2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringsing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

The H1N1 Vaccine or better known as the Swine Flu Vaccine has been on the front page of most of the newspapers. Having the flu is no picnic and deciding whether or not to get the vaccine is up to you. It is always in your best interest to be an informed consumer.

Why not get the vaccine?

Neurologolists in the United Kingdom were recently warned to be watchful for Guillain-Barre syndrome in patients who receive this vaccine. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a brain disorder that can cause paralysis.

Clinical trials are best when they are performed over an extended period of time. The H1N1 Vaccine has not been given the time to evaluate what other side effects may be associated with it.We are the guinea pigs in this trial. Do you consent to that?

The nasal spray form of the vaccine contains the live attenuated H1N1 influenza virus. Which unless you have a strong immune system, can cause the very illness that you are attempting to avoid.

The injectable form of the vaccine may contain thimerosal, a mercury based preservative. Mercury is a heavy metal that can cause neurological problems.

Whether or not you decide to get the vaccine, make sure you and your family wash your hands often with non-antibacterial soap, eat a clean diet, sleep 8-9 hours a night, move your body often and take your supplements.

 

 

If you don't have allergies, chances are, you know someone who does. Allergies have a tendency to be difficult to treat. I grew up going to Dr Schner's office every Monday night to get my allergy shots to mold and dust. It is difficult to inject a screaming and crying 7 year old. Only Nurse Sarah could keep me calm enough to make this an only mildly dramatic moment. Now that I'm a parent, I have an even greater sympathy for the parents that have to face this kind of situation once or twice a week. I can't tell you whether or not the allergy shots worked because I also remember taking a spoonful of grape medicine when my nose was stuffy.

Just before I graduated from Chiropractic school I started getting terrible stomach aches. I would turn such a ghastly shade of white in the middle of class that the teacher would be concerned. I was evaluated by a vast number of physicians both holistic and traditional. Through Chiropractic adjustments, balancing my nutrition and learning to deal with the responsibility that comes with being a doctor, I was able to significantly reduce my symptoms.

Soon after becoming a chiropractor a patient severely allergic to pollen requested that I use a technique called NAET. She explained that as she understood it, the patient holds a small glass vial of the allergen and after the doctor pressed on some energy points the patient would then be cured of all the symptoms associated with that allergy. Being a kinesiologist, I have had more than a few people question my credibility when I explain what I do. That is, until I show them how it works on their own bodies. But when introduced to this, even I was skeptical. Then my friend, David Brownstein, M.D., a well renowned holistic physician and author, confirmed my patients observation and added that he was getting fabulous results using the technique. After many months and much discussion, I flew to California on numerous occasions to study the technique at the hands of the developer herself, Dr. Devi Nambudripad. I had the priveledge of being treated while I was there. I was found to be sensitive to dairy, dust and mold. I was significantly tired after being treated.

 

 

If you don't have allergies I'm sure you know someone who does. You can be allergic to virtually anything: the food you eat, the air you breathe, the things you touch, even your spouse. And you thought you just didn't see eye to eye. When I was in my last year of chiropractic school I was very sick. I would get such terrible stomach pains that I would turn white as a ghost in the middle of class. I saw a variety of holistic and traditional doctors. The symptoms improved with specific chiropractic adjustments, balancing of nutrition, and learning to deal with the stress that comes with knowing that people would soon be trusting me with their health. Improved, but didn't completely resolve. Along this path I found out that I was sensitive to dairy products. At that time, once you found you had a food allergy your only recourse was to avoid it. I did avoid dairy and felt much better. I don't know about you, but there are people out there that consider ice cream to be a food group. I happened to marry into a family of just those people. Facing the numerous flavors of ice cream at those numerous family gatherings was occasionally too much for my self control. I admit, I did partake on more than one occasion.

One day a loyal patient of mine told me that there was a technique that eliminated food allergies. I was extremely skeptical. I consulted my friend, Dr. David Brownstein, a well known holistic physician and author. He encouraged me to go to California to study the technique sharing that he was having much success using NAET.
I spent time learning from Dr. Devi Nambudrid. She was quite educated and very confident that this technique worked. I returned to Michigan with plenty of information and although still skeptical, less so. I treated the patient that had introduced me to it, and she responded well. But I was still skeptical,thinking that the patient wanted it to work and was so confident it would that her belief in it is what caused the wonderful results. The mind is a powerful tool and although on one hand I am happy when my patients heal no matter what heals them, I also don't want to waste their money or time on a technique that doesn't work.

