Dr. McKinzie's Blog

Upper Cervical Care in a Nine-Year-Old Female With Occipital Lobe Epilepsy: A Case Study

2011-03-17T14:10:00.000-05:00

Susan Hooper PhD, DC Bio & Allison Manis DC Bio

Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ February 3, 2011 ~ Pages 10-17

Abstract

Objective: The reduction of an upper cervical subluxation through chiropractic care in the case of a child with occipital lobe epilepsy is described.

Clinical Features: A nine-year-old girl presented with uncontrollable blinking of the left eye and fainting spells, previously diagnosed by a neurologist as occipital lobe epilepsy.

Intervention and Outcomes: High velocity and light force adjustments (Blair technique) were applied to the first cervical vertebra on three separate occasions. Other low force adjustments (Activator) were administered to various levels of the spinal column where vertebral subluxations existed. The patient’s uncontrolled eye twitching decreased immediately following the first upper cervical adjustment and ceased completely 3 weeks following the final adjustment. The twitching has not resurfaced in approximately 2 years.

Conclusions: This case report demonstrated resolution of signs and symptoms associated with occipital lobe epilepsy in a child following the reduction of an upper cervical subluxation.

Key Words: Upper Cervical; Blair; Occipital Lobe Epilepsy; Epilepsy; Cervical Spine; Chiropractic, Subluxation

Vaccine Dirty Bomb

2010-12-05T21:25:00.000-06:00

Have we lost our mind?
Physicians on Vaccines:
"If a “dirty bomb” exposed a large segment of US citizens simultaneously to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenza B, three strains of polio viruses, 3 strains of influenza viruses, measles, mumps, and rubella viruses, the chickenpox virus, and 7 strains of Streptococcus bacteria, we would
declare a national emergency. We would call it an “extreme act of BIOTERRORISM”. The public outcry would be immense and our government would act accordingly. And yet, those are the very organisms that we inject through vaccines into our babies and small children, with immature, underdeveloped immune systems.
Many are given all at the same time. But instead of bioterrorism, we call it “protection.” Reflect a moment on that irony."
- Sherri Tenpenny, DO

"There is no evidence whatsoever of the ability of vaccines to prevent any diseases. To the contrary, there is a great wealth of evidence that they cause serious side effects."
- Viera Scheibner, MD

"The medical authorities keep lying. Vaccination has been a disaster on the immune system. It actually causes a lot of illnesses. We are actually changing our genetic code through vaccination...10 years from now we will know that the biggest crime against humanity was vaccines."
- Guylaine Lanctot, MD, in Medical Post

And just think, if a parent objects to their child being immunized, they are ridiculed and in some cases reported to CPS for "neglect". Yet the "authorities" can maim and murder by way of vaccines and no one can be held accountable. Unbelievable!!!!

Why Give Thanks?

2010-11-25T18:34:00.000-06:00

So what's the point of giving thanks? I can think of several positive things that come out of our taking time to give thanks for what we have received:

Giving thanks helps us to appreciate what we have. It's all too easy to focus on what we don't have rather than recognize what we've received. It's healthy for us to take stock of what's been given to us and then to give thanks for those things.

Giving thanks helps us to be aware of those who have less. When we realize that what we have was given to us, we are better able to share with others. They are as deserving of God's blessings as we are.

Giving thanks gives us more security for the future. When I realize that blessings don't depend purely on my strength, I can be more confident going forward. Just as God has blessed me now, He can bless me in the future.

Giving thanks is the right thing to do. We teach our children to do it, yet sometimes forget to do it ourselves. God is pleased when we give thanks to Him.

If you don't feel close to God at this time, maybe giving thanks to Him is a good way to begin fixing that relationship. Take some time to recognize the good things that He's done. We have lots of time for complaining about the bad; let's stop now and thank Him for the good. It will do us a world of good.
May you enjoy this day and thank the God who makes it all possible.

A big thanks to Tim Archer for helping us focus on giving thanks.

HELP US HELP OUR TROOPS

2010-11-13T14:20:00.001-06:00

OPERATION: M.A.S.H.

This Holiday Season, our office has adopted 541st Forward Surgical Team, an Army Surgical Unit in Northern Afghanistan comprised of 9 personnel. We want to make this holiday season as special for them as we can! We have started “Operation: M.A.S.H.”, or “Make A Soldier’s Holiday.” Our goal is collect items from the list they provided to us, as well as monetary donations to help us with shipping, and other costs associated with this project! We are so excited to serve our troops, and give back to them as they do the same for us everyday! We must have everything collected, wrapped, and ready to ship by Monday December 6, 2010. Below you will find a list of things we are hoping to collect! We know you will want to share in this experience with us. Thank you and have a safe and Happy Holiday season!

