73% Of Depression Cases Improve After Upper Cervical Care

During times like these especially, depression can run pretty rampant. (Upper Cervical) Chiropractic can help with those feelings of depression and disparity. A study in the November 7, 2005 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research finds that patients diagnosed with clinical depression experienced a "highly significant" level of improvement in their depression symptoms after a short round of (upper cervical) chiropractic care to correct small misalignments of the spinal bones know as vertebral subluxation. In the study, 15 patients from around the country who were diagnosed as clinically depressed were put under chiropractic care. The study subjects were given the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) survey to determine the extent of their depression before and after the (upper cervical) chiropractic care.

The BDI-II is a questionnaire designed to measure the presence and severity of depression in people 13 or older and is one of the most widely used standards of psychological measures.

In the study, specific attention was paid to the first vertebra in the spine, know as the upper cervical (neck) region. The researchers limited their communication with their patient during the procedures to decrease the possibility of placebo effect. No other relaxation or therapeutic methods such as heat or massage were used in order to decrease the number of variables that might affect the outcomes.

Before the patients had (upper cervical) chiropractic care, the mean BDI-II score was 17. After the chiropractic care, the mean score had decreased to 8 (lower is better). 11 of the 15 patients showed marked improvement after care.

The authors of this study report that historically, the interest in the effect chiropractic care has on mental health started in the 1920’s. Indeed, two chiropractic psychiatric hospitals ran successfully for almost thirty years in Davenport, Iowa. Unfortunately when those hospitals closed in the 1950’s most of the patient records were destroyed. Clinical observations during that time suggested that (upper cervical) chiropractic was at least as successful as state psychiatric facilities.
 
(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Anxiety and Depression vs. Upper Cervical Care

"Upper cervical chiropractic care is a complementary strategy for depression"

by Dr. Larry S. Arbeitman
 

A recent article in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research reported on a case series to evaluate a 12-session upper cervical chiropractic intervention for individuals presenting with anxiety and depression symptoms.

This prospective case study consisted of six adults with (1) at least mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression symptoms based on pre-treatment interview and scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient History Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and (2) the presence of upper cervical subluxation. Participants completed the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) pre and post-treatment and completed anxiety and depression measures weekly throughout the treatment. Marlboro-based Dr. Larry S. Arbeitman D.C., who follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications, stated, “Participants received care as usual at the community practice of an upper cervical chiropractor who also had extensive post-graduate training in upper cervical specific chiropractic who was blind to the patient psychological data.”

Five of six patients completed all 12 recommended chiropractic visits. Repeated measures detected significant decreases in both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores across treatment. The SCL-90-R General Symptoms Index also significantly decreased pre and post-treatment.

The results provide tentative support for the effectiveness of upper cervical chiropractic care for anxiety and depression symptoms. “Four of the five study completers expressed satisfaction with the outcome and that they would recommend similar care to others with anxiety or depression,” Dr. Arbeitman related, “and participants also reported a decrease in muscle tension and pain and an increase in mental clarity and physical energy.”

“This is just one case series,” explained Dr. Arbeitman,“but with such promising results, further research is merited to investigate the relationship between chiropractic care and depression and anxiety.”

Larry S. Arbeitman, D.C. of Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC practices in Marlboro, at 25 Kilmer Drive, Building III-Suite 101. For more information on the Upper Cervical Chiropractic procedure, visit www.GetWellNJ.com or call 732-617- 9355 (WELL).

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care and You Vs. Depression and Anxiety

A case study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on June 20, 2013, reports on the results of a case series showing chiropractic helping patients with depression and anxiety. This case series was looking for follow up on previous surveys showing that chiropractic patients felt chiropractic care helped with their mental and emotional states.

The authors begin by reporting that a previous study showed that in a survey of 2818 patients who completed chiropractic care, 76% of those patients reported a mental/emotional improvement, as well as positive changes in stress and life enjoyment over a period of several months following the chiropractic care. Additional prior studies also showed chiropractic care assisting patients with these types of mental health disorders.

This case series study involved six patients who responded to an Internet posting looking for people suffering from mild to moderate depression or anxiety who wished to be a part of a study involving chiropractic. The patients were not under any psychotherapy at the time and were given tests using standard scales of psychological testing to determine and measure their mental state prior to and after the chiropractic care.

