Today I saw a bag of dry dog food that purported to be smaller pieces, to encourage the dog to chew its food. On the bag is the claim, "Remember, digestion starts in the mouth!"
Yes - if you're HUMAN, but NOT if you're a dog! Our salivary glands produce amylase, which is the enzyme necessary for digesting starches, which is why we are supposed to chew our food 100 times before swallowing.
Dogs' salivary glands do NOT produce amylase. They don't do any digestion in their mouth. Dogs are made to bolt their food and swallow it whole - big chunks of meat, bones, horse manure, dead things, etc. Dogs are not supposed to chew. Their teeth are not built for it, and their jaws only move up and down (perfect for chomping), not side to side like our jaws, or like a horse's or cow's jaw.
It's time to stop making ridiculous comparisons between dogs and humans that aren't supported by simple facts, like anatomy and physiology. Unfortunately it is all too easy for us to fall into this trap based on what we know about our own bodies, and extrapolating this information to our pets.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Refining the raw food diet
I wanted to write a short piece about a mistake I see a lot of pet owners making when feeding raw: Too many vegetables!
Let's review: Dogs and cats are carnivores, or meat-eaters. Dogs are primarily carnivorous; although they can eat other things, they do best on a meat-based diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, and need meat if they are going to live and be healthy.
This also means that the bulk of their diet must be meat. Dogs need at least 3/4 of their diet to be meat, cats need a little more.
Correspondingly, this means that your pet doesn't need that much vegetable matter.
Many people are trying to cut back on the meat bill by adding grains or increasing the proportion of vegetables compared to meat. Unfortunately, you can't do this and come out ahead in the long run. Even though you are technically feeding "raw," your pets might experience lingering health issues - especially those who are being fed grains. And, remember, "grains" include rice, pasta, oatmeal, barley, millet, quinoa, etc. Watch your treats as well. Even a small amount of grains in the diet in the form of treats can prevent your pet's symptoms from clearing up.
When it comes to vegetables, variety is important (you can't always feed carrots, no matter how much Fluffy loves them), and NOT TOO MANY. If you are feeding your dog 1 cup of meat, you need 1-2 tablespoons of vegetables...at SOME meals. For a cat, this means a teaspoon of veggies...sometimes.
You don't have to feed veggies all the time. If it's easier for you, fine. If not, don't worry about it. Some weeks my dogs get no vegetables in their food, but I'll steam some Brussels sprouts during the day and they'll eat them right out of the pot. Or I might give them some vegetable soup when I'm putting the leftovers into containers. My cats are still eating some processed (canned and dry) grain-free foods. They are already getting more carbohydrates than they need, so when I put out raw food for them I don't add veggies to it. The raw food that I use is just meat and bone, by the way, no veggies or supplements in it.
I think it actually makes our lives easier. Make sure you are feeding a variety of meat sources (not always chicken), and if you feed your dog some table scraps and leftovers, the vegetables will likely take care of themselves....depending on your diet, of course!
Let's review: Dogs and cats are carnivores, or meat-eaters. Dogs are primarily carnivorous; although they can eat other things, they do best on a meat-based diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, and need meat if they are going to live and be healthy.
This also means that the bulk of their diet must be meat. Dogs need at least 3/4 of their diet to be meat, cats need a little more.
Correspondingly, this means that your pet doesn't need that much vegetable matter.
Many people are trying to cut back on the meat bill by adding grains or increasing the proportion of vegetables compared to meat. Unfortunately, you can't do this and come out ahead in the long run. Even though you are technically feeding "raw," your pets might experience lingering health issues - especially those who are being fed grains. And, remember, "grains" include rice, pasta, oatmeal, barley, millet, quinoa, etc. Watch your treats as well. Even a small amount of grains in the diet in the form of treats can prevent your pet's symptoms from clearing up.
When it comes to vegetables, variety is important (you can't always feed carrots, no matter how much Fluffy loves them), and NOT TOO MANY. If you are feeding your dog 1 cup of meat, you need 1-2 tablespoons of vegetables...at SOME meals. For a cat, this means a teaspoon of veggies...sometimes.
You don't have to feed veggies all the time. If it's easier for you, fine. If not, don't worry about it. Some weeks my dogs get no vegetables in their food, but I'll steam some Brussels sprouts during the day and they'll eat them right out of the pot. Or I might give them some vegetable soup when I'm putting the leftovers into containers. My cats are still eating some processed (canned and dry) grain-free foods. They are already getting more carbohydrates than they need, so when I put out raw food for them I don't add veggies to it. The raw food that I use is just meat and bone, by the way, no veggies or supplements in it.
I think it actually makes our lives easier. Make sure you are feeding a variety of meat sources (not always chicken), and if you feed your dog some table scraps and leftovers, the vegetables will likely take care of themselves....depending on your diet, of course!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
What to do?
A few days ago I ran into one of my clients while out shopping. He told me that his doctor had put him on a drug for a health issue. He said he didn't want to take it, he knew the drug has serious side effects, but he didn't know what else to do.
Here's what to do:
Find alternative health care. Go online. Facebook your friends. Talk to people about what has worked for them, and think about what has and hasn't worked for you. Then find people to help you.
I see a homeopath, a naturopath, a chiropractor, two Rolfers, and a massage therapist. Not all the time, just depending on what's going on with me. The goal is to keep myself healthy, to deal with my issues using natural means, and to live a long, unmedicated life.
So find your people. Talk to practitioners on the phone. I know that prospective clients often want to talk to me before booking an appointment, so I'm happy to talk to them. That way they can hear my voice, ask me how I feel about vaccines or heartworm preventive or whatever, and get an idea about whether they want to work with me.
Even if you don't have the opportunity to talk to the practitioner first, go with your gut feeling. If your inclination is to book an appointment, do it. Even if you decide to try a different kind of therapy, or to continue with a different person, you will likely still benefit from that first session and treatment. There are practices where you can find several different types of practitioners working together, or you can assemble your own health care team.
There is so much alternative and complementary health care available, most of which has some merit, that it's worth researching and pursuing rather than resigning yourself to a life on drugs. There is no such thing as a drug without side effects, so it really behooves us to scope out other options.
Here's what to do:
Find alternative health care. Go online. Facebook your friends. Talk to people about what has worked for them, and think about what has and hasn't worked for you. Then find people to help you.
I see a homeopath, a naturopath, a chiropractor, two Rolfers, and a massage therapist. Not all the time, just depending on what's going on with me. The goal is to keep myself healthy, to deal with my issues using natural means, and to live a long, unmedicated life.
