lifted. I felt like a new person. Because of the great results, I decided to become an upper cervical chiropractor so I could help others.

The ‘quick fix’ mentality of ‘just take a pill’ (not a true fix at all) is still common, but the good news is that things are changing. People are getting smarter. I recently read in USA Today that the pharmaceutical industry is now rethinking their strategy, because the medical profession and prescription drugs usually only deal with symptoms, and not the cause of sick-ness. Chiropractors have dealt with a cause for 116 years, and have never wavered. And guess what! Now there are more visits to ‘alternative’ health care providers than ‘traditional’ ones.

6 years ago chiropractic saved me from pain and depression, and now I do my best to help others with the same problem, as well as headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash, backaches, ear infections, asthma, bedwetting, IBS, insomnia, allergies, numbness in limbs, ADD/ADHD, and arthritis just to name a few.

Oh, about the photo. That’s me on the left with my husband, Jason and my twin girls Addie and Lexi at my sisters wedding. I’ve had the twins adjusted since birth and they are very healthy kids. Obviously, they aren’t perfect but are a lot of fun. Keeping them well adjusted is going to keep them from having the health problems I went through as a child.

So, what is it that I and doctors that I know do when they feel rotten? We get checked to see if we need a chiropractic adjustment. When my body is balanced, it responds by healing itself, and the results are wonderful. It’s as simple as that!

Here’s what some of my patients had to say:

“When I came in I was limping from a broken hip and my legs were different lengths. Since getting adjusted, I can walk almost perfectly and I feel generally better. I am so thankful for Dr. Bagley.” - (Marilyn Davis- Ballwin)

“The gentle adjustment that Dr. B uses has made my neck and back pain go away and stay away for the majority of the last 3 years!”- (Mariann Wedel-Webster Groves)

“I went from taking 5-6 pain pills a day to maybe 1 or 2 a week in a very short time. This care has changed my life.” (Angela P- Brentwood)

You should know that I don’t heal anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific upper cervical adjustment to remove nerve interference, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results.

Forty-eight million Americans no longer have health insurance, and those who do have found that their benefits are reduced. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Many people find that they actually save money on their health care expenses by seeing a chiropractor. Another way to save…published, peer-reviewed research indicates that the immune system may be enhanced by chiropractic adjustments. The immune system is the system that helps the body fight colds, the flu, and many other sicknesses. Although all people respond differently to care, maybe you won’t be running off to the medical doctor as much once you start chiropractic. This is especially important if you are self-employed.

You Benefit from an Amazing Offer. It shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to correct your health. Look, you are going to write a check to someone for your health care. Why not write one for a lesser a-mount for chiropractic? When you bring in this article, you will receive my new patient exam for just $27. That’s with x-rays, paraspinal thermal imaging….the whole ball of wax. But, please call right away because this offer expires on Friday, February 18^th 2011 and I don’t want you to miss out (this special deal, by law, cannot be used for Medicare and Medicaid patients but we would still love to meet you). By the way, further care is very affordable and you’ll be happy to know that I have family care plans, senior discounts, and student discounts. You see I’m not trying to seduce you to come see me with this low start up fee, then to only make it up with high fees after that. Further care is very important to consider when making your choice of doctor.

Great care at a great fee…Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications: I’m a graduate of SLU and Logan. I am board certified and licensed in the state of Missouri. I’ve been entrusted to take care of families from the tiny babies to the great-grandparents. I just have that low fee to help more people who need care.

My office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. You will just love Michelle at the front desk when you call (ask her about her chiropractic experience). We are Vital Force Upper Cervical Clinic at 10028 Manchester Road (southwest corner at Sappington). Our phone number is (314) 596 – 4070. Call today for an appointment. We can help you.

Thank you.

- Beth Bagley, D.C.

P.S. When accompanied by the first, the second family member/friend will receive this same exam for only $10.

Avoid the Snow Shoveling Blues

2011-01-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

Snow, although beautiful, can literally be a pain in the back. Here are my 6 tips on how to shovel properly to minimize the damage to your body.

Before starting to shovel snow make sure you warm up like any other physical activity. Try stretching or marching in place for a few minutes before putting on your snow gear.
Wear layers because as you go you may want to strip a layer off. Wear gloves and a hat over your ears to minimize the risk of painful frostbite. Also wear shoes that grip like boots because many times there is a layer of ice under the snow.
When picking a shovel, choose a smaller plastic one. They are lighter and will help keep the load down on your body. A curved handle absolutely puts less strain on your back. Before shoveling spray the shovel with cooking spray or WD-40 to help keep the snow from sticking.
Start slowly, take frequent breaks indoors and keep hydrated. We can definitely get dehydrated in the winter and passing out in the snow doesn’t sound like fun.
Stand with your feet apart slightly and bend your knees as you lift. Twisting your body while lifting will cause injury. Your feet should point in the direction you are lifting and throwing in.
Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages and energy drinks. These can elevate your heart rate, increasing your risk for heart attack. If you are out of shape to begin with, avoiding snow shoveling in general is a good idea. Think about hiring someone or you could always move to Florida (just kidding).
Proper spinal alignment is super important with any physical activity. Spinal balance allows our muscles and joint to work properly making it easier to avoid injury. Come in and get you and your family checked today and make 2011 the healthiest year ever!

Need a Saint Louis Chiropractor? Call us today at 314-596-4070 we can help!

Vital Force's Biggest Loser!

2010-12-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

Most people start off each New Year with good intentions in the beginning but after a few weeks or even days many of us give up. Vital Force is starting our FREE weight loss support group off for the New Year to make those good intentions become results. We are actually making a competition to make it a little more fun. The person with the biggest percentage of weight loss by the end of the first quarter will win a prize worth $50. A little motivation can go a long way. Our new class will meet every Tuesday night at 4:30-5PM. If that time doesn’t work for you, you can still be part of the fun by coming in weekly for a weigh-in and grab information to read every week. If you are really serious about taking control of your health in 2011, its time to make time for yourself and show up at our class.

Do I have to be a patient at Vital Force to be a part of the weight loss class? No, we like to meet new people, come on in and join in on the fun.

Why do we do this for free when other places charge? We do this as a community good will project and it gives us a chance to meet new people. We know from experience if you ever have a loved one with a spinal problem you would be more apt to refer them to a doctor you know personally. So it’s a win-win situation for us.

I don’t want anyone to see my weight, not even Dr. Bagley. Your weight is your business; we don’t look at numbers unless you specifically ask us a question. You are in charge of weighing in and writing down your results. At our classes we talk about numbers in

What topics will we discuss at each class? We start off each class going through anyone who wants to share wins from the previous week. We then go over any action steps to focus on for the coming week. Then Dr. Bagley will be going over a topic that relates to weight loss.

Our class schedule for January

1 1/4 -Visualization Exercise

2 1/11 -Goals and Action Steps

3 1/18 -Accountability Matters!

4 1/25 -Sugar

See you on Tuesday!

Need a Saint Louis Chiropractor? Call us at 314-596-4070 and we can help!

What does Dr. Bagley use for a moisturizer?

2010-12-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

Your skin is your body’s largest organ and should be treated with respect. Unfortunately we’ve been duped into believing that we need specialized moisturizers to beat the winter dryness. Many of these products contain hazardous ingredients because they are cheap, readily available and easy to dilute. Grab the moisturizer that you use and check it for these ingredients, my guess is that many of these are in them.

