Category — News

I am pleased to announce the newest addition to our team, Laura Goldman.  And yes… she is my lovely wife too!

Laura loves working with people and enjoys the healthcare environment of our office.  She is kind, considerate of others, and is a great communicator.

Laura is getting to know many of our patients and is becoming familiar with all of our office procedures… and she’s catching on fast.  She is really  helping to bring some needed stability to our front desk reception area.

Remember that we’re here for you – whether you have neck pain, back pain, headaches, whiplash, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, or other aches and pains.  We’re here to provide natural pain relief.  Give us a call, or just drop in (we welcome walk-in visits/no appointment is needed), and we’ll do whatever it takes to get you needed relief as fast as possible.

And the next time you’re in, please help me welcome Laura.  She’ll be the one who greets you a smile and an offer of coffee, tea, or a snack!

Stay well!

From now through February 29th, we are offering one-hour massage gift certificates at an amazing discount of 30% off our normal price!

That’s only $45.50 to give the gift of a relaxing 1-hour massage!  (Normal price is $65).

If you want to give an extra special treat of a warm and soothing hot-stone massage, that’s only $52.50! (Normal price is $75).

What a great Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one.

Valentine Bonus:

• Buy 2 gift certificates and you will receive a FREE 30-minute massage for yourself!
• Buy 4 gift certificates and receive a FREE 60-minute hot-stone massage for yourself!

Call our office today at 215-938-8500, to take advantage of this offer.  Gift certificates can be emailed (PDF format), mailed via USPS (same day), or picked up at the office.

Why is our practice so busy?  It’s simple…

We give patients what THEY want!

Imagine this.  You go into a restaurant… a rather expensive one.  You sit down and when the waiter or waitress comes over to you - THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO EAT AND PAY FOR!

Even worse, they tell you that you can only eat today if you commit to eating there several times a week for the next few months.

What would you do if your food server told you that?  You’d probably get up and walk out…

 Right?

You would go to a restaurant where you can order whatever you want, have it prepared just the way you like it, and you could come back whenever you want… or never again.

What does all this restaurant talk have to do with you and why our practice is so busy?

 Quite a bit.

You see – there are two basic types of doctors.  The first type dictates your care.  They examine you and tell you exactly what your care plan is going to be.

This is not a bad thing.  They are trained professionals and should be giving you what they believe is the best possible treatment plan.

But, that does not mean they are always right… or that treatment plan is the best for YOU.

That’s Why In This Office, We Try Hard To Be Different.

We examine patients and tell them exactly what is going on.  But, we also listen to our patients and take into consideration YOUR input.

The most important thing is WHAT YOU WANT, not necessarily what we think is best.

That’s why we customize our recommendations and work with YOU to give YOU exactly what YOU want.

In other words… we treat you as if you were a member of our family.  We always ask ourselves…

If This Patient Was My Relative What Would I Do?

That means – we do not try to make you commit to long term treatment plans.

Who wants to commit to something they don’t know they are going to like?

For that reason, you can try a few visits and see if it really is for you.  If it is… and you are getting the results you want, then you can keep going until the desired results are achieved… and you can stop whenever you want.

Our goal is to give you what you came in for – as fast as possible.

Everyone reacts to care a little differently – so you may get out of pain really fast and not need any more care.

Most patients want what we call, “Relief Care.”  They come in with some kind of ache or pain and we get them out of pain.  It’s pretty simple.

And here’s something really important: we do not get upset or lecture you if you have not been in to see us in a while.

We completely understand that you have a life and you may not need care. In fact – WE THINK THAT IS GOOD!

…and yes, we also love it when patients drop back  in – it’s a sign they love what we do.

And, I literally mean “drop in.”  Patients love that we do not have appointments so they can come when they want and fit us into your busy schedule.  Once again, we are here for you, not the other way around.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope the new year finds you healthy and joyful.

Have you ever had neck or back pain and considered Chiropractic… but feared you’d be required to commit to long term Chiropractic Care?

You are not alone.

Even though there is plenty of research backing up Chiropractic, some patients just can’t afford the time or expense of  long-term, corrective care Chiropractic.

That’s why we now offer “pay-per-visit” Chiropractic for your neck pain or back pain.

This means you can call and come in on the same day and get exactly what you want… an affordable drugless solution for your aches and pains.

