Blood Pressure Lowered Long Term After Only One Upper Cervical Adjustment

The January 19, 2015, issue of the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research documents the case of a single chiropractic adjustment causing a long term lowering of high blood pressure in a patient with chronic hypertension. A previous study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension in 2007 showed positive changes in 25 patients over a 8 week period. This study followed the changes over a longer period of time.

According to the study, "...one in three people are diagnosed as hypertensive and are at risk for other cardiovascular related diseases such as heart attack, renal failure, stroke, and increased mortality." The study reports that 55% of people being treated with drugs for hypertension still have the problem - meaning they continue to be at risk. The cost to the U.S. economy is estimated to be at $63.5 billion annually.

In this case study, a 55-year-old man came to the chiropractor with a history of having hypertension for 20 to 25 years. He did not have any other conditions or ailments that made him seek chiropractic. The man reported that he had been under regular medical care for his hypertension and had been put on a number of medications with no perceivable result in his blood pressure. The study noted that the man had also been on a restrictive diet to help with his blood pressure. His history also included a blow to the head 25 to 30 years ago.

A chiropractic examination was conducted which included a physical analysis, a postural analysis, leg length analysis, spinal x-rays, and thermography. The conclusion of these tests was that subluxation was present in the upper neck area.

A specific chiropractic adjustment was given to the patient and the patient was instructed to rest for 45 minutes. Prior to the first adjustment, the patient's blood pressure was measured as being 180/110 mm Hg. After the first adjustment and the rest period, the patient's blood pressure was again taken and was reduced down to 164/94 mm Hg.

The patient was seen regularly over a seven month period to monitor his subluxation and blood pressure. During this time, no additional chiropractic adjustments were given. At the end of the seven month period, his blood pressure continued to lower and was measured as 136/82 mm Hg. The study recorded that after 2 months of care, the patient discontinued some of the medication he was taking for his blood pressure. By the fourth month, he had discontinued all blood pressure medications.

The authors of the study summed up the results by saying, "This case report outlines a 55 year old male undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care with 20-25 years of hypertension not successfully managed with medication. After seven months of care and one upper cervical chiropractic adjustment his chief complaint of high blood pressure was reduced from 180/110 mm Hg to 136/82 mm Hg. This reduction occurred even though all hypertensive medications were eliminated and no change in the patients diet or weight."

(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.)

Reduction in Blood Pressure with Upper Cervical Care - Study Shows

A study published on August 11, 2014, in the scientific periodical the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, added further evidence showing that upper cervical chiropractic care has a positive effect on blood pressure. Numerous prior studies showed that people with high blood pressure who received chiropractic care experienced a blood pressure reduction. One study even showed that people who had low blood pressure had their pressure return to normal.

In the opening of the study, the author points out, "According to the American Heart Association, hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases continue to be a leading cause of death in the United States effecting approximately 77.9 million adults." He continues by noting, "The American Heart Association reports high blood pressure was listed as the cause of death or contributed to over 348,000 American deaths in 2009."

In this study, twenty people were randomly divided into two groups. One group, the control group, received a simulated adjustment that sounded real but no movement of the spinal bones occurred. The second group received a real upper cervical chiropractic adjustment. Follow-up data was taken from all subjects at nearly the same times so as to make the collection of results consistent. The adjustments given to the subjects were for correction of detected Atlas (top bone in neck) subluxations.

To give both groups in the study the same experience, an instrument was used to render an adjustment to the group that was getting a real adjustment. In the control group, the instrument was set to make sound but not deliver a thrust, therefore simulating a real adjustment. After either the real adjustment or the simulated procedure, all patients were asked to lay on the table for one minute. Afterward, standard post-adjustment procedures were performed to verify that spinal changes occurred in the group that got the real adjustment, while no spinal changes occurred in those who got the simulated adjustment.

The results of the study showed that those who received the real adjustment had a significant reduction in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The control group, who received the simulated adjustment, did not show any statistical change in blood pressure. The effects from the single real adjustment given in this study lasted approximately one month.

In the conclusion of the study, the author states, "In this investigation the correction of Atlas subluxation in the experimental group significantly decreased systolic and diastolic values for up to one month with only one therapeutic intervention." He concludes by suggesting, "The results of this study would suggest there would be a significant benefit in evaluating for and correcting any Atlas subluxation or malposition found in patients that suffer from ABP, (arterial blood pressure)."

(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.)

High Blood Pressure: A Case Study

(I apologize, this was posted a few months back on this blog, but please enjoy it again.  It is a very relevant topic for a great many people.  Please share it with others.)

Resolution of Hypertension Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Study

On Jan. 2, 2014, the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a case study documenting the improvement of hypertension with chiropractic care. This study adds to the body of literature showing chiropractic as a possible alternative to medications for people with hypertension.

The study authors begin by noting that 37 billion dollars are spent each year on the treatment of hypertension. They also report that, "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension is the most common cause of preventable death in developed countries. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes which are the first and third leading causes of death in the US."

