Dr. Torry J. Hinson, D.C.

Winning Without Wheat - Men's Journal - Feb. 2010

2010-02-19T08:53:00.003-06:00

It is very common that I find people these days having trouble with wheat/gluten products. There are many athletes that I work on who have long believed that they couldn't perform their sport without wheat laden carbs.... Check out this cycling team who followed a gluten free diet and had a lot of success!

Click Here...
Winning Without Wheat

What To Do About The Flu

2009-10-07T14:39:00.004-05:00

It's flu season again. Bring on the fear!! I know that the flu can be deadly, so don't think I'm taking it lightly. It seems that each year the media does its best to spread fear about the flu. There is so much that can be done to strengthen you and your family against not only the flu, but many other immune challenges as well.

Just a couple of notes about the flu:

- Check out my facebook page and look at the video from the news. Very interesting! (Thanks again to Dr. Chase Hayden for bringing that video to my knowledge)

- Like ALL vaccines, the flu vaccine only gives TEMPORARY immunity to the virus strains or closely related virus strains contained in the vaccine. The only way to get natural and PERMANENT immunity to a strain of flu is to recover naturally from the flu.

- Flu vaccines weaken the immune system (I see this very often in my office) and many times make a person MORE predisposed to illnesses.

- Vaccines can cause illnesses including autoimmune diseases, allergies, and ear infections just to name a few. Their link to Autism and developmental/behavioral disorders is strong. Many of the ingredients and contaminants in the vaccines have been proven to be detrimental to your health.

So, doc, what can I do then? Here is some advice that will be very helpful:

1. Too much sugar and foods that turn to sugar suppress the immune system.

2. Avoid partially hydrogenated oils. These are proven to weaken the immune system.

3. Eat organic fruits and veggies when possible.

4. Drink lots of filtered water. I prefer Smartwater of all the bottled waters since it is vapor distilled and has the electrolytes added back in after distillation.

5. Make sure to add a QUALITY Vitamin D to your supplement regimen. We get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun. In the winter months, you may not get as much exposure so supplementing with Vitamin D and maybe a few suntanning bed sessions is helpful during the winter. Don't go crazy with the suntan beds!!

6. Exercise daily for 30 minutes aerobically. This will help flush the lymphatic system which gets sluggish if we don't make our muscles work each day vigorously.

7. Wash your hands frequently. I cannot overemphasize this!!

8. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed earlier.

9. Take 1-4 grams of Vitamin C daily. This is an underestimated vitamin. Most people do not take enough. 1 gram (1,000 mg) is not nearly enough. You may have to gradually increase your dosage as your bowels build a tolerance, but diarrhea is not the sign you're taking too much. Let your bowels build its tolerance. I personally take 15,000 mg a day.

10. Rub your thymus reflex point. Your thymus gland is the master gland of the immune system. The gland is located behind your sternum (breastbone). The reflex is located on the right side of your body just to the right of the sternum at the nipple line. Rubbing over this typically tender spot will help support the organ's function, thus helping to strengthen the immune system as a whole. Rub the spot in a firm circular motion for 1-2 minutes, 4-5 times per day.

You don't need to fear the flu!! If you have questions about the Vitamin D or C dosages, call the office and I will be happy to explain them to you. Take care everyone!

Food For Thought...

2009-04-18T19:25:00.003-05:00

Driving through Austin and saw this bumper sticker and couldn't agree more!

2009-04-15T14:08:00.001-05:00

Depression

2009-02-12T15:23:00.006-06:00

I have had several people asking me to talk about depression and the potential causes. With the state of the economy, I guess there are a lot of depressed people! In fact, even my medical friends are commenting on how many patients are presenting with the symptoms of depression. However, if we as a nation are going to crawl out of this financial mess we are in, we will have a hard time if all of us are depressed about it. I want to briefly suggest a couple of things that I have found to be related to depression and things you can do to overcome it.
I am alarmed at the number of new patients that I treat who are currently taking antidepressants. It seems to be the drug of choice these days, especially with the times we are in economically (Viagra is a close second). Now, before any of you think I don't understand depressed people, let me say one thing. While I am no fan of antidepressants, I am definitely not a fan of people going around in states of depression. It's dangerous, unpleasant, and for most depressed people, nonproductive. Having said that, I EMPHASIZE THE VALUE OF TREATING THE PATIENT who has the depression. Medications, when used successfully, can restore a lost quality of life to a depressed person. But certainly, using them indefinitely on every depressed person is questionable. Medications are ONE way to deal with a chemical imbalance in the body. So is correcting abnormal physiology, allowing the body to heal itself and function normally. Remember, there are STRUCTURAL, CHEMICAL, and EMOTIONAL causes for depression. Medication alone is not the answer!! You are merely covering symptoms!! Here are some of the most common underlying causes of depression that I have found to normalize physiology in a depressed individual. Using these ideas I have been able to help many people find the CAUSE of their depression, thus eliminating (with the help of their medical doctor) the need for the antidepressants.