Over the next few months I treated a variety of patients using this technique. I saw severe eczema on children fade away, I saw stomach pain resolve, I saw headaches and itchiness disappear. It was remarkable. I even saw a firefighter who was so allergic to grass, that when he mowed his lawn he had to suit up in long pants, long sleeves and a mask even in 90 degree weather. After he completed the lawn he had to rush into his house to take a long shower or else he would break out in hives all over.
Once we treated him he was able to mow in shorts with a choice of whether or not he wanted to shower after. In fact, Fox 2 News did a segment on it and showed my patient sitting in the grass in shorts.

The technique itself seems a bit mysterious at first. It is based on many ideas. One such idea is the fact that we have receptor sites on every cell of our body constantly evaluating our environment as to how safe it is. This allows us to place items (allergens) on our skin or in our energy field and evaluate how the body responds. Some doctors use leg length changes, I personally use muscle strength changes, called kinesiology. If I put a substance in someones hand and their muscle strength goes weak, I consider them sensitive to that substance. Once we identify a sensitivity, the treatment is a stimulation of energy points (often referred to as acupuncture points) and a short avoidance of the substance usually 25 hours depending on the reaction associated with it.

Please note: I do not treat sensitivities that have anaphalactic reactions in order to allow that substance back into the body, I treat those sensitivities in order to make the world a safer place for those sufferers, and possibly allow them more time to get to the emergency room, if they come in contact with it.

It is a helpful technique that I encourage you to try if you have allergy symptoms or symptoms that you would like checked for a sensitivity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a great Thanksgiving story. My very good friend, Donna, sent it to me knowing how much I respect and honor our military. I have no idea whether or not it's true, but I will believe it is.

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have agood book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start aconversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq'

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best- beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane,heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all ofthe passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand,wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is honor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all of you who have seen and commented on the newspaper articles and the Fox 2 News interview that aired live this morning. If you haven't seen it yet, stay tuned and I will provide a link once they have it up and running. It was about Higher Level HealthCare's Honor Program, the free chiropractic care provided to our military.

One of my patients brought to my attention another fabulous service to our veterans called Honor Flight Michigan. You should all be familiar with it and pass the information on to those you know from Michigan who have served in World War II. Below is information directly from their website:

Honor Flight Michigan's mission is to provide an all expenses paid trip for Michigan's WWII Veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorial that has been dedicated to honor their service and their sacrifices for our country.
On 29 May 2004, President Bush dedicated the World War II Memorial to honor "The Greatest Generation". Regrettably today, very few of these elderly veterans have the funds, knowledge or strength to complete a conventional trip to Washington D.C., via commercial airline, car or bus.
It is our intention to honor as many of these selfless "ordinary people who saved the world" as we can by providing them this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit their memorial.
Honor Flight Michigan is a unique organization. It is run entirely by volunteers with no administrative overhead, no paid employees or government support and is funded entirely by our caring, statewide community. Through this support we were able to send 414 Michigan veterans in 2007 on their "trip of a lifetime".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Early Detection is the best Prevention” is the motto for Breast Cancer Awareness. Personally, I think that if Breast Cancer is detected, even early, you are past the prevention point. Here are a few actions you can take to help yourself on your goal to prevent Breast Cancer.

1. Reduce eating high-fat animal foods, with exception to fish.
High fat foods from dairy, meat and shellfish increase a hormone-like substance in our bodies called Prostaglandin E2 which increases inflammation and risk of cancer.

2. Participate in endurance exercises for a minimum of 30 minutes, 5x/week.
Girls and young women who exercise regularly between the ages of 12 and 35 have a substantially lower risk of breast cancer before menopause compared to those who are less active.

3. Soak up some sun.
Increased intake of vitamin D from diet and from sunlight may reduce the risk for breast cancer by over 20 percent.

4. Take a supplement containing antioxidants and B complex.

5. Drink less Alcohol.

6. Consume Essential Fatty Acids.
Take as a supplement (EPA/DHA) or eat salmon, herring or sardines twice a week. Both would be even better.

7. Eat cruciferous vegetables every day.
Choose from broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and bok choy.

8. Spice up your food with Ginger, Turmeric and Cumin.
These are all natural anti-inflammatory agents.
Curcumin, the yellow extract from the common curry spice turmeric, has been shown to help prevent breast cancer.