The good news is, you can do what my family does instead of using these products you can use natural coconut oil. We use it especially after baths and washing our hands. It is saturated oil so in cold weather it is a solid but melts quickly with body heat. You can pick up a jar of it at whole foods or a health food store. We keep our jar in the kitchen because it’s healthy to cook with and we keep a small container of it in the bathroom for moisturizing. If you need more information on it just Google search “health benefits coconut oil” and you’ll be impressed. Pick up a jar ASAP for your family this winter and throw out the nasty chemicals in your cabinets!

Many Thanks to Dr. Mercola for posting this very useful ingredient list below.

Ingredient	Use	Dangers
Parabens	Heavily used preservatives in the cosmetic industry; used in an estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products.	Studies implicate their connection with cancer because their hormone-disrupting qualities mimic estrogen and could disrupt your body’s endocrine system.
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum		These petroleum products coat the skin like plastic – clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They can slow cellular development, creating earlier signs of aging. They’re implicated as a suspected cause of cancer. Plus, they can disrupt hormonal activity. When you think about black oil pumped from deep underground, ask yourself why you’d want to put that kind of stuff on your skin…
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)	Found in over 90% of personal care products! They break down your skin’s moisture barrier, potentially leading to dry skin with premature aging. And because they easily penetrate your skin, they can allow other chemicals easy access.	SLS combined with other chemicals may become a "nitrosamine" – a potent carcinogen.
Acrylamide	Found in many facial creams.	Linked to mammary tumors.
Propylene glycol	Common cosmetic moisturizer and carrier for fragrance oils.	May cause dermatitis and skin irritation. May inhibit skin cell growth. Linked to kidney and liver problems.
Phenol carbolic acid	Found in many lotions and skin creams.	Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma, and even death from respiratory failure.
Dioxane	Hidden in ingredients such as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Very common in personal care products.	These chemicals are often contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane that’s easily absorbed through the skin. Its carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965, and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages are considered extremely vulnerable, making it, in my opinion, a really bad idea to use these things on your face.
Toluene	May be very poisonous! Made from petroleum and coal tar… found in most synthetic fragrances.	Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage…May affect a developing fetus.

Need a Saint Louis Chiropractor? Visit our website and see if upper cervical care is right for you!

Jerry Rice Shares His Testimonial

2010-07-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Can You Be Your Own Chiropractor?

2010-07-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

At least once a month I get a question from a patient asking some version of “Why can’t I just adjust myself?” And more often, I have patients that regularly do adjust themselves, particular grabbing their own head or neck and performing a maneuver that gives them a bunch of “cracks” and makes them feel like they’ve done something good.

There are probably more reasons than what I’ll list here, but the answer is “no” you can’t be your own chiropractor. You can be your own mechanic (to a point), you can be your own handyman (to a point), you might even be your own doctor at times, but you leave the more specific and more complicated tasks to the experts.

Getting a spinal adjustment is one of those complicated things that doesn’t seem so complicated on the surface. What is it that the chiropractor is really doing? Why do I need to have a chiropractic adjustment, what’s wrong with just twisting my own neck?

I think you’ll agree that if you are trying to move your spine, you have determined that it is either not moving or it has moved out of place, right? If it can go the wrong direction and cause pain and discomfort, then it makes sense that if you move it further out of place you can make it worse. So… how do you know which way to move your vertebrae? The move that I see being performed is a “move everything and hope I get the right one at some point.”

Each vertebrae can move up to sixteen different directions. Do you know which way your vertebra has gone? That’s where the chiropractor comes in. They are trained to determined which way the bone has moved and how to move it back into the correct place. Some of the directions are extremely difficult to accomplish on your own. Chiropractors don’t adjust themselves either!

The same principle that applies to adjusting yourself also goes for having someone “bear hug” you at a family gathering and having your kids walk on your back. It’s just not specific and the person performing the “therapy” has no way of knowing which part of your spine needs to be adjusted.

The next question is “If I can’t adjust myself, why does it feel better when I do it?”

You’ll notice that when you do it, the good feeling doesn’t last long. That’s why you keep doing it over and over again during the day. You still get the endorphin release, so you’ll temporarily get a influx of pain relief that makes you think you’ve done something good for yourself. However, you’ve more likely either moved something the wrong way or moved a different bone than the one that needs it. The pain and discomfort returns once the endorphins are gone and you’re back to where you started.

In summary, you cannot be your own chiropractor. I know it can seem like a simple thing, but chiropractors are the experts at finding the right area of your spine to be adjusted and then moving it back the right way. See the experts!

Take Charge Of Your Health!

2010-07-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

Most health problems can be avoided. Many of the problems we deal with every day didn’t have to be there at all, if we were willing to take a good hard look at ourselves and decide to be healthy.

The first question is, do you think your body wants to be healthy or do you think you have to medicate it into being “healthy?” An easy example is if you get a cut on your skin. You know that the bandage doesn’t heal the cut, your body does. It just knows that it needs to heal that area and it gets to work. If you are a healthy person, the cut will likely heal much faster than if you are unhealthy.

I see this in my practice every day. I’m a chiropractor and we work with aligning the spine to improve the patient’s health. In order for the spine to stay in its proper position, the muscles will need to work with us. The health of the muscles will determine how fast the patient gets results.

Too many people are in pain, come in and get treatment, just to find that the results take much longer than they thought they would. Then I see patients in moderately good health that bounce back much faster than expected. The patient that consistently makes more healthy choices will get better faster than the patient that doesn’t. Period.

So how do you avoid most health problems and stay healthy? There’s not a lot of mystery to it, believe me. I’ve tried, probably just like you, to find any other new possible way to get healthy other than what has been tried and true.

1. Eat right – What does this mean? Fruits and vegetables, you know, all the stuff you don’t want to eat. If you look at your health as just the results of what you’ve been doing so far, this will help in your motivation. Eliminating one bad food at a time and replacing it with something healthy will go a long way. Maybe no more sodas, instead you’ll be drinking water. Replacing green tea for coffee, or reducing your sugar intake.

Continue to make these better choices and eventually you’ll see a big difference in how you feel. Many conditions are the result of long term diet issues. If you eat poorly, you don’t give your body any materials to maintain your health.

2. Exercise – Don’t start your new exercise program by opening up your front door and running 10 miles. Find some ways to build momentum in your exercise program. Take a walk, go play catch with your child (or even your dog), or get a bike and start doing laps around your block. Find a way to get started and go from there.

Exercise will improve the tone of your muscles, make you stronger, and most importantly, will help you deal with stress. Stress is a huge factor in your health.

It all sounds to easy, right? It’s not easy. Staying consistent with these elements of your goal to get healthy will yield plenty of benefits, just figure out your best way of sticking with it. I’ve found that adding in (or taking out) one thing at a time will make all the difference. You won’t lose fifty pounds in six weeks, but whatever you do lose will stay gone. Over the long-term, that’s what will make all the difference in your health. Take charge of your health!

Does Chiropractic Help With Shoulder Pain?

2010-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Chiropractors are known for their abilities in helping people with neck and back pain. The most common reason why someone even considers seeing a chiropractor is for back pain, specifically low back pain. Research and studies and the general consensus is that we can help in this area. What about shoulder pain? Is there anything a chiropractor can do to help shoulder pain?

You can certainly have a chiropractor take a look at and evaluate your shoulder problem. While the spine is most commonly adjusted, the chiropractic adjustment can be performed at any joint. A joint is anywhere two bones meet. In the case of the shoulder, we’ll be looking at three different areas; the clavicle (collarbone), the humerus (upper arm), and the scapula (the shoulder blade).