All six of the participants also suffered from a variety of problems including musculoskeletal pains, asthma, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and sleep disorders. Those who were taking medications made no changes to their medications during the study to rule out any improvement due to medication.

For the purposes of this study, care was limited to only 12 chiropractic visits over a six week period. A specific analysis and form of chiropractic adjusting was used to correct nerve system interference from subluxations. To measure patient progress, a number of protocols were used both to monitor the chiropractic correction of subluxations as well as to see any improvement in depression or anxiety.

The results of the study were recorded for five of the six participants as one participant left the program due to a family emergency. The remaining five participants all showed positive results in most of the areas that the researchers measured. All five also showed positive test results for a decrease in nerve interference from subluxation. All five participants showed a "...significant decrease in depressive symptom ratings." All five measured a "...significant decrease in anxiety."

Additionally, four of the five participants who completed the study also reported a self feeling of improvement with their depression, enough to state that they would recommend this type of care to others with depression. Four of the five participants also reported significant improvements in the other health issues and problems they were suffering from at the beginning of the study.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "The results provide tentative support for the effectiveness of upper cervical (neck) chiropractic care for anxiety and depression symptoms." They also stated, "The present study found reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms and reduction in overall psychological distress among individuals with mild to severe depression, anxiety or both."

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Holding Your Upper Cervical Correction

Being In Adjustment

by Michael Thomas, DC

People often ask me, “When should I come back?” This is a fair question and an important one. Some people only return to the office when life has become too difficult again. “Doc, that pain has returned and I can’t play golf”. “I’ve been feeling it for four or five months but just in the past couple of days I find that I can’t get comfortable in bed at night”. “I thought it would go away but it just keeps returning and it seems to be getting worse!” “This is a different pain than last time and I didn’t think it was related.” “I didn’t think you could help so I went to five other doctors, got cortisone shots, did weeks of physical therapy, had two MRI’s and now the surgeon wants to operate.”

These and many more are common comments from patients when they return to my office in acute pain or problem. The vast majority of the time, an upper cervical correction will once again, return them to health and happiness. “I didn’t realize you could help this!” “I didn’t know it was related to my neck!” “My other doctor told me you couldn’t help this.” “This is voodoo!”.

I hear these and many other comments like these every day. This is why educating patients is almost as important as the actual upper cervical correction. If you don’t know when I can be of help, you won’t come in to get the correction you need to return you to health or to maintain your health. This educational problem is a deep one. In our society, people are generally not taught anything about what we do or even how our bodies really work and therefore don’t realize the results you receive from an upper cervical correction are even possible. We have always grown our patient population one person at a time. Once you have received a correction and realized, felt, and lived the restoration that occurs, then you begin to get the bigger picture. This picture is actually bigger than the symptom expression in any one person -they know what it has done for them in the past but many have no idea of the possibilities.

Let’s briefly explore (this is a whole book in itself!) the areas and issues that can be affected by an upper cervical correction.

Through ongoing research, we now understand that misalignment in the top of the neck changes blood flow through the head in a dramatic fashion. It also changes flow of the cerebral spinal fluid, which lubricates the brain and spinal cord and removes toxins. Many people have headaches and brain fog that seem directly related. Dizziness and equilibrium problems are frequently helped by upper cervical care. The cranial nerves also seem to be affected by misalignment and many people have found improvement in vision, hearing, TMJ and other facial problems. Many people remark they can’t take a deep breath when they are out of alignment. Many people have noticed that their blood pressure returns to normal when they get back in alignment. People report that their esophageal reflux improves when they are in alignment . Many people report that their digestion becomes disordered when they are out of alignment and returns to normal once they’ve been back to the office. One of my patients starts burping as soon as they are back in alignment and this is a sign their gut is working again. We celebrate! I have several patients whose nose starts running and clearing their sinuses right on the correction table! (I have tissues!)

Many people have found that they begin to feel depressed when they are out of alignment and that this will lift almost immediately when they get an upper cervical correction. More than one person has told me they could finally get pregnant after getting an upper cervical correction -after trying for years without success. Seizures have often been greatly reduced or stopped all together.

