Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression is a treatment that decreases the pressure on the discs of the spine by using computer controlled force to gently distract the vertebra around the affected disc.

When the vertebrae of the spine are decompressed, there is a vacuum effect created between them, pulling any bulging or herniated material back into the disc. Nutrients and water are all pulled in, supporting proper disc healing. Discs do not have blood supply in adults so the vacuum effect is critical to the healing process. Increasing the space between the vertebrae can also alleviate pinched nerves and decrease irritation in the facet joint of the spine. The computer controls the force used to distract the spinal segment(s) and it cycles between periods of gentle pulling and periods of rest. This prevents any muscle guarding that can result from high force distraction or sustained periods of distraction.

Conditions such as disc bulges, disc herniations, thinning discs, pinched nerves, pain traveling to the arms or legs(sciatica), spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and facet syndrome (irritation of spinal joints) respond very well to Spinal Decompression. There are conditions that would not benefit, so proper examination will determine if you are a candidate for Spinal Decompression.

Hormone Imbalance and Addiction

Addiction is a demon that plagues many of your patients, friends and even colleagues on one level or another. The etiology of addiction is complex; as there is at least a genetic component, a behavioral factor, a social aspect and of course a biochemical piece. When treating addiction it is important to address as many of these as possible. Reproductive hormones are very closely tied to neurochemistry including modulating serotonin, dopamine, histamine and other neurotransmitters. A hormonal shift may create and can certainly exacerbate any neurotransmitter imbalance.
Estrogen dominance, a state where there is a greater influence of estrogen than progesterone on the body is alarmingly common in women of all ages. In peri-menopausal women, their progesterone levels fall many years before the decline in estrogen levels creating a state of relative estrogen dominance. One of the many actions that progesterone has on the body is to calm electrical activity in the brain. The primary mechanism for this is through the metabolite allopregnenolone which activates the same GABA-A receptor as Valium, Xanax and alcohol. Without the relaxing effect of progesterone, many women find themselves with new-found anxiety or insomnia and may self medicate with one of the above mentioned substances. Furthermore, estradiol exacerbates the situation by enhancing the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine, and histamine. The combination of increased excitation and diminished inhibition of electrical stimulation is often enough to push many women over the edge and into addiction. Although women in the peri-menopausal years is often where we see this phenomenon, please remember that there are many younger women and even adolescents with inadequate progesterone levels that may predispose them to reach for an exogenous source to relax them, or shut down some of their overactive neurotransmitter activity.
As in many situations, too much estradiol (relative to progesterone) causes significant problems, but too little estradiol can also wreak havoc on brain chemistry. Estradiol inhibits the enzyme monamine oxidase (MAO) which is responsible for breaking down serotonin, dopamine and histamine and estradiol enhances the serotonin receptor function in the female brain. As estradiol levels fall to below optimal levels (as with anovulation or menopause), many women can suffer from anxiety and depression due to diminished serotonin, histamine and/or dopamine levels. There are a number of substances that enhance dopamine and/or serotonin activity in the brain including food, nicotine, alcohol, opioid pain medications and marijuana.Evaluating and treating hormone deficiencies and imbalances is an important part of a comprehensive and holistic treatment for addiction as well as the underlying conditions of anxiety and depression.

Colas and muscle problems

Here is a link to a study:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/toomuchcolacancausemuscleproblems.html

How does OKC rate on America's fittest city?

Here is an interesting article from Forbes magazine:
http://health.yahoo.com/featured/15/america-s-fittest-cities

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

The word is out thanks to Oprah, everybody is looking for BHRT. There has been a controversy for so many years now about the subject, but I have personally treated many of my patients with wonderful results that they can't believe how good they feel, after running around to so many medical doctors and finally giving me a try as their last resort. So when I see them they are usually at the end of their ropes. Many have reported that they have been told it is in their head, or they are depressed thus giving them the magic pill Prozac, Paxil. I personally use BHRT and I have seen the wonderful benefits of BHRT.

Workout

Here is a good workout that I have found that I really like because it works out your whole body,, includes balance and most importantly eacht ime you get done with one section you stretch. Very important!!! So for only 2o mins a day , no excuse, even in front of your desk at work or home you can do this. Go for it...
http://www.oprah.com/media/20080601_tows_tows_20071101_2

Iodine Fact Sheet by Dr Jay H Mead MD

Sufficient iodine is essential to good health. Although the primary function of iodine is in the production to thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, many other organs require iodine for optimal function (1). Iodine deficiency is the associated with reduced mental performance (2,3), fibrocystic breasts disease and breast cancer (4,5,6,7,8) and is a potent antioxidant (9).It is estimated that 15% of American women are below the World Health Organization's classification for iodine sufficiency and this is conservative estimate (10) and almost one third of the world's population lives in areas of iodine deficiency (11). The most recent trend in the US is a 50% reduction in urinary iodine excretion between the 1970 and 1990 (11).The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg/day, which pales in comparison with the daily average intake of 13.8mg/day for the mainland Japanese population. The mainland Japanese consume on the average 89 times the US RDA and have reduced rates of many chronic diseases (1). In fact, the optimal iodine consumption level has never been determined (11); yet, the incidence of breast cancer is much lower in the Japan (12).In 1829 Jean Lugol, a French physician, discovered a method to dissolve iodine in an aqueous solution. This is known as Lugol's solution and has been for a myriad of maladies for more than 150 years. The collective experience of clinicians over this period led to recommended daily amount of Lugol's equivalent to be 12.5-37.5 mgs, which so happens to be the recommended dosage to maintain whole body sufficiency using the recently developed iodine/iodide loading test (13).