Have You Heard of Pregnancy Spider?

Pregnancy Spider is an Athletic Tape that is designed to be applied to the belly of pregnant women. It has a precut design that when applied has the intent to reduce back, sciatic, groin and hip pain, promote blood circulation, reduce the heaviness of the belly, decrease pressure on the bladder, stop belly cramps and other symptoms that occur during pregnancy.

The original developer of athletic tape was Kenzo Kase, a Japanese-American chiropractor, in the 1970’s. He coined the term kinesiology tape and their popularity soared after the product was donated to Olympic athletes in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and in the 2012 London Summer Olympics. The material is often made with bright colors, which you may have noticed on athletes while watching sporting events. Many chiropractors, physical therapists and athletic trainers use these kinds of athletic tapes to enhance performance, reduce pain and promote better biomechanics and joint stability for their patients. 

The Pregnancy Spider tape is made from 95% cotton and 5% Spandex with a 100% poly acrylic adhesive. These types of kinesio tapes can stretch up to 140% of its original length and then “recoil” after being applied, creating a pulling force on the skin. This elastic property allows much greater range of motion compared to traditional white athletic tape and can also be left on for long periods of time before reapplying. The natural elasticity of the tape gently lifts the skin, allowing excess fluid to drain away and it also relieves pressure on pain receptors. It can be applied anywhere there is pain, swelling, spasm or weakness. The stretch direction, the shape, and the location all are said to play a role in the tape’s function. When applied correctly, it begins working immediately, and can last up to 2 weeks. 

A very important area to be supported during pregnancy is the round ligament. It connects the front part of the womb to the groin, the area where the legs attach to the pelvis. The round ligament normally tightens and relaxes slowly. As the baby and womb grow, the round ligament stretches, making it more likely to become strained. Round ligament pain is a sharp pain or jabbing feeling often felt in the lower belly or groin area on one or both sides. It is one of the most common complaints, and is considered a normal part of pregnancy, most often felt during the second trimester. Keeping it supported and better aligned can help reduce the strain and pain that pregnant women feel. 

For more details about Pregnancy Spider their website is Spidertech.com  and they have a plethora of athletic tape for all areas of the body. Some people however, are sensitive to kinesio tapes even though they are created to be as hypoallergenic as possible. If that is the case, then consider wearing pregnancy belly bands or belts. All of these products are intended to help support the belly, reduce swelling and pain in order to make pregnancy as comfortable as possible.  

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. It’s important for her that patients feel heard and have a deep sense of trust each time they come in for care. She tailors each visit by using a variety of techniques that she feels are most effective. She loves seeing children and adults reach their full potential as they trust and enhance the healing powers of their body. Dr. Schuster can be reached at (847)509-9067or drliloschuster@sbcglobal.net    

A Pandemic Funeral

My father, Rodolfo Schuster, died one day after his 86th birthday on March 23rd, 2021 in Montevideo, Uruguay. I was shocked this happened as expected him to survive his hospital stay. He always surprised us with miraculous recoveries with the most recent one being four years ago. He had brain surgery for an aneurysm and then contracted double pneumonia after they intubated him. My sister and I flew down there, as we did not know if he would live. I was able to go into the ICU and massage him with a blend of lotion, essential oils and some multiple vitamins that I poured into the concoction. This seemed to help him as he awoke from his sedated state two days after we arrived. They moved him out of ICU and we could feed him protein powders, green powders, real food and lots of vitamins. We really felt that was an integral part of why he had such a great recovery. Not to mention he always had one of us with him all day and into the evening.

This time, however, with all of the pandemic restrictions we couldn’t fly down there. I felt completely helpless not being near him for the three weeks that he was in the hospital. I also felt frustrated knowing they were not giving him the kind of nutrition his body would need to survive his heart stents, gangrenous toe infection, double pneumonia and also testing positive for Covid. Every time we talked it was one thing after another. My hands were tied and it felt awful to not be able to be there and help him with my holistic remedies, or see him in person. 

I then felt numb when his companion Sonia called my sister and me to say his oxygen level was extremely low and the doctors did not want him to suffer. They suggested he be sedated and die peacefully. We only had a few minutes to decide if that was the correct course of action. The doctors then called Sonia to see what our decision was. Sonia immediately called me back and said to quickly call my father and tell him goodnight, not to say good-bye as he had no idea what was going on. I expected him to be wheezing based on what they told us and instead he was quite peaceful and alert as I said goodnight. I asked if my sister could call and he said best not to as the nurse needed to help him go to sleep and that he would talk to me tomorrow. I honestly thought he would wake up from being sedated but that never happened. I am quite upset the nurses didn’t have us call him the next day and put the phone next to his ear so that we could say our goodbyes. I have talked to my sister and she is very sad that she was not able to speak to him that night even for a moment. That nurse didn’t realize what a positive thing it could have been to wait one more minute and have my dad speak to my sister. I still am numb about this and would not wish this on anyone, yet this is what is going on all over the world right now. 

