family chiropractic

Family Chiropractic: The Key to a Healthy, Drug-Free Family In a healthy organic family, Chiropractic Care will help all ages stay healthy. Chiropractic care is a profession which speciailises in the nerve system, helping to balance the body, booting natural strength and immunity. Much like exercise, organic food and low stress; Chiropractic is a way to support your family’s health and prevent problems. Read on to find out how to have healthier children and happier families. Before we start I want to say that the purpose of this article is to provide quality information to help families make quality decisions about health. This can help improve the quality of life for you, your family and everyone you meet. To do this we need to be completely honest and tell it how it is. Some of what is said may challenge your current ideas of health or make you feel uncomfortable. However, it is worth taking this risk to ensure you do not miss out on vital information. There will be a lot of facts with links to other data. After reading, if there is anything you want to discuss, please feel free to contact us. Does Singapore have a good healthcare system? Singapore has an amazing healthcare system, with highly trained Doctors and nurses, using some of the best facilities at the best hospitals. Other countries regularly send their practitioners and managers to Singapore to learn more about how they can improve their hospitals and private care.  Healthcare is the 3^rd largest expenditure in Singapore In 2011 the healthcare spending in Singapore was $4 billion. Just 5 years later in 2016 it had more than DOUBLED to $9.8 billion. Yet every year we are getting sicker and more susceptible to illnesses. Why are we getting sicker every year? We get exceptional care for late or emergency stage solutions. This includes:

• Emergency care – this must be immediate, such as a tooth removal or pain relief
• Trauma care – this is due to injury, like a car accident
• Crisis care – this is managing a condition as best as possible once it has had time to develop, such as a cancer

Medical care is especially good at helping these conditions, putting out fires caused by emergency and crisis situations. However, when looking at the various ailments and diseases, the majority (over 90%) do not fall into these categories. The problem is not with the hardworking doctors and nurses. The problem is with our ‘Model of Healthcare’. What is our model of healthcare?  Our current healthcare model is symptoms based. This creates a problem as our tests, such as blood work and MRI, are all function based. A medical history will reveal clues to what tests may be needed. But it is the tests which will revel the problem, and therefore the solution.  We use tests to show the function of the body, but a lot of our solutions are based on the symptoms we feel, rather than the functioning of the body, even though the problems in the body produces the symptoms.  For example, think of a toothache due to a cavity. The cavity starts gradually, developing over years. Eventually when the problems gets worse, it produces symptoms. You visit the dentist, and based on your pain it leads them to do an exam of the mouth, discovering your cavity. During this examination they also discover a cavity starting to form on another tooth. They do not give you pain killers and ask you to go home. They recommend removing both cavities, the cause of the problem. Once the cavities are removed, normal function has been restored. The the pain improves very quickly, the mouth heals over the next few months and a worsening cavity has been prevented for the future. The symptoms are the last thing to appear and the first thing to go away In this example the problem developed without any pain or warning signs for years, because health should be based on more than how we feel. An extreme example is a heart attack. When examining the “symptoms†of a heart attack, one of the most common first symptoms is death! We can no longer base our health on a lack of pain or how we feel. What bodily system helps us to feel? The nerve system (or nervous system) is the body’s internal wiring system, allowing the brain to communicate with all body parts. The brain controls all the actions of the body, via impulses and messages in the nerve system.  Think of the nerves like electrical wires in your house and the body parts are the different devices. You can have an amazing TV and lamp, but without electrical wires it wont be able to work! Therefore this system is the most important in the body, allowing all parts to work together to promote good health. Without control over bodily functions, problems will start. Function is the emphasis. The body has 2 types of nerves: 

1. Nerves for feeling: touch, good sensations, pain, senses like eyesite/hearing etc, pain
2. Nerves for function: control of the immune system, breathing rate, digestion, heart rate, organ healing etc

Are there more nerves for feeling or function? Nerves for functions are the overwhelming majority, with research showing 90-94% are for function. This leaves less than 10% for ALL feelings we can sense. Therefore it is important to focus on the nerves we can’t feel even more than the ones we can feel.  Health is about function, but our current healthcare system focuses on how things feel instead of function. There is no definition of health which focuses on symptoms. Even the definition from the WHO (World Health Organisation) states health is: a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Why do we get symptoms? The body is in a constant state of healing. Like we learned at school, the cells in the organs skin, muscles and all other parts are constantly being replaced. Its not just the hair and nails. The body is always regenerating to remove parts which degenerate so we can be the healthiest version possible. The body is very intelligent, knowing how to make each part and when to replace each part. Full recovery takes:

