October 2019

Supplement of the Month: Cataplex D

This month's supplement of the month is important for a few reasons. First, vitamin D encourages healthy calcium absorption from the intestinal tract into the blood. It also supports healthy immune system function, bone density, and is a precursor to hormones. In our office, Leisha, recommends testing your vitamin D levels now because it should be at it's highest levels at this time of the year. As we head into winter our levels will diminish due to the lack of sun exposure, therefore it gives us an appropriate measurement on how much we need to supplement during the winter months. Call in to schedule an appointment with Leisha to get these levels checked and get your bottle of Cataplex D at a 10% discount during the month of October.

Purification Class will be on October 23rd @ 6:15pm in our lobby. Call or reserve your spot with the front desk!

This past month Dr. Huffer and Dr. Elsass gave their versions of Thought's Classes. Each had similar themes which is: Our perception of stress has a huge impact on, not only our health, but every aspect of our life. We are spiritual beings having physical/human experiences. If we can manage HOW we handle our stress, then it will positively impact our outcomes. Especially with our health. Sometimes past experiences need to be revisited so that we can reprocess those events in life that may have not been process correctly at the time. We've come to understand that processing events in a negative light, with negative feelings, can program our subconscious brain into holding a negative belief pattern or locked into an emotional memory overdrive.

If these are not address it will keep your nervous system locked into a stress response which it's not designed to perform for long periods of time. The result is dis-ease, the inability to function at ease. Next is symptoms and/or a disease process. Most major degenerative disease processes can be traced back to some kind of emotional trauma or stress that drove the autonomic nervous system into overdrive. That is why our neuro-emotional work that we do in the office is so important. Unlocking your nervous system by releasing feelings from past experiences can be the catalyst to getting your health back on track. 

September 2019

Supplement of the month is Ligaplex I that can help you prevent, as well as provide support for injuries. If you are an athlete or exercise on a regular basis pick up a bottle in our office this month for a discounted price. This supplement is gluten free and like all of our SP products, made with organic whole foods.

Why does Chiropractic need to look at Brain Activity

As we have continued to state over the last 114 years, Chiropractic’s primary focus is the nervous system. Insofar as
the brain is the central organizing authority, it behooves us to have some objective method of knowing that
something is amiss in the CNS and even more compelling, that our care has improved neurological function. The best
researched and simplest method today is via electroencephalograph or EEG1, 2 studies. B.J. Palmer told us that the
subluxation (or less light) is found in the nervous impulse so what better area to examine than the seat of neural
activity. Brain waves are created by cortical activity and are a very accurate method of revealing normal or abnormal
brain activity.
Moving from the cortical function, we next need to look at the oldest part of the brain – the limbic system. Within this
region we find all the life sustaining activities of the nervous system. The limbic system is the center of the Autonomic
Nervous system and it is divided into two parts: the sympathetic (responsible for getting our other systems up and
running) and our para-sympathetic system which is responsible for slowing everything down. The activity between
these two systems allows us to respond to tasks or threats (sympathetic activity) and then to recover (parasympathetic)
from the efforts of these high energy demanding situations. Research shows that Chiropractic
adjustments alter Autonomic Nervous system function3.
While we think (consciously) that we are in control, 84% of our brain activity is subconscious which is why the majority
of time we have no idea that our systems are out of balance. We only become aware of a problem once the
relationship between the two become so badly out of balance that symptoms appear.
In order to determine real neurological function we must look at the systems under duress and then recovery to see if
they can adapt to a stressor and then recover to normal once the stressor is removed. This is the reason that we do
dynamic testing over time and events. Static testing is out of date and does not present an accurate picture of
neurological function.
The Limbic system controls other body systems including: heart rate, hand temperature, skin moisture, respiration
rate, general muscle tone, and heart rate variability as well as others.
So, now as a truly Neurologically Based Chiropractor we can see the importance between cortical activity and limbic
system response but how does that relate to practice?

Autonomic Neurological function  Heart rate ‐ Ideal 56 to 66 BPM
So why is heart rate important? As Cardiac events are the number one killer, knowing what is going on with heart function is self evident. The NeuroInfiniti provides a great deal of cardiac information including simple heart rate and heart rate variability. With the stress/recovery measurements we can objectivity see what the heart activity is during emotional stress4 and physical activity. We can see if the patient has any conscious control on his/her heart rate.

Heart Rate Variability ‐ high bars in the low frequency range
This is a relatively new form of heart function testing and with research 5, 6 now in place, it is important that we use measurement as an evaluation for the effectiveness of Chiropractic care in a clinical setting. There are several instruments available in the market today; however, the NeuroInfiniti is unique in its application and combination. The fact that we use HRV findings in conjunction with measured Respiration rates and during stress events and recovery, a great deal more information on all three of these procedures is provided.

