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It is estimated that 25% of our population suffers from seasonal allergies that are typically worse this time of year due to the increased pollen in the air. This begs to question–is the actual cause of allergies due to the increase of pollen in the air? If this were the sole cause, then all of us would suffer from allergies this time of year because we are all breathing in more pollen. We know this is not the case. This means the ravenous pollen that’s floating around in the air and into our nostrils may not be the true underlying cause of these irritating allergies or hay fever. You’re probably now thinking, “Well that’s not what my doctor told me”, or “That’s not what that ad said on TV!” That’s right, and I’m here to give you a different angle as to what may be the underlying cause to your allergies. You see, I’m more interested in finding the underlying cause rather than just taking the easy way and treating the symptoms. Symptom relief may be quicker and cheaper up front, but as I’ve seen with many patients, in the long run if the underlying cause is not addressed, the symptoms continue to worsen over time, along with the underlying problem. This can get to the point where those simple cover-ups like an over-the-counter antihistamine may no longer work. Then we go to our doctor and get a steroid medication to battle the enemy and think “Oh, what a lifesaver!” Hey my allergies are under control (for the meanwhile) but now I’m experiencing weight gain, fluid retention, mood swings, increased risk of infections, impaired adrenal gland output and increased blood pressure! “Whoa! I didn’t sign up for all of this.” And this is only the beginning of the downward spiral. Do you really think taking more meds to counter these side effects is going to make you healthier? Why not take the time and effort to find out what the underlying cause is so you don’t take a ride on this highway to you know where!

It is imperative to understand that if you suffer from allergies, you have an impaired or imbalanced immune system. The cause of this imbalance or impairment may reside in the immune system or may be secondary to a problem in another system of your body. There are specialized cells in the immune system, which release histamine when challenged by such substances as pollen, smoke, dust or dander. The histamine will cause the outward expression of these allergic responses, but it is a failure or imbalance in other systems that let the release of histamine go unchecked. Besides the immune system itself, there may be dysfunction in the liver, the respiratory system, the nervous system and/or the adrenal glands that is contributing to your allergies. This is why it is imperative to have all of these systems evaluated if you truly want to get to the underlying cause of your allergies. Some steps that you can take immediately to help include:

Strengthening Your Immune System
Ideally, you should work on this long before allergy season arrives. Some basic steps to follow here include reducing and/or eliminating sugar and refined foods from your diet. Regular exercise has been proven to strengthen your immune system along with burning off the negative distress that accumulates in our lives on an ongoing basis. Getting adequate sleep (7-9 hours) is also essential to strengthen your immune system. Include whole food supplements that strengthen the immune system along with supporting the other systems listed above (liver, respiratory, and adrenals) such as Allerplex. Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids can reduce both allergic and inflammatory responses. The Omega 3’s are commonly found in fish and some raw nuts such as walnuts. Most people don’t eat enough of these sources on a regular basis, and if they do there is concern over contamination of the fish by mercury and PCB’s. When choosing an Omega 3 supplement it is imperative that the oil has been tested for purity against these contaminants. Also it is imperative that during the manufacturing and processing of these oils that they don’t go rancid. The simplest way you can test this is if the supplement smells bad or tastes bad it is bad! Pure fish oil should have little to no taste or smell. Rancid oil does more damage to your body than no oil. It is also important that the fish oil is in its natural triglyceride form vs. an ethyl ester. Recent studies show the natural triglyceride form is 70% more absorbable than the ethyl ester form! That’s why we use Numedica Fish Oils in our office.

Addressing the Stress
Hidden emotional stresses can wreak havoc on your health and immune system. Prolonged fear, worry, anger, resentment-any emotions which make you feel bad or negative, will cause your body to go physiologically into a “fight or flight” mode leading to an increase in hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Over a prolonged period and at elevated levels, these hormones can have an exhaustive and detrimental affect on your body and health. Prayer, meditation, and deep breathing exercises are some effective tools you can use on your own to release these hidden emotional stresses.

