= International Task Force Favors Chiropractic The results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on neck pain and its associated disorders shows that spinal related pain and disorders are a significant and overwhelming problem worldwide. Published earlier this year in the journal Spine, this comprehensive report culminated findings from seven years of work from 9 contries and over 50 leading researchers. Ultimately after reviewing over 31,000 citations and a number of original research projects that were conducted within the task force, the key findings "are overall very positive for the chiropractic profession". The reality of neck pain prognosis is that most people with neck pain do not experience a complete resolution of symptoms, and 50% to 85% of those who experience neck pain at some time will report it again 1 to 5 years later. Of importance is that mobilization, manual therapy, exercis and low-level laser therapy appeared to be more beneficial forms of treatment. However, after scrutinizing the hundreds of different treatment options and products available, it was determined that no method is clearly superior to any other. Although it was clear that interventions that focused on regaining function and mobilization were relatively more effective that interventions that did not have such a focus. Overall it demonstrated that chiropractic remains one of the most highly utilized and effective forms of care. The ultimate consensus determines that mobilization of joints and realted tissues is the most effective and restoritive means of therapy and recovery. Yet considering the complexities of the conditions, treatment options will remain varied and it is recommended that individuals consider the different options and what may be most individually appropriate. For more indepth information or offprints of the studies, please contact Dr. Wilson. l  Detoxification While our body has a number of complex systems designed to filter the blood, metabolized foods and substances we consume and excretion systems to rid us of wastes, we still accumulate toxins that are difficult to eliminate. Never has this been more true than in our society today. Prior to industrialization, processed foods, and an overwhelming abundance of other sources of chemical substances such as cleaning agents, cosmetics and hygiene products, dyes, deodorizers, and every pharmaceutical drug, the human body at one time had a decent chance of neutralizing the more natural toxic exposures. In our current lifestyle, we wake up from sleeping possibly in fire retardant pajamas, on sheets and bedding likely comprised of formaldehydes, hit the bathroom to bathe ourselves with artificially fragranced soaps, fluoride laden dental products, aluminum based antiperspirants, lead and phthalate filled cosmetics and chemical based colognes and hair products. Now we're ready to hit the breakfast table where we wolf down the quickest, easiest food stuff made of 2 parts artificial sweeteners, 7 parts simple refined carbohydrates, 4 parts chemical additives/preservatives (that we likely can't pronounce) and finally 1 part actual food - but in dehydrated form. We've only begun the day and haven't yet joined the traffic commute. Even if you pride yourself on using natural hygiene products or ate an organic fresh fruit and range free chicken egg breakfast, chances are that every day you are exposed to an abundance of foreign chemicals that your body constantly struggles with and can't expel. This accumulation is significantly if not wholly responsible for the predominant scale of degenerative disease. Rigorous nutritional and naturopathic treatment protocols not only include more comprehensive and accurate nutritional supplementation, but patients are first managed to reduce and eliminate much of the toxic input and undergo detoxification protocols prior to being prescribed a supplement program. As one medical doctor described in regards to cancer treatment protocols, by performing chemo or radiation therapy and not performing systemic detoxification, the body is still overwhelmed to deal with dead and toxic cancer tissue. Although there are a number of methods and products touted to accomplish the task, not all are equally effective. Also be aware that some instruments are very effective, to the point that some individuals are precluded from the treatment due to drugs they may be taking or medical conditions that may be adversely affected by the strength of the detoxification system. Ultimately, good detoxification systems are being utilized more effectively and many are discovering the obvious improvement in their symptoms and overall health. l "Treating Childrens' Earaches with Chiropractic" A recent study showed significant improvement for children who were suffering from acute otitis media after receiving a chiropractic adjustment. Nine female and 12 male children between 9 months and 9 years old were experiencing acute middle ear pain with red and bulging tympanic membranes and an elevated mean oral temp of greater than 100 degrees F. After chiropractic treatment 95% of the children responded with average oral temperature returning to 98.6 F +/- 0.77 and the redness and bulging tympanic membranes returned to normal. Recurrent acute otitis media occurs during the early years of life in approximately 20 to 30% of the pediatric population. The challenges of this condition is not only the morbidity of symptoms the children suffer, but also the negative impacts of conventional treatment methods used. In another exceptional study performed by Dr. Jaon Fallon on nearly 400 children, it was disclosed that the average treatment regimen for the children ranging from 6 to 36 months of age was 7-8 courses of antibiotic therapy for their cases of otitis media. Empirical evidence suggests that this course is largely ineffective, especially considering the detrimental effects of prolonged antibiotic therapy and other treatment means should be sought. The consistency of the results of this study as well as several