9. Eat 2 heaping tablespoons of ground flaxseed each day.
Not only does it give you some of that great Essential Fatty Acids but it also gives you fiber to help keep your belly working it's best.

10. Get your 8 hours of sleep.
Sleep is nature's best anti-inflammatory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a patient come in with frequent headaches. There are different kinds of headaches and hers started in the back of her neck and spread to her temples. I asked her when she started getting them. She told me that they started when she was 2 months into her current job and that she only had them during the week and not on the weekend. She went from a gym teacher to a receptionist for her daughter.

God, being as wise as God is, created us with curves in our spine. These curves are very important to maintain. It is also important not to exaggerate these curves. A happy medium is what we are looking for. When we evaluated her spine using kinesiology (muscle testing) we found that when we recreated her posture at work her strong muscles went weak. Her posture at work was similar to what we all do when we sit at a computer, or in the car, too long. Slouching, with her head held up to see the screen, causes the muscles in the back of her neck to shorten. Muscles pull on bones and these shortened muscles in her neck were pulling on the base of her skull. Once we repositioned her by lifting up her rib cage thereby lengthening her torso her head fell naturally into a functional position with no stress in her neck. We corrected the misalignments of her neck and the base of her skull using conservative chiropractic care and saw her headaches resolve in 4 visits. Now she is very aware of maintaining good posture.

Other suggestions if you have headaches at work:

-Eliminate florescent lighting
-Use a non-glare screen
-Use a telephone head set
-Take a break every 20 minutes to reestablish the curves in your spine.
-Avoid teeth clenching
-Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I, personally, am very appreciative of our military. I have never been as patriotic as when I had kids, boys, in fact. It made me look at America in a whole new way. I was born here but my grandparents were not. My maternal grandmother lost her 9 brothers and parents to the concentration camps and if it weren’t for her arranged marriage to my grandfather, she would not have gotten out alive. They settled in Pontiac, Michigan where they raised my mother, my aunt and my uncle. She met my father at Michigan State University but she had to travel to Louisiana to marry him during his short leave time in the United States Air Force. My father didn’t speak much about his military experience but my uncle, Colonel Jack Steinberg did. Whenever we went to visit his retirement home in Florida, he would take us to the military base. He had a great sense of humor and I remember him fondly. Still, I was not patriotic. Then I had my boys.

I was pregnant with my second child when I watched the twin towers fall. We all became quite patriotic on that day, don’t you think? We fell in love with our freedom of movement, our freedom of thought, our freedom of speech, our freedom to choose, our freedom to hope and our freedom to aspire. We took a good look at other countries that didn’t have it so good. Then we looked to why that was. Why are we free? We became free when a group of people spoke it into existence and declared independence to all. Now we look at what keeps us free. Our military is trained in a way that rivals most others. I have patients come in from training exercises that come close to killing them. But it also prepares them for being in situations that we could only fathom in our most brutal nightmares. Nothing can prepare them adequately for what they will see or what they may be asked to do but the attempt is made. I do fear that my sons would choose to be in our military, I would worry relentlessly for their well being and for their state of mind. I would also support them and be damn proud of them. I would also do my best to care for their bodies and souls when I had the opportunity.

This is why in appreciation to our troops I offer care for active military at no charge, ever.

Godspeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a woman come in with neck pain. Adjustments helped relieve her pain but it kept returning. I asked her if anything was upsetting her and she told me that she wanted to move into an apartment on the edge of her school campus but the apartment manager was only allowing her to move into the apartment on certain days. When she asked why, she was told that she never allows people to move in on days that final exams are occurring.
My patient felt that she was not being heard and that the manager was not considering the needs she had in this particular situation.

Often times the way in which we deal with life doesn’t serve us well and physical symptoms will present themselves. We have three systems, a structural system which consists of our muscles and bones, ligaments and tendons. We have a biochemical system which is how we take in nutrients, dispose of waste and protect our cells. We also have a psyche system, how we deal with whatever life throws at us. If one of these systems needs more energy it may borrow from the other two, causing symptoms. When we get ill we may also notice a weak feeling in our muscles and not the happiest disposition. When we strain our back we may notice that our digestive system doesn’t work as well and once again our mood may be lacking, or our tempers might be shorter.

