Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The History of Chiropractic- April 2016

THE HISTORY OF CHIROPRACTIC
April 2016

Hi Everybody Dr. Norris Here,

Spring has sprung and the days are getting warmer. As the temperatures increase people tend to be more active. If you or someone you care about overdoes it and is in pain, please contact me because I may be able to help with advice or treatment.
Remember "Nobody has time for pain!"

The Art and Science Of Chiropractic

 
Manipulation of the spine has been performed for thousands of years. Ancient writings indicate the Chinese and Greeks were moving spinal vertebrae to relieve pain approximately 2,000 years ago. During the medieval period "bone setters" used crude methods to reset bones and joints.

In 1895 David Palmer a natural healer in Iowa began to experiment with specifically administered maneuvers designed to restore misaligned joints to their proper position and function. His patients reported amazing results with the treatments. Within months hundreds of people began to seek-out Dr. Palmer. He called the technique Chiropractic, in Latin for "chiro-" hand, "-practic" practitioner or "A doctor who uses his hands." Soon Dr. Palmer was teaching his techniques and the Palmer College of Chiropractic was incorporated.

Through the 1950's Chiropractic was considered non-scientific. Nevertheless millions of patients were reporting remarkable results. Doctors of Chiropractic were often the last resort for people who had suffered without relief using typical medical treatment and medication. Because of this success the American Medical Association sought to destroy the chiropractic profession and began a massive smear campaign. In 1987, a Superior court ruled that the AMA had violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and that it had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession." (Wilkv. American Medical Ass'n. 1987).  The court further stated that the "AMA had entered into a long history of illegal behavior".  It then issued a permanent injunction against the AMA to prevent such future behavior.

Subsequent scientific research has shown that restoring proper alignment of joints by using a specifically applied "adjustment" helps restore joint, nerve and muscle function which results in less pain, reduced spasm and increased mobility. In 35+ years of practice I have been fortunate by being able to help thousands of patients. I thank you for being one of those patients and thank Dr. Palmer for starting the Chiropractic profession.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 


HEALTH TIP:
Why Water Intake?

We all know that water is essential for life, but have you ever wondered why your body needs so much replenishing? Water is crucial for the body's everyday biological functions. The majority of the human body is made up of water: We rely on it to lubricate our joints, regulate temperature and to care for the brain and spinal cord. Without enough water, we'd be dry, unfocused, unenergized and creaky.

On average, we lose two to three liters of water a day, through sweat, breath, urine and bowel movements. To compensate, we've got to rehydrate. While past guidance has suggested we drink approximately eight glasses a day, new recommendations say we should drink anywhere from 2 to 3.7 liters (8.4 to 15.6 cups) daily, depending on a person's sex, weight, health and environment.
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“Have you noticed that the man
who is not willing to fix himself is the one
who wants the most laws passed to fix others?”
~
David Palmer, Founder of Chiropractic
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

I Love My Patients- March 2016

I LOVE MY PATIENTS
March 2016

Hi Everybody Dr. Norris Here,

During the last 30+ years of my career treating patients I've had the privilege of seeing thousands of people and helping them with painful conditions. I love all my patients, but there are several which in particular come to mind. Here are some of the most memorable.

"I'm ready."
Early in my career as an Athletic Trainer I was working at Santa Ana College. One of our best players broke his leg in football practice. He was sent to our team doctor who put a cast on the player’s leg. The next day the player shows up for practice without the cast and says "I'm ready to go." I asked, "Where is the cast?" The linebacker proceeded to tell me he soaked it in the bathtub and cut it off with a knife. Needless to say he didn't play that week.

"It's All In Her Head."
A woman brought her teenage daughter to me who had been suffering from headaches for several months. The mother was frustrated because she had taken her daughter to her primary physician, a neurologist and a pain specialist. X-rays, CT scans and multiple medications had not helped the girl. Finally they told the mom there is nothing wrong. In other words: "It's all in her head."  After I evaluated the girl for several minutes it was clear she had vertebral misalignments in her neck. I told the mom that this was likely the cause of her headaches. The mom was skeptical but gave permission to try several adjustments. After the first treatment there was some relief. After the second treatment, about 75% improvement. By the third treatment the young girl was pain free.
In other words: "It's was all in her neck."