In this case, a 57-year-old man went to the chiropractor with a primary complaint of sciatic pain for a year and a half. He was also suffering from pain in both wrists for two years, and high blood pressure for the previous five years. The sciatic pain was sharp, and the wrist pain was affecting the man's daily activity. The case history revealed that his hypertension was being treated with Lisinopril and Simvastatin.

A chiropractic examination revealed postural abnormalities including a short left leg, right head tilt, left lower shoulder, and a weight distribution problem that showed his right side to measure 20 pounds more than the left. Palpation of the spine revealed problems and sensitivity in the upper neck area. X-rays of the neck were also taken and confirmed malposition of the upper neck vertebrae, confirming the finding of subluxation in the upper neck.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were initiated to correct the subluxations. After 8 weeks of chiropractic care, a re-examination was performed. This examination revealed that the man's sciatic pain had reduced by 90 percent, his wrist pain reduced by 70 percent, and his blood pressure had improved by 70 percent from his initial visit to the office.

After a few additional months, the study reports that the man's blood pressure had improved 100 percent, and was to the point that the patient decided to take himself off all his blood pressure medications. His blood pressure continues to remain between normal and pre-hypertensive levels without the use of medications.

The study authors wrote in their conclusion, "Since hypertension is a growing health concern for the public and billions are spent annually, the findings presented in this paper help support the role of chiropractic management beyond pain syndromes."

(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.)

Christmas Wishes of the Upper Cervical Variety

Adapted from "12 days of Christmas, but only 3 Christmas Wishes"

Dr. Zachary Ward

There are 12 days of Christmas, but if I were to drop a letter in the mail to old Kris Kringle I would only have 3 items on my list.

Christmas Wish #1:  More doctors like Dr. Bruce Bell.

A couple of decades ago, upper cervical care certainly wasn’t on the radar of Dr. Bruce Bell MD, a family practice physician in the suburbs of Chicago.

Being a guy who loved his patients and science, he began to notice a trend among his patient population: some of them saw improvements in health status after receiving upper cervical care (UCC). He investigated it and discovered the NUCCA upper cervical approach to spinal balance.

That began a personal investigation into upper cervical care (UCC). And over several years, Dr. Bell sent thousands of referrals to an upper cervical doctor, Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, Sr. of Chicago, Illinois. The fruits of the Bell and Dickholtz working relationship weren’t just limited to happier patients. Dr. Bell insisted on trying to document some of the changes that he saw in his patients, and began the long task of trying to form a research investigation into NUCCA.

In a story to long to tell here, that investigation ended in the very groundbreaking pilot study on UCC and hypertension featured in the Journal of Human Hypertension. In that pilot study it was shown there was a strong association between NUCCA UCC and the reduction of blood pressure in high blood pressure patients.

Now the National Institutes of Health is funding another study to see if these findings can be reproduced among a larger patient population. And thousands of patients are discovering UCC who wouldn’t have found it otherwise!

All of this wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Dr. Bruce Bell, who stepped outside his experience, and found good things were happening for his patients under UCC.

Christmas Wish #2: More money for UCC research

Right now the Upper Cervical Research Foundation is researching the relationship between the upper cervical spine, and a number of conditions which cause human suffering. And they aren’t the only ones. A number of chiropractic colleges have strong, award winning research departments, whose studies have been instrumental in expanding our understanding about the human body. And the relationship between our health and health of the spine.

But it wasn’t until as recently as 1998, that chiropractic institutions began to get significant funding from the National Institutes of Health. Right now, those funding dollars add up to several millions of dollars a year, often spread out over many projects.

Compared to several decades ago, it’s better than nothing. But compared to the tens of billions of dollars the federal government gives medical institutions for research, per year, the amount is almost insignificant.

There are now hundreds of studies which support the benefits of care. Far more than there were even a few years ago. But for the public and the health care system to benefit from care, we need to be able to show how and why we help.

We can’t do that without more research money.

Christmas Wish #3: More children under upper cervical care

“I wish I would have tried this 30 years ago,” is a common phrase heard in my office, and the office of other chiropractors. Of course, sometimes it’s 10 years ago, or 2 years ago, but you get the idea.

My response, though I don’t always say it, is:  ” No, someone should have checked you right after birth.”

Now, not every baby has a difficult birth. And many of our modern birthing methods can save the lives of seriously threatened infants. Yet, they can also place a lot of stress on the upper cervical spine of infants as they move through the birth canal. A process that already places stress on the child’s head and neck.

As a result of this stress, many children come into the world with their bodies out of balance, and they show evidence of it as they grow. For many this shows up as inability or refusal to nurse on one side, a distorted sleep posture (c-shaped bent to the side), stronger motor development on one side of the body than the other, and colicky symptoms.

I can tell you from personal experience, that each of my children has only received a handful of adjustments, they tend to maintain their alignment for a long time, and don’t experience the health problems that plague their playmates, like colic, headaches, and ear infections.

Perhaps if more parents were willing to actually see if their child’s “head was on straight” we might be able to avoid some of the more serious problems that bring people to the doctor later on in life.

Thank you for reading my Christmas wish list! Here’s how you can make each of these wishes come true:

1.If you’re a person who’s seen major improvements in health since starting upper cervical care, share those changes with your primary care physician. They deserve to know what you’re doing.

