203 Modern Affluent Living - Energy for the Young Professional
Article appeared in the Winter Issue of 203, Modern Affluent Living
www.203lifestyle.com
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203 Modern Affluent Living - Energy for the Young Professional
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203 Modern Affluent Living - Energy for the Young Professional
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203 Modern Affluent Living - Energy for the Young Professional
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May 8, 2007 New York Times article - "Study suggests Meditation Can Help Train Attention"
STUDY SUGGESTS
MEDITATION CAN HELP TRAIN ATTENTION
New York Times May 8, 2007 by Sandra
Blakeslee
In meditation, people sit quietly and concentrate on their breath. As air swooshes in and out of their nostrils, they attend to each sensation. As unbidden thoughts flutter to mind, they let them go. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go.
According to a study published today in the online edition of the journal PloS Biology, three months of rigorous training in this kind of meditation leads to a profound shift in how the brain allocates attention.
It appears that the ability to release thoughts that pop into mind frees the brain to attend to more rapidly changing things and events in the world at large, said the study’s lead author, Richard Davidson, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Expert meditators, he said, are better than other people at detecting such fast-changing stimuli, like emotional facial expressions.
Dr. Ron Mangun, director of the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California , Davis, who was not involved in the study, called the finding exciting. “It provides neuroscience evidence for changes in the workings of the brain with mental training, in this case meditation,” he said. “We know we can learn and improve abilities of all sorts with practice, everything from driving to playing the piano. But demonstrating this in the context of meditation is interesting and novel.”
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May 8, 2007 New York Times article - "Study suggests Meditation Can Help Train Attention"
Recent research has shown that meditation is good for the brain. It appears to increase gray matter, improve the immune system, reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being. But Dr. Davidson said this was the first study to examine how meditation affects attention.
The study exploited a brain phenomenon called the attentional blink. Say pictures of a St. Bernard and a Scottish terrier are flashed before one’s eyes half a second apart, embedded in a series of 20 pictures of cats. In that sequence, most people fail to see the second dog. Their brains have “blinked.�
Scientists explain this blindness as a misallocation of attention. Things are happening too fast for the brain to detect the second stimulus. Consciousness is somehow suppressed.
But the blink is not an inevitable bottleneck, Dr. Davidson said. Most people can identify the second target some of the time. Thus it may be possible to exert some control, which need not be voluntary, over the allocation of attention.
In the study, 17 volunteers with meditation experience spent three months at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass., meditating 10 to 12 hours a day. A novice control group meditated for 20 minutes a day over the same period.
Both groups were then given attentional blink tests with two numbers embedded in a series of letters. As both groups looked for the numbers, their brain activity was recorded with electrodes placed on the scalp.
Everyone could detect the first number, Dr. Davidson said. But the brain recordings showed that the less experienced meditators tended to grasp the first number and hang onto it, so they missed the second number. Those with more experience invested less attention to the first number, as if letting it go. This led to an increased ability to grasp the second number.
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May 8, 2007 New York Times article - "Study suggests Meditation Can Help Train Attention"
The attentional blink was thought to be a fixed property of the nervous system, Dr. Davidson said. But this study shows that it can change with practice. Attention is a flexible, trainable skill.
Just ask Daniel Levison, a staff researcher in the psychology department at the University of Wisconsin who meditated for three months as part of the study. “I’m a much better listener,” he said. “I don’t get lost in my own personal reaction to what people are saying.”
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For more information on Meditation services offered at Integrative Medicine, click here .
Darien Center for
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February 1, 2007 - "Equinox Hosts Balancing Hormones Naturally Lecture" (Printed in Darien Times)
EQUINOX HOSTS
“BALANCING
HORMONES NATURALLY” LECTURE
DARIEN, CT (Feb 1, 2007) --With some 30 million menopausal women in North America and some 20 million female baby boomers on the brink of menopause, Equinox Fitness of Darien will host a free educational lecture open to the community on Balancing Hormones Naturally on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:45 p.m. at their 72 Heights Road facility.
Guest speaker, Dr. Robert Zembroski, will present the latest research on the causes of these hormone-related issues, objective scientific evaluation, and natural therapies that address underlying causes of symptoms associated with PMS, menopause, infertility, and osteoporosis. Participants will learn what influences hormonal imbalances, including the role of diet, exercise, and stress, and natural solutions. The Equinox staff welcomes non-members, as well as members and their friends, to attend this educational presentation.
“To understand hormone-related health problems, we must understand the roles of stress and the nervous system, estrogen, progesterone, blood sugar, and the adrenal glands,” said Dr. Robert Zembroski, chiropractic neurologist. “The cause of hormonal problems may be a combination of several factors, all of which will be explored in this informative lecture. Since millions of women are either approaching menopause, in menopause, or suffering with PMS or infertility issues, the need to understand how to achieve optimal health is essential.”
