Thursday, December 17, 2009

Have more energy for the holidays

This time of year can be very celebratory or exhausting, or both! Here are a few tips to help it be more of the former and less of the latter.

Maintain your sleep schedule as closely as possible. Aim for the same number of hours as well as the same bedtime and wake-up time. Experts recommend that these be within one hour all week. So if you normally get up at 6:00 during the week, try to get up no later than 7:00 on the weekend. Sleeping in to 9 or 10 may actually make you more tired and make it harder to get back on schedule the next week.

Instead of reaching for that extra cup of coffee, get some Asian ginseng. It comes in creams, teas, and pill form. This is a very popular herb that boosts mental and physical energy. Rhodiola herb helps the body fight stress. It is used frequently in Russia as a tea for this purpose.

Also, regular chiropractic adjustments keep your body in top shape. This reduces stress and helps keep you physically and mentally balanced. It also saves body energy when all your joints are working smoothly, just like the proper oil in your car.

Enjoy the holidays!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Holiday Help

This time of year can be a very exciting time with lots of fun and enjoyable activities. However, it can also be a time where we are thrown off our schedules and especially our diet. Here's a few tips to help with those holiday indulgences and dietary variations.

First, try to stick to the same eating schedule as much as possible. Certainly on Thanksgiving Day you may not have a lot of choice. That can set the stage for several days of imbalance. Try to get back on track the very next day. If you are out early shopping, stop around the time you would normally eat breakfast and get a healthy snack. Even just a banana will help to let your body know to get back on schedule. Drink some extra water before a big meal. It helps to fill you up a little and not be as tempted to overeat. It also helps reduce your consumption of alcohol by satisfying your thirst with the fluid your body really needs.

If you end up drinking too much, be very sure to get at least one to two glasses of water before bedtime. When you wake up the next day, have another one to two glasses of water before you do anything else. There are many remedies for what we might call "post-indulgence syndrome" but the single most important thing you can do is increase your water intake.

I hope these few tips will help make this Holiday your best ever!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Flu

Interested in preventing the flu naturally? We've all heard the ususal wash your hands frequently and get more water. That's good advice but I also see a lot of relationship to stress and fatigue. Many times we push ourselves so hard that our immune system is compromised. As we move into fall and winter make an extra effort to get more rest. Maybe that means going to bed 1/2 to 1 hour earlier. Maybe that means a 20-30 minute nap at mid-day. Whatever works for you that allows a bit more rest. Also try to keep up your exercise program even as the holidays approach. That will help with stress reduction and keeping your body moving. Daily movement is best even if it isn't a full work out.

Finally, reduce the amount of sugar, junk food, and caffeine you eat and drink. All of those are linked to decreased immune function. Instead eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Have two at each meal and for between meal snacks. Next time, I'll discuss more about natural supplements and remedies to prevent or treat the flu.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Head and neck pain

Are you having a pain in your neck or head somewhere? Here are a few tips to figure out what is causing it.

Is there any obvious reason why you have it ? If you were just hit there or had a little too much to drink last night, you'll just need to give it some time. Of course if it was a major injury or you are bleeding uncontrollably, you should consult a doctor immediately.

But if nothing is that clear, try just having a drink of cool not cold water. Dehydration results in lots of this type of problem. Have you had this before? If it is a recurring problem you should consult our office and have a more thorough evaluation. If this is the first time, try an ice pack. Only use it for 15 minutes on your neck or 10 minutes at a time on your head. You might also try getting some extra rest and relaxation. Even just an extra hour can make a difference.
If you need more advice, we are available for phone consultations at no charge. Just call us at 425-867-1119.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

What's That "Cracking" Sound?



Not everyone has to get "cracked," but everyone would benefit from a chiropractic adjustment. If you've considered chiropractic and wondered if it was right for you, give us a call today for a no-charge consultation.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Dan O'Brien And Chiropractic



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

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

A Day In The Life Of A Spine...



Does your spine need the help of a Redmond Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

TMJ

The TMJ or temporomandibular joint, causes problems for many people. Lately we have been seeing a lot of people who come to us for other reasons and then casually mention that they are also having TMJ problems. I'm glad they mention it, but it's unfortuante that they had to suffer unecessarily with it just because they didn't know what to do.

The TMJ is a joint much like many others in your body. It connects the jawbone (mandible) to your head. It is the pivot point allowing you to chew food. Unlike some joints, it has a disc on the inside called a meniscus. This serves to cushion the joint and allow a greater degree of motion.

Due to various stresses (injuries, muscle trauma, mental stress, and dental work among others) the TMJ can become damaged or out of balance. The symptoms may include pain in the jaw, loss of full mouth opening, difficulty chewing, grinding or noises in the joint, headaches, and ringing in the ear. Standard treatment has consisted of bite plates (appliances,) medication, and psychosocial counseling. Seldom is surgery performed.

However, using the Activator Method, we have been achieving very good results with TMJ problems for many years. This consists of several tests and evaluation of the head, TMJ, and cervical spine (neck.) If indicated, we make a series of very gentle corrective thursts to the TMJ using the Activator instrument. Often there are contributory cervical spine problems that we will address at the same time.

We only accept mild to moderate cases for treatment (refering more severe cases to a dentist or orthodontist) and our results are very good. Over 90% of our patients get substantial or total relief of their symptoms and similar restoration of function.

Our sincere wish is that more people would call us right away when they experience any of the above symptoms. While we can help those with chronic TMJ-related problems, we hate to see needless suffering, so visit our Redmond Chiropractic office.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Nelson Chiropractic starts a blog!

Dr. Nelson is starting a blog to educate the Redmond, WA community about all things healthy! Check back often and find out new information to help you get and stay healthy. Check out our Redmond Chiropractic office today!