I have been reading Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani’s book “Ticklish” – New ways to help your child Learn, Love and Play and what a wonderful book!  Ticklish is a must read for all parents (and grandparents!)

On page 21Dr Jennifer writes, and I quote:

“There is a myth that an odd-shaped child’s head is of no concern and will “right itself” with time, however, anomalies of shape can be the first indication that your child is susceptible to developmental delay.  A misshapen head is not merely a cosmetic issue, it is a brain stem issue.  If your child’s head looks uneven or you notice flat areas, this can indicate restrictions between the skull and the soft layers that cover the brain and spinal cord.  A healthy brain requires good movement of the skull and spine, when this movement is impaired, brain and nerve function are also impaired.

Sometimes children have nerve and spinal distress that results in their head being tilted to one side so that one ear sits higher than the other.  At other times a child’s head may be rotated or turned more to one side, so that they display a preference for having their head turned this way.”

Whether your child’s head is odd-shaped or not and whether their head sits unevenly or not it is best to have their skeletal system checked as early as possible by a Chiropractor.  Your Chiropractor’s focus is not aesthetics – their aim is to help increase the neurological function of your child.

Quote by Jane Healy PhD – “If young bodies are in bad shape, what about the brains that are attached to them?”

Chiropractic Life is a family health and wellness centre providing natural health care to your whole family.

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Taylor - Chiropractor Brighton

What do all the following symptoms have in common?

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Sinusitis
• Rhinitis
• Coughs and Sneezes
• Itchiness
• Running nose
• Watering eyes
• Sneezing

Yes – they are symptoms frequently experienced by people in the spring,  however it is not pollen, or dust mites or the environment that is the problem as is commonly thought – it is individual  immune systems.  Consider for a moment if it really was pollen, or dust mites or the environment – wouldn’t everyone have the same symptoms?  So how is it that some sail through and others fall victim to these symptoms?

Because of the condition of their nervous system (housed in the spinal column) which controls and co-ordinates virtually every cell, tissue, muscle, gland, organ and system of your entire body- including your immune system !

If there are interferences to the nervous system it will not work as efficiently as it is designed to do.

There are many things which cause interferences to the nervous system:

• mental/emotional distress – stress!
• physical trauma – birth trauma (which can affect you throughout your life if left uncorrected),  motor vehicle accidents, sporting injuries, falls, etc
• toxins – drugs, alcohol, toxins in food, water and air – environmental chemicals etc

When disturbed by any of these things,  the nervous system can have a limiting effect on the immune system, leaving people more susceptible to the irritations of spring – therefore does it make sense to keep the nervous system free of interference so that it can do its job properly?

That is why your Doctor of Chiropractic is so interested in removing interferences to your nervous system!  Not just to remove your pain, but to ensure your immune system and every other system in your body is working to it’s potential.

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen - Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractors Brighton and Hove

How many falls will your child have during the first three years of life?

Approximately 2,500!!

That’s just to age three!

Imagine how many more happen during the rough and tumble of childhood playing, sports and accidents – some we see as parents, and some we don’t and that is not even taking into account any birth trauma already present! Nothing is broken and the child stops complaining in a few days, but every fall, knock and accident accumulates and produces stress on the nervous system.

Do you think this may affect the developing spine?

The spine houses the nervous system, which is responsible for controlling and co-ordinating every cell, tissue, muscle, gland, organ and system of your entire body.  The health of your body depends on the clear and vital communication from your brain to every part of your being – via your spinal column!  Spinal health is vital to your general health and immune function. In his wisdom Socrates said “If you would have health, look first to the spine”. Why has medicine decided to look first to pharmaceuticals?  Don’t be hoodwinked by “big pharma” who want your mind,body and money! (FYI – your money goes first to war, then to oil and then to big pharma – a lot of it unnecessarily).  Your body has the ability to heal itself naturally – we just need to give it the opportunity!

Every day in our Chiropractic office we see adults whose lives could be much healthier if they had had the benefit of Chiropractic care as a child!

Fortunately – it is never too late!

Consult us today for the care you should have had as a child!  If it is for a child, consult us today to prevent the dis-ease of tomorrow!

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen - Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractors Brighton and Hove

Our Innate Intelligence is perfect. It begins with the singular sperm cell and the ovum connecting and creating a fetus, which grows, until it is ready to arrive earthside 40-44 weeks after fertilization. During this time, the Innate Intelligence of the implanted fetus knows to first create the precursor to the brain and spinal cord, spinal nerves, the heart, skeleton, and muscles.

As we get older, our Innate Intelligence continues to regulate and direct all functions within our bodies at all times. It knows precisely how much cortisol to produce or how much insulin we need to regulate our blood sugar. The amount of cortisol needed won’t be the same as the amount of insulin needed. But our Innate Intelligence knows this.

