Hi All,
March is here and a very busy month it is with 
the time change (3/10), St. Patrick’s Day (3/17), the beginning of Spring (3/20), Passover(sundown 3/25) & Easter (3/31). Even after a mild winter, many people will gladly welcome Spring as well as more hours of light each day.
I certainly hope your 2013 has started out GREAT and Stern Chiropractic is here to either help you move forward or (if things have not been so great) to help you turn things around and have your BEST YEAR EVER.
As part of our ongoing efforts to help you and your family improve the quality and enjoyment of your life, we continue our HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATIONAL SERIES. Make sure to read all the way to the bottom to see what we are offering this month!
East Meets West
There are many different approaches to health. Some people only focus on their health when it is challenged and they are sick and others try to avoid illness and/or enhance their health and well-being. How do you approach your health?
The allopathic, western medicine, approach is focused on treating the symptoms and when the symptom is gone, the problem is resolved.
The Eastern approach is focused on getting to the underlying cause of the problem, resolving the underlying cause which brings balance and ease to the body so that the body can then heal itself.
You could decide to use only one of these approaches or you could use both. How do you know which approach to use and when? READ MORE …
The Western/Allopathic Approach
This approach is primarily associated with the western medical doctor and is focused on diagnosing what disease or illness you have and using drugs and/or medical procedures to resolve/repair the symptom. Understand that any type of doctor or healer that is specifically trying to treat a symptom is using an allopathic approach to care hence you could use the services of an MD, ND, DO, OMD, DC, L.A.c … to treat your headaches, back pain, menstrual issues, digestive symptoms … and it could be very effective. The difference being the methods used to address the issue, the end result of resolution of a symptom or resolution of an underlying problem and the potential side-effects from the treatment.
The allopathic approach uses an outside-in method. This is using an outside (the body) product or procedure to create a desired outcome i.e. using Furosemide to lower cholesterol or blood pressure, reducing the pain of a headache or reducing the burning of GERD or a procedure to reshape a newborns head (that maybe misshapen after birth) with a helmet or put in ear tubes for ear infections. These drugs and procedures are being used to force an outcome. The idea is to get everyone back to be within the “normal range” and/or eliminate a symptom/signal of the body. The issue is that every action has an equal and opposite reaction and when we try to force the body to do something, the equal and opposite reaction is side effects.
The allopathic approach is GREAT for broken bones, gun shot wounds, stab wounds, fulminant infections… but is not designed for lifelong health maintenance and wellness.
The Eastern Approach
For the purpose of this conversation, I will include the following in the eastern approach: Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Ayurveda (fully recognizing there are others that could be included in this category but I am best versed in these 3).
The eastern approach focuses on what I refer to as Natural Law and uses an Inside-Out approach to healing. Over thousands of years, man has observed the flow of how things occur in nature and these forms of healing attempt to facilitate these natural processes from the inside-out. It has been observe that the body is self-healing and self-regulating and has the absolute capacity to heal itself until we place to many overwhelming road blocks in the way. At this point, help is needed to remove these blocks allowing the innate intelligence (inner wisdome) of the body to guide its healing process.
The eastern approach is all about removing the interference we have put in our own way and restoring balance and ease to the body to allow it to heal itself. Since these approaches focus on restoring and enhancing the body’s natural healing mechanisms, no outcome is being forced hence side effects are not common. By addressing the underlying source of the problems, the relief may come a little slower (not always, sometimes it is very fast) but produces much longer lasting effects because the source of the problem has been resolved.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors are functional nerve system specialists.
The nerve system is the master control system of the body hence interference in this system will interrupt the normal functioning of the body and if left unresolved will lead to problems that can become chronic and possibly permanent. We look at the nerve system like an Information Superhighway and we are looking for road construction and traffic back-ups. This interference is caused by LIFESTYLE STRESS – Chemical, Physical & Mental emotional, that builds up over time and when it reaches levels that overwhelm our nerve system, causes our nerve systems to “blow a fuse” and shut down different areas of information and energy flow (see last months newsletter for what these stressors are, how they affect you and what can be done to address them Taking Control of Your Health). Chiropractic care is designed to remove this nerve system interference (subluxation), restoring the proper information and energy flow, allowing the body to heal itself and enhance its level of well-being. This is accomplished via chiropractic adjustments (a safe, gentle and effective procedure that removes nerve system interference, subluxation, and restores proper nerve system function).
In addition, with a Diplomate in Chiropractic Pediatric, Maternity & Family Wellness Care, Dr. Stern goes above and beyond to assess what lifestyle stressors are causing interference in your nerve system and then he helps you to make the appropriate small and easy adjustments to your lifestyle so that you may live a happier and healthier life.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is based on restoring and maintaining a balanced flow of Qi (chi) (life force) through the meridians (energy systems of the body). Excesses and deficiencies in the flow of Qi are created when the body is overwhelmed by outside stressors or when it is in a weakened condition.
When Qi is blocked or flowing in excess, the body will not function properly and problems arise. Acupuncture uses specific points in the meridian system to re-balance the flow of Qi, restoring proper function and health to the body. For more information, see Acupuncture.
Ayurveda
A traditional Indian approach to health and wellness based on the energy flow through the body via the main energy channel of the body, the Chakra System.
Imbalance in your life, chemically, physically or mental/emotionally lead to imbalances and blockages in the flow of energy through the chakras of the body. Each chakra is associated with different parts of the body, spirit and environment and when there is an imbalance, the body will not work properly. Ayurveda uses foods and herbs, yoga and meditation to clear the chakras and restore proper balance and function to the body.
All Eastern Approaches
All eastern approaches focus on removing interference in the energy and/or information flow of the body to restore balance and ease so that the body may heal itself and achieve greater levels of health and well-being.
Having been a chiropractor, acupuncturist and yogi for many years, I have used all of these approaches on an ongoing proactive basis to not only reduce injury & illness but to enhance my overall health, well-being and quality of life.
To find out more about all these approaches and to learn how you can determine which approaches are best for you, come to our East Meets West program described below.
Healthy Lifestyle Educational Series
Wellness – Mind, Body & Spirit
Dr. Stern will be offering monthly health and wellness programs to help you and your 
family Maximize your life Potential and Optimize Your Health. Please join us on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm for LIFE CHANGING information that will help guide you and your family to greater levels of Love, Joy, Health and Happiness.
Advance Registration is Required!
This month’s program will be held on Monday March 11th at 6:30 pm at our office and the topic will be East Meets West – Healing the Mind, Body & Spirit (click this link to see full details).
View the Healthy Lifestyles Educational Series Schedule and make your reservation TODAY!
Dr. Stern is an expert on Healthy Lifestyles and Wellness for children and adults.
Call Stern Chiropractic TODAY and let us help guide you and your family toward a HEALTHIER and more JOYFUL LIFE!
Peace