“What Doctors do when They Feel Rotten…”

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

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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).
7. 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!

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?

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

Can You Be Your Own Chiropractor?

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!

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!