2.If you’d like to have more groundbreaking research, consider become a donating sponsor of the Upper Cervical Research Foundation.

3.If you’re a parent with a child who has health challenges, consider the possibility that your child’s spinal alignment has a role to play in their health maintenance and healthy development. And get your child to an upper cervical doctor.

Have a blessed Holiday!

Blood Pressure Normalized After Upper Cervical Care

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a study on April 24, 2012 documenting the positive effects upper cervical care has on normalizing blood pressure. This study was unique in that it looked at the effect of upper cervical care on a full range of blood pressure situations and not just on the effect upper cervical care (UCC) has on high blood pressure.

Several previous studies have documented that UCC has the effect of lowering blood pressure significantly on test subjects. The author of this study reviewed the prior studies noting that each of them showed significant improvement in patients with hypertension. One such study was done at the Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago Medical Center and published in the March 2, 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension. The study's leader, George Bakris, MD, commented, "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination. And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems." 

This study looked at 42 individuals with a variety of blood pressure readings in order to compare the impact UCC had on the group as a whole. In this group, there were 12 subjects with a lower blood pressure than normal, considered "hypotensive", 12 people with blood pressure in a normal range called "normotensives", 10 with slightly high blood pressure reading considered, "pre-hypertensive," and 8 who had blood pressure readings high enough to clearly fall into the categories of being stage 1 or stage 2 hypertensive. 

UCC for correction of subluxation at the "Atlas" (top bone in the neck) was given to the group. This study reviewed data from three groups consisting of Group 1- hypotensives, Group 2- normotensives and Group 3- hypertensive, which combined the pre-hypertensive with the stage one and stage two hypertensive group.

The results for the hypotensive group with lower blood pressure showed that their average blood pressure increased to within a normal range. The study recorded that the average pre-UCC systolic pressure was 84.33 mmHg compared to the average post-UCC systolic pressure which was 98.17 mmHg. Similar improvements were seen in the diastolic pressures going from 64.83 mmHg to 73.67 mmHg after UCC was initiated.

The group with normal blood pressure reading showed a slight decrease in both their systolic and diastolic reading after UCC. 

The biggest changes were in the groups of hypertensive and pre-hypertensive people where the systolic pressure group average was 152.61 mmHg before chiropractic, and the average after the introduction of UCC fell to 132.39 mmHg.  The diastolic values for this group for pre and post UCC also showed improvement going from 83.83 mmHg to 77.00 mmHg. 

In his conclusion, the author wrote, "These findings suggest realignment of the atlas does not simply lower ABP (arterial blood pressure) but may also be part of a systemic homeostatic mechanism not yet completely understood. The same adjustment that decreased hypertensive ABP measurements also increased hypotensive ABP measurements to more normal levels."

(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.)

Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Upper Cervical Care

Upper Cervical Research and Atrial Fibrillation and Hypertension

by Dr. Kevin Lin

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which can cause palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. Atrial fibrillation can also increase the risk of stoke by seven times over the average population. It is a serious condition that affects over 2.3 million Americans and the latest research indicates that Upper Cervical Care can be effective in providing  a resolution.

The patient in the research article was a 68- year old female that presented with Atrial fibrillation and Hypertension. She initially presented with a blood pressure of 193/98 that was reduced to 124/74 by the second month of Upper Cervical Care. In addition, the patient no longer had occurrences of arrhythmia. In total, the patient only needed 4 corrections over the first two months of care and currently still under care and is no longer on any medication to control her hypertension or her arrhythmia.

Upper Cervical doctors have such good results with heart issues including hypertension and arrhythmia because when a correction is made to the Upper Cervical spine it releases tension and pressure from the brain stem. When the brain stem is free from interference the body is able to function and heal properly in the fashion that the body was designed.

This research article can be found here.

(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.)

Four Upper Cervical Testimonials

from uppercervicalflorida.com

High Blood Pressure

I was very stressed and had neck pain, as well as high blood pressure (180 / 120) and a high pulse rate of 105 beats / min. After the first adjustment my blood pressure dropped to 130/80, and my pulse rate dropped to 75. I do not feel stressed anymore- I feel great! My husband said that I looked 10 years younger when I got home after the 1st adjustment. Amazing stuff! Thank you guys!!!

-Meli S.


Numbness, Trouble Walking

I could not get into bed or dress myself after falling in the snow during Christmas. After an adjustment in early January I could feel my left side pain receding and the numbness in my left arm disappearing. I could dress myself and bend over again. I have been walking a mile on the ocean trail every day since the adjustment.

-Christine S.


Fibromyalgia / Chronic Fatigue

I came to the Upper Cervical Health Centers of America in Juno Beach, Florida after more than six months of extreme fatigue, severe body pain and weakness, and decreased mental focus and clarity. As a normally healthy and physically active person, as well as a student and a dancer, these symptoms greatly interfered with my lifestyle and affected me physically, mentally and emotionally. I no longer had any energy to spend time with friends and family, concentrate on my studies or enjoy my regular daily activities. I had seen a number of medical doctors, all of whom gave me different diagnoses and different prescriptions; none of which provided any relief. In fact, my symptoms grew worse. Frustrated and confused, I came to Dr. Alli Manis and Dr. Kevin Davine. When meeting with them, they took the time to educate me about Upper Cervical Care and its benefits. In their care, I have found relief of my symptoms as well as improved overall health. I feel better now than I did before my symptoms appeared! I am grateful for their work, as well as their passion in helping everyone achieve true health and wellness.

