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June 2008

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Menieres Disease Helped With Chiropractic - Case Series

A study published in the June 2, 2008 edition of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR) documented a case series of Chiropractic care helping 10 cases of patients suffering from Menieres disease. 

According to Web MD, Menieres disease, "is a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. It causes sudden attacks of vertigo (a spinning sensation), tinnitus (a loud ringing in the ears), and a loss of hearing that may become permanent."  The JVSR article adds that the attacks of vertigo appear suddenly, last from a few to 24 hours, and subside gradually. The attacks are associated with nausea and vomiting. They also report that the incidence of Meniere's has been estimated to range from 0.5 to 7.5 per 1000, most commonly affecting people in their 40s and 50s, with females showing a slightly higher incidence of the disease. Typical medical treatment of this problem involves drugs to help with the attacks of dizziness.

In this case series 10 patients with Menieres disease were documented to see the effect chiropractic care would have on their condition. In all ten patients a chiropractic examination was performed which included specific x-rays of the upper neck (cervical) area. The determination was made of the presence of subluxations in the upper cervical spines. Vertebral subluxations are when bones in the spine are out of their proper alignment and can cause interference to nerve system function.  A course of specific adjusting procedures were begun to correct the subluxations found in these 10 patients.

Although each patient responded differently, all 10 patients experienced positive results to the chiropractic care. In one such case an 87 year-old female had suffered frequent episodes of dizziness and ringing in the ears for 45 years. Her case was so severe that during episodes, she walked around her home holding onto the walls, trying to keep her head level at all times. She even reported numerous falls over the years, some resulting in broken bones. In her case, immediately following a specific atlas adjustment, the woman reported complete alleviation of vertigo and dizziness. When she awoke the next morning, the ringing in her ears was also gone. She has remained symptom free for two years.

The study noted that nine out of ten case study patients reported a history of neck trauma, mostly automobile accidents.  All ten patients had significant improvement from the chiropractic care with most having a complete recovery from symptoms. The study author noted that all ten patients suffered from a similar type of upper cervical vertebral subluxation and therefore theorized that this subluxation plays a significant role in Menieres disease.

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Dental Fillings That Contain Amalgam May be Toxic

A series of news stories from June 4-6, 2008 in such publications as The Chicago Tribune, WebMD, and Reuters, reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally admitted that dental fillings which contain amalgams have mercury in them and may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses. 

The information on this was originally produced by the FDA in a paper dated September 7, 2006.  But the paper was voted down by the FDA and never released because the original  proposed "white paper" on the topic was voted down in a 13-7 vote by a 2006 advisory panel made up of experts in dentistry and in neurology.

The information was made available and placed on the FDA website as part of the settlement with several consumer advocacy groups, including Moms Against Mercury.  In response the FDA has also agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks and create new more specific rules next year for fillings that contain mercury. 

The FDA now posts on their website, "Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses."  They continue, "Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner."  The FDA stopped short of recommending that those with amalgam fillings have them removed and replaced.

In a statement on their website (www.toxicteeth.org) Charles G. Brown, National Counsel for Consumers for Dental Choice said, "The impact of the re-writing of its (FDA) position on amalgam can hardly be understated. FDA’s website will no longer be cited by the American Dental Association in public hearings. FDA shows awareness of the key issues involved. As it prepares to classify amalgam, FDA has moved to a position of neutrality. Indeed, having repeatedly raised the question of amalgam’s risk to children, young women, and the immuno-sensitive persons in its website, I find it inconceivable that FDA will not in some way protect them in its upcoming rule."

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Chiropractic Helps Drag Racer Recover After 320 MPH Crash

A story appearing on Tropix news on May 16, 2008 reported on the recovery of top drag racer Tony Schumacher from a horrific crash at 320 mph.  The story highlights a segment from the TV show Discovery Health which showed the crash and then followed Mr. Schumacher through his recovery and return to dominance in his sport.

The story reports that on October 7, 2000 Tony Schumacher suffered a nearly fatal crash at over 300 mph while competing in Memphis Tennessee. His injuries included a left leg broken in 7 places, 6 fingers dislocated, and he had a very serious concussion. After the surgery, Tony awoke to find himself in constant state of pain. He was suffering from debilitating headaches as well as severe dizziness. He was incapacitated, and his career was in doubt.  His medical doctors could not find the cause of his pain or problems.

Finally a friend of Mr. Schumacher suggested he go to see a chiropractor. After x-rays and specific calculations Tony received his first chiropractic adjustment and started his road to recovery and the resumption of his career in drag racing.  Within one month of having a cast removed from his leg, Tony Schumacher was back drag racing again.

The video (which can be seen here on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTGV_1cD2JM) shows the terrible crash and the total disintegration of the dragster he was racing. This video then follows his trip to the chiropractor and his total recovery. In his own words Tony summed up his recovery with chiropractic by saying, “It was amazing. It’s one of those things where I sat up and everything was gone, no pain, color was back in my face and I thought to myself: It’s like magic!”

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Food Dyes Affect Kids Behaviors - Says Watchdog Group

Several news stories including a June 3, 2008 ABC News story reported that the consumer watchdog group, the "Center for Science in the Public Interest" (CSPI), has petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban artificial food coloring.  The group CSPI claims that Yellow 5, Red 40, and six other widely used artificial colorings are linked to hyperactivity and behavior problems in children and should be prohibited from use in foods.