Any of these joints can move out of their normal position with extended use in the wrong way. Stress and poor posture in the upper back can lead the shoulder blade to become stuck and fixated in the wrong position. The chiropractor can adjust this area and work with the muscles to get things moving again.

The same principles apply to the humerus and the clavicle. There are certain movements in which each bone will take on a more primary role. The chiropractor can feel with his hand if the right areas are moving or not. If the joint is not moving, this means it is likely not functioning correctly. This is where the chiropractor’s expertise can be of most use.

The first evaluation of the shoulder is really to see if any of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons have torn. Depending on the severity of the tear, you may need an immediate referral for an MRI and a visit to an orthopedic specialist. You don’t want someone moving your bones around if you have a tear, and the chiropractor doesn’t want to do that either.

If you haven’t had any trauma to the shoulder joint and the pain has just come on gradually over the years. The chiropractor can take a look and provide adjustments and work to the muscles that can make a world of difference.

How Much Do Your Activities Cause Your Pain?

2010-07-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Uh oh, it’s happened again. You can feel the initial “twinge.” That is, you can feel the early warning sign that you low back pain problem is about to come back again. You knew you should have been keeping up with your chiropractic visits and the exercises your doctor gave you, but you just haven’t done it.

You feel great most of the time, but you’ve learned that when you get this feeling, things are about to go downhill…fast. Sometimes you get off easy, just a few over-the-counter remedies and you can get back to work. Sometimes you’re going to be spending the weekend putting ice on your back and waiting for the doctor to open up first thing Monday morning.

Worse case is that you’ll spend the next couple of weeks trying to get yourself back to feeling not just pain-free, but to the point where you don’t feel like things are about to go bad at any point. That’s the worse feeling.

So it’s somewhere in one of these episodes that you begin to ask yourself, “Why does this keep happening? Is it something I’m doing or not doing?” Most of the time, the answer is “yes!” Now, our bodies are not made out of concrete, and no one can make sure that your back pain will never, ever return again. However, there’s plenty that you can do to keep the episodes at bay and keep from feeling bad more often than not.

Let’s not even get into some of the preventative measures like regular chiropractic care. Let’s just realize that your daily activities are usually what is contributing to your problem. If you sit all day on the computer, then get in your car and sit, and then go home and sit, and then go to sleep and do the whole thing all over again… you’re going to have problems.

Some people will do some exercises, but that seems to be primarily made up of sit-ups, walking, and riding their bike. None of these activities will strengthen the spine to any noticeable degree. Certainly nothing that is going to keep that “feeling” from coming back again. Your normal daily activities have a focus on actions that occur in front of you with almost no engaging of the back muscles for anything other than keeping you upright.

If you’re going to keep a back problem away, you’re going to need to strengthen your back. Taking some time out to follow your doctor’s recommendations and perform some regular activity for the sake of your spine will go a long way in keeping things together. Keep the weight down, the stress away, some regular general exercise, and some regular exercise focused on strengthening your spine and you should do okay.

Just Do One Thing At A Time.

2010-06-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

If you’ve started to notice that your health is declining and it’s time to do something about it, you’re probably wondering where to start. You know you don’t feel good, you know you’re not doing enough healthy things for yourself, but it can all be a bit overwhelming. Even if your primary goal is to drop a few pounds and just feel better… which action should you take first?

One school of thought is to take massive action. This is certainly a good thing and has helped many overcome great obstacles. Taking massive action should lead to massive results. However, when it comes to changing your health, which massive action should you take? Go and buy every vitamin in the store? Run laps around your block until your legs won’t move? Schedule appointments with a chiropractor, personal trainer, massage therapist, and psychologist?

My suggestion is to take massive action… on one thing at a time. Pick something. It doesn’t have to be anything other than something that will move you closer to a long term goal of being healthy. To me, that would mean that I’m an appropriate weight, I’m generally free of pain, I have lots of energy, and my moods are pretty consistent in a positive way.

The major categories are going to be eating better and exercise.

Eating right can start with eliminating the things that you know are bad for you that you regularly eat. Too many sodas? Trips to the vending machine? Double frappacinos with whip? Something just popped into your head and you know it’s been slowing leading to a decline in your health. Pick one and let it go.

Bring your lunch to work a couple of days per week or find something healthy that you can eat at least once per day. Start taking a decent multi-vitamin if you’re not doing so already and drink a lot more water. Just do something healthy.

Once you’ve got this habit formed and are starting to feel pretty good about your results, time to reassess and eliminate something bad and add in something good. Keep this up until you get where you want to go.

What about exercise? I have to admit, doing this regularly is not always the easiest thing for me. I say it’s about spending the time and effort, but I think it’s more about not spending the time finding something that I really enjoy doing. You don’t have to start an exercise program by planning to run a marathon (unless that helps you get motivated).

Walking 1 mile and running 1 mile burn about the same amount of calories since it takes longer to walk that same distance. Find ways to walk more, even if it just means parking your car further away from the building at work. You can do it, but you have to start somewhere and that means taking action towards your goal.

You can get healthy, really! It’s possible for those that are willing to make the effort. If your health has declined to such a degree that you need professionals to help you heal and feel better, then by all means do that too. Take massive action… just do it on one thing a time.

Back Pain: It Isn't Always What It Used To Be

2010-06-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you ignore a back problem, it will likely not go away on its own. Sometimes you can get through an episode when it’s early in the condition with some over the counter medications and rest. So you’d think. If the underlying problem is never addressed, the back pain problem is there to resurface again at a later date.

Usually when the pain returns, it hurts a little bit more and lasts a little bit longer. Over time, the episodes will start to show up more frequently until the person takes the actions necessary to create a more substantial healing. (Hopefully they go to see a chiropractor and get their spine in its proper alignment instead of relying on stronger and stronger medications.)

More often than not, the person dealing with the back pain follows their doctor’s orders and concern themselves with their back only when the pain shows up. Then they return to doing all the same things that led them to the the problem in the first place. Then the symptoms return and they show back up to their doctor.

“I know what I’ve got, doc. Last time you told me it was my L5 disc.” They then expect you to do what you did last time, give them the relief in the same time frame you gave it to them last time and they can get on with their lives. Sometimes it happens just like that, sometimes the episode takes a couple of extra days to return back to normal.

Eventually, they’ll get the same condition, they’ll show back up to your office, expect the same results… and they won’t happen. The doctor will end up doing more tests and discover that they don’t just have an “L5 disc” problem anymore. They now have L4 and L5 and the sciatic nerve is being compressed. The previously minor disc bulge at L5 has turned into a full blown disc herniation with potentially more invasive treatment needed to alleviate the pain.

How could this have been avoided? Once you’ve been notified that you have a back problem, seek relief from the pain first. Once the pain is gone, you must distinguish that your “pain” and your “problem” are two different things. Celebrate the relief of your pain, but evaluate what may have led to the problem in the first place.

Are you strengthening your back muscles? Are you getting enough exercise? How are your daily activities contributing to the problem and how can they be modified. Don’t accept your back condition and assume it will never change or get worse. Most of them can and do get worse over time.

Why Don't More People See Chiropractors?

2010-06-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

According to various polls and questions asked of the public, more than 50% (sometimes 60%) of the population indicate they would consider visiting a chiropractor. For the last forty years, the percentage of people that actually do so has remained the same. While more people are seeing chiropractors than ever before, consistently only 10% of the population does so.