The next day family and friends attended his burial by Zoom. It still feels unreal what has happened and we will have an online video memorial to share our stories to create more connection under such circumstances. If I may, I would like to share with you about my dad as a way to continue my healing.

My dad was a fascinating guy. He loved Jazz, playing the trumpet, singing, performing, cars, movies, women and family! Born in Germany in 1935, at the age of four he and his family fled the Nazi’s and went to South America. His father played him his first record: Goody Goody and his love of jazz began. He picked up the trumpet at an early age and also dropped out of school to make money for the family and became a lifelong mechanic. In 1962 my dad’s first cousin, Jean Ryersbach, was flown to South America from the USA as she had never met any of the family that lived there. When he picked her up from the airport it was love at first site. They married, moved to the United States and they had me and my younger sister, Yael. We went on family trips, concerts, movies, sailed, had lots of house parties and he always played his trumpet at home and with music venues to perform in. 

Even though life was good, South America’s call was stronger than staying in the U.S., so 40 years ago in 1981 he left. I went with him and stayed for a month. It was awful coming back to the states alone but I shut down my emotions and lived my life. He settled back easily as a mechanic and had his mother, grandmother, cousins, old friends and new friends to be with.  He continued his active musical life including doing a jazz radio show twice a day for twenty years. He also had a new companion, Uli, with two step daughters, then three step granddaughters and very recently a step great grandson.

Uli passed away 20 years ago and then my dad met a new woman, Sonia, to be his final companion. At that same time time our relationship re-materialized after my going down there to perform with his Memphis Jazz Band. Many musical trips had me performing on tv, radio, restaurants and even theaters for a thousand people. We had a blast and when not together we did video calls to see and talk with one another a few times a week. He always had a performance to prepare for, wrote a few books and always had fun stories to share about his busy life.

As strange as it was to attend his burial through Zoom, this was apropos for my dad as he loved technology. He posted his performances on Facebook and YouTube and was always using his cell phone and computer to connect with people. I will miss speaking to him and hearing his stories and hopefully you got a sense of him by my sharing an abbreviated version of his life. I have videos of him and wish he would have recorded even more of all that he did. You may want to seriously consider keeping a record of your life so that in the future your loved ones will have memories to always go back to and feel a connection. 

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. To keep her patients safe during the pandemic, she has a humidifier emitting mist that contains hydrogen peroxide and iodine to kill the virus in the air and lungs. She sprays her patient’s masks with hydrogen peroxide to kill the virus and she sprays their wrists with an essential oil blend that killed a different strain of the corona virus in 2003. All surfaces are sanitized continually as well. It’s important for her that patients feel heard and have a deep sense of trust each time they come in for care. She tailors each visit by using a variety of techniques that she feels are most effective. She loves seeing children and adults reach their full potential, where they trust the healing powers of their body. Dr. Schuster is in the same office as Nutritionist, Bonnie Minsky as they have been in practice for 32 years. She can be reached at (847)509-9067 or drliloschuster@sbcglobal.net   

COVID-Related Breathing Issues

Most people are very scared of not being able to breathe as one of the complications with COVID. I created a plan for that months ago, which came in handy for the following two people.

The first was a good friend of mine who reached out to me a few weeks ago. She didn’t feel well and decided to go to a walk in clinic, where she tested positive for COVID-19. The doctor gave her an inhaler, told her to rest, drink lots of fluids and to not get stressed out about it, which she appreciated. 

Even with the inhaler she was having a hard time breathing and knew about our COVID protocol, which is why she reached out to me. I asked her what vitamins she had and told her what to take throughout the day. I also asked her if she had a Nebulizer, Vicks Vapo Rub, Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. She had all of these so I told her to rub the Vicks on her chest and stand in the shower for 15 minutes. I told her to then use her nebulizer for 15 minutes with hydrogen peroxide and iodine in a salt solution. She texted me a couple of hours later that her breathing was better, so I told her to continue with the Vicks and the Nebulizer about five times a day until there were no more symptoms. Two day days later she texted that she was feeling so much better and decided to take a walk outside to breathe in the fresh air. A week later she still was feeling better and was using the nebulizer and inhaler about once a day for minor coughing. She was quite happy with how quickly and easily she was able to feel relief. 

Not long after that another patient reached out to me who tested positive for COVID and was also having a hard time breathing. I sent her my protocol and she also reached out to her medical doctor. Her coughing was lasting 3 hours at a time and he prescribed low dose prednisone. Her case was a bit more intense and took about two weeks to begin feeling better, yet she never needed to go to the hospital.

I urge you to follow the COVID Supplement Protocol that you can find in my previous posts. It has prevented people from having symptoms or made them fly through COVID very easily. So far only two people have reached out to me with breathing issues since this Pandemic started. I wanted to share those two cases along with my breathing protocol, just in case you or someone you know needs help.

If you begin to have any breathing issues, make sure to call your doctor and ask if they will prescribe an inhaler or ask them about using Primatene Mist, which is available online or at the drug store. It is the only FDA approved over the counter inhaler for asthma relief containing epinephrine. This is a bronchodialator and the indications for use are: wheezing, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath. 