-Amanda D.


Severe Back and Neck Pain

Several years ago my pain in my neck and back became so severe that I could not go to work or play golf. As with most people, I visited local doctors and hospitals in hopes of getting better. No improvement. Next step was visiting The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Still no Improvement. I then heard of Upper Cervical Health Care. After 3 weeks of adjustments, I returned to a normal life. FULLY RECOVERED! To me, a miracle. I now use Drs. Manis and Davine and fully endorse their work.

-John Traub, PGA Golf Professional

(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 of the above conditions, diseases or symptoms.)

Post Polio Syndrome And Upper Cervical Care

(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 Post Polio Syndrome or any other condition, disease or symptom.)

Post Polio Syndrome, the Brain Stem and the Upper Neck

by Dr. Bill Davis

What happens to the human body as a result of an head/neck misalignment is variable. One patient may develop Migraine Headaches another Lower back Pain and still another pain in the face or digestive problems.

Why is that?

The short answer is that the brain is changed.

When the spinal column is misaligned as a result of problems in the upper neck it begins a cascade of events that contributes to poor health.

Frequently it begins with accidents and injuries that tear loose the connective tissue that holds the spine in place in the upper neck. This creates a weakness which allows the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position. The head will frequently tilt to one side, the shoulders will tilt. Standing up one of the hips will be higher than the other due to uneven muscle pulling, lying down one of the legs will be shorter than the other due to spastic contracture of the muscles around the pelvis.

Once the structure of the body is in this misaligned position pressure begins to develop into the nervous system beginning in the lower part of the brain where it enters the spinal cord at the level of the Atlas (top bone in the spine). And extending down from there into the spinal nerves that go into the legs and arms and into all internal organs.

So what does this all have to do with Post Polio?

If you had Polio as a child and years later you began developing strange symptoms that are being traced back to the original Polio virus than you may have been told that there is not much that they can do for you.

But if there is problems in the body as a result of a trauma to your head, neck or spine and there was some underlying neurological problems as a result of the damage from the Polio, than the combination of the two issues may lead to the symptoms of post polio.

Problems in the upper neck at the level of the atlas cause dysfunction into the brain stem. Brain stem dysfunction has been linked to the development of post polio syndrome as Dr. Susan Pearlman of the UCLA Post Polio Clinic has stated in her work looking at Polio above the neck.

When the underlying spinal problems in the upper neck are corrected and brain stem function is improved amazing things happen with a variety of different body systems including many of those connected to post polio and the lower brain stem including improvement in:

Fatigue
Joint Pain
Muscle Pain and Weakness
Atrophy
Cold Intolerance
Breathing Problems
Problems Swallowing
Blood Pressure Changes

In my Upper Cervical office I have seen changes in all of these symptoms in those with Post Polio and other conditions as well when the underlying injuries to the upper neck are corrected and allowed to heal.

So have you been diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome?

Do you have a history of head, neck or spine trauma?

What would happen to your body if that pressure that has developed from the upper neck problems were removed?

Would you get better?

Only one way to find out…have an upper cervical analysis in an upper cervical care office.

Find out more info at www.nuccawellness.com or www.nucca.org or www.upcspine.com.

Choices, Health And Upper Cervical Care

(Editor's note: Today's post comes from the Atlas of Life November 2010 newsletter. Click on the title below to view the full newsletter.)

YOU LOOK & FEEL HOW YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK & FEEL

By Dr. Brandon Harshe

When my kids do something wrong, such as hit or scream at one of their siblings, or they ignore instructions we give them, they will face some type of consequence. Usually, the perpetrator screams, or cries, or whines when handed his/her sentence. The one thing we almost always tell them is that they chose the consequence. By behaving badly, they reaped a negative result. I do not think they get that concept most of the time, but through repetition, they will grow up understanding it eventually.

In fact, this is something we all need to understand. Including me. I have my moments where things will happen and I get frustrated, wanting to blame some exterior source. But in reality, the true source of my problem came from me.

There is no truer example of this idea than our health. Diabetes does not happen by chance. Heart disease does not happen overnight. Cancer is not a curse of our genetics. These diseases, and really most diseases, are caused by poor lifestyle decisions, point blank. I am not talking congenital heart defects or Down’s syndrome, I am talking about diseases that develop over time.

No one held you down and shoved a Big Mac down your gullet. No one put a gun to your head and told you to eat too much pizza. No one forced me to eat too much Halloween candy out of my kids’ stash. No one tied you down and made you watch football and drink beer all day last Sunday. Those are choices we all make, and the results of those choices are our doing, not someone else’s.

How many healthy, athletic, people eating plant-based diets do you see currently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes? Personally, I have never seen one. How many calm, happy people have you met with high blood pressure? Probably not many.

