Evans Pain & Wellness Clinic

Chemicals You Eat and Why You Need Purification

2009-05-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Detoxifying your system is something that just makes sense to do. You are bombarded with so many different toxins found in food and the environment around you. The effects of pollutants on your body can be extremely costly and promote many commonly diagnosed illnesses.

Chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and bactericides are something we all deal with. Unless you go out of your way to eat organic food then you are ingesting these chemicals even if you eat a "healthy" meal that contains a good portion of fruit and vegetables. The EPA terms these chemicals "endocrine disruptors" because they cause interruption to the communication of your hormonal system.

Being around pollution and smoke are a daily concern that is difficult to avoid. So it makes sense to control the toxins you actually put into your body. You have a choice with the food, not so much with the quality of air you breathe.

Common foods that increase the toxic load are: caffeine, alcohol, soda, processed foods and non-organic meats.

Many people get benefit from a doing a 3-4 week purification program.

In less than a month you can find relief if you suffer from:

constant joint pain
fatigue
difficulty sleeping,
weight gain
congestion
poor digestion
low sex drive

The best purification will be a program that is gentle on your body. There are many ways to detoxify, but many are not effective. The less beneficial programs may be inconvenient if they are designed to have you use the restroom every hour as the detoxifying method.

If you’re in your 20’s or 30’s but feel older than you are, take medications, use cosmetic and cleaning products the toxic load to your system is probably overwhelming your body’s natural ability to release toxins.

A favorable purification program used in our metro Atlanta office is to focus on eating whole foods like fruits and veggies, lean organic meats and using whole food supplements to feed your body. This method is much healthier for you and will support your body while your liver and other detoxifying organs get a chance to cleanse you in an efficient manner and giving you the healthy body you deserve.

Isolation for GA Residents with Swine Flu

2009-05-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

It seems that if this were the deadly pandemic the media portays people would be perishing at a rate faster than .31%. Not to make light of ths flu, that was a mistake learned from the Spanish flu in 1918 when 50 million people died, but is there truly a need for the widespread panic? With the medical advances that developed since the early 1900's you would think this problem would go away quickly. The deadliest flus in the past appeared to be under control and then returned with a vairiant strain 6 months later.

As the CDC tracks the spread of the swine flu, metro- Atlanta residents probably wondered how much time it would take before it started spreading close to home. The most recent GA cases involve a student from a Henry county private school and a family in Cobb county who are all home on "voluntary isolation".

Swine flu vaccinations are also on the way. This shouldn't impress you because in 1976 when the swine flu last presented itself, more people died from the vaccine than from the genuine virus.

The verdict is still out on this entire event and you just need to make sure you are as healthy as possible. This flu apparently affects a population of people usually not harmed by the flu. The reports are stating that the elderly may be the safe population because of possible exposure with past flu epidemics with similar strains.

Stop Pain from Herniated Disc

2009-05-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

A slipped or herniated disc causes a lot of pain for you and can truly be a daunting experience. The disc between each vertebrae act like shock absorbers for your spine and over time can become thinner than they should. Degeneration is a normal process that happens to all of us but it should be a gradual process and occur in our later years.

Herniated disc injuries typically occur from two main sources. In our Marietta chiropractic office we see many patients who have disc problems either following an auto accident or from what's termed an "overuse injury" that stems from a repetitive motion over a long period of time.

The pain associated with most disc injuries occurs when the disc slips backward and slightly to the side. This relocation of disc material causes inflammation and swelling to impede on the area where your nerves come out of the vertebrae and begin traveling into your lower extremities. This may cause extreme pain while sitting or what's known as the flexed position. You may also experience radiating pain that travels from your low back and down into your legs and feet.

If you notice pain only while standing or lying down flat you may not have a disc problem. Specific orthopedic test can indicate a true disc protrusion or slipped disc. The diagnostic method for ruling out other types of injury is through MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and this will be prescribed by your doctor.

For people who have herniated disc there are many different treatment options available and they range from conservative physiotherapy and exercises, chiropractic adjustments, steroid injections, disc decompression, pain medication or surgical procedures that attempt to repair problematic areas.

The chiropractic treatment of disc injuries works extremely well and offers the most conservative methods of reducing pain and possibly avoiding surgery. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience tingling or numbness in any of your extremities to get evaluated and rule out the possibility of a herniated disc or disc degeneration.

Doing spinal strengthening exercises will help prevent serious disc injuries that occur from micro trauma. Visit a metro Atlanta chiropractor to learn more about preventing disc injuries.