If you have used Vicks Vapo Rub in the past with success, then spread it onto your chest, belly and upper back before taking a shower for 10-15 minutes. If you cannot handle Vicks on your skin then put some on the floor of the tub so the water can disperse the beneficial fumes while you are standing or sitting in the shower. If you cannot handle the menthol in Vicks then use a drop or two of peppermint oil mixed with liquid soap and rub that onto the chest while in the shower. Do this every few hours.

Buy yourself a tabletop nebulizer, which is typically prescribed for asthmatics and patients with other lung disorders. Make sure to also buy a nebulizer mask, which covers the nose and mouth. A nebulizer is a device that sprays a very fine mist into the sinuses and lungs. Nebulizers have a well to add medication to or a teaspoon of salt solution mixed with low dose .1% hydrogen peroxide and a drop of iodine. I was introduced to that nebulizer protocol through Dr. David Brownstein, a holistic medical doctor who successfully treated 107 COVID-19 patients with zero deaths. If patients had a hard time breathing he had them use a nebulizer with low dose hydrogen peroxide and iodine in a saline solution to open the airways while it also helped kill viruses and bacteria.

To make your own nebulizer solution: fill a 16oz glass jar with filtered water, add 1 teaspoon of salt and three 1/4 teaspoons of 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, or two tablespoons of 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. Label the jar and put it into the refrigerator, as it should last about a year. When you’re ready to use the nebulizer add a teaspoon of this solution into the well along with 1 drop of iodine, either lugols iodine or store bought povidone iodine. The nebulizer will last around 20 minutes and should be used 5 times a day until all breathing symptoms have subsided.

I have been a Holistic Family Chiropractor since 1989 and have worked in the same office as Bonnie Minsky for 31 years.To keep my patients safe during the pandemic, I use a humidifier that emits a mist containing hydrogen peroxide and iodine to kill viruses in the air and in the lungs. All surfaces are sanitized continually and I also spray each patient’s hands with essential oils that killed a different strain of the coronavirus in 2003. It’s important that my patients have a deep sense of trust each time they come in, especially at this time. I tailor each visit by using a variety of techniques that I feel are most effective. I love seeing children and adults reach their full potential, where they trust the healing powers of their body. Contact me at (847) 509-9067or drliloschuster@sbcglobal.net.

Ouch, Being In Quarantine is Hurting Me!

I’ve been hearing that a lot from my patients. They have been coming in due to pain from working at home, being on their devices a lot longer, cooking more, exercising less and feeling quite stressed. All of this has taken its toll and if you’re finding that to be the case, here are some helpful suggestions.

It’s important to improve posture to reduce pain. While sitting at a desk or a table, prop your lap top on some books to keep the eyes looking straight forward. If you’re using a phone or tablet then prop them on a phone stand to keep your eyes level. If your keyboard or mouse is on top of a desk or table, place a blanket or a pillow under the arms for more comfort. If this doesn’t help then place a tray or flat surface on your lap and put the keyboard and mouse on top of that. Sit as close to the edge of the chair as possible or use a back support for better posture. If you prefer the bed, couch or recliner then put a few pillows on your lap. Make sure your eyes are straight forward with your arms resting comfortably on the pillows while holding your phone, tablet or book. Use a heating Pads on your back to soothe the muscles and place your feet on a small step stool if you need to feel more comfortable.

For those who are used to standing at work then create a standing desk with a few crates or boxes to put the lap top on. Whether you’re standing at a desk or standing in the kitchen, you may find it helpful to put one foot on a step stool or stand on a rubber mat. Notice if slippers, bare feet or certain shoes make you feel more comfortable. Posture shirts are also effective at easing pain when standing. If you need a break from standing at the kitchen counter then sit at the dining room table. If the table’s too high, sit on a few pillows and see if that feels better when you’re chopping and mixing ingredients.

Along with these posture improvements I suggest taking a few breaks throughout the day to stretch or exercise. This reduces pain and stress while improving muscle tone and metabolism. Set a timer to remind you to take breaks and here are some suggestions of what to do: Put your chin to your chest and hold it, bring one ear to one shoulder and then to the other side, do shoulder rounds, look up towards the ceiling while stretching your arms way out to the sides, touch the floor to stretch the hamstrings and while standing grab the ankle and hold it towards your buttocks to stretch the thighs. Hold each stretch for a count of 15-60 as the muscles begin to stretch and relax. At another break you may might want to do wall pushups, standing side bends, sit ups, jumping jacks, leg lifts, squats or planks. Switch it up during the breaks to keep you motivated.

Along with stretching and exercising it’s important to give your eyes a rest from all of the extra screen time. One easy way to do this is to rub your hands together until they are warm, then place the palms over the eyes with the finger tips above the eyebrows. Hold the hands there for as long as it takes to feel calmer. You can end by gently tapping your finger tips on your eyebrows, at your temples and then cheek bones. A relaxed face can make everything else feel better.