I know that if I eat at CiCi’s Pizza, I will feel flu-like symptoms and an overall sluggishness the next day… Basically I feel like garbage. That is how my body responds to my choice of eating awful food. Sure it’s a cheap place to take a family of six out to eat, but is it really worth it? Instead of trying to find some kind of medication that will take away my symptoms, I choose not to eat there anymore. Problem solved.

How about contracting a cold virus, or bronchitis, or the flu? Is that not something that happens to us by chance? Sometimes, but how many of us have been stressed with midterms, finals, work deadlines, meager finances, marital issues, or the death of a loved one? Those things put us into a state of stress, and that keeps us in sympathetic mode. The sympathetic nervous system is what controls the fight-or-flight response. Once in a while, it might be needed. But on a long term basis, this is what wears our bodies down, overuses our adrenal glands, and weakens our immune system, along with being sedentary and eating junk all the time, making us more prone to contracting a virus of some sort.

Dealing with that stress properly is what will keep us in parasympathetic state, which is where we want our bodies to be most of the time. I once heard Dr. Wayne Dyer mention that stress is not a physical, tangible thing. We cannot grab it out of the air. It is simply an idea in our mind. Replacing those stressed out thoughts with positive thoughts takes some work, but once you get the hang of it, life starts getting a little better.

Knowing that, and making healthier choices with our diets and activities, maybe, just maybe we can get to that level of optimal health we all want to experience.

It just dawned on me that, outside of (getting upper cervical care), I have not been to any kind of doctor in over 12 years. I have made choices in my life that keep me from needing to go to a medical doctor for anything. I am not perfect by any means… I still have so much to improve upon (ask my wife). But at least I am ahead of the game with my physical health.

You can be too. Quit sitting around, eating junk, and watching too many reality shows. Get up, exercise, eat some fruits and veggies, think positive (and get your nerve system and upper neck checked periodically).

High Blood Pressure?...Upper Cervical Care?

Hypertension One Essential Checklist Item For the Serious Investigator

By Philip Schalow

Imagine for a moment a radically conservative Mosque that issues a report acknowledging the Jesus Christ is truly the Messiah. Or imagine a news release from a major automobile manufacturer stating that designs for an efficient engine running on grass clippings - something that many people have ready access to - have been released to production.

It is this category of surprising events wherein we find reports about a study produced by Rush University Hypertension Center. This is a report that needs to be studied, pondered and expanded upon. This is a report from a large medical institution stating that (upper cervical correction) of the atlas can reduce blood pressure in people suffering from Type I hypertension. Let us take a closer look!

Dr. George Bakris, MD, director the Hypertension Center at Rush University, is the lead author in this study that concludes correction of the atlas misalignment, following the NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) protocol, can reduce hypertension in people for at least eight weeks, the duration of the study. Here are the natural questions, and answers, that arise from this conclusion:

1. What is the atlas misalignment?

The atlas misalignment consists of a measurable displacement of the normal relationship between the atlas (first cervical vertebra), the skull and the neck below. The misalignment can be as little as.75 millimeter in linear measurement and still cause neurological insult.

2. What kind of hypertension was reduced?

Type I, or idiopathic, benign hypertension.

3. How many patients were in the study?

There were 50 patients in the study, half were in the placebo group and half in the experimental group.

4. How much was the hypertension reduced?

Hypertension was reduced an average of 17 points on systolic, 10 points on diastolic.

5. Is this statistically significant?

Yes. For the systolic change, the significance was measured at 0.0001, and for the diastolic at 0.002. That is like asking the question, "Is the White House in Washington DC?", You know what the answer is with confidence.

6. How did they know the atlas misalignment was really corrected?

Following NUCCA protocol x-ray analysis before adjusting, the misalignment in the experimental group averaged 2.17 degrees. Again following NUCCA protocol, the x-rays after the initial adjustment showed a reduction down to.22 degrees. At the end of the eight-week study period, x-rays showed that the correction was still reduced to.22 degrees. In other words the misalignment got corrected and stayed corrected.

7. How did they know the adjusting doctor did not just perform some kind of hypno-babble on the patients?

There was an observer in the room to be sure he did not say a word.

8. Was there some other factor that may have been responsible for the change?

In order to reduce the likelihood of this, participants could only be in the study if they agreed to forego osteopathic manipulation of any kind or chiropractic work for the duration. Also, they were not allowed to take any kind of antihypertensive drugs. Subjects were screened out who had an active drug or alcohol addiction.

9. Does this mean everyone should throw out their blood pressure medications?

No, but it does mean that if you have symptoms of high blood pressure and signs of an atlas misalignment, correcting the atlas to the fine degree attained by a NUCCA practitioner might help the blood pressure normalize. Ask your doctor if he or she knows how to check for an atlas misalignment. Alternatively, contact a local chiropractor or even check with the NUCCA organization to find a local doctor who knows the right way to check for an atlas misalignment.

