It's For Your Life

The Path to Family Wellness Podcast is Here!

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:00:31 +0000

We are excited to announce a new podcast featuring interviews with the local health and wellness community! You never know who you’ll meet on the Path!

This month, we walk the Path with Deanna Jayne, the juice goddess from Prana Raw – Juicefest! Her beautiful, delicious, and ALIVE foods are currently available by local delivery, and featured at The Wholesome Cafe, on Main Street in Ayer, MA. This spring, Deanna is teaching the art of the detox with four programs for spring and year-round cleansing.

Path to Family Wellness #1 Prana Raw – Juicefest by Community Chiropractic

Introduction to Cleansing and Detoxification
Learn how to cleanse with her FREE Mini-Workshop at our office on Wednesday, March 21 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Deanna will share insights into the importance of Cleansing for the IBT — Inner Body Temple. Cleansing tones and detxifies the organs and allows Prana, or life force energy, to flow more freely. It also strengthens the immune system and restores a healthy balance. We feel more free and energized when we cleanse!

There will be fresh pressed juice to sample! The workshop is free; there will be a basket for donations.

Happy, Healthy Holidays!

Pam Jarboe, DC — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:06:40 +0000

This season comes packed with waves of joy, busyness, family fun, family nightmares, good food, too much food, glorious music, lights, more lights, gentle moments, and sometimes harsh grief. Seeing so many of you during this time has shown us that it is just a lot of wonderful and sometimes crazy making stimulus…for all of us.

Anne Lamott, in her book, Traveling Mercies, says that the two best prayers she knows are: “Help me. Help me. Help me,” and, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Know that one of our prayers about all of you this season is “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Thank you for being part of our community. Thank you for giving us the gift of serving our purpose. Thank you for being so inspiring in the way you show up every day around here and make each other’s lives better. You care about us, our staff and each other and we get to watch these tiny ways that our lives collide and intersect and find respect, nurturing, and sometimes friendship. Thank you for trusting us this past year with your wellbeing and for so many of you, the wellbeing of your family and friends.

It continues to be an honor to serve you in the best way we know how, by simply helping your nervous systems to function better, and thus allowing each of you to reach your potential.

We wish many things for you this holiday season: good health for you and your family, moments of spontaneous joy, a leaning towards laziness, and a willingness to receive help and love.

All the Best,

Six Steps to a Healthy Winter

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:30:30 +0000

1. Get Adjusted. Clinical studies show that after an adjustment, subjects had 400 times as many immune cells as subjects who did not get adjusted.

2. Get Outside. Sunshine and fresh air are two of the body’s most important nutrients! Healthy Vitamin D levels from moderate sun exposure are linked to stronger immune systems. Being cooped up inside means breathing in more germs, toxins and allergens.

3. Calm Stress. The nervous system and the immune system are inextricably linked. That’s why you may be more likely to “get sick” more when you are stressed-out.
Getting adjusted is like getting a tune-up for your nervous system, giving it the tools to keep stress at bay. Meditation, massage, and yoga are also great stress-busters.

4. Let the Good Bugs Grow. Did you know that 60-70% of your immune system is located in your gut? Keep your digestion running smoothly, and fight bad bugs with good ones, by taking a daily probiotic and eating naturally fermented and cultured foods like yogurt and kefir.

5. Give Yourself a Natural Boost. Herbal supplements and foods like echinacea and goldenseal, elderberry, olive leaf, garlic, and even coconut oil have natural immune-enhancing and anti-microbial properties. Cod liver oil, long popular in the northern climes, contains a significant amount of vitamin D, plus health-enhancing Omegas.

6. Drink More Water! Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of water that we drink. Your body is made up of mostly water, and every organ and metabolic process in your body relies on having enough water to function optimally. So drink up!

Light Up Your Life

Pam Jarboe, DC — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:39:22 +0000

Post by Julie Pampinella

For many, the onset of winter and shorter days brings on feelings of fatigue, sadness, anxiety and depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects SO many, apparently, that many health insurance plans actually cover most or all of the cost of a light box. I was so excited to discover that this year – and want to pass this info on to you!