Being relaxed and less stressed is very important and I find that Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique, has been very effective to reduce pain and stress in my patients. One of my patients just told me she thinks it’s helping reduce the redness of a skin condition that she has. This makes sense as Tapping has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, which in turn decreases inflammation. Others have told me that Tapping makes them feel calmer and have less pain. I suggest going onto YouTube as a way to guide you how on to Tap. Another effective stress reducer for my patients has been Rescue Remedy. It’s taken by mouth and my patients have found it to be helpful for them, their children and even their pets. I just had a patient whose cat was peeing all over the home, which wasn’t like her. The vet ruled out a urinary tract infection and I recommended putting the Rescue Remedy in the cat’s food in case something was stressing her out. My patient came in a few weeks later and said it worked like magic.

Sometimes tennis balls or golf balls work like magic. You can lay on them or stand and lean against them on a wall. Roll up and down or hold in place for a minute or more to press out pain and tightness. Miracle balls are a softer equivalent for those that are sensitive. Have you heard of a Theracane? Look at YouTube videos of how to use it for your neck, shoulder, back or other areas that are bothering you. If you have a regular cane hanging around the home, this could be used as well. As a matter of fact recently I was FaceTiming with my father who lives in South America. He is 85 and his neck was really bothering him as he loves looking at music videos on YouTube and then posting them on his Facebook page. He was trying to massage his neck and his wife was massaging him too, but he still felt awful. I asked him if he had a cane in the home and had him get it. I had my Theracane and could easily show him how to use the curved part of his cane to reach into those neck muscles. He was so happy how nicely it worked as immediately felt less pain.

Heating pads, ice packs, epsom salt baths, CBD lotion, magnesium spray, arnica lotion, Icy hot, Bengay, Deep Tissue Oil and other analgesic creams can help ease pain too. I also have found that arnica tablets or taking 2-4 bromelain (pineapple enzymes) on an empty stomach every few hours acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. If you still need more relief then call your chiropractor as many of us are still seeing patients since we are considered an Essential Service.

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. She is seeing patients as Illinois has deemed Chiropractic an Essential Service. It’s important for her that patients feel heard and a deep sense of trust each time they come in for care. She tailors each visit by asking questions, using a variety of techniques and gentle touch if a patient prefers that. She loves seeing children and adults receive Chiropractic care as an important tool to help them reach their full potential. She can be reached at 847-509-9067.

Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion

Did you know that certain medications including Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin can deplete the body of important vitamins and minerals? That if these vitamins and minerals get depleted this can cause potential health problems? You can find this information of Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion at Pharmacysolutionsonline dot com. It’s important to know this information as you may need those vitamins and minerals locked and loaded in your body to use during this very serious fight.

The two nutrients that get depleted if taking Hydroxycholorquine are: Calcium and Vitamin D. The nutrients that get depleted if taking Azithromycin are: helpful bacteria (found in probiotics, yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi), Vitamins K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12. When taking these two medications it may mean to avoid nutrient depletion by also taking a Probiotic, B complex, Vitamin D3 and Calcium. I recently listened to a Functional Medicine Doctor describe how he has successfully treated 17 patients during this Pandemic using a combination of medications with vitamins and minerals. None of his patients needed to go to the hospital as they all got through this very easily. I might add that if you are on any kind of medication it might be helpful to see what nutrients you may need to take that your current medications are depleting to avoid potential health problems. This is a time to stay strong and hopefully this information is helpful to you or to someone you know.

Also, Drugs dot com, has listed quite a few other medications that are being tested for or are already approved for this pandemic. I have listed nutrient depletions for those that I could find at Pharmacysolutionsonline dot com.

Colchicine – anti-inflammatory – nutrients depleted: Vitamins A and B12, Calcium, Potassium, Phosporous, Sodium. (take magnesium when taking calcium)
EIDD-2801 – oral antiviral – medication was not listed
Favipiravir – antiviral – medication was not listed
Fingolimod – Gilena for MS – medication was not listed
Ivermectin – antispasmotic – medication was not listed
Leronlimab – a CCR5 antagonist – medication was not listed
Lopinavir and ritonavir – Kaletra for HIV along with Tamiflu (did you know that one study showed elderberry was shown to be more effective than tamiflu?)
Methylprednisolone – glucocorticoid – nutrients depleted: Vitamins A, C, D, B9 (folic acid), B12, Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium and Zinc.
Remedesivir – antiviral – medication was not listed
Sarilumab – interleukin-6 receptor antagonist with Kevzara – medication was not listed

Did you know that your body is designed to kill and get rid of viruses? Chiropractic can help with that!

Here is information on how Chiropractic and these other remedies can build your immune system to help fight the coronavirus.

#1 Each time you receive a Chiropractic adjustment, blood tests have shown that this boosts your own natural immunity by increasing your own production of Interleukin 2, T-cells, Phagocytes and Neutrophils. Interleukin 2 plays a major role in the development, maintenance and survival of regulatory T cells. T cells produce killer and helper cells, phagocytes ingest harmful foreign particles and neutrophils create tissue destruction for life saving processes. The increase in the body’s immune enhancing chemicals from one adjustment alone would explain the results of the following study. A group of HIV patients that received weekly chiropractic care for 6 months had a 48% increase in their immune system. Another reason to stay with your chiropractor at this time is that during the 1918 influenza pandemic, statistics showed that influenza patients who received chiropractic care had significantly higher survival rates than those under medical care. I personally get adjusted every week to feel good and these studies confirm how it’s helping me stay healthy in many ways.