So, You've Got Stress

Your boss is getting on your nerves; you have to get a project finished but the phone keeps ringing; you still have not met the right person to marry to have the children you want so badly or you have children that are so bad you hardly want them; your car breaks down; your bills are piling up; your in-laws are coming to dinner; your mother says she never sees you anymore; you are overwhelmed by your cholesterol count, your sodium intake, your sugar intake and your fat intake; you or someone you know has cancer or AIDS and YOU’VE GOT STRESS!!!

There is simply no escaping it. Our lives and the world we live in are loaded with stress. More than 66% of all visits to a primary-care physician are for stress-related disorders. Every week 112 million people take medication for stress-related disorders. Job stress costs American industry more than 150 billion dollars yearly in absenteeism, lost productivity, accidents and medical insurance. It is worth noting that some stress may be good. Many people are more alert, more productive and consequently happier and healthier with a certain amount of stress. Beyond that, however, it stops contributing to your ability to function and starts inhibiting it.

Stress is a double-edged sword. Things going wrong produce stress and it causes things to go wrong. Stress over an extended period of time can make you quit your job, can lead you to depression or to drugs and alcohol. All of these can and will certainly affect your ability to perform, your ability to earn money and your quality of life.

We all need to do more to combat stress, we have to learn to find a balance in our work and personal lives. Certainly there are some things that you simply cannot do anything about, for example, the unexpected death of a loved one, natural disasters and accidents. However, everyone can and should carefully examine their lives and make an honest attempt to reduce the stress-producing circumstances that make unnecessary demands upon them. Determine which things you can do something about, concentrate your time and energy on them and try to avoid the obvious ones. We should emphasize wellness, focus on the positive and relaxation, whatever the circumstance.

Upper Cervical Care should also play an important role in your stress management. When a stress-inducing event occurs, muscles contract, breathing becomes faster and deeper, heartbeat increases and digestion is halted. This all occurs as a response to a nervous impulse. Continually contracted muscles can contribute to head/neck misalignment and this can lower your ability to deal with stress. Of course, just as different situations produce varying amounts of stress for different people, different stress management techniques will have varying degrees of effectiveness. Some may benefit from exercise while others respond to meditation, deep breathing or spending time on an enjoyable hobby. Upper Cervical Care, however, can work for everyone because it removes nerve interference and interrupts the contracted muscle/increased stress cycle.

Upper Cervical Care coupled with positive thinking and other stress management techniques can create a sense of well-being and a zest for life and lead to a longer, more productive, happier and healthier life.

Upper Cervical Care: Blood Pressure

Sorry, just one more that I had to share today. My good friend Dr. Adam Tanase posted this recently about Upper Cervical Care and blood pressure. It is an interview with the Upper Cervical Chiropractor, and two MD's involved in the study.

Upper Cervical Care: Cause and Effect

I just had to share this video with everyone after seeing it posted on the Atlas of Life

See the video on youtube here.

What Can Upper Cervical Care Do For _______?

I don't know about you but I often get questions similar to the ones below and I thought Dr. O'Shea does a great job of answering them. While this post is not written from an Upper Cervical Care perspective directly it illustrates, hopefully, the mindset that many patients start at and where we hope to take them. He has a focus on nutrition which, while not being my focus, I feel is as equally important to a good nerve supply. I like his no nonsense approach and putting the responsibility directly where it should be, with the patient. Not saying we do not have a responsibility but each individual person is ultimately and totally responsible for their own health. Anyway, here is what Dr. O'Shea has to say, enjoy.

From THE LAST RESORT
by Tim O'Shea

(Read the whole article here)

People keep asking me - what can you do for diabetes? What can you give me for arthritis? What do you got for high blood pressure, weight loss, thyroid, hot flashes, cancer, reflux, chronic fatigue... What they're really saying is - what magic bullet can you give me that will allow me to continue my current lifestyle of self abuse? I know where this idea came from. It's how we're raised: solving health problems is not our responsibility. See the doctor. He'll know what to give us.

When it comes to health, we try the easiest stuff first. Doctor appointments, tests, MRI, procedures, drugs, and more drugs - sometimes even surgery. All the things that THEY do - anything that doesn't require our participation. The comforting illusion that we're doing something about our problem by letting somebody else do it.

After a while, when all this has failed, a little light goes on - for some. And that's the idea that these guys really don't know what they're doing. And that if you're going to stop this downward spiral, it'll be totally 100% up to you.

Blind luck may suddenly reveal that the cause of most of your health problems is what you're putting in your mouth, both food and drugs.

And now you've come to that point of self-loathing or desperation or confusion or being fed up or whatever where you really want to make a change because you know you have to. Maybe it's a chronic digestive problem. Or a "weak heart." Or diabetes. Or chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or MS. Or arthritis, or allergies, or asthma. Or a cross reaction from those combinations of medications that all those guys are giving you, without much consideration or concern, after that 5 minute office visit. With a nurse.

Lotta people jumping ship here. And many of you are washing up on my beach. After we start getting the spine in order, you want to know what else you can do. That's when we start looking at detox - cleaning out poisons that are stuck in the colon, the blood, the tract, the arteries. Rotting food, experimental medications, years of over the counter stuff, all those party drugs - it's stuck inside you. Time to clean house. Time to try something - anything, because whatever you've been doing so far just isn't working. You know you're dying, and that's not just an expression.

