Morning Sickness. Natural Relief.

One of the most frustrating, and sometimes even dangerous, issues during pregnancy is morning sickness. Approximately 2/3 of all pregnant women will experience morning sickness for at least a part of their pregnancy. Most common in the first trimester, morning sickness usually starts around 5-6 weeks gestation (sometimes earlier) and generally eases up around 12-14 weeks. However, some pregnant moms will experience morning sickness for much longer and perhaps for their entire pregnancy.

Morning sickness is caused by a few different factors. One reason for morning sickness is the dramatic rise in hormonal levels, especially estrogen. Estrogen levels can rise to 300 times the normal levels in non-pregnant females. At the same time the corpus luteum secretes high levels of the hormone HCG (human cortico gonadatrophin). These hormones must be filtered by the liver and the extra stress on the liver can increase the toxin load in the body. Another factor is the growth of the placenta which takes place between 1 to 15 weeks. When this happens, trophoblastic cells on the fertilized egg have begun to digest the endometrium, causing implantation within the lining and forming the placenta. These cells release toxins and debris which, again, the liver must detoxify.

Because of the stress placed on the liver during this time, it is imperative that we look at the function of the liver and optimize the neurological control of the liver. In chiropractic we can do this by analyzing the function of the nervous system through the movement of the spine and making sure the body is able to process the toxins optimally.

It is also a goal to address the input of other toxins that may put additional stress on the liver and educate the mom to reduce the load from diet or environmental toxins. To minimize the liver load from diet, we encourage the mom to eat a diet lower in some fats, sugar and dairy. And at the same time increase the intake of fresh, steamed vegetables, maintain protein levels, add B12 to her diet and eat small, light meals to allow easier digestion. If morning sickness is extreme, a diet of warm liquids, broths and soups will help in digestion and lessen the liver load. Some herbs such as ginger and peppermint can also be extremely helpful in lessening the symptoms of morning sickness.

With careful watch on diet, rest and hydration as well as including regular chiropractic care to optimize neurological function, morning sickness can be lessened and sometimes completely alleviated.

Dr. Cheryl Schmitt

Blessings!

Happy Holidays!

We wish you the warmest of holiday blessings and thank you for an amazing year. We are truly honored to be able to do the work we do and help as many people as we can. 

This  year has been a year of change and growth for us and we are eternally grateful for all we have. 

We wish you all a blessed new year in 2011 and hope that your health (optimum physical, social AND mental well being) is great. 

Sincerely,

 Drs. Cheryl and Robert Schmitt

Oh and in case you were wondering...we will be closed Thursday afternoon at 1 pm this week as well as Friday, December 24th so get in early for your adjustments!

Locally Grown, Organically Grown - You Are What You Eat

Locally Grown, Organically Grown - You Are What You Eat

Why Eat Organically Grown Food?

Just as we are what we eat, fruits and vegetables are what they eat, too. Food labeled "organic" is grown without artificial pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer. Organic farmers use compost (which is "all natural") and "green" fertilizer to provide nourishment to their crops. Cattle and other livestock raised organically receive neither antibiotics nor growth hormones, and eat feed that is itself raised and harvested on organic farms. In part because they are locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of antioxidants than produce grown via other methods. Antioxidants are powerful, health-promoting biochemicals that help prevent a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory diseases and cancer. Organically grown food not only tastes better but is actually good for you, which of course is what we want our food to be.

There is much wisdom in the saying "you are what you eat", but food today is not the food of yesterday. We need to actually work at getting the amount of nutrients that's going to help keep us healthy and well.

Our genetic heritage was not designed for an urban environment. Our digestive systems, for example, were not optimized for high-starch diets, fast food, and canned fruits and vegetables. The energy requirements of our cells were designed to be based on glucose metabolism. But glucose was originally obtained from readily available fresh produce and whole grains, in the form of complex carbohydrates. When our tissues were originally designed there were no such things as processed flour or sweeteners.

At the dawn of man, protein sources were derived from the local fauna - the local birds and beasts. These animals were not fed antibiotics and were not raised on pesticide-treated grasses. They were not caged and forced to grow up in close proximity to dozens and hundreds of fellow creatures. They roamed freely and randomly, ranging over wide stretches of open territory. As a result, their value as food sources was very high.

Today, unless we make a special effort, our food sources are significantly compromised. Until recently, those living in cities were only able to purchase produce that had traveled long distances over many days to reach their stores. The nutritional value of these fruits and vegetables was necessarily substantially degraded. The nutritional content of protein sources - meat, fowl, fish, dairy, and eggs - were likewise degraded by chemical additives, antibiotics, and draconian living conditions.

New food-producing methods, available for the last 30 years but much more so recently, have enabled consumers to put high-quality food on their tables.^1,2,3 The slogan "eat locally" has become a possibility for even the most entrenched urban areas such as New York City. Farmers markets spring up weekly and monthly in most cities, suburbs, and the surrounding countryside. Organically grown food - produce, fish, meat, fowl, and dairy - is widely available, even in supermarket chains.