Respiration Rate - Ideal 6 to 12 BPM
There are several vital sign measurements used in the health field. Brain activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate are some of the most common. There is more to respiration than just the rate. Upper respiratory breathing is a sympathetic response to a stressor and involves elevating the upper rib cage rather than using the diaphragm to breathe. Diaphragmatic breathing involves the Vagus and Phrenic nerves and the parasympathetic nervous system. This system helps the body stop the stress response. Rapid breathing is very detrimental to the body and can create an imbalance in the body chemistry. Damage to the Phrenic nerve (C3,4,5) can cause abnormal breathing patterns.
Note: there are many systems in the market for HRV reading, but to gain a complete understanding of what is really happening, you need to have a report on Heart Rate, Respiration Rate and Heart Rate variability.

Skin Conductivity ‐ ideal .8 to 1.5Su
The study of Skin Conductivity (SC) or Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) has been ongoing over the last 100 years. While SC measures the conductivity of electrical current, GSR measures the resistance. Both reflect the electro‐dermal activity of the skin as affected by the sweat glands. There have been many studies7,8,9,10,11 over the years which establish the power of the subconscious emotions within the Central Nervous System to control sweat gland activity. With this knowledge and data, we have the opportunity to record the emotional responses to stressors and the ability to neutralize the responses.

Hand Temperature ‐ Ideal 94°F to 96°F ‐ 34°C to 35°C

While typical medical practice tends to look at core temperature as a vital sign, there is another area which tells an important story about health response much earlier than at the core. The extremities12 are very important in reporting on the neurological state of the patient. Given any stress of threat, the typical neurological response is to close down the blood flow to the hands and feet and pool the blood into the central core. This is a typical fight/flight response as blood will be required in the heart and lungs to provide oxygen and nutrition to the major muscles. Long term stress patterns keep the patient in this state and cold hands and feet will be a constant.

Muscle tone (sEMG) – ideal .5 to 2.5
Over the years Chiropractic has been associated with musculoskeletal function. In the last 15 years we have seen the development of instrumentation which recorded static para‐spinal muscle activity. There are challenges with this procedure. The fact that it is static is one of the major challenges as it represents a moment in time and does not provide any information about the dynamics of the neurological response. The static sEMG has been challenged more then once with regard to its ability to reproduce the results and has been found to be inconsistent. Any claims regarding the use of the static sEMG to locate vertebral subluxation will bring the FDA down on the equipment very quickly.

What is important here is to look for the way stressors affect muscle tone. The three areas most reactive are the trapezius, the masseter and the temporalis muscles. These muscles provide a window into the effects of stressors on general muscle tone.
While static sEMG readings provide some level of information15 they are limiting in value due to the lack of reproducibility and overall activity. A much better method of examining muscle activity is by dynamic sEMG, which provides a great deal more information, plus through repetition we can see not only the right to left comparison but also any fatigue factors that come into play. All abnormal spinal curves (outside of genetic malformation or trauma) involve abnormal muscle coordination. This is where the value of dynamic sEMG comes into play. 

These are the new tests we are doing at Huffer Chiropractic to measure the state of your nervous system. Call to inquire more on being tested today (937)596-6000

1. Biofeedback – a Practitioner’s Guide – Third Edition Edited by Mark S. Schwartz, Ph.D, the Mayo Clinic Frank Andrasik, Ph.D, University of West Florida.
2. The  Neurofeedback Book by Michael Thompson and Lynda Thompson
3. Chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System. A recent study published In the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics
4. Emotional Stress, Positive Emotions, and Psychophysiological Coherence. Rollin McCraty and Dana Tomasino. Chapter published in: Stress in Health and Disease, edited by B. B. Arnetz and R. Ekman. Weinheim, Germany, Wiley-VCH, 2006: 342-365.
5. Effect of Chiropractic Care ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND PAIN IN A MULTISITE CLINICAL STUDY John Zhang, MD, PhD,a Douglas Dean, PhD,b Dennis Nosco, PhD,c Dennis Strathopulos, DC,d and Minas Floros, DCe
6. The Effects of Thoracic Manipulation on Heart Rate Variability: A Controlled Crossover Trial - Brian Budgell DC, PhDa, and Barbara Polus PhDb,
7. Guest, Hazel (1990) Sequential Analysis: monitoring counseling sessions via skin resistance counseling Psychology Quarterly, Vol.3, No.1, 1990, pp. 85-91
8. Toomin, M.K. & Toomin, H. (1975) GSR biofeedback in psychotherapy: some clinical observation
9. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 12(1), pp.33-38 Thayer, R.E. (1989)
10. The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal New York, Oxford University Press Gale, A. (1989)
11. The Polygraph test London, Sage
12. Sympathetic nervous system activity in stress and biofeedback relaxation Shusterman, V. Barnea, O. Cardiac Electrophysiology Labs., Pittsburgh Univ., PA, USA;
13. Role of arterial smooth muscle tone and geometry in the regulation of peripheral conduit artery mechanics by shear stress. Joannides R, Costentin A, Iacob M, Bakkali el-H, Richard MO, Thuillez C
14. Mental stress and trapezius muscle activation under psychomotor challenge: A focus on EMG gaps during computer work - Authors: Schleifer, Lawrence M.1; Spalding, Thomas W.2; Kerick, Scott E.1; Cram, Jeffrey R.3; Ley, Ronald4; Hatfield, Bradley D.1 Source: Psychophysiology, Volume 45, Number 3, May 2008 , pp. 356-365(10) Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
15. SEMG Evaluations: An Overview Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Stuart Donaldson1, 2 , Mary Donaldson2 and Leslie Snelling2 Department of Applied Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Myosymmetries Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

