CHOICES
Posted by: bhauger on: September 7, 2010
This post is not going to include a lot of dates and data, as was in the previous post. This is more along the lines of “give you something to think about…”
Last week I was explaining to one of our new practice members why the subluxations (misalignments) in his neck could be relating to his neck pain, headaches, and poor quality sleep. After talking with him for a while, I gave my recommendations for the chiropractic portion of his treatment. (I should mention that this practice member is only 14, and his mother was in the room with us.) Before agreeing to the treatment, she asked him what he thought of the treatment plan, asking, “Does that sound good to you? Do you want to do it? I mean, it’s your body, and I think it’s a good idea, but I don’t want to force you into anything.”
I found this so refreshing, and I told the teenager and his mother so. She explained that she really wants to foster a sense of independent decision-making and personal responsibility in her children. This was a great reminder to me that we all have a lot of choices to make about how we treat our bodies. Sometimes I forget and let other people make those choices for me–a prime example is eating at a restaurant. I let the restaurant determine what portion I will eat (meaning, I finish my plate!) If I were to stop eating when I was full, my body would thank me, and so would my wallet. I would have some leftovers for lunch the next day!
As a post-script, I probably only have a post or two left since I am moving from the Victoria area this fall. I’ve accepted a new job closer to family in Fargo. My last day at the clinic will be September 30, and I’d love to see you before I go!
Rotavirus Vaccine Contaminated with Pig Virus
Posted by: bhauger on: July 9, 2010
Today I thought I’d write a little bit about the recent complications being discovered with the Rotavirus vaccine. Below find information regarding the virus itself and the recently noted contamination of the vaccine.
On March 22, 2010, the FDA reported that an independent research team had found Rotarix (one of the two main rotavirus vaccines) to be contaminated with porcine circovirus-1 (PCV-1,) a virus that affects pigs. PCV-1 has not been known to cause clinical complications in pigs, and the use of Rotarix was only temporarily suspended.
PCV-2, however, is a lethal, immunosuppressive disease that causes damage to the lungs, brain, reproductive system, and causes death in baby pigs. On May 7, 2010, it was announced that RotaTeq (the other rotavirus vaccine) was found to be contaminated with both viruses, PCV-1 AND PCV-2. Despite the contamination, the FDA has not called for a suspension of use of this vaccine….perhaps parents should.
Rotavirus background:
Rotavirus is the primary cause of severe diarrhea in children. This virus is trasmitted via the fecal/oral route, and is highly contagious. In the United States, there are five major strains that cause disease, but in developing countries there are many more. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dry or cool skin, lethargy, decreased urination, decreased tear production, abdominal pain, and extreme thirst.
Based on the above symptom list, it is pretty obvious that most of us have suffered a bout with rotavirus as children, probably called “the stomach flu.” In fact, the CDC estimates that nearly every US child has been infected with rotavirus by age 3. Due to the development of antibodies, subsequent infections cause less severe, if any, symptoms. Most children over age 5 suffer few severe infections.
Rotavirus requires no special treatment. Rest and adequate hydration are typically the only treatments. The most severe complication is dehydration.
RotaShield, introduced in 1998 by Wyeth, was the first vaccine for rotavirus. This vaccine was pulled from the market in the fall of 1999 due to an increased incidence of intussusception–a complication in which the intestine folds in on itself, causing obstruction. In pre-licensure trials, cases of intussusception were not shown to be greater in the vaccinated group than placebo. However, with more widespread use, it was estimated that 1 in 5000 to 9500 vaccinated infants were affected.
Currently, there are two main vaccines for rotavirus. The following descriptions can be found at the National Vaccine Information Center website (www.nvic.org):
Rotarix, by GlaxoSmithKline:
- Rotarix is a genetically engineered vaccine made of live attenuated human rotaviruses. Other ingredients include: amino acids, dextran, sorbitol, sucrose, and Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). DMEM contains sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, ferric (III) nitrate, sodium phosphate, sodium pyruvate, D-glucose, concentrated vitamin solution, L-cystine, L-tyrosine, amino acids solution, L-glutamine, calcium chloride, sodium hydrogenocarbonate, and phenol red. The liquid diluent contains calcium carbonate, sterile water, and xanthan.
RotaTeq, by Merck:
- RotaTeq is a genetically engineered vaccine made of live, attenuated human-bovine hybridized reassortant rotaviruses. Other ingredients include sucrose, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, sodium hydroxide, polysorbate 80, cell culture media, and trace amounts of fetal bovine serum. It does not contain preservatives. (NVIC)
Pigs may be cute, but pig viruses in human vaccines are not.