So find your people. Talk to practitioners on the phone. I know that prospective clients often want to talk to me before booking an appointment, so I'm happy to talk to them. That way they can hear my voice, ask me how I feel about vaccines or heartworm preventive or whatever, and get an idea about whether they want to work with me.
Even if you don't have the opportunity to talk to the practitioner first, go with your gut feeling. If your inclination is to book an appointment, do it. Even if you decide to try a different kind of therapy, or to continue with a different person, you will likely still benefit from that first session and treatment. There are practices where you can find several different types of practitioners working together, or you can assemble your own health care team.
There is so much alternative and complementary health care available, most of which has some merit, that it's worth researching and pursuing rather than resigning yourself to a life on drugs. There is no such thing as a drug without side effects, so it really behooves us to scope out other options.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Rolfing - the next frontier
As some of you may be aware, I am heading to Colorado this summer to study Rolfing. This is a three-part certification course. This first unit runs through June and July, so I'll be managing my practice from a distance. I can do a lot of work via email and phone, and I'll still be able to do consultations and send out remedies.
Everyone asks "What is Rolfing?" Well, it's another obscure healing method, kind of like homeopathy. No, seriously, in order to answer that question, I asked my Rolfer, Jennifer Eslinger. Her practice is called Structural Energy.
Here is what she had to say:
How did you hear about Rolfing?
I found out about Rolfing® Structural Integration in 2002, shortly
after graduating from college. My sister was seeing a Rolfer™ after
hearing about it through the Yoga Journal. She mentioned that her Rolfer
had a one year old son and that she needed someone to babysit him. I
ended up babysitting in exchange for my first three sessions. I fell in
love with the work and proceeded to pay for the rest of the series.
What made you decide to go study it?
I was a Psychology major and was having doubts about further pursuing
Psychology. Both the commitment of years and years of schooling as well
as my lack of desire to be surrounded by negativity swayed my thinking.
About halfway through the ten-series, I could see myself doing this work.
I enjoy helping people and what I loved about Rolfing SI is that it not
only affects the physical body, it also affects the mental and the
emotional body. With Rolfing SI, there is an end in sight. This is
goal-oriented work that gets to the root of the problem. As I was
considering Rolfing SI as a career, my Rolfer told me of a saying, “If you
want to change, get Rolfing. If you really want to change, become a
Rolfer.”
Can you briefly explain what Rolfing is?
Rolfing® Structural Integration is a hands-on form of bodywork that
works by lengthening and freeing the wrappings around the muscles, known
as connective tissue. Rolfing SI systematically organizes the body
through a series of ten individual sessions, with each session focusing on
a different part of the body. With heat and pressure, Rolfing SI is able
to mold a body like plastic. When this tissue “hardens,” it takes on a
new form and the effects are long-lasting.
I sometimes describe Rolfing SI as a cross between deep tissue massage and
chiropractic, but it is really neither of these two. If anything, it
feels like deep tissue massage, but has the added benefit of structural
alignment. Chiropractic works on the bones, whereas Rolfing SI works on
the soft tissue that surrounds the bones.
What kinds of conditions have you seen benefit from Rolfing treatment?
Rolfing SI is great for helping people improve their posture. My
clients seek my work for this reason as well as to address some form of
chronic pain, be it neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, and so forth. A
lot of my clients come to Rolfing SI after they have exhausted other
modalities and nothing has fully helped them. The beauty of Rolfing SI is
that it works on the whole body, not just the point of pain and
discomfort. Rolfing SI recognizes that our body is connected and that
neck pain could actually begin with the feet.
Everyone asks "What is Rolfing?" Well, it's another obscure healing method, kind of like homeopathy. No, seriously, in order to answer that question, I asked my Rolfer, Jennifer Eslinger. Her practice is called Structural Energy.
Here is what she had to say:
How did you hear about Rolfing?
I found out about Rolfing® Structural Integration in 2002, shortly
after graduating from college. My sister was seeing a Rolfer™ after
hearing about it through the Yoga Journal. She mentioned that her Rolfer
had a one year old son and that she needed someone to babysit him. I
ended up babysitting in exchange for my first three sessions. I fell in
love with the work and proceeded to pay for the rest of the series.
What made you decide to go study it?
I was a Psychology major and was having doubts about further pursuing
Psychology. Both the commitment of years and years of schooling as well
as my lack of desire to be surrounded by negativity swayed my thinking.
About halfway through the ten-series, I could see myself doing this work.
I enjoy helping people and what I loved about Rolfing SI is that it not
only affects the physical body, it also affects the mental and the
emotional body. With Rolfing SI, there is an end in sight. This is
goal-oriented work that gets to the root of the problem. As I was
considering Rolfing SI as a career, my Rolfer told me of a saying, “If you
want to change, get Rolfing. If you really want to change, become a
Rolfer.”
Can you briefly explain what Rolfing is?
Rolfing® Structural Integration is a hands-on form of bodywork that
works by lengthening and freeing the wrappings around the muscles, known
as connective tissue. Rolfing SI systematically organizes the body
through a series of ten individual sessions, with each session focusing on
a different part of the body. With heat and pressure, Rolfing SI is able
to mold a body like plastic. When this tissue “hardens,” it takes on a
new form and the effects are long-lasting.
I sometimes describe Rolfing SI as a cross between deep tissue massage and
chiropractic, but it is really neither of these two. If anything, it
feels like deep tissue massage, but has the added benefit of structural
alignment. Chiropractic works on the bones, whereas Rolfing SI works on
the soft tissue that surrounds the bones.
What kinds of conditions have you seen benefit from Rolfing treatment?
Rolfing SI is great for helping people improve their posture. My
clients seek my work for this reason as well as to address some form of
chronic pain, be it neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, and so forth. A
lot of my clients come to Rolfing SI after they have exhausted other
modalities and nothing has fully helped them. The beauty of Rolfing SI is
that it works on the whole body, not just the point of pain and
discomfort. Rolfing SI recognizes that our body is connected and that
neck pain could actually begin with the feet.
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Pain of Life
I often hear people say that they have considered euthanizing their pet because they are in such terrible pain. Of all the reasons to euthanize a pet, pain seems like an extreme. Severe trauma, yes. Cancer, okay. Untreatable debilitating illness, sure. But pain?
Pain can be treated. It can be dealt with. It is often temporary.
It is actually difficult for us to tell when an animal is in pain. They don't cry or whine, and still want to go for a walk or car ride. Sometimes the only way to know is to say, Well, if my eye looked like that, I'm pretty sure it would hurt. Or the relatively obvious, If it didn't hurt, he wouldn't be limping on it.
