Acid Blocking Medications

One of my soapbox topics is the long term use of protein pump inhibitors [like Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, aka PPI’s] to reduce stomach acid.  In 2012, 40% of Americans had symptoms of GERD [gastroesophageal reflux disease] and only antipsychotics and statins are more widely prescribed than PPI’s.

Even the FDA has warned us that they are bad – they say that long-term use and high doses have been associated with an increased risk of bone fractures and infections with a bacterium [Clostridium difficlile] that is most dangerous to elderly patients. In fact, in a paper published in May, 2012 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22683398] they recommended that older adults use the drugs only “for the shortest duration possible.”

Other studies have shown that long term use of these drugs:

• reduce the absorption of magnesium, calcium, vitamin B12, and reduced the effectiveness of other medication [especially Plavix];
• increase your risk of developing pneumonia
• cause weight gain

These drugs were designed for short term use [up to twelve WEEKS maximum] but they breed dependency, and don’t really solve the problem. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma [throat cancer], associated with GERD, which is what the acid blockers are typically prescribed to prevent in the first place, has risen 350% since 1970.

I am a chiropractor and naturopath.  It is not within the scope of my practice to make recommendations about medication prescribed by your medical practitioner.  So, I can’t recommend that you get off this or any medication.  If YOU decide you’re ready to discontinue the acid blocker, please ask for help.  I have protocols that work.

Note:  To follow links leading to the research studies, go to http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/combating-acid-reflux-may-bring-host-of-ills/?_r=0&register=google

Un-Doctored

Idaho Chiropractors, patients and those interested in Idaho patient access and patient choice in who provides their health care, please take advantage of this opportunity! Film Executive Producer, Jeff Hays, who brought you the award winning film Doctored, now brings you the true story of the plot to destroy chiropractic in his new film Undoctored. This is a 10-day chance to view the film, for free, before it goes on sale and is released to the general public. View the Movie Now! From Jeff Hays…”Undoctored is a new documentary, a gift of love to chiropractors and chiropractic patients everywhere.  Bobby Sheehan and I were outraged hearing the stories of the abuse chiropractors have had to endure.  As we filmed Doctored, we came to believe that chiropractic is THE answer to the healthcare disaster our country is facing.” “It’s time chiropractic is recognized as THE healing profession. In 1987 when the AMA was found guilty, everything in chiropractic should have changed for the better.  Nothing happened.” “Chiropractors didn’t have a vehicle to get the word out.  This movie is designed to finally give the profession voice you have never had. With the internet and social media, you now have an easy way to empower your staff, your patients, your friends and your family to become active participants in their healthcare decisions.  The truth can finally be told to millions with a click of a button!” View the Movie Now!

Another reason to stop the Diet Cola’s

Girls that start their periods [menarche] before age 12 are at an increased risk of many conditions, including breast cancer and depression.

A study that followed 2,379 girls 9 to 10 years of age for 10 years was published this September in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Mueller NT, et al 2015;102:648-54].

It revealed that every serving of caffeinated soft drink per day increased the risk of early menarche 47%. For each serving per day of artificially sweetened soft drinks, the risk of early menarche increased by 43%.

The researchers did not find any association between noncaffeinated sugar-sweetened soft drinks and early menarche.

Water In the Winter

 

It seems that I have been working with a lot of dehydrated patients lately, and giving a ‘why you need even MORE water in the winter than you do the rest of the year’ lecture. So, I’m sharing it here:

No matter how much or how little moisture is being carried in the air, every molecule of air you pull into your lungs needs to be brought up to 100% humidity. If you are breathing warm air in the summer, it will carry some moisture , and your body doesn’t have to add as much from it’s own stores.

In the winter, the cold air can’t carry much moisture, and so your body has to provide much more just to breathe. Hence the ‘dryness’ we experience – the chapped lips, dry eyes, concentrated urine.

I gave this lecture to a cattle rancher and she exclaimed that ‘of course, I have to water the cattle much heavier in the winter.’

Treat yourself with the same respect. Drink more water!

Greens First is Available from Home

 

Few people get enough fruits or vegetables in our every day diet. Dr. Burrow often recommends supplementing with a ‘green drink’ and the one we’ve recommended for years because it provides the most nutrients AND has a taste most people find acceptable is Greens First.

Dr. Burrow has just opened an affiliate store with Green First. You can now purchase the Greens First products that we sell in our office online and have it shipped straight to your home.

Visit Our Greens First Site anytime.

Shout out to Tye Dye

We would like to give a shout out to Tye Dye Everything for doing a beautiful job of supplying us with 72 individual towels in a wide variety of colors!

If you’ve been to our office, you know that Dr. Joan loves color, and these are just our style! Now, you can dry your hands on a clean cotton towel instead of a paper one. We can throw it into the wash instead of the landfill. Win – Win.

Once we saw the towels in our wash room, we knew that the beaded fish goddess was the perfect accent.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us. I’ll see patients as usual on Monday [11/23] and Tuesday [11/24], and be available until noon on Wednesday [11/25]. I will be closed the remainder of the weekend – I get to spend the holiday with my daughter and granddaughter. I’ll be back to treat patients as usual on Monday, November 30th.

James will be available to treat massage patients all day on Wednesday [11/25], Friday [11/27] and Saturday [11/28] by appointment. You may need to contact him directly at (208)392-8118 for Friday or Saturday appointments since the rest of us will not be in the office. – Dr. Joan Burrow

Pumpkin Oil

Pumpkin seed oil has been used in
combination with saw palmetto in two double blind human studies to
effectively improve prostate health. Researchers have suggested that the
zinc, free fatty acid, and plant sterol content of pumpkin seeds might
account for their benefit in men over 40. Studies have shown that
pumpkin seed extracts can improve the function of the bladder and
urethra.

You would have to eat a lot of pumpkin seeds every day to get enough of this oil to be effective.  Systemic Formula’s Mpr product provides 1 gm / capsule.  Two capsules per day is the recommended dose. We carry this product in our office if you have any questions or would like to express interest please let us know!

Kinesio Tape

If you’ve watched almost any athletic event recently, you’ve probably noticed the brightly colored strips of tape many athletes are wearing. The strips are kinesiotape and it can improve movement and circulation and reduce pain.

I’ve been using kinesiotape in my practice for several years, and many of you have happily worn the tape. I get to take an advanced course in fascial movement taping this Friday and Saturday – even better results on the way!

Recess

The American Journal of Preventative Medicine recently published some research that should change the way our primary schools ‘order’ their day.

When students aren’t itching to get out the door so they can play, they are much more likely to eat more of the things they throw away to most – their fruits and vegetables.  A simple switch – sending the kids out to play before they eat lunch – increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables by 54%.

Calmer students returning to the classroom after eating a good lunch, with no additional costs for the schools – the definition of win/win.