1. THYROID. Usually this is subclinical, meaning that blood tests show the thyroid to be within normal ranges. Yet, the patient has many if not all of the symptoms of thyroid imbalance. I usually recommend doing the temperature test as well as kinesiological testing. Also, understand that blood work for thyroid will only show positive once the thyroid has reached a pathological state.

2. BLOOD SUGAR BALANCE. This is huge. When a person has blood sugar fluctuations all day every day for a long time, this can be a major contributor to depression. I am not talking about diabetes, just blood sugar that goes up and down due to eating high sugar- spiking foods.
I have seen patients who come into the office very emotional (crying/griefy) who, after giving them a little glucose tablet to chew, feel and act much different usually within minutes. These are people who are going for hours without eating and when they do, eat things that shoot their blood sugar high temporarily. What goes up must come DOWN!!!! When their blood sugar drops for an extended period of time the adrenal glands produce cortisol to lift the blood sugar up. It can only do this for so long before the adrenals fatigue and cannot keep up with the demand the person is placing on them. In fact, I usually find the adrenal glands to become dysfunctional first, then the thyroid follows not long after that. Many times, it is not uncommon for someone to have all the symptoms of a thyroid problem, yet it is the adrenals that need the treatment. Once the adrenals start to function better, the thyroid follows. Sometimes, the thyroid is the main gland needing treatment. Remember that antidepressant meds are really tough on the thyroid and many times are the reason the thyroid gets in trouble.
(Just these first two alone, thyroid and blood sugar, account for 70-80% of all depression)

3. ADRENAL GLAND DYSFUNCTION. A high-stress lifestyle definitely contributes to this problem. The adrenals are a little too complicated to get into here, but much of the hormone production (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc.) needed to combat the effects of stress on the body is the responsibility of the adrenals. One common nutrient need amongst adrenal fatigued individuals (just to name one of many) is the amino-acid L-Tyrosine. A high-adrenaline lifestyle either currently or from the past may lead to a deficiency in this all important amino acid. Tyrosine comes directly from food, particularly PROTEINS. Tyrosine is sometimes referred to as the "antidepressant" amino acid. People deficient in tyrosine tend to become depressed as well as fatigued. Interestingly enough tyrosine is also used in the body's production of THYROID hormone (see how it all works together?). If a person is lacking enough tyrosine that is not a good thing since it helps produce hormones that make us feel "up", and a deficiency predisposes you to feel depressed and to develop mood disorders.

4. FOOD SENSITIVITIES. Food sensitivities can create so many symptoms it's not funny. Wheat, corn, dairy, and soy are the most common offenders, but there are others. I began wondering why I was seeing so many people testing sensitive/allergic to one or more of those foods. I started getting a complex! Understand that wheat, corn, dairy, and soy products are often genetically modified creating really wild symptoms in people. Musculoskeletal complaints, concentration difficulties, and skin rashes are some common symptoms. However, these foods also create psychological and emotional problems as well. I am currently reading an excellent book entitled Brain Allergies by Dr. William Philpott, MD. I would recommend it highly if you are a nerd like me and interested in this stuff. He states in his book, "It is evident to me that medicine at large has been negligent in examining the ecologic-organic evidence of food and chemical allergies as causes in both physical and mental illness. More than half of the so-called psychosomatic reactions are in reality undiagnosed allergic reactions." Dr. Philpott's work is truly remarkable. He is validating what many applied kinesiologists have known for 40+ years. I once treated a young man (13 years old) who was afflicted with bipolar disorder. He complained of horrific nightmares that involved him killing people. He wet the bed at night and his pants during the day. He had major concentration difficulties. During the initial office visit/treatment, I had to make many structural corrections to his body and found sensitivities to wheat and soy. His mother confirmed that he ate the stuff all day every day in various foods. I recommended that they stop the wheat and soy for 3 weeks to see the effect. The first night after the treatment, all the nightmares and bedwetting ceased. He no longer went running into his parents' bed at night. His mother said she was amazed at the change. After 3 weeks of avoidance, I recommended that she let him have a "wheat and soy" day, allowing him to eat a lot of foods containing the stuff. That night he had a nightmare and wet the bed. I then told her to cease the foods again. The next night all symptoms were gone. He has since done extremely well with no need for medications for the bipolar symptoms. This is just one example of how detrimental food sensitivities can be.

There are other causes of depression. Every patient is different. There are structural, chemical, and emotional causes to any health problem. When the body is balanced structurally, chemically, and emotionally it is more resistant to everything. If you have more specific questions about depression, feel free to e-mail me at www.drtorryhinson@gmail.com or call the office at 830-798-1489 and I'll be happy to talk with you.

P.S. Another cause of depression these days is watching the news media constantly remind you of how bad things are. Here's a tip: QUIT WATCHING THEM TELL YOU HOW BAD THINGS ARE AND HOW BAD THEY MIGHT BECOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Systematic Approach to a Powerful Immune System

2009-01-12T16:28:00.007-06:00

One of the biggest mistakes we make with our health is that we usually wait until we "catch" something or start feeling symptoms before we do anything about it. We will go to the doctor and get antibiotics or start taking Vitamin C or a homeopathic remedy of some sort.

