Your body compared to a living plant vs. dead wood

The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is credited with writing the Tao Te Ching more than 2,500 years ago. This book, whose title translates into "Classic of the Way," contains 81 poems outlining a philosophy that stresses uniting with and yielding to the natural flow of the universe.

"We're soft and
supple when we're born
Hard and rigid when we die
Living plants are
pliable
Deadwood is brittle and dry
The hard and stiff are bound to
break
The supple bends and goes along"

I recall a specific interpretation of this poem that I had when I was reading theTao in my early 20’s and attending graduate school for my Doctorate in Chiropractic. The Tao, verse 73, in relation to your health status, level of fitness, and daily habits:

Think about how this poem speaks to you in regard to the following: your current state of flexibility, your posture, your level of health and fitness, your chiropractic adjustments, stretching on the Power Plate or FitBall, etc. Now, please read that poem again and try to find its powerful message.

Did you know that as we age the general trend of the human body is to become stiffer, less elastic and pliable, more brittle and rigid? Notice, that I said trend. I use this word to indicate that this is merely the common course or direction. This is unfortunate because there are alternatives to becoming brittle and dry or hard and stiff… as the poem points out. You can in fact remain soft and supple as you age. But, it does require a certain amount of diligent effort and awareness on your part.

I am constantly aware of this fact, and as a result I put forth an effort to retain the soft, supple and pliable nature of my body. I know what the alternative is, and I do not wish to head in that direction. In this office, we are trying to keep you from heading in that direction as well.

Many of you ended up here because you allowed your body to become excessively hard and rigid. Your body tissue may have become excessively brittle and dry as well. What you are feeling is not “old age”, but rather a process that you allowed your body to be a part of.

The good news is this. Many of you have experienced the positive aspects of changing course or reversing direction. As a result of the adjustment, traction, exercise, home stretching, improved postural awareness, etc. you have noticed what it is like for your body to become softer and more pliable again. This is only the beginning. Imagine if you just kept moving in this positive direction. Imagine if you became even more aware of your posture in daily activities. Imagine if you increasingly exerted more effort each year to increase or retain your current level of strength and flexibility. Are you trying to remain the living plant or are you allowing your body to become dead wood… as the poem suggests? As the New Year approaches… so does the opportunity for positive changes!

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

Click Here for the "Maximized Health Tip of the Week"

Do you brush your teeth ONLY when they hurt?

We all know that brushing, flossing and rinsing our teeth on a regular basis is absolutely necessary to avoiding pain and decay in the future. That is why we do it, right? But, did you know that the bones in your back are just like the bones in your mouth? They will become problematic if not cared for properly!

When was the first time you had your teeth (bones in the mouth) examined by a healthcare professional?
When was the first time you had your spine (bones in the back) examined by a healthcare professional?

How often have you been taught to practice oral hygiene, i.e. brushing, flossing, rinsing, etc?
How often have you been taught to practice spinal hygiene, i.e. postural strengthening and stretching, etc?

What will happen if you stop all forms of oral hygiene for the next 5 years?
What will happen if you stop all forms of spinal hygiene for the next 5 years?

If you can identify a severe problem in a tooth, what would you do about it?
If you can identify a severe problem in a vertebrae or portion of your spine, what would you do about it?

Is there any benefit to regular health maintenance practices for your teeth and gums?
Is there any benefit to regular health maintenance practices for your muscular-skeletal system?

In case of severe decay and degeneration, can you simply replace a section of teeth, i.e. dentures?
In case of severe decay and degeneration, can you simply replace a section of your spine?

I could continue, but I hope this is enough to make my point. How far off the mark are we when it comes to maintaining the health of our own bodily parts and systems? We place more importance on what we see in the mirror (teeth) than what literally protects the body’s electrical system (spine). Both will decay and degenerate over time, especially if neglected! One can be surgically altered with ease, while the other cannot. We take great effort in taking care of one (teeth) to avoid pain, but only care for the other (spine) only when it creates pain. This type of action is clearly insane when observed logically, no?