However, when there is a  subluxation present in the spinal column, our bodies’ intelligence can be hindered. Not in its performance, but in its delivery. The messages from the brain to the body won’t make it to their destination either on time, in full, or at all. Not because Innate Intelligence is sending the wrong message, but because the message is being distorted, similar to how a rumor begins. One person in the class tells someone else something, and by the time it gets to the last person in the class, it is a completely different story.

This is how dis-ease begins. Our bodies are not at ease, but in a state of stress because of this altered communication. Left alone for days, months, or years ill health begins to develop.

This is why a Chiropractic adjustment is so important. It removes the barrier to open communication. It opens up the nerve channels in our bodies. Full communication takes place between the brain and the body, and as a result this allows the body to heal and brings it back to a state of ease, or optimal health.

Information sourced from Dr Brandon Harshe at The Atlas of Life

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen - Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractors in Hove

• Symptoms are not normal!
• Colic is not normal!
• Persistent crying is not normal!
• Failure to feed properly is not normal!
• Fussiness is not normal!
• Earache is not normal!
• Inflamed throat is not normal!
• Not sleeping properly is not normal!
• Asthma is not normal!
• Hayfever is not normal!
• Growing pains are not normal!
• Persistent Symptoms of any kind are not normal!

Symptoms are the body’s warning system that the nervous system is under attack. This is true for babies and children and equally true for adults.

Chiropractors check vertebral function to see if there are interferences – especially in the upper neck.  By freeing the nervous system of interference a child is able to flourish, grow, enact, move and more importantly heal  itself naturally as it was designed to do – and thrive!

So just for the record – Chiropractors do not treat any of the above symptoms – they look for nerve interference because every cell, tissue, muscle, gland, organ and system of the entire body is controlled and co-ordinated by the nervous system and by removing nerve interference the body is able to do it’s own work of self healing. Your child becomes their own doctor!! We were designed to be healthy and any interferences to the nervous system frustrates this purpose.

Dr McMinn has five children who have never been to a doctor.  They were born at home and have had chiropractic care since the day they were born. (see previous post).  Their ages now add up to one hundred and thirty three years – that’s a hundred and thirty three years of natural, drug free health care.  The result?  Vitally healthy young adults!  Isn’t this what everyone wants for their children?

If you want the very best for your family – choose Chiropractic!

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen - Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractors in Hove

Dr Helen Martin (Chiropractor) is a Certified Webster Technique Practitioner with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association

About the Webster Technique:

Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of your body’s ability to be healthy. This is accomplished by working with the nervous system–the communication system between your brain and body. Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct spinal, pelvic and cranial misalignments (subluxations). When misaligned, these structures create an imbalance in surrounding muscles and ligaments. Additionally, the resulting nerve system stress may affect the body’s ability to function optimally.

The Webster protocol is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated.

Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association discovered this adjustment as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function. This specific sacral analysis can be used on all weight bearing individuals to determine S/I joint dysfunction/ sacral subluxation and is therefore applicable for the entire population. The assessment includes heel flexion to buttocks, with restricted flexion indicating the affected SI joint. Correction is made with a diversified, sacral adjustment. It is used on all weight bearing individuals presenting with this biomechanical restriction. Common symptoms include (but are not limited to) low back pain, sciatic neuralgia, and symptoms associated with S/I joint dysfunction.

In regards to pregnant mothers, Dr. Webster reported that when a mother sought care and her baby was in a breech position, the restoration of pelvic neuro-biomechanics with this adjustment also frequently facilitated optimal fetal positioning.  There are cases published in the chiropractic literature that support his theory. More research is needed and is currently underway by the ICPA.

In this clinical and theoretical framework, it is proposed that sacral misalignment may cause the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments.  It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their aberrant effect on the uterus which may prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth.

The obstetric literature has determined that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affects birth outcome and decreases the potential for undue stress to the baby’s developing spine and nerve system. Obstetric literature has also determined the importance of pelvic neuro-biomechanics for the prevention of dystocia (difficult birth). Chiropractic literature has determined the significance of sacral adjusting in normalizing pelvic neuro-biomenchanics.

It is therefore considered prudent that this specific sacral analysis and adjustment be used throughout pregnancy to detect and alleviate sacral imbalance and optimize pelvic neuro-biomechanics in the mother. Because of the particular female adaptations from the increase of hormones, weight gain and postural adaptations, pregnant mothers have a greater chance of sacral subluxation and neuro-biomechanical imbalance than the general population. Additionally, because of the effect the chiropractic adjustment has on all body functions by reducing nerve system stress, pregnant mothers may have significant benefit by having their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimizing health benefits for both the mother and baby.