Dr. Robert Zembroski is a chiropractic neurologist and Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, a credential held by only about 600 doctors worldwide. For over twelve years, he has maintained a successful private practice in Darien, the Connecticut Chiropractic Neurology Center, a specialized facility for the treatment of neurological dysfunctions without drugs or surgery, such as such hormonal imbalances, depression, learning disorders, fatigue, vertigo/dizziness, and more. Devoted to educating the public, he has donated countless hours over the years to speak in the community.
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February 1, 2007 - "Equinox Hosts Balancing Hormones Naturally Lecture" (Printed in Darien Times)
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Healing Headaches (Dr. Z quoted in E magazine)
E The Environmental Magazine July/Aug 2008 issue
Healing Headaches
Drug-Free Remedies for One of the Most Common Medical Complaints
By Jessica Rae Patton
According to the American Headache Society, 90 percent of people have at least one headache per year. With $1 billion dollars spent annually on over-the-counter headache medications, it’s clearly a big, throbbing problem. But simply popping a painkiller isn’t always so simple, particularly when weighing in the possible side effects, which include gastrointestinal upset, kidney and liver damage and rebound headaches (headaches caused by overuse of headache medications). Triptans and beta blockers, commonly prescribed drugs for migraines, can cause fatigue, dizziness and cloudy thinking.
Types of Headaches
Headaches fall into three general categories: tension-type, cluster and migraine. Tension-type are the most common and create a pressure pain. Cluster headaches are very rare and feature a stabbing pain in or around the eyes. Migraines are characterized by pounding, debilitation pain accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are thought to be neurological in nature. The brain stem loses its ability to control constriction of the nerve pathways responsible for opening the arteries to the brain, according to Dr. Robert Zembroski, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist and director of the Darien Center for Integrative Medicine in Darien, Connecticut. “As the pathways fatigue, there is massive dilation, resulting in the pounding sensation of blood flowing into the brain”.
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Healing Headaches (Dr. Z quoted in E magazine)
A Holistic Approach
Drug side effects aside, headache sufferers may also wish to seek alternative, nonpharmacological treatment in order to address the underlying cause of their pain, not just treat the symptoms.
Dr. Steward J. Tepper, the director of research at the Center for Headache and Pain, Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute in Ohio, points to several non-drug-related, self-care actions: “Regular and sufficient sleep, relaxation and mind-body therapies and aerobic exercise are very helpful in migraine prevention.” He says eating a balanced diet and not skipping meals is more important than eliminating or adding certain foods to one’s diet, but notes that foods containing high level o tyramine (such as aged cheeses, chocolate and alcohol) should be avoided.
Caffeine should also be eliminated, not only because virtually everyone who regularly consumes caffeine experiences withdrawl headaches when it is discontinued, but also because it seems to render other migraine-prevention regimes less effective. Tepper also says to drink plenty of water: “In a 2005 study, 34 out of 95 people reported perceived dehydration as a trigger for their migraines.”
Alternative approaches that look to cure the underlying causes of chronic headaches include acupuncture, biofeedback and chiropractic manipulation.
Acupuncture
According to Eileen Karn, L.Ac. Dipl. CH., director of the Meridian Wellness Center in Stamford, Connecticut, “In natural medicine we think of migrains as disregulation. There is almost always a food allergy or intolerance involved, or a hormonal imbalance,” she says. Stress headaches often get remarkable results with acupuncture alone; migraine and menstrual headaches benefit from combining Chinese herbs with acupuncture.
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Healing Headaches (Dr. Z quoted in E magazine)
Karn also suggests acupressure points one can practice on their own. Heku is the point in the webbing between the thumb and index finger. Pressing this is very helpful for alleviating everything from dentistry to shoulder pain. For nausea associated with migraine there is neiguan , on the inner wrist.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback teaches people to consciously change bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension. The U.S. Headache Consortium reports that 10 studies assessing the benefits of thermal biofeedback in combination with relaxation training for migraine found a mean average improvement of 33 percent. Five studies of EMG biofeedback were analyzed, revealing a weighted average of 40 percent improvement.