Food Items: Granola Bars, Beef Jerky, Triscuits, Dried Fruit, Cereal, Trail Mix, Cookies, Ranch Dressing (packets), BBQ Sauce (packets), Rice Crispy Treats, Candy, Nuts or other non-perishable health snacks.

Male and Female Personal Items(sm/travel size): Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, floss, deodorant, handi-wipes, baby powders, shampoo/conditioner, mouthwash, etc.

Games: "Catch Phrase", "Cranium", Playing Cards, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku.

DVD Movies, Magazines, Cards, letters, etc

Monetary Donations—will help with shipping costs, shipping materials, and extra items for the troops.

Make donations or drop offs to:

McKinzie Wellness Center, 3325 Chandler Hwy.,Tyler, TX. 75702,

Call 903-531-2243 (if you have items we can pick up)

Unit members include:

General Surgeons– Al Beitler and Jason Seery

CRNA– Jennifer Butera

ICU Nurse– Christopher Vanfosson

Medics– Beth Arce-Andrews, Jim Hahl and Nathan Strieter

OR Tech– Lindsay Smith

Detachment Sergeant– Leo Cubias

Halloween Candy - The Treat that tricks your body?

2010-11-02T17:11:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder why Nov 1st is billed as the beginning of cold and flu season? HALLOWEEN! The influx of massive amounts of candy drastically depresses the immune system.

I've come up with some "parenting strategies" for keeping your kids healthy and possibly avoid succumbing to the next wave of flu going around.

1. Just take all their candy away from them, period. You are the parent and you can do that. Just tell them it's for their own good. I know you are thinking, how cruel. So go to the next strategy.
2. Buy their candy from them. Then trash it. You could say, "I care enough about your health, that I'd rather pay you than the doctor".
3. The last and least favorite. If you feel you just have to allow your children to have candy, apply this strategy. Take all the candy and divide it into 12 equal parts, put each part into a zip-lock bag and store in the freezer. Allow the child to only have the amount of candy in one bag per month. BUT, you have to educate children to understand the dangers of candy and soft drinks and be an example yourself. Apply the "moderation" principle, and in the case of candy and soda, very limited moderation.

See, Killer Sugar and 10 Negative Effects of Sugar on Your Health

Fit City Challenge Oct 23rd

2010-10-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

This weekend is the First Annual Fit City Challenge from 9-1pm at Bergfeld Park. You MUST attend and see how you can learn ways to get fit and live healthy. Register to win door prizes, get a "Goodie Bag" with gifts, information and money saving coupons on many services. Click here for more information.

Where would the World be without Chiropractors

2010-10-15T15:14:00.000-05:00

I love what I do. How could I not? Everyday, I get to help improve the lives of fellow human beings and make a positive impact on the world as a whole. Yes, there are crappy days. Yes, we have those demanding, pushy patients. And, yes, it's not all roses and smiles everyday. But, it's that one child that no longer has to take an inhaler because of a chiropractic adjustment. Or, that one patient in extreme pain who feels like they got their life back. Or, that dad whose digestive issues "magically" went away after being adjusted and some simple nutritional counseling. It's those patients who say "Thank you for all you do" and are truly appreciative for the services we provide. Those are what make my day.

I am resolved to start my day being thankful for what God has given me to do and then do it to the best of my ability. Every patient that leaves being a little more educated about chiropractic and whole-food nutrition, not to mention feeling better, will likely tell someone else, if nothing else be more pleasant to be around. Think how that impacts society. I'd hate to think what kind of world we would live in without chiropractors. Um, shouldn't there be more doctors doing what we do? Less drugs, less surgery, no need for universal healthcare!
Ahh, heaven!

Americans on Drugs

2010-09-26T22:20:00.000-05:00

Half Of Americans Are Taking Prescription Meds

By Ed Silverman // September 3rd, 2010 // 7:41 am

More than 48 percent of all Americans took at least one prescription drug each month in 2008, which amounts to a 10 percent increase over the previous decade, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the use of multiple prescription meds rose by 20 percent, while the use of five of more drugs increased by 70 percent.
In fact, one out of every five Americans was using five or more drugs by 2008, and one out of every five children used at least one prescription med compared with nine out of 10 adults aged 60 and over. Children up to age 11 were using penicillin and drugs for asthma and allergies, while adolescents were taking meds for asthma, depression and ADD (please click on this link) to see the charts.
Consequently, US spending for prescription drugs more than doubled between 1998 and 2008 to $234.1 billion. The CDC notes, however, that the increasing use of multiple drugs by older Americans “is a continuing challenge that may contribute to adverse drug events, medication-compliance issues and increased health-care costs.”
A few other nuggets: Women were more likely to use prescription drugs than men. People with a regular place to visit for health care were 2.7 times as likely to have used pescription drugs than those without a regular place for health care. And people with health insurance were almost twice as likely to have used at least one prescription med than those without health insurance coverage. Among people with health insurance, those having a prescription drug benefit were 22 more likely to use prescription drugs.