It is very unfortunate that most people think their spine is perfectly healthy as long as they feel good. Well folks, the reality is that we all feel good before we develop a cavity. Often times we even feel fine while the cavity is getting worse. But, most people don’t wait until they have a massively symptomatic cavity to make an appointment for a dental checkup. Why do most of us behave in opposing fashion when it comes to the spine? Why do our kids not get spinal checkups? Why do we not care for our spine if it doesn’t hurt?

There is very little difference between Chiropractic and Dentistry other than you simply understand the need for one more than the other. Don’t let that misunderstanding get you into trouble down the road. If you don’t have back or neck pain now- that’s great! But, don’t wait around for a “cavity in the spine” to arise. It is wise to do what needs to be done to avoid the problem. If you do have pain and stiffness- take it very seriously! The spine you have is the only one you will ever get. We reap what we sow.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

Click Here for the "Maximized Health Tip of the Week"

Are you GREEN when you CLEAN?

Green Cleaning is the act of using cleaning products that don't endanger you, children or the environment. This is especially important for people who have asthma, allergies, or compromised immune systems. Standard cleaning products often contain irritating chemicals that are actually dangerous to your health. The Green Cleaning products recommended here are effective, inexpensive, safe for you and the environment.

Green cleaning recipes:

• Tub and sink cleaner: Baking soda, liquid soap
  Sprinkle baking soda on the porcelain fixtures and rub with wet rag. Add a little of the liquid, Murphy's soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.
• Window and mirror cleaner: White vinegar, water
  Put 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the spray bottle and fill to the top with water. Spray on the surface. Rub with a lint-free rag. For outdoor windows, use a sponge and wash with warm water with a few drops of liquid Murphy's or castile soap in it. Rinse well and squeegee dry.
• Linoleum floor cleaner: White vinegar, water
  Mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket (pail) of warm water. The vinegar odor will go away shortly after the floor dries.
• Toilet bowl cleaner: Baking soda, liquid soap
  Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl as you would any scouring powder. Add a couple drops of soap in also. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and finish outside surfaces with a rag sprinkled with baking soda.
• All purpose cleaner for spots on woodwork, tile and linoleum: Murphy's liquid soap
  Add a few drops of liquid soap to a wet washcloth and rub surface briskly.
• Oven cleaner: Baking soda, water
  Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand a little while. Use the scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or a bread knife is effective to get under large food deposits. This recipe will require more scrubbing effort, but it is not toxic to you or your child. Commercial oven cleaners are severe irritants. Do not use this cleaner recipe on self-cleaning ovens.
• Drain cleaner: Baking soda, white vinegar, boiling water
  This recipe will free minor clogs and helps to prevent future clogs. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. If very stubborn, use a mechanical snake.
• Copper cleaner: White vinegar, water, salt
  Mix equal parts of vinegar and salt (a tablespoon of each will do) and apply to the surface with a rag. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards, otherwise it will corrode. Don't use this cleaner on lacquered finishes.

Living a healthy lifestyle is more than “eating and exercising” properly. Eliminating or minimizing exposure to toxic chemicals is a key ingredient to a healthy lifestyle. I hope this information stimulates some thought and action within your household as it did within mine. Please see side 2 for more help and ideas.

Speak up and educate others,
Dr. Craig

By the Numbers: Resource: http://www.treehugger.com/
1. 17,000: the number of petrochemicals available for home use, only 30% of which have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment.
2. 63: the number of synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.
3. 100: the number of times higher that indoor air pollution levels can be above outdoor air pollution levels, according to US EPA estimates.
4. 275: the number of active ingredients in antimicrobials that the EPA classifies as pesticides because they are designed to kill microbes.
5. 5 billion: the number of pounds of chemicals that the institutional cleaning industry uses each year.
6. 23: the average gallons in chemicals (87 liters) that a janitor uses each year, 25% of which are hazardous.
Resources:
Cleaning with Baking Soda: http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/bakingsoda
Cleaning with Vinegar: http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/
Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/kitchen
Buy non-toxic cleaning supplies: http://www.simplysmartliving.com/, http://www.methodhome.com/ (sold at Target)