Why? If so many people would consider chiropractic as an alternative to other medical choices, why don’t they actually do it when the need arises?

They don’t know what to expect.

Most people have gone to see a medical doctor. They have an overall understanding of what they can expect when they walk in the office. They expect a little window, to be handed some paperwork to fill out, and then eventually get a chance to visit the doctor and tell them where it hurts. They also know that they’ll likely be handed a prescription that will help their symptoms and they can be on their way.

What happens when they go to see a chiropractor? That’s just it. They don’t really know. They assume it’s similar to a visit to an MD, except that instead of a prescription the chiropractor is likely to “pop” something. Do they really need something “popped”? They’re not sure so they go with what they know.

They don’t know if their condition can be helped with chiropractic care.

They think of chiropractors as helping with auto accidents and low back pain (if you just go by the most common advertisements seen), but they don’t have that. They have headaches, or neck pain, or shoulder pain. Can a chiropractor help with that? They look at a couple of yellow page ads or run through some websites. Some say they do, some don’t say anything about it.

Can they get help by seeing the chiropractor? Again, they’re not sure so they just go back to what they know. They want relief and they want it fast. They’ve gotten relief before by getting a prescription so once again they find themselves at their physician’s office.

They don’t know who to see.

All the chiropractic ads say different things. Activator Methods? Gonstead? Palmer Graduate? Do I need that? Is one really better than the other? This guy seems okay, he’s wearing a white coat and advertising “decompression.” Do I need to be decompressed? All of the chiropractors seem to be advertising slightly different things, while the medical doctor offices all seem to be closer to the same.

There can be a lot of confusion about visiting a chiropractor. While many chiropractors offer an initial no-charge consultation, most people just aren’t going to sit through a consultation when what they really want is pain relief as quickly as possible. It’s really up to the chiropractic profession to continue to educate and get a consistent message out there so people will know what to expect, which conditions are regularly treated, and understand some of the terminology that is out there when it comes time to make their choice.

What If You Can't Afford Treatment?

2010-06-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

With all the debate going on about government-sponsored healthcare and keeping costs down, chiropractic care remains one of the cheapest methods of solving many different health conditions.

For less than the price of a round of steroid injections, you can get weeks to months of chiropractic treatment that will typically have longer lasting and more beneficial effects — without the side effects.

Now, I understand that many people can have difficulty with starting a treatment plan that may include multiple visits in a week. That’s at least a co-pay every time they walk through the door. I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, but I know that people waste so much money on things that are harmful to their health while putting their health issues on the back burner that could easily be solved now.

Is it really that you can’t afford treatment? Or is it that you just don’t see it as a priority? Every situation is different and your situation may be that you truly cannot afford it, but I’ve encountered many patients that just don’t see their health as a priority and that’s unfortunate.

At our office, we bend over backwards to offer discounts and alternate payment options in an effort to help you afford care, so it’s always surprising when people don’t choose to take advantage. Others are thrilled that we offer choices and ways for them to get all the care they need now and then pay for it over time.

I can sleep at night knowing that people that really want the help will always get the help at our office. If you need chiropractic care and wonder how in the world you can afford it, know that there are offices out there that will give you the payment assistance you need to make it happen.

Glendale Businesses Appreciate the Community and Intend to Show it

2010-06-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Businesses of Glendale, MO are hosting a Community Appreciation Day Saturday, June 19^th 2010 from 10AM-2PM. There will be prizes, family fun, food, and entertainment at the southwest corner of Sappington and Manchester.

Glendale, MO May 26, 2010 -- For the first time in Glendale history, the businesses of Glendale are all joining forces to thank the community for all the support the businesses have received through the years. On Saturday June 19^th, Community Appreciation Day is scheduled to take place at the ten thousand block of Manchester at Sappington. “We are all so proud to be a part of the neighborhood, and we wanted to thank all of our customers and hopefully get to know our neighbors even better” said Mike Reilly of Booksmarts. Pastor Steve Albers from Glendale Lutheran Church has also graciously allowed for overflow parking in the church lot next to the event.

There will be music for all and games for kids. Each business will also host attendance prizes which will be called out throughout the event. Many of the businesses will also be having sales and special deals throughout the day.

Nancy Cullen of Consign and Design Galleries said, “We are so excited to be having this event so even more people can visit our new consignment shop!” The Webster Groves Lions Club will be offering their famous Bar-B-Q which helps support all the work The Lions do in the community.

All are welcome for the Community Appreciation Day and the Glendale business owners are looking forward to meeting with the neighbors. For extra parking, Glendale Lutheran Church is offering free parking off Sappington road and it is right next to the business center where this event takes place. Prizes and events are scheduled from 10AM-2PM but many businesses will be having sale events through the day.

Contact:

Elizabeth Bagley

drbagley@vitalforceclinic.com

Vital Force Clinic

10028 Manchester Road Suite 209

Glendale, MO 63122

314-596-4070

Chiropractic As Part Of A "Get Healthy" Program

2010-05-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

If you're like many people, you'd love to be a healthy person. If you already feel pretty healthy, that's great. However, I've noticed more and more people are searching the internet for ways to get healthy. They want to be healthy, they just don't necessarily want to have to take any difficult action steps in order to make it happen.

Getting healthy usually means all the normal steps. Eating better, getting some regular exercise, and addressing various ailments and symptoms that have begun to show up. Still, most people are going to take a passive approach to their health. They want to do things and go places where things will be "done to them" rather than them having to "do stuff."

Let's take eating better for example. There's no real mystery any more for you in which foods are good for you. Fast food is usually bad (even the stuff they try to make seem like it's good for you), and vegetables are good. When you are snacking on potato chips, you can't honestly be telling yourself "I sure am eating healthy." Eating healthy things, putting only healthy things in your shopping cart, and worse, planning your meals ahead of time so you don't get caught starving and nothing to eat but fast food requires effort.

Exercise is the same thing. Remember those belts that people used to strap around their waist and get shaken into better health? You don't see them anymore because exercise really is not a passive thing. You've got to get out of your chair and regularly move around to make anything happen. After awhile, just walking around is not really going to get you the results you want either. You'll have to put in more effort to increase the intensity of your exercise to hit the next level.

Here's the good news for those people that want to do something healthy, but don't want to put forth a ton of effort. Get a chiropractic adjustment. You don't have to wait for headaches, neck pain, or back pain to decide to visit a chiropractor (even though that's what a lot of people do). Getting a chiropractic adjustment is one of the easiest things to do, and one of the healthiest.

It's an insidious thing. You don't see that your spine is breaking down. You don't see the degeneration process start to occur in your spine and the spinal discs. You just know that things aren't quite right. I've had patients that never complained of anything more than low back stiffness, before coming in for their first chiropractic visit.

However, their x-rays showed advanced spinal degeneration something that simply could not happen overnight. The best part of all in starting this type of program is that the only "action" you have to take is to show up. The chiropractor will do the rest, and you get to just sit back and feel better about taking a healthy step toward a better you.

Vitamin D: Could it be the answer to health problems?

2010-05-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D has been in the news frequently lately. It is becoming apparent that it is involved in many more processes in the body then ever known before. From the immune system to regulation of hormones, this vitamin might just be the key to good health.

The old definition of vitamin D was that it is a fat-soluble steroid based vitamin, the body can produce it when exposed to sunlight, and it aids in the absorption of calcium. When children have low vitamin D levels they are more likely to get a condition called rickets (softening, weakening and deformity of bones). This vitamin is not naturally occurring in very many foods but is added to foods like dairy.