"I'm Scheduled For Surgery."
I saw a fellow one day for chronic low back pain. He had degenerative disc disease which was irritating a nerve causing constant pain into his leg. He told me I was his last chance before having spine surgery. I advised him to be patient and stay compliant with my recommendations. After five treatments, home exercises and lifestyle changes the guy was significantly better. He cancelled the surgery and has been seeing me on and off for years.

While medical care and medications can be beneficial and life saving, they often have serious side effects and can't cure every patient. My suggestion is TRY A NATURAL SOLUTION FIRST.
Chiropractic care, massage therapy and supplements are inexpensive and safe. If you or someone you care about is suffering I may be able to help.
 
"Because you don't have time for pain."
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 


HEALTH TIP: Chiropractic For Headaches
"Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is an effective treatment for tension headaches. Patients who received SMT experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast to the patients that received medication." Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, 1995
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“Appearance of disease is as swift as an arrow; its disappearance is slow, like a turtle.”
~
Chinese Proverb
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Some Random Thoughts- February 2016

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS
February 2016

Hi Everybody Dr. Norris Here,
For those of you who have already given up on your New Year's Resolutions take heart.  Most people last about 3 weeks. I swim several times per week over at East Side Pool. Right after the New Year the pool is packed. This week it is back the normal amount of people. Here are several good quotes about good intentions.
  • "A balanced diet is having a cupcake in each hand."
  • “If you can't go to the gym... go to McDonalds, the cashier is named Jim... it's kind of the same."
  • "I decided I will never get down to my original weight... 8 lbs 6 oz is unrealistic." 
Keep it simple. Eat more plants and keep moving.

Sciatic Nerve Symptoms
One of the most common conditions I treat is sciatic nerve pain. Pain down the back of the leg, side of the leg or into and around the buttocks is usually caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve. The irritation is often a misalignment of the pelvis or lower back. Pain therapy, massage, stretching exercises and chiropractic adjustments are the best and safest way to manage this condition. Let me know if you or someone you care about is suffering from this health issue... I can help.

Super Bowl Athletic Trainers
Some of you may know that before I became a Doctor of Chiropractic I was an Athletic Trainer at the high school, community college and university levels. It was a wonderful profession; helping athletes to rehabilitate from injuries and perform better at their best was very gratifying. I was able to work as a medical coordinator for the 1984 Olympic Games. My wife, Cindy, who is also an athletic trainer, and I were able to cover many events including the opening ceremonies, water-polo gold-medal game and the decathlon. Athletic trainers are the unsung heroes of sports. So when you watch the Super Bowl game look for the people who run onto the field and help the injured players off the field…and realize there is no game if the players can't play!
 
Because even Broncos and Panthers
don't have time for pain!


Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 

HEALTH TIP:
Remember These Five Dangerous Words:
Maybe It Will Go Away.
There is a direct response to how well a person responds to treatment and how soon the receive treatment. Delaying care often means the condition becomes chronic. And chronic health conditions mean longer more costly treatments and slower healing. So I recommend getting care AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“It’s true that laughter really is cheap medicine. It’s a prescription anyone can afford.
And best of all, you can fill it right now.”
~
Steve Goodier
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

Friday, January 8, 2016

A New Year: 2016- January 2016

A NEW YEAR: 2016
January 2016

Hi Everybody Dr. Norris Here,

I hope you had a great holiday season. I did a bit of travel to see family. But I did manage to take some much needed time off. Last year was good for Norris Chiropractic. We saw almost 200 new patients and were able to help a lot of people with painful conditions. This year I will continue to provide quality affordable health care.

As to New Year’s resolutions, I am keeping it simple. I resolve to eat more plants, keep moving and make it to 2017. Here is an interesting story.