The rates of cancer and other diseases are rising each year and we hear about various ways of prevention against them. What I will present to you today is one of the best ways I have seen thus far in my years of practice to truly prevent /delay the onset of those diseases as well as thoroughly build a powerful immune system capable of dealing with a variety of potential problems we face each day.

All of us ( to varying degrees) have hidden infections and infestations in our bodies. By infections I am referring to bacterial and viral infections. Infestations refers to parasites and yeast/fungus. Another stressor that our immune systems deal with is that of heavy metal toxicity. All of these stressors take their toll on our energy because our immune system is constantly fighting a war!! If this goes on for a long time, our bone marrow also fatigues and now we are really vulnerable to problems.

What I am recommending is called a systematic immune upregulation. In other words, we will systematically upregulate (stimulate/strengthen) our immune system with a series of supplements that will address infections, infestations, and heavy metal toxicity.

Dr. Stuart White taught me this system that he has used in his practice for several years with great success. He sees patients who have tough illnesses who have responded well to this program.

The first component to help bolster the immune system is Sesame Seed Oil (SSO). SSO helps strengthen the bone marrow and is a staple of the entire program. We then stimulate the body with the following supplements taken for one month at a time. You progress through this list until you've taken each of them for one month:

- Thymex
- Congaplex
- Immuplex
- Allerplex
- Cataplex AC
- Astragalus
- Cyruta Plus
- Cat's Claw
- Golden Seal
- Zymex II
- Wormwood
- Chelaco

An individual who goes through this program will take SSO with one of the above throughout the entire program. This will cleanse, repair, and rebuild the immune system to a great degree. Infections (acute or chronic), infestations (parasites/fungal/yeast), allergies, and heavy metal toxicity are all vastly improved with this program. As you can tell, this is not a quick fix. Patients can experience mild detox effects, yet not feel sick during this process. To go through the program can take 12 months to complete, but it is well worth it. You will do your body a tremendous service by giving it a chance to fight hidden problems it may have been dealing with for years -- problems that many times won't show up on blood work until it has turned into something bigger. You will be providing the immune system very specific nutrients designed to strengthen it.

If you wish to participate in this program, call the office at (830) 798-1489. We can ship the supplements to you if you wish. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. The cost of the program runs anywhere from $30-$60 per month depending on the supplement needed that month. This is the best health insurance you can buy! Don't wait until something comes along to do anything about it. To use a sports analogy, you can't win if all you do is play defense. You have to attack on offense so that your immune system is always strong. This is how you can do it.
Best wishes,
Dr. Hinson

My Mentor, Dr. Tim Francis

2009-01-04T22:20:00.005-06:00

Hello everyone. I hope your holidays were wonderful and that you enjoyed them. I imagine everyone is currently working on their resolutions for a better 2009, so good luck and stick to them!!
I had the privilege of going to Las Vegas just prior to Christmas for my own tune-up/treatment with my teacher, Dr. Tim Francis. I was definitely due!! He is a brilliant doctor and I learn so much from his teachings and instruction. He always says, "You can't fix what you can't find!!" So, he constantly is finding new ways to find structural, biochemical, and emotional dysfunction with patients. He taught me new material for the treatment and new ways of finding hidden imbalances our bodies have so masterfully adapted to. I have been amazed at the new problems we have been able to help people heal through this new information. I love the persistence of Dr. Francis in exploring new ways of treatment. He is never satisfied. Maybe that's why we get along so well. I will be posting a new entry tomorrow about an amazing way to strengthen and build your immune system!! See ya then.