Belinda Meets Beets
Posted by: bhauger on: May 18, 2010
I am almost ashamed to admit that in my adult life, I have never bought or prepared beets as part of a meal. I have
These are the whole food supplements in the purification kit.
thrown one on my salad a time or two, mostly because I thought my salad needed a little more color. But my primary experience with beets has been following sugar beet trucks down the road during the fall harvest season, hoping a wayward root vegetable doesn’t fly from the back of the truck and crack my windshield.
Last week, though, I was inspired. On May 7, my college friends Danielle and Anna and my co-worker Dee and I began the 21-Day Standard Process Purification Program (see http://www.standardprocess.com/display/psppurification.spi) Like many people, I am aware that dietary and environmental factors take a toll on our bodies. Doing a cleanse or purification program can be a powerful tool in allowing the body to heal and bounce back from those environmental tolls. I know that this is a good thing for my body, and I know that it will force me to be more mindful about the raw materials I am supplying my body with as it detoxifies and heals.
From the clinical perspective, there are a variety of things I really like about this program. One, you get to eat. I am not a fan of the starvation diet/water cleanses. Large quantities of high-nutrient vegetables, fruits, and a little bit of brown rice and lentils are allowed. So are olive and flax oils. After 10 days, you can also add high quality, free-range meats such as organic chicken or salmon
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In the meantime, the purification kit provides shakes and supplements that are giving your body the raw materials to support detoxification of the liver, kidneys, and intestinal system. We have all commented, though, that it really is a gentle cleanse. Increases in urination and bowel movements is a normal response, but no one has responded by having this in any way interfere with daily life.
The first few days of cleansing I noticed bit of a headache and some body aches. I was also pretty sleepy. The peak of that was on day 4, and now I really, truly feel that I am back up at an energy level beyond where I started.
The other thing I really noticed in my first few days were the tv commercials for “food.” Every single thing advertised (Klondike bars, pizza, yogurt, cookies, Hot Pockets) was a processed food that I could not eat. And it reminded me one of the reasons that we eat the way we do as a society…we are sold the idea that trademarked, corporate food is what we should want. This food is also filled with fats (and not the healthy kind, like olive oil), refined sugar, cheap sweeteners such high fructose corn syrup, refined grains. Our brains start to crave these substances. Tonight, pay attention to the commercials on during your favorite show, and remind yourself that it’s tough to make a commercial for food that isn’t altered in some way for profit! When was the last time you saw a commerical for beets?
If there had been one, maybe I would have tried them earlier. 
Welcome to 2010! Celebrate by…eating?
Posted by: bhauger on: January 7, 2010
Some people are big fans of New Year’s resolutions, finding them a great way to start fresh after cleaning the slate from the previous year. Others prefer to live each day with resolve. Either way, we can all benefit from new information and new ideas. Each week in January we’re introducing our patients (and you!) to some small changes that can make a big difference. This week, we’re encouraging people to EAT BETTER with the following recipes:
FRIDAY NIGHT PIZZA CRUST (From Animal, Vegetable, Miracle)
(Makes two 12-inch pizzas)
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3 tsp. yeast
1½ cups WARM water
3 tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2½ cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
To make crust, dissolve the yeast into the warm water and add oil and salt to that mixture. Mix the flours and knead them into the liquid mixture. Let dough rise for 30 to 40 minutes.
Once the dough has risen, divide it in half and roll out two round 12 inch pizza crusts on a clean, floured countertop, using your fingers to roll the perimeter into on outer crust as thick as you like. Using spatulas, slide the crusts onto well-floured pans or baking stones and spread toppings. Bake pizzas at 425° for about 15-20 minutes, until crust is brown and crisp.
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HOMEMADE SNACK BARS
***Try this because many conventional snack bars are made with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives.***
Melt together:
1 c. peanut butter
1 c. honey
Mix with:
1 c. chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews)
1 c. coconut
1 c. sunflower seeds (can also use pumpkin seeds)
1 c. craisins
Press warm mixture into an 8″ square pan and bake for 15-20 minutes at 325 degrees. Cut into small squares. A glass pan works best!
PROTEIN PANCAKES
***Try this because this batch of pancakes contains 46 grams of protein and is better for maintaining stable blood sugar than carbohydrate (flour) versions.***
1 c. uncooked oats
2-3 beaten eggs
1 c. cottage cheese
½ banana (or honey)
½ t. cinnamon (optional)
Blend together in blender until consistency of batter. Fry over medium heat.