Chiropractic Receives "Highest satisfaction-with-care ratings"

2010-08-17T20:22:00.000-05:00

Being "hands-on" really means something to most people. Chiropractic is the leader in several areas according to recent research. Upper Cervical Spine care may even rank higher based on clinical reports from UC chiropractors.

Costs are less compared to other interventions
Need for surgery is reduced
Chiropractic is the top-rated treatments for back pain sufferers, receiving the highest satisfaction-with-care ratings (significantly higher than MDs)
Compares favorably to most therapies covered by health benefit plans and is "likely to achieve equal or better health outcomes"
87 percent of patients surveyed gave their DC a satisfaction score of 8 or higher and 56 percent gave a perfect 10.

For more information about the studies done click here.

Consumer Reports Vitamins Don't Help

2010-08-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

The Consumer Reports article says that most of the vitamins tested had the "chemicals" that the label says they have. The also compared prices of the name brands vs. store brands. But in the end, they report that "there's virtually no evidence that they (synthetic supplements) improve the average person's health."

The problem with the report is that it failed to give the reason WHY vitamin supplements don't work. The majority of vitamin supplements are manufactured by 2-3 companies and are private labeled for the big name or store brands. The myriad of vitamin supplements are synthetic, isolated fractions of the true vitamin complex. Think about this, does a child need to eat a different kind of apple from a senior citizen? NO! We all get from our food what our bodies need at the time. Man is not smart enough to custom make a synthetic vitamin for every stage of life. But with whole-food supplements you don't have to worry if you are getting everything your body needs-it will.

Vitamins need certain enzymes, co-factors, minerals and other biochemicals to fully incorporate and assimilate them into our bodies. Only whole-food has the complex of everything needed to insure that we get those vitamins, minerals and nutrients necessary for life.

Don't waste your money on synthetic vitamins that have not been proven to work. Study's do confirm that supplements made from whole-food can give you the nutrients needed to heal tissue, improve function, enhance performance and support the body's delicate biochemistry.

We can custom-make the "multivitamin" your body needs by doing a simple yet comprehensive evaluation. Let us help you get the best nutritional supplements for the dollars you are spending.

Videos on Chiropractic, Exercise, Whiplash and More

2010-06-19T08:07:00.002-05:00

Excellent videos on chiropractic, whiplash, work injuries, exercise and strengthening. The video on "How Chiropractic Works" is very well done. Click here.

Kid's Health

2010-06-17T12:01:00.000-05:00

Facts on Kid's Health

1.	The average child gets less than 15 minutes of vigorous activity a day.
2.	The average U.S. child gets approximately 43 minutes of moderate physical activity a day.
3.	The average U.S. child spends 20% of his/her waking time watching TV.
4.	Obesity and superobesity are up 36% and 98%, respectively, in the past 20 years.
5.	The average child consumes at least 20 ounces of soda pop a day.
6.	The child of today is less fit and more fat than the child of the 60's.
7.	Thirty-six percent of the children get daily physical education; 36% get two or fewer days.
8.	Nine out of ten parents think their children are fit, when only one out of three are.
9.	At age 10, 45% of young people say they participate, or intend to participate, on a non-school team. Among 18-year-olds, the figure is 26%.
10.	Thirty percent of youths (10-19 years) have negative or neutral attitudes towards physical activity.
11.	In a typical physical education class, only 27% of actual physical education time is devoted to motor activity.
12.	The average heart rates in a typical 30-minute physical education class range between 90 and 129 beats per minute.
13.	The older girls get, the less likely they are to work out.
14.	Grade school students are 24% more active than high schoolers.
15.	Asian and Hispanic girls are notably less active than girls of other backgrounds, including African-Americans, Whites and girls of mixed heritage.
16.	Children exercise less as they get older, boys about 3% less each year; girls, 7.5%.
17.	The most popular physical education offerings for grades 7-9:

Boys	Girls
1)basketball	1)basketball
2)calisthenics/exercise	2)calisthenics/exercise
3)baseball	3)volleyball
4)football	4)jogging
5)jogging	5)baseball/softball

18.	The two biggest reasons kids participate in sport and exercise are fun and socialization.
19.	About 42% of middle school students consider themselves more fit than their peers. Sixteen percent rate themselves as not as good.
20.	Thirty-six percent of middle school students say that they think that kids who exercise do better in school, about one-third are not sure, and 28% disagree.
21.	Fifty-four percent of students claim that their physical education class is very important to them.
22.	About 50% of all students report that physical education class time should be increased in the middle school. COMMENTS: As parents, we need to insist the physical health of our children is being addressed at school. Their mental and emotional health is directly related to the activity or lack of it that they get. We've got to get children moving and actively restoring their health with meaningful exercise. Please let me know what you think and respond to this.