Our mainstream approach has gotten us featured along with many medical doctors and spine surgeons on Spine-Health.com… one of the most visited online back pain information websites in the country.

So, if you, your spouse, or a friend is complaining of aches and pains, rest assured that you can come in and get the care you want and can afford.

Give us a call at 215-938-8500. We’ll take good care of you.  Or just stop by, because…

We have a new walk-in policy for established and new patients.

Simply show up during our open hours and we will work you right in!

Our walk-in policy allows our patients to easily come in for treatment, even the same day symptoms arise. This is beneficial in reducing recovery times from an injury.  Why wait days or even weeks for an appointment elsewhere?

Also, you may have noticed… We changed our name to “Huntingdon Valley Pain Relief Center”.

Our new name accurately describes our practice focus.  We may have a new name, but you can expect to receive the same great service and top-notch chiropractic care!

Also, we’re excited to tell you that…We have completely remodeled our office!

Come in and experience the difference… more spacious, completely private treatment rooms, bright new lighting, fresh paint, and a refreshment/snack area for patients.

Lastly, I want to remind you that you are always welcome back no matter how long it’s been since we last saw you.  We are here to help you in any way we can and will be happy to see you!

Hope everything is going well and we’ll see you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Ken Goldman, D.C.

P.S. If you are not in pain and would like to still get a check-up… or… you are in pain and would like a treatment or two… just give us a call (or simply drop in) and we promise we’ll get you in immediately.  We always welcome walk-in visits, and are here for your convenience and promise prompt service!

Hello! I hope this holiday season finds you healthy and content with your many blessings.

I just wanted to spend a moment to detail some of our new and exciting changes in our practice…

1) Our practice name has changed to “Huntingdon Valley Pain Relief Center”. This name more accurately describes our focus and will help eliminate any confusion among newer clients.

2) We are in the process of remodeling our whole office. Some of the changes include: new walls, fresh paint, a snack & beverage area for patients, new ceiling & lighting, and more. Stop in… have a snack and drink on us. You’ll see and feel the difference.

3) We have a new “Walk-In” policy. This means that if you are a new or established patient, you can simply come in during our open hours and you will be taken care of very quickly. If you still want to make appointments, that’s fine with us. Just remember that appointments are optional.

If you are in pain, give us a call or simply stop in. You know we’re here to help. And remember that you can stop in any time, whether you are in pain or not. I’d be happy to see you.

So I would like to extend warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year… from myself and my staff. We hope to see you soon.

Dr. Goldman attended a continuing education seminar and became certified in instrument adjusting.  He was instructed by three top chiropractic doctors in the country and deepened his skill and education in the utilization of the Impulse IQ adjusting instrument.

This is the next generation in adjusting instruments, which allows Dr. Goldman to provide patients with an outstanding adjustment experience.  Dr. Goldman is one of the few doctors in the area using the Impulse IQ instrument and the only Certified Impulse IQ Chiropractor in Huntingdon Valley.

In the hands of a skilled certified doctor, the Impulse IQ instrument delivers multiple, safe and precise impulses every second in order to correct joint dysfunction and relieve pain.

COMPUTERIZED ADJUSTMENT

High-tech computerized adjustments with Impulse iQ® actually precisely measure how the spine is moving during the treatment so that just the right amount of care can be provided.

YEARS OF RESEARCH

Over five years of research have gone into the development of the Impulse iQ Adjusting Instrument® to create gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments that are safe and effective for patients of all ages.  High-tech computerized adjustments with Impulse iQ® actually precisely measure how the spine is moving during the treatment so that just the right amount of care can be provided.

CONTROLLED FORCE

Impulse iQ® has three different force settings for different parts of the body and to treat patients of all ages. The controlled low force thrust of Impulse® make treatments comfortable.

EXTREME SPEED

Impulse iQ® is twice as fast as other adjusting instruments and 100x faster than manual chiropractic adjustments. The gentle thrust is faster than the body’s tendency to tighten up and resist the adjustment.

Our office will be closed on Monday, July 4th 2011.  We will reopen on Tuesday, July 5th at 9:00 am.

Have an amazing Independence Day!

