Chiropractor Blog by Mariyka Solo

Hakomi is a mindfulness-based therapy that can be a valuable tool for chiropractors who are looking for new and effective ways to help their patients heal from physical and emotional pain. By taking a more holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit, Hakomi can help chiropractors provide more comprehensive and effective care to their patients.

One of the key benefits of Hakomi for chiropractors is that it can help them identify and address the root causes of their patients’ pain and discomfort. By using mindfulness-based techniques, chiropractors can help their patients become more aware of the emotional and psychological factors that may be contributing to their physical symptoms. This can lead to more effective treatment strategies that address the underlying causes of pain, rather than just the symptoms.

Another benefit of Hakomi for chiropractors is that it can help them build stronger relationships with their patients. By taking a mindful and compassionate approach to their work, chiropractors can create a safe and supportive environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. This can be particularly helpful for patients who may be hesitant to open up about their emotional struggles, but who may be experiencing significant physical pain as a result.

Hakomi can also be an effective tool for chiropractors who are looking to improve their own personal and professional development. By incorporating mindfulness-based techniques into their practice, chiropractors can develop a greater sense of self-awareness and mindfulness, which can help them become better at their jobs and more effective in their interactions with patients. They may also be better equipped to manage their own stress and burnout, which can be common issues for healthcare professionals.

In addition, Hakomi can be a valuable tool for chiropractors who are looking to expand their practice beyond traditional physical treatments. By incorporating mindfulness-based techniques into their work, chiropractors can help their patients address a wide range of emotional and psychological issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. This can lead to better overall health and wellbeing for their patients, as well as increased job satisfaction for the chiropractor.

Overall, Hakomi can be a powerful and effective tool for chiropractors who are looking to provide more comprehensive and holistic care to their patients. By taking a mindful and compassionate approach to their work, chiropractors can help their patients achieve greater overall health and wellbeing, while also improving their own personal and professional development. Whether you are a seasoned chiropractor looking to expand your practice or a new practitioner looking for innovative approaches to care, Hakomi can be a valuable tool for improving patient outcomes and enhancing your own professional growth.

I learned about this method when I attended one of their wonderful events. Check them out here: Hakomi Local Events

Lots of studies have been documented not only in the aspect of effectiveness of chiropractic care as a treatment alternative but also with regards to its safety. In all these studies, one very clear common conclusion comes out: that chiropractic care is one of the safest options in all of the medical and complementary and alternative medicine fields.

The prejudicial tendencies among some practitioners in the medical community have caused controversial and unjustified views about chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Every now and then, reports that are not founded on statistical evidence come out about rumors of stroke occurrence following spinal manipulative therapy. These undocumented cases represent a frequency of from one case in every 0.4 million to a single case in 5.6 million.

Scientific Studies Highlighting Chiropractic Safety

In the issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice in September 2013, which also appeared online at the website by researcher P. Tuchin, www.medscape.com, a literature review examined 18 studies and discussed any effect spinal manipulative therapy may have on stroke. This review found that for sixty percent of the strokes, abnormal lipids amount was present in the blood. Lipids include fats and cholesterol. It also pointed out that hypertension, obesity, smoking, cardiovascular disease, types 1 and 2 diabetes, migraines, atrial fibrillation, heavy drinking, infections, sleep apnea, contraceptives, illegal drug use and other factors put an individual at a high risk for stroke. Chiropractic adjustments are not listed among the major factors in stroke in the scientific literature.

A study that was published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, found 13 documented cases of cardiovascular accidents that occurred over a period of five years, where a total of about 50 million cervical adjustments were performed. The conclusion from this study is that there was a low reasonable estimate of the risk – only one per 3 million neck adjustments.

In the book titled “Upper Cervical Syndrome: Chiropractic Diagnosis and Treatment,” a review of over half-million treatments performed over a period of nine years at the outpatient clinic of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College found zero incident of vertebral artery syndrome or stroke.

In a study at Chicago’s National College of Chiropractic Clinic involving approximately 5 million treatments using cervical manipulations from the year 1965 to 1980, not a single vertebral artery stroke case was found.

The New Zealand government conducted an inquiry into the safety of chiropractic care. As a result of this inquiry, it published in a report in 1979 that chiropractic care is indeed remarkably safe.

A research study on low back pain reported in the British Medical Journal in January 1999 concluded that chiropractic is among the safest forms of therapy available.

Chiropractic care is much safer than having back surgery or even taking strong drugs like muscle relaxants. Since it is non-invasive, the body responds to it more predictably than to drugs or surgical procedures.