The human pharmacy is full of drugs that treat different kinds of pain. There might be many drugs in the same class, like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs), because response to these drugs differs from one person to the next. Many of these drugs are not safe for use in dogs and cats, so it is not a good idea to treat your pet with things you find in your own medicine cabinet at home. We tend to use a smaller variety of drugs with animals, because we don't know how they feel in the first place. The current trend is towards polypharmacy, where drugs are used in combination in an attempt to mitigate the toxic side effects of each one. Using them together often allows lowered and safer doses.
Naturally, there are all kinds of options. Boswellia is the classic "arthritis herb." The herb Slippery Elm soothes digestive irritations. Homeopathy offers many remedies for various kinds of pain and discomfort; the most common one is probably Arnica montana for trauma and bruises. Massage, chiropractic, acupressure, and myofascial release all have their places in the natural medicine chest.
I suggest that if you think your pet is in pain, or if there is a diagnosis of a condition that would be painful for a human, check out all your options. All drugs have side effects, so it can be helpful to use the safer herbs and homeopathic remedies first, and only turn to the drugs as a last resort. In addition to the modern tendency to "take a pill for that," we should remember the healing benefits of the hands-on manual therapies like massage as well as the hands-off therapies like Reiki and Healing Touch.
Pain can be treated. It can be dealt with. It is often temporary.
It is actually difficult for us to tell when an animal is in pain. They don't cry or whine, and still want to go for a walk or car ride. Sometimes the only way to know is to say, Well, if my eye looked like that, I'm pretty sure it would hurt. Or the relatively obvious, If it didn't hurt, he wouldn't be limping on it.
The human pharmacy is full of drugs that treat different kinds of pain. There might be many drugs in the same class, like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs), because response to these drugs differs from one person to the next. Many of these drugs are not safe for use in dogs and cats, so it is not a good idea to treat your pet with things you find in your own medicine cabinet at home. We tend to use a smaller variety of drugs with animals, because we don't know how they feel in the first place. The current trend is towards polypharmacy, where drugs are used in combination in an attempt to mitigate the toxic side effects of each one. Using them together often allows lowered and safer doses.
Naturally, there are all kinds of options. Boswellia is the classic "arthritis herb." The herb Slippery Elm soothes digestive irritations. Homeopathy offers many remedies for various kinds of pain and discomfort; the most common one is probably Arnica montana for trauma and bruises. Massage, chiropractic, acupressure, and myofascial release all have their places in the natural medicine chest.
I suggest that if you think your pet is in pain, or if there is a diagnosis of a condition that would be painful for a human, check out all your options. All drugs have side effects, so it can be helpful to use the safer herbs and homeopathic remedies first, and only turn to the drugs as a last resort. In addition to the modern tendency to "take a pill for that," we should remember the healing benefits of the hands-on manual therapies like massage as well as the hands-off therapies like Reiki and Healing Touch.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Welcome to the new year!
Wow, it's been a while since I've last written. Well, here I am getting back on track after the insanity that was last fall.
Last spring I started a seasonal detoxification program for my dogs. It was based on the Chinese calendar and organ affinities, and I came up with combinations of the Standard Process human supplements for detoxification of the various organs. Unfortunately, I never made it past the spring. One of my dogs, Alice the Aussie mix, couldn't tolerate one of the supplements that I had chosen. Then she developed other problems and ended up dying of mast cell tumor at home.
She was a great dog. I'd had her for years, since she was picked up as a stray in Elk River. She was bold, aggressive, and wise, a go-anywhere, do-anything kind of dog. Over the last couple of years of her life she struggled a little with the fallout from a bout of vestibular disease, but never lost her appetite or attitude.
So, anyhow, back to the detox idea. Since then I have reverted to using more of the veterinary line of Standard Process products in my practice. I have also read more and learned more. I lean more and more towards supporting the organ systems so that they can naturally detoxify themselves, rather than forcing detoxification on systems that may be weakened.
This means that before you try this program, make sure you have your basics in place. This means raw food diet and appropriate basic supplementation - essential fatty acids, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. I will be utilizing Standard Process veterinary products exclusively. These are available from my office (obviously), at many chiropractic offices, and you can even find some of them on Amazon.
The goal is to use the supplements for organ support for a limited period of time. All Standard Process products are whole food supplements, i.e. food sources of vitamins and minerals (as opposed to synthetic crap that your body can't easily utilize or absorb). In between the organ-specific seasons, I suggest that you go back to some other whole food supplement (which you are probably already using for your pets, if you have been to see me or taken any of my classes). This means something like Springtime's Fresh Factors, Dr. Harvey's E-Mune Blend, Missing Link, Udo's Essentials, Azmira's Daily Boost, etc.
I'll be recording my dogs' progress through the program, with a brief heads up as we start each season and the list of what you'll need. I encourage all pet owners to follow through the program with me, and let me know how your pets respond and any changes you see, and I'll do the same. As my dogs age, I am anxious to do whatever I can to help keep them healthy and functional, and I'm sure many pet owners feel the same. Come along on this journey with me!
Last spring I started a seasonal detoxification program for my dogs. It was based on the Chinese calendar and organ affinities, and I came up with combinations of the Standard Process human supplements for detoxification of the various organs. Unfortunately, I never made it past the spring. One of my dogs, Alice the Aussie mix, couldn't tolerate one of the supplements that I had chosen. Then she developed other problems and ended up dying of mast cell tumor at home.
She was a great dog. I'd had her for years, since she was picked up as a stray in Elk River. She was bold, aggressive, and wise, a go-anywhere, do-anything kind of dog. Over the last couple of years of her life she struggled a little with the fallout from a bout of vestibular disease, but never lost her appetite or attitude.
So, anyhow, back to the detox idea. Since then I have reverted to using more of the veterinary line of Standard Process products in my practice. I have also read more and learned more. I lean more and more towards supporting the organ systems so that they can naturally detoxify themselves, rather than forcing detoxification on systems that may be weakened.
This means that before you try this program, make sure you have your basics in place. This means raw food diet and appropriate basic supplementation - essential fatty acids, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. I will be utilizing Standard Process veterinary products exclusively. These are available from my office (obviously), at many chiropractic offices, and you can even find some of them on Amazon.
The goal is to use the supplements for organ support for a limited period of time. All Standard Process products are whole food supplements, i.e. food sources of vitamins and minerals (as opposed to synthetic crap that your body can't easily utilize or absorb). In between the organ-specific seasons, I suggest that you go back to some other whole food supplement (which you are probably already using for your pets, if you have been to see me or taken any of my classes). This means something like Springtime's Fresh Factors, Dr. Harvey's E-Mune Blend, Missing Link, Udo's Essentials, Azmira's Daily Boost, etc.