Now it is known that Vitamin D is essential in many body processes. The research is astounding. There are some professionals that now believe that cold and flu season takes place in the winter months because the population is all vitamin D deficient from inadequate sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency seems to be responsible for immune system dysfunction that can often lead to illness or possibly cancer. Some have estimated that 25 to 50 percent of health care budgets could be saved by vitamin D supplementation when necessary.

Without blood tests it is impossible to check for deficiency. Ideally blood levels of 25 OH D should be 60ng/ml. A rule of thumb for a light skinned individual is at least 15 minutes of mid-day of sun exposure (arms, face, and chest) daily. Now, the cutting edge research is that vitamin D is formed on the surface of your skin in the oils from cholesterol exposure to ultra violet B rays and takes 48 hours to absorb through the skin. That means when using soap in the shower it washes away before the body absorbs it.

Overall, Vitamin D has proved to be an essential part of the human body and everyone should make sure that their levels are adequate.

If you want to talk about Vitamin D further, set up an appointment with Dr. Bagley at Vital Force Clinic for a consultation.

Your Pain Just Started, But Your Problem Began Long Ago...

2010-05-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

There are problems that have just started, lurking beneath the surface where you have not yet felt their pain. You may go years, occasionally feeling some soreness and stiffness, just to have it go away on its own. Maybe you feel a twinge, take a pill, and it all seems like it's going to be okay.

Then one morning you get up, accidentally drop your socks on the floor, bend down to pick them up and you can't get back up. You are having so much pain that you barely manage to make it to your bed and hang on. You start taking pills like crazy until you manage to pull out the yellow pages and find a nearby chiropractor.

On your visit to the chiropractor, he explains that your spine is showing signs of wear and tear, that your problem likely began years ago. "What? I just bent down to pick up my socks. My problem started this morning." The problem with believing that your problem is new is that you will also likely believe that your pain should go away quickly.

You are likely forgetting about all the times you felt warning signals and quickly dismissed them or medicated them away. You don't realize that you haven't been able to touch your toes in years, you don't exercise regularly, and your job entails you sitting for extended periods of time. These were all factors in the building of your spinal problem, long before you ever felt your first symptom... the back pain.

The back pain ended up as the final result of the years of build up on your spine. Now you can either go for stronger drugs to cover things up, or you can begin to undo the years of ignoring the warnings and work to build up a healthy and normally functioning spine. The good news is that it rarely takes nearly as long to put your back together as it took to make it bad in the first place.

There is a point of no return. There is a point when you've ignored and dulled the warning signals for so long that the degeneration in your spine and the bulging of your spinal disc have eliminated some of the more conservative treatments. There is a time when your only choice is a spinal surgery or injections to stop the pain even if they aren't fixing anything.

What can you learn from this? When the back pain hits, take a good look at when your problem began and not just when your symptoms began. Seriously evaluate what its going to take to get your spine back to a good place and pain-free. The longer you wait in taking the proper steps, the more difficult the journey.

Is Back Pain Caused By A Lack Of Exercise?

2010-05-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Many people seem to want to know if you can just exercise lower back pain away. Is it only about exercise? That is, did you end up with lower back pain due to a lack of exercise? Or could it be something else?

Your back pain is not necessarily caused by a lack of exercise, but it's probably a good place to start looking. When I ask patients if they exercise, most are still saying "no." Those that do exercise tend to stick with the same machine or routine for their entire program. (And almost none of their "routine" exercises focus on improving their back muscles.)

So on one hand, we have those that don't exercise and have lower back pain. It's easy to take a guess and see that their spine is having problems due to a lack of muscular support. While their spine may need more work at this point (check with your healthcare professional), eventually they'll exercise lower back pain away by creating a muscular back support around their spine with regular exercise.

Those that do exercise, but are not performing a variety of movements are causing a different problem; muscular imbalance. They are likely only developing certain muscle groups while largely ignoring others. Worse, they may be performing activities that are alarmingly similar to what they already do all day.

They are strengthening muscles that are already overworked (muscles in the front of the body) and not strengthening muscles that are typically ignored (back muscles). This is a standard recipe for developing lower back pain problems and should be avoided.

Overall, maintaining a variety of activities that includes exercises to enhance cardiovascular health, strengthening and stretching will help exercise lower back pain away for good. The same formula works for almost everyone. First, due some exercise regularly. Next, make sure you take some time to strengthen your back muscles (especially if you already know you need it!).

Have You Developed "Computer Posture"?

2010-05-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Have you developed "computer posture?" Is your neck beginning to jut forward while your upper back takes on the rounded shape of someone hunched over a keyboard all day?

It makes sense that no matter what your occupation, if you spend extended amounts of time in the same position, your body will begin to stay that way. Your body loves to adapt. If you lift weights, your body thinks that you must need bigger muscles to accomplish your daily activities. On the other hand, if you don't lift weights, your body assumes there's no need for big muscles.

If you are hunched over the keyboard, your body begins the process of creating a computer posture for you. A postural change that will help you stay in the position that you are in the most.

So to solve this problem (yes, computer posture is a problem), you're going to have to do activities that tell your body that your desire is to sit up straight -- and out of pain.

The great thing about your body is that you won't have to do the additional activities nearly as much as you are doing the position that is contributing to your computer posture.

You just have to do it effectively. You have to target the muscles of your back that support your posture and help you maintain a straight position. Just going to the gym and bench pressing is not going to get you the results you're after.

Spend time exercising your back and you'll make it difficult for you body to keep you hunched over your desk.

Low Back Pain After Sitting At Your Computer?

2010-05-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

These days, most people have to sit at their computer all day. They don't have the best posture in the world, and they don't always have the best ergonomic set up for their desks. They are also under a lot of stress. However, usually bad posture, stress, and poor ergonomics will lead to frequent headaches, neck and upper back pain... not low back pain.

Low back pain is usually reserved for those employees doing physical work, a lot of lifting, bending, and stooping. During the times that I've seen patients with more physical jobs, most of them presented to my office with low back pain. Now, the top half of their body provides the more abundant symptom.

So if you don't do physical work all day, why are you getting low back pain? I noticed the same two major muscle groups being tight and stressed over and over again. By stretching these two major areas, a lot of very common symptoms, including low back pain and sciatica seemed to get quick relief. Doing the stretches also seemed to make a difference long term in my patients' ability to get longer lasting results from their chiropractic care.

The first muscles you should stretch are your hamstrings. You sit all day and the seated position puts them in their shortest position. Standing up means your hamstrings are pulling on your pelvis and pulling things out of place. Keeping this muscle more flexible is key in helping your back pain.

People have the most trouble because they can't quite get it stretched. First step would be to get off the floor. That's usually too much! Stand up or sit in a chair and put your leg straight out on a chair. Slowly try to touch your toes. Just go slow and only as far as you can reasonably go without pain. Hold the stretch for at least thirty seconds. Repeat on each side twice. Usually people just don't hold their stretches long enough to do much good. Consistency will make the difference in getting more flexible.

The next muscles to stretch are your hip rotators. Relieving the muscles here takes a lot of strain off the sciatica problem. For this one, you can even do it while lying in bed or on the floor. Keep one leg straight while you pull your other leg up to your chest. You should feel a pull. You can further stretch this area by pulling your knee across your body to get better results. Again, hold the stretch for at least thirty seconds.

Chances are, you're not going to stop working on your computer any time soon. Taking a few minutes each day to do some stretching will make a world of difference. Seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis is also a huge help.