When I muscle tested this woman her strong muscles went weak when she focused her attention on the conversation she had with the apartment manager. We talked about how she could look at the situation differently. She was able to consider that she might benefit from the manager’s position when she became a student studying for her finals. She called the manager with the purpose of acknowledging her for being so aware of her tenant’s needs during finals. The manager really appreciated hearing that and explained how she took pride in supporting and caring for the students in her building. They were able to re-establish a relationship based on understanding. My patient felt much better about the situation and felt she would be going into her new environment with a friend instead of an adversary. Her neck pain has yet to return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you ask me whether I think you should immunize your children, I will ask you if you have educated yourself as to both sides of the immunization controversy. I have many books and articles as to why you might not want to immunize your child and your traditional allopathic doctor may have information why you would want to. Ultimately it is a decision that you will have to make and it's not an easy one.

There are some questions you might want answers to, before you make a final decision.

1. What is it for?

In the US, the Hepatitis B disease mainly infects intravenous drug users,
homosexuals, prostitutes and promiscuous heterosexuals. The disease
is transmitted by blood, through sex or dirty needles. Is your child at risk?

2. How often is it given?

Some doctors are willing to give vaccines over a longer
period of time, reducing the impact on the immune system.

3. What age is it given?

In Japan, they don't immunize until age 2 when the immune system has been given
more time to develop. Doing this dropped the incidence of SIDS in their country
dramatically.

4. What is in it?

Injected murcury is far more toxic than ingested mercury. There is no
blood-brain barrier in infants which allows mercury to accumulate in brain
cells and nerves. Also, infants don't produce bile, which in necessary to excrete
mercury. Thimerosal then becomes organic mercury. Also look for Aluminum which
has been linked to neurological damage including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's
disease, and Parkinson's disease. Polysorbate 80, which is linked to infertility
in mice. And Sodium borate, a main ingredient in roach killer.

5. What are the potential side effects?

About a month after being vaccinated against the cervical cancer-causing HPV
virus, 13-year-old Jenny Tetlock missed the lowest hurdle in gym class,
the first hint of the degenerative muscle disease that, 15 months later,
has left the previously healthy teenager nearly completely paralyzed. Did the
vaccine, Gardasil, cause her condition?
source from U.S. News and World Report July 2, 2008
Other side effects of the HPV vaccine are miscarriages and spontaneous abortion,
genital wart outbreak, even in patients who had tested negative for genital warts
prior to vaccination, facial warts and warts on hands and feet, anaphalactic
shock, loss of consciousness, grand mal seizures, coma and paralysis.

6. Can you opt out?

In Michigan public schools you can. There is a waiver available.

7. Where can I find information?

A Shot in the Dark by Harris L. Coulter and Barbara Loe Fisher
The Vaccination Dilemma by Christine Murphy
What Every Parent Should Know About Childhood Immunization by Jamie Murphy

This is one of the hardest decisions a parent makes. I acknowledge you for your
willingness to educate yourselves and look at both sides before making the best
decision for your family.

 

 

 

 

 

Our sights are on swim suit season. We have gotten awfully comfy in our oversized sweatshirts and baggy pants over the last few months. Are you looking at all the weight loss books wondering which one holds the magic for you? I say stop looking. I’m going to introduce you to the No-Stress way to achieve your body goals.

Most importantly, be realistic with yourself. Are you going to the gym just so you can eat those late night potato chips or that pint of choco-licious ice cream? Or are you eating barely anything because you tell yourself you can’t make it to the gym? I hate to inform you of something you already know, but these strategies are not going to get you into the cute shorts you have your eyes on. So cut out the self sabotage.

Start with eating. In fact, eat lots! Eat a lot of Fruit and vegetables. Eat lean proteins and eat (but don’t overeat) whole grains. Choose low glycemic index foods. These are foods that don’t increase your blood sugar quickly. They are the foods I just mentioned, they are not white bread, white pasta, white potatoes, corn, or sugar.

Eat often. Eating every 2 ½ to 3 hours will maintain your blood sugar. This will help you feel satisfied throughout the day and help you prevent diabetes and heart disease. Eat smaller meals since you are eating more frequently and if you are at a restaurant, ask them to bring you a take out container when they bring your meal. I know it tastes great and you want to eat it all in one sitting, but remember you get to eat that wonderful food again in just a few hours.

Eat a lean protein at every meal. That means you are eating a protein every 2 ½-3 hours. Muscle is made of protein and increasing muscle helps to increase your metabolic rate, the rate at which you burn calories. And we want to burn calories right? But we don’t want to lose muscle, we only want to lose extra fat.