I decided to experiment with a light box this year to manage mild fatigue and sleep pattern disturbance related to the shorter, darker days. My insurance is HMO Blue, and not a fancy plan, either. I called them and they told me that light boxes are listed as “durable medical equipment,” and told me my plan fully covered a certain dollar amount of durable medical equipment every year, with no out-of-pocket costs. (Queue angels singing…)

HMO Blue requires a letter with a diagnosis of a “depressive episode” (there is no diagnosis code for seasonal affective disorder) from a licensed therapist or primary care physician for a light box. I called a local medical equipment distributor and was told to bring the letter and my insurance card in, and they would get it approved by my insurance, place the order and the light box would be delivered to me. It took about two weeks, but today I received a very happy looking “Day Light Classic” in a bright yellow box.

I am looking forward to adding light box therapy to my current self-care regimen (chiropractic adjustments, Vitamin D, Omega 3′s, and exercise) to move through the season with increased energy and mood. I plan to sit for 20-30 minutes a day, and figure that will be the perfect opportunity to begin meditating regularly!

If you are fighting the winter blues, having trouble sleeping, and want to improve your mood and energy, don’t wait — call your health insurance provider to find out if a light box is covered! You may be two weeks (or less) away from seeing the light!

Giving Thanks

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:15:14 +0000

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

One of the original chiropractic teachers talked about the light within us as our Innate Intelligence. He proposed that lack of adaptation to our life stresses — physical, chemical, mental and emotional — block this Intelligence from being expressed. He hoped that chiropractic would be a means for people to express more of their inborn potential or to shine their light. Today we, Dr. Steve and I, give thanks to our many mentors who have helped our lights to shine so that we can bring our very best to you, our community.

May your light shine through today and every day of your life. May you find ways to remove any of the “clouds” that block your light. May you find tools that amplify the gifts that you were innately born with. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, 2011, Community Chiropractic offers gratitude for our community and our ability to participate and be of service to it.

May all of us be well, happy, and in peace on this day and every day.

About Vitamin D – Part Three

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:15:44 +0000

As we wrote about last week, vitamin D is an important ingredient of human nutrition, which is in the form of vitamin D2 and D3. Vitamin D is required by the human body in small quantities; but, a regular intake of the foods containing vitamin D is necessary for good overall health. Because we spend so much more time indoors or blocking sunlight when we are outside, the production of vitamin D in the human skin has reduced drastically.

Foods That Contain Vitamin D

• One of the biggest food sources of vitamin D is the oil that is derived from fish such as Cod. Most of the fish that contain a generous amount of fat prove to be a good source of vitamin D.
• The cod liver oil that is derived from the cod fish, if consumed regularly and periodically proves to be very healthy for the body, especially for the skin.
• Herring also provides a good quantity of vitamin D.
• Some fish become good sources of vitamin D, only when they are cooked. Some of the prominent examples are: Salmon, Mackerel and Eel.
• Canned Sardine and Tuna are also very good sources of vitamin D.
• Some people are always surprised to hear this, but an egg consumed every day also provides the required quantity of vitamin D in the human body.
• Cooked beef, liver and some specific types of mushrooms are also very good vitamin D food sources.
• It is also advisable that if possible, one should stand in the fresh morning sunlight for about 10 to 15 minutes every day, in order to generate natural and adequate quantities of vitamin D in the skin itself.

About Vitamin D, Part Two

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:15:53 +0000

Lack of Vitamin D — Symptoms

There are many factors that lead to the presence of symptoms due to lack of Vitamin D. Some of these reasons are given below.

• Lack of foods rich in vitamin D in your diet.
• Minimal exposure to sunlight.
• Failure of kidneys to convert vitamin D to its active form.
• Dark skin shade in people.
• Inability of digestive tract to absorb vitamin D.
• Using too much sunscreen.
• Age and hereditary conditions.