• 110 days for nerves
• 4 to 6 weeks for bones
• 10 days for the digestive tract
• 10 to 14 days for the skin

Think of health like a formula: Health = Function x Intelligence of the body The intelligence of the body is always correct and knows how to keep your family healthy. The function is predicated on our lifestyles and the quality of how well the body is working.  For example, imagine a concert pianist preparing for a show. They have years of practice and experience (intelligence). However, the piano hasn’t been tuned properly (function). Therefore, no matter how well they play the piano the music (health) won’t be as good as if it were properly tuned.  Symptoms are a warning system the body uses to alarm us of a problem with function. For this ‘alarm’ to go off, there must have been previous problems with function for some time. Are symptoms always bad? Imagine you are in a restaurant. At the next table there is a man sneezing and coughing. He continues to cough badly, then you hear a grumble and its his stomach. He starts to belch, then quickly runs for the toilet. With these symptoms, you might want to cover your food or move tables! We have been taught that feeling ‘bad’ means we are sick. Lets consider the formula for health again. As we stated above, pain is a warning system. It helps us to makes decisions to improve out health, such as if we touch something hot. Couldn’t the sneezing, coughing and even diarrhoea be a way the body is trying to remove a virus or bad food? These are all part of the healing process. Medication help us to feel better, but this can slow down healing. “All drugs have side effects†This is a quote from Eli Lilly, one of the world’s biggest drug companies. Medication stops symptoms, causing side effects, including stopping the healing process. This is not just a problem in the west. In Singapore pharmacists report over utilisation of drugs with 30% of people of 65 taking inappropriate medication. It is common to over use pain killers like panadol and antibiotics for colds and flu. These both affect the body’s tolerance, resulting in being less effective when truly needed.  I am not completely against medication. They save lives and can be very useful in crisis situations. There is a difference between those situations and making it a lifestyle. The pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable in the world. The fortune 500 is filled with pharma companies, many of which have some of the highest profit percentages on the list (e.g. Johnson & Johnson are lower on the list than Microsoft but have a higher profit margin). In pharma companies, 80% of their budget is dedicated to advertising and marketing, not on research into new drugs. A 2019 study showed medication was 23% of total healthcare costs, but due to the markups in price took 65% of the profits! So whats the answer?  The nerve system is the central control system, connecting the brain and body. Here are some facts about the nerve system:

• All body systems would be immobilised without the nerve system. It controls and regulate every body activity (world Book Encyclopedia of Science)
• To understand health is to understand the central role of the nervous system in maintaining  the resistance of the body (Robert Ornstein, Phd & David Sobel, M.D.)
• The duality of healing is directly proportional to he functional capability of the central nervous system to send and receive messages – Janson Edwards, M.D. Ph.D

How does the nerve system get compromised? When the body is balanced and aligned, it functions correctly. The bones, especially in the spine are movable and susceptible to forces. The spinal bones are there to protect the nerves, but if they are compromised due to forces they will irritate the nerves. This is called a Subluxation.  This is a misalignment of the bones, interfering with their normal pathways, disrupting their function. This reduces the overall healing and function capability of the nerve system. This is especially important at the top of the neck where the head and neck meet. This area is a ‘choking point’ where brain passes from the brain before it reaches the rest of the body. This area contains your brainstem. What will this Subluxation do? When present, this Subluxation can:

1. Put direct pressure on the brainstem – this will impact the control centres for balance, breathing, immune response, digestion, heart rate and other autonomic functions (nerves for function)
2. The body compensates – instead of direct pressure at the brainstem, the posture changes to compensate. Think of it like carrying a heavy suitcase. To carry it you change your posture by shrugging a shoulder, leaving to one side and even raising a hip. The body does this automatically to prevent interference at the choking point where the brainstem is located.

