How Chiropractic Medicine Saved My Life
I’ve been reminiscing lately and realized that after writing all these blogs I never really shared my story, my healing story. At 12 years old I was diagnosed with asthma after landing in the hospital not able to breath after my first NYC trip. Ironic that the air pollution of NYC gave me my first asthma attack and that where I decided to open up my practice 16 years ago. I was a runner throughout middle school and high school and my asthma was getting worse and worse. At 16 years old we were looking for alternatives because my asthma was so bad I had to quite cross country and track. I was sick and tired of the inhalers and emergency room visits. I absolutely hated the prednisone medication….and i was getting worse and worse every year so we were desperate to find a solution. My mom heard of a chiropractor who may be able to help but he was 2 hours away. Well, we were desperate enough to give it a try.
He used muscle testing also known as applied kinesiology to help me find out what toxins were in my body causing the asthma and also directed me in what supplements to take that would support my lungs. With the right nutritional support and lifestyle changes I was asthma free in 2 years and I have not used my inhaler since!
Being so inspired I knew I wanted to do what he did and he was a chiropractor who specialized in nutrition. So I naturally went to chiropractic school. Chiropractic medicine is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. We go to different colleges than medical doctors. We don’t learn about drugs but have more anatomy and physiology and learn how to help the body by working on the muscles, joints and spine. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.
The Goal of Chiropractic Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck issues. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it’s not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health by better nerve and blood flow to all areas of the body. We do this by correcting misalignments in the spine, opening up tight muscles strengthening weak ones.
How can the same chiropractic treatment which effectively treats my back pain also optimize my health? The answer can be found by looking into the relationship between the spine and the nervous system.
As you may already know, the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues and organs; orchestrating and coordinating all cellular functions. The spinal column encases the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots) and is responsible for its protection.
Because of this intimate relationship, misalignments in the spinal column can irritate parts of the nervous system. This irritation can result from inflammatory biochemicals released during injury or may result from direct pressure during an injury. In either case, the functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced as is the nerves themselves and the organs that they go to.
In short, because the body’s innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions.
What Chiropractors Do Chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating misaligned joints, especially in the spine but could be anywhere in the body. We also want to open up and relax tight muscles not only to help patients get out of pain but also because muscles attach to joints and if they are too tight they can pull the joint out of place and our adjustments do not hold.
At Healing Arts, we use Applied Kinesiology to check the patient’s spine for any misalignments, fixations or other abnormalities (vertebral subluxations). If subluxations or other abnormalities are detected, the chiropractor will generally apply a gentle force in a corrective manner to the affected spinal area using their hands or an activator. Chiropractors use many specialized techniques to identify and treat these spinal abnormalities and optimize overall health.
In addition to spinal adjustive techniques we also use soft tissue techniques, physical therapies, and lifestyle modification programs to help the patient regain health.
We also use the muscle testing or Applied Kinesiology to identify which organs are weak in the body and using these homeopathic vials identify which toxins are causing the organ to go weak and then what nutritional supplement to use to help that organ. This is how we identify the root cause of a person’s health concern.
Chiropractors first got into the nutrition field in the 1940s when they realized that their adjustments were not holding well. What used to take a chiropractor 2-3 adjustments to heal was now taking 12+ adjustments and it wasn’t like they were worse adjusters. So chiropractors started looking for the source and realized that people were becoming more toxic and these toxins were interfering with the nervous system not allowing the adjustments to hold. This time period also correlated with food companies putting more sugar into the food and the birth of canned foods.
Even though chiropractors understood that what you ate and lifestyle changes made a difference in your health it wasn’t until the 1960s that Dr. George Goodheart developed Applied Kinesiology, also known as muscle testing.
