Chiropractic has as a basic premise that the spine and nerve system has a controlling influence over all bodily function and when there is interference in the spinal system there will be bodily dysfunction.

Despite (or maybe because of) its amazing results and growing usage over its 110 years of existence, chiropractic has been attacked by drug- based medicine as illogical and unscientific.

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By Dr. Ben Lerner :

The History of Wellness
1961: Weight Watchers holds its first meeting
1970: Cigarette ads are banned from TV and radio
1978: The Soloflex is introduced
1980: Going to the gym becomes popular
1985: President's Council on Physical Fitness opens
1986: Suzanne Somers does ThighMaster infomercials
1986: Bowflex is introduced
1987: Sheena Easton popularizes wash board abs
1988: Healthy Choice releases frozen dinner line
1990: Spandex becomes popular
1995: ESPN launches the Body By Jake television workout show
1997: Nordic Track unveils the Ellipse exercise machine
1998: Tae-Bo is popularized
1999-2004: Body for Life, Atkins, South Beach Diet, Dr. Phil and various fitness and weight loss programs take the world by storm.

Today: Obesity numbers have soared in the last two decades, tripling and even quadrupling for children and adults in the U.S. and abroad. Diseases related to obesity now kill more people than smoking and nearly every other kind of condition.

While wellness businesses and products have made incredible advances over the last four decades, the actual wellness of the nation has retreated almost as quickly in the opposite direction. As we study other societies that continue to experience wellness who lack the sophisticated tools we've created in the United States, it becomes evident health and fitness are not created by stuff: They're created by our culture.

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Like a side salad is a small salad a side effect must be a small effect right? WRONG. People have been brainwashed into thinking that a side effect is less of an effect. Side effects of a drug are as impacting on your body as the main effect. There is no such thing as a side effect. An effect is an effect! Really, a side effect is an extra effect that is beyond that which the drugs are designed for.

Let’s take Prozac, a drug used for depression. Some side effects include nausea, anorexia, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness and sweating (there are hundreds). According to US controlled trails Prozac users were twice as likely to experience these symptoms as the normal population. If we look at these symptoms we see classic signs of stress. What a bargain, the depression is replaced by stress (plus the other effects).

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A significant proportion of our national budget is spent on drugs. Why? Because “drugs help people”, they “heal sickness”, they even “make people healthy” – you’ve heard the official line in many forms in the media. They are expensive, yes, but we are told that the active ingredients are very expensive and it is only through the goodness of the drug companies, the pharmacist and the doctor’s hearts that they bring us these “health enhancing” products.

Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active ingredient in prescription medications? Take a look at this.

Brand Name: Consumer Price/100 tabs: Cost of General Active:
% Markup:
Celebrex 100mg $130.27 $0.60 21,712%
Claritin 10mg $215.17 $0.71 30,306%
Keflex 250mg $157.39 $1.88 8,372%
Lipitor 20mg $272.37 $5.80 4,696%
Norvasc 10mg $188.29 $0.14 134,493%
Paxil 20mg $220.27 $7.60 2,898%
Prevacid 30mg $44.77 $1.01 34,136%
Prilosec 20mg $360.97 $0.52 69,417%
Prozac 20mg $247.47 $0.11 224,973%
Tenormin 50mg $104.47 $0.13 80,362%
Vasotec 10mg $102.37 $0.20 51,185%
Xanax 1mg $136.79 $0.024 569,958%
Zestril 20mg $89.89 $3.20 2,809%
Zithromax 600mg $1,482.19 $18.78 7,892%
Zocor 40mg $350.27 $8.63 4,059%
Zoloft 50mg $206.87 $1.75 11,821%

While the drug companies take a fair slice of these profits, the politicians and pharmacists don’t miss out either. Of course, the key person in the “sales” cycle, the doctor is well supplied from the profits with an estimated $10,000 per doctor per year being spent in Australia to promote the dispensing of these products. When you consider the domino effect of the co-effects and side effects of these substances and how they create the need for more drugs you start to appreciate what a great business this disease business is – why would we want to change a thing?

Globesity is the new word to describe the global obesity epidemic that the World Health Organization is suggesting we have entered. In the year 2000, 300 million people world wide were obese and 40% of those were experiencing obesity related disorders. Add to this the fact that previously underdeveloped countries such as South Africa now report that their population is ‘as fat as America’ and the hospital system previously under pressure with malnourishment complications is now having to deal with equal amounts of obesity related disorders. Unlike previous epidemics, obesity isn’t contagious. So, what is driving this unique situation?

‘News Week’, published an article (August 23) entitled, “When Fat Attacks”. The article suggests that obese people have a genetic fault causing a disruption in the feedback mechanism from the stomach (and the fat cells) to the brain. This results in people not knowing when to stop eating.

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The next generation of human beings is upon us… “Generation multi-track”. You have probably looked on in wonder as the 10 year old listens to his or her MP3 player as they watch TV, as they play their hand held ‘Game boy’ and conduct a chat session with cyber friend in a web based chat room.

As we exit the age of information and start to embrace the age of knowledge we realize that there is no shortage of information, the challenge is, which information is useful and appropriate? It would appear that we are a product of every experience we have ever had.