I'll be recording my dogs' progress through the program, with a brief heads up as we start each season and the list of what you'll need. I encourage all pet owners to follow through the program with me, and let me know how your pets respond and any changes you see, and I'll do the same. As my dogs age, I am anxious to do whatever I can to help keep them healthy and functional, and I'm sure many pet owners feel the same. Come along on this journey with me!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
AVMA War Against Raw Food is Half Baked
To all friends and fans of holistic medicine, raw food, and common sense: Do not be alarmed by the AVMA's decision to pass a resolution warning people against feeding raw food to dogs and cats! This resolution was pushed through by the processed pet food companies in an economic assault on the raw food companies, and the AVMA are a bunch of idiots and cowards for passing it!
Supposedly, the purpose is
Supposedly, the purpose is
to protect the public from the horrible infections we could get from feeding our pets raw food. They are totally ignoring all the DRY food recalls - many more than raw foods have ever had - because of bacterial contamination! Just to let you know, I am writing the organization a goodbye letter and terminating my membership. I can't stand to be a part of this irresponsible idiocy any more.
If you're looking for more information, please check out this article on Dr. Fox Vet. It basically reinforces everything my colleagues and I have been talking about.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
How old are your pets?
Perhaps you have come across this chart, either at your vet's office, in a publication, or online.
One of my goals with holistic medicine is to help our pets outlive our expectations. I assume that my clients, just like me, want their pets to live as long as possible. Throughout the years of practicing medicine, our expectations have gradually been diminished, so that we no longer know what is possible for our pets.
For example, when I was a kid, our neighbor's Standard Poodle Billy was 21 and went for a walk every day. Our cats lived to be 22 and 23. The party line of conventional veterinary medicine is something like: "Thanks to modeern medicine, our pets are living longer and healthier lives than ever before!" And yet, on the ground, this is not true.
At a conference last summer, a vet from California began her lecture by saying, "As you all know, we're dealing with animals that have a ten-year life span." And we know that giant breed dogs (Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dogs, mastiffs, St. Bernards) are seniors with three feet in the grave by the time they're six. Cats are senior citizens by seven or eight.
In my little home experiment with natural care and feeding, here's how it's going: Tonka, who is 13 now and a 97 lb Malamute mix, is now officially off the chart. He still goes for a walk every day and does a happy dance at feeding time, although the dance is more sedate than it used to be. Tootsie, who is 14 years and 22 lbs, can still jump up on the dining room table and gets into everything she possibly can. Yesterday she ran away, ate lots of compost, and swam in the swamp. Ariel, at 8 years and 17 lbs, is a child in comparison. I hope she never grows old. When the other two are gone, I'll adopt a big goofy black dog and another snarky little terrier, just to keep Ariel on her toes!
For example, when I was a kid, our neighbor's Standard Poodle Billy was 21 and went for a walk every day. Our cats lived to be 22 and 23. The party line of conventional veterinary medicine is something like: "Thanks to modeern medicine, our pets are living longer and healthier lives than ever before!" And yet, on the ground, this is not true.
At a conference last summer, a vet from California began her lecture by saying, "As you all know, we're dealing with animals that have a ten-year life span." And we know that giant breed dogs (Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dogs, mastiffs, St. Bernards) are seniors with three feet in the grave by the time they're six. Cats are senior citizens by seven or eight.
In my little home experiment with natural care and feeding, here's how it's going: Tonka, who is 13 now and a 97 lb Malamute mix, is now officially off the chart. He still goes for a walk every day and does a happy dance at feeding time, although the dance is more sedate than it used to be. Tootsie, who is 14 years and 22 lbs, can still jump up on the dining room table and gets into everything she possibly can. Yesterday she ran away, ate lots of compost, and swam in the swamp. Ariel, at 8 years and 17 lbs, is a child in comparison. I hope she never grows old. When the other two are gone, I'll adopt a big goofy black dog and another snarky little terrier, just to keep Ariel on her toes!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Danger, danger! What you don't know can kill you!
In the April 2012 issue of DVM Newsmagazine, there's an article titled "CDC cautions public about raw milk consumption." Raw milk is illegal in some states (Minnesota included) precisely for this reason - it could kill you!
Here is what the CDC's research showed: Over the 13 years from 1993 to 2006, there were 4,413 illnesses, 239 hospitalizations, and three deaths - Yes, people DIED from drinking raw milk! This means that raw milk is BAD! It could KILL YOU!
OK, let's do some math. 4,413 illnesses in 13 years, that's, umm, let me see, roughly 339 people per year made ill by consuming raw milk. 239 hospitalizations, that's, oh, my...18 people per year. And three deaths, hmm, wait a minute! That's three deaths in thirteen years!
Honestly, folks, don't we have more serious things to worry about?
Here's some information from the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999: Each year 107,000 people are hospitalized from side effects caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You know, aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. And each year there are 16,500 NSAID-related deaths among patients with arthritis. And that's just folks with arthritis, not the rest of us who might be taking these drugs for headaches, injuries, heart-attack prevention, etc.
Is the CDC telling us to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatories? Hell, no! There's money in them thar hills, I mean drugs!
But raw milk could kill you.
Beware.
Here is what the CDC's research showed: Over the 13 years from 1993 to 2006, there were 4,413 illnesses, 239 hospitalizations, and three deaths - Yes, people DIED from drinking raw milk! This means that raw milk is BAD! It could KILL YOU!
OK, let's do some math. 4,413 illnesses in 13 years, that's, umm, let me see, roughly 339 people per year made ill by consuming raw milk. 239 hospitalizations, that's, oh, my...18 people per year. And three deaths, hmm, wait a minute! That's three deaths in thirteen years!
Honestly, folks, don't we have more serious things to worry about?
Here's some information from the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999: Each year 107,000 people are hospitalized from side effects caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You know, aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. And each year there are 16,500 NSAID-related deaths among patients with arthritis. And that's just folks with arthritis, not the rest of us who might be taking these drugs for headaches, injuries, heart-attack prevention, etc.
Is the CDC telling us to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatories? Hell, no! There's money in them thar hills, I mean drugs!
But raw milk could kill you.
Beware.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Newsletter and Nutrition Classes
Did you know that what you feed your pets affects
their behavior as well as their health? Click here for more information about the
Nutrition Classes for Dogs and Cats I co-teach with Katie K9, professional
dog trainer, coach and radio personality. You will find our 2 ½-hour classes informative
and entertaining.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Things That Drive Me Nuts
In the latest issue of Veterinary Medicine magazine there's an article about a dog with anal sac adenocarcinoma. This is a malignant tumor in dogs, and it's a sad story that ends badly for this little guy. Initially surgery was performed to remove the tumor, and it was repeated a month later because the darn thing grew back. During the second surgery, 40% of the anal sphincter was removed as well as part of his rectum.