New Year's Resolutions and Self-Sabotage

2008-12-11T08:43:00.015-06:00

If you are setting goals or resolutions for 2009, this blog entry is a must read!! The most common New Year's resolution for most people involves improving some aspect of their health. Mixed in there are probably goals for your relationships, business, finances, etc. It's sad that so many people set great goals for themselves and their lives yet for one reason or another fail to reach them. Just think what your life could be like if you could set goals for yourself and achieve them on a consistent basis!! How much different would your life be? Would you be living somewhere else? Working in a different field? I feel like most of us are living lives that are not really fulfilling. We let each day pass, thinking that EVENTUALLY I will stop smoking, lose the extra weight, or my personal favorite, "I'll start on Monday." Why do we do that to ourselves? Why are we letting life pass us by, choosing to put off the things that could make our lives so much more exciting and happy?
In Applied Kinesiology, we can find out through muscle testing if an individual is congruent with their goals/resolutions. In the office, I take the patient and find a facilitated (strong) muscle I can use as an indicator. I then instruct the patient to say a series of statements aloud, starting with "I want to be healthy." I would then test the muscle to see if it remained strong and intact. If his/her brain and body are in sync and believed the statement to be true, the muscle would stay strong. Now, you might be asking, "Who wouldn't want to be healthy?" You would be surprised to know how many times I find people whose muscles weaken to that statement. I'm not saying that they are crazy or need a psychiatrist, they just have a glitch in their nervous system circuitry.
If they stay strong to the aforementioned statement, I then will have them say "I want to be sick." They should weaken to that statement. It shows that their body is not congruent with the thought of wanting to be ill. That's a normal response from the nervous system.
Sometimes, people weaken from saying, "I want to be healthy," and stay strong from saying, "I want to be sick." That would be considered a massive psychological reversal about being healthy. Though they think their desire is to be healthy, the reversal actually works against their conscious attempts to be healthy. With this kind of reversal, they usually have several different health problems and never seem to get better, lose weight, etc. They also frequently and unknowingly do things to sabotage their health. Whether the muscle is on or off relative to the stated idea lets us know what message the nervous system is communicating to the body.
I am using the statement about health in this example, but it could easily apply to other areas of life such as money/finances, relationships, or other goals the person has set for themselves.
The message your body gets may or may not be what you consciously believe; what's more, you may even be unaware of the message!! Many of us have reversals we are totally unaware of. We can be reversed about almost anything, and the reversal usually holds us back from progressing in life. Common reversals have to do with being successful, losing weight, stopping smoking, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, having supportive relationships- and the list of possibilities goes on and on. The psychological reversal is a glitch in circuitry, a defect that causes us to unknowingly create problems for ourselves! By correcting these reversals, your mental efforts can create solutions rather than more problems.
Be suspicious of having a reversal in any area of your life in which you frequently struggle or in which results never seem to match the effort you expend toward them. That is a broad statement, I know, but it is a good starting place if you are interested in the possibility of identifying a reversal.
So let's start talking about correcting these boogers!! There are several ways to correct a reversal, but to keep it simple, we'll discuss one that Dr. Roger Callahan developed in 1981. It involves tapping on specific acupuncture points on the hand while a person says the statement that weakened them. For example, if a person were to weaken to the statement "I want to exercise.", they would then tap on the acupuncture points while repeating the statement several times. Stimulating the acupuncture points while repeating the statement resets the circuitry. The result is that the person's mind-body complex becomes congruent with the statement being spoken. (As a note, this technique cannot be used to get someone congruent with a statement that is unethical or would cause them harm. It doesn't work that way. It only works with life-supporting statements or ideas.)
In the treatment of psychological reversals, tapping on the point is more effective than using the acupuncture needles. This is because the tapping itself influences the nervous system as well as the point being tapped on.
So, let's get to the fixin'. The acupuncture point we will use for this is the small intestine meridian point on the outer edge of the hand, just below the base of the little finger.
The statement I usually have patients begin with that seems to cover a lot of areas is, "I profoundly and deeply accept myself with all my faults and shortcomings." I find that many times people are unaware that they condemn or belittle themselves in different areas of life. So what a person wants to do is to stimulate the circled point by continuously tapping their hands together in a "karate chop" fashion while repeating the aforementioned statement. Focusing your mind on the statement while tapping the hands together to stimulate the point is very important. I know that you might feel silly doing this, but tap and repeat the statement for 30 seconds, three times per day for a few weeks. The daily tapping will help reprogram your system to be congruent with the statement and will eventually become permanent. You can also add different statements after the first one if you wish. Dr. Scott Walker out of California developed an emotional technique known as NET in the early 1980's. He talked about how to "surround the dragon", in other words, how to really hit a variety of different statements in order to help cover a variety of different statements surrounding a particular topic. For example, let's say someone is trying to hit a goal weight of 125 pounds but never seems to reach it for one reason or another. After tapping and repeating the "I profoundly and deeply accept myself " statement, the person may want to "surround the dragon" about the weight issue by repeating and tapping the following statements:

"I'm OK with .(weighing 125 pounds)"
"I'm ready, willing and able to (weigh 125 pounds)."
"It is safe to (weigh 125 pounds)."
"I want to (weigh 125 pounds)."
"I believe I can (weigh 125 pounds)."
"I can honor (weighing 124 pounds)."
"I am worthy of (weighing 125 pounds)."
"It is good for me to (weight 125 pounds)."
"It is good for others for me to (weigh 125 pounds)."
"I can be supported by others for me to (weigh 125 pounds)."

Remember to tap and repeat each of the statements for 30 seconds, three times per day for several weeks. You can fill in the blank with whatever you are trying to achieve with each of the above statements. If you do this consistently over time, the changes will become permanent. You still need to exercise, eat well, etc., but your mind won't sabotage your efforts!!! I am always amazed at how well this works. Give it a try and see for yourself.
The list is endless!! Now, this isn't Aladdin's lamp, but patients tell me that this really helps them a great deal in life. Some people, believe it or not, have subconscious issues with weight, money, success, etc.. This can help you a great deal if you give it a chance. Sometimes an individual's problem is very complex and will need treatment in order for this to work. But a majority of the time, this is incredible with the results it gives patients.

