South Windsor Neck & Back - July 2018

South Windsor Neck & Back - July 2018

Spinal The

COLUMN JULY 2018

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D.D. Palmer and the History of Chiropractic

T hough chiropractic is often seen as a relatively new science, it’s actually a lot older than most people think. While it’s gone through several evolutionary periods and a whole lot of changes as the practice evolved, it all dates way back to 1895, when one D.D. Palmer decided to help the janitor at his building, William Lillard, with a nasty back problem. D.D. Palmer was an interesting man. He moved to Iowa with his family from Canada at age 20 and went on to become a beekeeper, teacher, and later, the owner of a local grocery store. But his passion always lay in searching for the most powerful healing mechanisms of the human body. He became deeply involved

amazing transformation: “I was deaf 17 years, and I expected to always remain so, for I had doctored a great deal without any benefit, … Dr. Palmer treated me on the spine; in two treatments I could hear quite well.” Spurred by this initial experimental treatment, Palmer obtained a charter for the Palmer School of Magnetic Cure, which later became known informally as Palmer’s School for Chiropractic, where he trained students to practice his increasingly wide range of adjustment strategies. Steadily, the school began to grow, and as chiropractic gained clout and reach, more and more practitioners began to help more and more patients all across the country. I’m grateful to Palmer for laying the foundations for the career that allowed me to help so many people.” It’s funny that such a powerful medical science arose from such a strange, casual beginning, but whatever the case, I’m grateful to Palmer for laying the foundations for the career that allowed me to help so many people. Today, more than 27 million Americans seek out the services of chiropractors every year, reaping the immense benefits of a properly aligned spine and body. And we all have the tenacious D.D. Palmer to thank for taking a chance and doing his best to cure an ailing man who had no hope of ever recovering. –Dr. Chris Colby

with spiritualism and magnetic healing and eventually turned this unorthodox technique into a full-time gig, office and all. One day while working in his office, the janitor, William Lillard, came by to empty the trash bin. When Lillard bent over to do his work, Palmer noticed that there was a

strikingly large lump sticking out of his back. He approached the man and asked his story. He was shocked to discover that Lillard was nearly completely deaf and had been ever since he once twisted his body the wrong way and heard a loud pop. Theorizing that the lump must be connected to Lillard’s hearing loss, Palmer instructed Lillard to lie facedown on the floor while he gently adjusted what he believed to be a misaligned vertebra. With a crack, the vertebra fell back into place, and Lillard went on his way. But the next day, he returned to Palmer’s office excited. “I can hear the racket on the streets,” he told Palmer. He could suddenly hear! Later, he expounded on his

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Call it a pseudoscientific fad or a medical revolution; either way, essential oils are more popular today than they have ever been. Though research on the efficacy of lavender, ginger, and the dozens of other sweet-smelling oils is conflicting at best, people are using them at an astonishing rate. In fact, according to Stratistics MRC, essential oils were a $5.91 billion industry in 2016 and are expected to reach $12.85 billion by 2023. Whether you’re an essential oil acolyte or you fly into a rage at the faintest hint of bergamot, your mind is probably already made up about aromatherapy. The question remains, though: Where does all this delicious-smelling stuff come from? Most essential oils are derived from a process called steam distillation . Soon after harvest, the plants are placed on a mesh inside a sealed still, into which steam is injected. As the steam rises and envelops the plant, it breaks it down and lifts its constituent components up through a tube and into a condenser. The condenser cools the resulting vapor and collects it in liquid form at the bottom. Since essential oils do not mix with water, they float on the surface, where they’re siphoned off, bottled, and shipped off to a distributor. There are other methods, such as expression (aka cold pressing), but because steam distillation is so easy to do, most essential oils you see on the shelf will have gone through this process. BACK ON TRACK Essential Oils Where Come From Sourcing the Sweet-Smelling Stuff

Lavender essential oil is harvested from sheaves of lavandula angustifolia , that purple herb you see all over gardens across the United States. There are lavender farms all over the world, from California to Japan to Brazil, but the biggest world producer of lavender is, interestingly, Bulgaria. Tea Tree oil comes from the leaves of melaleuca alternifolia, commonly known as narrow-leaved paperbark, a short, bushy tree that produces white, fluffy flowers in the spring. The trees are endemic to Australia, but today are usually farmed in New South Wales or Queensland. Bergamot is distilled from the peels of lime-green bergamot oranges, or citrus bergamia . Most of it comes from coastal areas around the Ionian Sea. Whatever you do with it, use it sparingly on your skin — it can amplify skin damage from the sun!

I “inherited” Dr. Chris Colby, and I have to say that it was a very fortunate inheritance, indeed. Let me explain. I had not been to my chiropractor in about 10 years — NOT the smartest thing to wait that long, and I would

About a month and a half with Dr. Colby has eliminated my sciatica and knee pain and improved my upper back and neck pain almost 100 percent. I actually

Hear from one of our happy clients!

NOT recommend it. Over those years, I had been slowly developing issues with my sciatica, upper back, neck, and knees. These issues increased in severity as each year passed. For years I kept saying, “I gotta get back to my chiropractor,” but I never made the call. Finally I could not stand it any longer — sciatica, knees, upper back — the pain had become unbearable! I FINALLY picked up the phone and made the call. To my dismay, I was told that my chiropractor had sold his practice to another chiropractor, Dr. Chris Colby. I was completely bummed! The friendly woman on the other end of the phone offered to make an appointment for me with Dr. Colby, and I did, although I was hesitant about starting over with a new guy. I figured it had been 10 years since I’d been anyway, so why not, right? I am SO GLAD I gave him a try!

felt a positive difference after the first visit — seriously! He took the time to explain what was causing my pain and how the adjustments were going to correct the “causes,” while addressing every question and concern that I had. He is very passionate about what he does, and it shows in his knowledge and abilities. He is very laid back and creates a very comfortable and stress-free vibe, so essential for a productive chiropractic session. I am moving into the maintenance phase of my treatment and trust Dr. Colby to keep me aligned and pain-free! If you’re looking for a chiropractor, check out Dr. Chris Colby … he’s THE BOMB!