Other than mild fecal incontinence (surprise, surprise) and bladder stones, which were not treated because they were not deemed to be causing any problems, the dog went home for a year and a half, at which point he had developed ribbon-shaped feces and was having trouble pooping. The tumor had not only reoccurred locally, but had spread to his liver and lungs.
Over the next 6 months this poor little dog went through chemotherapy, side effects of chemotherapy, feeling like crap, drugs, more drugs, drugs to treat the side effects of the first drugs, and eventually his kidneys shut down and he was mercifully euthanized.
The article is meant to be educational, in kind of a "this is the way it goes" presentation, with each actor - the surgeon, the oncologist, the clinical pathologist, the pharmacologist - playing their part in the drama of treating the tumor, um, I mean, the patient.
This article was tragic for me. I've treated some dogs like this with nutrition, correct diet, and homeopathy, and have had them live out their normal life spans in comfort at home. Not every pet will share the same level of success with treatment, depending on the state of the immune system, which plays such a huge role in these conditions. But when I think about my patients - at home, eating great food, benefiting from the gentle medicine of homeopathy - versus this little dog, who spent his last months of life ill, receiving injections of toxic drugs and having all kinds of pills shoved down his throat on a regular basis - it strikes me as very sad that there was no search for alternatives here. Even if homeopathy and other forms of "alternative" medicine wouldn't have offered hope of a cure, necessarily, well, this dog didn't get a cure from conventional medicine. He got suffering, from professionals whose oath states that their goal is to relieve suffering. And that's why I do what I do.
Other than mild fecal incontinence (surprise, surprise) and bladder stones, which were not treated because they were not deemed to be causing any problems, the dog went home for a year and a half, at which point he had developed ribbon-shaped feces and was having trouble pooping. The tumor had not only reoccurred locally, but had spread to his liver and lungs.
Over the next 6 months this poor little dog went through chemotherapy, side effects of chemotherapy, feeling like crap, drugs, more drugs, drugs to treat the side effects of the first drugs, and eventually his kidneys shut down and he was mercifully euthanized.
The article is meant to be educational, in kind of a "this is the way it goes" presentation, with each actor - the surgeon, the oncologist, the clinical pathologist, the pharmacologist - playing their part in the drama of treating the tumor, um, I mean, the patient.
This article was tragic for me. I've treated some dogs like this with nutrition, correct diet, and homeopathy, and have had them live out their normal life spans in comfort at home. Not every pet will share the same level of success with treatment, depending on the state of the immune system, which plays such a huge role in these conditions. But when I think about my patients - at home, eating great food, benefiting from the gentle medicine of homeopathy - versus this little dog, who spent his last months of life ill, receiving injections of toxic drugs and having all kinds of pills shoved down his throat on a regular basis - it strikes me as very sad that there was no search for alternatives here. Even if homeopathy and other forms of "alternative" medicine wouldn't have offered hope of a cure, necessarily, well, this dog didn't get a cure from conventional medicine. He got suffering, from professionals whose oath states that their goal is to relieve suffering. And that's why I do what I do.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Importance of the Physical Exam
The most important part of any visit to the veterinary hospital is the complete physical examination. This is a hands-on touch-and-feel external observation and evaluation of your pet’s physical, mental, and emotional state.
Much information in veterinary medicine has been misconstrued about the importance of the physical exam vs. the importance of the annual vaccinations. That’s why “shot clinics” exist, why at some practices if your appointment is “just” for vaccines your pet won’t be seen by a doctor, and why you can buy the vaccines from a catalog or over the internet.
A comprehensive physical exam is so worthwhile that it completely overshadows the financial advantage of just vaccinating the pet without an exam. But then it has to be a good physical exam. A friend of mine recently took her puppies to be spayed and neutered. I asked her, was the vet nice? Oh, yes, very nice. Was he professional? Yes, absolutely. Was he thorough? Not so much. His physical exam consisted of petting the puppies and saying that they seemed healthy.
In veterinary medicine we have a constant dilemma between the benefit of getting our hands on an animal and feeling for abnormalities, and the plethora of diagnostic testing available at a moment’s notice. Of course not everything can be diagnosed based on a physical exam, but it should give you a good guideline, along with a thorough history, to the diagnostic tests which might be most beneficial.
In the hands of an experienced practitioner, a good physical exam does not take long. If you are busy chatting with the vet or on the phone, you may not even notice that the physical exam has come and gone. Even so, you are better off paying for two physical exams every year than going to the shot clinic because it’s cheap, but not getting a physical exam performed on your pet at all. It is the best way to detect subtle symptoms of ill-health, and is the cornerstone of true preventive medicine.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Our Toxic Homes
In Minnesota, in winter especially, indoor air quality just goes to hell. between the crap shooting out of the air ducts, the mold growing in the walls, and the toxic chemicals offgassing from furniture, carpeting, and home chemicals (airspray, hairspray, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, scented candles, etc.).
Unfortuntately, our poor indoor pets get the worst of it. Trapped in our homes while we are out breathing the fresh air at work or at the grocery store, our pets are unable to escape the putrid chemical soup that wafts down to their level of the atmosphere.
People don't think twice about smoking with pets in the home, spraying their hair with toxic products while the dog sits at their side, and using floor cleaners that the dogs and cats are then going to walk through, and lick their paws when they're done. I tend to forget how many toxic things people have in their homes, mainly because I don't use airspray or hairspray, and I don't clean. Oh, I run the vacuum once in a while, and wipe things up with water, but I never use spray cleaners and only use environmentally safe(r) dish detergents. But I'll bet most people have a little toxic waste dump going on underneath the kitchen sink.
Folks, there's a reason toxic things have labels on them that tell you not to breath the fumes, get it on your skin or in your eyes, and not to ingest the stuff. Don't put your pet at risk for doing those same things.
Unfortuntately, our poor indoor pets get the worst of it. Trapped in our homes while we are out breathing the fresh air at work or at the grocery store, our pets are unable to escape the putrid chemical soup that wafts down to their level of the atmosphere.
People don't think twice about smoking with pets in the home, spraying their hair with toxic products while the dog sits at their side, and using floor cleaners that the dogs and cats are then going to walk through, and lick their paws when they're done. I tend to forget how many toxic things people have in their homes, mainly because I don't use airspray or hairspray, and I don't clean. Oh, I run the vacuum once in a while, and wipe things up with water, but I never use spray cleaners and only use environmentally safe(r) dish detergents. But I'll bet most people have a little toxic waste dump going on underneath the kitchen sink.