Doing The Right Thing

One of the most common resolutions is to improve oneself.  Eating better, exercising, more sleep or perhaps relaxing more is your thing. Ever wonder what would happen if you tried to follow every health rule ever written?

What if you genuinely spent a year learning and living by the advice of every diet and workout plan you could find? Author AJ Jacobs decided to give it a try.  His previous endeavors include: Spending a year living biblically and following every rule mentioned in the Bible. He became a single woman for awhile to investigate dating. He’s also the Editor at Large of Esquire magazine and an author who has published several books about his experiments. So he was serious with this “abide by every health rule” experiment.

He experimented with near starvation, radical diets, numerous exercise routines, endurance races, and more. His conclusion was this: You’ve got to be very careful about who you listen to.

During his experiment, he met people who told him all kinds of bizarre things, including the idea that you should drill holes in your head to mix up the electric pathways. His takeaway: Don’t pay attention to every health fad you may hear of.  He concluded with: “Whatever you love, whatever makes you happy, is what’s going to be best for you. The healthiest lifestyles include moderation in all things, including workouts and diet, and a mental awareness of the messages your body is sending to you."

Well said AJ. Whatever improvements you want to make in 2016, if they somehow cause pain,
don't suffer I can help.
 
Because you don't have time for pain!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 
HEALTH TIP: The Detox Diet
Foods that help to detoxify include: collard greens, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, lemons, garlic, sesame seeds and most fruits.
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
~
Doug Larson
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

The Holiday Season is Here- December 2015

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE
December 2015

Hi Everybody This Is Dr. Norris.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and Happy, Happy, Happy. I think that covers everyone. As I write this newsletter I am listening to holiday songs on the radio and it is cold outside. Anyway here is some year-end trivia and reminders.

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA
  • A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard.
  • Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday. This tradition began in 1836.
  • During the Christmas/Hanukkah season, more than 1.76 billion candy canes will be made.
  • Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards   in 1915, five years after the founding of the company.
  • In France, Christmas is called Noel. This is derived from the French phrase "les bonnes nouvelles," which means literally "the good news" and refers to the gospel.
  • More than three billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States.
HOLIDAY HOURS
During the weeks of Christmas and New Years Norris Chiropractic will be closed on Thursday, Friday and the weekend. We will be open regular hours for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

MONTHLY REMINDER
One of the more frequent questions I get from patients is "When should I come in again to have my spine checked? Remember you are in charge of your own health. So if you are in pain call right away because waiting delays the healing process and can often take longer for symptoms to resolve. If you are not in pain I recommend doing a self assessment each month when you get this newsletter. Do you feel out of balance, are you feeling stiffness or tightness, or are you just moving slower? These are signs it may be time for a spinal check.
 
As always if you or someone you care about
is suffering, I'm here to help.
Because you don't have time for pain!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 

HEALTH TIP:
Be Careful With The Leftovers

It is estimated that 400,000 people become sick each year from eating tainted Christmas leftovers. If it looks or smells questionable throw it out. Better to be safer than sorry.
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~Andy Rooney
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

It is the Time for Thankfulness- November 2015

IT IS THE TIME FOR THANKFULNESS
November 2015

Hi Everybody, this is Dr. Norris.
The Fall season is in full swing. The time change finally came and we are counting the days until the end of the year. I would like to share with you some of the things I am most thankful for.
  • My family...I have a wonderful and supportive wife who puts up with my shenanigans...and a daughter who is the light of my life. They are both beautiful and give me reason for getting up each morning. If I didn't they would surely push me out of that bed!
  • My work...I have a fulfilling occupation which helps me support the above mentioned         wife and daughter.
  • My patients...The work I do, has allowed me to meet and help many amazingly loyal people and families. In over 30 years of practice the children I first saw are now bringing their own children to see me. Thanks to you all for trusting your health to me at Norris Chiropractic.
  • My friends...From my church family, other friends in Christ, BNI group friends and other acquaintances; I have been truly blessed by those around me. Thanks for your friendship.
ATTENTION ALL ANIMAL LOVERS
Pumpkin the raccoon was just one month old when she was abandoned by her mother - one year later, and she's part of a whole new family. After she fell from a tree in the Bahamas - leaving her with a broken hind leg - her mother didn't return and the local shelter was unable to take her. So nearby residents Laura and William Young took her in and nursed her back to health. Within weeks, Pumpkin had formed a bond with the couple's two rescue dogs, Toffee and Oreo. Now she thinks that she is a dog. The three have a ball together. Check her out on YouTube at - Pumpkin the raccoon.