#2  Surround yourself with Essential Oils as they have shown to reduce viral titres. One study was done with the coronavirus in 2003. They used oil of oregano along with wild sage, wild cumin and cinnamon oils. Within 20 minutes there were non-detectable levels of the viral titres. Many Essential Oil companies carry these specific oils as a spray or as a blend. Two examples of this disinfectant are Kettle Care’s Robbers Room Mist and Young Living’s Thieves. Our office carries the Robber’s Room Mist or you can go online to find these or other blends for killing viruses. Make your own spray by adding 30 drops of one of the blends in a spray bottle with water and a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or vinegar. Consider spraying your hands, home, counter tops, pillow cases, desk, steering wheel and other surfaces. You can also use the oils mixed with lotion and apply that directly onto your hands, wrists and neck. Within 5 minutes of spreading the oil onto your skin it gets absorbed into the blood stream, which allows the oils to do their job both outside of your body and inside your body. Use daily and every hour if symptoms come on. Because symptoms of the coronavirus can effect breathing it would be helpful to apply oils that are mixed with a carrier lotion onto the chest all the way down to the belly. I personally rub essential oils daily onto my hands, face, neck and wrists. I also spray the Kettle Care Robber’s Room Mist in my home, office, chiropractic table, door knobs, etc to keep things safe and sterile.

#3 For those who can’t handle essential oils then consider Grapefruit Seed Extract. Various studies have revealed that it can kill over 800 types of viruses and bacteria. It comes in liquid which can be used in a diffuser. It also comes as a spray to disinfect your hands, face, steering wheel, counter tops, pillow cases etc. There also is a throat spray that can be used daily, especially if a cough comes on. There also are tablets and capsules. I suggest taking the tablets and capsules twice daily and every hour if you feel any symptoms come on. Some of my patients prefer taking 1-5 drops of the liquid in water, juice, tea or coffee. I personally take 2-4 capsules a few times a day and every hour the moment I feel out of sorts.

#4 The Power of Prayer and Meditation for better health is a good reason to add either into your daily life. An analysis of more than 1500 medical studies indicates that people who are more religious and pray more have better mental and physical health. Recently there was a Rabbi’s call for a mass Western Wall prayer for cornoavirus patients. For those who don’t pray, there is Meditation, which has research behind it as a way to increase antibodies. These help your body correctly identify invaders, such as viruses. The meditation also increased the body’s production of T-cells that produce killer and helper cells. These get rid of viruses and any other foreign invaders that could potentially cause one harm. I personally pray and meditate on a regular basis. It makes me feel calmer and more in tune with my intuition. Now I see how it’s helping my over all health too.

#5 Take your Probiotics as a blend of probiotics with prebiotics helped to reduce the number of flu and flu-like respiratory illnesses by 75% and colds by 39% in adults. They should be taken once or twice a day before a meal. They do have chewables for kids. If you feel any symptoms then I suggest immediately taking them every hour or every two hours for a few days. I personally take 2 capsules twice a day and hourly if I begin to feel out of sorts.

#6 Vitamin C has been used on Coronavirus cases in China with success. That is why their government is shipping Vitamin C from the United States to their country. For those sensitive to corn then consider a tapioca based Vitamin C. Kids can take 100mg-1500mg and adults up to 5000mg. If you get loose stools then reduce the dose until your stools are normal. I take one 1,000mg capsule a day.

#7 Monolarin and Lauricidin both contain lauricidic acid, which gets rid of the outer wall of the virus so that the body can detect it’s presence and kill it. Consider taking 300mg- 600mg at least once a day and a few times a day if symptoms show up. I take one 600mg capsule daily.

#8 Vitamin D3 plays a major role regulating the immune system. Consider taking 1000mg-10,000mg or 50,000mg for those that have extremely low D or can’t convert D2 to D3. I personally take 5,000mg twice a day.

#9 Zinc is known to help fight off viruses. It halts the body’s immune response in order to prevent inflammation that can cause damage. Take 20mg a day in a tablet or capsule. Some also find zinc lozenges to be helpful throughout the day if symptoms come on. I personally take 1 20mg tablet a day.

#10 Elderberry has been studied in Israel for viruses. Clinical trials have shown that elderberry treated and cured symptoms of the flu better than tamiflu. This can be taken as an herbal tea, cough syrup or lozenge throughout the day if symptoms show up.

#11 Alpha Cold and Flu or Occilococcinium are homeopathic remedies specific for getting rid of flu symptoms. They seem to work effectively when taken the moment symptoms appear. Apply under the tongue every hour.

#12 Other suggestions have been to take N-Acetylcysteine, Andrographics, Ashwaganda and Astragalus. I also suggest that if you are on any medication then look up what nutrients get depleted by taking those meds. Type in “Drug Induced Nutrient Depletions” and see if what you are taking comes up. Then replenish yourself with these nutrients to better keep your immune system strong and balanced.