This is just a sampling of the thousands of people who have come through the office over the years. We haven’t even gotten to pain yet. General Chiropractic care has been painted as “maybe good for low back pains at times” but results in an upper cervical care office would tend to expand it’s usefulness. In the last week I found patients telling me that their horrific trigeminal neuralgia pain was gone. One person related that she had been sitting on doughnuts for years but that she had come in for shoulder pains. After one correction her shoulder was 90% better but her tailbone pain was gone! So was the pain in her knee and ankle. Several people were scheduled for surgery. Most of them cancelled it after receiving relief. They had been told there was no other choice, but we are a choice they don’t know about.

A proper upper cervical correction restores your body to an optimal relationship with gravity. It restores the ability of your body to function as a whole and not have to scramble to keep up with hips going one way, shoulders another, and head yet another. Fighting gravity is a battle we always lose. Gravity is relentless. The correction restores equipoise, that ability of the body to balance easily right on the gravity line, a vertical axis that goes through our middle. It is much the same as a gyroscope. When a gyroscope has enough energy, it spins cleanly and easily. As it loses energy it begins to wobble more and more in an attempt to remain upright. The extra effort decreases its energy further and it increases its wobble until it falls over. The correction restores all the ‘pieces’ (head, neck, trunk, hips) back into alignment decreasing the energy needed just to keep us upright. This energy can then be used where it is needed in the rest of our body maintaining and restoring our well-being. We can think better. We have greater agility and ease in moving about.

My experiences have shown me that upper cervical care is primary health care for human beings. It is a hidden jewel that you have already found and has likely already made a change in your life. Like any precious gift, the more you know about it, the better it can serve you. I hope this piece has expanded your knowledge of upper cervical care. Now let’s spread the word!

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Who Is The Greatest Doctor On The Planet?

At first glance you'd think an upper cervical doctor was responsible for these words. But they were actually written by a Harvard medical school instructor and practitioner in the late 1800's. While this belief is trivialized today by the medical and pharmaceutical community, it remains the core foundation of Upper Cervical Care.

Upper cervical care humbly acknowledges that "the ONLY thing that can heal the body is the Power that created it." The wisdom Dr. Cabot refers to in his quote is often referred to as Innate Intelligence. It is the power of life that animates our cells, tissues and organs. It is the coordinating force that maintains our body's intricate chemical balance. It silently and confidently orchestrates all steps involved in the healing process from mending a broken bone to putting cancer in remission. It is in favor of you living, rather than you dying.

Upper cervical doctors often, and most certainly should, let you know about this great force inside you. If you really want to know who's responsible for getting you better from the weak state, chronic illness, incapacitating pain or depressing condition you first walked in with? Take a look in the mirror. It was the best doctor on the planet, the one staring right back at you, that did ALL the work.

Upper Cervical Care...An Answer For Fibromyalgia?

By Dr. Barbara Read

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a family of syndromes with similar symptoms. While each person with "fibro" always has the clear signs of fibromyalgia quality pain, how it affects the person and what other secondary symptoms arise is very unique. Most fibromyalgia patients experience the tell-tale fibro hot spots, of achy, sore muscular spots found in predictable points across the body. Many others will then experience depression, extreme fatigue (even after sleeping), chronic headaches, mental fog, insomnia, numbness and tingling, and even irritable bowel syndrome. While men do experience fibromyalgia, the majority of fibromyalgia patients will be women.

What causes Fibromyalgia?

According to medicine, there is no single cause to Fibromyalgia. Instead, the condition is best understood as a breakdown in the body arising from several different sources. Which means that fibro patients are often confused about what they should be doing to help themselves.

Current treatments for Fibromyalgia include prescription drugs, physical therapy, nutritional therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, among others. I have seen my share of persons suffering with fibromyalgia from across central Iowa. This clinical experience helps me say, with confidence, that every case is unique, and deserves more than just one treatment option.

The nervous system is involved

While the symptoms of fibromyalgia can also be influenced by diet, sources of nutrition, emotional and psychological issues, and history of trauma on the body, the nervous system cannot be ignored. There is good reason to believe that much Fibromyalgia pain is caused by an overactive response, between the muscles and the nervous system. This may explain why fibro patients experience other nervous system related symptoms, like depression, headaches, and insomnia.

Many of the medications that fibromyalgia patients are prescribed influence the human nervous system.

Can fibro patients use upper cervical care?

While no one solution is a magic bullet for everyone, many fibromyalgia patients have found significant help with upper cervical care. Upper cervical care focuses on the relationship between the skull and the top of the neck, because of the unique way human beings are formed at this area. The head-to-neck junction contains very important nervous system tissue inside of a joint which is susceptible to injury. Accidents and injuries which disturb this area of the body may change the way the nervous system functions.

