Compass Chiropractic

There are few things that my wife and I argue about, but one of them is where I store my basketball shoes after a couple hours of running up and down the court sweating profusely. I have tried a number of treatments in the past with no success, but I recently came across a natural treatment that seems to have some merit. My mom (the only other person that I have argued with regarding my feet) recently found this idea in an orthopedic text and passed it along to me (I am sure it was more for my wife than myself).

Smelly feet are caused by the bacteria that love a warm, wet and dark environment. In order to stop the odor you need to stop the bacteria that cause the odor. Black tea contains high levels of tannic acid which, at high levels, kills bacteria at the source. If your experiencing stinky feet, try these few simple steps and they might even lead to a happier marriage:

1. Use two tea bags per pint of water
2. Boil for 15 minutes
3. Add two quarts of cool water
4. Soak your feet in the cooled solution for 30 minutes (bring a book or magazine).

Follow these step each day for a week and repeat as needed.

It is no surprise that chiropractic has had a turbulent history, it has only been in the last two decades that chiropractic has been accepted by the broad scientific community and included in insurance plans.  In this time chiropractic has experienced incredible  growth in acceptance and participation.  In the past there has been systematic  approaches to limit and even remove chiropractic access to the public.

Barack Obama has made a bold step to not only pledge his support to the chiropractic profession, but to promise inclusion into a new health care plan.  To read Barack’s letter to the chiropractic profession click here.

For years hormone replacement has been touted as having such wonderful effects on the body such as protecting the heart, preventing cancer and keeping brains sharp.  Two new studies in the journal Neurology have shown that hormone replacement not only doesn’t provide the aforementioned health benefits, but actually increases the incidence of cancer, increases the risk of stroke and shrinks the brains of women taking these hormones.

Dr. Constantine Lyketsos of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in East Baltimore, Maryland feels strongly about the use of these medications as he was quoted as saying “This is extra-double-triple reason not to go on estrogen after 65!”

This is yet another example of drug companies misrepresenting the safety and benefits of their drugs.  There has been numerous accounts of this very same thing happening, but for some reason we forget about them and move on to the next wonder-drug that is only a wonder drug until it is found to harm or kill.  Taking medication is a serious thing and we have been led to believe that it is always safe.  The fact of the matter is that we don’t know the extended effects that medications have had on the body.  The chemistry of the body is so complicated that we have no idea the cascade of events that take place following administering a pill.

There is a time and place for medication, but it should not be taking so lightly and seen as  the first and only option.  There are other options, but unfortunately they are harder to find and not usually covered by insurance.   Luckily with the internet access to this information is much easier to come by.  Of course there are the snake oil salesmen peddling junk science, but there are also a world of therapies that have helped people all over the world with their conditions without the side effects associated with pharmaceuticals.

FDA announced yesterday that there has been an outbreak of salmonella at a facility owned by the Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, GA.  Their peanuts are not sold directly to consumers, rather to corporations who use peanuts in products such as cookies, cakes etc.  For information of recalled products click Kellogg Products and FDA Recall of King Nut Peanut Butter.

I have had a lot of patients asks me about picking a good mattress, so I am passing this information along from the American Chiropractic Association.

A good night’s sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle; however, an estimated 70 million Americans complain of sleeplessness.

“Americans spend one-third of their lives sleeping, so it makes sense to invest in a sleep set that can improve your comfort and overall health,” says Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH, spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association. “Many people don’t realize the reason for their neck or back pain is literally right underneath them—it’s their mattress and pillow.”

A 2006 study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine showed that sleeping on a new mattress can significantly reduce stiffness and back pain. Researchers found that study participants reported immediate and sustained benefits after sleeping on a new mattress. This was especially true of participants who entered the study with back pain complaints, as they reported a 63 percent improvement in back discomfort with a new mattress.

When it comes time to purchase a new mattress, the ACA recommends the following:

Shop for Support
Look for a mattress that provides uniform support from head to toe; if there are gaps between your body and the mattress (such as at the waist), you’re not getting the full support you need. Mattresses can be too firm; pay close attention to uncomfortable pressure on prominent body features such as the shoulders, hips and low back.

Shop for Comfort
When mattress shopping, give each option a good trial run before you buy; lie down on a mattress for a minimum of five to 10 minutes to get a good idea of its comfort level. If you cannot find a comfortable position, you probably have the wrong mattress.

Shop for Size
Does the bed provide enough room for both you — and your sleeping partner if you have one — to stretch and roll over? The ideal mattress will also minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other, which means one person shouldn’t feel motion as the other leaves the bed.

Generally, a mattress should be replaced every 5 to 8 years to ensure proper support and comfort. Be aware that life’s changes can signal the need for a new mattress as well. For example, people who have lost or gained a considerable amount of weight, those who have a medical condition which has changed the way they sleep, or even those who’ve changed partners may need to consider a new mattress.

Pillows important, too
After investing in a quality mattress, don’t forget to choose an equally supportive pillow, advises ACA spokesperson Steven Conway, DC, DACBOH, Esq. “People will spend thousands of dollars on a mattress and then skimp on a pillow that doesn’t support their head and neck properly,” he observes.

When selecting a new pillow, ACA recommends selecting one with ergonomically-designed features, which will enhance comfort and limit pain. Look for pillows that are:

Designed to keep the spine in natural alignment. When lying on your side, your head and neck should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine. Avoid pillows that are so thick or thin that they angle your head and neck away from your body.
Designed to support different sleep positions, including side sleeper or back sleeper. (It’s best never to sleep on your stomach, as it’s the most back unfriendly sleeping position.)
Hypoallergenic.
There is no such thing as a universal fit when it comes to pillows, Dr. Conway notes. “Find a pillow that is consistent with the shape and size of your body. If you find yourself sleeping on your side with one hand propped under your pillow, that’s a clue that you’re not getting the support you need from that pillow,” he explains.

If you continue to experience pain and discomfort at night or have difficulty falling asleep, visit your doctor of chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to treat spinal problems that can interfere with a restful night’s sleep. They can also offer nutritional and ergonomic advice that can help improve the quality of your sleep.