For more info: Dr. Branden Evans is a Marietta chiropractor who uses non surgical treatment for reducing pain associated with disc injuries. For more information please contact Dr. Evans at info@evansclinic.com

Beat Stress and Anxiety with Licorice Root

2009-05-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Licorice is an underused herb that offers beneficial properties. People who suffer from stress and anxiety may find benefit from taking licorice as support to the adrenal glands.

The adrenal glands are nicknamed the stress glands. They are your body's response system for emotional, physical or chemical stress. In the fast paced lifestyle that most people live there are many unforgiving stresses that you deal with daily. Starbucks offers a daily fix of caffeine for millions across the nation and the city of Atlanta to get their day started. Yes it is good, but the problem is it creates a "boy who cried wolf" scenario by sending false signals to your body system saying there is some sort of stressful event that needs to be dealt with. When in actuality you just wanted a warm cup of joe to get you going.

Over the course of time this pattern of false alarms and chemical stress begins to slowly cause a miscommunication problem. Add in any emotional stress from family, finances or work and you have all the ingredients for fatigue, breathing problems, anxiety and much more. Your body starts to get the impression that it is always under firehas a weakened response to "real" stress when the response is actually needed.

Symptoms of poor adrenal function include belly fat (that won't go away with diet and exercise), high blood pressure, anxiety, joint pain, and other hormonal issues. Poor sleeping patterns and male pattern hair growth on females are also signs of an adrenal problem that needs investigation.

Besides prayer and meditation you have to find a way to balance the stressors that trigger the activity of the adrenals. You also may need an herbal remedy for stress like licorice.

Taking licorice the herb is not the same as eating licorice the candy. Just thought that needed to be mentioned. It is native to North America and Europe and the root of the herb is the beneficial part of the plant and since it can help to promote the function of the adrenal gland it's been known to create a sense of well being and combat the ill effects of stress.

Licorice is an easy to use herb that you can find in a liquid or powder form at many local Atlanta herbal shops. Be sure to always consult your doctor before starting a course of herbal treatment.

For more info: Dr. Branden Evans is one of many alternative doctors in Atlanta. To contact him for more information please visit his website http://www.evansclinic.com.

Swine Flu Health Strategies for Atlanta

2009-04-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill that gives him the power to declare a "pandemic influenza" state of emergency. There is a lot of talk in the headlines about the swine flu, the world's latest possible epidemic. Even the airline industry is limiting travel to Mexico. The answer to the big question about swine flu is simple. What can you do to avoid getting it? Boost your immune system.

The answer starts with your diet and strengthening your immunity by eating raw organic fruits and veggies to support your body. Avoid eating junk food and sweets. Too much sugar in your system will weaken the efforts of vitamin C and other antioxidants.

Exercise will also increase your immunity. Exercise is also a great way to decrease stress and combat against poor immune function. Reducing stress is a must in order to keep your immune system working at its optimal level. If possible, avoid being around sick people in public places like elevators, meeting rooms and restaurants. Be sure to pay attention to those coughing or sneezing around you and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching common area surfaces like keyboards, door knobs, counter tops, etc.

While this flu virus is not in the Atlanta area at the moment you never know what the outcome of this newest strain will be. You also don't know how fast it will move or become a full pandemic.

For a homeopathic approach use products with quality ingredients above par manufacturing standards. A local manufacturer in Dahlonega, GA. produces an excellent product commonly used during flu season.

The Energetix Flu-Tone is one of the Drainage and Tonification formulas designed to tone and open the drainage pathways during the elimination of toxins.

There is no vaccine or medication to take to combat this virus so natural methods are all that can be depended on during times like this. Healthy mothers of newborns are encouraged to breast feed their baby for basic immunity support. The elderly should also be sure to take precaution and wash their hands frequently.

This flu will cause symptoms similar to the common flu. The CDC lists the symptoms of swine flu on their website and should be taken seriously if experienced.

For more info: Be sure to contact your primary care physician if you begin to have symptoms of swine flu.To learn more about Flu-Tone click the link.

Pinch your Headache Away with Acupressure

2009-04-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Most of the time when you get a headache it may be inconvenient for you to go to your chiropractor. There is a solution for those of you who don't want to take pain medicine but still need immediate decrease from the pain. There's an acupressure point that can give you relief when you are somewhere and can't do anything about making yourself feel better. This works great when you are at work, a restaurant or just can't get to a professional.

Acupressure is an ancient Chinese practice that has been in use for thousands of years and its roots stem from acupuncture. The difference is instead of using needles you are simply applying pressure to a specific area of the body.

There is an acupressure point on your hand that may help you with your headaches when you need to be discreet or can't get relief any other way. You take one hand, and at the "meaty" area between your index finger and thumb, find the tender spot with the index finger and thumb of your other hand. Then you apply pressure like you were pinching something.