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. It’s important for her that patients feel heard and have a deep sense of trust each time they come in for care. She tailors each visit by using a variety of techniques with a tender touch. She loves seeing children and adults receive Chiropractic care as an important tool to help them reach their full potential.

Can Chiropractic Help Relieve Growing Pains?

Yes and there is clinical evidence that Chiropractic offered quicker pain relief than massage alone. Growing pains are defined as leg pain that repeatedly occurs in children during the day and or at night while sleeping. The pain can be unbearable and it’s estimated that 25%-40% of children are effected. The typical treatment options have included telling the parents to massage their children’s legs and to use pain killers. 

The reason that Chiropractic is effective for pain relief is because it addresses restricted ranges of motion of areas in the spine also called misalignment’s. Misalignment’s of the low back cause mixed signals into the leg muscles and this creates tightness and leg pain. Often times the vertebrae become restricted in their range of motion due to sports, accidents, falling as children learn to walk, prolonged sitting and poor posture. As the areas of joint restriction in the back are realigned by the chiropractor, this creates clear signals into the leg to relax the muscles and stop the pain. It may take a handful of visits to encourage the joints to consistently stay looser for symptoms to resolve.

Here are clinical cases of how Chiropractic has helped with growing pains.

The US National Library of Medicine published the successful chiropractic care of two pediatric patients with complaints of growing pain. A 2¾-yr-old female and a 3½-yr-old male were brought in by their mothers with complaints of growing pains that awakened both children at night. The girl’s problem began 3 months prior to coming in for care. She was waking up due to leg pain 1-2 nights a week in the first month and this progressed to waking up 5-6 nights per week due to leg pain. The boy’s growing pains began several months before seeking care and he would awaken 2-3 nights per week due to leg pain. 

The Chiropractic examination revealed a loss of motion in the low back of both children. They each received 7 chiropractic manipulations of the low back area over a 4 month time period and once their symptoms resolved they were released from care. As you can see these 2 kids were pretty young and this is where it’s important to acknowledge that their low back vertebrae could have become restricted in motion from the accumulation of the typical falls that one sees with toddlers. 

Science Direct sited a clinical study that included 30 children with growing pains between the ages of 4 years old and 12 years old. There were two groups: Group 1 consisted of 15 children that received chiropractic manipulation of joints in the low back that were misaligned and determined restricted in their movement. Group 2 consisted of 15 children that never received any professional intervention. Both groups instructed the parents to rub their kid’s legs and to offer verbal reassurance in an attempt to console their children. Instructions were given so that the same rubbing technique and rubbing cream were used by both Groups. The parents were also asked to use a daily pain diary and to complete a six-week post-study follow-up questionnaire regarding their children’s growing pains. 

The results demonstrated that both groups responded favorably to their specific treatment over time. However, the group that received the chiropractic low back manipulations proved to show a quicker response to treatment. There also was markedly more positive feedback in the post-study follow-up of the children that were manipulated in the low back. Wouldn’t it be great if every Pediatrician knew this information and included recommending Chiropractic Care to any child that came in due to Growing Pains?  

I have had children in my practice complain of growing pains that have resolved with chiropractic manipulation of the spine. Along with manipulating their spine I also have recommended low back stretches and taking magnesium to keep the muscles more relaxed along with fish oil to reduce inflammation. The combination has been a winner. 

Growing Pains is another example of how Chiropractic is not about treating the condition, it’s about treating areas of the spine and body that aren’t moving the way they should. This lack of movement creates mixed signals inside the body that can cause many symptoms including Growing Pains. Your body works in a very sophisticated way and relies heavily on optimal communication between the joints, the brain, the cells, the nerves, immune system, hormones, chemicals and everything else that we are made of. This communication is what allows the body to continuously heal itself from the inside out. This can occur more easily when imbalances are addressed and alleviated, so consider surrounding yourself with health providers that focus on helping your body’s healing potential, to live life more optimally! 

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. It’s important for her that patients feel heard and a deep sense of trust each time they come in for care. She tailors each visit by asking questions, using a variety of techniques and gentle touch if a patient prefers that. She loves seeing children and adults receive Chiropractic care as an important tool to help them reach their full potential. Her office is in the same Suite as Nutritional Concepts, since she and Bonnie have been in practice together for over 30 years.

Did You Know That Chiropractic Can Help Those With Essential Tremors?

That makes sense since Chiropractic has a direct effect on the Nervous system and Essential Tremors are a Rhythmic Nervous System disorder. This disorder causes rhythmic shaking but is not related to Parkinson’s. The shaking occurs with tasks such as tying shoelaces, writing, shaving, holding a utensil to eat or holding a cup to drink. This shaking can also effect household and work related activities. According to the Mayo Clinic symptoms may be aggravated by stress, fatigue, caffeine, and temperature extremes.

Here are some cases of how Chiropractic has helped those with Essential Tremors.

