Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

According to WebMd, over 50 million Americans experience some type of allergy. That means that around 1 out of every 5 Americans experience the sometimes debilitating symptoms that accompany allergies. Additionally, it is estimated that more than 18 billion dollars are spent each year treating allergies in the American healthcare system. 

Many people assume the only way that seasonal allergies can be treated is through pharmaceutical products. That is not always the case, though. Oftentimes, symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, headaches, etc. that are caused by seasonal allergies can be treated naturally.

First, it is important to understand what an allergy even is. An allergy is when your body reacts or becomes hypersensitive to an antigen. Your body’s immune system becomes hypersensitive, and as a result, your body experiences a damaging response. Most often, allergies are caused by pollen, dust, certain foods, or animal fur. 

When your body responds to an allergen, your body produces a chemical called histamine. This is why many people immediately jump to taking “antihistamines” when they experience allergies. This chemical, histamine, works with your body to counteract the allergen. Allergies can range from being seasonal allergies that most often get worse when pollen levels rise during the spring and fall; food allergies; indoor allergies to dust; pet/animal allergies; and allergies to medication. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to an antigen.

While anaphylaxis and other allergies should be treated with medical care, seasonal allergies can be treated with natural remedies. It is important to understand that when your body produces an allergic reaction, it is because it senses that something is not right within your body.  Instead of only addressing symptoms you experience, it is very important to understand the root cause of WHY you are having allergies and then build your natural defense system to that. 

That being said, here are a few natural remedies that can treat the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies:

• Avoid inflammatory foods. Remember that an allergic response is an inflammatory response. If you try to avoid foods like gluten, refined sugar, dairy, etc. that are highly inflammatory, it will help alleviate your inflammatory response. Incorporating Vitamin D into your daily routine can also help. Vitamin D is very important to immune functioning. Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight and incorporate Vitamin D into your daily intake. 

• Consume local, raw honey. Taking a spoonful of local, raw honey every day can dramatically improve how you are feeling. Raw honey contains bee pollen. Bees that live in our area go from flower to flower collecting the pollen that you are actually suffering from. Eating this pollen actually helps build up your immune system to that local pollen. Make sure you are consuming raw, LOCAL honey. This is important to it being an effective treatment. 

• Use a Neti Pot. Neti pots are a natural remedy for allergies as well as many other respiratory conditions. They literally clear out the sinus passage and remove congestion. It improves your quality of life while causing little to no side effects whatsoever. Neti pots are very reasonably priced. Using a neti pot daily flushes out your nasal passage and clears out allergens and pathogens in the process.

These are just three, easy and cost-efficient solutions to alleviating symptoms caused by seasonal allergies. Call 712-464-3301 today if you’d like to learn more about natural ways you can help treat your seasonal allergies!

Function over Fitness

“Functional Fitness” has become a buzzword in gyms and fitness centers lately, and it is for good reason. Functional fitness means to train your body to handle real life situations or to simply improve how your body functions on a daily basis.

When the winter months roll around, we tend to get lots of new members at the fitness center hoping to exercise off the holiday pounds that are put on by the pies, turkey and mashed potatoes we tend to over-indulge in. While this is good practice in theory, it is important to remember that the fitness center can be utilized by all ages year-round, and it can be used for far more benefits than exercising off the extra piece of dessert you ate at Thanksgiving.

Think of the body as a machine — a very high maintenance machine. Our bodies require more maintenance than any machine, like a car or tractor. When we take care of our cars, for example, we change the oil, rotate the tires or fill it up with good fuel. Even more so, our bodies require this type of preventative maintenance to run smoothly. Working on our functional fitness combined with fueling our bodies with good food will undoubtedly improve the quality of life we experience.