If you are displaying lack of vitamin D symptoms, you need not worry too much because there are many cures and remedies available to you.

Depending on your age, severity of symptoms and hereditary factors, your doctor will prescribe certain medications and vitamin supplements to you to reduce and eradicate these lack of vitamin D symptoms. S/he will either provide you with some long term solutions, or alternately even give you some short term solutions, depending on which will suit you better.

About Vitamin D, Part One

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:15:36 +0000

Vitamin D is very commonly known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because it is produced in the body as a result of direct exposure to sunlight. The main purpose of vitamin D in the body is to make use of the calcium available in the diet to strengthen the bones and teeth. If a person is displaying some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, it generally implies a lack of sunlight.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms are seen in many people across the world and people showing such symptoms usually have weak bones, and this leads to soft bones and skeletal deformities. There are a multitude of other health problems as well, that can be curbed by effectively noticing and curing symptoms for lack of vitamin D. You can ask your doctor to check your levels of Vitamin D.

Some Common Symtoms of Deficiency

There are a host of easily distinguishable vitamin D deficiency symptoms that you should look out for:

Rickets: This is one of the biggest lack of vitamin D symptoms. Weak bones that get hurt easily or fractured regularly are one of the biggest effects vitamin D deficiency causes. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is seen mostly in elderly people.

Skin pigmentation: If a person regularly notices pigmentation on their skin, it is very likely that this is being caused by lack of vitamin D. Depression as a result of this is also a commonly observed symptom.

Inflammatory bowel disease: People experiencing inflammatory bowel movements must also beware, as this is also widely recognized as one of the lack of vitamin D symptoms.

Obesity: People who are obese must also be very careful about their intake of vitamin D, as obese people are more prone to showing symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Other lack of vitamin D symptoms include knock-kneed appearance, low blood calcium levels, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, depression, bowed limbs, chronic fatigue, type I diabetes and chronic bone pain, muscle pain or joint pain. More on symptoms of low vitamin D levels to come next week!

Stay Healthy and Balanced During this Season

Pam Jarboe, DC — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:35:49 +0000

As the seasons change and the holidays approach, it seems that many of us get slowed down by colds and flus.

Here are some simple tips to avoid this pitfall and maximize your performance during this season.

Nourish Yourself

Eat foods that are warming, fresh, and well cooked; avoid dry or uncooked foods (especially salads and raw fruits and vegetables).

Drink lots of warming liquids such as hot water and herbal teas to prevent dehydration. You can prepare a fresh ginger tea by placing a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger into a pint thermos bottle and filling it with hot water.

Don’t worry if your appetite seems stronger than usual as this is a natural tendency in winter. At the same time, of course, don’t eat to the point of discomfort.

Nourish Your Senses

Stay warm. Give yourself slow, gentle self-massage in the morning or before bed. Use a nourishing, warming oil such as sesame or almond.

Put a pleasantly scented herb plant, such as lavender or rosemary, on your table. As the days get darker and we come indoors more, it can soothe your senses to bring some outdoors in.

Sleep and Restful Awareness

Get enough sleep!

Learn to meditate. Life speeds up during this time so make sure you give yourself a time out and plan some quiet time, even if only for 5-10 minutes. Take time and recharge your system.

Too Much Sitting

Pam Jarboe, DC — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:14:11 +0000

We have become a society of sitters. We sit in our cars, at our computers, on planes and in front of tv. Prolonged periods of sitting can have an adverse affect on your spinal health.
Here are some tips to help:

Invest in an ergonomic chair.

Make sitting up straight important to you.

Set a periodic timer and shift your weight regularly.

Use a stool or phone book for your feet to relive low back pressure.

Get up as often as possible.

Set up your work station with you facing straight ahead with your head slightly down.

Know that this is one of the strains you are placing on your spine and make sure to give back to your body with movement, stretching, massage and your wonderful chiropractors!