Forward Head Posture

2010-04-03T09:21:00.001-05:00

KLTV did a good job of describing a very common condition that many people have but just haven't had problems from "yet". Forward Head Posture (FHP) can and does create many abnormal health issues. If left untreated, it can progress to a point of being irreversible. As with many spinal conditions, the body has an amazing ability to deal with abnormalities just so long before creating symptoms. We call that condition "dis-ease", it is not a full blown condition but what leads up to that condition and begins to cause symptoms. Just like a person doesn't just have a heart-attack, there was a "dis-ease" process going on long before the heart attack happens.

It is so important to have your spine checked for misalignments to make sure no "dis-ease" conditions develop. Children are very susceptible to developing FHP from the type of activities many children do now from heavy backpacks, slouching watching TV, playing video games, texting and just normal reading or studying. FHP, which results in spinal misalignments can result in more headaches, neck pain, numbness and tingling in the fingers, frequent colds, flu, asthma, irritability, poor posture, poor sleep, or poor performance in school. It is extremely important to get children checked early and often for misalignments in order to prevent conditions from developing.

Dr. McKinzie specializes in an advanced form of detection and correction of the spinal misalignments. Go to DrMcKinzie.com to learn more.

Going Live on KETK

2010-02-13T07:18:00.004-06:00

30 seconds isn't much time to get your message across, but I hope many will understand McKinzie Wellness Center is here to help. If you or someone you know is hurting, doesn't feel well, can't sleep, irritable, or any number of symptoms that rob you of feeling well, I hope you will give us a call. It's time to feel good, East Texas.
903-531-2243

It's White Out There

2010-02-12T08:57:00.005-06:00

Boy, what a beautiful way to start the day. Not often do we actually see this kind of accumulation here in Tyler. It may put a damper on work and getting around but just being able to enjoy God's handiwork is well worth a little disruption in commerce. May you enjoy the beauty of the day while it lasts. We'll all be back to work or school soon enough.

If fact, if you take a fall, we're to help you bounce back like a ball. (So much for my rhyming).

We Are Here To Serve YOU!

2010-01-19T20:58:00.003-06:00

For those of who really want to take advantage of a great opportunity, NOW is the time. I am offering anyone who will tell us they saw this on the webpage- ALL of the following:

$75 OFF all services for the First New Patient Visit
$75 OFF New or update Foot Levelers custom made orthotics (selected items)
20% OFF Purification Program- Feeling sluggish, tired, sick, unexplained illness,-this could be just what you need.
15% OFF any Standard Process products

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" is the old saying, so here is the water, Drink up! My purpose is to help you understand where true HEALTH comes from and make you want it so bad you won't let anything stop you from achieving it.

Can you imagine how it would feel to get rid of those headaches, or wake up feeling rested instead wanting to stay in bed, how about the low back pain that nags and keeps you from doing the things you like, or your child who has asthma or ADD/ADHD? Wouldn't you like to know if there is something that would help?

REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM starts with each one of us. We shouldn't expect the government to take care of us. We have to power to take care of ourselves if we'll just do it.

Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food."

Thomas Edison said with uncanny insight about the doctor of the future, "The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and it the cause and prevention of disease."

Ben Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Shouldn't we listen to the words of these wise men and take responsibility for our own health? We should be living well into our 80-90s with vibrant health, not hooked up to a bunch of tubes or taking baby steps behind a walker.

If you are interested in Wellness and giving the body you have the opportunity to take you into the Golden years with energy, health and a clear mind, there is help.

Life is to lived, shared and enjoyed. Let 's do it!

These offers end Feb 28, 2010, so don't delay, call today.

Flu Season is Hitting

2009-09-23T15:10:00.006-05:00

Flu season is upon us and many are still struggling with what to believe in the media about the Seasonal Flu and the H1N1 virus. The CDC is reporting an increase in reported cases but this may be skewed due to more people reporting their illness for fear they have H1N1 instead of just staying home and fighting the virus the old fashioned way: rest, lots of fluids, and good ole "chicken noodle soup". The CDC reported recently that the severity of the H1N1 compared to the seasonal flu is actually less.

My continued recommendations are to be prudent. If you fall into one of the following groups:

Pregnant women,
People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old,
People ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems, or those who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza related complications.

you should consider the benefits of the vaccine. You can find factual information at NVIC.ORG (National Vaccine Information Center) to determine if the benefits outweigh the potential consequences. If you decide to forgo the vaccine, practice good personal hygiene and please be sure you are supplementing with quality whole food concentrates to boost your immune system and support the body's own disease fighting mechanisms (See previous post for more information). For recommendations about the specific whole-food supplements for boosting the immune system, call our office at 903-531-2243 and we will be glad to discuss your needs.