“What about exercise?” you may ask. Well of course you need to exercise, you already knew that, but take the stress out. Find 20 minutes in the morning to do your thing. That can be chasing your kids in the snow, salsa dancing or sweating it out at the gym, but do it for 20 minutes every day. If you are lifting weights, also called strength training, that will help you build muscles and now you know that increasing muscle increases your metabolic rate which means you are burning more calories.

Guess what? It’s not easy. We want it to be easy, it’s not easy. But it doesn’t have to be work. Make it fun. Say it’s fun to yourself and everyone you come in contact with. Create eating to improve your body and your health to be the most fun and least stressful thing you do for yourself. Then enjoy those shorts.

 

 

 

 

Norway, Sweden and Denmark banned dental mercury this year.

Remember when thermometers were made of glass and had to be shaken? Now, biohazard suits are brought out if a drop of mercury gets spilled.

All joking aside, mercury (the element) is serious stuff. Exposure can damage the brain and kidneys. It can be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions. Methylmercury in dietary sources, can adversely affect the brain and nervous system of an unborn fetus. Memory, attention and language problems have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb. It has even been debated whether mercury toxicity contributes to adult memory problems, like Alzheimer's Disease.

Exposure to mercury can come from large fish consumption, amalgam or silver-colored fillings in teeth, Thimerosol found in vaccinations and other pharmaceuticals and cinnabar, a red pigment used in many tattoo salons. Not to mention, some lamps, some diaper rash cream, and other sources.

Symptoms of mercury exposure can include migraines, tremors, tingling in the hands and feet, poor memory, decline of cognitive function, chronic fatigue, depression, tinnitus, and a metallic taste in the mouth.

Methods to identify mercury poisoning is not commonly agreed upon, nor is the treatment.
Chelation and nutritional support are the most popular methods of removing the heavy metal and restoring function to the body.

It is so sad that they pulled the mercury thermometers off the market before they took the mercury out of our children and our mouths. But, better late than never. It is good to see the acknowledgement of mercury hazards coming into the light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a great question that comes up all the time:

Hi Dr. Francis,

I'm one of the people who visited you a month or two ago--we were all training for a half-marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, and you talked with us about dietary considerations for athletes and people with IBD.

During your talk you mentioned how a daily multivitamin in single pill form is not as effective as taking a combination of pills, so as to get the best elements of a multivitamin in larger amounts. But I can't remember what you said were the most important elements. I think omega-3's were in there somewhere, and possibly vitamins A or C?? My memory is very vague on this, but I was hoping you could clarify.

Thank you!

My response:

The main components of a multi vitamin are B Complex, Antioxidants (Vitamins: A, C, E, Selenium), Minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Iron, Boron...) and sometimes Vitamin D. Rarely will you find a multi that has essential fatty acids in it. In order to fit all this into a capsule that you take once or twice a day means that the amounts have to be miniscule or the capsule has to be enormous. You are better off taking what you need. During an office visit we go over your goals and your conditions that would determine what your body needs. In the case of situations of inflammatory bowel disease, we would consider probiotics and formulas that would help soothe and repair the intestinal lining. We then proceed to use Kinesiolgy or muscle testing to determine more specifically what you need and the dosage. It is always good to bring in all your supplements once a month to make sure you still need what you are taking and update the dosage. For example, our need for immune support goes up in the cold and flu season and our need for natural anti-inflammatory substances (such as fish oils) goes up in the allergy season.
Thanks for the question; it's always a pleasure to hear from you.

Be well.

Dr. Stacey Francis

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cells that become the brain and spinal cord are first formed seven hours after conception. This is the amazing intelligence that was there when you first became you. When I muscle test you and ask your body questions, it is to this intelligence that I am directing the questions. This intelligence that made two cells into four. And four cells into eight. And Eight into sixteen and so on until about nine months later there are trillions of cells, each with a purpose. All directed by this amazing intelligence that resides in you. Dr You.