Working to improve your functional fitness means exercising in a way that prepares you to lift a toddler out of a carseat, or simply go on a walk around the block. Take a bent-over row, for example. A bent-over row builds muscles in your arms, shoulders and back. This same motion occurs when a mechanic bends over to adjust something in the engine, or a nurse bends over to transfer a patient to a new bed. These types of exercises will undoubtedly carry over into your normal life--regardless of how old you are or what your profession is. 

We built the fitness center to promote overall health and wellness for our community members, as we see people every day that struggle with different pains that have been plaguing them for years. Many of these ailments could be resolved with weekly exercise. Think of how many people could avoid a surgery like a rotator cuff surgery if they had spent the years prior doing exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff muscle.

Yes, the fitness center is there to promote weight loss and provide community members with a way to exercise year-round, but it is also there to improve our bodies function through regular exercise. Any research study will tell you that regular exercise improves your mood, is good for your bones and muscles, increases your energy, decreases your risk for chronic disease and can help reduce pain. Improving muscle tone and losing weight are often secondary benefits to seeking out improved functional fitness. 

Lake City 24 Hour Fitness is for community members of all ages. There are weights, cable machines, cardio machines, a NuStep and many other options for people of all ages and ability levels. There are no contracts, and there’s even a senior citizen discount. Take a chance at improving your functional fitness today by seeing what regular exercise can do for you and your quality of life. 

We Now Offer Foot Levelers!

 One of the most under-appreciated parts of our bodies is our feet. Many people do not realize that good health is highly dependent on good feet. If a person’s feet are not properly aligned or supported, they may experience pain or injury in many other parts of their body.

While there are certain stretches a person can do to help alleviate foot pain or misalignment, another helpful tool can be to put custom orthotics in their shoes. Custom orthotics can help with issues like plantar fasciitis, shin splints, pronation issue, knee pain, tendonitis, glute weakness, scoliosis, low back pain, neck injury, neck pain, bursitis, impingements, and hip pain. Foot imbalance or dysfunction can have ripple effects, transferring imbalance (and pain) to the ankles, legs, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, even the skull. Custom orthotics can help improve pain, posture, balance and physical performance in all aspects of life.

Custom orthotics are different from generic, over-the-counter ones in that Foot Levelers creates custom-made orthotics based on scans made by a high-tech 3D scanner. The scanner has pinpoint accuracy, so each pair is unique to the footprint of the patient 

It is important to note that once you receive a new pair of custom orthotics, you keep in mind that it can take some time for the orthotics to conform to your feet and for your body to adjust to the new support. It is important to try a new pair of orthotics for 45 days before determining if they are effective or not. Adding an orthotic to your shoe alters your plantar vault--the three arches in your foot that help to balance your body. It is important to give your body some time to adjust to the new arch support. 

You can stop into Redenius Chiropractic to order your own pair of Foot Levelers Custom Orthotics. Foot Levelers is the number one custom orthotic maker world-wide. They offer a 100% money-back guarantee if a person is unhappy with the custom orthotics they receive. Their orthotics are also built to last. When you come to the clinic, we will have you stand on the 3D scanner, and then Foot Levelers will take that information and create your custom orthotics in just a few days. Call 712-464-3301 today if you would like to learn more about Foot Levelers. 

Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a mom’s body ramps up the production of  ligament and joint-loosening hormones that help pave the way for the baby to make an exit. If these hormones were not released, the baby’s head would never fit through the typically narrow pelvis! These hormones, combined with added water weight, baby weight, and a swollen belly can also lead to joint pain, low back pain, and fatigue. 

Chiropractic care typically involves adjusting the spinal cord to lessen pain and promote overall health in your body. Getting regular chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy helps to lessen aches and pains typically associated with pregnancy in addition to getting the body in alignment for a smoother delivery. We regularly treat pregnant women seeking care for low back pain, pinched nerves, hip pain, water retention, and headaches. We also regularly treat pregnant women seeking to get their body in optimal alignment for delivery. 