Folks, there's a reason toxic things have labels on them that tell you not to breath the fumes, get it on your skin or in your eyes, and not to ingest the stuff. Don't put your pet at risk for doing those same things.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Vaccinations and Reactions
On January 24th I gave a talk to the employees and clients of Dogue Spot, a dog training and day care facility in Otsego, MN. I'm sure that the information I conveyed was priceless, and will be remembered verbatim by all who attended. From my perspective, the most interesting part was the discussions about the animals that had their health damaged by vaccines. Just about everyone in the room had a story to share.
The veterinary journals (i.e. propaganda) tell us that vaccine reactions are rare.
It all depends on what you're looking for. If we were better as a profession at identifying the signs of ill health, and at allowing for the possibility of cause and effect, we might be more aware of the relationship between the vaccine event and the onset of health problems in the pets that we vaccinate. The issues do not always arise immediately after vaccinating.
Like many other holistic veterinarians, I am conscious of the fact that the vast majority of the animals that I treat are suffering from vaccinosis in one form or another. Vaccinosis denotes the variety of chronic conditions that are brought on by an aberrant response to vaccines. This is not rare or unusual, according to us, because of the harsh nature of vaccines, the toxic brew of the contents, and the likelihood that the immune system will sustain damage from the vaccine.
The main thing that I find lacking in general veterinary practice is the admission that once an animal has had a vaccine reaction, any kind, at any time, STOP. Stop vaccinating that pet. The risk of causing a chronic disease that will be incurable is too great.
In the clip from FOX news that I posted on my facebook page, a woman reports that now her dog has to get shots in order to prevent a reaction to its shots. During the interview, the dog, a Beagle, is lying on the couch facing the camera, unmoving, completely lacking in vitality. Yes, all Beagles look sort of sad, but this dog looks really sad. It looks like it has a chronic headache. But the show must go on, just in case little overvaccinated Buffy is accidentally exposed to some horrible disease she's already been vaccinated against ten times. The entire concept is ridiculous, this idea that we must continue vaccinating even in the face of hives, angioedema, thrombocytopenia, cancer, and any one of the other million bad things that can happen after vaccination.
It's time to stop. Once is enough.
The veterinary journals (i.e. propaganda) tell us that vaccine reactions are rare.
It all depends on what you're looking for. If we were better as a profession at identifying the signs of ill health, and at allowing for the possibility of cause and effect, we might be more aware of the relationship between the vaccine event and the onset of health problems in the pets that we vaccinate. The issues do not always arise immediately after vaccinating.
Like many other holistic veterinarians, I am conscious of the fact that the vast majority of the animals that I treat are suffering from vaccinosis in one form or another. Vaccinosis denotes the variety of chronic conditions that are brought on by an aberrant response to vaccines. This is not rare or unusual, according to us, because of the harsh nature of vaccines, the toxic brew of the contents, and the likelihood that the immune system will sustain damage from the vaccine.
The main thing that I find lacking in general veterinary practice is the admission that once an animal has had a vaccine reaction, any kind, at any time, STOP. Stop vaccinating that pet. The risk of causing a chronic disease that will be incurable is too great.
In the clip from FOX news that I posted on my facebook page, a woman reports that now her dog has to get shots in order to prevent a reaction to its shots. During the interview, the dog, a Beagle, is lying on the couch facing the camera, unmoving, completely lacking in vitality. Yes, all Beagles look sort of sad, but this dog looks really sad. It looks like it has a chronic headache. But the show must go on, just in case little overvaccinated Buffy is accidentally exposed to some horrible disease she's already been vaccinated against ten times. The entire concept is ridiculous, this idea that we must continue vaccinating even in the face of hives, angioedema, thrombocytopenia, cancer, and any one of the other million bad things that can happen after vaccination.
It's time to stop. Once is enough.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Nutrition Response Testing
One of the methods that I use to help me choose treatments for my patients is Nutrition Response Testing. This is essentially muscle testing, or Applied Kinesiology, using a person as the indirect tester for the pet. I muscle test the person (often the pet's owner, but not always), using the anterior deltoid as my indicator muscle. With both of us physically touching the patient, we evaluate the status of the sympathetic nervous system, scan the body to get an idea of which systems are under stress, differentiate which stressor is affecting the target organ or system, and individualize a treatment plan that is specific for that patient.
Muscle testing is one of my favorite methods to use. It allows us to bypass the thinking logic of the brain, and to ask the patient's body directly which treatment will be most beneficial for the organism as a whole.
I use Standard Process supplements almost exclusively. They are manufactured under strict quality controls, from organic ingredients, and the formulas are scientifically derived, backed by years of research. Standard Process makes a wide range of supplements for humans. They also make a small line of cat, dog, and horse products.
The need for differentiation becomes clear, when you consider, for example, that there are perhaps 5 supplements that will act directly on the liver, and 25 others that will indirectly benefit the liver. How can we decide which supplement will be most helpful? Are there other organs affected which also require support?
This is where muscle testing stands out as one of the most important tools in my practice. As long as we trust the answers that we receive directly from the patient's body, and trust that the body is a self-healing organism that has its own agenda of priorities, we will improve the success of our treatments and help heal our patients in the process.
Muscle testing is one of my favorite methods to use. It allows us to bypass the thinking logic of the brain, and to ask the patient's body directly which treatment will be most beneficial for the organism as a whole.
I use Standard Process supplements almost exclusively. They are manufactured under strict quality controls, from organic ingredients, and the formulas are scientifically derived, backed by years of research. Standard Process makes a wide range of supplements for humans. They also make a small line of cat, dog, and horse products.
The need for differentiation becomes clear, when you consider, for example, that there are perhaps 5 supplements that will act directly on the liver, and 25 others that will indirectly benefit the liver. How can we decide which supplement will be most helpful? Are there other organs affected which also require support?
This is where muscle testing stands out as one of the most important tools in my practice. As long as we trust the answers that we receive directly from the patient's body, and trust that the body is a self-healing organism that has its own agenda of priorities, we will improve the success of our treatments and help heal our patients in the process.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Reiki for Pets
Reiki is an often-overlooked yet incredibly valuable treatment method to have on hand. I think everybody in the world should at least take a Reiki I class. Here's why: In case of emergency, if nothing else, you've still got your hands. And for all you amputees out there, you don't really need hands to do Reiki.