2 1/2 lbs is the approximate combined weight of the "good" bacteria living in our body that helps control our digestion, immune response, bone strength and even our mood. (From "The Probiotics Revolution" by Gary Huffnagle)

 

 

 

 

A 10-12 lb. bowling ball is about the same weight as a human head, supported by the cervical spine (your neck) Consider how much stress is, therefore, caused by a forward-leaning head. We lean our heads forward when we sit in the car, sit in front of the computer, and slouch. How often are you doing these activities in your daily life? The more you do it, the more likely the body will adopt this posture. Next time you are at the bowling alley, hold a 10-12 lb. ball out in front of you. How long can you hold it before you start to fatigue and lower the ball? Consider how much energy is needed to stabalize a forward-leaning head and come in for an adjustment for that ache in your neck.

 

 

 

 

 

I have patients come in complaining of belly pain every day of the week. Even if they are coming in for something else, their belly pain becomes a topic of discussion. Belly’s are fun and mysterious. There is a whole ‘nother universe in our guts. Think of it as a big tube. What is inside the tube is really the outside of us. Open your mouth, that is the beginning of our belly tube, see how it is just part of the outside? Lots of stuff gets into that tube. Intentional things like food and liquids and unintentional things like pesticides on fruit or creepy crawlies in unwashed lettuce or meat that should have been cooked longer. What is so fantastic about our bodies is that it can totally take care of this for us. We don’t have to itemize every molecule that enters our bodies, our bodies have the ability to do that without us consciously knowing about it. When we vomit does that mean we are sick? Absolutely not! That is our body working it’s wonder to expel something that wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. Bye, Bye creepy crawly.

Some of the inhabitants of our belly tube are beneficial bacteria. These are like police officers, we need enough of them around to maintain order. There are also opportunistic organisms like yeast spores which can cause havoc if there aren’t enough beneficial bacteria to keep them under control.

In this magical system is the tube itself , which is made out of a semi permeable membrane. That means there are cells lined up like soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, to keep anything that is not allowed inside the body, out; and allow nutrients and fluids in. Whatever is allowed through that intestinal wall enters the blood system. The blood system has its own patrolman in the form of white blood cells or macrophages. If something gets through the wall that shouldn’t have, you have your macrophages on hand to gobble them up and send a message to the brain that says, “whenever you detect this substance again coming into our electromagnetic field or into the body itself…react, react, react.” This can be in the form of an allergy or sensitivity.

There is plenty that can cause either an imbalance in the gut or inflammation in the intestinal lining. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), allergic foods, antibiotics, parasites, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, infection and injury, to name a few. To help remedy the damage that is caused I recommend probiotics, or good bacteria to help regain order. L-Glutamine, an amino acid helps heal the intestinal lining. Essential Fatty Acids, like fish oil capsules, help reduce inflammation. Digestive enzymes help in breaking down food particles to decrease the risk of developing food sensitivities. Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents also help when necessary.

Don’t hesitate to consult with me if you have a case of the Belly Blues
 
 

 

The speed at which nerve impulses travel.

 

 

 

Cooking in our household is not usually a noteworthy event. It is always a challenge to find a meal that everyone likes, I think you would agree. So I try to be patient and open minded when my kids (Benjamin 8 and Noah 5) want to create a new meal. Benjamin has been an adventurous vegetable eater, willing to try just about anything short of tomatoes. Brussel sprouts, no problem. Spinach pie, bring it on. Broccoli, he will tell you it’s his favorite vegetable. But when it comes to some of his brother’s recipes, you can’t catch him he leaves the room so quickly. Noah has to be threatened or bribed to have a vegetable pass his lips (which is not an uncommon event) His favorite foods are noodles and hot dogs. We do our best to supply him with noodles made of protein-rich beans and nitrate-free hot dogs. So when he discovered the fiber-rich, sugar-free cereal Grape Nuts, we couldn’t have been happier. Our family has a love of butter, so to decrease the heart clogging effects of the saturated fats; I have switched to Earth Balance (a soy based spread which tastes so much like butter that we call it butter) One evening the boys and I were debating what to have for a snack. Benjamin chose the reasonable selection of mac and cheese leftovers. Noah stated that he would like butter Grape Nuts. Hmmm. I’m not familiar with that, I told him. He would show me how to make it, he said. We went through elaborate steps of pouring the cereal in a small bowl. Next was dumping that on what he called a “flat, not wooden thing” which I found with some difficulty but adequate instruction to be a cutting board. He then put a dab of butter on top, advising me to spread it all around. I, being adept at making graham cracker crusts, did a splendid job. After putting this concoction back into the bowl and pouring in the milk, my extremely picky eater ate every last bite. Who am I to squash his creative tendencies? I’m just happy he is eating Grape Nuts.