Well the new government food guide is out.  It can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov.  This is the latest change in dietary recommendations from the USDA.  It is meant to replace the old “Food Pyramid” from 1993, which replaced the “4 Food Groups” from years earlier.  The recommendations now are:

Balancing Calories
	●	Enjoy your food, but eat less.
	●	Avoid oversized portions.
	Foods to Increase
	●	Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
	●	Make at least half your grains whole grains.
	●	Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
	Foods to Reduce
	●	Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
	●	Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Some of the USDA’s recommendations are sound, and the web site has some good information if you poke around.  One good piece of advice is to make half of your plate fruits and vegetables.  However, there are some glaring weaknesses in their recommendations and also quite a bit of confusion.  It seems that they came up with a very diplomatic program that wouldn’t offend anyone – especially the big food industries.  The only industry they may have offended is the “sugary drink” people.

Here are some of the glaring problems I discovered:

• Dairy is included as a requirement at every meal.  Dairy is a dietary non-factor.  Although containing some nutrients, dairy products are very  low in overall nutrition compared to many other food choices and are not just not essential.  Many cultures (such as China) have gotten along fine without much dairy at all, and have very strong bones and teeth!
• They recommend only half of your grains be whole grains.  I would like it to be 100%.  Why did the USDA stop at 50%?
• They recommend a mystery food group called “Protein”.  Most people quickly think of meats, poultry, and fish.  It’s as if the USDA is saying that vegetables aren’t a good source of protein, when in fact they are the best source.  Dark green leafy and solid vegetables contain more protein per calorie than lean beef!  Look to the elephant or the horse – powerful bones and muscles, and completely vegetarian.  They also don’t mention how much protein we need each day… perpetuating the “protein-myth”.
• They don’t clarify what lower sodium foods are.  They just say to “compare… and choose the foods with lower numbers”.
• They completely ignore legumes, nuts, and seeds on the plate, but can be found if you dig into the site under “Protein Food Group”.
• They ignore plant-based sources of calcium – which are actually the best choices, and instead only cover dairy-based foods.

If you really want to enjoy amazing health, you have to make some big changes.  Changes that make a big difference, and changes that are sustainable.  Although perhaps a bit of an improvement over the last Food Pyramid, the recommendations of our government don’t go far enough to make much of a difference.  There’s too much room for mediocrity.  The government has let us down again.  Surprised?

Here are two better solutions that you can use as a food guide instead of the “ChooseMyPlate” deal:

From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine - www.PCRM.org

The “PowerPlate” is a simple guide that gets right to the point.  Here’s another guide for the person looking for some more detail…

From Dr. Joel Fuhrman - www.drfuhrman.com

If you would like to talk to someone in our office for advice on weight loss or healthy eating, feel free to give us a call at 215-938-8500, and ask for Dr. Ken Goldman or Stephanie Brabazon, our holistic nutritionist.

We are now open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 – 12:30 by appointment, and have full day hours on Wednesday.  Our weekly office hours now looks like this:

www.naturaltherapydr.com/contact-us/

Well, we’re back from our yearly trip to Rickett’s Glen.  If you’re not familiar with Rickett’s Glen, it is a wonderful PA park in the endless mountain region, near Benton, which is around 45 minutes due west of Wilkes-Barre. The park is known for its old, pristine forest and incredible hiking trails.  The most difficult trail is called the “Falls Trail”, and is home to 21 breath-taking waterfalls.

We had a great time despite three thunderstorms, four scraped knees, two concussions, hundreds of fly and mosquito bites, and one canoe tipping.  We managed to fit in two hikes, six campfires, one game of capture the flag, two games of football on the beach, several trips to the lake, one trip to Knoebels Amusement park, two games of manhunt, one try at fishing, and one late night trip to the lake to star gaze.

We’ve made it sort of a tradition to meet three other families there, each with their own cabin.  This was the first year that my whole family hiked the falls trail and made it to all 21 waterfalls.  And I was very proud of all my kids (especially Joshua, age 6 and pictured above with his dad) who didn’t complain one bit during the 3.5 hour adventure. We planned it so that near the end of the hike (around 2.5 hours in), we made it to the Ganoga Falls, a 94′ tall and powerful waterfall.  We were all starting to tire some, but after being blasted with cold air and mist at the bottom of the falls for a minute or two, we were totally refreshed.  What a blessing!

Rickett’s Glen is a beautiful place, and filled with so much to see and do. Everyone had a great time.  But it’s good to be back.

