Is it safe to do self-adjustment?

This is a question I am asked a lot. I try to encourage people to take care of themselves, but there can be too much of a good thing. When you try to adjust yourself, repetitively, you usually are attacking the same area from the same angle, often an incorrect angle on an area that’s not the real source of the problem. So, at best, you often release the same area again and again, leading to a hypermobile area. And a hypermobile segment is an unstable segment. Meanwhile, there is usually a hypomobile or “stuck” area that’s not being addressed at all.

Simply put, occasional self-adjustment is likely harmless. But it’s important to discover and correctly treat the underlying cause that’s creating the need to continually self-adjust.

Getting over bronchitis naturally

If you regularly experience bronchitis — an inflammation of the mucus membranes of the bronchial tubes, bronchi, or trachea — it’s important to look at what may be lowering your resistance and increasing your susceptibility. When I see a patient with recurrent bronchitis, I evaluate the entire body for any weakness in the organs, glands, etc. I determine whether the immune system is busy dealing with any of the dazzling assortment of allergens, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and yeasts that we swim through every day. Individualized, targeted supplementation will shore up these responses and support the body’s ability to tackle the pathogen that’s causing the bronchitis in the first place. For lots of my patients, avoiding gluten and dairy diminishes symptoms in a short time. And use of a neti pot is a natural, effective way to reduce the toxic load on the upper respiratory system, by gently washing out the nasal passages.

If the bronchitis persists, the next important step is to determine whether you’re dealing with a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or an allergen. Then, a combination of homeopathic, herbal, nutritional, and dietary supplements — and perhaps allergy desensitization — can be targeted at your specific situation. They’ll help alleviate the chronic symptoms and shorten the extended recovery period we often see with bronchitis.

In summary: treatment is directed at increasing immunity, decreasing exposure to allergens and other pathogens, decreasing inflammation, increasing lymphatic drainage, and detoxifying. All designed to let the body do what it does so well when it’s unhampered — heal itself.

What about raw milk?

Well, I am glad you asked that question, although — as with many health-related questions — the answer is not as simple as “Yes, drink up,” or “Warning: poison.” And, as always, I think being well informed will lead to reasonable choices when making healthcare decisions.

Raw vs. pasteurized-homogenized milk seems to be a passionate issue for folks on both sides of the controversy. Simply put, opponents of raw milk feel that the serious potential consequences of bacterial contamination justify mandatory pasteurization to remove even the smallest risk. On the other side, Organic Pastures Dairy Company claims their product is highly pathogen resistant; after four years of intensive testing, not one pathogen has been detected. Raw milk proponents argue that milk’s greatest benefits, including essential digestive bacteria, are lost through pasteurization. And pasteurization actually converts those beneficial bacteria, rendering them indigestible and leading to allergies and other health problems.

Homogenization is the process of breaking apart fat cells, allowing the smaller pieces to blend into the milk, which means the cream won’t separate and rise to the top. Even advocates don’t see homogenization as crucial, merely convenient. But studies have indicated that this process may lead to arterial plaque formation and an increase in heart disease.

Regarding the “dog or cat” sticker,” according to FDA law, it’s illegal to transport raw dairy products across state lines “in final package form for direct human consumption unless the product has been pasteurized.” Thus, the “pet consumption” sticker when products from California are sold in Oregon.

The bottom line: raw milk in its typical uncontaminated state is a healthy option — if you choose to drink milk. (More about that choice, perhaps, in a future column.) But knowing your source and trusting their quality control is important in choosing which raw milk to drink. Ask your grocer and do your own research. To get you started, here are a few of the less hysterical websites I’ve found useful:

Raw Milk: A Risk to Public Health

The Real Reasons Why Raw Milk is Becoming More Popular

Raw Milk Vs. Pasteurized Milk