What is Reiki? It is simply the channeling of universal earth energy through your body, without using up your own body's energy. You simply serve as the conduit for the energy. Now, in case this sounds too voodoo, remember that there is always a background level of cosmic energy that can be measured by scientific instruments. This energy is generated by the earth, which is the source of an electromagnetic field.
It's always possible to channel earth energy, even without the benefit of Reiki teaching. The advantages of learning Reiki are that it provides a system and philosophy for the direction and use of the energy. This is extremely important. The existence of an underlying philosophy and plan is what allows a treatment modality to improve and advance itself. Without a unifying process, Reiki would lose all its structure and much of its benefits. Although everyone can feel energy and direct it, it's a lot easier if someone teaches you a safe and replicable method for its use.
Another advantage of Reiki is the system of attunements. The attunements help your body be a better channel for the Reiki energy.
I have used Reiki in all kinds of situations. In one case I had just gotten home to find one of my cats in urinary distress. There's nothing like getting home from a long day at the office to make you dread having to go right back out and take the cat to an emergency hospital. I had no medical supplies at home. I had Rescue Remedy and Reiki. I sat with Malcolm on my lap, rubbed Rescue Remedy into my hands and his face, and gave him Reiki for about 15 or 20 minutes. He calmed down, went to the litter box, urinated, and took a nap.
Another time, my old dog Charlie yelped and couldn't use his rear limbs when he woke up from a nap. I used Reiki on his back and spine, and within minutes the episode passed and he was fine. Freaky, but true! It happened to me, it could happen to you!
What is Reiki? It is simply the channeling of universal earth energy through your body, without using up your own body's energy. You simply serve as the conduit for the energy. Now, in case this sounds too voodoo, remember that there is always a background level of cosmic energy that can be measured by scientific instruments. This energy is generated by the earth, which is the source of an electromagnetic field.
It's always possible to channel earth energy, even without the benefit of Reiki teaching. The advantages of learning Reiki are that it provides a system and philosophy for the direction and use of the energy. This is extremely important. The existence of an underlying philosophy and plan is what allows a treatment modality to improve and advance itself. Without a unifying process, Reiki would lose all its structure and much of its benefits. Although everyone can feel energy and direct it, it's a lot easier if someone teaches you a safe and replicable method for its use.
Another advantage of Reiki is the system of attunements. The attunements help your body be a better channel for the Reiki energy.
I have used Reiki in all kinds of situations. In one case I had just gotten home to find one of my cats in urinary distress. There's nothing like getting home from a long day at the office to make you dread having to go right back out and take the cat to an emergency hospital. I had no medical supplies at home. I had Rescue Remedy and Reiki. I sat with Malcolm on my lap, rubbed Rescue Remedy into my hands and his face, and gave him Reiki for about 15 or 20 minutes. He calmed down, went to the litter box, urinated, and took a nap.
Another time, my old dog Charlie yelped and couldn't use his rear limbs when he woke up from a nap. I used Reiki on his back and spine, and within minutes the episode passed and he was fine. Freaky, but true! It happened to me, it could happen to you!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Canine Health Concerns - Spay Incontinence
Incontinence is fairly common in the middle-aged spayed female dog. Incontinence refers to the loss of tone or integrity of the external urethral sphincter, the ring of muscle that helps you hold urine in your bladder.
There are several theories about why this would happen. One is that due to the spay surgery, which in dogs involves removal of the uterus and ovaries, there is a subsequent lack of production of the female hormones that would normally stimulate the external urethral sphincter.
Another theory has to do with the spay surgery itself. During the surgery, the uterus is pulled right out of the dog's body. It's easier to do surgery outside of the body, where you can see what's going on, then in the darkened cavern inside the abdominal cavity. This necessitates, in some cases, a lot of traction (i.e. pulling) on the uterus, which is attached to the cervix, which is attached (in dogs) to the vestibule, which is also where the urethra empties into from the bladder. Once you stretch the cervix, you've also indirectly stretched the urethra, and have possibly disrupted the integrity of the urethral sphincter.
A third option is a chiropractic lesion or subluxation. During the spay surgery the dog is lying on her back, her spine is extended past the normal limits, her rear limbs are splayed - also unnaturally - in order to facilitate the surgical approach. When you're under anesthesia, you don't have the muscle tone that would normally prevent your joints from moving beyond their normal range. If the joints in the spine are disrupted, blood supply to the nerves that are coming out of the spinal cord and going to the various organs can be compromised. This also explains why incontinence can also be seen in dogs that have hip or lumbar spine degeneration or arthritis.
Incontinence has to be differentiated from other conditions such as urinary tract infections or diabetes, that will cause the dogs to have to urinate a lot more frequently. Even if the dog is leaking urine all over her bed at night, it is still necessary to test the urine (and blood tests are a good idea as well) to make sure there is not some underlying cause for the condition.
The conventional treatments include drugs such as DES and Proin. DES (diethylstilbestrol) is a synthetic estrogen that supposedly would replace the loss resulting from the spay. Unfortunately, this drug also has the potential side effect of causing irreversible aplastic anemia (i.e. it can wipe out your bone marrow forever), and I'm always surprised when I see it still in use after all these years.
Proin (phenylpropanolamine) is a drug that increases the tone of the external urethral sphincter. It's not known exactly why or how it does this. This drug was pulled off the human market because it caused heart disease in people, and in dogs it can cause irritability, increased heart rate, hypertension, and other side effects. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Some dogs will do well at a lower dose than is recommended. Some can be weaned off it after treating them for 3-4 months to "retrain" the muscle.
My recommendations for incontinence include: natural diet (some cases are actually due to a gluten or grain allergy, and will resolve when these are removed from the diet), healthy basic supplements to balance the system, spinal manipulation (if the problem is a chiropractic subluxation, restoring blood supply to the nerves will fix it), and specific, individualized homeopathic treatment.
There are several theories about why this would happen. One is that due to the spay surgery, which in dogs involves removal of the uterus and ovaries, there is a subsequent lack of production of the female hormones that would normally stimulate the external urethral sphincter.
Another theory has to do with the spay surgery itself. During the surgery, the uterus is pulled right out of the dog's body. It's easier to do surgery outside of the body, where you can see what's going on, then in the darkened cavern inside the abdominal cavity. This necessitates, in some cases, a lot of traction (i.e. pulling) on the uterus, which is attached to the cervix, which is attached (in dogs) to the vestibule, which is also where the urethra empties into from the bladder. Once you stretch the cervix, you've also indirectly stretched the urethra, and have possibly disrupted the integrity of the urethral sphincter.
