Pathways Article Summaries and References
Issue 13 - Spring 2007
Letter from the Editor
Jeanne Ohm, DC
Vitalism is the paradigm of healing that recognizes and respects an inner intelligence of the body to know what is needed at any given moment. Vitalistic care focuses on naturally supporting the body’s ability to be well. Vitalistic wellness care is where the practitioner and patient both honor this magnificent principle with trust and confidence.
Vitalistic care is the oldest form of health care dating back centuries. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, had this to say, “Humans are created to be healthy as long as they are whole: body, mind, spirit. People are characterized by self-healing properties that come from within and an innate healing force. Perfect health and harmony is the normal state for all life.”
Trust, confidence, expectation of well-being. This is the core of vitalistic care.
Today, parents are seeking vitalistic practitioners who are able to reconfirm their confidence and trust in the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Since there is a sore lack of vitalistic practitioners, parents are settling for providers that are at least respectful of their choice to approach health from this vitalistic paradigm.
So why is it so hard to find a pediatrician who practices from a true vitalistic model of care? It’s sort of like finding a power weight lifter who tries to coach you on yoga postures. Of course a power weight lifter is not trained to teach yoga nor is his body familiar with the postures of yoga. It is unrealistic and even unfair to consider he can just change his mode of training and practice and be able to teach body movements foreign to his knowledge and basic premise of training.
So too, it is unrealistic for us as parents to expect that a mechanistic practitioner steeped in the pharmaceutical mindset can understand, accept and embrace vitalism. Yes, your demands have initiated an attempt for mechanistic medicine to try and appear vitalistic; however, it is usually in appearance only. For example, the newborn’s check ups within the first year are called “wellness visits.” This would imply an experience with a provider who naturally supports health and well-being. We know, however, that this visit includes numerous mechanistic and invasive procedures including the administration of drugs. To these providers, wellness comes from a completely different premise. When parents are in these offices questioning the use of these procedures and drugs, this visit frequently turns into a confrontational duel interlaced with intimidation and fear tactics. We know these emotions are hardly conducive to true, vitalistic wellness. Neither are the actual procedures. In order to avoid these frustrating encounters marinated with guilt and fear, we need to go elsewhere.
The primary reason my husband and I became doctors of chiropractic was because we resonated with its vitalistic philosophy, its confidence in the body’s ability to naturally heal and its profound respect for our innate wisdom and healing force. We have always offered and pursued care consistent with this philosophy. From this perspective of trust, confidence, expectation of well-being we have been privileged to witness wholeness: body, mind and spirit.
Perhaps this is why the vitalistic practices of doctors of chiropractic, naturopaths, homeopaths, etc. are filled with families seeking the wellness lifestyle. The realization to honor and respect the body’s wisdom in healing has become the way we as parents are approaching health care. Our careful selection will make a tremendous difference in our families’ well-being. Despite the limited availability of vitalistic practitioners and yes, even the meager insurance coverage offered for this kind of care, we are moving outside of the existing, unsupportive model of health care and insisting on true wellness for our families. Our perseverance and commitment is initiating evolution.
Parents, we are living in exciting times. We are creating the shift towards vitalism and until the system catches up (this may be decades) it is up to us to hold true to our convictions and actively seek providers who are also consistent with our principles. The purpose of Pathways is to provide information from this vitalistic perspective so we can make sound choices for our families’ well-being. Welcome to the raising of the consciousness.
Feature:
How Do Vaccines Work?
Immune Mechanisms and Consequences
Stephen C. Marini, DC, PhD
From the Article:
From Dr. Moskowitz’s previous article in Pathways (Issue 10), we learned that the theoretical effect of vaccines on the infectious diseases they are designed to protect against is misleading at best.
He also illuminated the potential long-term consequences of vaccines on an individual’s overall health and wellness. I would like to present what is known about the body’s immunologic response when exposed to a microorganism naturally as compared to the response generated by the conventional vaccines. Questions that this discussion will raise are:
- Can the immune responses generated by the vaccines create a pattern of immune imbalance that actually compromises the child’s immune system?