The Benefits of Chiropractic
Short-term and regular chiropractic care can offer a number of benefits including but not limited to:
spinal and extremity pain relief
headache relief
increased mobility and range of motion
decreased stiffness and muscular spasms
arthritic joint pain relief
increased joint health
increased performance and energy
increased sense of well being and relaxation
increased balance and coordination
reduced degeneration and risk of injury
enhanced tissue healing
decreased tissue inflammation
We also treat kids and babies and help them with
earaches
trouble sleeping
colic
too much spitting up
constipation
Benefits of PEMF Therapy. Would You Benefit?
As our understanding of the human body and the natural world continues to improve, we are discovering new ways to help support and heal the body with energy. Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy (PEMF) is one of the most innovative forms of alternative treatments and, since it was initially approved by the FDA in 2013, the available applications of this treatment modality have been continually expanding.
PEMF therapy consists of you lying down on a mat which emits pulses of energy waves. This energy courses through the body directly to inflamed or injured areas. The energy is also drawn to areas experiencing chronic pain. The energy waves of the PEMF mat pass through the organs and tissues and into the cells of your body, amplifying the cellular energy. The increase in energy promotes a natural reaction that regenerates and enhances the efficiency of the cell’s function. This natural process stimulates healing and helps to improve your overall well-being including your mood. This is why I couldn't wait to have a PEMF mat at the office!
As the energy goes into the body patients usually don’t feel anything. The energy is that subtle to not disturb the body’s natural process as it goes into the cells. Besides giving cells energy it also helps increase blood flow which is also part of the healing. With increased blood flow, it is promoting an increase in the blood’s oxygen levels. In causing the body to have more oxygen that’s how chronic pain and stiffness is reduced. If you have frozen shoulder or any other really stiff joints PEMF helps with range of motion.
PEMF therapy works because it directly interacts with the cells in your body. By offering treatment at the cellular level, your body can begin repairing itself from the “bottom up.” This is different than other forms of treatment, such as chiropractic or physical therapy. The use of these treatments with PEMF therapy can really excel improvements.
Because PEMF treatments are relatively new, many people find themselves hoping to learn more. One of the most common questions people ask is, how do PEMF treatments help the body? I also hope this article helps you decide if PEMF treatment makes sense for you.
Reducing Inflammation
Cells that have experienced an illness or injury will often not be able to hold their ideal magnetic charge. Consequently, these cells may become (and cause surrounding cells to become) inflamed. Inflammation is the result of cells “sticking” together and preventing blood flow from progressing as it needs to. With a PEMF device, the cells will can regain their proper charge and inflammation will decrease. PEMF devices also combat inflammation by improving the blood’s chemical content.
Improved Circulation
Circulation is necessary in order for our bodies to properly function. If blood cannot get to where it needs to be (especially in extremities), our skin, organs, and other bodily components will begin to deteriorate. PEMF therapy can help your body immediately improve its circulation and allow all blood cells to flow freely. Incorrect magnetic charges contribute significantly to blood flow issues. After receiving a correct charge via a PEMF therapy, many individuals report feeling better within 15 minutes. Because 1 in 3 adults experience high blood pressure, improved circulation is one of the most common uses for PEMF therapy.
Accelerated Healing
As you might expect, healing is something that often begins at the cellular level. Whether you are experiencing hypertension, fibromyalgia, or various diseases, if you do not address the core problem—damaged cells—recovery will take much longer. PEMF helps assure that cells have their proper charges (both positive and negative). Healthy cells are able to accept the nutrients they need to perform at their very best. With PEMF therapy this enables tissues to heal faster.
Pain Relief
If you are currently in pain, then there is no doubt that you are looking for some sort of relief. If the pain is constant, then the need for relief is even greater. With PEMF therapy you can begin feeling immediate relief from pain, especially pain that is caused by damaged cells. While a total recovery may require a bit more time with body work (massage, physical therapy or chiropractic), PEMF therapy is able to offer many people the short-term pain relief they’ve been seeking—all without the need for invasive surgeries or addictive painkillers.
Improved Mobility
In order for your body to be truly mobile, its natural magnetic field will need to be able to “pass through” without an impediments. After a few treatments, you may begin to notice that you can move your joints and muscles with significantly greater ease. You may also notice a larger range of motion, enabling you to perform more physical functions.