We now have more healthy food options than were available at any time within the last 50 years. It is possible to reverse the diabetes and obesity epidemics that have spread across countries like the United States. It is possible to restore health and well-being to millions people across the globe. Chiropractic care can be of great assistance in this process. Your chiropractor will be able to help you design food plans that will work for you and your family.

¹Wang SY: Fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid content of organically and conventionally grown blueberries. J Agric Food Chem 56(14):5788-5794, 2008

²Nitika S, et al: Physico-chemical characteristics, nutrient composition and consumer acceptability of wheat varieties grown under organic and inorganic farming conditions. Int J Food Sci Nutr 59(3:):224-245, 2008

³Dani C, et al: Phenolic content and antioxidant activities of white and purple juices manufactured with organically- or conventionally-produced grapes. Food Chem Toxicol 45(12):2574-2580, 2007

A video every parent needs to watch.

A natural approach to childrens health.

Parents are increasing becoming wary of western medical treatments for childhood illness and disease. It seems every time the turn around a medication or invasive procedure is the only option for caring for their child's symptoms. However, with a little research, parents are finding that there are alternatives to this model and an alternate view of health and wellness. Many parents are choosing chiropractic, massage, homeopathy and acupuncture. And, they are getting amazing results!

Children, especially, have an amazing ability to regenerate, heal and flourish if given the right nutrition, supportive environment and a properly functioning master control system. This does not mean that a child will NEVER have a symptom but when they do, they are able to process this symptom in a safe and optimum manner and have a better functioning body on the other side of the symptomatic expression. For example, when a young child is faced with a new bacteria or virus he hasn't encountered before, the healthy child's immune system, when not interrupted or interfere with, will produce the proper immune response and create life-long immunity to that invader if he encounters it again. This means the child WILL most likely have a symptom. He may experience a fever, cough, runny nose, rash, diarrhea, etc. These are not bad things. This is the bodies inborn protective system at work.

So how does chiropractic, naturopathy, acupuncture and other "natural" healing modalities differ? In short, they support the natural workings of the bodies innate healing ability and do not try to alter it or suppress it. And 99.9% of the time the child does an amazing job of healing without any complications! Amazing? YES!

Chiropractic Research  
which show the efficacy of chiropractic care for children and pregnant women.

Is chiropractic a safe, non-invasive treatment for pregnancy discomforts?

by Dr. Cheryl L. Schmitt
vitalchiro.com

As a chiropractor I see pregnant women for a variety of issues. Some come to me before getting pregnant if they are having troubles conceiving or just want to be in the best of health upon conception. Others come to me with specific issues. Some of the most common complaints pregnant women visit their chiropractor for are lower back pain, malposition of the baby (breech, posterior or transverse presentations), headaches, pregnancy induced hypertension and pubic bone pain.

A natural option for women with a malpositioned baby is the chiropractic adjustment called the Webster Technique. Developed by Dr. Larry Webster and formerly called the Webster Breech Turning Technique, this particular chiropractic adjustment was previously used during the seventh through ninth months of pregnancy. Also in the past, the Webster Technique primarily focused on women whose babies were presenting breech or transverse.

Since discovery of the Webster Technique, its protocol has been revised to include women of all stages of pregnancy. Doctors of chiropractic reported a greater than 82% success rate in the technique's ability to balance pelvic structures and remove constraint to the woman's uterus, thereby allowing the baby to turn into the vertex position. The Webster Technique has also been effective in diminishing pubic bone and lower back or sacroiliac pain as well as the incidence of c-sections. The Webster technique is therefore becoming an important part of prenatal care for all women looking to optimize their potential for more natural deliveries. (The Webster Technique: A Chiropractic Technique with Obstetric Implications.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Jul-Aug;25(6): E1-9)

Another substantial issue is lower back pain and pubic bone pain during pregnancy. In one study, 11 women meeting the criteria for sacroiliac joint dysfunction were treated with chiropractic treatment of the sacroiliac joints. After chiropractic therapy, 10 of the 11 women (91%) had relief of pain and no longer exhibited signs of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. ("Sacroiliac subluxation: a common, treatable cause of low-back pain in pregnancy". Daly JM, et al. Family Practice Research Journal, 1991: 11(2)
149-159.)

In another study, 84% of patients receiving chiropractic manipulation reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy. ("Back pain during pregnancy and labor". Diakow PR, et al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, 1991: 14(2): 116-118.)

Chiropractic care is recommended for all pregnant women for the "common" ailments such as back or pubic bone pain, but also to optimize the birth experience. If the pelvic joints and nervous system are working at their optimal level during childbirth not only will you have less pain but studies show that labor will likely be shorter! The thing to remember is that chiropractic care removes any interference in the mind/body connection of the mom and helps her nervous system to run optimally. So I ask you this, would you rather be pregnant and labor with your nervous system working at 100% or not? If you believe your mind/body connection and nervous system function is important at this time in your life you should consult a chiropractor, whether you are having physical symptoms or not.

Yours in health and optimal wellness,

Cheryl Schmitt, D.C.

reno - new muvee 001

We have moved! Our new address is
600 N 4th Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

and our website...for more information:

www.vitalchiro.com

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