Hormones, similar to the ones that send signals to ligaments to loosen, also play an important role in sending “messages” during pregnancy and labor/delivery to help make both go smoothly and safely for both the baby and the mom. After doing work throughout your pregnancy to send messages to the body to take care of and grow the baby, hormones get the body ready to deliver, start labor contractions, prepare the baby for labor, and tell the body it's time to breastfeed. We seek to educate our patients on the importance of these hormones while getting the body ready for this process. 

Many people do not realize that hormones play a major role in regulating labor and birth. Oxytocin, for example, is commonly known as the “hormone of love,” however, during labor and birth, this hormone is responsible for releasing milk in breastfeeding. It also triggers feelings of love and nurturing. Oxytocin is heavily released during an intervention-free birth. This hormone stimulates contractions that dilate the cervix and move the baby down.

Endorphins are natural, pain-relieving hormones. As the body releases oxytocin to trigger contractions, in an intervention-free birth, endorphins are also released to help mom deal with the labor, even if it is long and challenging. Endorphins also put a mom into a state of ‘labor land’ during an intervention-free birth. When asked, most moms who have had an unmedicated birth will report very quickly forgetting the intensity of the labor. Endorphins are to thank for that. 

In addition to those two hormones, adrenaline and prolactin (lactation/breast feeding) also play a large role in pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. When we treat moms, we hope to not only treat their aches and pains while getting them into alignment for the best labor and delivery possible, but we also try to educate them on how, when the body is left to labor and deliver as nature intended it to, these hormones interact in a unique way to help both the mom and the baby. We can also help provide some tips for pain management techniques for when labor does begin. 

The goal of treating pregnant moms is to have a healthy baby and a healthy mom, regardless of the method of delivery. We work with expecting mothers to treat pregnancy aches and pains as well as prepare them for childbirth. After a baby is born, we also regularly treat moms and babies for postpartum care. Pregnancy and childbirth are miraculous processes our bodies undergo, and it is important to not only prepare for a child to be born but also to take care of both mom and baby afterwards. Call 712-464-3301 if you would like to learn more about how we can help you!

Kochersberger, Amy, DC. “5 Conditions Chiropractic Care can Improve During Pregnancy.” American Chiropractic Association. October 19, 2018.

Patient Avoids Surgery with Chiropractic Care

When many people hear the term “chiropractic,” they automatically think of back-cracking. While adjusting the spine is something I do frequently at Redenius Chiropractic, I do so many other services and techniques in addition to just “back-cracking.”

A great example of this happened just recently when a  patient came in who was experiencing numbness in her leg. The numbness was caused by twisting wrong at work, and it was so severe that she had to leave work in an ambulance. She then had to use a cane to walk because the numbness was so debilitating. While this patient was already established with our clinic, the techniques I had been using to help her low back pain clearly would not work to address the numbness in her leg. I used a variety of different techniques and modalities to help relieve her numbness and pain. As a result, this patient avoided getting a spinal epidural. She also avoided getting surgery to fix the problem. Her particular case is not an isolated incident. Over and over again we see patients avoiding surgery or other more drastic measures of pain management. 

This particular case is a great example of how we change techniques and modalities to best fit each individual situation to get the best result possible. Clinical research has found chiropractic care to be a person’s best line of defense in reducing pain. One particular research study found that 94% of manual-thrust manipulation (chiropractic) recipients experienced a 30% reduction in pain, compared to only 54% of people who only sought out medical care or physical therapy.

Depending on the symptoms a patient is presenting, we might use any of the following techniques: flexion distraction, Gonstead, diversified, activator, active release, decompression, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), Thompson, among many other techniques and modalities. We also recently developed our own tool for assisting in anterior adjustments, called the Anterior Assist, that chiropractors across the country are now using.

Chiropractic is so much more than just “back-cracking,” and we see excellent results in patient outcomes when we use a variety of techniques, modalities, and tools in our line of treatment. We also recommend that you do not wait until pain sets in to give us a call. Pain is your body’s last attempt at letting you know something is wrong. Seeking out chiropractic care preventatively and proactively can do wonders for your health and quality of life. Call 712-464-3301 to see what we can do for you today. 

