Children, ADHD, and Sensory Disorders


It is any parent’s greatest wish to see their children happy and healthy. There is nothing more joyful than seeing a carefree, innocent smile light up your child’s face. Read more

Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disorders


Your gastrointestinal system is an incredible design. It contains endocrine (hormonal) and immune system cells. It cooperates with beneficial bacteria to break down food and protect against harmful pathogens. Read more

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Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disorders

April 1, 2013 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Digestive Health, Healing, Immune System, Nutrition, Stress Leave a comment  

Your gastrointestinal system is an incredible design. It contains endocrine (hormonal) and immune system cells. It cooperates with beneficial bacteria to break down food and protect against harmful pathogens. Every 5 days, you replace the lining of your gastrointestinal system with new cells. This is the fastest turnover of any human cells. This is good news, because it means that the gut can heal quickly. But for many of us, gut dysfunction can lead to daily pain, avoiding foods that are good for us, and even chronic illness.

Your gut can be damaged by processed foods, alcohol, prescription drugs, antibiotics, over-the-counter pain relievers, toxic compounds, and chronic stress. Daily worry and anxiety raise your stress hormone levels, which damages the cells that line your gut. The gut lining is intended to be a strong barrier against pathogens and undigested foods. The cells of the gut lining must correctly identify and process everything that is allowed into our bodies, so that harmful compounds do not enter the blood circulation. The cells of the gut lining are the gatekeepers to the body. They determine how effectively you can turn food into cells, tissues, and organ systems. We’ve all heard, “you are what you eat,” and this is the truth!

The integrity of your gut lining directly influences detoxification processes, cellular energy, brain function, immune function, thyroid function, allergic reactions, and weight gain or loss. Poor gastrointestinal health is a key factor in the following illnesses:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Arthritis
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Hashimoto’s disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Autism

Note that several of these diseases are autoimmune in nature. Autoimmune diseases are becoming alarmingly prevalent in this country, and have a drastic impact on quality of life. Newer research has shed light on how damage to the gut lining can allow substances to enter blood circulation and trigger autoimmune responses. Essentially, the gatekeeper has been destroyed, and the body’s first line of defense has become broken down. With the onslaught of foreign substances, the immune system becomes confused and hyper-vigilant. There is loss of control in the immune system, and the body begins to attack its own healthy cells as well as the invading substances.

Autoimmune disorders are often viewed as permanent, but newer research shows that they can be, to some extent, reversed. Identifying factors such as leaky gut, nutritional deficiencies, sources of toxicity, and chronic stress are critical to healing. Leaky gut testing is available to identify whether specific sugars, once ingested, enter the bloodstream and are excreted in the urine. If these sugars are present in urine, leaky gut (intestinal permeability) is likely. Diagnosing the problem is the first step to healing. Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, specializes in cellular healing and health development in Eagan, MN. For more information and a complimentary consultation, call us at 651-757-5096. We are devoted to your healing!


The #1 Cause of Disability

March 5, 2013 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Chiropractic, Medicine, Spine, Stress Leave a comment  

Globally, the top cause of disability is low back pain. This symptom is what most people think of when they hear the word “chiropractor,” and it is one of the main reasons that people consult our office. We have seen excellent results with people with low back pain, and other symptoms like heartburn will improve. Chiropractic care has whole-body effects because it improves the function of the nervous system. But let’s focus on low back pain.

NPR News reported today that low back pain is the top source of disability in the world, and medicine is not finding new methods to help, like they are with cancer and heart disease. Some people choose to undergo multiple back surgeries, without significant relief. What if the problem is not just in the low back? The part that hurts is not always the true source of the problem. Most of us know that a heart attack can make your jaw or arm hurt.

Health care providers sometimes overlook the physiology behind low back pain, so let’s review basic human physiology. Pain and movement signals from the low back to the brain must travel via the spinal cord, which runs down the center of the spine. The spinal cord is laid out like a fiber-optic cable, with different wires carrying information from different body parts. Information from the low back is carried on the rear edges of the spinal cord. Spinal misalignments (subluxations), especially in the upper neck, can irritate the spinal cord, distorting the signals and creating pain symptoms that the brain reads as “low back pain.” This is why the entire spine must be analyzed if someone has low back pain.

We often see leg and low back symptoms improve without having to perform heavy manual adjustments to the low back and pelvic joints. Our specific, low-force chiropractic technique restores normal function to the nervous system. Many of our patients have found relief from decades-long problems that they decided to stop tolerating. If you are having low back pain, be sure to get an examination from a chiropractor with a reputation for being thorough and effective.