Fibro patients who have received gentle corrections to their upper neck have seen great improvements in their fibromyalgia pain. These improvements are often enough to help them manage their own care successfully, with exercise, and diet. And in some dramatic cases, the body's response to the upper cervical correction has resulted in an almost complete remission of fibro symptoms. Fibromyalgia patients may appreciate the gentle approach that most upper cervical doctors use, since contact with painful areas of the body is not necessary.

Every case of fibromyalgia is different, and every fibromyalgia patient is unique. While not everyone will respond all of the time, fibromyalgia patients should know that they have a resource in upper cervical care. Even if a fibro patient has tried general chiropractic, they may still benefit from a consultation with an upper cervical doctor.

Dr. Barbara Read practices in Ames, Iowa at Read Health Center. She is an upper cervical doctor, Board Certified by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Dr. Read enjoys helping patients of all ages and ability get out of disabling pain, and strengthen their health with upper cervical care.

Back Pain, Headaches, Fatigue and Upper Cervical Care

(Editor's Note: The following is a patient's experience with an upper cervical doctor that practices the NUCCA technique.)

In my 25-year search of long-term relief from chronic lower back pain, headaches that would last for days, and fatigue, I have subjected myself to a number of styles of chiropractic, medicine, acupuncture and pain medications. Quite by accident, I found upper cervical care and was skeptical of a method that focused almost strictly on the neck and yet promised a holistic approach to well being and health.

On my first visit, I was suffering from pain between my shoulder blades, lower back, and sciatica. In addition, I had been unable to rotate my neck fully for almost a year. Furthermore, I was a chronic user of sinus medications, ibuprofen (6 tablets, twice daily), acid reflux medication, and anti-depressants. The doctor explained how by putting my upper cervical in alignment my body chemistry would align and many of my non-back issues would subside.

I have been receiving the Upper Cervical procedure for 2 months and I cannot imagine ever having to seek another form of treatment and have encouraged all of my friends and family to convert or begin seeing an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Not only are my initial back symptoms almost nonexistent many other medical issues have corrected themselves. I cannot remember the last time my neck stuck in a position, had to rotate my entire body to look over my shoulder, or felt the tingling numb sensation down the outside of my arm radiating into my hand. The burning pain between my shoulder blades is gone and I have not taken ibuprofen or sinus medication since I began treatment. My lower back is continuing to be treated, but am not crippled at the end of the day.

The most dramatic difference for me is the fact that I finally feel like a normal person. I am able to work eight hours a day, 40 hours a week without debilitating back pain, headache, or fatigue. I do not fall in bed exhausted at 6:00 p.m., but am able to have a life aside from my job. I no longer take acid reflux medication, although I have had the disease my entire life due to a deformed lower esophageal sphincter - the "flap" that controls acid from entering the esophagus and I no longer take anti-depressants.

-Jamie, 49

Head/Neck Misalignment May Cause What?

When the upper neck is out of position, certain nerves may be affected. If those nerves cannot supply your body parts (organs, glands, muscles, bones, etc.) with energy and information, they may not work properly and various conditions may result.

While there's not a 100% correlation between head/neck misalignment and a particular health problem, over a century of clinical observations have revealed that a wide range of conditions seem to be associated with it.

Your first bone in the neck is called C-1 but it also has a special name: the "atlas." Why? Because it holds up the globe of your head just as the Greek god Atlas held up the globe of the heavens. The second bone in your neck or C-2 also has a special name: the axis. That's because it's involved in turning, twisting and tilting your head.

Nerves in the upper neck area affect your head, face, upper neck, inner & middle ear, sympathetic nerve system, optic nerves, sinuses, mastoid bones, tongue, forehead, heart, eyes, auditory nerves, pituitary gland, scalp, brain and more! So many nerves are in this area that when the upper neck is corrected nerves all over your body, your spinal cord, brain, brain coverings (meninges) as well as your entire spine from top to bottom may be helped.

What can head/neck misalignment do to me?