According to a Clinical Case in the US National Library of Medicine, a 39-year-old woman presented with essential tremors and migraine headaches that occurred 2 to 3 times per week. Her essential tremors were diagnosed in 2000, and her migraine headaches were diagnosed when she was 10. Both diagnoses were made by her general medical practitioner and treatments included prescription medications and over-the-counter pain relievers.

During the chiropractic exam, structural shifts were found in the patient’s upper neck, called vertebral subluxations. Subluxations have a direct effect on the nervous system, which can cause a plethora of symptoms, not just pain. Because of these findings the patient received chiropractic care of the subluxations in her upper neck. This had an immediate response as there was improvement in her tremors and migraine headaches following her initial chiropractic treatment. There also was sustained improvement after 4 months of care. This immediate response is quite promising, don’t you think?

Another case of Essential Tremors was reported in the journal; Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. A 38-year-old man had been diagnosed by his medical doctor with Essential Tremors in his head and arms for 15 years. The man described his head and right arm tremors as a being a 10, the worst on a scale of 0-10. His tremors occurred daily and lasted the entire day. He was unable to write with his right hand, unable to lift a drink to his mouth without spilling it everywhere and all of his activities of daily living were interrupted by the tremors.

The patient underwent a chiropractic examination, thermal heat studies of the spine, spinal x-rays and motion x-rays. The results verified the presence of subluxations in the upper back and neck of the man’s spine. A course of care was started and after the first adjustment, the man noticed an improvement in his symptoms. He reported that he was able to lift his right hand  to his mouth with minimal tremors.  As care continued, he reported improvements of 75% for the tremors in both of his arms, 99% for the tremors in his head, 90% for his low back pain, 90% in overall stiffness, and felt that his overall quality of life had improved by 60%. A second set of x-rays was taken, showed significant spinal improvements in his curvatures. This means that there was a lot less stress on the nervous system, which created more calmness and a lot less shaking.

Essential Tremors can also occur in children and this was the case in the The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic. They reported a clinical case of a 20-month-old male with tremors in his right arm and hand. He also stood with his legs extremely wide apart and had speech delay. The chiropractic exam included thermal readings of the spine that indicated the autonomic nervous system was not working properly. A chiropractic exam  of the spine revealed subluxations of multiple vertebrae.

The child was treated with a gentle adjusting instrument and also given Cross-crawl at-home exercises as part of his treatment plan. After two months of care the re-exam showed improvements in the autonomic nervous system. The frequency of his intention tremors significantly decreased, his verbal communication skills improved and his parents reported a marked improvement in their son’s overall quality of life. What a gift to see such positive changes in this child’s symptoms. 

Essential Tremors are another example of how Chiropractic is not about treating the condition, it’s about balancing the Nervous System. Your body works in a very sophisticated way and relies heavily on optimal communication between the brain, the body, the cells, the nerves, immune system, hormones, chemicals and everything else that we are made of. This communication is what allows the body to continuously heal itself from the inside out. This can occur more easily when the nervous system, body chemistry, emotions and other imbalances are addressed and alleviated. Consider surrounding yourself with a multitude of health providers that help balance all of these aspects within yourself to live life more optimally! 

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. She loves seeing children and adults receive their Chiropractic adjustments as an important tool to help them reach their full potential. 

Can Chiropractic Prevent Fainting?

I recently read an article about a 32 year old female soccer player who suffered from syncope (fainting) with no known reason. She fainted for 2-3 minutes and the temperature outside was particularly warm. I read another article of a 12 year old girl, also a soccer player, who often forgets to drink water while playing soccer and one day woke up on the ground wondering what happened. Another article suggested that fainting is a common problem with a prevalence of 40% in the general population. Warning signs before one faints can include dizziness, headache, nausea, paleness, feeling warm and changes of vision or hearing. Triggers of fainting can include prolonged standing, dehydration, stress, emotional trauma, low electrolytes, magnesium and blood sugar. It’s important to rule out seizures, stroke and other disorders as a cause. I too have an idea of a possible cause for fainting: structural shifts in the neck that greatly affect important communication from the brain to the rest of the body. 

As a Chiropractor I look at all health concerns with the idea of how there could be a structural component involved. My curiosity has me wondering if the upper neck of these soccer players or anyone else that suffers from fainting spells is somehow involved. There is an extremely important Cranial Nerve called the Vagus Nerve and it leaves the head, goes through the neck and down into the heart, lungs and digestive tract. The Vagus Nerve contributes to two parts of our Nervous System: Fight or Flight and Rest, Repair and Heal. These two aspects of our Nervous System affect all of our organs, immune system and so much more. There is a term called Vasovagal Syncope and this refers to fainting due to the Vagus nerve’s effect on the tone of the blood vessels and blood pressure. This area of the neck, that the Vagus Nerve runs through, can become compromised from as early on as birth, childhood falls, sports injuries, accidents, clenching or grinding the teeth, bumps of the head and even the text neck that has become epidemic. 