The Origins of Psychological Reversals

Where do these psychological reversals come from and what causes them? We don't know for sure, but we do know a couple of things. We have to remember that the body is interconnected. We do know that the small intestine is a major player in psychological reversals, so let's discuss a few things pertinent to it.
If there is a malfunction of the small intestine, it could lead to a reversal. This is an example of the connection between the body's biochemistry and emotions.
One big one I have seen in the office with patients are food allergies. Food allergies can lead to the creation of psychological reversals. The most common offenders are wheat (gluten), corn, dairy products, and soy. These foods, if a person is sensitive to them, create inflammation and problems in the gut. People can experience panic attacks, irritability, and fatigue from food sensitivities. Most of us have the concept that food allergies/sensitivities only create physical symptoms, but foods can just as easily affect our moods and our circuitry. "Comfort foods" give just that; is it any wonder that other foods can do just the opposite?
Remember that the intestines are not just devoted to digestion. The intestinal tract is also an immune-system organ. It is the site for nearly two-thirds of the body's defense system!! A malfunction in the gut can result in many different problems ranging from nutrient deficiencies to immune, inflammatory, and even emotional problems. People taking NSAIDS, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen (Motrin) are damaging their gastrointestinal tracts creating inflammation. Funny that the drug creates the very symptom it is supposed to fix- inflammation! To reiterate, anything that has an adverse effect on the small intestine could create a psychological reversal. For crying out loud, it (the small intestine) is the very place where 90% of our neurotransmitters are made!!!!
Addressing your reversals can make lifestyle changes easier, especially if you struggle with your diet and exercise and attitudes. Telling yourself to exercise and eat healthfully, or hearing it from your doctor, doesn't often work. Try these techniques for a month and see what kind of changes you can make. If you have questions, e-mail me your questions or call the office. You may need treatment to fix them, but I have found that this is a profound way to make changes in your life. Happy Holidays!!

My story with Applied Kinesiology

2008-12-03T16:44:00.000-06:00

I wanted to tell you my story of how I became involved with Applied Kinesiology. When I was in chiropractic school, we were taught that spinal misalignments would interfere with nervous system function. That is true, just as D.D. Palmer (the founder of chiropractic in 1895) taught. However, my question went a bit further. Why does the bone move out of position in the first place? What is the CAUSE of spinal and extremity misalignments? Why do I as a chiropractor have to adjust the same bone 50 times before it finally (as my chiropractic school professors taught) "holds"? The stuff they were teaching me in school didn't seem to make sense. Something was missing.

Then I started hearing about Applied Kinesiology- a system of diagnosis using muscle testing of the various muscles of the body as a way to determine where problems are in the body. At first, it sounded kind of weird. Until I saw the results AK doctors were getting with conditions that chiropractors as well as medical doctors, couldn't help. I was blown away with my mentor and teacher Dr. Tim Francis' ability to quickly and accurately find the cause of patients' complaints using AK. During the seminars Dr. Francis would bring doctors to the front of the room, do some testing on them and then ask if they were having problems with different body functions. Amazed, the doctors would say yes, wondering how in the world he knew that!! His favorite saying was, "Patients always say to me, 'doctor, you walk on water!' I always reply, that's because I know where the stones are." He taught me that when you know how to ask the body the right questions, the body will tell you what's wrong. You can ask my wife, after attending his 100 hour AK course 3 times, I officially had a "man crush" on Dr. Francis. I think I wrote down every word he said in all those seminars!! I still have the notes!! Anyway, I had officially fallen in love with applied kinesiology. Little did I know that this was going to save my life one day.

About a year after beginning the seminars, I remember feeling incredibly tired. People began asking me if I was sick because I guess I looked like it. I wanted to sleep all the time. No energy except just enough to work at the office. Looking back on it now, my patients probably wondered why they were seeking advice on health from someone who looked so sick! Thankfully, they stayed with me. One day I was mowing the backyard and wanted to stop and take a nap. I had only mowed one strip of grass, but felt like I had mowed 5 acres. I don't know how long I slept, but I woke up, still exhausted and realized something was seriously wrong. I knew an MD friend in town and asked his opinion. He wasn't sure, but agreed that something was not right and that I should go see him for a checkup. After visiting with him, he said that something was not right with my lymphatic system. My armpits were full of very tender nodules that were very swollen. He wasn't sure but his guess was cancer. More follow-up tests would be needed to confirm it. I told my wife all this and she said, "Why don't you go see Dr. Francis before they put you through all the tests." I agreed, and went to get treated. Now, understand that he practices in Las Vegas. It wasn't like it was a hop skip and a jump across town! I went to see him. He worked on me for over 2 hours! He told me later, "You got in here not a moment too soon. You were extremely sick. The doctor was probably right. A lot of the things I found on you I have seen with Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients." He made all of these different corrections to my body- feet, knees, hips, pelvis, neck, shoulders, etc. and then told me I needed a specific homeopathic remedy and a LOT of a specific Vitamin C. When I say a lot, I'm talking 28,000 milligrams per day!! He said he had never seen someone needing that much, but that's what I needed. He told me to stay away from wheat, dairy, and sugar. So I did. Two weeks later I was a different person. Tons of energy. I couldn't believe it! I was hooked! He had told me that he had done everything he could do, now the let the body do the rest. I thought about that. Our bodies can heal themselves if given the opportunity. I still see Dr. Francis routinely. People are beginning to think I have a gambling addiction with all the trips I make to Las Vegas, but it has been so worth the time and money. Since then, Dr. Francis has taught me all the work he does and I have been fortunate to participate in helping patients with serious conditions come back to great health. Don't let anyone tell you something is incurable!!!! Our bodies are smarter than any doctor on the planet!! That I know for sure!