I just signed Slow Food USA’s petition against legislation in three states that would criminalize taking photos or video of farms.

If you, too, believe that a well-managed farm should have nothing to hide, and that consumers have a right to see how their food is produced, please join me in signing their petition:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5986/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6675.

If we can raise a big enough stink, we can stop this outrageous effort from spreading to other states and send a clear message that consumers have a right to know where our food comes from.

Thanks!

“Forks Over Knives”, a new health awareness movie, has just come out.  It looks like a good, in-your-face, challenging documentary… and it’s actually filmed in 3D!

Here’s the official trailer:

There’s a local Premiere Screening in Plymouth Meeting on Thursday, May 19th.  For only $15, you get dinner and the movie. This is from the movie web site http://www.forksoverknives.com/:

Philadelphia Premiere (May 19)

And another bonus, Rip Esselstyn – the author of the Engine 2 Diet, will be there!  Rip is the son of Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., M.D., the author of the groundbreaking book - Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.

Here is a synopsis of the movie from their web site:

What has happened to us? Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever by nearly every measure.

Two out of every three of us are overweight. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the country’s three leading causes of death, even though billions are spent each year to “battle” these very conditions. Millions suffer from a host of other degenerative diseases.

Could it be there’s a single solution to all of these problems? A solution so comprehensive but so utterly straightforward, that it’s mind-boggling that more of us haven’t taken it seriously?

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called “diseases of affluence” that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

Dr. Campbell, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University, was concerned in the late 1960’s with producing “high quality” animal protein to bring to the poor and malnourished areas of the third world. While in the Philippines, he made a life-changing discovery: the country’s wealthier children, who were consuming relatively high amounts of animal-based foods, were much more likely to get liver cancer. Dr. Esselstyn, a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, found that many of the diseases he routinely treated were virtually unknown in parts of the world where animal-based foods were rarely consumed.

These discoveries inspired Campbell and Esselstyn, who didn’t know each other yet, to conduct several groundbreaking studies. One of them took place in China and is still among the most comprehensive health-related investigations ever undertaken.  Their research led  them to a startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented—and in many cases reversed—by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. Despite the profound implications of their findings, their work has remained relatively unknown to the public.

The filmmakers travel with Drs. Campbell and Esselstyn on their separate but similar paths, from their childhood farms where they both produced “nature’s perfect food”; to China and Cleveland, where they explored ideas that challenged the established thinking and shook their own core beliefs.

The idea of food as medicine is put to the test. Throughout the film, cameras follow “reality patients” who have chronic conditions from heart disease to diabetes. Doctors teach these patients how to adopt a whole foods plant-based diet as the primary approach to treat their ailments—while the challenges and triumphs of their journeys are revealed.

FORKS OVER KNIVES utilizes state of the art 3-D graphics and rare archival footage. The film features leading experts on health, examines the question “why we don’t know”, and tackles the issue of diet and disease in a way that will have people talking for years.

FORKS OVER KNIVES was filmed all over the United States, and in Canada and China.

While talking with various patients this week, I realized that many, good, health awareness movies have come out in just the last few years. Although I haven’t seen them all, it seems that each one has a unique perspective and a lot of good things to say… and to think about.

Here is a list of the movies I recommend:

• Eating
• Food Inc.
• Food Matters
• Super Size Me
• King Corn
• A Diet For All Reasons
• A Diet For A New America
• Simply Raw
• Fresh
• Forks Over Knives

I recommend viewing these movies with your friends and family, especially if you’re interested in learning more about how to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy in this “toxic” world.  These movies reveal some of the modern forces that literally war against your health goals and threaten your very health and wellness.  Some of the varied topics include:

• the obesity epidemic in the USA
• organic vs. conventional food
• genetic modification of food
• the use of chemicals in modern farming (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.)
• natural vs. factory farming
• the causes of modern diseases (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.)
• the truth behind ranches, pig farms, chicken farms, and slaughter houses

If you have any thoughts, please leave a comment.  And if you can, please list any other similar movies that you would recommend.  Also, please let me know if you would be willing to watch a community screening (in our office) of the movie, Fresh.

When you visit us, please be sure to welcome Stephanie Brabazon, our new receptionist and chiropractic assistant.  She started with us last Monday, and is doing a great job meeting everyone and becoming acclimated to her new position.