An Interesting Thought: It was reported that President Obama is waffling on whether or not to vaccinate his daughters. (Story)

Swine Flu Information and Vaccines

2009-08-16T21:53:00.008-05:00

McKinzie Wellness Center

Dr. Lonny McKinzie

There is much concern and confusion about the Flu, its variations and what is the best way to combat getting it and/or getting rid of it. I have combined what I’ve found from the CDC (Traditional Medicine) and a Holistic view point. Everyone should err on the side of caution and take every measure you feel is appropriate for you and your family. I personally believe if our bodies are properly taken care of by staying adjusted(stimulating the immune system), eating or supplementing with whole food nutrition, getting plenty or rest, and adopting good hygienic procedures, we can naturally prevent or fight off the various types of Influenza.

Listed below is an excerpt from the CDC with added comments. My recommendations are at the end.

Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)-click here for more information

What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How many swine flu viruses are there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses mutate (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

Can humans catch swine flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). An outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient. (This is normal and usually causes no illness when the immune system is functioning optimally).

How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but with this recent outbreak more cases are being reported. To find the latest statistics go to:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm#totalcases

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. (Symptoms are the body’s natural defense mechanisms at work, preventing the body from performing these defenses results in lingering illness and abnormal healing. However, anytime a defense mechanism goes to excess, i.e. vomiting or diarrhea can cause dehydration, is cause for alarm and appropriate care needs to be administered.)

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. (This reinforces the need to practice good hygiene.)

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine. In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection. (This is a perfect example of why everyone exposed doesn’t get sick, their immune systems where strong enough to fight off the virus.)

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent seven swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. More information on treatment recommendations can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/recommendations.htm. (These antiviral drugs do not guarantee prevention or successful treatment of the virus. They are strain specific and viruses mutate at an alarming rate. Our bodies however, are intelligent enough to successfully combat viruses if our immune systems are functioning properly.)

What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?
Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed (weakened immune system) human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

Swine Flu in Pigs

How does swine flu spread among pigs?
Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.

Our recommendations to reduce your risk of being exposed or contracting the flu are to:

Practice good hygiene by:

Washing your hands frequently, especially prior to eating, after being around others, after using the toilet, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose or handling money.
Direct your cough or sneeze preferably into your sleeve to cover your nose and mouth, not your into your hand, unless you have a tissue or handkerchief.
Wash your clothes after know exposure.
Use paper towel to turn off facets, open doors or flush toilets.
Be aware of other potentially contaminated surfaces like, elevator buttons, counter tops, arm rests, stair rails, public transportation hand rails and supports, backs of chairs, pews or benches.

Stay at home or away from others if you have symptoms of the flu.
Stimulate your own immune system with regular chiropractic adjustments.
Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables and supplement your diet with whole food supplements known to boost the immune system.
Get plenty of rest and de-stress with exercise and relaxing activities.
Vaccine information can be found at: National Vaccine Information Center
For more information contact our office:

903-531-2243

or email: mail@DrMcKinzie.com

5 Freedoms You'd Lose in Health Care Reform

2009-07-28T09:50:00.003-05:00

Thought you might want to know, Obamacare may not be what you think it is.

This is a bit long but well worth knowing.

by Shawn Tully-CNN
Monday, July 27, 2009

If you read the fine print in the Congressional plans, you'll find that a lot of cherished aspects of the current system would disappear.

In promoting his health-care agenda, President Obama has repeatedly reassured Americans that they can keep their existing health plans -- and that the benefits and access they prize will be enhanced through reform.

A close reading of the two main bills, one backed by Democrats in the House and the other issued by Sen. Edward Kennedy's Health committee, contradict the President's assurances. To be sure, it isn't easy to comb through their 2,000 pages of tortured legal language. But page by page, the bills reveal a web of restrictions, fines, and mandates that would radically change your health-care coverage.

If you prize choosing your own cardiologist or urologist under your company's Preferred Provider Organization plan (PPO), if your employer rewards your non-smoking, healthy lifestyle with reduced premiums, if you love the bargain Health Savings Account (HSA) that insures you just for the essentials, or if you simply take comfort in the freedom to spend your own money for a policy that covers the newest drugs and diagnostic tests -- you may be shocked to learn that you could lose all of those good things under the rules proposed in the two bills that herald a health-care revolution.

In short, the Obama platform would mandate extremely full, expensive, and highly subsidized coverage -- including a lot of benefits people would never pay for with their own money -- but deliver it through a highly restrictive, HMO-style plan that will determine what care and tests you can and can't have. It's a revolution, all right, but in the wrong direction.