Insights on Fibromyalgia and Chiropractic

December 12, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Brain, Chiropractic, Healing, Spine, Stress Leave a comment  

It’s not in your head! This condition can be truly debilitating. Women are ten times more likely than men to suffer from fibromyalgia. Aside from widespread pain and the presence of “tender points,” fibromyalgia often involves morning stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, and irritable bowel symptoms. Fibromyalgia is often associated with car accidents or other whiplash-type neck injuries. Damage to the neck increases an enzyme called NMDA. NMDA increases inflammation, which creates more NMDA. You can see that this can develop into a vicious cycle. The result of this chronic inflammation is increased sensitivity to pain, which is a key feature of fibromyalgia.

Essentially, fibromyalgia is considered a malfunction of muscles, connective tissue, and nerves. Understand that muscles do not malfunction due to bad luck or random chance. Muscles receive their commands to contract or relax from nerves. Like muscles or any other body part, nerves do not malfunction solely due to bad luck, bad genes, or random chance. Nerves malfunction when there is an overload of physical, mental, and chemical stress. The symptoms can appear as chronic muscle tension, headaches, digestive problems, or persistent back pain.

 

But wait – we are missing a step here. What happens to transform stress overload into chronic health symptoms? The body suffers from a loss of its inherent self-healing, self-regulating powers. Often, stiffness and fatigue appear. Mental focus decreases. The person feels like they are aging faster. It’s like their power is slowly being drained. What they are feeling is exactly what is happening, from a clinical perspective. The person’s nervous system is malfunctioning and losing power due to an overload of stress. We name this condition of nervous system interference “subluxation,” which literally translates into “a condition of decreased light.”

Fibromyalgia can be a disheartening, life-limiting condition. Many people find only a bit of relief from drug treatment, or they prefer a drugless approach to improving their health. For these people, natural chiropractic care may be a safe and effective form of relief. Balancing and strengthening the nervous system through chiropractic care can be accomplished using precise, gentle forces, without the need to twist the spine or create noise in the joints.

Treating subluxation is known to improve flexibility, decrease muscle spasm, and normalize pain response. As a result, people notice that they feel like they are standing taller, have more stamina, and their thinking becomes sharper. Ultimately, they feel more capable of responding positively to life’s everyday stresses and trials. This is the benefit of having a balanced nervous system.


Holiday Stress and Immunity

December 5, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Balanced living, Chiropractic, Healing, Immune System, Research, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

As we enter the holiday season, I am beginning to see the signs of stress creep into our everyday lives. More and more of the general population is starting to show signs of a weakened immune system. The “symptoms” are out there. How many people do you know who are starting to get the sniffles, sore throats, coughing, and aches and pains associated with illness? During the holiday season it is easy to neglect yourself and become run-down shopping for presents, planning holiday menus, trying to pay bills and stretch a dollar. Balancing your job with your family. All of these things contribute to stress. The first thing to go out the window is your exercise program. You start to not eat right. Maybe you skip your regular wellness chiropractic visit. All of these factors contribute to a decrease in the function of your body’s immune system and resistance to illness.

Stress is the number one cause of a weakened immune system. When your immune system is not functioning properly, you will become sick. The key to health is to have a strong immune system. Certain factors play an important role in the health of your immune system. Naturally, stress reduction is extremely important, as is exercise, eating right, getting enough rest, taking high-quality supplements, and drinking plenty of water.

The most important action you can take for the health of your immune system is to receive a chiropractic adjustment. Research has shown that immediately after an adjustment, there is an increase in white blood cell activity. White blood cells are the blood cells that fight disease. That is why it is so important to get an adjustment when you have cold or flu symptoms. The increase in white blood cells stimulates the immune system to fight the illness immediately.

The chief of cancer research at New York’s Preventative Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University researched chiropractic spinal adjustments and immune system health. He found that people under chiropractic care had a 200% greater immune response than people not under chiropractic care. You can see how important chiropractic care is for keeping you healthy.

So remember to keep up the things which keep you healthy over the holiday season, no matter how stressed you become. Keep up with your exercise program, eating right, getting enough rest, and your chiropractic adjustments. If you have any questions on stress reduction, supplements for colds, or chiropractic research, please contact our office. We will be more than happy to help.. Have a very happy holiday season!


ADHD and Spectrum Disorders: Restoring the Neurological Connection

September 7, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP ADHD, Babies, Balanced living, Brain, Children, Chiropractic, Healing, Posture, Pregnancy, Spine, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

It is any parent’s greatest wish to see their children happy and healthy. There is nothing more joyful than seeing a carefree, innocent smile light up your child’s face. We love our children so much, and we never want to see them hurt or sick. There are far too many children who struggle with their health and performance. ADHD and related disorders are an increasing epidemic that children and families struggle to overcome every day.