A June 4, 2008 report in Medical News today notes that several of these food dyes have already been banned in the United Kingdom. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C states the CSPI case by stating, "I think it's crystal clear the dyes affect kids' behavior. The tougher questions are how many kids, and to what extent is their behavior affected? But time is long overdue to get rid of these dyes from the food supply. Let scientists study them in a laboratory."

Dr David Schab, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Medical Center and one of the authors of a 2004 comprehensive review of the literature, published in the journal Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, noted in the Medical News story, "The science shows that kids' behavior improves when these artificial colorings are removed from their diets and worsens when they're added to their diets. While not all children seem to be sensitive to these chemicals, it's hard to justify their continued use in foods, especially those foods heavily marketed to young children."

The FDA maintains that there is no evidence of a link.  The ABC News story noted that pressure from the British government on the food industry has caused food companies to make changes.  For instance in Britain, a strawberry sundae at a London McDonald's contains real strawberries, whereas the U.S. sundae is red because of the dye Red #40. 

CSPI Executive Director Michael F Jacobson, summed up the petition to the FDA by stating, "The continued use of these unnecessary artificial dyes is the secret shame of the food industry and the regulators who watch over it."  He added that these food dyes can be removed from the US food supply, "Absolutely, the dyes can be eliminated," Jacobson said. "They're unnecessary, they have no health benefits to the consumers whatsoever. They only pose a risk and that risk is intolerable."

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Scientific Study Shows Chiropractic Helps Immune Function

A scientific study that a biochemist would love was published on May 28, 2008 in the scientific journal, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, by the Chiropractic & Osteopathic College of Australasia. This study used biochemistry to show that chiropractic care enhances the body's immune response.

This study was designed to see if certain blood cells would produce more of a substance called Interleukin-2 (IL-2) after chiropractic adjustments, which the study authors referred to as Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT). Interleukin-2 or just IL-2, is a signaling molecule, that is produced by certain blood cells and is instrumental in the body's natural response to microbial infection and in discriminating between foreign (non-self) and self. In essence, if the blood cells produce enough IL-2 the body can fight infections more readily.  This IL-2 molecule is also important in helping the body to know what is a foreign threat of infection, and what is naturally inside the body.

In this study a group of 76 individuals were used and blood samples were taken.  These blood samples were then tested in a culture dish to see if they produced IL-2 when exposed to a bacteria.  The subjects of this study were separated into 3 groups.  One group was used as the control and received no adjustments.  The other two groups received adjustments with one group getting an adjustment that made the familiar popping sound and the other group receiving adjustments that made no sound at all.

Blood samples were taken from the group just prior to the adjustments, immediately after the adjustment, and then again at 20 minutes and at 2 hours after the adjustment.  Cells from the blood samples were then again placed into culture and infected to see the level of IL-2 that would be produced in response to the introduced infection.

The results documented that both groups that had some form of adjustment showed an increase of IL-2 at both the 20 minute and 2 hour times.  The group that was tested at those same time intervals but had not received a chiropractic adjustment did not have a rise in IL-2 levels and therefore would not have been as receptive to fighting an infection.

This study was different than others in that it did not check the participants levels of fighting infections, but rather it looked at their individual cells to see if their blood cells themselves had changed due to the adjustments. To rule out other factors, one of the requirements of this study was that all subjects be free of symptoms at the time of the study. The researchers were therefore able to conclude that one single manipulation to the thoracic (mid-back) spine of asymptomatic subjects causes a significant enhancement in IL-2 production by blood cells when tested in a culture dish.

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Chiropractors Offer Free Care to Returning US Veterans

A release in June 2008 by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) offers one year of free care to US veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. A similar story and offer was aired June 9, 2008 on the ABC News affiliate KITV in Hawaii.

The ICA release notes that Doctors of Chiropractic from around the United States have answered the call to participate in a new initiative aimed at supporting America’s newest returning veterans with immediate access to chiropractic services.  The ICA release notes, "Out of a desire to serve and to fill in a vitally important health care gap, ICA doctors around the nation have extended an offer of care for one full year for any US military veteran returning from overseas deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq, at no charge. The concept was developed by ICA’s Southern Regional Director Dr. R.J. Kelly, who had initiated such a program in his own personal practice, with very positive results among veterans."

The KITV story noted that ground forces in Iraq can carry about 100 pounds of body armor and other gear on their backs, while helicopter crews carry at least 75 pounds worth of equipment.  Dr. Micaire Baxter of Hawaii is married to Captain Sean Baxter who is an army helicopter pilot stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield and who has done two tours in Iraq. Captain Baxter explained that his military service has taken a toll on his back, "I definitely have a lot of back pain, lower back especially, and neck pain, was the biggest one I noticed."

Dr. Kelly of Houston Texas explained his motivation for the initiation of the ICA's program by saying, "The greatest gift we have to give is the correction of the vertebral subluxation to restore the flow of Innate in another.  My greatest joy is to be allowed to do that for the people I meet. I am pleased that so many of my ICA colleagues share my vision and my understanding of this current need."  He continued, “Right now there are literally thousands in our country that are offering an even greater gift... their lives. Our military, our returning veterans, whether visibly wounded or free of outward symptoms, are coming home changed, and need our help as chiropractors.”

ICA Executive Director Robert N. Pohtos, himself a veteran, added, "We want to help volunteer doctors reach out to the returning veteran population in a spirit of service in the most clinically sound, ethically based and timely manner possible.”  ICA has posted an initial roster of participating doctors of chiropractic on the ICA website at www.chiropractic.org and will update this resource directory as additional doctors join the volunteer ranks.

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