BEAN SALAD
***Try this because men should aim for over 30 grams of fiber/day and women should aim for over 20 grams/day.
(1 c. black beans=15 g and 1 c. navy beans=10 g of fiber.)***
2 cans black beans, drained and washed
2 cans navy beans, drained and washed
1 can super sweet corn, drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 c. sweet onion or red onion, chopped
Mix all in large serving bowl and set aside.
For dressing:
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1 c. olive oil (Best if you use ½ Italian and ½ tomato and basil olive oil. This will give the dressing much more flavor.)
¼ c. apple cider vinegar
Juice from 1 lime
1 t. Dijon mustard
2 T. ground cumin
½ t. cayenne pepper
Dash of salt, pepper, and garlic salt
Blend dressing well with a mixer. This will make the flavors “pop out!”
Pour dressing over beans and corn mixture. Best if served chilled. Enjoy!
It’s all in your…hormones!
Posted by: bhauger on: December 29, 2009
“Female hormone health care is in a state of confusion. Text books on the subject are often outdated, and most of the current research is based on synthetic and horse hormones, which have been incorrectly assumed to behave and metabolize as human hormones. What is the end result? Many females from puberty through menopause suffer with debilitating hormonal challenges from causes considered unknown.“ –Dr. Janet Lang
I spent last weekend taking in a very interesting continuing education class called “Balancing Female Hormones Naturally,” taught by Dr. Janet Lang. Dr. Lang’s works in Restorative Endocrinology, and her focus is bringing endocrine imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, female hormone, male hormone to name a few) back into balance through natural means. The seminar was great, and I thought I’d share a few of my major takeaways from the weekend.
1. “Cycling women cycle.” Although it’s a pretty simple idea, it is critical to remember in measuring hormone levels. Although one-sample estrogen and progesterone blood tests are commonly done, this is not an adequate measure of what is truly going on in the body. In order to drive the ebb and flow of the female cycle, hormone states are in a constant state of flux, and they must be measured as such throughout the month. This gives the practitioner and patient a roadmap to see what is out of balance so that it can be returned to the state of optimal physiology.
2. Saliva Tests Work! In the past, there has been a lot of confusion over the type of lab test that should be ordered to determine hormone balance.
- Blood tests measure the protein-bound form of the hormone, which is the mostly inactive form of hormone (they don’t tell you much!)
- Serum “Free” or direct blood tests measure the active form of the hormone.
- Saliva tests measure the active form of the hormone, and are much less expensive than serum free tests (Dr. Lang also taught us which lab is best for saliva testing.)
3. Hormones are critical in metabolism. This really jumped out at me because I have we have so many women with the complaint that they are gaining weight despite eating healthier and working out more than they have before. Hormone physiology WILL hijack metabolism and trump diet and exercise.
So what’s the treatment? Well, it truly depends on the problem. Dr. Lang has developed a variety of protocols for the variety of symptoms involved with endocrine imbalance, and we have access to all the tools here through ABC Family Chiropractic. Please come to me with your questions!
More information is available through Dr. Janet Lang’s website at www.restorativeendocrinology.com. Users of the website can podcast or listen to a sampling of Dr. Lang’s lectures.
The Flu with the Fancy Name
Posted by: bhauger on: December 1, 2009
Much more H1N1 information coming soon!
Below, find a “Flu Action Plan.” This is a list of things that I think are very helpful in flu prevention:
COMMON SENSE STRATEGIES:
- Get enough sleep/avoid exhaustion
- Avoid smoking
- Keep well hydrated
- Add fruits and vegetables
MODERATELY COMMON SENSE STRATEGIES:
- Avoid extreme exercise (moderate exercise is great)
- Decrease foods that SUPPRESS your immune system: sugar, omega-6 fats and oils (safflower, sunflower, canola, peanut, soy), breads and other foods with high glycemic index, such as potatoes
- Increase frequency of chiropractic adjustments
LESS COMMON, BUT STILL SENSE:
- Omega-3 Fatty acids are good, but no more than 100mg EPA
- Try homeopathic prophylaxis–a combination of homeopathic medicine’s most effective immune boosting remedies for flu prevention
- Take (or make) a tincture of black elderberry for prevention and treatment of flu–research has shown this as more effective than Tamiflu, and much safer
- Take Vitamin D3
- Take Co-Resist when exposed to someone with a cold or flu–this supplement contains a great combination of Vitamin A, C, and zinc. I’ve used it for years!