Sports Performance & Sports Injuries

2008-11-19T12:02:00.000-06:00

The demand for holistic medicine and natural health care has been on the rise for some time now. Not only has the general public been looking to alternative medicine to help them with their health challenges, but professional athletes are now seeking alternatives to surgery and medications for their injuries, chronic pain and performance issues.
The popularity of Applied Kinesiology (AK) among professional athletes has been on a steady increase over the years. Olympic athletes as well as professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer players have been consulting with physicians who use AK in their practice to correct sports injuries and to increase performance. This cutting edge technology has been favored because of its ability to correct injuries quickly and strengthen the structural, biochemical and emotional weaknesses of an athlete to bring out their optimal performance and well being.

Professionals Who Consult With Applied Kinesiology Doctors

Professional and College Sports:

U.S. Olympic gold medal bicyclist Alexi Graywall
Greg Lemond Tour de France Champion
British Olympian Priscilla Welch
10 time U.S. Olympic champion swimmer Jenny Thompson
Stanford University woman’s swimming team
Triathletes Mark Allen, Mike Pigg
Racecar drivers Mario and Michael Andretti
Major league baseball’s Tom Seaver
University of Texas’ female athletes.
Italian professional soccer team, AC Milan
New England Patriots
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Oakland Raiders
Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Oakland A’s
Boston Celtics
Utah Jazz

Musicians:

Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland institute of Music Faculty
Los Angeles Opera
Orange County Opera
Lion King Concert Master

Ballet:

The Marin Ballet
National Ballet of Canada

Applied Kinesiology

2008-11-19T11:56:00.001-06:00

Imagine that you were working with a chiropractor, acupuncturist, naturopath, nutritionist and a homeopath for your health problems. Even better, imagine you had your healthcare team in one room and they were all working on your case together and they understood what each other did! Would you not feel like you were in good hands and getting the best of all of the natural healthcare fields?

If this sounds appealing to you then you need be under the care of an Applied Kinesiologist. Applied Kinesiology (“AK”) is a diagnostic technique based on Traditional Chinese Medicine in which every muscle in the body is related to an organ, gland or acupuncture meridian. Through testing specific muscles, the doctor can locate structural, biochemical and emotional dysfunction in the body and identify the proper method of correction. AK incorporates modalities such as Sacro-Occipital Technique, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Acupuncture Meridian Therapies, Chiropractic, Osteopathy, and Clinical Nutrition, to name a few.

As mentioned above, the three basic factors responsible for optimum health are structure, biochemistry and emotions. These factors comprise an equilateral triangle called “the triad of health”. If one side of the triangle becomes deficient, poor health is the result.

The doctors at Veritas Clinic utilize Applied Kinesiology techniques to evaluate body function. Only by carefully observing all sides of this equilateral triangle can the total person be treated.

1. Structure: The structural aspect of health makes up the base of the triangle. In the world of modern medicine, everyone is trying to use the chemical side (pharmaceutical drugs) and the emotional side to get people well. These aspects are important as well, but the structural elements of the body need to function optimally in order to achieve balance.

It is obvious that someone may need structural corrections if they hurt their back or develop an ankle or knee injury. But structural treatment is important in another sense. Structural imbalances in the spine, extremities and skull can lead to biochemical dysfunction. Conditions like indigestion, hypertension, allergies, anemia and hormonal imbalances can be attributed to structural imbalances.

Structural integrity is also important for emotional well being. Structural imbalances can cause nervous system dysfunction which may lead to irritability, attention deficit disorder, depression, learning disabilities, increased stress, and many other disorders all the way up to schizophrenia.

2. Chemical: Modern medicine utilizes the idea that biochemical dysfunction is the cause of disease in the body. Although we usually do not have an aspirin, Prozac or Viagra deficiency, pharmaceutical drugs are needed at times. The conservative approach to correct dysfunction in the body is by eating right. This alone is not always the answer because we must digest, absorb and utilize the food we eat. We must make sure that all of our digestive functions are performing properly so that we may benefit from a proper diet. Sometimes supplements of specific vitamins and minerals are required because of soil depletion, processed foods, and years of neglect we impose on our bodies.

Prolonged stress can cause imbalances in the body’s inflammation process, digestion, immune function and hormonal regulation. These are biochemical irregularities that most Americans with heath challenges suffer from.

Another aspect of biochemistry causing health challenges is toxicity, poising and infections. Through a proper medical history of the patient, blood test interpretation, functional testing and using applied kinesiology as a diagnostic tool, the doctor can target each individual’s weakest link in order to correct their biochemical dysfunction.