Let's explore the five freedoms that Americans would lose under Obamacare:
1. Freedom to choose what's in your plan
The bills in both houses require that Americans purchase insurance through "qualified" plans offered by health-care "exchanges" that would be set up in each state. The rub is that the plans can't really compete based on what they offer. The reason: The federal government will impose a minimum list of benefits that each plan is required to offer.

Today, many states require these "standard benefits packages" -- and they're a major cause for the rise in health-care costs. Every group, from chiropractors to alcohol-abuse counselors, do lobbying to get included. Connecticut, for example, requires reimbursement for hair transplants, hearing aids, and in vitro fertilization.

The Senate bill would require coverage for prescription drugs, mental-health benefits, and substance-abuse services. It also requires policies to insure "children" until the age of 26. That's just the starting list. The bills would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to add to the list of required benefits, based on recommendations from a committee of experts. Americans, therefore, wouldn't even know what's in their plans and what they're required to pay for, directly or indirectly, until after the bills become law.

2. Freedom to be rewarded for healthy living, or pay your real costs
As with the previous example, the Obama plan enshrines into federal law one of the worst features of state legislation: community rating. Eleven states, ranging from New York to Oregon, have some form of community rating. In its purest form, community rating requires that all patients pay the same rates for their level of coverage regardless of their age or medical condition.

Americans with pre-existing conditions need subsidies under any plan, but community rating is a dubious way to bring fairness to health care. The reason is twofold: First, it forces young people, who typically have lower incomes than older workers, to pay far more than their actual cost, and gives older workers, who can afford to pay more, a big discount. The state laws gouging the young are a major reason so many of them have joined the ranks of uninsured.
Under the Senate plan, insurers would be barred from charging any more than twice as much for one patient vs. any other patient with the same coverage. So if a 20-year-old who costs just $800 a year to insure is forced to pay $2,500, a 62-year-old who costs $7,500 would pay no more than $5,000.

Second, the bills would ban insurers from charging differing premiums based on the health of their customers. Again, that's understandable for folks with diabetes or cancer. But the bills would bar rewarding people who pursue a healthy lifestyle of exercise or a cholesterol-conscious diet. That's hardly a formula for lower costs. It's as if car insurers had to charge the same rates to safe drivers as to chronic speeders with a history of accidents.

3. Freedom to choose high-deductible coverage
The bills threaten to eliminate the one part of the market truly driven by consumers spending their own money. That's what makes a market, and health care needs more of it, not less.
Hundreds of companies now offer Health Savings Accounts to about 5 million employees. Those workers deposit tax-free money in the accounts and get a matching contribution from their employer. They can use the funds to buy a high-deductible plan -- say for major medical costs over $12,000. Preventive care is reimbursed, but patients pay all other routine doctor visits and tests with their own money from the HSA account. As a result, HSA users are far more cost-conscious than customers who are reimbursed for the majority of their care.
The bills seriously endanger the trend toward consumer-driven care in general. By requiring minimum packages, they would prevent patients from choosing stripped-down plans that cover only major medical expenses. "The government could set extremely low deductibles that would eliminate HSAs," says John Goodman of the National Center for Policy Analysis, a free-market research group. "And they could do it after the bills are passed."

4. Freedom to keep your existing plan
This is the freedom that the President keeps emphasizing. Yet the bills appear to say otherwise. It's worth diving into the weeds -- the territory where most pundits and politicians don't seem to have ventured.

The legislation divides the insured into two main groups, and those two groups are treated differently with respect to their current plans. The first are employees covered by the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974. ERISA regulates companies that are self-insured, meaning they pay claims out of their cash flow, and don't have real insurance. Those are the GEs and Time Warners and most other big companies.

The House bill states that employees covered by ERISA plans are "grandfathered." Under ERISA, the plans can do pretty much what they want -- they're exempt from standard packages and community rating and can reward employees for healthy lifestyles even in restrictive states.

But read on.
The bill gives ERISA employers a five-year grace period when they can keep offering plans free from the restrictions of the "qualified" policies offered on the exchanges. But after five years, they would have to offer only approved plans, with the myriad rules we've already discussed. So for Americans in large corporations, "keeping your own plan" has a strict deadline. In five years, like it or not, you'll get dumped into the exchange. As we'll see, it could happen a lot earlier.
The outlook is worse for the second group. It encompasses employees who aren't under ERISA but get actual insurance either on their own or through small businesses. After the legislation passes, all insurers that offer a wide range of plans to these employees will be forced to offer only "qualified" plans to new customers, via the exchanges.

The employees who got their coverage before the law goes into effect can keep their plans, but once again, there's a catch. If the plan changes in any way -- by altering co-pays, deductibles, or even switching coverage for this or that drug -- the employee must drop out and shop through the exchange. Since these plans generally change their policies every year, it's likely that millions of employees will lose their plans in 12 months.