–Diane K.

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And ... How to Av id Them

of Sitting THE HIDDEN HAZARDS

T oday, about 86 percent of workers sit all day for their jobs, according to a 2013 article by U.S. News andWorld Report. Our bosses need us typing away at our workstations from 9–5, but prolonged sitting is just not natural for humans. Everybody knows that hours of inactivity can lead to obesity. But numerous studies from recent years have found that lots of time spent sitting is linked to a plethora of other issues, like colon, endometrial, and lung cancers; diabetes; heart disease; brain fog; poor leg circulation; muscle degeneration; neck and back pain; and a heightened risk of death overall. Even the skeptics have to admit that a cursory glance at the overwhelming evidence paints a pretty terrifying picture. So what’s to be done? Well, while most studies delve into the hazards of prolonged sitting, they’re usually not too worried about sitting as a whole. The key, most experts argue, is to incorporate movement

breaks throughout your day. Every hour, make it a habit to step away from your desk. Maybe you need to go to the bathroom, grab some coffee, or take a walk around the office. At home, make a point to avoid melting into the couch as you binge watch Netflix — when that alert comes up asking if you want to continue, snap out of your dreamlike state and take the dog for a walk, for example. Occasionally, the dangers of sitting become a little more serious. Persistent neck, back, or leg pain flares its ugly head, and it simply won’t go away. Maybe you start experiencing frequent headaches, and you can’t figure out why. In these cases, chiropractic can do wonders to set you right. With expert knowledge of the intricacies of the nervous system, we can make noninvasive adjustments to put your body back in balance. Call Dr. Chris Colby at 860.644.2437 today , and eliminate pain at the source!

Angie Colby’s Tasty Fish Tacos

Thismonth, once you’re all worn out on Fourth of July hot dogs and hamburgers, switch it upwith these scrumptious fish tacos fromAngie Colby. If you like, use the jalapeno to add a little kick to the dish.

Ingredients

Tacos: •

Garnish: •

• • • • • • • •

4 cloves garlic, chopped 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 serrano pepper, sliced 1 jalapeno, sliced (optional) 1 tablespoon chipotle hot sauce

1 pound white flaky fish, such as mahi mahi, tilapia, or cod

Shredded white cabbage

• • • •

Hot sauce

• • • • • •

1/4 cup canola oil

Crema or sour cream

1 lime, juiced

Thinly sliced red and green onion

1 tablespoon chili powder

Salsa (below)

1 tablespoon oregano

Tomato Salsa: •

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

8 flour tortillas

2 tablespoons peanut oil 1 red onion, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped (optional)

•

Directions

Tacos: 1.

4.

Mix in tomatoes, serrano pepper, and jalapeno and cook until tomatoes soften, about 15–20 minutes. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth, throw it back on the pan, and cook for an additional 10–15 minutes. Add hot sauce, oregano, and lime juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Let rest for 5 minutes, then flake the fish with a fork. Place the tortillas on the grill for 20 seconds, divide fish among tortillas, and top with garnish and salsa.

Preheat grill tomedium-high and place fish in medium-sized dish. Whisk together canola oil, lime juice, chili powder, jalapeno, and cilantro, then drizzle over fish. Let fishmarinate for 15–20 minutes. Remove fish frommarinade and place onto hot grill, flesh side down. Grill for 4 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 30 seconds, then remove.

5.

Salsa: 3.

Preheat grill tomedium-high or use the grill’s side burners. Heat peanut oil in a medium saucepan, add onions and garlic, and cook until soft.

2.

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Inside This Issue

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The Fascinating Origins of Chiropractic

Where Do Essential Oils Come From? Hear From Our Clients The Hidden Hazards of Sitting Angie Colby’s Tasty Fish Tacos

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Battling the Summer Sun!

To many people, summer is all about heading outside to enjoy the weather. But getting too much sun can be dangerous. To have a fun-filled summer with your family this year, remember that it’s essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Cover Up Covering your skin is one of the best ways to avoid skin damage. Wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants or skirts can protect your skin from direct exposure to UV rays. While this tactic protects you from the sun, it offers poor defense against the heat. So, if you opt for cooler attire, it’s important to cover all exposed skin with a copious amount of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply every two hours for maximum skin protection. Spend Less Time in the Sun If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, consider your environment. Will there be plenty of shade? Will you have to bring your own?What’s the best way to step out of the sun for a few minutes?Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing are great ways to shield yourself from UV rays, but it’s important to avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods. Taking a break from the sun gives your body the time it needs to recuperate and helps prevent sunburn and heatstroke. Keep Your Family Safe Is Too Much? How Much Sunshine

Common Myths About Sun Exposure Many people think that a tan is better than a sunburn, but the result of tanning is still sun damage. When your skin tone changes due to the sun, regardless of whether it tans or turns red, it’s a result of the epidermis reacting to damage caused by UV rays. Both are symptoms of harmed skin. While vitamin D is important, the sun does not contribute to its creation as much as you might think. Doris Day, a NewYork City dermatologist, explains that if your skin were to constantly produce vitamin D from being in the sun, it would reach toxic levels. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that your body can produce on its own, through a common form of cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Spending time in the sun does help vitamin D form, but you need far less exposure than you think.

Knowing how to protect yourself from UV rays is the first step to having a safe, fun- filled summer!

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