So here's your last resort - participation . Do-it-yourself health care. Many people find out, some too late, that this is the only thing that was ever going to work in the first place. What particular disease you have doesn't really matter that much. So much of it is just a name game anyway - they're usually just guessing. If your body's going to survive, the same rules of cell nutrition apply in every case. No matter how advanced your particular problem, you're still just flesh and blood like every one else. Your body follows the same physical laws. Every day you're alive, certain fundamental problems occur for your cells. Either these problems get solved or they don't.

It's really very simple once you realize that you're only going to be putting stuff in your mouth that will do one of two things:

cleanse and/or nourish

Couldn't be simpler. No matter what ideas you may have or what physical condition you're trying to solve, or what you've been through, if some of your cells are still alive, this is the basic program, the starting line for everyone.

So give yourself one last break. Whatever you need to do to get the self confidence to win this battle, do it. If this is the hardest thing you've ever had to do, seems like life's been pretty easy so far.

Quoting Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right”.

Upper Cervical Care and High Blood Pressure: The Palmer Study

Below is part of an article about the research that Palmer College will be doing regarding Upper Cervical Care and Hypertension/High Blood Pressure.

Click here for the full article

Researchers at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) clinic facility, 741 Brady St., Davenport, on the campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic, are looking for 165 people in the Quad Cities with hypertension, or high blood pressure, to participate in a clinical research study with the potential for significant impact on the treatment of hypertension. Patient recruitment began in late November. Participants must have high blood pressure and be between 21 and 75 years of age.

“More than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, making it the most commonly diagnosed disease in the United States,” said Dr. Goertz. “Although many medical treatments for diagnosed hypertension are available, only about 30% of patients achieve blood pressure goals. Many patients report that they are unable to tolerate medication side effects and find it difficult to sustain significant lifestyle changes. Thus, a non-pharmacological therapy that lowers blood pressure could become an attractive option to many patients and their physicians.”

“The concept that manipulation of the upper cervical spine could reduce blood pressure is both novel and appealing at the same time” said Dr. Lamas. “It is novel because of its originality of thought, and because it is backed up by preliminary data. It is appealing because any treatment for high blood pressure that does not expose patients to drugs and their side effects should be investigated. I really look forward to assisting with the study and seeing the results.”

“This should be an interesting trial,” added Dr. Giudici. “Work to date has shown that blood pressure responds to other non-pharmacologic interventions such as diet, weight loss, exercise, stress reduction and yoga. There is also some interesting early data on blood pressure response to slowing respiratory rate. Palmer has put together an impressive team of researchers and the infrastructure needed to perform this and other studies.”

Potential participants in the study will be examined at the PCCR clinic and Trinity Terrace Park Family Practice Clinic to determine whether they qualify for the study. If so, they will be randomly assigned to one of three different upper cervical treatment groups, all of which will receive chiropractic care at the Palmer Research Clinic for eight weeks. Patients will have their blood pressure monitored on a regular basis while participating in the study. All examinations and treatment are provided at no charge to the patient.

How Long Will You Wait?

Allergies, Arthritis, Asthma, Back and Neck Pain, Bronchitis, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Constipation, Dizziness, Fibromyalgia, Frequent Infections, General Tension and Weakness, Headaches, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Kidney Disorders, Lack of Concentration, Low Blood Pressure, Menier’s Disease, Menstrual Disorders, Migraines, Nausea, Nervousness, Neuropathies, Sciatica, Sinus problems, Torticollis (Wry Neck), Scoliosis, Stiff Necks, Stomach Disorders, Ulcers, and Vertigo.

These are all problems and diseases that have improved while under Upper Cervical Care in offices around the world.

Now I will state that with the people with these conditions the Upper Cervical Doctor's goal was not to treat their problem or cure them of their disease.

The Upper Cervical Care goal is simple: To return the nervous system of the body, that controls everything, to more normal function. Once that was accomplished, with time, the patient did their own healing. Remember, if an Upper Cervical Correction were administered to a dead person nothing happens, it is only the living body that heals.

If you have any of the above health concerns or even some that may not be listed please don’t wait, check out more posts on this blog and find out what Upper Cervical Care can do for you.

Keeping Your Head on Straight Radically Affects Your Health

Help with allergies, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and frequent infections? Read on...

It is of extreme importance to your health that the position of the neck allows for your head to sit balanced over the center of your body.

Sadly, the effects of gravity, poor posture, the weight of the head, or past trauma will cause neck and skull misplacement leading to something called "Subluxation", meaning the position of the head and neck is unbalanced and this can cause damage to the spinal cord and brain stem. Incorrect head positioning leads to improper spinal function.

This can result in a whole host of problems because the spinal cord, the brain stem in particular, delivers the messages from our brains to our bodies that keep us alive and functioning properly. Because the brain stem has this important job, problems with it can become expressed as abnormal function / symptoms in any part of the body.