ADHD and spectrum disorders are primarily neurological in nature. Similar to a car, the neurological system has a “gas pedal” and a “brake pedal.” A person can develop a functional imbalance of the brain and nervous system, but this imbalance can often be partially or completely corrected. An accumulation of physical, chemical, and emotional stressors can cause someone to become stuck in the gas mode, without the brakes engaging. Physical stressors include high-intervention pregnancy and delivery, intrauterine constraint, car accidents, falls, and other traumas. In 2008, the British Medical Journal noted that children with head injury or burn injury were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD by age 10.

Children with a diagnosis of ADHD, ADD, or autism spectrum disorder are often locked in a “fight or flight” state. Due to their altered brain function, they are easily over-stimulated by people, noise, lights, and even their own clothing. This may lead to a separate diagnosis such as SPD, or sensory processing (formerly integration) disorder. Often a child with ADHD/ADD also has headaches, postural problems like slouching, sleep disorders, and difficulty with managing emotions. The child’s symptoms can be very disruptive for families and cause poor performance in school, reducing a child’s potential to be their best.

Healthcare providers understand that neurological integrity plays a significant role in children’s learning and behavioral patterns. Doctors of chiropractic offer a non-drug and non-invasive alternative for people with ADHD and spectrum disorders that targets the underlying problems, not just the symptoms. Chiropractic care is designed to rebalance, calm, and organize the nervous system, so the function of body and brain both improve. Many parents have noted that their child’s medical diagnosis is downgraded or removed completely once they begin a program of chiropractic care.


Acid Reflux: A Power Problem?

July 19, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Bone Health, Chiropractic, Digestive Health, Healing, Medicine, Nutrition, Spine, Stress, Supplements, Wellness 1

Acid-stopping medications are intended to provide short-term relief of heartburn and acid reflux symptoms.  Medications interfere with your stomach’s acid-producing mechanisms, or they neutralize acids that have already been produced. Over the long term, suppressing stomach acid can contribute to chronic illness. Strong stomach acid is required to break down proteins, fry pathogens like bacteria and parasites, and ionize calcium so it can be absorbed and made into bone. Medical journals have noted that long-term use of acid-stopping medication increases the risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, parasitic infections, and pneumonia.

In most cases, the root cause of heartburn and acid reflux is low stomach acid, not stomach acid overproduction. When stomach acid is low, food sits in the stomach and ferments. This produces more acids, which then back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn symptoms. A major overlooked cause of digestive problems is the available power to the digestive tract. Your digestive tract is a muscular tube that contracts rhythmically to mix food and propel it from end to end. Muscular valves, such as between esophagus and stomach, need to contract at the right time, with the right strength, to keep food digesting efficiently. If nerve disturbance is present, it can prevent the muscles of the digestive tract from doing their job. Chiropractic care corrects nerve disturbance and strengthens the body so it can follow its innate program for health. Your body knows how to work properly, once normal nerve function is restored.

We have been told that stress makes our stomachs pump out too much acid, causing heartburn and ulcers. Yet any physiology textbook tells us that when we are overstressed, the digestive process is suppressed in favor of an adrenaline-fueled “fight or flight” response. Your body cannot be in a state of repair and regeneration while it is in a defense mode. Chronic stress prevents the lining of the digestive tract from regenerating itself. We cannot digest well when we are stressed! Holistic health practitioners understand that if your digestion is weak, the foundations of your health and well-being are compromised. Being unable to digest food is not a normal part of growing older – it is a serious malfunction that must be addressed!


Normal aging, or better aging?

July 11, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Athletes, Balanced living, Bone Health, Chiropractic, Posture, Spine, Stress, Wellness 2 Comments

I was researching arthritis and found a simple explanation on an orthopedic surgeon’s website. It’s caused by normal wear and tear, apparently. They were referring specifically to osteoarthritis, which is the abnormal bone growth and spurring that causes motion restriction and nerve damage. As a chiropractor, I’ve seen a lot of X-rays. When there’s evidence of spinal osteoarthritis, it’s almost always in one of two places: the base of the neck (spinal segments C5-7) and base of the low back (L4-S1). These two spots are predictably where people  have surgeries and fusions, which are rather pricey and time-consuming. Now why is it that there are dozens of healthy spinal segments and only a handful of degenerated segments? They are all the same age. Isn’t gravity pretty much a constant force on us, unless we spend a lot of time on roller coasters? But osteoarthritis predictably affects the same parts of the spine.

Both of these people (they are facing to the right) are 50 years old. All you need to know is that green is healthy, and red is very unhealthy.

