Do You Really Believe That...?

Do You Really Believe That…?

As a society do we really believe that we are just one more pill or vaccination away from living the good life?

I highly doubt that you, or anyone for that matter,  would agree to that statement.  Unfortunately, when I watch television and see all the news and commercials surrounding health, it seems that this belief would be such.

Last night I saw a news clip that blames unvaccinated people for the measles, and moments later watched a commercial for an antidepressant that made me feel like I too was depressed.

The underlying belief behind all of this is that we are just one more shot, one more drug, one more potion away from being able to live a life that is amazing.

 NOW THAT’S A LIE IF I’VE EVER HEARD ONE.

When it comes to health, one thing I know for sure is that it’s impossible to poison (drug) your way to better health.  Health is something we are born with and need to steward along the way.  It isn’t something to be neglected and then patched over with some poison chemical.

Your body has an inborn program inside of it that is always attempting to make you healthy.  It can do it (keep you healthy) if it has what it needs.  If it doesn’t have what it needs, it can’t do it.  What does it need?

1.      A proper working brain and nerve system to run its programming through  (chiropractic)

2.      Rest – this is your time to heal and repair

3.      Nutrition – this is what your body rebuilds itself with

4.      Exercise – move it or loose it

It’s so simple that it almost offends the mind.  You don’t need all these drugs and procedures and needles if you stay healthy out of the gait.  That is why we recommend living life pro-actively, not re-actively.

If there is anything we can do to help you express better health, please don’t hesitate to ask.  We are here to help coach you along.

Bless you, Dr Matt

Exercise and Nutrition are Important but……

Exercise and Nutrition are important but……

In 1995 when Christopher Reeve flew off his horse, he shattered the top two bones in his neck and damaged his spinal cord.  After that time they hired the world’s greatest health care team.  They had physiotherapists come in and exercise his body for him multiple times per day and they had a team of nutritionists making him the best foods possible.

The problem is he still died nine years later.  The reason he died isn’t because he lacked exercise or nutrition, he died because he had no power flowing through his body. 

His body worked the same as yours does.  The brain (most important organ in the body) sends messages in the form of nerve impulses to all parts of the body.  This supplies the body with the information and power that it needs to live and thrive.  The brain uses the spinal cord (sits in your back) to convey the messages and power to the body. 

Without the messages and power the body can’t work.  It doesn’t matter how much exercise or nutrition it gets, it needs power to function.

If you take a dead person lying on the ground and exercise them, they don’t come back to life.  If that same dead person gets a delicious organic meal of ideal foods they will not be raised from the dead.

The bottom line is that messages and power are the most important thing to life.  If that is in place properly then foods and exercise can support proper health but without power it is useless.

The back (spine) is the power and message relay centre.  It must be healthy in order for you to be your best.  I repeat your spine and nerve system control your body and health, they must be healthy.

That’s what we do day in and day out in the office with all of our awesome patients like you.  The problem is that more people need to know this.  Please help your loved ones understand that the nerve system is critical for well being and that having a spinal check up will make all the difference in someone’s state of health.

Be Blessed,

Dr Matt

2014 Your Year of Victory

When what you’ve been hoping for and your present reality don’t line up, it’s easy to lower your expectations and accept mediocrity.  I often think of how easy it is to check out, not engage with your spouse, and ultimately end up like two roommates rather than passionate partners journeying through life together.  The same goes for matters of health. When expectation and reality don’t line up, far too often people settle.  They accept that extra 30 pounds, they buy into that diagnosis of knee pain for life, or they convince themselves that peace and joy are for others and depression is their lot in life.

In Proverbs 13, the word of God tells us that Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

 and that a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Well friends, I am here to tell you that 2014 is not about settling and deferring hope. Nor is any year for that matter.  I believe in the depths of my heart that many of you are just one more effort away from your breakthrough.  In fact I believe that 2014 will see more breakthrough than I have ever witnessed in nearly 12 years of practice. 

This is your year.  Your year to see those relationships mended. Forgiveness and love will win out and hearts will be healed.  I believe that you can have your greatest year of health ever.  I believe that many of you have given up on dreams and careers and visions that God has put in your heart.  The time is now to awaken those dreams and bring them back to life.  It is time to see longing fulfilled.

If I wouldn’t have been persistent and stayed in the game I wouldn’t be where I am today.  The first time I asked my wife out, someone forgot to light the fireworks.  The first time I went to church I didn’t like it.  The first time I spoke to many of you about health, it didn’t go so well.  I struggled to become consistently healthy after a very sick childhood.