Head/neck misalignment and the accompanying irritation to the nerve system has been related to headaches, migraines, nervousness, insomnia, head colds, nervous "breakdowns", anxiety, difficulty concentrating, ear infections, hormonal problems, menstrual difficulties, depression, "brain fog", low IQ, low resistance to disease, low overall brain function, digestive problems, sinus troubles, allergies, crossed eyes, deafness, eye troubles, fainting spells and seizures as well as many other conditions..

Upper Cervical Doctors are able to locate and correct those of your upper neck: your atlas and axis (C-1 and C-2). What can cause C-1 and/or C-2 to go out of place? Stress is often the culprit. Sometimes a difficult or even not-so-difficult birth can misalign the upper neck and cause body malfunction and health problems for someone for the rest of their lives. That's why it's especially important for these areas to be checked by an Upper Cervical Doctor as early as possible.

Other causes of head/neck misalignment include falls, accidents, getting knocked around playing sports, emotional traumas, chemical stress such as junk food and anything that overcomes your natural tendency to stay balanced.

By the way, there are many different ways of working with this area but Upper Cervical Care provided by an Upper Cervical Doctor will in most cases yield a precise and lasting correction to this area with NO forceful twisting, pulling, or popping of the neck.

Depression and Upper Cervical Care

Abstract from JVSR

Improvement in Depression Following Reduction of Upper Cervical Vertebral Subluxation Using Orthospinology Technique

Glenndon C. Genthner, M.Div. Bio, Harris L. Friedman, PhD Bio, Charles F. Studley, DC Bio
[November 7, 2005, pp 1-4]

Background: It has been long speculated that chiropractic interventions may affect mental health problems. One such intervention, an Orthospinology technique to correct the occipitoatlantoaxial subluxation complex using the Grostic procedure, has been anecdotally noted to improve depressive symptoms.

Methods: Consequently, 15 adults were selected by their treating chiropractors as both clinically depressed and having an upper cervical subluxation, then treated with this intervention in 3 private practice settings in the southern United States. These participants were administered the Beck Depression Inventory II prior to an a Grostic correction of the upper cervical complex, as well as post-procedurally.

Results: A paired t-test demonstrated significant improvement in depression test scores (t=3.96, df="14," p<0.001). Conclusions: The data supports the hypothesis that the orthospinology technique to correct the occipito-atlantoaxial subluxation complex using the Grostic procedure may relate to reduced depressive symptoms.

A Show of Hands

Hi, my name is Margie. I want to tell you about my experience with Upper Cervical Care. I was known as the woman with the sack of pills. I limped into the office and had my consultation. The Doctor said, ‘I can help you!’

I have high blood pressure and have taken two pills a day for six years. I’ve been on an anti-depressant for 14 years. I’ve had fibromyalgia for nine years. I have hip pain. I’ve been on one heart pill and then another pill for vertigo. My ankles were so swollen I could hardly walk. I could hardly see because of the vertigo, and I could hear a person if he spoke loud enough. When he said he could help me, I said to myself, ‘Boy, is this guy crazy.’

Here is my experience within three days after my first correction:

I was sleeping all night without help. I lost six pounds of fluid. My hearing was so clear that it tickled when anyone talked loudly. My fibromyalgia pain was almost completely gone. My shoes were now too big (they fell off while I was walking!).

Within six weeks my eyes were fine, and I got my driver’s license renewed without glasses. Now after six months I no longer am borderline diabetic, I’ve lost six more pounds. My cholesterol is down. My blood sugar was 200 before the adjustment and my latest blood sugar count was 120. My blood pressure used to be 170/110 with the use of drugs and now is 122/78 and I haven’t taken any pills since February 18, 2000!

When people talk about having this pain here or that pain there, I don’t sit and agree with them. I tell them that I used to have what they do. I say to them, "Now let me tell you about my doctor. You should get an appointment."

Margie suffered with the following complaints as she described them to the Upper Cervical Doctor. The following results were obtained after Upper Cervical Care:

Original conditions and percent Improvement

Vertigo for 18 months. 95% Right knee pain 2 years. 95%
Elevated Blood sugar for 6 weeks. 95% Headaches – constant for 10 years. 95%
Ear pain for 18 months. 100% Fibromyalgia for 10 years. 95%
High blood pressure for 5 years. 100% Indigestion-heartburn for 10 years. 95%
Depression for 10 years. 100% Numbness in right hand – tremor 100%
Bladder control problem for years. 100% Sinus condition for 20 years. 75%
Vision loss for 6 years. 100%