5. Freedom to choose your doctors
The Senate bill requires that Americans buying through the exchanges -- and as we've seen, that will soon be most Americans -- must get their care through something called "medical home." Medical home is similar to an HMO. You're assigned a primary care doctor, and the doctor controls your access to specialists. The primary care physicians will decide which services, like MRIs and other diagnostic scans, are best for you, and will decide when you really need to see a cardiologists or orthopedists.

Under the proposals, the gatekeepers would theoretically guide patients to tests and treatments that have proved most cost-effective. The danger is that doctors will be financially rewarded for denying care, as were HMO physicians more than a decade ago. It was consumer outrage over despotic gatekeepers that made the HMOs so unpopular, and killed what was billed as the solution to America's health-care cost explosion.

The bills do not specifically rule out fee-for-service plans as options to be offered through the exchanges. But remember, those plans -- if they exist -- would be barred from charging sick or elderly patients more than young and healthy ones. So patients would be inclined to game the system, staying in the HMO while they're healthy and switching to fee-for-service when they become seriously ill. "That would kill fee-for-service in a hurry," says Goodman.
In reality, the flexible, employer-based plans that now dominate the landscape, and that Americans so cherish, could disappear far faster than the 5 year "grace period" that's barely being discussed.

Companies would have the option of paying an 8% payroll tax into a fund that pays for coverage for Americans who aren't covered by their employers. It won't happen right away -- large companies must wait a couple of years before they opt out. But it will happen, since it's likely that the tax will rise a lot more slowly than corporate health-care costs, especially since they'll be lobbying Washington to keep the tax under control in the righteous name of job creation.

The best solution is to move to a let-freedom-ring regime of high deductibles, no community rating, no standard benefits, and cross-state shopping for bargains (another market-based reform that's strictly taboo in the bills). I'll propose my own solution in another piece soon on Fortune.com. For now, we suffer with a flawed health-care system, but we still have our Five Freedoms. Call them the Five Endangered Freedoms.

What is good nutrition?

2009-06-24T22:04:00.001-05:00

Whole Food Nutrition
Medical science reminds us every day that good nutrition and good health go hand in hand, especially when it comes to the health benefits of eating vine-ripened, fresh fruit and raw vegetables. As a nation, we eat poor-quality foods that have been stripped of nutrients.

We do not consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of us get our whole grains from instant rice, refined wheat breads, pastas, and cereal. We eat a tremendous amount of prepackaged, pre-made meals. One-quarter of Americans eat at fast food restaurants each day. Americans are overfed and undernourished.

We eat plenty but we are still starving
The foods we eat are not providing our bodies with the nutrition needed to survive and be healthy. We are starving our bodies and we are sick. We suffer from diabetes, heart attacks, obesity, and the list goes on and on.

If you are interested in learning more about how whole food concentrates can help you, be healthy, click on the this link to Standard Process, Inc., a provider of high quality dietary supplements to health care professionals.

How well are you spending your money?

2009-01-28T20:21:00.002-06:00

Everyone is dealing with stress one way or another. Are you spending your money on the things that will maintain your health and wealth or are you "medicating yourself" trying not to think about your IRA, your job, the economy or any number of things that tend to get us down?

The stress, high fat diet and sweet candies and chocolate are just gradually chipping away at your health, your lifespan and quality of life. It's a little late to change your lifestyle when you're going in for a triple bypass. We've got to take our health serious!
None of us want to cut years off our life and end up with:
* Heart attack & stroke
* Cancer
* Autoimmune diseases
* Headaches, joint and back pain
* Arthritis, asthma and skin problems
BUT that is exactly what ice cream, chocolate, cheese, pork, fried foods and any products with hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils in them will give you.

There is an option, and I want to help. The cost of taking care of yourself now is much cheaper than what it will cost later if you don't. Think about it. Call me, I can help.

Exciting Opportunities for 2009

2009-01-03T20:26:00.008-06:00

You've heard "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", in today's economy make that 100 pounds. More and more research confirms it is much cheaper and provides an individual a healthier lifestyle by being proactive in regards to your health. Proactive means, practicing PREVENTION and MAINTENANCE. You don't want to wait until you feel bad, or something quits working and then try to fix it. By the time you're in the hospital bed with tubes coming out everywhere is TOO LATE to say, "I better start taking care of myself."

We want our office to be a Health Zone. When you are in the ZONE, you will experience the best in conservative health care. Our goal is to be your source for what your body needs from Specific Upper Cervical chiropractic, to Massage Therapy, to full service body treatments, as well as whole food nutrition and Functional Medicine. Soon we will be offering other services to compliment our overall care package.

Since taking over the office in July, I have been earnestly trying to make improvements and look for ways to offer enhanced services.