Chiropractic Vs. Allopathic Medicine Safety

Let’s take a look at some data on the risk involved with the use of medications and surgery. In the United States alone, there are approximately 140,000 deaths each year resulting from drug-related reactions. There are 400 times greater risk of death from gastrointestinal complications than from complications arising from cervical manipulations. Also, the death rate for patients who undergo surgery of the cervical spine is an astoundingly than that for cervical manipulation – 7,000 times!

Notwithstanding the safety of the methods used in chiropractic practice, chiropractors have a constant concern to evaluate any adverse reaction their patients may have for the chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic is recognized by the medical and scientific communities, non-profit research institutions, universities and governments as a successfully proven primary therapy for conditions of the neuromusculoskeletal system and a therapy safer than most available medical procedures to treat those same conditions. The risks it presents compared to conventional allopathic medicine, which relies on drugs and surgery primarily as an integral means of treatment, are far less.

Researchers confirm that for a certain period of their life, more than 80% of the people will suffer from vertebrogenic disorders, which are health disorders caused by spinal faults. Some of these vertebrogenic disorders are back pain, neck pain, migraine headaches, tension headaches, neuralgia, dizziness, shoulder and arm pain, pain in the legs or sciatica, pain in the hips and knees, disc disorders, certain types of chest and abdomen pain, certain digestive problems and menstrual problems. Most of these conditions may seem unrelated to the spine, but their common connection is the nerves, which runs through and serves all parts, organs and systems of the body. When irritated either directly or indirectly by spinal disorders, these nerves can cause all these and other conditions.

Spinal problems may start in childhood and the symptoms may only appear years later. These disorders are often reversible when identified early. They may also occur as a result of trauma, poor posture and lifestyle habits, and physical and mental stress. That is why spinal examinations are important for both children and adults.

Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest treatment therapies for spinal disorders. Many people find great relief from their pain and the symptoms of neuromusculoskeleral disorders from chiropractic care.

When to Visit Your Chiropractor

When is the proper time to visit a chiropractor for examination and treatment? Any of the following situations provides enough reason to see your chiropractor:

• When you have back pain. The top reason for people to pursue chiropractic care is back pain. Most cases of pain of the lower back and upper back can be traced to spinal misalignments. Aside from doing correction of the spinal problem through adjustments, the chiropractor can help build up your core muscle strength, improve your posture and overall spinal health.
• When your headaches persist and never seem to leave you. Headaches are often the result of vertebral subluxations, which cause your nervous system to be out of balance. Spinal adjustments can help bring balance to your nervous system and allow correct signals to be sent to the different parts of the body.
• When you have been injured in a car accident or at work. There are two possible scenarios after an accident: You may have trouble dealing with the pain or the pain may not appear for a long time after the incident. In either case, you should have yourself checked to prevent future problems.
• When you have pain in your extremities. Chiropractic care has been very successful in the treatment of extremity pain such as leg, knee, hip, wrist arm and shoulder pain for many years.
• When you are pregnant and has aching back. Many chiropractors are well trained in providing chiropractic care for pregnant women not only for the relief of back, neck or joint pains but also in preventing potential breech or caesarian deliveries.
• When you are in your retirement years and aches and pains prevent you from enjoying life. Chiropractic care is not just for the physically active but for older people as well. Not only will the cause of your aches and pains be addressed, but the best strength and endurance exercises suited to your present health status will be recommended to you.
• When you are concerned with your personal health and want a natural approach to healthcare. Chiropractic is an ideal approach to preventive health and wellness. Your chiropractor can greatly help you in making the appropriate lifestyle changes and will make a good partner in achieving your wellness goals.
• When you are concerned with your child’s or newborn’s long term health and well being. Chiropractors are experienced to provide care for pediatric spinal problems. They use specific, gentle skills to diagnose, evaluate and treat children.

There are a hundred and one reasons for you and your family to visit your chiropractor. Chiropractic care encompasses many facets of healthcare that will benefit people of all al ages and health conditions.

There is a continuing debate among medical practitioners on whether chiropractic care is an effective health care option vis-à-vis the conventional allopathic medicine. And this argument is not limited to medical professionals. Patients who were healed from their illnesses through chiropractic care swear to its benefits for themselves while satisfied recipients of allopathic medicine scoff at chiropractic for being just an alternative treatment option to the mainstream medical health care.

Pros of Chiropractic Care

Listing the benefits or advantages of chiropractic care can give somebody who may be contemplating on visiting a chiropractor for the first time a better perspective of chiropractic care. Some of them are:

• Chiropractic care can be considered as an alternative medicine or complementary medicine therapy. Many patients find relief with their symptoms and health conditions through chiropractic also complement other existing therapies and their combinations, at lot of times, produce better results compared to when only traditional or other forms of therapies are used.