Is PEMF Treatment Right for You?
As you can see, there are many different possible uses and benefits of PEMF therapy. Studies show that PEMF therapy for 20 min. once a week for 6 weeks helps with conditions like fibromyalgia, muscle pain, arthritis, depression, anxiety, tinnitus, PTSD, Lyme’s, chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal pain. PEMF therapy is a great option for natural, chemical free pain relief and overall wellness because it functions through cell stimulation. Stimulation at a cellular level helps boost the body’s natural ability to fight back against inflammation. PEMF therapy is so effective because it is able to penetrate through skin, muscle, and even the bone. The electromagnetic field helps fight back against cellular damage and inflammation, and create healthier cells. As the cells heal, the blood vessels, nerves, and capillaries dilate. The dilated capillaries enable better oxygenation and blood flow. Lastly, the increase in oxygen and blood flow encourage a healing environment.
The development of PEMF devices has helped change the ways many people address and recover from certain health conditions. The benefits of PEMF therapy are numerous and positive results can begin to occur quite quickly. Know that you can use PEMF with other treatments. PEMF presents little to no side effects or drug-related contraindications. This means that you can continue using prescribed medications while undergoing PEMF therapy sessions. You can do PEMF therapy with joint replacements and any metal support in the body. Do not do PEMF therapy with a pacemaker or if pregnant.
We are now doing PEMF therapy memberships where you can come for an unlimited amount of times in a month for $70. Feel free to cancel the membership at any time. Contact us if you have any questions, info@healingartsnyc.com
How Energy Medicine Helps Heal the Body
Healing Arts in New York City is dedicated to helping its patients improve their physical and mental health. Dr. Armitstead takes time to assess her patients to determine what the best steps will be on the journey to get them to optimal health. Initially, when a patient first arrives at the center they will be muscle tested; (www.muscletestingnyc.com) determining which organs are weak, and which are strong using biofeedback from the body. Next, depending on what the muscle testing results are, a personalized detox program will be created which can include energy medicine in variou forms. Using specific modalities of energy medicine, physical pain, mental health and even sleep can improve which is so important for one’s healing journey.
PSYCH-K®
PSYCH-K® is a unique, easy, fast and effective method, developed to reprogram long-established, limiting beliefs, which prevent a healthy and peaceful life. In other words, it is a way to liberate your thinking from limiting beliefs that you know are getting in your way by neurologically reprogramming the body. Dr. Armitstead says, “It’s important to assess the subconscious mind in order to prevent self-sabotage and PSYCH-K® does exactly that.” It’s a great modality to help with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and self confidence. The science of what you think affecting your body’s health is explained in Bruce Lipton’s book, Biology of Belief.
PEMF Therapy
Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy consists of you lying on a mat that emits pulses of energy waves that your body absorbs at the cellular level. You can’t feel these energy waves and yet your cells are getting a dose of energy needed to heal and reduce inflammation. It’s like a reboot for the body. It can help patients feel rejuvenated, less pain, better mental focus and deeper sleep. A goodnight’s sleep allows your body to heal faster, recover from pain faster, and regain lost energy.
Infoceuticals
Homeopathic water made just for you. An infocuetical is a homeopathic tincture made specifically for you at your appointment at Healing Arts. They use a special machine to put medicinal energy into structured water that you take as a tincture on a daily basis. The key benefits of Infoceutials are detox, reducing inflammation, supporting hormones, and better digestion. Dr. Armitstead says, “I love infoceuticals because not only is it personalized but I can combine more than one remedy in a bottle.”
Chakra Light Therapy
Chakra light therapy is used to help patients relax, sleep better, reset their energy which is great for anxiety, and elevate their moods. During a session you lay under 7 crystals each with a different colored laser light; one for each of the 7 chakras you have. Chakras are energy centers in the body. Energy should flow through the chakras to parts of the body. If your chakras are blocked, your energy can become stuck. This light therapy aligns your chakras giving your body a boost of energy.