The Potential of Nutritional Science
Dear Editor:
Interesting article on page 3 of the July 15 edition of DC ["Drugging Your Sex Life" (Report of the Publisher's Findings)]. The 1998 surge in the use of drugs for erectile dysfunction came on the heels of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, which was awarded to three men for their revealing work on nitric oxide. While we may question the ethics of the pharmaceutical industry, what it lacks in concern for the health of the populace, it makes up for in marketing savvy. The drug industry has made a tremendous amount of money capitalizing not only on the ground-breaking science of nitric oxide and its synthetic use in the form of Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, etc., but also by leveraging the fear of aging and decline in sexual desire and performance of the male population.
Lifestyle is indeed a huge factor. Decisions made regarding exercise, chiropractic care, diet and other lifestyle pursuits tend to dictate to a large degree the health and wellness of all body systems, the urological/reproductive system not the least on the list. Exercise is likely one of the largest factors; however, nutritional support (dietary and supplemental) is of equal importance.
The focus was on the synthetic use of nitrate synthesis yielding nitric oxide; a "shotgun blast," if you will, of chemically induced dilation which not only enhanced sexual performance, but also yielded other less desirable results: massive dilation throughout the system with the drug-induced interference of normal function and physiological control, often resulting in negative and severe cardiovascular side effects – some of them fatal.
Now, I hope you are sitting down for this (slight sarcasm here): The pharmaceutical industry and traditional medicine pretty much ignored the holistic wellness potential of this science. The 1998 discovery of nitric oxide and its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system missed its greatest potential: the enhancement of wellness and well-being of the millions across our nation and around the world. Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other components of metabolic syndrome adversely impact most of the inhabitants of the industrialized world. The maladies continue to top the list of "preventable" health-related causes of death. And the science behind Viagra was and is the answer (along with eating smart, exercise, chiropractic, etc.).
Exercise is essential in activating the endogenous source of nitric oxide (blood-vessel endothelium), the key component in cardiovascular wellness. Science is finding that diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension and other contributors to CV morbidity are dependent on the production of nitric oxide. Exercise activates it; proper nutrition makes the key components available.
I have been a "subluxation-specific" chiropractor for 25 years, graduating from Life University in 1986. I have been formulating nutritional products for about four years, with my primary focus being nitric oxide (NO) precursors. The scientific community is finally getting a clue ... more and more of the greatest minds in nutritional and molecular/genetic science are coming around. The tide is turning, ever so slowly. And this paradigm shift is accelerating as the public is beginning to comprehend more how the pharmaceutical and medical industries have sacrificed their (the public's) health for monetary gain.
I get very excited, inspired and hopeful when I see articles such as yours helping bring together the focus of integrating chiropractic (and other holistic healing), nutrition, exercise and other pillars of wellness into the complete picture. As a Gonstead chiropractic diplomate for over 22 years, I must admit my prejudice was on the side of "protecting" subluxation-based chiropractic – at the expense of moving ahead with my/our understanding of nutrition ... which of course greatly enhances the level of service and value to our patients. I am dedicated to doing everything I can to increase the awareness of this nutritional science and its application in our profession.
Perry Chinn, DC
Enumclaw, Wash.
Military Medical Elite Threatened by DoD Chiropractors
Dear Editor:
Of course DoD chiropractors are being shortchanged. [See "Are DoD Chiropractors Being Shortchanged?" in the July 15 issue.] Anyone who has ever served in the military understands that military society, particularly the command ranks, is 20 years behind social convention. During my tenure as a corpsman in the Navy, I met a total of four medical officers that I'd let pop a pimple. I trusted my fellow corpsmen far more than I did the majority of the medical officers I served under.
Competence aside, there is also a healthy dose of ego which tends to swell as one rises in rank and in seniority. The ego:IQ ratio tends to be an inverted equation, particularly in the military and civil services, in my opinion. The higher one's IQ, the less ego is displayed. However, as one rises in rank, the ego gets a boost, which if they are not careful, will drop several IQ points if ego takes over.
Enter the chiropractor into the once-exclusive domain of the medical officer and PTs who have been afforded officer status. The inverse ego :IQ equation holds especially true for physical therapists in this instance. Chiropractors likely have been subjected to harsh treatment in the military command structure, particularly since, being 20 years behind social convention, they still harbor an unresolved grudge against chiropractic. This harsh treatment is driven on pure ego and rank; that is all they have to use against the chiropractor, since they (DCs) are far more effective at resolving everyday issues of command personnel and are far more in demand.
The medical officers I worked under were barely more than trained poodles when it came to dealing with most sick-call complaints. It didn't matter what complaint you had when you came in because the treatment was, with few exceptions, always the same. If you came in with a headache, the treatment was a prescription of Motrin (800 mg) and Flexeril, a muscle relaxer. For menstrual cramps: Motrin and Flexeril; for bleeding hemorrhoids: Motrin and Flexeril; for a sprained ankle: Motrin and Flexeril; for constipation: Motrin, Flexeril and a laxative; and for buttock injury due to a bayonet: Motrin, Flexeril, stitches and a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Note that it was the corpsman that usually did the stitching up of wounds like this. The MO would usually stick his head in the door, nod their approval and leave, never laying eyes on the patient again. (My opinion of the PT is far less flattering and would likely be edited out for its vulgarity, so I won't share it for now.)
So, it stands to reason that the medical elite in the military feel threatened, much like their civilian contemporaries did when we showed up doling out health and wellness without killing our patients. Even today, civilian MDs harbor dark opinions of our profession – mostly out of ego and a deep-seated jealousy of our success in spite of their efforts to contain our influence on society.
Like pioneer chiropractors, our DoD brothers and sisters will overcome the ignorance and outwit the egos of the IQ challenged. We are gaining our position, but we must fight for that right every day and never allow ignorance to interfere ever again.
Richard Bend, DC
Monterey, Calif.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