Metaphorically Speaking
Posted by: bhauger on: August 5, 2009
Anchored for the evening at Julian Bay
I’ve had a few requests (from the astute patients who recognize my photo-frenzy tendencies) to post some pictures from my recent sailing weekend in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. This left me thinking–”How do I sneakily connect what I learned about sailing to what I know about chiropractic so that I can blog about this?” Truthfully, chiropractic is such a huge part of my life (and has been for such a long time) that I am constantly seeing metaphors to it in so many of the things that I do. So read on, and enjoy the pictures!
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A beautiful double rainbow in front of the jib.
You don’t have to be an expert sailor to realize that so much of the sailing experience depends on the wind. You also don’t have to be an expert biologist to realize that the function of the body depends on the nervous system. Your brain, spinal cord, and nerves are constantly transmitting information that tells your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, your muscles to be tight or loose. And just as you can maximize the the effects of the wind by a slight change of direction or an adjustment to the sails, you can maximize the functioning of your nervous system by adjustments to your spine. Just like taking the “kink” out of a garden hose, adjustments to the bones of your spine take pressure of the nerves…and it’s easier to sail your ship.
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A picture of the sun setting on the Riptide (and crew!)
Another thing I learned about sailing is that you really have to pay attention, and if you go off course, you take corrective action. The same thing happens with our bodies. Sometimes we stop paying attention to our body’s needs–be it exercise, diet/nutrition, stretching, water intake, or adjustments, and then we go off course. Corrective action is required to get us back on track. That’s why at our office we offer both preventative care and corrective care. With preventative care, we’re doing our best to pay attention to small problems before they become big ones. With corrective care, we work to get to the underlying root of an ongoing problem and correct it.
- Finally, sometimes we experience smooth sailing and sometimes there are rougher seas. We will always do our best to help our patients through the flare-ups, but it makes us really happy when we get to the point of smooth sailing.
Doctoring the Doctor: Adrenal Fatigue
Posted by: bhauger on: July 8, 2009
I recommend playing with kittens as a good stress reliever!
Have you ever noticed that you feel like you’re rushing through the week and trying to slow down and catch your breath on the weekends? I was reminded of this very thing last weekend when I was turning onto my street. A bike path crosses my street, and it’s sort of an unwritten rule that whoever gets to the intersection first (bike or car) blazes through. At least that’s how it seems to be during the week–everyone is in a hurry. During the weekend, however, I saw some bikers approaching the intersection, and I stopped in the right turn lane to wait for them to pass. It was a small courtesy that probably took me an extra 10 seconds, but the refrain of this action echoed through my head all day: “Slow down, slow down, slow down…”
Over the past few months, my body has been telling me to slow down in the only way it knows how–through physical symptoms. I was tired. And not just ”I don’t want to get out of bed” tired; instead, “peel me out of the sheets” exhausted. My body wanted to sleep, sleep, sleep. Waking up was hard. Working out was hard. Concentration was hard. It seemed like mono, but my mono test was negative.
One Friday Dr. Becky was out of town, and I needed an adjustment, so I popped over to Dr. Kandace’s office. I mentioned the exhaustion, and she asked me if I’d thought about checking my adrenal glands. We performed Raglund’s Test, which is a blood pressure test that checks the adrenal glands. Mine failed MISERABLY.
The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and are responsible for releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which are hormones released especially during times of stress. Researcher Hans Selye pioneered research on stress and chronic illness in the 1940′s. He says the stress response comes in three phases:
-Alarm stage: The fight-or-flight response kicks in for immediate energy.
-Resistance stage: A time for recovery from the alarm stage occurs, but if the stress response is activated again, there is not adequate time for recovery and resistance is down.
-Exhaustion stage: The body can no longer recover from the chronic stress, and it begins to break down.
More details about the stress response and adrenal function at: http://www.treatingandbeating.com/adrenalfatigue.html
I’ve started taking an adrenal supplement, which helped within the week. I’m being adjusted at least one time per week and am drinking a lot of water. My sleep schedule has gotten more normal and my concentration is better. And I’ve been taking that extra 10 seconds in the right turn lane to let bikers pass.
It’s A Girl!
Posted by: bhauger on: June 2, 2009
Carrie and her Vitamins: Wellness Essentials for Pregnancy.