Back to School Tips for Immunity

At this time, much of what school will look like for teachers and students this fall is still unknown. As fluid as the COVID-19 situation has become, it looks like plans may not be solidified until closer to the school start date. Regardless of what school looks like for students and teachers this fall, though, it is important that you take steps now to ensure your family is as healthy as possible when the doors to school open back up.  Here are three easy things you can focus on now to ensure that you and your family have optimal health and immunity when back to school time rolls around.

First, focus on sleep. Summertime often means abandoning early bedtimes and skipping naps. My family is the same way. Come summer, my young toddlers tend to stay up later, and if we are having a fun-filled family day, we often limit naptime to a car ride home. However, that being said, we do try to stick to a routine in which we all get enough sleep each night. Sleep is critical to health and immunity. Getting good sleep boosts your immune system, lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease, lowers inflammation in your body, helps you control weight gain, and lowers your risk for heart disease among many other things. It is recommended that preschool aged children get at least 10-13 hours of sleep a day, school-aged children get 9-12 hours of sleep a day, and teenagers get 8-10 hours of sleep a day. 

While we are still in the summer season, it is important to make sure your kids are getting enough sleep each day--especially during this pandemic. Get your family into healthy nighttime routines that result in the best sleep possible for all family members. This might include story time for younger kiddos or taking away the cell phone for older kiddos. Chiropractic care can also help babies and children of all ages get better sleep if there is an issue keeping the child (and probably mom and dad, too) awake at night.

Second, focus on food. We say this over and over again, but you really are what you eat. We probably sound like a broken record, but it is true. You cannot keep eating processed junk and expect to feel well and have a high-functioning immune system. We are currently in a peak season to get fresh produce. You and your family should be eating a diet that consists of whole foods that are not processed. The closer it comes to getting it straight out of the ground of your own backyard, the better. Luckily, we are in a peak season for fresh produce. Stop by Lake City Food Center to see their awesome selection of fresh produce right now. Make a point to get your family eating foods rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Not only will doing this help your family feel better, but it will also help build their immune system. You cannot eat a diet of processed foods and expect to have a high-functioning immune system.

That being said, you can eat a perfect diet and still have a few deficiencies. It is important to make sure that you and your family are taking necessary supplements to keep your immune system working at its best. Generally, I recommend Vitamin D, Elderberry, and Juice Plus to almost anyone. Vitamin D can be started when an infant is first born. I usually recommend waiting on Elderberry and Juice Plus until they are toddlers. All of these supplements can be found at Redenius Chiropractic. The research on Vitamin D and Elderberry building up your immune system is vast. There is also a significant amount of peer-reviewed clinical research on the benefits of taking Juice Plus capsules or gummies. These are filled with over 30 fruits and vegetables, freeze-dried, and put into capsules so you can directly get the benefits into your body. Juice Plus contains nutrients from so many fruits and vegetables that we simply do not have access to because of the region we live in. These three are generally recommended for almost anyone, but make sure to stop in first to make sure these supplements are right for you, or to see if other supplements might be more beneficial. 

Third, focus on sunlight. This is something so easy and FREE that you can get during these summer months. Getting sunlight every single day is so important. We get so much natural Vitamin D from the sun. Additionally, seeing the sunshine within the first thirty minutes of waking up has shown to improve your circadian rhythm, resulting in better sleep each night. Many people are scared that getting daily sunlight might result in skin cancer. Recent research, however, has found that NOT getting enough (safe) sun exposure can actually be MORE detrimental to your health. Get your kids outside, in the sun, breathing fresh air every day. This is one of the easiest (and best) things you can do to get their immune systems boosted up for fall.