Every instance of our life is encoded in our neural pathways and stored for future reference. While it is useful to develop the neuroplasticity required to process multiple ‘tracks’ of information the bigger question must be, how does this information serve us?

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Fish and fish oils, especially derived from cold water sources, contain an important fat that is essential for body function. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are two important fats found in fish. Salmon is a direct source of Omega 3 fat. Flax seeds and oil are plant precursors to Omega 3 fat.

The term “Omega 3” is the classification of the fat required for blood vessel, heart, brain and nerve health. This type of fat when consumed on a regular basis is an excellent way to prevent cardiovascular disease as well as emotional, memory and behavioral disturbances.

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After resigning from her position as interim editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in June 2000, Dr. Marcia Angell decided it was time to write a book on the stronghold drug companies have over clinical trials and the way medicine is practiced today.

Throughout her 20 years at the NEJM Angell witnessed the drug companies increased interactions and influence over top players in the medical field. This prompted her to write a book detailing the accounts of the drug companies and their close ties with some of the leading medical journals, doctors and government agencies.
The book, titled “The Truth about Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It,” is now available in bookstores.
In an interview, Angell contributed some of her compelling insights into the questionable practices of the drug industry. The insightful question and answer session is provided in the link below. LA Times August 9, 2004

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One of our most amazing mechanisms for dealing with our internal and external environment is our immune system. The immune system functions to recognize and neutralize foreign materials, keep our own damaged cells to a minimum and provide overall security in our body.

We are not born with this system in full function. Our immune system evolves throughout life as our body comes in contact with environmental changes, challenges and opportunities. Initially, we rely on our mothers for immunity via breast milk. Those situations that mom’s body has evolved for, we too can process. But, when breastfeeding ceases we are on our own. And this is where the evolution of our individual immune system begins.

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We are regularly subject to pressure to ‘protect’ our children’s health by vaccinating against a whole raft of ‘dangerous’ diseases that have been known to kill large numbers of people in the past.

The ‘evidence’ given is that the incidence of many common diseases have declined dramatically in modern times. This observation is attributed to the development of prescription drugs and vaccines. Not true.

The primary reason these diseases no longer pose a threat is because people are healthier due to healthier lifestyle and habits. Let’s look at a few examples.

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As the year draws to a close we tend to reflect on the year past and aim for the year forward. The results we get in life are a direct result of our philosophy on life. Opinions on the purpose of our lives, the roles we play in society, our perception of our skills and abilities determine the choices we make and the behaviors we action.

Currently in our society there exists a prevailing philosophy that we are victims of circumstances, that events and happenings including our health are a matter of luck or un-luck. The good news about being a victim of circumstances is that one does not have role or responsibility for events and can therefore blame others and external forces for experiences. However, that also means that external forces are required to resolve the issue (being as one is not in control). The current obsession with genetic diseases and ‘cures’ for so called genetically determine diseases are a great example of the on flow effect from this philosophy. We are genetically determined and our existence is predetermined.

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The only difference between a 'fool' and a 'genius' is that the 'genius' has gone farther. He or she has lived through the 'fool' stage and come out beyond. Some place along the way they had to weather scorn and ridicule. If Christopher Columbus had not been willing to weather his spell of ridicule, America might not have been discovered for another hundred years. If Einstein hadn't weathered the ridicule leveled at him the world we know may be different. What if the early chiropractors had buckled to the scorn and ridicule they were subject to? We may not even have this amazing profession. But what about tomorrow? - More specifically, What about our tomorrow? This depends largely on our attitude toward ridicule and mistakes. It is not our mistakes that stop us from accomplishing more and bigger things; it is our fear of mistakes. And yet, strangely enough, it isn't even the mistakes we fear, either; we lie down in front of a foolish little question of four words: 'What will people think?'

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The amazing benefits to human life that Chiropractic has given over the last 111 years are often minimized. It is not uncommon to hear the detractors of this profession, both from outside and inside its ranks. In their ignorance they reduce Chiropractic down to “an effective treatment for back and neck pain”.

A central premise of Chiropractic since its inception has been that there is a connection between a person’s brain, spine, nerve system and organ systems. Any interference to this relationship will produce dysfunction and ultimately disease for that person.

An interesting study was designed to determine whether there was, in fact, any connection between minor curvatures of the spine and diseased organs or whether the two were independent of each other.

Breastfeeding Awareness Week has just passed in Britain, its run by the National Health Service and statistics suggest people worldwide definitely need reminding that breast is best for baby.

At birth, 70 per cent of babies born in the UK are being breastfed, but this drops to just 55 per cent after 1 week, and by 6 weeks to just 42 per cent (National Health Service Statistics). The situation is certainly cultural, but there are also hormonal and commercial influences.

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Our elderly population has different risk factors for poor health and injury than younger community members. A major cause of injury and impairment are falls. Falls most commonly lead to fractures and soft tissue injuries with varying degrees of impairment and can even lead to death. Death due to a fall is the 7th leading cause of death in the elderly according to The Merck Manual of Geriatric. Add to this snowballing health care costs from injury due to falls (estimated at $4,500 million AUD in 1994) and we have nothing short of a health crisis.

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