Chiropractic Neurology
This area of chiropractic medicine uses specific adjustments, alongside nutritional support, to address and correct neurological weaknesses. According to Dr. Zembroski, “In chiropractic neurology, we have an ability to understand where the nerve pathways are dysfunctional and how to use manipulation to correct this dysfunction.�
Natural Remedies
In terms of herbal, vitamin or mineral treatments, Tepper notes several that have performed well in randomized controlled studies. The herb butterbur has proven safe and effective for people who don’t experience its one often-noted side effect - burping. An article in Current Vascular Pharmacology cited a 120week trial in which use of butterbur cut the number of migraines by more than a half in 45 percent of those who took the herb. Tepper recommends CoQ10, particularly if one is on a statin drug. Vitamin B12, or riboflavin, can be useful. Magnesium can be used not only preventatively but also acutely: if administered intravenously it
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Healing Headaches (Dr. Z quoted in E magazine)
can terminate an attack.
“People do not have to suffer or get dependent upon medication,” says Karn. “The headache can be a real symptom of a very stressful existence that needs to be look at and corrected, rather than medicated.”
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Massage: It's Real Medicine
Massage: It's real medicine By Kristyn Kusek Lewis Health.com
March 8, 2007
Having your honey rub your back is sweet, but it's tough to compete with the hands of a pro. A good massage therapist can make you feel like a new person. And now research suggests massage can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, and more. Maybe that's why hospitals are making it a standard therapy.
"All of our surgery patients are offered the treatment -- I call it 'service with a smile' -- and it's a mandatory weekly prescription I give myself," says Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital--Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and a member of the board at LLuminari, a health-education company.
Our advice: Enjoy your hands-on time with your sweetie, but set aside some time for a real massage, too. Here are some feel-good reasons:
Goodbye, pain
It sounds like a no-brainer, but rubdowns are especially effective for aches like low-back pain. Researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, found that massage works better than common treatments including chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. It's not clear why, but several studies show massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system's pain receptors. Massage also increases blood flow to the muscles, which may help them heal.
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Massage: It's Real Medicine
A bonus: Massage also seems to ease distress from migraine, labor pain, and even cancer, as well as the body tenderness seen with fibromyalgia, says Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Plus, the benefits may last as long as a year after just a few treatments, says Partap Khalsa, Ph.D., a chiropractor and a program officer at the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Com足plementary and Alternative Medicine, the agency funding many major studies on massage.
Hello, dreams
Fluctuations in several types of brain waves either relax you or wake you up. Massage increases delta waves -- those linked with deep sleep -- according to a study at the Touch Research Institute. That's why it's easy to drift off on the massage table, Field says.
Nice to have you back, brain power
The Touch Research Institute study that connected massage to sleep also found that a 15-minute chair massage boosted alertness. "Subjects reported that it felt like a runner's high," Field says. Tests also show that brain-wave activity stimulated by massage is linked to improved attention.
Take that, colds
Massage helps ward off bugs by boosting your "natural killer cells," the immune system's first line of defense against invading illness. "We know that cortisol destroys natural killer cells," Field says. "Therefore, since massage decreases cortisol, your immune cells get a boost." Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems, such as breast-cancer patients.
Blues, be gone
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Massage: It's Real Medicine
Less cortisol and more serotonin and dopamine in your system may also mean less stress, anxiety, and depression. "We know that the right side of the frontal lobe of the brain is more active when we're sad, and the left side's activated when we're happy," Field says. "Our studies have observed that massage decreases activity in the right lobe and increases functioning in the left." The well-being people feel after a massage is a big reason why some hospitals offer it to anxious patients pre足paring for surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.
Shove off, PMS
A small study of 24 women with severe PMS found that massage reduced symp足toms such as pain, water retention, and mood swings. Try it with proven remedies such as exercise (and who-cares-if-they-work solutions like a little dark chocolate).
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
Nutrition and Anti-aging: The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy
By: Robert Zembroski DC, DACNB
According to Paul Zane Pilzer an Economist, by the year 2010 the “Wellness Industry” will exceed the 1 trillion dollar healthcare (sickness) industry. In 2000, the anti-aging and wellness market reached 30 billion dollars annually and is projected to reach 1 trillion dollars by the year 2010.
The wellness revolution places economics as a driving force behind health by making it good business and providing the consumer with products that enhance well-being and quality of life by preventing and treating age-related diseases. This anti-aging and wellness phenomena is being driven primarily by the 78.2 million baby boomers which consists of a 1/3 of the population and 50% of the economy. This anti-aging trend is due partly to the actual fear of aging, more individuals embracing self-care, greater access to information on wellness, and an increased understanding that good health begins with good nutrition.