 

 

Who is Dr. Francis?

I was asked the following questions in a program I took this summer. I was surprised to find how challenging the questions were. If you have met me you might possibly answer the questions differently. If that is the case, I would be interested in your answers.

What are the ten most interesting things you have done or that have happened to you?

Kayaking in the glaciers of Alaska, Hot air ballooning in Traverse City, MI, Created Pieces of Peace, a community peace quilt which is traveling across Michigan, Almost got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Spoke on Peace at Detroit Unity Temple on the 14th Annual World Day of Prayer, Participated in housing the homeless at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Explored caves in Israel, Hiked Sodona, AZ. And support the Make A Wish Foundation.

What do you do for a living and how did you end up doing it?

Who would have thought that the girl who ate Twinkies and was nagged by her parents to sit up straight would become an expert in spinal care and nutrition? I always loved science but was not strong in math. Once I found the right school and the right teacher to explain math to me, nothing could stop me from exploring the biological sciences. My sister had some severe reactions to medication and I knew there must be alternatives. My cousin is a Chiropractor and I resonated with the philosophy that the body can heal itself when the obstacles that interfere with good health are removed. I practiced with him for 7 years out of Chiropractic school. When my first child was born I wanted space to be with him and also see patients. That is when I opened my current clinic in Southfield. After 15 years in practice, I am a one-woman-band. I care for patients and also manage the front desk, fortunately my husband is kind enough to manage the books. I have a space for my kids to hang out when they come to visit and I lease out space to a fabulous massage therapist and oncologist. This is the perfect occupation for me. My patients are my friends and I get the honor of caring for their health with them. I enjoy what I do and am constantly rewarded with the miracle of seeing the body heal itself.

What do you love about your career?

I love meeting new people. It gets even better when the majority of those people become my friends. I get to know their families, what’s going on in their lives and they get to learn about me and who I am as a person as well as a physician. Getting to really know someone allows me to see how stress in their lives contributes to pain in their bodies. When a person opens up about the stress in their lives it gives me access to more than the bones in their body, we are able to work together to find solutions to problems that may have previously eluded them. I am extremely fortunate to see the miracle of the body healing itself, every time I treat a patient.

How does your career use your skills and talents, and what projects are you working on right now that best showcase them?

I think it is so important to know how our bodies work. It’s important to know how different foods and different movements affect our bodies. In my practice, I get the opportunity to teach people every day. I present material in a clear and direct manner that is easily understood. I am currently working on doing more public speaking. I have done many seminars on preventing diabetes and heart disease. I want to include educating the public about chiropractic and what it can do for you. How the doctor that resides in each and every one of us can help heal us and keep us healthy.

What career successes are you most proud of having accomplished?

I am most proud of helping people understand how their bodies work and teaching them how to stay healthy. I have helped with headaches, back pain, neck pain, sciatica, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, anxiety, tennis elbow, ankle injuries and so much more. Each case is different and needs individual attention.

What new skills have you learned in the last year?

This past year I have been working on my communication skills. It’s often hard for a person to share their life with someone they have just met. I am working to create a safe and comfortable environment that allows for a freedom that you don’t normally find in a rushed doctors visit.

What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today, both professionally and personally, and what essential lessons have you learned from some of your mistakes?

I was diagnosed with scoliosis as a child. I constantly work to maintain correct posture. I can sympathize with patients who also work hard to maintain their health. My father had diabetes and heart disease. I want to help people avoid these preventable but debilitating diseases. I always thought I had to know everything. I was very hard on myself and wasn’t able to focus or excel in any specific area. I now have a wonderful support system of physicians who do all the things that I don’t do. I use to work with hormonal imbalances but was not able to get all the information I needed since I can’t write scripts for blood work. Now I have wonderful physicians to refer people to for that kind of imbalance.

What training/education have you completed and what did you gain from those experiences?

I did my undergrad at Michigan State University and Oakland University. I received my doctorate at National College of Chiropractic. I spent many years working as a chiropractic assistant in many different clinics. It allowed me to determine what I did and didn’t want in my own practice. One vivid memory was while working in a high volume clinic. That means the doctor sees the patient for 5 minutes or less and therefore can see a large volume of patients a day. The doctor who owned the clinic would constantly badger the other doctors that they were spending too much time with their patients. He would tell them that they didn’t need to hear a patient’s life story. I knew then that I wanted a clinic where, not only did I hear a patient’s life story, I would become part of that life as a confident, consultant and friend.