Keeping the dream alive is what God wants from us.  It requires staying in faith.  Faith is continuing to believe for the things that you can’t yet see in the physical.  Keep believing for that healing, keep believing for that baby, keep believing for that restored relationship, keep believing for your new job or promotion.  Keep believing that the best is yet to come.  The more you stay in faith, the more you will see the good things that God has in store for you.

Be Blessed, and I know you are,

Dr Matt

Pa Rump a Pum Pum...

Pa Rump a Pum Pum

This Christmas, as I reflect upon my life, I find myself wanting to show you how very much I appreciate all of you who trust us with your health and the health of your family.

I am reminded of the song, the little drummer boy, “I have no gifts to bring pa rump a pum pum, so to honour Him, pa rump a pum pum, on my drum”.  I don’t have a literal drum to play but I do have a metaphorical drum that I beat and that drum provides rhythm to my life. This letter is to gift you with what I feel are the most important assets that have blessed my life.  Over the course of my life I have been gifted with these from other people sharing and as I pass them along to you I hope they touch your life too.

The 3 Greatest Gifts

1.  An intimate relationship with Jesus.  I am hurt, wounded and full of a life of bad choices.  I have hurt others, been a victim of hurt and been un-worthy of most good things in my life.  In spite of all of my own short comings I have no doubt about the destiny of my life on this earth and where I am going for eternity.  This is all because of Jesus.  In spite of me, I am a child of The One True King, I am an heir to the Throne, and will have a place in eternity.  I carry no guilt or condemnation for my wrong doings, I live a life of abundance, so much so that it overflows and blesses others.  I have a rock foundation to stand on in times of trouble and I am like a tree planted by the river, it always prospers and knows no drought.  If you know this, I call you blessed.  If you don’t, I would love to show you more - your choice.

2.  Working with palliative care patients taught me that the most important things in your life aren’t things.  They are relationships.  At the end of life, no one wishes they said yes to more overtime shifts, ignored their loved ones more, or spent more time on their own in solitude.  In fact it is quite the opposite.  When spending time with someone at the end of life, it’s all about relationships.  If they have regret it’s usually about being unforgiving or not spending enough time with their loved ones.  When someone you love passes away, it’s not their car or house or overtime shifts you’ll miss.  It’s them.  The time you won’t be able to spend together anymore.  With this as a guide, it’s important to make people and relationships top priority. 

3.  Health is not random chance.  God revealed to me early on that health is one of our greatest assets.  It’s far more important than television, internet or working overtime shifts.  In fact we are all cautioned about being good stewards of our bodies and doing what we can to respect our temples.  With this I say, HEALTH IS NOT ABOUT LUCK.  Health is about seed time and harvest.  Your harvest will depend on what seed you plant.  Sadly, most don’t think of that until they experience a drought.  Planting the right seed throughout your lifetime will help you to be your best.  This involves having proper function (nerve system), eating well, moving well and thinking well.  I feel so blessed to have a healthy family of six and all of this is based on being fairly obedient to God’s laws of health and healing.  Your calling (parent, grandparent, child, vocation, world changer) in life requires you to be your best.  Steward your health for the rest of your life.  You won’t regret it.

For 2014 and the rest of your life, I am believing only God’s best for you.  A life built on a solid foundation that weathers the storms of life and comes out stronger on the other side.

Be Blessed, I love and appreciate you all,

Dr. Matt

"Twas a New Life Christmas!

‘Twas a New Life Christmas!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and at the North Pole

Jolly old Saint Nick was getting ready to go.

His final instruction from his sweet, caring wife:

“Your first stop this year will be at New Life!”

“At New Life?” he asked as he filled his last sack,

“Why go to a Chiropractor?  I’ve no pain in my back.”

She said, “Having your spine checked is simply essential!

It’s not about pain, it’s about releasing potential!”

“Okay, okay!” laughed the jolly old elf.

“You’re right.  I need to take care of myself.”

So off they did fly, they did not want to be late.

Their New Life reservation was promptly at eight.

I knew they had arrived when I heard on my roof,

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

They had far to go and had traveled many a mile.

And I greeted each one with a hug and a smile.

I said, “This is your big night.  It’s not a vacation.

Let’s make sure you are free of all subluxations.

First of all Santa, I will check your spine,

Then I will check your reindeer-----all nine!”

“You know,” Santa sighed, “If the truth be told,

My body’s slowing down, because I’m just getting’ old.”

I smiled then offered a gentle correction.

“Santa, you’re a being of beauty and perfection!!”

He said, “To travel the world in one night is quite pleasing.

But the weather ----I’m either frying or freezing!

The deserts are scorching, the rain forests torrential.

Because I love it, I need to be at my maximum potential!