According to Dr. Ronald Klatz, President of the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine, the biological processes that decline with aging are: - Cardiovascular health – with age, the heart may weaken, and the network of arteries that circulate blood may become may accumulate deposits, and hinder blood flow
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
- Metabolic function - with age, some people develop diabetes, a disease involving an inability to regulate blood sugar, due to insulin deficiency - Brain function - neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can manifest themselves in the older body - Nervous system – a decline in the sensory system such as the vision and hearing, as well as the peripheral system where aging affects the neuromuscular system - Muscle and skeletal health - Muscles atrophy and bones weaken with age - Endocrine function - The body's system of glands, which secrete helpful chemicals into the blood, becomes less efficient with time - The immune system - The natural system of defenses mounted by the body to combat foreign organisms becomes less efficient as we grow old - Gastrointestinal system – malabsorption with poor nutrient acquisition, and lowered gastrointestinal movement. These dysfunctions will also lead to poor immune function - Reproductive system – Menopause and andropause
With the natural process of growing old, people are continually searching for ways to decrease the aging process and erase the signs of age: from a receding hairline, to the bulging waistline, to getting rid of those crows feet, to forgetting to turn off an iron. Any doctor of chiropractic who has interest in the field of anti-aging medicine, looks to detect, prevent, and treat age-related dysfunctions, while looking to also improve the patients productivity and their health. They do this through a multitude of ways from chiropractic, esthetics, dermatology, weight-loss, nutritional and biochemical diagnosis, to antioxidants, yoga, meditation, dietary intervention, and supplementation.
Chiropractic has always been in the fore-front of the anti-aging process (or aging process) by managing the entire person. Being in the greatest profession, our goal is to combat time and slow down the inevitable, by eliminating biomechanical dysfunction, improving neurological function, improving digestion, blood health, elimination, enhancing immune function, and decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, at the same time increasing muscle function and decreasing body fat.
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
There are claims that human growth hormone is the elixir of life, DHEA is the promised product, beta-carotene is the answer to macular degeneration, glucosamine HCL is the answer to arthritis. I don’t buy this. The body exists as a complex symphony of biochemical events orchestrated by enzymatic activity, hormones, neurohormones, and neurotransmitters, trace elements, synaptic activity within the nervous system, nutrients and so forth.
I have seen the greatest changes to this orchestration of function through the use of mycelial or plant-based oral enzymes. They have the most profound effect I have observed on not only warding off the ravages of time, but also improving that person’s health more than any other single type of treatment. Because there is no “single bullet theory” of applying a single nutrient for a single health issue, oral enzyme therapy makes the most sense.
Enzymes are proteins made in the body, and taken in through our food sources. Enzymes ‘must be present before any chemical reaction can take place in our bodies. Even vitamins, minerals, and hormones cannot do their jobs without enzymes.’ (1) There are three types of enzymes: metabolic, digestive, and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes are produced in the body from amino acids, food enzymes are found in uncooked raw foods, and digestive enzymes are found in the gut. Amylase, lipase, protease, cellulase, are a few. These enzymes are needed to breakdown the various macronutrients found in food, to be absorbed for all processes taking place in the body.
Enzymes are molecules that facilitate biochemical reactions and metabolism. Metabolism and enzyme production does slow with age just as all biological processes slow with aging. A lack of enzymes has been correlated with inflammation, poor immune function, oxidative stress,
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
degenerative diseases and premature aging. Adding enzymes to your patient care will prevent many disease conditions, improve healing and immune function, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, enhance blood quality and the elimination of toxins and digestive by-products.
Which enzymes to use? Enzymes in supplements come from a plant-based source, microbial or animal sources. Animal-based enzymes have a great disadvantage over plant-based enzymes, because animal-based are broken down in a lower pH in the stomach as opposed to a plant-based which are active in a pH range of 2-12. This means they are active longer in the gut, and capable of breaking down protein, fats, and carbs longer.
Enzyme therapy improves:
- Digestion – we all do it, but how well does this take place. With aging digestion and absorption slows down because of a lack of available enzymes. Therefore supplementing with plant-based digestive enzymes will ensure your food is digested, nutrients are absorbed into the blood, and waste products are eliminated. - Nutrient acquisition – is the process of assimilation of nutrients and their ability to get to the cells for their function - Blood rheology- is essentially blood health and how well the flow of nutrients takes place. Poor rheology leads to poor tissue perfusion and failed tissue servicing - Elimination – of the waste products of digested foods, with proper bacterial function making it all happen -
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
These basic functions must all take place in order to have appropriate function within us and to improve the health issues associated with aging.
Â
Conditions helped by enzyme therapy in my chiropractic neurology clinic:
-
Arthritis/Inflammatory conditions ADD Autism Cardiovascular issues Celiac disease Macular degeneration Bowel dysfunction Diabetes Fatigue Pain syndromes Allergies Memory loss Muscle wasting Decreased immunity Skin problems Leaky gut MS Constipation Weight regulation High blood pressure Fibromyalgia Acid reflux
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The Benefits of Enzyme Therapy (by Dr. Zembroski)
The list goes on.