We are very excite about having Stephanie become part of the Spectrum Wellness team.  Be sure to drop in and say hello.  And don’t be shy to pick her brain about anything nutrition-related.  I’m certain she would love to share a fresh and holistic perspective!

Wow, are we excited about the recent changes in our wellness center!

1. We have finished our expansion and improved our chiropractic and massage services! Our office now extends all the way from the front of our building to the back.   We are very happy with the addition of two spacious, private, quiet, and newly decorated rooms. You are going to love receiving a relaxing therapeutic massage in either our “green room” or our “yellow room”.  We also converted the old massage room to another chiropractic treatment room.  These changes will allow us to provide better care for all of our patients!
2. We acquired an additional therapeutic exercise device that is just going to amaze you! The machine is called the PowerVibe by a company called Zen Pro.  It is a “whole body vibration” therapeutic exercise device.  You are going to be shocked at how fast (just 10 minutes) you can get the physiological effects of 45-60 minutes of exercise. The PowerVibe helps minimize pain, promote healing, improve balance, promotes weight loss, enhance muscle and bone growth, and prevent osteoporosis.   Also, it’s just plain fun to use!

1. We just launched our new web site – NaturalTherapyDr.com – and updated this blog! You may have noticed the new look already.  I welcome you to visit our new site.  Poke around.  It’s loaded with exercise videos, educational videos, and lots of great information about our practice.  Remember to share it as well!
2. Help me welcome Audrey Krieger! Audrey is a certified massage therapist, and the newest member of the Spectrum Wellness team.  She is highly skilled and puts her heart into every massage!

I’m excited about this new year!  Give me a call if you have any questions or concerns about these changes… I’d love to hear from you.  We’re looking forward to helping you meet your health goals in 2011!

Because we don’t want to disrupt any of our patient’s care schedule, we are going to keep our wellness center open this holiday season.  We are going to have massage therapists available and a very qualified doctor of chiropractic will be covering for Dr. Ken Goldman.

Our holiday hours between December 27th and New Year’s Eve are as follows:

• Monday December 27th: 3:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
• Tuesday December 28th: 9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
• Wednesday December 29th: closed
• Thursday December 30th: 3:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
• Friday December 31st: closed

Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy holiday season!  As always, it’s been a privilege and an honor being a part of your wellness care. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!

I’m not a big fan of Bill Maher, but I think he was right on target in this video.

All of us would like to wish you and yours a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

We would like to remind you that our office will be closed on November 25th and 26th.  We will reopen on Monday, November 29th.

I did a bit of research on Thanksgiving and learned that it was President Abraham Lincoln who proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.  The following inspiring quote is from President Lincoln:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

I received this email from the ACA (American Chiropractic Association) this week.  Please invest 5 minutes and let your voice be heard in regard to this important healthcare issue.

Dear Chiropractic Supporter:

The new health care reform law enacted by Congress (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) requires health insurance plans to adhere to a broad new set of consumer protections.  However, some health insurance plans will be allowed to “escape” having to provide these new consumer-friendly protections because they will be granted what is called “grandfathered” status under recently released regulations.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) supports the adoption of regulations that would restrict the use of this “loophole” and extend the important consumer protections to as many patients as possible.

As a citizen you are allowed to submit formal comments to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on this important issue — AND WE URGE YOU TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY…

DOING SO IS SIMPLE AND EASY.  HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO…

1. ACA has prepared a template for your own comments.   Click here to use this template.  Read ACA’s comments here.
2. Save your document in either a Word of pdf format.
3. We urge you to submit comments to HHS electronically using the “Attach a file” option under the box in Step 2 of the HHS comments website.  You may also mail your comments to the address on the template.  All comments mailed and sent electronically must be received by HHS by Monday, August 16th.  Therefore, if your comments are mailed, please make sure they are sent no later than Wednesday, August 11th.

By speaking up now, you will be helping to counter the efforts of those powerful and well –financed insurance plans that wish to avoid adopting the full range of consumer protections included as part of the new law.