Do You Need Chiropractic After An Auto Accident?

2010-04-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Do you need to seek out chiropractic care following an auto accident? My answer is a resounding "yes!" Why is it so important? Why can't you just rest and take the medications that were prescribed by your medical doctor? Is the insurance company going to give you a hard time about it?

The reason why chiropractic care is so important after an accident has little to do with you being in pain (although it's good for that too). A vertebra that moves out of its normal alignment can wreak havoc on your neck and its associated nerves. You may not be in a lot of pain immediately following the accident, but research indicates that most people will experience a bulk of their symptoms after a few days.

Once you start to feel symptoms, this is a good indicator that something has moved out of place, and likely that you're experiencing a sprain/strain kind of injury. Sprain and strain don't sound horrible, but really they are describing tears of various tissues in your body. The severity of the tear will indicate the type of treatment you should probably consider first. The chiropractor can help make the determination.

Eventually, your body will heal with scar tissue. Scar tissue is more sensitive than the previously uninjured tissue that you had within you before. Once scar tissue sets up (this takes about 3 weeks following the trauma), it will become increasingly difficult to get you back to your pre-accident state. Receiving some chiropractic adjustments to your spine will help assure that your spine is in its best position as that scar tissue begins to form. The better your spine is when all of this occurs, the more likely you can return pain-free following your therapy and treatment.

So why can't you just rest and take the medications? That may be your best first course of treatment for a couple of days following your accident, but certainly can't be the best choice long term. The medications are there to help you with pain, to help you get through the difficulty of the initial phase of your injury. However, they're certainly not fixing anything.

In addition to the chiropractic adjustment, you can typically receive additional therapies that will help your muscles and other soft tissue heal more quickly than just "resting" alone. The additional therapies also help with pain, swelling, and inflammation and can be a big help in the speed of your recovery.

Will your auto insurance or health insurance company give you any trouble? You have insurance for just this type of situation, when you need health care and you can't afford to pay for it yourself. Your health insurance company may have issue if the accident wasn't your fault and the other person should be paying for it (or their insurance), but otherwise you shouldn't have trouble here.

Your auto insurance policy will determine the amount of coverage and just how much help the company has to give. Still, it's your body and your health and you'll need to make sure your injuries are taken care of following the accident. Where you will have trouble is if months have gone by and you haven't gone to see any doctors, just hoping it will go away. Then you decide to tell your insurance company that they need to pay for it all. That doesn't go over too well.

If you've been in an auto accident, it's a good idea to see a chiropractor and do it as quickly as possible once you realize you've been injured. The faster you get some type of treatment, usually the better your results.

Improve your golf game and your health!

2010-04-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Improve your golf game and your health!

Spring is here! And that means many golfers will be dusting off their clubs and heading to the greens. Golf can be fantastic exercise and a powerful source of stress reduction. However, golf can also be hard on the spine, often triggering back disorders. That's why Dr. Beth Bagley at Vital Force Clinic teaches patients how to keep their spines up to par when hitting the links. And, exciting new research shows that regular chiropractic care may boost a golfer's performance.

According to Dr. Tom La Fountain, a chiropractor who tours with the PGA, 70 to 75 percent of the athletes on the tour are under regular chiropractic care.

"Back pain is the most common physical complaint among professional and recreational golfers, albeit for different reasons," adds Dr. David E. Stude, a chiropractor who teamed with LPGA pro Lisa Masters to educate golfers about the benefits of chiropractic.

But you don't have to be a pro golfer to reap the rewards of chiropractic care. Dr. Bagley finds that amateur golfers derive significant benefits from chiropractic as well -- both in terms of injury prevention and in terms of optimizing athletic performance. "Getting your body in balance in very important in sports like golf, soccer, baseball, and tennis. I've had multiple patients tell me how their game has gotten better since starting care."

Barley and Spinach Stuffed Peppers

Serves 8

1 cup barley
3 cups water
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 10-ounce bag fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup chopped raisins
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 egg white
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Freshly ground black pepper
8 small to medium red, yellow, or orange bell peppers, tops sliced off, seeds removed
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
2/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1. Combine barley and water in a medium saucepan with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50-60 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Cool.
2. Preheat oven to 400º. Place a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and spinach. Toss to coat spinach evenly. Add pine nuts and mix again. Cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine spinach mixture with cooked barley, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, apricots, raisins, bell pepper, onion, egg white, parsley, oregano, and pepper. Mix well.
4. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place peppers, cut-side up, on baking sheet; stuff with barley-spinach mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Place on middle rack in oven for about 20 minutes. Remove and allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.
5. While peppers are cooking, heat vinegar in a small saucepan until boiling; reduce heat to medium-high and cook for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Pour vinegar over peppers before serving.

PER SERVING: 203 cal, 24% fat cal, 6g fat, 1g sat fat, 3mg chol, 8g protein, 33g carb, 7g fiber, 331mg sodium

Do you need a chiropractor in St. Louis? Contact Dr. Elizabeth Bagley at Vital Force Clinic.

Can Chiropractic Help Neck Pain?

2010-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Your neck consists of seven very small vertebrae and supports the entire weight of your head. The average weight of the human head is 10 to 12 pounds, which isn't very light when you consider the neck is constantly supporting it!

Add in how much neck strain is incurred when you sit for long periods in front of the computer and you steadily increase the amount of work and strain you are expecting of your neck.

The neck also allows your head in nearly all directions which adds even more stress to your neck. With all of this responsibility, the neck is subject a great deal of stress, which often results in chronic pain and stiffness.

Once neck pain has been persistent for any period of time, you may begin to develop neurological symptoms. These may include numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling. Usually these complaints are in the neck at all, but can be felt in the fingertips or up and down the arm.

If you begin to experience any of the neurological symptoms, this is usually an indicator that the neck problem is becoming worse. The early phase of pain is just stiffness, then it moves to real pain that can be sharp in nature. The pain will continue to get worse until the radiating symptoms begin.

Many people have neck pain and it is often extremely bothersome. Medical doctors cannot do a whole lot to permanently relieve neck pain. They can prescribe medications to mask your neck pain and they can do x-rays and other tests to see where the pain is coming from.

When they do find something wrong with the neck they will probably want to schedule surgery, which can prove to be a painful procedure with a long recovery. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, really should be considered a treatment of last resort. You can always do the surgery, but if you do the surgery first, you eliminate many other effective and conservative options.

If you have neck pain it may be wise to consult with a chiropractor before going to the extent of something much more serious such as surgery. Some of the first things that a chiropractor will do on your first visit will be to ask you questions about your neck pain.

Some questions they may ask are:
- When did your neck pain start
- What have you done to try to ease your neck pain
- Are there any other parts of your body that your neck pain stems to or from?

These are a few questions that your Chiropractor will most likely ask. After the initial consultation they will then perform a physical examination. The examination will consist of chiropractic tests, orthopedic tests, and a neurological examination. This entire process will allow the chiropractor to get to the root of your problem and allow him or her to come up with a solution to your pain.

A common practice of chiropractors is to perform a neck adjustment. A neck adjustment is a form of spinal manipulation, and is very specific in nature. This is a very precise technique and is usually very effective in alleviating neck pain.

Dealing With Back Pain At Work...

2010-04-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

There are many signs that you're developing a posture problem. Back and shoulder blade pain is a common one. These areas of the body are under a lot of additional stress and pressure when your spine is not in a good position all day.