Chiropractic manipulation creates change to the central system in a multitude of different ways. It will improve neurological function within the cerebellum and cortex, as well as having a local response, and changes in autonomic activity. Without a doubt, chiropractic is the physical modality of choice when it comes to decreasing the affects of aging.
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In my opinion, if you want to invest in therapies that restore your patients’ health, adding enzyme therapy to your patient management would render faster and longer lasting results thus creating a much happier patient. In addition to using manipulation as a way to improve neurological and biomechanical function, enzyme therapy is necessary in restoring the complex symphony of biochemical events that occur within us. Exercise and eat good foods; decrease your stress, and encourage your patients to get the testing needed for early disease detection, and any necessary treatment without delay.
1. The healing Power of Enzymes DicQie Fuller p3
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September 1, 2006 - "CT Chiropractic Neurology Center Expands Space and Services" (Printed in Natural
CCNC
Expands Space and Services
DARIEN, CT, Aug. 15, 2006 -- The CT Chiropractic Neurology Center (CCNC) has just expanded in response to an increased demand for their specialized services. The expansion will allow for continuing their current services while also allowing for new services discussed below.
Current services focus on neurological rehabilitation, chiropractic and physical therapy. With advanced technology and clinical experience, they have the ability to objectively detect and correct underlying health problems. To date, the CCNC is the only integrative clinic that utilizes videonystagmography (VNG) infrared camera technology to detect neurological dysfunctions such as ADD/ADHD, Tourette’s, movement disorders, vertigo/dizziness, migraines, etc.
Beginning in August, CCNC is the first in the state to incorporate a new, non-invasive, state of the art, diagnostic tool that utilizes Biocellular Analysis to determine nutritional deficiencies through a simple urine and saliva test. It is a superior evaluation tool to detect biochemical abormalities and nutrient deficiencies behind age-related health problems like inflammation and arthritis, hormone-related problems, weight loss difficulties, fatigue, digestive issues, Ph, and oxidative stress and much more.
This technology is also used by professional athletes including Evander Holyfield and Yao Ming, to optimize athletic performance. It’s ideal for both kids and adults to reach their peak performance in preparation for an athletic event. In just 15 minutes, a patient receives a detailed report with supplementation recommendations based on their abnormal levels. CCNC offers a high-end line of isotonic nutraceuticals that, according to research, has greater absorption than any other product currently available.
Dr Zembroski and staff are excited because this allows the CCNC to become a more comprehensive clinic that integrates neurological evaluation and 1/2
September 1, 2006 - "CT Chiropractic Neurology Center Expands Space and Services" (Printed in Natural
rehabilitation, physical therapy, and biochemical evaluation and treatment. What distinguishes their clinic from others is that they don’t just claim to treat symptoms and conditions; they actually uncover and resolve physical/neurological/biochemical dysfunctions through objective testing and appropriate treatment.
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Autism and Chiropractic Neurology
”A child with autism and a doctor’s incredible journey” by Dr. Keri Chiappino, DC, DACBN
PARENTGUIDE News March 2008
“Want water.” These words, spoken to me by a 7-year-old patient named James, might seem inconsequential to most parents. But for the parent whose child is diagnosed as autistic, these words are life altering. James had been diagnosed at age 2 with autism, a developmental disorder of the human brain that first shows signs during infancy or childhood. Autism is characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. The manifestations of autism cover a wide spectrum, ranging from individuals with severe disabilities to less impaired individuals who may have active but distinctly odd social behaviors. In Newsday, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory recently revealed it believes it has identified autism-related genes. While this news is encouraging, a search for a cure continues. And at a rate of one in 150 children being diagnosed on the autistic spectrum, the incidents of autism have risen dramatically since the 1980s. In the meantime, parents are desperately seeking immediate ways to deal with the condition. Chiropractic neurology (CN) offers a non-pharmacological, noninvasive approach to treating children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The brain controls everything in our body and mind— from thoughts to heart rate to muscle tone. Most people have a dominant hemisphere, or side, of the brain. This can easily be seen in personality traits— someone who is musical versus someone who is mathematical— or differences may be subtler and not easily detected by the untrained eye. Chiropractic neurologists specialize in analyzing the differences between the hemispheres of the brain. James’s parents turned to chiropractic neurology for their son after pursuing a number of different treatment options. While these therapies proved helpful for some behaviors, James seemed capable of reaching a greater potential. During his first CN visit, an extensive neurological exam was performed to determine which hemisphere was deficient. A treatment plan was then designed using hemisphere-specific stimulation. Therapies differ with each visit in order to accommodate the changing brain. The goal is to