Recent research reported in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in alleviating Vasovagal Syncope. The case cited was of a 57 year old woman who suffered from Vasovagal Syncope, neck pain and episodes of spontaneous fainting and blackouts for over 20 years.  She had recently been prescribed drugs and it was recommended that she get a pacemaker. The chiropractor involved in the case examined her, took x-rays and found structural shifts in her neck. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. The woman was adjusted by the chiropractor and following her first adjustment she experienced complete resolution of her Vasovagal Syncope, fainting, blackouts and neck pain. The study’s authors called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population of patients. 

I too had a patient that had a history of vasovagal syncope for decades before coming to see me. That was not what brought her in, but it was something that we discussed during her history. I too found misalignments in her neck and after a few months of care she was no longer experiencing the fainting episodes. 

My hope is that those who suffer from fainting will consider seeing a chiropractor for an evaluation of their neck. That if misalignments of the bones of the neck are found then the goal of the chiropractic care would be to remove interference to the Vagus Nerve. This would then improve the communication between the brain and the body as a way to help stop the fainting episodes.

Fainting is another example of how Chiropractic is not about treating the condition, it’s about balancing the Nervous System. Your body works in a very sophisticated way and relies heavily on optimal communication between the brain, the body, the cells, the nerves, immune system, hormones and everything else that makes up your body. This communication is what allows the body to continuously heal itself from the inside out. This can occur more easily when physical, nutritional, emotional and other imbalances are addressed and alleviated. I ask that you have a multitude of health providers on your team to help you balance all of these aspects of your body and soul in order to live life more optimally! 

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1989. She loves seeing children and adults receive their Chiropractic adjustments as an important tool to help them reach their full potential. 

Prilosec or Chiropractic For GERD? I suggest Chiropractic!

Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), is a common disorder that can lead to complications such as narrowing, tightening or tumor of the esophagus. When treating GERD with proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, this can create problems of reduced Magnesium and B12 absorption, changes in bone density, higher risk for dementia, kidney disease and heart attacks. These side effects are why I suggest Chiropractic along with other modalities such as acupuncture and dietary interventions.

Here are published case studies of how chiropractic care has helped GERD. Another confirmation that both musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal symptoms may benefit from chiropractic care.

The 2019 Volume of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic has two cases. The first is of a 6-month-old girl with GERD since birth. Her symptoms worsened when she had milk, soy or bananas and testing showed that she was allergic to milk and soy. She was put on a hypoallergenic formula, which helped decrease the frequency of her GERD attacks. She also was brought in for chiropractic care two times per week for four weeks and then one time per week for six weeks. The outcome of the 10 weeks of care was that there was a complete resolution of her GERD and associated symptoms.

The other case from the same Journal is of a two-month-old girl that was experiencing severe acid re-flux and constipation since birth. Her pediatrician prescribed Prilosec for her acid re-flux which did not resolve the problem. She was unable to eat without spitting up, unable to sleep because of pain and would strain while trying to poop. The pediatrician recommended Miralax for the constipation, but the mother was hesitant to start her daughter on it. The baby was cared for with gentle chiropractic techniques that included “touch and hold” and the Activator Adjusting Instrument to gently align the spine. She went in for 12 visits over a period of 6 weeks and her complaints resolved.

The Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association cited a case of a 3-month old girl with a medical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Her complaints included frequently interrupted sleep, excessive intestinal gas, frequent vomiting, excessive crying, difficulty breastfeeding, flat head syndrome and wry neck. She had been put on Prilosec yet still had symptoms, which is why she was brought in for chiropractic care. There was notable improvement within four visits and total resolution of her symptoms within three months of care.

As you can see these three cases were of infants, yet adults suffer from of GERD as well. I recently had a patient come to me that had symptoms of GERD ever since she was a young girl. 50 years later and she still had symptoms. She was diligent about not eating foods that tested positive on her food sensitivity tests yet she still suffered each time she ate. I worked on her spine first so that I could help balance the input of the Parasympathetics, which directly impacts digestive issues. Then I turned her over and touched her diaphragm area, which was extremely restricted. The stomach is right in that area and with it being so tight I brought up a possibility that she had a Hiatal Hernia. She said that her MD had confirmed this and so I began to work on reducing the restrictions in this area. I then showed her what she could do at home before each meal to begin to allow the stomach not to immediately reject the food she was eating. I also used a combination of ultrasound and electrical stimulation at this area to reduce gastro-intestinal symptoms, with great success.

The NIH cited a study that provided a review of the literature of studies between 1980 and November 2012 in peer-reviewed journals. This was to determine if chiropractic therapy was helpful in the management of disorders of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. The majority of articles chronicling patient experiences under chiropractic care reported that they demonstrated mild to moderate improvements in presenting symptom and no adverse side effects were reported. According to the authors, this suggests chiropractic care can be considered as an adjunctive therapy for patients with various GI conditions.

I hope you feel excited by these results as this is an example of the body not caring what labels are put onto a condition. Chiropractic is not about treating the condition, it’s about balancing the Nervous System, which works in a very sophisticated way so that the body can heal itself from the inside out. Healing has its own time line, so please be patient with the body and persistent with holistic modalities of care. May you not accept the pigeon holes that are commonly given for conditions and instead search for the best way your body and soul can live optimally!