- Does the resulting pattern of immune imbalance promote imbalances in other body systems resulting in chronic
health issues? - What is known about reversing the imbalance generated by vaccines and/or other immune stressors?...
References:
REFERENCES
- Abbas AK, Murphy KM, Sher A. Functional Diversity of Helper T Lymphocytes. Nature: 1996: 383 pp.787-793
- Golding S., Scott DE., Vaccine Strategy: Targeting Helper T Cell Responses. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 754:126-137, May 31, 1995
- Moskowitz R., How Do Vaccines Work? Pathways, Is. 10: 5-9, 2006
- Taylor,J. Which Arm of the Immune Response most Likely Plays the Predominant Role in Host Defense Against Influenza Virus: humoral or cell-mediated? Medscape Feature, 1998, 08.98, p.443
- Urnovitz H., Archiving of Live Viral Vaccines. From Proceedings of the First International Public Conference on Vaccination. September 13-15, 1997.
- Ader R., Felten D., Cohen N., Psychoneuroimmunology. Academic Press, 2nd edition, 1991.
- Kidd P., Th1/Th2 Balance: The Hypothesis, its Limitations, and Implications for Health and Disease. Alt. Med. Review, Vol.8 #3, 2003, p223-246.
- Hurwitz E., Morgenstern H. Effects of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis or Tetanus Vaccination on Allergies andAllergy Related Respiratory Symptoms Among Childern and Adolescents in the U.S. JMPT Vol. 23#2 Feb. 2000
- Taylor, J . Herd Immunity: The Varicella Vaccine Is it a Good Thing? Archives Peds. Vol 155#4 Apr. 2001.
- Pert C. Molecules of Emotion. Touchstone, 1997.
- Watkins A. Mind Body Medicine - A Clinicians Guide to Psychoneuroimmunology. Churchill Livingstone, 1997.
Vaccinations:
Informed Consent, Efficacy and Strengthening Immunity
Dr. Arlan Cage, ND, Lac
From the Article:
The principle of Informed Consent has its roots in millenniaold medical ethics, and in modern times has become codified as law. Federal regulations require that doctors tell patients in advance the nature of the medical treatment they are recommending, the risks involved, and whether or not there are alternative methods of treatment. Doctors must also give their patients an opportunity to ask questions. This is often referred to in medical circles as the PARQ Process: Procedures, Alternatives, Risks, and Questions...
About the Author:
Arlan Cage, ND, LAc, MSOM, MS, earned his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Samra University in Los Angeles. He lives in Redondo Beach, CA and practices in neighboring Torrance, where he specializes in natural approaches to internal medicine with an emphasis on endocrinology, gastroenterology and immune related illnesses and infectious disease. He can be contacted through his practice, South Bay Total Health, or via email at: drcage@southbaytotalhealth.com
Wellness Lifestyle:
How Long Will Your Body Last?
Eric Plasker, DC
From the Article:
If you knew you’d live to 100, how would you change your life? Would you eat healthier, exercise more, save more, visit your chiropractor more regularly, change your retirement plan, work longer, or take better care of yourself? The fact is centenarians are one of the fastest-growing segments of the population in the United States, and the chance of you becoming one is growing by leaps and bounds.
In a recent Discover magazine article, scientists concluded that a child born today has the potential to live 150 years, with some experts asserting that there is no upward limit on your longevity. During the past 40 years, the number of centenarians increased nearly ten fold. There are now about 450,000 centenarians living in the world...
About the Author:
Eric Plasker, DC, is an internationally acclaimed wellness expert, speaker, and television and radio personality. His debut book, The 100-Year Lifestyle: Dr. Eric Plasker’s Breakthrough Solution for Living Your Best Life—Every Day of Your Life will be available in major bookstores and at Amazon.com in March 2007. Visit www.100yearlifestyle.com to learn more.
Nutritional Nuggets:
Growing a Bumper Crop of Smart, Healthy Kids
Lisa Rose Starner, MPA
From the Article:
The connection from farm to table has been broken by decades of change in our food system.