Another lesson that came from my assisting experience involved insurance. I would hear the insurance biller argue endlessly with insurance companies to get them to cover routine and agreed upon procedures in favor of the patient. They would spend hours on the phone rarely getting anywhere. Unfortunately, chiropractic services are being covered less and less. The clinic I started my practice in, didn’t submit for insurance. Instead they gave patients a coded receipt for them to submit for reimbursement. That is how I run my office to this day. Most people are willing to take responsibility for their healthcare and use their flex spending accounts or are happy to submit their own receipts. I try to lessen the hassle by providing care that rises above other traditional practices. I also offer packages of visits that reduces the normal fee.

How do you spend your time outside of work, including hobbies, interests, sports, family, and volunteer activities?

There is a t-shirt that says, “Master Juggler” When I am juggling doctor, receptionist, mom, wife, daughter, sister, laundress, and cook.. I feel like I deserve to wear that shirt.
Outside of work I am mostly, Mom. I take my kids to the park, museums and (more often than not) grocery shopping. We often play board games together. Our favorites are chess and the Game of Life. We are Jewish and spend every Friday night having a special family dinner. We go to synagogue together every Saturday morning where we pray and socialize. I volunteer at their school on my off day helping kids get out of the car line. It was a funny job for me to take considering I have a severe dislike of the cold. But it was 70 degrees and sunny when I agreed to it, now at 12 degrees you can find me with multiple layers somewhere hidden in my husbands huge ice fishing parka.
I also quilt and recently created the Pieces of Peace Community Quilt Project which is 8 feet tall and has over one hundred pieces in it from many people of different religions. It is currently traveling across Michigan.

In what ways are you making a difference in people's lives?

Helping people out of pain without drugs and surgery would be the most obvious difference I make in people’s lives. But I also try to give hope to the ones who have had it taken away by uncaring and unenlightened physicians. I am willing to hear what treatments did and didn’t help in order to best utilize the time I spend with a patient. I am here as a refuge for those who think they have run out of options. If I don’t have an answer to their problems I seek out other healing methods that may be of service to them.

 

I originally wrote this article for the Healing Garden Journal. I was so excited to see it published.

"But I want them to be!" says my 5 year old, Noah. Yeah, me too I say under my breath. Wasn't life grand before we knew so much about good nutrition? Our parents fed us hot dogs and Twinkies guilt free. There was no concern about cancer causing nitrates, artery clogging tran fats or the risk of high cholesterol. As a Chiropractor of 14 years and Mom to 5 year old Noah and 8 year old Benjamin, I'm constantly weighing the pros and cons of harping about good nutrition. My goal is to raise healthy minds, happy spirits, and instill good eating habits. Now I know what you're going to say...In another 20 years we will be shamed by our children for feeding them chickpeas that we will find out are comparable to Kentucky Fried Chicken before it changed it's oil. But I can tell you that, at least for today, I am feeding my kids guilt free. Don't get me wrong, we certainly have our fair share of pizza, burgers and lemonade. By forgoing pepperoni on our often, but not always, homemade pizza, using organic bison in our burgers, and sweetening our real lemon and water with stevia or xylitol I am able to sleep better at night. Although our lemonade doesn't have the glow-in-the-dark color, much to my kid's dismay.
My nutrition courses and seminars gave me a solid base of information which I have used in my practice for years, but when I became pregnant with Benjamin this mission got personal. I read every "I love tofu and sprout" book I could find. Now that I had the opportunity to practice what I preached, I wasn't going to let one unhealthy morsel to pass my or my unborn child's future lips.
Of course it's not so easy. We don't live under a health conscious rock. When we are guests at someone else's home I tend to smile and nod when their big eyes are begging for a plate of red icing from a birthday cake. At some point you just have to let go. When the kids are choosing meals or snacks they know to pick a protein first. When their friends come to visit they know the same rule applies to them. Once they pick their cheese stick, turkey stick, houmous, yogurt, egg or handful of nuts or chickpeas they pick a vegetable and then a carb. It was a beautiful day when I found the pasta made from lentils and egg whites. We noticed that having only healthy choices in the house meant the apples and carrot sticks didn't rot in the fridge. There is that stash of chocolate chips hidden in the back top shelf of the pantry, but I'm only human. It's chocolate for gosh sakes, that's a protein right? Well, I want it to be.