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Autism and Chiropractic Neurology
create new connections in the under-functioning hemisphere that then creates a balance in the brain. In James’s case, the types of stimulation employed include spinning, doing coordination exercises, balancing, using cognitive exercises such as jigsaw puzzles and mazes, making sound stimulation, using a tuning fork and using visual stimulation. Children with Autism are less likely to make requests, express needs or share experiences, and are more likely to repeat others’ words (echolalia). This can lead to frustration and aggressive behavior. When James said the words “want water,” at first I had to make sure he wasn’t just repeating words he had heard. But when I handed him water and he drank it voraciously, I was thrilled. This was an enormous breakthrough. James’s parents report other improvements. He is more affectionate and less aggressive and frustrated as he begins to be able to express his needs. He also demonstrates a decrease in neurological tics, like hand flapping, and is able to make more connections and employ more abstract thinking. Upon recently seeing a fireman with a helmet, James was able to express his desire, “I want fire truck.” Before, James would not have been able to make the connection between the fireman and his desire for the fire truck. The implications are tremendous. Up until now, the goal of treatment for ASDs has been to manage and improve symptoms and functioning. Treatments for children with ASDs are limited, with more than half of children diagnosed being prescribed psychoactive drugs or anticonvulsants. The most common drug classes being prescribed for ASDs include antidepressants, stimulants and anti-psychotics. Other drugs are prescribed off-label, meaning they have not been approved for ASDs. These medications may have serious side effects, and no known medication relieves autism’s core symptoms of social and communication impairments. Other treatments include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which focuses on teaching children tasks one-on-one using the behavior principles of stimulus, response and reward, and TEAOCH, which focuses on structuring the physical environment and using visual supports for language developmental tasks. Chiropractic neurology offers hope for the future. Helping children to make connections and express needs makes it possible for them to form relationships with others and to navigate in the world without institutional care. This increases the chances for a higher quality of life for an autistic child and the possibility of living drug-free and independently— a tremendous relief for parents who worry about the future for their children, especially as autistic children enter the teen years and adulthood. When James was leaving the CN office after his treatment last week, he turned to me without prompting and said “Bye, Ke-ri,” another first. These are the moments that make work with special needs children priceless. What is Chiropractic Neurology? •Chiropractic neurology (CN) is brain-based chiropractic care. •CN is an advanced branch of chiropractic care that requires more than 300 hours of postgraduate neurological course work and a minimum grade of 80 percent on the board
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Autism and Chiropractic Neurology
examination to achieve the status of Diplomate in the American Chiropractic Board of Neurology (DACBN). •CN incorporates similar training to medical neurology but differs in application, treatment and therapies, using noninvasive, nonsurgical and non-pharmacological approaches to conditions. Who Might Benefit From Chiropractic Neurology? Those suffering from the following issues might want to seek CN. •Learning and attention disorders such as ADD/ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s and autism •Chronic pain, memory and concentration difficulty •Aphasia •Vertigo •Movement disorders •Dystonia •Visual disturbances and eye fatigue •Peripheral nerve injuries, radiculopathies, neuropathies, foot drop •Raynaud’s phenomenon, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
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Feb. 9, 2006 - "Local Neurologist Responds to ADHD Drug Concerns, Offers Free Community Lectures (P
LOCAL
NEUROLOGIST RESPONDS TO ADHD DRUG CONCERNS,
FERS FREE COMMUNITY
LECTURES
OF
(originally published in Darien News-Review)
DARIEN, Conn., Feb. 9, 2006 --- On February 8 th , the Food and Drug Administration released a report stating that 25 people died and 54 more suffered serious cardiovascular problems after taking drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder between 1999 and 2003. Dr. Robert Zembroski, Director of the Connecticut Chiropractic Neurology Center in Darien, a facility that specializes in diagnosing and correcting the underlying neurological causes of disorders such as ADHD, will address the recent hot topic regarding the risks of ADHD medications in a series of free monthly lectures.
An estimated six to seven million American children are said to have a mental disorder that results in them being chemically restrained by powerful mind-altering psychiatric drugs, including Ritalin and Adderall. Ritalin has been classified as a schedule II drug by the FDA, just like cocaine, morphine and opium. According to the FDA report released on February 8 th , children taking ADHD medication accounted for 19 of the deaths and 26 of the cases of nonfatal cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia. With all this in mind, many concerned parents are increasingly seeking a better understanding of what is actually at the root of their child’s symptoms and what non-drug solutions exist.