The social result of this break in understanding where our food comes from is almost incomprehensible. With increased global food production, cities have become detached from local farms and food resources. In turn, local farms have been separated from the urban community and they struggle to find alternative ways to sell their produce locally rather than corporately over long distances. Urban residents may not have access to a diverse range of fruits and vegetables at an affordable price, and supermarkets that are increasingly built on the periphery of town make regular access to fresh fruit and vegetables difficult to those living in the city. This lack of access to nutritionally-sound food in urban areas contributes to poverty-related poor health. While our food system continues in this manner, our society faces a myriad of challenges. One of the greatest challenges is the health crisis of childhood obesity...
About the Author:
Lisa Rose Starner, MPA, is the Founder and Executive Director of Mixed Greens. Mixed Greens is a nonprofit, children’s vegetable project whose mission is to inspire, sustain, and support a legacy of fresh foods and gardens. Mixed Greens is the collaborative catalyst that enables children to choose healthy behaviors, buy local foods, and pass on their knowledge and lifestyle to future generations. For more information on how Mixed Greens helps the children in our community grow, visit us online at: www.mixedgreens.org, or call 616.301.3592.
Chiropractic for Life:
"Growing Pains" and Chiropractic Care
Tricia Arndt, DC, DACCP
From the Article:
“Ouch! My legs hurt, Mommy!” Have you ever had your child wake up in the middle of the night complaining of leg pains? Do you remember having them as a child?
These are commonly referred to as “growing pains” and can be defined as recurrent leg pain in children ages 2–12 years. The term “growing pains” was first seen in medical literature in 1823. There were many different explanations for these pains. Some, such as the assertion that pains are a symptom of rheumatic fever, have been discredited.
About the Author:
Tricia Arndt, DC, DACCP is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. She is certified in pediatrics by the ICPA, certified in the Webster Technique, and has earned her Diplomate degree from the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice and the ICPA. Dr. Arndt is a member of the National Vaccine Information Center, and a member of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association. Dr. Arndt, a second generation chiropractor, has her own practice, Arndt Family Chiropractic, in Dublin, Ohio.
Pregnancy & Birth:
Vertical Birth
Pamela Hines-Powell
From the Article:
While the awareness about the dangers and disadvantages of giving birth while lying on one’s back is more widespread, this is still the main position in which the majority of women in the United States give birth...
About the Author:
Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, LM, is a homebirth midwife who resides in Salem, Oregon with her partner, Gabrielle and their three girls. Pamela’s priority as a midwife personalized, empowered care with a focus on unhindered freebirth. Her website is www.midwifemama.com
Breastfeeding:
Will Breastfeeding Give Your Child Cavities?
Dr. Linda Folden Palmer
From the Article:
Breastfed children have far fewer dental cavities than those who are bottle-fed.
This includes nursing caries as well as other cavities. The unfortunate term “nursing caries” refers to a typical pattern of dental decay seen when juice, formula, or breast milk sits in the mouth frequently for extended periods. Nighttime snacks are highly cavity-causing because saliva is not very mobile during sleep, leaving baby without its rinsing and antibacterial qualities. By far, juice bottles promote the greatest number of nursing caries and should never be given at night...
Excerpted and expanded from from Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby by Linda Palmer, DC. Posted with permission of the author.
About the Author:
Dr. Palmer provides telephone consultations for colic, lactation difficulties, child nutrition, food allergy issues, and infant sleep challenges, from an attachment parenting perspective.
References:
- A.A. al-Dashti et al., “Breast feeding, bottle feeding and dental caries in Kuwait, a country with low-fluoride levels in the water supply,” Community Dent Health (England) 12, no. 1 (March 1995):
42-7. - R.O. Mattos-Graner et al., “Association between caries prevalence and clinical, microbiological and dietary variables in 1.0 to 2.5- year-old Brazilian children,” Caries Res 32, no. 5 (1998): 319-23.
- N. Kanou et al., “[Investigation into the action condition of outpatients. II. Correlation between the daily habits of eating and toothbrushing and the prevalence of dental caries incidence],” Shoni Shikagaku Zasshi (Japan) 27, no. 2 (1989): 467-74.