On Wednesday, April 17th  we will be hosting an Allergy Relief Workshop with the Doctors on “Natural Solutions To Allergy Problems”. At this event we will be not only going into further detail on the above information but we will share with you simple trigger point techniques that you can do at home to immediately drain your stuffy sinuses.  You will also learn about the dangerous side effects of OTC and prescription allergy medications and why the majority of the time they only address the symptoms and not the cause. Learn how natural, holistic health care can help by addressing the underlying cause and restore Total Body Wellness!

The Workshop will be held at Austin Ranch Chiropractic Office at 6:30 PM., there is no cost but we do ask that you call the office at 972-820-5880, as space is limited!

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The next time you visit your doctor, after your doctor is done telling you how safe vaccines are, ask him this question with the 9 magic words: “If this vaccine injures my child, who is responsible?”

Your doctor will likely blush, get angry with you, or avoid the question altogether. What the doctor will avoid telling you is that vaccines are unavoidably unsafe! This means that even if vaccines are handled and given properly, some children will die or will be hurt.

The reality—and the answer to the question—is this: You are responsible if your child is injured!

The National Child Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 protects the manufacturer from liability for unavoidable adverse side effects as long as the vaccine is properly prepared and accompanied by the proper directions and warnings. [14]

The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) also protects your doctor from any liability if a vaccine injures your baby.

Conclusion

If you decide to vaccinate your child, you do so at your own risk.

Your doctor can tell you vaccines are perfectly safe and your child will be “protected”, but the ones who are really “protected” are the doctors and the vaccine companies. What can you do? Take action right now.

Click on this link http://vactruth.com/2013/02/10/vaccines-are-unsafe/?utm_source=The+Vaccine+Truth+Newsletter&utm_campaign=444d2f8d4  to read more

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Unfortunately it also means an increased number of traffic accidents and injuries – whether you are an innocent victim of someone else’s bad driving, or you unintentionally hit a sheet of black ice that you never saw coming.

Most minor to moderate accident victims may brush off the seriousness of a sore back or neck, thinking it will probably subside in a few days; however they don’t realize that the force of the accident may have misaligned their spine ever so slightly. If left untreated, gravity and time will turn a small misalignment into a bigger one – putting continued pressure on ligaments, muscles, and the spine.

In a few short months the accident victim will start feeling more and more discomfort and pain, and of course a poorer posture as a result of compensation for their misalignments.

If you are ever in a car accident – whether minor, moderate, or severe – make an appointment with us to ensure the smallest misalignment is addressed and treated before it turns into a lifetime of pain and discomfort.

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Bring a friend and be entered into our raffle for a $100 Starbucks Card.

Refreshments and treats will be served (pumpkin themed of course)

Tuesday October 30, 2012

It’s Dr. Kinney’s Birthday, so lots of singing too!

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For most of us, we look to the pumpkin pies and breads and seeds to enjoy the efforts of the pumpkin farmers. As the pumpkins turn into Jack-o-Lanterns around Halloween and adorn our front porches, many people saved the seeds to roast and enjoy. Did you know that was a healthy choice? Good for you!

Then, Thanksgiving approaches Dallas, and the pumpkin pies roll out. Fascinatingly, early pumpkin pies were actually created in pumpkins! Like we do today, early American settlers would chop the top off and remove the seeds, but they would then fill the pumpkin with milk, spices, and honey and bake the whole thing. Granted, there was no crust, but it was a healthier version of pumpkin pie! 

Healthy pumpkin benefits are numerous! It’s no wonder that the Native Americans used pumpkins seeds for food and medicine! (1)

• reduction in arthritis inflammation (2) and heart disease,
• prevention of osteoporosis in men due to the high zinc content – 71% RDA – in pumpkin seeds (3),
• stress reduction and irritability as the amino acid tryptophan in pumpkin seeds converts to GABA (an anti-stress neurochemical) in the brain (4),
• inhibition of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men (5),
• anti-oxidant protection from free radicals floating around in Indianapolis due to the beta-carotene conversion into vitamin A (6) (Don’t you just love the bright orange color beta-carotene gives the pumpkin!),
• support of good vision, eye and skin health, and a strong immune system due to the 246% Vitamin A content one serving offers (6), and
• improvement in postmenopausal women’s issues taking pumpkin seed oil like an increase in HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and decrease in blood pressure, hot flashes, headaches and joint pain (7)

From the flower to the inner flesh to the seeds, the pumpkin gives us its all! The flower is edible. The flesh is delectable in so many ways – pies, breads, smoothies. The pumpkin seeds are easy to make and fun to eat! Share some with your friends and family!