I’ve been wanting to write for a while about my friend and patient, Carrie, because she has a great chiropractic story. Carrie came to ABC in March of 2008 with ankle pain, neck pain, and back stiffness. She was also interested in nutritional recommendations in preparation for pregnancy. I give Carrie an A+ for her desire to get her body structurally and nutritionally ready to support pregnancy. We began Carrie on a program of spinal correction and Wellness Essentials Vitamins for Pregnancy. Within a month or two, her aches and pains were under control. Adjustments to the hip bones balanced her legs, and her ankle pain went away. (This was a huge relief because foot surgery had been recommended as her only viable option for treatment!) Evening out the hip bones is also extremely important for balancing the uterus because uterine ligaments have attachments to the pelvis.
Webster Technique
I was very excited to hear the news this past fall that Carrie and her husband Shaun were expecting in April. I was happy that we’d gotten such a good head-start on Carrie’s treatment plan. She continued to be seen at the clinic every-0ther-week or so to help her body meet the growing demands (get it?!) of the baby’s weight on her body. We also used the Webster Technique to keep the uterine ligaments in balance. Webster Technique is a combination of adjustments and soft-tissue pressure points to bring the baby into optimal positioning for birth. It is famous for it’s success rate in bringing babies in the breech position into the more ideal head-down position. http://www.icpa4kids.org is a great site for more information regarding the Webster Technique.
A great way to celebrate Tax Day...working on Carrie April 15.
Between her adjustments, nutritional supplementation, Bradley Birthing Classes (www.bradleybirth.com), and a little luck, Carrie had a great pregnancy. Lydia Eve Chesley was born April 16, 2009 in a drug-free birth. And I got the opportunity to make a house call for mom and a hospital call for baby, all within 24 hours!
Welcome, Lydia Eve Chesley!
See below for one of Carrie’s favorite pregnancy snacks (with a lot of protein–very important in pregnancy.)
Adventures in Wheatgrass
Posted by: bhauger on: March 31, 2009
Dr. Belinda farming, circa 1985.
As you might be able to guess from the picture at right (notice the Dukes of Hazzard shirt), I come from a long line of farmers. Both of my parents grew up in the fertile Red River Valley between Fergus Falls and Fargo. So when a patient told me that wheatgrass was easy to grow, I was excited to get back to my roots (pun intended!) and give it a whirl.
Another wheatfield picture! Brother Joe, Dr. Belinda, and cousin Elissa.
I picked up some organic soil and wheatberries in bulk from Lakewinds Natural Foods. After two days of soaking in room temperature water, the wheatberries were sprouted and ready to plant. “Planting” consisted of dumping the sprouts on a tray of soil, watering them, and setting them by the window. I headed off to work…and I thought it might be my imagination when they appeared to have grown by the time I got home!
One 11x13 wheatgrass tray, please!
Which brings me to an important point. Why would one want to consume wheatgrass? In addition to its nutrient benefits, the juice has been touted for its energy-boosting potential and is often available in 1 oz. shots at smoothie shops. As greens are apt to do, wheatgrass contains a plethora of vitamins and minerals. One online source reports the contents to include beta carotene, 90 minerals, vitamins C, E, and K, as well as the family of B vitamins. Wheatgrass seems to have an amazing ability to concentrate these nutrients from the soil in a short amount of time. The energy-boost attributed to wheatgrass may be from its simple sugar content, as it is usually harvested before it has time to convert its sugars to more complex carbohydrates. In addition, wheatgrass is 70% chlorophyll, which is the substance that absorbs sunlight and makes plants green. Chlorophyll’s chemical composition resembles that of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood and has antiseptic properties.
Wheatgrass harvest!
Into the juicer...
Now, more about the wheatgrass harvest. Just another typical Friday in Chanhassen (notice my Wally’s shirt. Great lunch haunt in Bloomington.) I was elated when my roommate Julie told me that she had a juicer attachment for the Magic Bullet blender!
Blending...
Julie’s fiance Dustin also comes from farm country and wanted to help in the threshing, which also implicated him in the tasting. We cut the whole tray and shoved it into the juicer. It didn’t seem like we were getting much juice, so we chopped it a bit in the blender and put it back in the juicer.
Cheers!
When all was said and done, we got a shotglassfull portion of sweet green juice. I loved it, but I drink a lot of green supplements and have acquired a taste for drinking what appears to be pond scum! Dustin’s summary: “It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t that good.” But I think he liked it more than he wants to let on. 
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- Dr. Belinda: I'm glad you found it interesting--the seminar was very good!
- Lora: Thanks, Doc, you always have interesting information! :-)
- Julie Henning: I love the double rainbows!
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