If your daily activities require you to sit in front of the computer all day, back and shoulder blade pain may be on their way if you don't take steps to prevent it. If you've already got these symptoms, the treatment is the same as the prevention.
As a frequent computer user, you've probably already been told to take breaks from sitting in that position at least once per hour. Doing this give the muscles a chance to relax and regroup.

A good formula is to figure out how long you can work before you experience the first symptoms. Let's say that's 55 minutes. Subtract ten minutes from that time and you've got the longest amount of time you should spend in front of the computer before taking some sort of break.

What are you doing during that five minutes of rest? Are you still in a position that will continue to allow the muscles in the front of your body to grow short? Take the time to stretch them out. Or you can keep working, but maybe it's time to return a few phone calls or drop off those files to the guy down the hall. Just break up your activity and get some movement.

A quick and easy stretch that will actually keep the pain from coming back right away can be done right in your office. Find an open doorway and brace yourself against the frame. Push forward and feel your chest muscles and the front of your shoulders stretch. Hold it for just a few seconds. Now repeat that about five times.

Are you giving your back muscles a chance to improve in strength? A simple exercise to help with back and shoulder blade pain is slowly move your shoulder blades together. One way of describing this motion is to imagine that you are squeezing an orange between your shoulder blades. Hold that position for a few seconds and release.

It's not necessarily your work that's causing your problem, but it is likely that your daily activities are very repetitive and they are leading to your posture issue and your back and shoulder blade pain. Take some small steps and you'll be amazed at the difference.

Neck Pain After Sitting At Your Computer?

2010-04-04T09:12:00.001-07:00

You sit down at your computer, ready to put in a full day's work and make some serious headway on your projects. You know you'll easily be spending 8 to 10 hours sitting in front of the computer.
You've set up your computer workstation as effectively as you can figure. Your keyboard is appropriately placed in front of you and your monitor is directly in front of you at eye level. So why will your neck start to hurt? Why will your effectiveness be destroyed by the nagging, aggravating neck pain that seems to show up more and more frequently?

If you are regularly spending a lot of time in front of a computer, you have to realize that your body is going to begin to change and adapt to take on this frequent activity. Your front neck muscles are slowly growing shorter and tighter, while the muscles in the back of your neck are growing longer and weaker.

The back muscles are also growing full of spasm and knots while they are forced to hold up your ten pound head for hours at a time. You would think they would grow stronger from having to hold your head up all the time, but it just never seems to work that way. As they get longer, they are growing weaker, and the job of holding up your head becomes increasingly difficult.

The best options are to do exercises and activities that will counteract the extended computer usage. The rule of thumb is to spend time stretching the front of your neck and strengthening the muscles in the back. This same rule applies to anyone looking to improve posture.

To stretch the front of the neck, turn your head slightly to one side, about forty-five degrees. If you turn your head to the right, you are stretching the left and vice versa. Place your right hand on left side of your chest and pull down gently as you tilt your head back. Stop immediately if you feel sharp pain or any dizziness.

To strengthen the back of the neck, the easiest route would be with a neck exercise machine. Some health clubs have them, but they are more of a specialized device. You can also fold up a towel and place it against a wall. Put the back of your head against the towel and push into it. Hold for a few seconds and release. This is an isometric contraction.

If you are unable to complete some of these movements, or you find that you can't painlessly move your head backwards, it may be time to visit a chiropractor. The chiropractor will perform a spinal adjustment and restore the normal movement of your spine.

Your neck shouldn't hurt just because your sitting in front of your computer. You've got to work and pain can be a nuisance, but it doesn't have to be there with a little effort.

Chiropractic for Runners, Joggers, and Walkers

2010-03-30T16:56:00.001-07:00

Scientific research demonstrates that chiropractic care may enhance running performance in both recreational runners as well as professional athletes. Dr. Bagley focuses on teaching runners, joggers and walkers how to ward off injury before it occurs. When injury does take place, chiropractic offers all-natural solutions, which allow athletes to avoid surgery and medication.

Along with regular chiropractic visits, the doctor often recommends the following to prevent exercise-related injuries:

Proper Shoes: Running and walking shoes are designed specifically for different foot types in order to reduce injuries. "Running in the correct footwear matched for foot type may have a greater influence on mechanics when runners become exerted." (Gait Posture 2006;24.) That's why having your feet examined and your running shoes professionally fitted is important for injury prevention.
Shoe Replacement: Track your mileage. After 350-550 miles it's time for a new pair. For runners/walkers who log 25 miles per week replace your shoes every three to four months.
Stretching & Yoga: You should perform stretching exercises on a regular basis -- as well as just prior to and following a run. Ask the doctor for specific exercises geared toward your unique circumstances. Practicing yoga regularly is a fantastic way to keep muscles well stretched.
Strengthen: Strengthening the muscles in the front of the calf and hamstrings, to counteract tight calves and quadriceps, prevents shin splints by reducing tension exerted on the tibial bone.
Posture and Foot Position: When running or walking, concentrate on your posture. For running the idea is to keep your center of gravity in front of your foot strike -- not behind it. Also, avoid landing on the heel or ball of your foot. When walking, concentrate on keeping your chin up and being tall and straight, keep your stomach activated and tight, and your hands should not be clenched.

Call our office today to schedule a full physical and learn how chiropractic care can keep your body going at peak performance.

Need a chiropractor in St. Louis? Please consider Vital Force Clinic. Call 314-596-4070.

Pets and Pesticides: Questions of Safety

2010-03-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of evidence to support the use of flea and tick pesticides directly on our dogs and cats. The question is where the safety information is coming from. Obviously the manufacturers of these agents would tout their products safety but there is growing concern. On the Public Integrity Website, there are numerous reports of animal and human incidents related to pesticide. Unfortunately, these can range from skin irritation to death. Two years ago when my husband and I adopted Zeus, our big black lab, we decided right away not to use the spot treatment pesticides. Although I have concerns for him, my main concern was the contamination to us and the house. Now that we have the twins, we will continue to avoid using these products. What we use instead is a natural product called Cedarcide. This product is made from natural cedar oil and is non-toxic and perfectly safe. I actually also use it on myself when I’m going to be outside to keep the mosquitoes away. If you don’t mind smelling like a cedar tree it’s a great alternative to the toxic chemicals on you and your pet and even DEET which humans use. In the summer I spray Zeus every few days.

Need a St. Louis Chiropractor? Please call our office for your no obligation consultation today!

Tips for a Healthier Commute

2010-03-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

According to a 2007 Gallup poll, the average commuter spends nearly 200 hours per year driving to and from work. Are you spending hours a week behind the wheel? If so, commuting may be chipping away at your overall well-being. Prolonged sitting coupled with the vibrations produced by the tires hitting the road can wreak havoc on the spine. Driving may also be emotionally stressful and exact a psychological toll. Dr. Bagley at Vital Force Clinic is concerned about the effects of commuting on patients' health and offer suggestions to help.

Keep up with Chiropractic care.

Hit the road rested. A healthy commute starts the night before with adequate sleep.

Sit comfortably. Move the driver's seat as close to the steering wheel as is comfortable, and fine-tune seat position so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips.

Make the most of red lights. Try rolling or shaking out your shoulders at each stop.

Enjoy soothing scents. Research shows that lavender and rosemary scents decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. (Psychiatry Res 2007;150:89-96).

Breathe deeply.

Get a gentle grip of the steering wheel.

Make your car a haven. Remove trash daily.

Fuel your body. Nuts and dried or fresh fruit are travel-friendly options.