I spoke not a word, I went straight to my work.

I adjusted each spine with nary a twist nor a jerk.

After we vanished, Santa said, “This is terrific!

All your adjustments are so gentle and specific!”

“Whoa, cool!” he exclaimed, “My step feels so much lighter.

And just look at Rudolph, his nose is shining brighter!

Blitzen and Dancer, I’ve never seen them so spry.

Thank you so much, we are ready to fly!”

Then Santa paused and did thoughtfully ponder.

“’Tis a glorious thing that we do way out yonder.

The toys we deliver are all very fine.

But I wish you could come along and check each child’s spine.”

Then he sprang to his sleigh, to his team he yelled, “Whee!”

And away they all flew, subluxation free!

Then I hear him exclaim, as they flew o’er the city,

“Chiropractic adjustments are the gift of vitality!”

You are MORE than how you FEEL...

You are More than How You Feel…

This week I want to share with you an idea about separating your identity from your circumstances. 

Last week I was adjusting a patient who has been living with uncomfortable pain for many years.  I entered into the adjusting area and casually asked him “how are you today?”  His answer was really great.  He replied, “Well I am doing great.  With that said my neck, shoulder and knee are in a lot of pain.” 

Immediately I recognized what a great level of consciousness he has been able to achieve.  He is able to recognize that he does not have to take on the identity of the pain he is feeling.   He could have chosen to tell me that he is awful, life sucks and that he’s sick and tired of living this way.  Instead, what he is able to do is separate his pain from his identity and recognize that he is well in spite of what he is enduring.

Unfortunately, I would say that it is more common for me to encounter the opposite.   Most people would have a tendency to become their ailment.  So, if they are aching, their entire life is the pits.  If they have neck pain, they verbalize “I am terrible, my neck is killing me”.  It is amazing the difference that your mind and outlook make in your ability to live a full life.

I challenge you.  The next time you are not feeling well, to separate that out and not let it over shadow your entire life.  Life is amazing; don’t let an aching knee or a sinus infection cloud your entire existence on this planet.

Optimizing what goes on in your head is critical to being the best that you can be.  It will help you get the most out of life and go from eeking out an existence to thriving all of your days.

Be Amazingly Blessed,

Dr. Matt

"Germ Theory"

Why the Germ Theory Isn’t True.

Why is it that everyone gets exposed to germs all the time but only some get sick? Does exposure to germs automatically make you sick or do you have to be a susceptible host?

The answer is…you have to be a susceptible host.  If germs automatically made people sick, every doctor and anyone in a public environment would always be sick.  I am around hundreds of people a week.  Some are sick and some aren’t.  Yet we are all breathing the same air in my office and exchanging the same germs.

Why Taking Drugs and Antibiotics is NOT the Answer

Taking drugs and antibiotics does not make you stronger. Some research would suggest that it actually makes you weaker.  If you take an antibiotic, you have not boosted your own ability to be healthy.  All you have done is synthetically kill the germs, create a bunch of side effects, increase your likelihood of having yeast overgrowth and you are left with a weaker immune system

Your immune system is what determines if you will be sick or not.  Keeping your immune system strong is the most important thing to focus on in your quest to avoid the supposed cold and flu season.  

Top Seven Ways to Boost Your Immune System

1)      Specific chiropractic adjustments boost your immune system performance.  In the 20^th century flu epidemic, people under chiropractic care did much better than those not under care.  Other studies show that white blood cell activity and count improve with regular chiropractic.

2)      Avoid the white plague.  Refined sugars including flour, pasta, breads etc all suppress the immune system. 

3)      Eat mostly vegetables and healthy proteins and fats, some fruits are OK too.  Too much fruit is a lot of sugar.  Commercialized dairy can create excessive mucous production so eliminate it.  One study shows that when dairy is eliminated, incidents of ear aches dramatically drop.

4)      Drink plenty of water.  The body composition is largely water.  You need it.  It will also help to flush out anything that shouldn’t be in your body.

5)      Get outside and breathe fresh air.  Re-cirulated air is not as good as fresh air.  Deep breathing fresh, oxygen rich air will help the immune system. Getting vitamin D from the sun is an immune system essential too.

6)      Exercise.  This improves oxygen movement and circulation.  This keeps your body at an optimum state.  The right kind of exercise (Burst Training) will also facilitate hormone regulation and keep you young.

7)      Take supplements.  Although getting great nutrition should come through food, supplements can be helpful.  The triad of wellness supplements to help keep your immune system  strong are a) Pro-biotics, b) Vitamin D (30 IU/pound of body weight), and c) Omega 3.
Be Blessed,
Dr Matt