• Chiropractic care is natural and safe. It is non-invasive because it does not depend on the use of drugs and surgery in the treatment. And because it is non-invasive, the body’s response to the treatment is more predictable. Not only the medical community, but research institutions and governments confirm that chiropractic is one of the safest forms of therapy.

• Chiropractic care is gaining a lot of adherents. These people who have experienced the positive results of chiropractic care in the relief of their muscle tension, soreness and other symptoms swear by chiropractic care. They will continue to use chiropractic care despite the contradictory belief of critics. Data from the American Chiropractic Association show that 250 million visits to the chiropractors are registered each year. This number is bound to improve even better every year.

• Overall chiropractic care cost can be cheaper. Many patients consider that chiropractic care presents a cheaper option to expensive medicines and doctor visits, especially on a long-term basis. Some chiropractors with small practices can work with their patients for an affordable payment scheme and can even give discounts for new patient referrals.

• A lot of people recognize the therapeutic effect of chiropractic adjustment. The reason why regular recipients of chiropractic healthcare keep coming back for body adjustment on a monthly or bimonthly basis even if they are not in pain is simply to experience the therapeutic effect adjustments bring to their bodies. It is their form of relief from physical and mental stress.

Cons of Chiropractic Care

Some people perceive the following as the disadvantages of using chiropractic care as a treatment option:

• Insurance coverage for chiropractic care is not always guaranteed or available. Your insurance plan may not cover chiropractic visits because chiropractic care is generally classified as an alternative form of healthcare. It may be a difficult situation for a patient wanting chiropractic treatment but could not afford to pay especially for multiple visits.

It is a welcome development that many insurance companies are beginning to cover chiropractic care for cases involving acute pain or requiring short-term rehabilitation, due to the growing popularity of chiropractic care. However, most insurance companies still will not include routine visits for chronic pain treatment among the cases they provide coverage for.

• There is not enough research on the effectiveness of chiropractic care. This may be especially true for conditions that chiroprarctic care is able to successfully treat outside of the the common issues with the musculoskeletal system, such as back pain, neck pain, headaches and joint problems. In fact, the American Chiropractic Association itself advocates more research.

• Some patients experience soreness in their bodies after the first day or two of their chiropractic treatment. Some even notice that their soreness is worse than when they got into the clinic. Not everyone experiences this situation, but those who do only feel the positive effects of the treatment after the soreness dissipates.

• Chiropractic adjustment may need multiple visits. Depending on the severity of the condition of the patient, and the result of the initial visit for adjustment, more than a single chiropractor visit may be necessary. It is rather inconvenient and costly for those who do not have the means to undergo treatment for several times.

These are some of the pros and cons that may guide you to make a decision to try the first visit to the chiropractor.

If you see signs of depression in your child, talk to him. Do not shrug off this problem as just one of the things he has to go through while growing up. Try effective ways to treat his depression. Otherwise, it might escalate into bigger and more serious things that may cause him to do dreadful things like committing petty crimes, turning to drugs, or even committing suicide.

How can you help your child battle depression?

Once you have sat down with your child and had that initial chat, encourage him to set up goals for himself. Make sure that these goals are short-term so that he would not be overwhelmed by the weight of his task. Moreover, such goals must be within reach; otherwise, it will merely strengthen his belief that he is an utter failure. Let him be involved in the decision making process by soliciting suggestions for what things he wants to accomplish. Put up goals which are challenging but attainable. This way, when he does finish the task, he will feel like he has succeeded in something useful and has done something productive to himself or to others.

At this stage, your child is still unstable, especially when it comes to his self-confidence and self-worth. Do not forget to pat him on the back and comfort him once in a while. Praise him for his accomplishments; you may even reward him accordingly. However, make sure that you also do not give him false hopes.

Always be there to lend support, especially if there are specific tasks he set his eyes on. For example, if he decides to try out for the track team, jog with him when you have the time, making him feel that he is not alone and that you care for his dreams and desires. You may also stand as coach and time keeper during his sprint exercises.

Never compare him with anyone. The last thing he wants is to know that he is not good enough because somebody out there is better than him. Instead, assure him that is excellent in what he does and if he continues striving for his goals, he can be the best of what he is.

If he fails to achieve a certain goal, do not gloss over the situation. According to child psychologists, you should be able to acknowledge the outcome of the situation and discuss things with him. The importance of this evaluation is to let you know what your child thinks is wrong with him. This way, you will be able to correct his views and assure him of his worth.

Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID is one of the mental illnesses that is included in the DSM-IV, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which contains all psychological disorders. It is also known as the Multiple Personality Disorder and sometimes Multiple Personality Syndrome. Diagnosed cases of this illness are not that many; in fact, sufferers of this illness comprise less than 0.5% of the population, according to Hawskworth & Schwarz.

DID is characterized by having multiple “persons” residing in an individual. More often, these “persons” have different personalities and behaviors, and they come out as an individual goes through various experiences. The numbers of personalities an individual can form are highly varied: while some could form only two or three, some can have as much as 20 different personalities. A person having DID normally does not know the existence of these personalities, and normally undergoes a period of unconsciousness before shifting to another personality.

A celebrated case of DID involves a man with three personalities. This patient is normally loquacious and sociable. His other personality, with a different name, is more quiet and brooding. Another personality still, having an entirely different name, is more violent and aggressive. He says that his personalities often come out, as he needs them; for example, his aggressive personality comes to defend him.

DID is said to have been caused by traumatic experiences, such as violence, battering, or rape. A person who eventually develops DID is said to turn to these personalities in order to defend oneself from harm. Multiple personalities are said to become a person’s adaptations in order to survive.

A person diagnosed with multiple personalities is very hard to treat. Often, treatment centers on integrating these multiple personalities to form a unified concept of self. An individual is made to realize that shifting to other personalities is unnecessary if one has a more adaptive set of behaviors to deal with life events and stressors. Eventually, it is hoped that these therapies would be able to unify all of these diverse personalities and bring an individual back to normalcy.

On your medical consultation, you might not be giving all the necessary information your doctor needs to know. If you think some information are embarrassing or irrelevant to your medical condition, be forewarned. Keeping your doctor in the dark may prove fatal.

Alarmingly, many doctors admit that patients don’t always divulge key important information about their health care like foods and supplements they take, medication, symptoms, medical conditions, activities, and even the doctors they have consulted with. Medical experts also say that, sometimes, they still have to struggle to get their patients to tell them the truth about their habits.

There could be a number of factors as to why patients keep mum about their non-compliance with the prescription. They may have not fully understood the prescription, don’t have confidence in the effectiveness of the medicine, disagree with the diagnosis or treatment, or may be cutting costs. Remember though that if the patients are aware of the value or importance of their medications, they will follow the prescription.

Below are tips on how to stick with the doctor’s advice and let him know everything that he needs to know:

1. Arm yourself with knowledge. Know everything that you can about your condition and your medicines or treatment.
2. Be open to your doctor on matters about financial limitations. Generic drugs, which are cheaper, might be as effective as the branded ones.
3. Ask your doctor for simpler and easy-to-follow medications
4. Use a compartmentalized pillbox. It’s an effective way to remind you which and how many medicines to take daily.
5. Make a calendar that shows the dosage times and medicine for complex medication schedule.
6. Place your medicines where it would be easy for you to spot them, like on your breakfast table or next to your toothbrush.
7. Ask help from your family and friends. Tell them that you need constant reminder from them about your health condition/
8. Report any side effect. Don’t wait until your next check-up or until your doctor asks you for updates before you report any side effect. If you feel sometime is not right, go tell your doctor right away!
9. During group sessions for patients, take note of the experiences of others with the same medical condition as you are.

If you thought that it is only the body that needs exercise, you are mistaken. The mind should also be kept healthy and powerful at all times.

Fitness is not just having a healthy body; it also involves having a healthy mind.

The mind is equally as important as the body in fitness. By having a healthy mindset, you can achieve your fitness goals faster and ensure that you get fit longer. In fact, the body and mind works together at all times so they should both be taken into consideration as you try to achieve your fitness goals.

Here are some tips that could help you achieve that healthy mind for a healthy and fit living

1. Be contented. Material possessions or even physical changes do not bring lasting contentment. It is important to have a grateful mindset when it comes to experiencing changes in your body as a result of your exercise. Do not get insecure with other’s washboard abs or curvy figures. Just continue what you are doing and be contented with yourself.

1. Never compare. Do not compare yourself to anybody. Each one of us has his own strengths and weaknesses and no two people are alike. So, instead of evaluating your body against another individual, just focus on what you aim to achieve.

1. Relax. A cluttered and worried mind can wreak havoc even to the best exercise routine. Take time to rest and clear your mind. Try to meditate or engage in breathing exercises, especially when you are feeling stressed or burnt out. Resting is equally as essential as exerting effort in becoming fit.