Drink smart. Choose herbal tea or water for the drive. Stay hydrated without the jitters.

Take a musical journey. Music is said to soothe the savage beast -- and it can also soothe the stressed-out commuter.

Learn on the road. Try an audiobook or podcast on a topic that will enrich your life.

Rest your eyes. Shift your focal point occasionally. This lessens the risk of eye strain and tension headaches.

Keep a positive attitude. Let that other car merge in front of you.

Buddy up. Carpooling is also good for mental health.

MRIs Often Lead to Unnecessary Back Surgery

2010-03-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in detecting several health problems. However, a growing trend in many medical clinics is to conduct an MRI scan on patients with back pain, even when serious conditions are not suspected, and before trying conservative, non-surgical management. Dr. Bagley at Vital Force Clinic is concerned about this trend and wants all individuals with back pain to be fully informed about this situation.

Researchers speculate that this problem with the widespread use of MRI for back pain diagnosis is that the scans, which visualize soft tissue like the spinal discs and muscles, frequently identify anomalies that are not necessarily the cause of a person's back trouble. The result? A skyrocketing rate of unnecessary surgeries.

For instance, many cases of disc herniation do not cause pain. A person may indeed have back pain, and have a herniated disc, but the two are often unrelated. In these cases surgery can do far more harm than good.

One study pointed out that "evidence suggests that MRIs may often be ordered unnecessarily. ... More studies are needed to examine the appropriateness with which imaging procedures and non-invasive/minimally invasive treatments are utilized, and their effect on patient outcomes." (Pain Med 2006;7:143-50.)

Unless you are in an emergency situation, schedule an appointment with our office before considering spinal surgery.

Need a St. Louis Chiropractor? Contact Dr. Bagley at 314-596-4070.

MSG: The Danger Lurking in Your Cabinet

2009-12-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

When I mention MSG to my patients they usually say "Oh I don't eat Chinese food." Well sorry to say but Chinese food is the least of my worries. This harmful chemical really is lurking in almost all processed foods that we eat. Some common examples are soup, crackers, candy, lunch meat, bread, seasonings, bouillon cubes, and even many "health foods."

MSG is put into foods to enhance the flavor. I'm guessing because it is in so many of the processed foods that it really does a good job. The problem with it is the side effects. This website explains that MSG is tricking the taste buds into sending the signals that we are eating a healthy protein rich food. Unfortunately for us it may even make us overeat that food and make us overweight. So how in the sea of MSG containing foods do you avoid this additive? Well that's where it gets complicated.

MSG can be part of other additives and therefore called many different things. Here is a "shortened" list of some of the most common names I have found that could contain MSG:
MSG, Gelatin, Calcium Caseinate, Monosodium glutamate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Textured Protein, Monopotassium glutamate, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP), Yeast Extract, Glutamate, Autolyzed Plant Protein, Yeast food or nutrient, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Caseinate, Autolyzed Yeast, Vegetable Protein Extract, Senomyx, Modified Food Starch, Maltodexrin, Natural Flavoring.

Ok it wasn't that short but believe me the list goes on. So what can MSG do to you? Well it makes different people react different ways. One common way is that it causes headaches. That could actually be a symptom of what is really going on. Free glutamic acid (a component of MSG) acts in the brain as an excitotoxin. An excitotoxin is a chemical transmitter excite your brain cells to death. Sounds like loads of fun right? Well in the book "Excitoxins: the taste that kills" Dr. Russel Blaylock explains this process in detail along with how some other nasty substances like artificial sweeteners do the same thing.

So how do I stay away from this substance? Well the truth is I sometimes go out to eat and I sometimes to eat it unknowingly. But what I focus on is that I generally am aware and stay away from it. If you stay on the outsides of the supermarket (fruit, veggies, meat, eggs... etc) and avoid the processed foods in the isles you are generally safe. I used to also keep a list of the common names for MSG in my purse but now I know them pretty much by heart. There are some good manufacturers out there who do not use these additives so I've just learned to buy from them. Do your best and you'll be healthier for it!

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call today!

Natural Ways to Avoid the Flu.

2009-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

So It's that time of year when the days are getting shorter and if you live in St. Louis, its rained more here in October than ever recorded. All of that combined makes it prime season for colds and the Flu.

Have you ever asked yourself why are Fall and Winter considered the flu season? Many people have speculated it has to do with the close proximity of people indoors which transmits germs. New research being done refutes those previous claims. When it's cold and rainy what do people normally want to do? Stay inside and warm. So what are they missing? Sunlight! For years now we have been thinking of the sun as our enemy but the truth is we can't live without it. The truth is that Vitamin D is naturally made by our amazing bodies when our skin is exposed to sunlight. When we are inside for the colder and darker months we actually have a vitamin D deficiency. Now we have enough vitamin D in our diets usually to keep us from getting rickets but not enough to keep us healthy. Vitamin D plays a key role in keeping our immune system functioning.

The recommendation that I've heard many times is a few minutes of direct sunlight on skin without sunscreen is needed. So what does that mean? What if its cloudy? So I discovered this fabulous calculator that takes many factors like time of year, skin color, latitude and longitude, time of day and even surface that you are on.

So on an overcast day like today I calculated what I would need for adequate vitamin D and it was OVER AN HOUR! I'm not going to be able to be outside that long today so I'm going to supplement with a liquid vitamin D3 supplement.

So here are my recommendations for cold and flu season to keep your immune system healthy.

1. Keep you nervous system working in tip top shape through specific chiropractic adjustments when needed. Only your doctor of chiropractic is trained to find and remove misalignments that could be causing nervous system stress. When the nervous system is giving the body the correct signals the immune system responds correctly.

2. Vitamin D3 supplementation when adequate sunlight is unavailable. Some sources are saying 35 IUs(international units) of vitamin D3 per pound of body weight. So for an individual that weighs 200 lbs that's 7000 IUs per day!

3. Keeping your hands washed and avoiding contact with your eyes, mouth, and nose. That doesn't mean you need to disinfect your hands, just plain old soap (not antibacterial) does the job and those hand sanitizers don't do the job and are quite toxic.

4. Reducing or removing the sugar in your diet (including white breads, pastas, and starches) has a positive effect on the chemistry in your body. Also aerobic exercise gives the immune system a boost.

So if you follow these easy natural steps it will give your immune system the boost it needs to not only get through the cold and flu season but enjoy it because you feel so great!

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call today!

Dan O'Brien And Chiropractic

2009-09-21T13:33:00.001-07:00

If Dan O'Brien Needs Chiropractic maybe you could use it too? Give us a call today!

Don't Quit Before You Start - Truly Inspirational

2009-08-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

A Day In The Life Of A Spine...

2009-08-26T07:48:00.001-07:00

Does your spine need help? Give this St Louis Chiropractor a call!

Some Basketball Inspriration...

2009-08-18T06:10:00.001-07:00

Chiropractic for Ear Infections?

2009-07-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Jerry Rice Speaks Out For Chiropractic

2009-06-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Need a Saint Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Consumer Reports - Chiropractic # 1!

2009-06-07T17:25:00.001-07:00

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Chiropractic Care For Kids

2009-05-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Need a St Louis Chiropractor? Give us a call today!

Chiropractic for High Blood Pressure

2009-04-16T08:13:00.001-07:00

Need help with your health? Give this St. Louis Chiropractor a call!

A Chiropractic Miracle?

2009-04-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

If you need a St. Louis Chiropractor for your own "chiropractic miracle," give us a call!