You can copy and paste the following section into the comment box (Section 2) and simply add the date and your name at the end:

[INSERT DATE]

Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

Department of Health and Human Services

Attention: OCIIO–9991–IFC

P.O. Box 8016

Baltimore, MD 21244–1850

Re:  Interim Final Rule for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Relating to Status as a Grandfathered Health Plan Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

As a consumer and chiropractic patient I wish to take this opportunity to formally comment on the interim final rule regarding health plans and “grandfather” status (Document ID IRS-2010-0010-0001).

I believe the consumer protections included as part of the new health care law are vitally important and should be extended to as many people as possible.  Accordingly, every effort should be made to increase the number of individuals covered by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) via the above regulations.  The triggers or conditions that would extend these protections to consumers under currently existing “grandfathered” plans should not be weakened or reduced in any way.  I specifically support the position and detailed comments offered by the American Chiropractic Association with respect to the implementation of these regulations.

[INSERT NAME]

Thanks so much for your support!

The Spectrum Wellness healthcare team needs to recharge our “batteries”!  So… our office will be closed for vacation from Saturday, August 14th through Sunday August 22nd.  We will resume normal office hours at 9:00 am on Monday, August 23rd.  Please plan your care schedule accordingly.

We are looking forward to a relaxing and fun-filled vacation… but are also looking forward to returning with more energy and mental clarity to serve you better.

I recently attended a continuing education seminar, where I learned some very important information on the toxic effect of mercury on the human body.  Mercury toxicity is more common than you may think.  You may be surprised to find that mercury is used in:

• Thimerosal – a preservative used in the flu vaccine (and possibly other vaccines)
• CFLs – compact fluorescent light bulbs (mercury is released if broken)
• HFCS – high fructose corn syrup (mercury is used in the manufacturing process of HFCS)

Check out the following links and come to your own conclusions…

Mercury’s Effect on the Nervous System

Here is a link to an incredible video from the University of Calgary showing how a very small amount of mercury causes neurologic damage.  NOTE: the amount of mercury shown in this study to cause nerve damage was diluted to:

• 10 -7 moles of mercury = .0000001 mole of mercury
• The amount of mercury allowed in flu vaccines = .1246 moles (25 mcg) of mercury.  Thimerosal is a preservative used in the flu vaccine which is around 50% mercury by weight.

http://commons.ucalgary.ca/mercury/

Thimerosal

http://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/safetyavailability/…

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/components-Allergens.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/thimerosal/index.html

CFLs

http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercury

HFCS

http://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/1/2

http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=105026

What you can do:

• Avoid using the flu vaccine and other vaccines using mercury as a preservative.  The potential benefits don’t outweigh the proven risks.  Consider that drug companies can state that their vaccines contain no mercury if the mercury content is below an “acceptable” level.  Do your research before blindly using their vaccine!
• Avoid eating foods containing HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).  Mercury toxicity is only one  of the health damaging effects of HFCS.  It has also been linked with diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular problems.
• Use CFLs with caution.  These energy saving light bulbs can be a real headache if they break in an inconvenient place.  Print up (and learn) the clean-up procedure from the EPA and be ready for an emergency cleanup if an accidental bulb break occurs.
• Consider natural detoxification.  We recommend specific nutritional products, ionizing foot baths, body massage, and fasting.  Contact our office for more details.

This past weekend, I completed a thought-provoking 12-hour continuing education seminar.  The seminar was on Modern Diagnosis, Treatment & Documentation.  The course was taught by KSJ Murkowski, a prominent chiropractic doctor who is known for his expertise in his field.

Dr. Murkowski instructed our small class on the latest technology and protocols to be used during patient evaluation.  He also covered different modern documentation procedures.  I have already been able to apply several new chiropractic techniques and procedures that I gained from the seminar.

The seminar featured a lecture and hands-on demonstration of functional protocols, documentation information, and new research.  The practical nature of the seminar enabled me to immediately apply these new protocols to our wellness center.

The next time you’re visiting, please welcome the newest member of our team, Brittany Borie, a certified massage therapist.  Brittany will help manage the front desk and reception area, as well as provide relaxing massage sessions and trigger point therapy.  She says that she enjoys performing a deeper tissue massage as she feels she attains better results.

Brittany is a positive and energetic individual, and we are really excited about her joining our team.  She will be working on Monday mornings and afternoons, Tuesday afternoons, and Thursday afternoons.

Also providing top notch massage and trigger point therapy are Christine, Misha, and Ariel.  If you would like to get know our therapists better, please click here.