In addition to these three suggestions, make sure to call 712-464-3301 to get your child scheduled for their back-to-school and sports physicals. Additionally, we can get your child adjusted to make sure their spinal alignment is allowing for optimal health and immune response. Don’t hesitate to call to ask if you have questions or would like more information on what natural things you can do to best get your family ready for school this fall. 

1.  Weatherspoon, Deborah. Ph.D., RN., CRNA. “Why Sleep Is Essential for Good Health.” Medical News Today. May 31, 2019.
2. What are the Studies About.” Juice Plus. 2020.
3. Wells, Katie. “Benefits of Safe Sun Exposure for Reduced Cancer Risk (And Vitamin D).” Wellness Mama. February 11, 2020.

Chiropractic and COVID-19

Chiropractic and COVID-19

It feels as though COVID-19 has taken over our lives. Some of our jobs have been shut down, schools have been closed, and all the media really covers anymore is the heartbreaking statistics of what this awful virus is doing to our population. While more and more of our daily routines and freedoms are being interrupted, there are still things you DO have control over that may help boost your immune system and help you feel as good as possible during this time you are quarantined. 

First and foremost, we want to write a note of gratitude thanking our medical professionals who are on the frontlines working hard to save and protect all of us from this virus. These medical professionals are working overtime to keep us all safe and healthy. Thank you for all you do!

We have gotten many phone calls asking if Redenius Chiropractic is still open during this time of social distancing. The answer is a resounding YES! Governor Reynolds listed chiropractic care as an essential form of health care that can remain open during this time, and this is for good reason. BJ Palmer, the son of the founder of Chiropractic, described it best years ago when he said, “...chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.” Chiropractic care is essential for boosting the body’s immune response system. 

The mind, body, and central nervous system are all linked together. Think, for example, that you just went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of delicious produce to keep you healthy during this time. However, you put all that produce in an unplugged refrigerator. All of that fresh produce you just purchased will likely go bad over time. The same is true for your central nervous system. That’s why our focus is on the integrity of your nervous system since it controls and regulates every aspect of your body.

There have been numerous research studies that have found that chiropractic care does boost your immune system. In 1991, for example, Patricia Brennan, Ph.D., leading a team of researchers, discovered an immediate immune boost following a single chiropractic adjustment. The study showed a “phagocytic respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and monocytes” right after being adjusted by chiropractors.² In other words, she found that white blood cells were boosted after an adjustment.

Another study was actually done during the 1918 flu pandemic. “Researchers in Davenport, Iowa found that out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths — a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths — one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths.”²

In addition to getting regular chiropractic adjustments, research has found that increasing the amount of supplements like Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Collagen, and Elderberry boost your immune system.¹ These are all supplements we carry at the clinic. Remember to always contact your primary care doctor before starting any new supplements. 

It is important to note that there’s currently no cure for COVID-19 and no preventive measures other than social distancing and proper hygiene practices can protect you from developing this disease. If you do feel like you have symptoms, it is important to notify proper health officials and then make sure to follow social distancing guidelines. 

In addition to following the guidelines that our state and federal governments put in place, we encourage you to seek out chiropractic care during this time to help boost your immune system and keep you as healthy as possible. We take all protective measures we can to make sure our clinic stays as clean and sanitized as possible. We also encourage you to make sure you are taking care of your mental health. Modern medicine has come to appreciate the link between mind and body. While these difficult times of fear and unknown can bring stress into your life, we encourage you to take time to de-stress. Take a walk outside, Facetime with loved ones, try out yoga or meditation. We hope you all stay as healthy as possible during this time, and we encourage you to reach out to the clinic for any chiropractic care needs.

Sources

1. Kubala, Jillian MS RD. “Can Vitamin D Lower Your Risk of COVID-19.” Healthline. March 26, 2020.
2. Upper Cervical Chiropractic. “10 Important Studies on Chiropractic and Resisting a Virus.” March 13, 2020.