others provides evidence that young patients with otitis media may benefit from chiropractic adjustment. The increasing data is clearly evidence to justify continued, larger and more well-controlled clinical trials to determine the efficacy of chiropractic adjustment at treating this widespread childhood condition. = "We're killing our kids with food" That's what Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services in Berkeley says. She is passionate about the health of our next generation, claiming that we must change the way kids eat in schools. She has done her research well, noting that half of the Hispanic and African-American kids born in 2000 and a third of the Caucasian kids will develop diabetes. She states, "It's all because of what we are feeding them", and "It's all preventable." And she couldn't be more accurate. She also makes a strong and candid decleration, that the fast-food companies and junk-food producers are profiting off our children's health and future by selling unhealthy foods to schools. She is actively working against these "entrenched" interests where she is making a real difference in some California schools. Where there used to be a school lunch program of 90 percent frozen reheated foods, she has made a drastic transformation that now serves 90 percent fresh foods. Fresh fruit and a salad bar are now daily items compared to having fruit offered just once a week before. She is not only reviving health lunch programs in the Berkeley schools, but has also developed a healthy food curriculum with 90 staff people to help in the classrooms. She directs cooking and gardening classes and has begun a web page, Lunch Lessons, to help kids across the country understand the importance and future impact of a healthy lunch. Ann, a successful author and prestigious celebrity chef has created a "meal wheel" to help teach kids about eating healthy foods. She has certainly found a way to accomplish her goal to "really make a difference." l Health Care Costs Rising - Is a Health Savings Account the Right Choice? In the face of rising health care costs, and the troubled insurance programs, there may be an alternative that is growing fast. Over 3 million Americans have joined the consumer-directed health care movement by participating in HSAs, a seemingly good solution to a challenging problem. An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account created by an individual who is covered under a high-deductible health plan. Health Savings Accounts became law as part of President Bush’s Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The purpose of HSAs is twofold: first, to promote savings for future health care expenses; and second, to gently nudge the insured public into consumer-driven health products by offering tax incentive programs to those enrolled in qualified plans. The tax advantages of HSAs are what set them apart from other tax-advantaged programs. Not only is the money deposited into the account tax-deductible, but the interest earned and any qualified withdrawals also are all tax-free. The beauty of an HSA is that, unlike a standard health insurance plan in which your premiums are lost forever, with an HSA, the money goes into a savings account. Also, because you’re spending your own money, you are no longer at the mercy of managed care review boards that may or may not decide to approve your choice of care. You choose which providers you see and what health care you use, as long as HSA funds are used only for “qualified expenses.” If you want more control over your health choices, get the facts on how a health savings account works and how it could help protect your future. Remember, a HSA isn't right for everyone, so find out more from your health insurance representative today. = Joint Support Supplements Better then Pain Killers Two New Clinical Studies Confirm Old Findings: Glucosamine/Chondroitan Supplementation May Be Better for Knee Arthritis than Common Painkiller. The first study, a multi-centered Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) conducted by the US government-funded National Institutes of Health, found that Both celecoxib and the glucosamine-chondroitin combination significantly reduced knee pain compared to a placebo. The study looked at 1,500 osteoarthritis patients who were given a daily dose of either 1,500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride, 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulphate, a combination of both supplements, 200 mg of the common prescription painkiller celecoxib (Celebrex) or a placebo for 24 weeks. The patients were evaluated every four weeks. These findings are significant because Celecoxib is not only a very strong prescription pain killer, it is also very dangerous, and in the same class of drugs as the well known recalled drug Vioxx, which has proven fatal side effects. For a supplement to be shown as effective as these prescription pain killers, is noteworthy. A second study, from a multi-centre European trial, has found glucosamine sulphate to be more effective than the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen on joint pain. The Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) trial compared a daily dose of 1500mg of glucosamine sulphate and 3000 mg of the OTC drug to a placebo in 318 patients. After 24 weeks, the superior efficacy of the glucosamine supplement on various pain and mobility of arthritic joints was evident. Andrew Shao, in charge of scientific affairs at the US-based trade association the Council for Responsible Nutrition, noted that each trial can be considered “well-designed, well-conducted, gold-standard". The consistency of the results of this study as well as several others provides evidence that young patients with otitis media may benefit from chiropractic adjustment. The increasing data is clearly evidence to justify continued, larger and more well-controlled clinical trials to determine the efficacy of chiropractic adjustment at treating this widespread childhood condition.