3. Mental: There is no doubt that society as a whole has emotional challenges. We see this in individuals and in groups of people. Recent scientific evidence shows that emotional dysfunction can be the result of physiologic (biochemical) dysfunction. Blood sugar imbalances, allergies and toxicity can result in conditions like depression, hyperkinesis and anxiety.

Structural imbalances can also cause nervous system dysfunction, which may result in confusion, learning disabilities, irritability and even schizophrenia.

The total concept of health: The sides of the equilateral triangle are in balance with each other. When there is a constant structural problem, it may influence the person’s emotions. Emotions affect the digestive system, which interferes with the normal digestion of food a person eats; because of this, the chemical side of the triangle becomes involved and a nutritional deficiency may develop. Muscle weakness may result, which then increases the structural strain, again completing the vicious circle.

Nutritional Q & A

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Why is the diet so important?

The diet we have patients follow eliminates all refined sugar and refined carbohydrates which are toxic to the body, depress the immune system and imbalance the biochemistry of the body. It also eliminates foods that most people are sensitive to. This diet among other things will keep your blood sugar in balance which will help to maintain the corrections that we make to your body. I have found it nearly impossible for complete healing to take place if the patient does not follow the diet.

I started the diet but then fell off of it, what should I do?

Don’t despair! Following the diet as close as possible is something to work towards, and mistakes do happen. Do not be alarmed if some or all of your original (or new!) symptoms come back. Just start back on the diet again and your body should rebalance itself shortly.

I’m having a hard time changing my diet

Lifestyle change is one of the most difficult things a patient will have to do. This diet should be done in general—exceptions can be made for celebrations and special occasions! But the percentage of effort that you put into your diet will reflect the percentage of success that you will have with your treatments and health in general. Don’t give up if you make a mistake or you go off it for a short period of time. Just go back on the diet and you will see your health improve.

What about these food sensitivities?

Most people are wheat, dairy and soy sensitive, and in 50% of people corn is a problem. Adding these back into your diet could have an even much more adverse effect on your health then even sugars or starch. Even a small bite of a food you are sensitive can trigger dysfunction in your body.

What about canned and processed foods?

In general try to eat fresh, whole, organic foods. The body does not tolerate well chemicals in foods such as preservatives, rancid oils (such as vegetable oil), food colorings, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. All of these chemicals can impact your health.

I can’t possibly drink all of this water!

Start by drinking as much as you can and build up to the recommended amount for your body weight. Drinking water is one of the most important things you can do for your health, along with proper diet and rest. Your body is made up of mostly water, and when there is not enough present, your body will start shutting down different functions in order to conserve water. Distilled water is what I recommend due to its purity. Distilled water does not have any minerals in it, but this should not pose any problems if you are eating a well balanced, organic diet. Other water such as bottled spring water is not well regulated and from time to time contaminants such as chemicals, viruses and bacteria have been found. Home filtered water can be problematic as well, because most home filters do not filter out small spores, viruses, bacteria or parasites.

Ileocecal Valve Health

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The following are additional guidelines for all patients, but patients with many of the symptoms at the bottom of this list need to be especially vigilant.

Eliminate from your diet:

All roughage foods
Popcorn
Potato chips
Corn chips
Nuts
Seeds
Whole grains
Spicy Foods
Chili
Peppers
Salsa
Black pepper
Paprika
Cinnamon
Cocoa
Chocolate

No Liquors or Alcoholic Beverages

In general, alcohol is ok approx. twice a week, but not 2 days in a row. Some people are more sensitive to one type of alcohol than another. In general the better the quality of the alcohol, the better your body will be able to handle it.

Caffeine Limited To One Cup in the Morning with Breakfast

A cup or two of coffee is OK if it is done in the morning before 12pm. If drinking decaf., drink only water-decafinated coffee. Regular decaf contains methyl chloride in small amounts.

Ileocecal Valve Symptoms:

Shoulder Pain
Low Back Pain
Pain Around the Heart
Dizziness
Flu Symptoms
Pseudo Bursitis
Pseudo Sacroiliac Pain
Tinnitus
Nausea
Faintness
Pseudo Sinus Infection
Pseudo Hypochlorhydria
Headache
Sudden Thirst
Pallor
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Bowel Involvement

What is the Ileocecal Valve?

Digestion is one very important factor to good heath. Without proper digestive function everything else in your body will not work properly. The digestive tract is where you absorb nutrients and the building blocks for the cells in your body. The digestive tract also makes most of the neurotransmitters in your body and there are as many nerves in the digestive system as there is in the central nervous system.

The Ileocecal valve (ICV) is located in the digestive tract in between the small intestine and the large intestine; this is right next to the appendix in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. The ICV opens and closes periodically to let food travel through the digestive tract. When it is closed, food sits in the small intestine where nutrients, vitamins and minerals are absorbed. When small intestine is done with that portion of food the ICV opens and lets it go into the large intestine where water is absorbed. The food that is in the large intestine has considerably more toxins in it than the food in the small intestine because of the amount of digestion and breakdown that has taken place over time. In the large intestine the digested food is prepared to be excreted out of the body through the rectum.