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association offers classes of instruction and awards qualified attendees a Certificate of Proficiency in the Webster protocol. Only those doctors on ICPA site maintain recognized certification status for the Webster protocol.

Information – Jeanne Ohm, DC  (ICPA Executive Coordinator)

Membership Directory

To read research about this technique visit: http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/Webster-Technique/

And: http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/the-webster-technique-results-from-a-chiropractic-practice-based-research-program.html

Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton

Dr McMinn's childen (1990). All born at home with first Chiropractic check-up within hours of being born and Chiropractic checkups all their lives until now 2011! They have never been to a doctor.

Chiropractors in Hove

Traumatic Birth Syndrome and Birth Trauma – they both refer to the same thing – the negative effects of today’s birthing methods on a newborn. You may think your newborn looks healthy, and your baby’s doctor might even assure you that you have a healthy baby, but what you and  your doctor may not be aware of  is insidious nerve interference!  This leads to an irritable baby and desperate parents.

Most mothers give birth lying down – if you knew the history of why this is so you may be amused!!  (see footnote) This position works contrary to the laws of gravity and reduces the size of the mother’s pelvic opening which then sets up the groundwork for interference often with some pulling and twisting that affects the infant’s delicate head, neck and spine (which is still only cartilage).  Introduce forceps or a vacuum extraction and you are creating even more trauma to the poor baby’s nervous system.  These common, everyday birth practices produce birth trauma. Some types of birth trauma can be serious, such as spinal cord and brain stem injuries, neurological defects, and sudden infant death syndrome. Less life-threatening birth trauma (but very real trauma whichever way you view it) may result in learning disabilities, inadequate immune system functioning, hearing/vision problems and very commonly, difficulty in feeding due to the baby being unable to move the neck without pain.  This often explains why a baby will refuse to breastfeed on one side!

We believe that every infant should be checked for nerve interference as soon after birth as possible. Traumatic Birth Syndrome can result in immediate life-threatening symptoms or it can weaken one’s potential over the years. To ensure your baby is on the best road possible for optimal health, be sure to arrange a newborn chiropractic exam as soon after delivery as possible.

Nerve interference causes disease that can rob your child of an active, healthy and long life. Chiropractic adjustments on children are extremely low force and equally as effective as the ones we perform on you!

Dr McMinns own five children were all born at home and had their first chiropractic adjustment within hours of being born.  We are delighted to know Daisy Birthing in Brighton (check out their facebook – Daisy Birthing Brighton & Hove) can offer you the support you need, to have a safe and gentle birth experience for both mother and baby.

Footnote:   Scholars claim that King Louis XIV  persuaded his physician to ensure his wife would give birth lying down so that he could peer from behind a curtain to watch his child being born and what was being done in royal households was copied by the general public. The Royal Household were the trend setters of the day.  Doctors of that time were also convincing women to give birth on their backs, as delivering babies from mothers lying on tables is much easier to do than, if they are squatting, standing, or on hands and knees during delivery!

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen - Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractors Brighton and Hove

This blog post comes with a special thank you to our practice members at Chiropractic Life for voting us The Most Loved Chiropractic Clinic In The Whole Of  The United Kingdom for the second year running.  We collected 334 testimonials during the Fourteen Days Of Love national promotion on the BestOf website.  View all 543 accumulated testimonials here

Consult a Chiropractic Life Chiropractor – you are in safe hands!

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen – Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractor Brighton

In 1979 I became pregnant with our first child and having heard all the stories about childbirth I was determined to have a different experience!  Having decided on a Responsible Homebirth we were fortunate to be introduced to a wonderful Dutch lady who then introduced us to the Homebirth movement.   We went on to have five children born at home naturally with the support of regular Chiropractic Care.   In Holland today 30% of births are still homebirths.  Through Henny we discovered Dr Grantly Dick-Read’s book – Childbirth Without Fear.  I consumed the pages and determined – yes – there really was another way to bring our babies into the world.  We are delighted to be able to introduce other prospective parents to the work of Dr Grantly Dick Read and his book Childbirth Without Fear.

Your questions answered about Chiropractic for babies at www.babyworld.co.uk

• How does the birth process affect my baby’s spine?
• Are there any signs or symptoms of birth trauma?
• How can chiropractic treatment help?
• Is it safe for babies?
• How often should treatment be given?
• How do I find a reputable and qualified chiropractor?

Dr Richard McMinn has been taking care of Chiropractic babies since 1977!  Your baby will be in very safe hands.  Richard’s own five children have had Chiropractic care since their first hours of birth.  Give your child the very best start in life – a Chiropractic Check Up.

• Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Brighton
• Dr Glenn Fredericksen – Chiropractor Brighton