Why would I want to use a holistic chiropractor? A holistic chiropractor has a more comprehensive approach to your care. A traditional chiropractor treats only the structural component. As a holistic chiropractor, I also address emotions that may be creating disease or dysfunction and nutritional imbalances that disrupt the body's chemistry.

What do emotions and body chemistry have to do with wellness? Your body operates on a model called the Triad of Health. There are three components that make up the Triad-- Structural, Chemical and Emotional. Combined, they present an overall state of a person's health. Structure is the foundation of the human body and the Triad. It includes the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and nerves. Shifts in structural alignment result from accidents, physical inactivity, or incorrect patterns of movement that have developed over time. The Chemical make-up and balance of the body includes diet and vitamins and mineral intake, as well as the function of organs and organ systems. The chemical aspect is disrupted by the ingestion of nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and sugar substitutes like aspartame, as well as toxins in the air we breathe. Emotion is the third leg of the triangle. Not only does physical well-being impact emotions, but emotions can greatly impact the body, both positively and negatively. The emotional element of the triangle includes the feelings of fear, anger, guilt, depression and anxiety.

How would you treat my symptoms? As a holistic chiropractor, I am more wellness-oriented than symptom-oriented. I believe in the mind/body connection. I examine your body's structure, address possible emotional causes of your symptoms, and evaluate your body's chemistry as it relates to diet and environmental elements. We will discuss the importance of movement as a tool toward greater health and wellness. How does the Triad of Health relate to the mind/body connection? The sides of the equilateral triangle all affect and interrelate with one other. For example, being in a constant state of the emotion of fear may cause a muscle spasm or contraction in the back. The muscle spasm creates pain which affects more than just the back. The pain influences the food choices made, leaning more toward "comfort" foods, rather than healthy foods. Food choices affect the body's chemistry in terms of nutritional deficiencies. Every cell in your body is both structurally and functionally related to every other cell in your body. All your thoughts, beliefs, fears, and dreams are connected within the structure and function of your physical body. By discovering and integrating these relationships, you allow yourself to bring greater harmony into your body and mind, diminishing internal conflicts and increasing your overall health and well-being!

What is health? Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines health as a "state of optimal physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity." Our bodies are wired for health and vitality, not for illness and disease. Health is how our bodies function, not how they feel. Health comes from the inside out. And, importantly, the choices we make play a part in our health and well-being.

How long have you been a holistic chiropractor? I have been a chiropractor for 23 years, and of those, 18 have been in service as a holistic chiropractor. Early on, I recognized the mind-body connection as an element that basic spinal manipulation was not addressing. I wanted to find the cause of a problem, not just treat the symptoms. If the spine is adapting to a stressor, that's not the cause of the problem, simply the effect. A holistic chiropractor recognizes that our symptoms are our body adapting to an environmental stressor. I coach patients daily in making lifestyle changes. I am an expert on stress and its effect on the mind/body system, on releasing energetic emotional blocks, and on diet and weight loss and what nutrition is needed.