THE STATS ARE IN
A recent research article has found people are increasingly using chiropractors for health care. Now 50% of people in the U.S. have seen a Doctor of Chiropractic for evaluation. This is up from 16% just twenty years ago. The reasons given for increased use were the lack of results with traditional medicine and not wanting to take drugs.

If you or someone you care about is suffering
with pain and they are tired of taking drugs
to hide symptoms, I'm here to help.
Let us get you back to work and play
the drug free way.
Because you don't have time for pain!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 

HEALTH TIP:
When It Comes To Pain - Women Rule

Women have a higher pain threshold than men, says Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City: “They’re more likely to push through aches, which can lead to bigger ones.” Research seems to indicate this is part of the child bearing mechanism. Let's face it in my experience if we had to rely on men suffering with 3 months of morning sickness, 7 months of back pain and a 21 hour labor we would be extinct by now.
Don’t be a hero, ladies! If you have pain, rest it and get treatment. Men if you have an “yee-ouch"... suck it up.
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything."
-
Arabian proverb.
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations.
The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.

Some Random Thoughts for Fall- October 2015

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR FALL
October 2015

Hi Everybody This Is Dr. Norris.
Here are some random thoughts.
The fall is the time of year when colds and flu typically begin to appear. The weather goes from hot to cold and back again. Here are some recommendations to stay healthy during this season.

SLEEP RESTFUL SLEEP
A recent study by Eric Prather, PhD at U.C. San Francisco, found that sleeping less than 6 hours a night caused a person to be 4 times more likely to come down with a cold. This is because of a decreased immune system. So don't burn that candle at both ends. 

HOT WATER AND SOAP
Remember how your mother scolded you to scrub your hands with hot water and soap? She was right. Simply washing your hands throughout the day is the number one way to prevent colds and flu. Remember it needs to be hot water and soap... and scrub for more than 10 seconds... yes mom!

LESS SUGAR
AND MORE CHIROPRACTIC

The fall has Halloween, Thanksgiving and Marie Callender's pie sale, so we often eat more sweets. Sugar has been shown to decrease our immune systems and increase bacterial growth. These factors can cause more sicknesses. Regular chiropractic has been shown to improve our immune systems and therefore help us fight off pathogens. So eat less sugar and see you chiropractor of a spinal checkup.

NATIONAL COFFEE DAY
Drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day can bolster your immune system. Don't use sugar or sugar based creamers. Honey and milk if you must are better. National coffee day was earlier this week... so here are some coffee facts. Half of American adults drink coffee daily, averaging 3.1 cups per day. We spend an average of $20 a week on coffee. The benefits of moderate coffee consumption are many: Decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes, liver cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, cardiac and Alzheimer's disease. Coffee contains beneficial antioxidants, magnesium and antibacterial compounds. So drink up.

If you or someone you care about is suffering
with pain or they want to avoid pain,
I'm here to help.
Because you don't have time for pain!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Norris
 

HEALTH TIP:
Research Validates Chiropractic

When I started studying chiropractic it was considered by mainstream medicine as unscientific and unproven. Now thirty years later numerous studies have shown chiropractic care to be an effective treatment options for people in pain. Patient satisfaction surveys also indicate Doctors of Chiropractic rate high with their patients.  So tell those you love... CHIROPRACTIC WORKS!
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“I don’t know if they were men or women fans running naked across the field. They had bags over their heads."
"I never said most of the things I said."

-Yogi Berra 1925-2015
 

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations. The information is provided for educational purposes only. Response to care and nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.