1. Be positive. Maintaining a positive attitude not just lightens up the atmosphere. It also translates to better fitness and faster recovery from injuries among many other benefits. So try to become more optimistic. Look at the brighter side of things. Smile more. Be more amiable to others. Not only would you be more pleasant, but fitter and healthier as well.

1. Vent out. Negativity should be dealt with as soon as possible. If someone bothers you, try resolving the issue. If you feel a little blue, try getting to its source and solve the problem. Acknowledge your feelings; of course, you still have the right to feel blue or angry at times, but deal with it in the most constructive way possible. By this way, you resolve your problems yet acknowledge your emotions.

Everyday worries and problems really affect a person’s life. Know how to combat depression and live the happy and healthy life you deserve!

Depression inordinately affects your physical, mental, and emotional health. If left on its own devices, depression can eat away your mind, and then slowly whittles away your body. The many negative effects of depression can even be enough to ultimately cause death.

Causes of depression may range from emotional drawbacks such as low self-esteem, feelings of solitude or desolation, rejections, and frustrations to difficulties brought about by the person’s environment. Like many other medical and psychological health problems, depression must be combated.

Practically everyone undergoes a mild case of depression at some point in life. Do not let it eat you. Learn the necessary ways on how to combat depression.

Below are the following ways you can help yourself if you are undergoing a distressing state of depression:

1. Distract yourself from depression. Keep yourself busy. Set practical goals for yourself and try to make them happen. Attend to even petty tasks like household chores. Do not allow yourself to wallow in self-destruction.
2. Talk and interact to people. Confide in other people, preferably a family member or a friend. Express your thoughts and be open to their advices. Do things together with a partner or with other people such as exercising, going to a movie or a concert, participating in community activities, or joining a group or a hobby class.
3. Do not isolate yourself. Try to be with other people as much as possible and allow yourself to delight in their presence. Having company is usually better than being alone. One of the chief roots of depression is the feeling of loneliness, so avoid it when you can.
4. Take time to relax. It is best that you conveniently delay major decisions until you have completely overcome depression. Discuss first with people who matters before making any life-changing pronouncement such as getting married or divorced, migrating, or quitting jobs. You may not be able to handle well the transition if you try to make it alone.
5. Seek professional help. Undoubtedly, doctors and psychologists can best help you if you are suffering from depression. They can aid you in analyzing the roots of your condition and provide medical provision throughout stages of therapy. You can solicit help from health organizations, state hospitals, and medical schools or universities.
6. Feel better. Be on Your Way to a Better You. Do not expect yourself to conquer depression overnight. It will take a slow and gradual improvement, so allow yourself to take time in healing. Battle depression every step of the way and feel yourself getting better every day. Always find the strength to continue living.

Tired and frustrated of how you are living your life? The problem might be you. So, know these self-improvement techniques that will help you become a better person in no time!

Nobody is perfect.

Each one of us has flaws and imperfections, most of which are something we are unaware of or something we do not find the need to change right away. However, there are really some personal flaws that we need to remedy. Also, there are some qualities which, while not to be considered flaws, need improvements or changes to make us feel better about ourselves.

But are we really ready to make the change? Yes, we make resolutions that we intend to keep or “hope” to keep. However, most of the time, we are not able to keep and fulfill these resolutions for so many reasons – lack of dedication, low will power, temptations, and distractions among many others. But, that we are not able to keep these resolutions does not mean that they cannot be changed anymore…because they can still be! All we need to do is give enough dedication to the goals we set and to have the right attitude in aiming for those goals.

To guide us in our journey to a better self, below is a set of guidelines which we may find useful.

1. Set an achievable goal. Do not strive for perfection; it does not exist. Remember that we are loved by people, not only because of our good qualities, but also because, and in spite of, our flaws. Thus, a little imperfection wouldn’t hurt.

1. Do not compare yourself to others. You are unique. You are different. Set your goals based on what you want to be, not who you want to be like. It is good to have a role model, but being a carbon copy of someone else is never fun. Also, constant comparison to others will only lead to frustration.

1. Make a timeline. Set a deadline for what you want to accomplish. Include in your timeline what you need to achieve every day, every week, or every month to chart your progress. Lack of a well-defined timeline will cause you to postpone your tasks, until you abandon the resolutions altogether.

1. Use your ability to visualize. Imagine yourself exactly how you want to be. Making a picture of yourself will serve as a motivation for you to carry on, allowing you to believe that your goal is actually reachable.

1. Find other people with similar problems and resolutions. You and your companions may work together, motivate each other, and help each other. Each can be another one’s support system. You can also check and remind each other when one is straying from the plan.

Remember, change is not achieved overnight. But if you start doing your plans now, you would get to your goal sooner than you thought. Good luck!