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Recently, doctors and parents have started looking for treatments to provide children with better outcomes through less invasive procedures.  One of the most promising treatments has been the use of upper cervical chiropractic techniques.

What are Ear Infections?

Ear infections are caused by inflammation and excess fluid in the air-filled space behind the eardrum.  The inflammation and fluid cause an increase in pressure resulting in considerable pain and discomfort.  Typically, bacterial or viral infections are the root cause of otitis media.  These infections are often the result of other illnesses that cause congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes.  Common illnesses that cause these conditions include colds, flu’s and allergies.  Otitis media is often caused when the small tubes in the ear, known as eustachian tubes, become inflamed, swollen or filled with mucus.  The inflammation, mucus or swelling blocks the opening of the tubes and prevents fluid from draining.

Bacteria is the most common cause of ear infections and the narrow and horizontal position of children’s eustachian tubes make them more prone to infections than adults.  The size and position of the tubes make it more difficult for the ear to drain properly and cause a buildup of fluid and increased pressure.  The adenoids, two small pads of tissue located near the opening of the eustachian tubes, are believed to play a significant role in the development of ear infections.  When the adenoids become inflamed or enlarged, they can block the opening of the eustachian tubes and cause a buildup of fluid.  Children have relatively large adenoids, and when they become inflamed the adenoids are likely the block the opening that allows fluid to drain from the ear.

Common Signs of an Ear Infection

While ear infections are most common in children, adults are susceptible to the illness as well.  The signs and symptoms of adult ear infections are virtually the same as those found in children.  If ear pain is severe, symptoms of an ear infection last more than a day, or there is a discharge of fluid from the ear you should seek medical treatment.

Traditional Treatments for Ear Infections

Ear infections have traditionally been treated using antibiotics or surgery.  In acute cases of otitis media caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics are used to treat the illness.  However, research has indicated that antibiotics are only slightly more effective than the body’s natural immune system.

In chronic, or recurring, cases of ear infection, doctors often recommend surgery.  Typically, two surgical options are available.  The first form of surgery includes making a small hole in the eardrum and implanting tubes that allow the ear to drain.  Depending on the specific surgery performed, the tubes with either fall out of the ear on their own or be removed by surgical methods.  Once the tubes are removed, the eardrum closes.  While this form of surgery is often effective, between 20 and 30% of cases will require additional surgery.

The second form of surgery commonly used to treat ear infections is the removal of the adenoids.  This surgery is selected when inflammation of the adenoids is the suspected cause of recurring infections.  However, the adenoids play a role in regulating the body’s immune system and their removal can potentially leave children with weaker defenses against illness.

Chiropractic Treatment of Ear Infections

Treating ear infections with chiropractic techniques has become more popular in recent years.  Dr. Joan Fallon, a New York chiropractor, has reported that chiropractic adjustments to the back of the skull and upper cervical area have been able to remedy and prevent ear infections in up to 80% of children for at least the first six months following the initial treatment period.  Dr. Fallon’s research suggests that chiropractic techniques help mobilize and drain the excess fluid in the ear.  According to a pilot study, chiropractic adjustments to the back of the skull were able to induce the middle ear to drain and allowed children to fight the infection without the use of antibiotics.  The average child needed 6 to 8 treatments for best results.  Her research also suggests that children who recovered from ear infections without the use of antibiotics were less likely to suffer painful ear infections in the future.  According to Dr. Fallon’s research, chiropractic manipulation is not only a safe method for treating ear infections, but also an effective one.

Plano Chiropractic Care for Chronic Ear Infections

The certified and licensed doctors of chiropractic medicine at Austin Ranch Chiropractic  may be able to help treat your child’s ear infections.  If you or your child suffers from chronic ear infections and traditional medical therapies have failed to produce positive outcomes, contact us today.  Our team of chiropractors may be able to provide you or your child with the relief you desperately seek.

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This photo is an example of how posture contributes to your bite..

Next, complete this simple test….

Sit upright in a chair with shoulders back and with a horizontal gaze.

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