- A. Mohan et al., “The relationship between bottle usage/content, age and number of teeth with mutans streptococci colonization in 6-24-month-old children,” Comm Dent Oral Epidemiol 26, no. 1 (Feb. 1998): 12-20.
- K.L. Weerheijm et al., “Prolonged demand breast-feeding and nursing caries,” Caries Res (Holland) 21, no. 1 (1998): 46-50.
- L. Lopez Del Valle et al., “Early childhood caries and risk factors in rural Puerto Rican children,” ASDC J Dent Child 65, no. 2 (Mar-Apr 1998): 132-5.
- A.L. Hallonsten et al., “Dental caries and prolonged breast feeding in 18-month-old Swedish children,” Int J Paediatr Dent (Sweden) 5, no. 3 (Sep 1995): 149-55.
- M.I. Matee et al., “Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in breastfed children with rampant caries,” Caries Res (Tanzania) 26, no. 3 (1992): 183-7.
- P.R. Erickson and E. Mazhari, “Investigation of the role of human breast milk in caries development,” Pediatr Dent 21, no. 2 (Mar-Apr 1999): 86-90.
- C. Sheikh and P.R. Erickson, “Evaluation of plaque pH changes following oral rinse with eight infant formulas,” Pediatr Dent 18, no. 3 (May-Jun 1996): 200-4.
- D. Birkhed et al., “pH changes in human dental plaque from lactose and milk before and after adaptation,” Caries Res 27, no. 1 (1993): 43-50.
- P. Ollila et al., “Prolonged pacifier sucking and use of a nursing bottle at night: possible risk factors for dental caries in children,” Acta Odontol Scand 56, no. 4 (Aug 1998): 233-7.
Parenting:
Mindful Parenting
Susan Markel, MD
From the Article:
The Buddhist concept of “mindfulness”, which means deeply paying attention to the present moment, can profoundly enrich your experience as a parent.
We spend much of our lives unconsciously absorbed in a future that hasn’t happened yet, or in a past that is already gone. In the process, we spend much of the day out of touch with the present moment, which is the only time we ever get in which to live or act...
About the Author:
Visit Susan Markel, MD at:
www.AttachmentParentingDoctor.com
Email: consult@attachmentparentingdoctor.com
Mind-Body:
Breaking the Stress Cycle — of the Rat Race
Kevin Donka, DC
From the Article:
“Hurry, hurry; get what you can! There’s only so much to go around and only so much time to get it, so you’d better get your share before someone else takes it!” This kind of urgency and “lack” mentality is typical of anyone who finds him/herself in the middle of what has been called the “Rat Race.” And while people in this mode of thinking may not consciously be aware of these short-term, destructive, and isolationist thoughts, they are nonetheless the beliefs and emotions that drive their decisions as they make their way through each day...
Family Life:
Simple Secrets That Create
Happy Family Memories
Dr. Michele Borba
From the Article:
Did you know that research has found that doing simple rituals enhances our feelings of togetherness and family belonging by almost 20 percent? What’s more, those home traditions and customs also increase our kids’ social skills and development. Here are nine simple, no-cost secrets moms are using to create happy memories. What are you doing to preserve memories of your times together?...
About the Author:
Michele Borba, Ed.D. is a mom of three, former teacher, and renowned educational consultant who has presented workshops to one million parents and teachers worldwide.
Seasonal:
Mother Love
Patti Teel
From the Article:
Mother love needs to be cultivated for the good of mankind and for the wellbeing of our sacred planet. The potential for this all-embracing maternal consciousness lies within all of us, male and female. Very often, it is when we hold our first child in our arms that the flame of mother love is ignited. Once burning, it cannot be extinguished. Throughout history, women have acted to bring the love and compassion felt for their own children into their community, their country, and their world. Passionately expressing a mother’s love, they have worked to create a better world for future generations. Their work has left a legacy for us to follow...
About the Author:
Patti Teel helps children to find peace within themselves. She is the creator of a highly acclaimed audio series that teaches children to turn inward and relax. In her new book for parents, The Floppy Sleep Game, parents learn playful relaxation techniques to help their children practice the three R’s: resting their bodies, relaxing their minds, and refreshing their spirits. Find out more at: www.pattiteel.com
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