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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Two Types of Chiropractors

November 30, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Bone Health, Chiropractic, Spine, Wellness Leave a comment  

Not all chiropractors are alike. Although they go by the same name, chiropractors can differ greatly in treatment goals. The traditional philosophy that chiropractic was based on has never changed, but for social acceptance, some chiropractors have. As a result, when patients go to different chiropractors they get different treatment schedules, results, and costs. This can be frustrating for the patient. If expectations aren’t met, patients stop care and never get to experience the great results chiropractic care can give them.

Like the typical M.D., the symptomatic relief chiropractor primarily focuses on back pain and headaches. The treatment plan is usually dictated by the patient’s symptoms and/or insurance coverage. This means shorter overall treatment time, but still leaves the patient far short of correcting the cause of the symptom. The patient may feel better temporarily, but the spine and nerve system remain in a pathological state. The body degenerates silently, resulting in damage to spinal discs, joints, and whatever part of the body the affected nerve supplies. The bottom line is that treating only symptoms still leaves the cause uncorrected. Over time, the body’s imbalance will be expressed through another series of symptoms.

A wellness chiropractor follows the traditional philosophy of care. Originally, chiropractic was designed to maintain health of the whole body by supporting nerve system integrity. The nerve system is our internal electrical system that regulates all functions of the body and keeps us alive. Although the traditional wellness chiropractor wants his or her patients to feel better, their primary focus is removing the nerve interference (subluxation). A treatment plan will focus on resetting the nerve system to a more balanced state. The wellness chiropractor may use advanced diagnostics like nerve system scans or X-rays. These diagnostic procedures may be repeated at regular intervals to monitor progress of subluxation reduction.

When choosing a chiropractor, ask questions. Do you focus on subluxation? Do you provide wellness care? Do you teach about diet and exercise? Wellness doctors will say yes, we do.

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


Top 7 Most Dangerous Thoughts about Health

November 16, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Healing, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

Part of being a good friend is gently pointing out denial. The next time you talk to someone who’s stuck in suffering, ask them:

  1. “Maybe it will go away.” Are you willing to risk that it won’t?
  2.  ”It comes and goes.” Why wait until it’s a constant problem?
  3. “It’s not that bad!” Compared to what?
  4. “It only hurts when I…” Why live your life with limits that most other people don’t have?
  5. “I don’t want to know.” What you don’t know CAN hurt you.
  6. “I know what my problem is, it’s…” What is your solution?
  7. “I was told I’ve got to live with it.” Don’t give up on yourself.

Don’t let this kind of thinking put your loved ones’ health at risk! It’s never too late to change someone’s mind. You just might save their life!

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


We Can’t Afford to Be Sick

November 2, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP ADHD, Aging, Balanced living, Children, Medicine, Research, Wellness Leave a comment  

We will pay for our health, whether it is good or bad. It just depends when you want to spend the money. Investing small amounts in health-enhancing activities can offset an expensive health crisis down the road. It’s no secret that health care costs are increasing. Most illness in this country can be prevented through improving lifestyle. Before this post starts to seem too preachy, let’s look at some facts:

  • An American couple retiring today at age 65 will need $230,000 in the bank to pay for medical costs, not including long-term care.
  • If we spread out the costs of the top 10 chronic illnesses among everyone, a family of four pays $30,000 per year.

Now let’s talk about the next generation.

  • 500,000 children are taking antipsychotic medications, with 1 in 10 10-year-old boys taking daily stimulant drugs for ADHD symptom control.
  • 1 in 6 children are diagnosed with a developmental disability (ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or other physical challenge).

What treatments and therapies will these children need as adults, and how much will that cost? Keep these concepts in mind as you consider the costs of investing in your health. What could you do with an extra $30,000 per year?

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


$30,000 a year

August 31, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Healing, Medicine, Research, Wellness Leave a comment  

That is how much a family of four, on average, pays for medical care each year. Not completely out of pocket, however. These costs also come from insurance premiums and tax-funded government entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid. With our high-tech diagnostics and expensive medical procedures, it is not surprising that the United States leads the world in spending money on diagnosing and treating disease. What is surprising is our pitiful return on investment! We rank 37th in global health status, behind Canada and most of Europe.

Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, states the not-so-obvious in his book Why Our Health Matters. “If any other major industry had functioned as badly as the American disease management industry has, people would have stopped spending their money on it.” He also notes that the numbers show we have misplaced our faith in medicine to cure chronic illness. Seventy-five percent of chronic illness is due to lifestyle factors that are under individual control.

Our current habits shape our future health. Consider that between 1900 and 2000, the average American’s lifespan increased by over 30 years. That’s great! Most of the gains came from improved public health measures: cleaner food, water, and air, and safer workplaces. Medical interventions were found to only add 5 years to the average lifespan.  Being proactive about our health gave us 25 extra years to enjoy a productive life. Compared to hanging your hat on medical intervention, prevention delivers five times the return on your investment!

Choose prevention. Choose wellness. For life.

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


Does the government decide for you?

August 3, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Chiropractic, Wellness Leave a comment  
  • What do you think of these goals for health care?
  • Prevent disease
  • Promote health
  • Prolong and enhance quality of life
  • Maintain or prevent deterioration of a chronic condition

Sounds fantastic, right? Isn’t that why you started making healthy changes in the first place?

The thing is, Medicare explicitly denies coverage of chiropractic care for these important goals. Health insurance companies have followed the government’s lead and restricted coverage to acute musculoskeletal conditions. Once you’re “feeling good,” with less back and neck pain, your coverage ends. The truth is, health insurance is only good for several visits of relief care, not for the release care that people are most excited about! Release care often results in:

  • Longer attention span (kids and adults!)
  • More powerful mental focus
  • Increased physical endurance
  • Sleeping more soundly
  • Fewer colds and infections
  • Easier, more regular digestion
  • Increased sense of well-being

You are the ONLY one who has to live in your body and control your life’s choices. Don’t let a faceless institution dictate your quality of life!


Coming Right Out of Your Pocket?

July 20, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Healing, Medicine, Supplements, Wellness Leave a comment  

Who pays for the costs of treating chronic illness? There is no magic here. I do. You do. We all do. The costs of treating preventable illness come in the form of increased health insurance deductibles, co-pays, and premiums. They are translated into lower wages and bonuses at work because employers have to pass the buck on to their employees. The costs come from our federal and state taxes, for use in health claims covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and state health-related programs.

So just how much are we paying? Let’s just focus on the top seven preventable conditions. For a family of four, the average health care cost is $1,152 per month. That’s more than a lot of us are paying for housing! According to the book Discover Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich, here is how these costs break down:

  • Heart Disease $460/month
  • Cancer $240/month
  • Diabetes $151/month
  • Chronic Pain $137/month
  • Obesity $86/month
  • Stress $65/month
  • Drug Reactions $14/month
  • Total Cost $1,152/month

The solution to this problem is to have more people less sick. What if you could invest $1,000 per month in your family’s health and well-being? Pure nutrient-rich foods, gym memberships, high-quality supplements, doctors who use natural healing methods, spending more afternoons on vacation and less afternoons in the emergency room. Not only would you spend less time managing ill family members, you would have more fun! What a concept!

We can continue paying to be sick, or we can choose wellness.