When the nerve system cannot ccommunicate at an optimal level with the body due to Subluxation, th overall function and healing potental are reduced. Does Subluxation always cause pain?  As discussed with the function of the nerve system, the majority is regarding function not symptoms. Subluxation may also be present for years before any symptoms are experienced. The only way to determine the presence is with a physical examination and tests by a qualified health professional.  What causes Subluxation? This is caused by any forces the body cannot adapt to. For example, you go to a gym and over time muscles get bigger. This is the muscles adapting to the stress of the exercise. But one day you go to the gym and lift a weight heavier than you can handle and injure yourself. The body could not adapt so becomes injured. This can be due to physical forces, such as injuries, car crashes, accidents or falls. Even if they did not cause any symptoms, these forces may have caused a Subluxation, afffecting the nerve system years later. The physical forces usually create this imbaalnced weakness in the body.  This is very important for children! The average 5 year old has had 2,000 small falls and accidents while learning to walk and grow. Over time this gets exacerbated by stress and fatigue, particularly with our modern lifestyles. Stress is a trigger for more then 80% of health problems, both in a Chiropractic clinic and hospital. Chemical stresses can also trigger Subluxation such as unhealthy foods.  What does Subluxation commonly produce? The common conditions caused by Subluxation include: 

• Headaches & Migraines
• Vertigo & Dizziness
• Back or neck pain
• Balance problems
• Inner ear problems
• Reduced immunity
• IBS
• Fatigue
• Neurological conditions, such as Fibromyalgia

How does Chiropractic help? The purpose of Chiropractic is to: “Analyse the body and nerve system to detect and correct Subluxations†When the body’s nerve supply is healthy it can heal itself in a way which is natural and organic. Family Chiropractic, therefore, is nor a treatment for particular health problems or conditions, but when Subluxation is corrected the body is then able to resolve its issues.  A Chiropractic consultation is the next step to determine if Subluxation is present and to correct it. The body is ALWAYS better without a Subluxation than it is with a Subluxation.  Isn’t Chiropractic expensive? This is a common worry, however Chiropractic is one of the most cost effective forms of healthcare. Quality choices for health will always produce better results long term. Think of this like changes in diet. When eating healthier foods it can cost more but have health benefits, such as foods that are drug free or organic. Family Chiropractic will also provide more value, helping to prevent costly medical fees in the future. How does natural and organic family Chiropractic care improve life for Children? For children that are Subluxated they will have a reduced energy and expression of life. They may also get sick more easily and have reduced immunity. If this problem is not corrected it will worsen over time, diminishing their health and quality of life.  Children who are checked and corrected fro Subluxation are able to grow and play, study for school and grow into vibrant healthy adults. All parents want the best for their children, Chiropractic care is as important as healthy food, restful sleep and love. How does natural and organic family Chiropractic care improve life for parents? For parents there are two main benefits, 

1. For their beloved Children
2. For themselves!

When families are happy and healthy, especially children, the parents are less stressed and can appreciate how fortunate they are to have children which can thrive in life and academics. When under Chiropractic care, parents will be able to find help managing stress (mentally and physically) from their daily lives and a solution for their nerve related health problems. You will also be able to prevent health problems and pain. These could potentially disrupt your life to the point it interferes with work, or stops you advancing in your company or profession.  Family Chiropractic care helps you to continue your career, play with your children and stay active as they grow up. Picture this: Its you, your partner and your children. You spend time together as a family, go on holidays, help the kids with their homework and watch them grow up to be beautiful, successful men and women. With a healthy nerve system, free of Subluxation, this gives the best opportunity to lead a life with optimal health, free of problems and living an expression of life to the fullest! In Summary In our modern world the healthcare system is excellent at helping people when they are in emergency and crisis. This model helps the trauma and late stage cases. However, due to the nature of focusing solely on symptoms rather than function, it has its limitations for the majority of health related problems.  Chiropractic is a different model, focused on improved function of the body because this will remove the symptoms long term. This natural method specialises in removing interference in the nerve system, known as Subluxation, requiring no medication or surgery. This higher function aids in preventing health issues for children as the learn and grow; and for parents as they deal with the daily stress and fatigue of daily life. Find out if you or your family members have Subluxation by booking for your Consultation today. At Vitality Chiropractic we specialise in nerve system problems, especially at the brainstem, caused by Subluxation. We are the first in Singapore to use specialised nerve tests, bio-mechanical x-rays and Upper Cervical techniques. This gives our patients faster results that last longer, so they can continue to work, see friends and spend quality time with their families.  Since 2013, Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Dr. Shaan Rai helped patients achieve greater health, relocating to Singapore in 2016 and founding Vitality Chiropractic Centres. He has an impressive track record in providing relief and solutions for people who experience nerve system problems, such as headaches, migraines, dizziness, vertigo or neurological conditions. Take your life back. For a Complimentary, no-obligation call with the Doctor or to book a Consultation, call +65 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com to find out if we can help you at our Chiropractic Clinic in Singapore.