When the ICV is not functioning properly, either stuck closed or stuck open, there is an imbalance in the digestive system which leads to many problems in the body. One is malabsorption, a problem where nutrients, vitamins and minerals are not being absorbed. In the case of malabsorption, you may be eating the right types of food packed with important nutrition, vitamins and minerals but you are not absorbing them. The same would be true with the nutritional supplements you may be taking, they are literally going down the toilet. The old saying, “You are what you eat” is not true, it should be, “You are what you eat, chew, digest, absorb and assimilate.”

Another problem that can arise from the ICV not working properly is toxicity. If the valve is stuck closed, the food is sitting there too long and continues to break down and will eventually start to rot and putrefy. The toxins will then be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. Your liver is then overloaded as it tries to keep the intestines clean and handle the toxins. The ICV can also be stuck open so that the previously digested foods in the large intestine may back up into the small intestine and again you will have a toxicity problem. ICV problems can cause many symptoms such as shoulder pain, low back pain, pain around the heart, dizziness, flu symptoms, pseudo bursitis, pseudo sacroiliac pain, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), nausea, faintness, pseudo sinus infection, pseudo hypochlorhydria, headache, sudden thirst, pallor, dark circles under the eyes, bowel involvement and more.

So what causes these problems with the Ileocecal Valve?

The ICV is under digestive control, nervous system control, and hormonal control. You can eat foods that irritate the ICV and cause it not to work properly. These include food allergies and sensitivities such as WHEAT, CORN, MILK, and SOY. Certain roughage foods can cause problems also such as POPCORN, CHIPS (potato, corn, etc.), NUTS, SEEDS, and WHOLE GRAINS. There are also other irritants like CHOCOLATE (coco, cacao), ALCOHOL and CAFFEINE. To prevent any ICV problems or to help with healing of an existing problem these foods should be eliminated from the diet. Parasitic infections are another stress to the digestive system that can cause ICV dysfunction.

The autonomic nervous system tone also affects the ICV. If you are too tense or sympathetic dominant the ICV will tend to be closed more often. If the nervous system is too relaxed, parasympathetic dominant, then the ICV will tend to become stuck open. Some natural supplements and herbs that are taken by people when they do not need them can cause imbalances like these that will cause ICV dysfunction. These types of patients will have to be treated by an applied Kinesiologist for nervous system balance and they will have to adjust their lifestyle, exercise and diet accordingly.

The same goes for hormonal imbalances in the body which are linked to the nervous system through neuro-endocrine transducers such as the adrenal glands and pituitary gland. Our overall balance in our body has a lot to do with digestion and also emotions.

Since most of our neurotransmitters are made in our digestive tract, our digestion is greatly affected by our emotions and stress. In the philosophy of Chinese Medicine, the stomach is seen as the seat of emotions in the body and we can observe this in our modern society. People who work in corporate America and who have high stress jobs usually have digestive problems, ulcers, etc. As you can begin to see, we need to treat many things to achieve true heath and balance- the structure, biochemistry and emotions of the body.

But haven’t we been shown that some of these foods that affect the Ileocecal Valve are good for us?

Whole Grains are presently supposed to be a staple of our diet but they do cause health problems. Naturally these grains contain gluten and phytates that cause digestive problems. Anthropologists know this because they can see the evolution of our heath through the bones of our ancestors. When we get to the periods where agriculture and high consumption of grains started there are more bone problems in these people. These changes are a direct reflection of the health of the humans who ate large amounts of grains in their diet.

There are many good nutrients in Nuts and Seeds but eating these foods will cause problems similar to Whole Grains. They are very coarse when chewed up so they will physically irritate the intestinal lining and the ICV. There are also phytates in the nuts and seeds (also in grains and legumes) that will block digestion of important nutrients so eating these foods for nutritional purposes is not worth it in the end. Since the phytates can also cause a problem, this rules out the Nut Butters that may have a smooth consistency.

There is more and more Scientific Research about the health benefits of Chocolate coming out lately and I even hear of doctors who recommend and give Chocolate to their patients, ignorance is sweet! Chocolate/Cacao/Coco is an irritant to the intestinal lining and ICV. This precious and addictive substance may cause nervous system changes and make people feel good but your digestive system will get the negative end of the stick. There are usually a few other substances that commercially available chocolate contains that are not recommended to people who are trying to achieve balance in their body for optimal health; refined sugar, trans fats-partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and colors, milk, low quality soy bean lecithin.

One of the greatest enemies of the Ileocecal Valve is an all American favorite-Popcorn. When you eat Popcorn, the little sharp pieces that get caught between your gums and teeth also cut up your intestinal walls like razor blades and cause leaky gut syndrome. Ouch! When the European settlers came to the new world and met the natives, one of the things that they were introduced to was Popcorn. The European settlers then took this new found food back to their home and it was a hit. The really funny thing is that the Native Americans showed the settlers how to pop the corn but they were smart enough to never eat it that way themselves.

The Ileocecal Valve is one very important key to true health and balance in the body along with eating right to prevent blood sugar problems, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. The patients who pay attentions to these factors and adjust their lifestyle accordingly will be on the road to good health.