You will notice that this area will be very tender and typically on the hand opposite the side of the headache pain. Hold the point for 1-2 minutes and then do the same thing on the other hand. You will notice that with each time you hold the pressure point your headache pain will decrease. If this doesn't make it disappear it should help greatly.

Remember to drink plenty of water too. Many times you may be dehydrated and experience a headache. Once the pain has subsided make sure you visit your Atlanta acupuncturist or chiropractor for further evaluation and to rule out any serious conditions.

For more info: Dr. Evans treats headaches at his Marietta chiropractic office. Feel free to contact him at info@evansclinic.com for a referral to an acupuncturist in the Atlanta area.

Simple Ways To Stop Your Sugar Craving: Protein

2009-04-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

Many people have difficulty losing weight because they can't curb cravings. You know the craving that calls you at any given time of the day or night. Maybe you are the type who needs dessert right after dinner or a sweet treat in the mid afternoon. A great way to defeat your food craving for a sweet is to increase the amount of protein you consume.

Your body uses food as its primary source of energy. Foods that fit into the protein category like meats, beans,nuts, etc are the best source of protein and contain small amounts of sugar. Carbohydrate rich foods like pastas, baked potatoes and breads are not as good because they are converted into sugar, but are better than low quality sources of energy from a candy bar which is processed sugar. Just as high octane gas is supposed to be the best fuel for your cars energy consumption, the same is true for eating protein. If you eat a low fat protein then you are giving your body a better source of energy that will sustain you for a longer period of time. The benefit is you will not experience a sugar crash as if you ate a candy bar for your meal. Simply put, when you constantly crave sugar your body is asking you for a quick source of energy.

The simple way to stop your sugar craving is to snack on protein rich foods throughout the day. If you give your body a better source of energy it will not ask for the quick sugar fix. You must beat your body to the punch. If you find that you crave sweets on a continual basis, try eating more lean meats throughout the day for a week or so and you will notice the difference.

Remember there is also an emotional component to sugar cravings because they do release hormones that make you feel good. Many sweets are comfort foods. Discipline is needed in order to make this work especially if you are trying to lose weight. If you need a boost with controlling the cravings there are some herbal remedies to support your body in its effort to stop cravings. Don't forget to drink plenty of water eat fruit before you eat something with processed sugar.

For more info: Remember to consult your doctor before any changes are made to your diet. Feel free to contact Dr. Evans at info@evansclinic.com for more tips on how to defeat cravings.

Chiropractic is an Effective Solution for Headaches

2009-04-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

The metro Atlanta area is no stranger to chiropractic care. Actually the largest chiropractic school in the world is located in Marietta, GA. Every day thousands of chiropractors improve the lives of headache sufferers using natural and effective methods. Headaches are caused by many different triggers. From the common headache to migraines, any type causes a large amount of undue stress for millions of people.

Stress from personal matters such as relationships, finances or work can manifest into a physical problem. What tends to occur when you have stress is the unconscious tightening of the muscles around our neck and shoulders. You may be completely unaware when you shrug your shoulders but it is a very common reaction to emotional and physical stress. The problem in doing this arises when your muscles are tense on a continual basis. Without knowing it you are training your muscles to overwork and stay in a shrugged position.

Each vertebrae of your spine is freely movable in comparison to the one above and below it. Your para-spinal muscles dictate the position of the bones in your spine. There are strong muscles at the back of your skull that connect to the bones in your neck. These muscles control movements such as turning your head from side to side, looking up and down, etc. When you have a repeated tightening of these muscles the bones in the upper area (cervical region) of your spine are pulled. This slight movement away from their normal position is many times the root cause of your common headache. The medical term for this improper movement is a vertebral subluxation, which simply means the bone is out of its normal place but it is not dislocated.

Chiropractors are trained to detect which bones in the spine are not in their proper position and how to gently align the spine to its proper position. Physiotherapy may also be used to relax the inflamed muscles that initially caused the problem. The chiropractic adjustment of these misaligned vertebrae has been very effective at reducing the symptoms from headaches. Many people experience relief from the adjustment very quickly and the results can last for months to years.

If you suffer from headaches you should visit a metro Atlanta chiropractor. The physical exam during your initial visit will help determine the underlying causes of your headache problem. Working with the natural solutions from the doctor will help your body better manage the effect of stress to your muscles and may eliminate the causes of your headache.

Get a proper evaluation for your headache pain sooner rather than later. Feel free to email Dr. Evans any further questions at info@evansclinic.com.