Since this area “feeds” the ENTIRE body with crucial information any of the following can result:

Allergies, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, frequent infections, constipation, diarrhea, back pain, arm pain, leg pain, hormonal problems, menstrual cycle problems, vertigo, earaches, the list goes on and on.

The above list makes sense when you understand the simpleness of the truth. That the nervous system regulates ALL BODY FUNCTIONS and that if that system is not functioning as it was intended a problem can, and with time will, occur ANYWHERE IN THE BODY.

The above comments show, it's incredibly important to restore the skull and neck back to their normal position.

Such care can only be offered by highly trained doctors. Remember, standard manipulation and physical therapy will not resolve subluxation, and neither will taking medications or having surgery for its’ resulting effects.

Seek out doctors that are able to measure the degree of subluxation and provide a care plan designed to correct it. The problem and the correction of the problem can be measured through postural assessment, spinal reflexes, neurodiagnostics, and x-ray. A very effective approach for this damaging condition is Upper Cervical Care since subluxations involve this area of the neck specifically.

Can Upper Cervical Care Help?

This list represents just some of the conditions that have improved dramatically or resolved completely under specific Upper Cervical Care. The majority of these cases had also been previously diagnosed and treated by other practitioners. *

Conditions

Allergies, Anemia, Arthritis, Asthma, Back Disorders, Bronchitis, Bursitis, Constipation, Deafness, Diabetes Mellitus, Dizziness, Dyspnea, Emotional Disorders, Epilepsy, Gall Bladder Disorders, General Tension, General Weakness, Goiter, Hay Fever, Headaches (Non-Migraine), Herniated Discs, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Insomnia, Kidney Disorders, Liver Disorders, Low Blood Pressure, Lumbago, Meniere's Disease, Menopause Disorders, Menstrual Disorders, Mental Disorders, Migraine Headaches, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Nervousness, Neuralgia, Neuritis, Parkinson's Disease, Pleurisy, Prostate, Rheumatism, Sacro-Iliac Disorders, Sciatica, Sinusitis, Spasmotic Torticollis, Spinal Curvatures, Stiff Necks, Stomach Disorders, Strabismus, Tic Douloureaux, Ulcers, Varicose Veins, and Vertigo

*Upper Cervical Care corrects a primary cause of many health problems so even if you don’t have one of the conditions above you to may benefit from Upper Cervical Care.

Type 2 Diabetes and Upper Cervical Care

Another study about the effects of Upper Cervical Care.

WEBSTER, SK; DICKHOLTZ, M; WOODFIELD, C; BAKRIS, GL; Acute Effect of Nucca Upper Cervical Adjustment on Patients with Diabetes Type II CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH JOURNAL. 2000 FAL Vol. VII(2) Pgs. 81

ABSTRACT:

Background: Type II diabetes is characterized by elevated post-prandial plasma glucose levels and recurrent fasting hypoglycemia. Progression of cardiovascular and renal disease has been demonstrated to correlate with hypertension and hyperglycemia in patients with type II diabetes.

Objectives: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the acute effects of chiropractic reduction of upper cervical subluxation using the technique established by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) on blood pressure, plasma glucose, and the activity of the autonomic nervous system in patients with type II diabetes.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that reduction of upper-cervical subluxations by NUCCA adjustment resulted in a stabilization of plasma glucose levels during the three-hour fasting period. Further characterization of these patients, as well as additional patients, will be necessary to assess the mechanisms through which this stabilization occurs. Long-term monitoring of these variables in these patients will determine if the beneficial effects of this type of chiropractic care on plasma glucose level are maintained for extended periods of time.

Blood Pressure Emergency

HYPERTENSIVE Emergency Returns Within Minutes to the Pre-crisis Level Following an Upper Cervical Spinal Adjustment

Paul Mullin, D.C., and Robert Sinnott, D.C., L.C.P. (Hon.)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To define hypertension, hypertensive emergency, and to report a case in which a patient found immediate resolution of a hypertensive emergency subsequent to the delivery of an upper cervical adjustment. Authors are cited who have published hypotheses attempting to explain a possible link between upper cervical dynamics and lowered blood pressure.

Clinical Features: A 71-year-old male, who was experiencing a hypertensive emergency (300/204 mm Hg) with signs of encephalopathy, found immediate resolution following an upper cervical adjustment when four days of hospitalization and pharmaceutical measures had failed.

Intervention and Outcome: Upper cervical X-rays were analyzed for subluxation. A thermal pattern of the cervical spine, implying subluxation, was established using the Tytron 3000 paraspinal scanner.

The subluxation was then adjusted using the Palmer Upper Cervical Specific Toggle Recoil on a Zenith toggle table with a drop headpiece. The patient experienced immediate relief from the vertigo, and the blood pressure quickly returned to a pre-crisis level of 156/96 mm Hg. The patient has been feeling well, and his blood pressure has been stable for more than two years. The atlas subluxation has only been adjusted twice during the entire time frame.

Conclusion: The prompt drop in blood pressure and remission of associated symptoms following an upper cervical adjustment begs the question: Is there a relationship between these seemingly unrelated entities? Previous reports and hypotheses regarding hypertension and hypertensive emergencies are cited in an attempt to explain possible mechanisms.