August 2019 

There are a lot of events happening in August including BACK TO SCHOOL! With the changes that go along with a changed routine in our lives (new bedtime, wake up time, getting kids ready on time, social stress and anxiety, new classes, extra curricular activities, etc) our body's have a lot to adapt to. What better way to help you and your family adapt better than to get your nervous systems checked and adjusted. The chiropractic adjustment will optimize your ability to adapt and help you get used to your new routine. Not to mention boost your immune system. People who get adjusted on a consistent basis have an immune system 2 times greater than those who do not. Get ahead of the game and call for your back to school check up at Huffer Chiropractic! 

• August 15th: 1DAY, 1BOTTLE, 1MEAL Partner with us to provide food to families in need. As part of our ongoing commintment to changing lives through whole food-based nutrition, we'll donate one meal for every Standard Process/MediHerb product purchased on Thursday, August 15th. Our Company deeply values the importance of health, and wants to help make a positive difference by ensuring individuals in need have access to nutritious meals. Our donation will be gien to a network of more than 200 food banks across the country. Last year 53,000 meals were donated. This year, help us make an even bigger difference in the lives of families!
• Catalyn Supplement of the Month  The need for multi-vitamins has changed over time.  Years ago, as long as we were eating a balanced diet focused on a lot of greens, some fruits and lean protein, and good fluid intake, we were receiving a well-rounded variety of natural nutrients.  However, not only have our eating habits changed; our foods have changed as well.  Making poor food choices at the store or nearest fast-food restaurant leaves our bodies deprived of what they need most – real nutrition!  This is why a good, quality multi-vitamin is so important!
  So what type of multi-vitamin should you choose? In order to fill in the gaps of what you are missing in your diet, you need to take a multi-vitamin that comes directly from natural, organically grown foods.   How can you tell the quality of your current multiple-vitamin and if it is coming from whole foods?   This is when reading your vitamin label becomes important.  Simply review your vitamin label and look at your ingredients.   If you cannot pronounce the ingredients listed on your label, you are taking a synthetic vitamin.  Synthetic vitamins are created by humans in a lab to represent the closest chemical structure to what nature looks like. We cannot recreate nature in a lab. We can create chemical structures that mimic the vitamin structures in foods; but we cannot “create” a carrot, or broccoli, etc.   In addition, because they are not natural, they take 15-18 chemical process for your body to use them; which is also why you may not feel well after you take them. However, if your vitamins are coming from whole food sources, then the label will state things such as “beet powder, carrot root, kale powder, etc.”  In this case your vitamins ARE coming directly from WHOLE FOODS.   Because whole food vitamins are coming from nature they contain all the macro and micro nutrients that come from the soil.  So what do we do?  When we are eating, we need to eat a diet rich in whole foods with a wide variety of colors so that we are getting a diverse range of nutrients.  And, yes, even when we are eating clean we need to take a multiple vitamin to fill in the gaps of what we may be missing in our diets. This month we have one of our whole food vitamins, Catalyn, on special. Catalyn comes in a gluten free variety and also in a chewable for kids!  So, if you have not taken a whole food multi-vitamin and would like to try one, this is a great time to do so.  Stop in and pick up a bottle today!

4-20-2019

The Doctors of Huffer Chiropractic want to discuss the Neuroinfiniti Technology that we have brought into the office recently and discuss why looking at stress and your stress response will give us the information to help you reach your optimal performance. With the use of biofeedback, neurofeedback and brain entrainment, we will get to the underlying cause of what is holding you back from reaching your potential.

2-17-2019

The Doctors of Huffer Chiropractic discuss why we are "The Center for Optimal Performance". Whatever your purpose is in life, we are committed to helping you achieve that purpose with an optimally functioning nervous system.

Dr. Huffer and Leisha Elchert explain Nutritional Consultations and why nutritional support is so important for you to get the absolute best results in the least amount of time. Getting your nervous system adjusted and restoring health is so much more achievable when you have whole food supplementation to support your organ systems.