If you knew how to prevent osteoarthritis, would that help you age better? Note that you don’t want to age “normally” anymore, you want to age as best as you can! Check this out: your low back and the base of your neck are vulnerable points in the spine. An accumulation of physical and emotional stresses causes these body parts to malfunction and wear out more quickly. For example, car accidents, hockey, and football make people susceptible to osteoarthritis and accelerated aging. But there is a solution to this problem. If you choose regular chiropractic care to keep your spine and nervous system healthy, you can decrease the likelihood that you will age with “normal wear and tear.” So avoid being diagnosed with a chronic, degenerative condition like:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Stenosis
  • Sciatica, radiculopathy, myelopathy, and all the other terms for “my body is literally getting on my own nerves”

 

If you ignore your body, it will predictably decline faster than necessary. If you take care of your body better than you do your car (yes, better!), your body will predictably age slower than everyone around you. Don’t be normal, be better than average!

 


Doctors on “The Doctors”

April 25, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Balanced living, Chiropractic, Healing, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

On April 23, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini was a guest on The Doctors program. “Dr. Fab” is a chiropractor and president of Parker University in Dallas. Another guest, Beverly, had  five years of chronic low back pain and was determined to get rid of it once and for all. Dr. Fab explained that he was looking for the cause of the problem, not just managing the symptoms. He performed an Insight Subluxation scan on Beverly to assess both her autonomic system and spinal muscle activity. He noted several factors that contributed to Beverly’s nervous system being overloaded with stress, which was creating problems with her body. These factors included her hectic travel schedule, previous accidents that were not addressed properly, a diet that promoted inflammation, and the emotional stress of starting a new business.

Beverly trusted Dr. Fab enough to start chiropractic care in his office. He demonstrated use of the Activator, which is a handheld impulse device, to deliver low-force adjustments. He also pointed out that the source of Beverly’s problem was more in her neck and upper back, even though the symptoms appeared in her low back. Dr. Travis Stork, host of The Doctors, asked Beverly how she was doing after working with Dr. Fab. With a big smile, she said, “Oh my gosh, I feel so great!”

The story is simple: I want to feel better and be better.

The problem is simple: My body is overloaded and malfunctioning.

The solution is simple: Restore normal body function and feel great.

Watch the video here.


Top 10 Solutions for Stress

March 21, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP ADHD, Balanced living, Brain, Chiropractic, Digestive Health, Healing, Nutrition, Stress, Supplements, Wellness Leave a comment  

Aside from making you grouchy, stress can damage your body. High levels of stress hormone can damage your brain and your digestive tract. Signs of stress overload include fatigue, insomnia, food cravings, weight gain, muscle & joint pain, anxiety and focus issues, lowered libido and weakened immunity.

Top 10 drugless solutions for stress:

  1. Eat breakfast every day to maintain steady blood sugar levels through the day.
  2. Eat protein and fat with every meal or snack to maintain steady blood sugar.
  3. Get enough omega-3 fatty acids, which are building blocks for your brain.
  4. Take adrenal gland (stress-handling gland) supporting supplements if needed.
  5. Prepare for sleep by turning off lights, using an eye mask, and creating a ritual.
  6. Plan for fun activities; even a 5-minute break can help to re-set your mood.
  7. Exercise regularly with intensity to decrease stress hormone levels.
  8. When you talk to yourself, use empowering words: I choose, I will, I can. A daily gratitude journal can help you shift the words you use.
  9. Perform pattern interruptions – breathe deeply, walk for 5 minutes, or snap a rubber band on your wrist when you feel overwhelmed or anxious.
  10. Get adjusted to reduce the effects of accumulated stress on your body and brain.

Excess stress affects both muscle tension and nerve function. This creates patterns of distortion in your body and makes you use more energy for normal daily tasks. When you re-set your nervous system through chiropractic adjustments, your life starts to work better because your body and brain are working better.


Personal Reminders for Growth and Happiness

February 29, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

(it’s okay to just focus on one at a time – no one is perfect) 
Take a 30 minute walk every day and while you walk, smile
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes every day
Sleep for 7 hours 
Live with the 3 E’s:  Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy 
Play more 
Read more books than you read last year
Drink plenty of water 
Eat more foods that grow on plants, and less food that is manufactured in plants 
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper 
Make time everyday for meditation and prayer
Dream more while you are awake 
Smile and laugh more 
Try to make at least 3 people smile each day
Don’t waste energy on gossip or on things you cannot control
Invest your energy in the positive, precious present 
Spend more time with people over 70 and under 7 
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone or to be doing anything you don’t love doing 
Realize that life is school and you are here to learn 
You don’t have to win every argument 
You can choose to be happy 
Don’t compare yourself to others 
Stay in touch
Forgive yourself 
Forgive others 
What other people think of you is none of your business 
Surround yourself with utility, beauty and joy
The best is yet to come 
No matter how you feel: Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up

Do the right thing


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