As a Chiropractic Neurologist, Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, and Post-Graduate Faculty member at National University of Health Sciences, Dr. Zembroski regularly lectures to 1/2
Feb. 9, 2006 - "Local Neurologist Responds to ADHD Drug Concerns, Offers Free Community Lectures (Pr
doctors and other healthcare practitioners on the neurological causes of cognitive and behavioral disorders such as ADHD. In response to the recent concerns and demand from parents, educators, and other community members for more information on this topic, Dr. Zembroski will donate his time to deliver a free lecture monthly and answer questions at 870 Post Road in Darien. The lecture is designed to help educate people on why children and adults develop ADD/ADHD, and the latest research from the field of neurology on how these disorders can be evaluated and treated without dangerous medications. Nutritional research will also be discussed, including the vital role of nutrients in neurological health and treating ADHD, such as essential fatty acids, co-enzyme Q10, and OPCs. "We’re finding that often parents feel guilty about having to medicate their child for lack of knowledge of other options," said Dr. Robert Zembroski. "Parents want to make an informed decision on how to best give their child the chance to succeed socially and academically. We give parents an understanding of the neurological causes of ADD/ADHD and non-drug solutions to correcting the problem." For more information or to reserve seats at a lecture, contact Mary at 203-655-2659.
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July 16, 2006 - "Back in the Saddle" AN ADHD SUCCESS STORY (Originally printed in Danbury News-Tim
Back in the
Saddle
Struggling to find answers to their son's behavior problems, a Newtown couple found help through diet, vitamins and traditional medicineÂ
By Heather Barr, Danbury
News-Times
A brown-haired boy with glasses and a toothy grin, 8-year-old Andrew likes to bike with his family on weekends.
ride his
Sometimes he can be found teaching his 3-year-old sister to play basketball. He bought her a small basketball hoop at a tag sale, and it's just her size.
While he's helping her learn the basics of basketball, he's also doing some learning of his own in a summer school reading program. His mother helps him practice reading and spelling in their Newtown home.
At one point going forward into the third grade didn't seem like a realistic possibility for Andrew, she said, because he struggled mightily through most of second grade. He lacked energy, was irritable and couldn't focus. His family didn't know what to do.
After seeing several psychologists, Andrew was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome and ADHD (attention deficit hyper activity disorder). Because of the stigma which can be associated with these conditions, his family asked that their last name not be used in this feature. But they wanted to share their story, in hopes it will help others who may be in a similar situation.
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of Andrew’s therapy is to dribble a basketball with skills.
one hand to strengthen weak motor
Part
Tourette's is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in children between the ages of 2 and 15. It's defined by multiple motor and/or vocal tics lasting for more than a year.
The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements or tics of the face, arms, limbs or trunk that are frequent, repetitive and rapid. The most common first symptom is a facial tic like an eye blink or nose twitch and is replaced or added to by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs.
These involuntary tics may involve the entire body such as kicking and stamping. Many with the condition say they have an urge to perform a motor activity. Other symptoms such as touching, repetitive thoughts and movements and compulsions can occur, too.
There are also verbal tics like grunting, throat more likely to be affected than females.
clearing or saying obscene words. Males are
Associated conditions can range from learning disorder (ADHD).
disabilities to attention deficit hyper activity
Andrew's symptoms began around the summer of 2005. "Last summer he was feeling badly," said his mother. He didn't want to play outside with any other kids. He would stay inside on the couch and watch "National Geographic."
In the fall of 2005, Andrew began keeping his mouth wide open and soon began to jump up and down all day long. "The jumping was unbearable," said his mother. About three times a day he would slam into something and hurt himself, she added.
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When his parents asked him to do even small things like pick up his shoes, he wouldn't listen. Mornings were very difficult for his mother – he didn't want to get ready for school.
He had problems completing assignments for school because he was irritable and couldn't focus. Andrew's teacher told his parents he struggled with reading even a single sentence.
His mother and father saw him struggling, too. He'd church and Sunday school, said his father.
kick and scream when he had to go to
"I couldn't take care of him," added his mother. We
couldn't visit people. It was miserable."
Finding help for Andrew became a full-time job. His mother took him to numerous psychologists who gave him different medications. One mistake she said the family made was staying with one doctor too long; even though treatment wasn't working, they kept going back, hoping for some change.
"The majority were co-pay and go away," she said.
After numerous attempts to discover the best ways to help Andrew, they wound up seeing a naturopath who recommended fish oil and multivitamins. Finally, there were signs of improvement.