A third option is a chiropractic lesion or subluxation. During the spay surgery the dog is lying on her back, her spine is extended past the normal limits, her rear limbs are splayed - also unnaturally - in order to facilitate the surgical approach. When you're under anesthesia, you don't have the muscle tone that would normally prevent your joints from moving beyond their normal range. If the joints in the spine are disrupted, blood supply to the nerves that are coming out of the spinal cord and going to the various organs can be compromised. This also explains why incontinence can also be seen in dogs that have hip or lumbar spine degeneration or arthritis.
Incontinence has to be differentiated from other conditions such as urinary tract infections or diabetes, that will cause the dogs to have to urinate a lot more frequently. Even if the dog is leaking urine all over her bed at night, it is still necessary to test the urine (and blood tests are a good idea as well) to make sure there is not some underlying cause for the condition.
The conventional treatments include drugs such as DES and Proin. DES (diethylstilbestrol) is a synthetic estrogen that supposedly would replace the loss resulting from the spay. Unfortunately, this drug also has the potential side effect of causing irreversible aplastic anemia (i.e. it can wipe out your bone marrow forever), and I'm always surprised when I see it still in use after all these years.
Proin (phenylpropanolamine) is a drug that increases the tone of the external urethral sphincter. It's not known exactly why or how it does this. This drug was pulled off the human market because it caused heart disease in people, and in dogs it can cause irritability, increased heart rate, hypertension, and other side effects. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Some dogs will do well at a lower dose than is recommended. Some can be weaned off it after treating them for 3-4 months to "retrain" the muscle.
My recommendations for incontinence include: natural diet (some cases are actually due to a gluten or grain allergy, and will resolve when these are removed from the diet), healthy basic supplements to balance the system, spinal manipulation (if the problem is a chiropractic subluxation, restoring blood supply to the nerves will fix it), and specific, individualized homeopathic treatment.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Moving Made Easy
On Sunday I moved my horses to their new stable, an hour away from where they were. The last time my mare was loaded, she freaked out - even though her friends were already on board - and eventually was intimidated into getting on the trailer. That took an hour, and I ended up with a frustrated neighbor (who was doing me a favor by hauling her) and a frightened horse.
So I was dreading having to load her again.
As soon as the trailer pulled up, her eyes got big and the whites showed. As a Quarter Horse, this is her version of being really, really alarmed. First we loaded the mule, who is the boss of my little herd. Then we turned to the mare.
I let her sniff some Lavender and Peace and Calming, two essential oils from Young Living. My friend massaged her neck and shoulders.
The hauler put a Parelli halter on her, and longed her once in each direction.
And she walked onto the trailer.
Non-event. Took five minutes.
I'm never moving a horse without essential oils again! In fact, I'm not going out to the barn without them!
So I was dreading having to load her again.
As soon as the trailer pulled up, her eyes got big and the whites showed. As a Quarter Horse, this is her version of being really, really alarmed. First we loaded the mule, who is the boss of my little herd. Then we turned to the mare.
I let her sniff some Lavender and Peace and Calming, two essential oils from Young Living. My friend massaged her neck and shoulders.
The hauler put a Parelli halter on her, and longed her once in each direction.
And she walked onto the trailer.
Non-event. Took five minutes.
I'm never moving a horse without essential oils again! In fact, I'm not going out to the barn without them!
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Magic of Probiotics
I'm reading "The Consumer's Guide to Probiotics" by S.K. Dash, PhD. Apparently there has been a ton of research done on probiotics! They can replace antibiotics...if you choose the right ones. This is why I think the best idea is using a probiotic with multiple strains of bacteria and a high CFU (colony-forming-units) count - that basically tells you how many bacteria per serving.
So isn't it interesting that in our society we're so fascinated with antibiotics (which means "against life") that we take them for the slightest excuse - a minor infection or wound, a cold, whatever - and yet we are slow to use probiotics ("for life")! So slow, in fact, that many people have not even heard of them! But we've all heard of antibiotics.
Probiotics help support the body in performing its normal functions and allow it to successfully heal itself. Antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately. Unfortunately, we need some of those bacteria. They keep out worse bacteria, keep yeast in check, and synthesize nutrients that our bodies need from the stuff we eat.
I was in a grocery store and the woman in line in front of me wiped the little credit-device stylus with an antibacterial wipe before she left. She said to me, "I'm doing this for you." I smiled at her and replied, "That's okay, I love bacteria. They're my friends." And indeed they are.
So isn't it interesting that in our society we're so fascinated with antibiotics (which means "against life") that we take them for the slightest excuse - a minor infection or wound, a cold, whatever - and yet we are slow to use probiotics ("for life")! So slow, in fact, that many people have not even heard of them! But we've all heard of antibiotics.
Probiotics help support the body in performing its normal functions and allow it to successfully heal itself. Antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately. Unfortunately, we need some of those bacteria. They keep out worse bacteria, keep yeast in check, and synthesize nutrients that our bodies need from the stuff we eat.
I was in a grocery store and the woman in line in front of me wiped the little credit-device stylus with an antibacterial wipe before she left. She said to me, "I'm doing this for you." I smiled at her and replied, "That's okay, I love bacteria. They're my friends." And indeed they are.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Linear Thinking Part II
Linear thinking can also prevent us from utilizing multiple solutions to a problem at the same time, which I find to be a very effective approach. Many times, when I prescribe a diet change, a homeopathic remedy, chiropractic care, and a couple of supplements, I am asked, "But how will we know what's making Rover better?"I used to be bothered by this as well. As humans, especially living in our troubled and convoluted times, we have a strong desire for things to just be simple. Surely there must be a better way to do things - one better way. In school we are taught that there is one right answer and it's hardly ever "all of the above." If we do more experiments, perhaps eventually we will reach some basic, primal truth that will be the One Truth, like the Grand Unified Theory of the Universe.
Well, I've had to get over that mindset.
Out of all the things I prescribed, which one helped Rover the most? I don't care. Everything works together.
There often is no one right answer. Our bodies are affected by innumerable influences all the time, many of which are beyond our awareness. We require optimal diet, optimal movement, optimal posture, and optimal internal and external environments in order to be truly healthy. One piece of the puzzle is often not sufficient. At least not to get the kind of results I'm aiming for.
Well, I've had to get over that mindset.
Out of all the things I prescribed, which one helped Rover the most? I don't care. Everything works together.
There often is no one right answer. Our bodies are affected by innumerable influences all the time, many of which are beyond our awareness. We require optimal diet, optimal movement, optimal posture, and optimal internal and external environments in order to be truly healthy. One piece of the puzzle is often not sufficient. At least not to get the kind of results I'm aiming for.
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