In addition to the basic medical sciences, they use to psychology.
everything from food and herb therapy
On March 29, Andrew's mother attended a seminar at the Raymond Learning Center in Ridgefield. The speaker, a chiropractic neurologist, was Dr. Robert Zembroski of the Connecticut Chiropractic Neurology Center in Darien. He spoke about how to get
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July 16, 2006 - "Back in the Saddle" AN ADHD SUCCESS STORY (Originally printed in Danbury News-Tim
help for kids with learning prescribed medication.
and behavior problems without having to put them on
"I didn't sleep all night after the seminar," said Andrew's mother. The next day she called the center and got an appointment for her son.
Zembroski did research into the family's history, and performed a neurological and physical evaluation, which included taking the boy's blood pressure and measuring the size of his pupil.
With Andrew he used videonystagmography – an infrared camera system that records eye movements during specific testing procedures. Because the eyes are a reflection of brain function, information from these tests aids in the discovery of brain asymmetry, according to the clinic's Web site.
Goggles were placed over Andrew's face for the test. From the videonystagmography, it was determined he had a decreased function in the right hemisphere of his brain, said Zembroski.
It's all about defining the dysfunction of a patient nutrition plan to makes it better, he said.
and then specifically putting in place a
He has seen a lot of patients with a number of problems, some up to 20 symptoms, from dyslexia, Tourette's syndrome and motor depravation, all "stemming from an aspect of the nervous system."
"He (Zembroski) is the only one who was able to tell body," said his mother.
Zembroski prescribed Andrew a multivitamin, OPC-3, Co
me what was wrong with Andrew's
Enzyme Q10 and fish oil vitamins.
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July 16, 2006 - "Back in the Saddle" AN ADHD SUCCESS STORY (Originally printed in Danbury News-Tim
He prescribes NutriMetrix Products vitamins because he has seen the best results with them. About 90 percent of the nutrients are absorbed, said Zembroski. Many vitamins people take are not absorbed as well as they think, he added.
Diet is also important. His mother said ever since he irritable after eating foods with dyes in them.
was a young boy, he'd become
Zembroski told her many petroleum-based food dyes have a negative effect on the basal ganglia of the brain, shutting off the chemicals needed to function. He tells parents to keep their kids away from foods with dyes.
What we usually find is when people start to improve their health conditions, they can wean off their medication (if they took prescription medication for the disorder), said Zembroski.
Andrew continues to take a prescription drug for Tourette's, but takes a smaller dosage than what he needed before finding Zembroski. He's also been able to wean off other medications.
Many people are skeptical about the program, said Zembroski, but "when you educate them on the real cause of what's wrong, they get over their skepticism and they are shown how the dysfunction goes away in a short period of time."
He recommends patients have office therapy and home
To increase the function of parts of the brain, he intensities for a patient's condition.
therapy.
has patients do therapy with different
"Most times I recommend a specific physical stimulus to rehabilitate someone," he said. In Andrew's case he needs to strengthen weak motor skills, so Zembroski has Andrew
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July 16, 2006 - "Back in the Saddle" AN ADHD SUCCESS STORY (Originally printed in Danbury News-Tim
dribble with his right hand like usual down the driveway with his left hand.
driveway, and then dribble back down the
Another exercise he does is squeezing putty in his unpleasant about this," said his mother.
Now he's a "completely different kid," she said.
"There has been a huge improvement," added his
left hand. "There is nothing painful or
"He's doing fantastic."
father.
Improvements have been ongoing since the beginning of April when Andrew began taking the vitamins in addition to the Tourette's syndrome drug. He went from a reading level of six to 28 and is now in same reading level of other kids his age, said his mother.
In a math assessment done near the end of his second grade school year, Andrew got 43 out of 44 answers correct and was able to move out of special education math.
He began to enjoy learning about subjects from homework in a short amount of time.
history to dinosaurs. He finished his
"I feel a lot better," said Andrew.
"He is much more confident in his behavior," in social settings, added his mother. "I couldn't get him to play with other kids (before). Now he can't wait to play with everybody."
The biggest improvement "is his behavior," said his
father.
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July 16, 2006 - "Back in the Saddle" AN ADHD SUCCESS STORY (Originally printed in Danbury News-Tim
Andrew now looks forward to church on Sundays; he enjoys everything from the goodies after the service to the arts and crafts at Sunday school.
His relationships with his family are better, too. He and his sister can play together without fighting. He and his two sets of grandparents spend time together. With one of his grandfathers he takes money deposits to the bank. He also helps one of his grandmothers recycle her bottles. With his father's father, who has a tree business, he goes with him to deliver logs.
"I don't have to hold my breath wondering 'What's he behavior and actions.
going to do?,' " said his mother of his
While each case is different, Andrew's parents want others to know there are options besides prescription medications that are worth exploring.
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