Rearranging the office has helped with patient flow and hopefully reduced waiting time.
Our Physical therapy fees are being discounted to $10 for Interferential/Hot pack/Ice packs and $15 for Ultrasound. The doctor may recommend these but you are under no obligation to receive the service.
Additional services such as therapeutic excercise, myofascial release and rehab therapy will be an additional charge of $10 per unit. The doctor will advise you when these services would be of benefit but you have the option to decline if you so choose.
Paper work and sign-in procedures will become more streamlined as well. Please be patient as we introduce these new procedures.
Complimentary Foot Levelers scan and nutritional evaluation will become a part of the initial exam. If you have not had yours done, please let us know at your next appointment.
We have leased out some of the extra space in the office to Lisa Curry, a licensed massage therapist and esthetician. (See her website for information about her services and fees www.GetPampered.biz). We hope to lease out the remaining additional space to other alternative health and wellness providers.
I will soon add Functional Nutritional Medicine as part of our practice. Chronic conditions likely need additional nutritional support to resolve conditions not helped by chiropractic alone.

IMPORTANT CHANGES REGARDING INSURANCE

After much thought and consideration Effective April 1, 2009 (for current patients) and Effective January 1, 2009 for all new patients, McKinzie Health Center will no longer be a participating provider/”In Network” for any Insurance Company. Payment is expected at the time services are received. Payment options may be available with prior approval. We will provide you with a receipt so that you may file with your insurance for reimbursement.

Since our Office Visit fees are at or near the average insurance co-payment, the patient usually has very little additional out of pocket expense. In addition, our Exam and X-ray fees are at a discounted rate.

OUR GOALS

We offer a specialized level of chiropractic care which requires additional time and preparation before treating the patient. Our goals are to provide you with the finest comprehensive chiropractic and wellness care. Our relationship with you is based on integrity, honesty and trust. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards for your health care and our relationship with you. In order for us to honor this commitment we are open to any suggestions you may have. If you agree we provide competent and compassionate health care, please refer our office to your friends and family. Your understanding of our financial policy and the principles on which it is founded along with your compliance of this policy is fundamental to a successful patient – doctor relationship.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for trusting us with your health.

Wishing you God’s blessings in 2009,

Lonny R. McKinzie, D.C.

You've got to get your head on straight!

2008-10-30T07:22:00.010-05:00

With the anxiousness in the world, the stock market, the elections, the economy, it's enough to stress anybody. But how you deal with it affects how your body responds. Getting "Your Head on Straight" is not only a physical approach to health but a mental, and yes, even spiritual one.

"Ever woken up in the middle of the night wondering how you were going to pay the bills? Then you know that a car payment or the electric bill can affect your health!

There are three types of stress: physical, emotional and chemical. Financial worries (and other anxieties) fall into the emotional stress category. And chiropractic can be helpful.

All three types of stress affect your nervous system. Like a chain that breaks at its weakest link, stress tends to show up where we are most vulnerable. Our neck. Our low back. Tightness between our shoulders. Stress can increase the frequency of headaches and compromise our ability to get enough restful sleep.

Chiropractic care, with its purpose of reducing neurological stress, can be helpful. Of course chiropractic care can’t eliminate stress, but it can sure improve your ability to tolerate it. Regular chiropractic care now, especially with holiday stress around the corner, could be a wise investment for a healthier, happier and financially secure you!"* Stress can cause your body to be pulled out of alignment and in turn can cause other physical manifestations, like ulcers, headaches, rashes, high blood pressure. But you can deal with the stress if you have your "head on straight".

How do you get "Your Head on Straight", first you have to know who's in control. If you think you are in control, you have set yourself up for a lot of misery. God is in control and the sooner we learn that, we can let go and let Him give us the peace that only he can give.

⁶Don’t worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. ⁷And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it. Phil 4: 6-7

Then you can physically get your head on straight with chiropractic Upper Cervical Care. My job is to help you in any way I can, physically or spiritually. I hope you can truly trust the God of all creation, no matter what the circumstances. None of us are immune to the effects of a fallen world, but we can all claim God's promises to let him help us through it.

Have a peaceful day.

(Thanks William D. Esteb for ideas, inspiration and quotes*)

Dr. McKinzie sponsors TJC Apache Signers

2008-10-18T07:20:00.005-05:00

The Apache Signers will be performing community service at Barnes & Noble reading stories in ASL for deaf children or those wanting to teach their children and babies sign language. The first story time is Saturday October 18, 2008 at 10am at the Tyler Barnes & Noble Bookstore on South Broadway

Dr. McKinzie sponsors TJC Apache Signers

2008-10-11T16:44:00.007-05:00

The TJC Apache Signers perform the Alma Mater and National Anthem at TJC's 2008 Homecoming. This new group is gaining experience and exposure as they perform at the TJC Football games and other events.

Changes are Coming

2008-09-16T20:19:00.005-05:00

Our patients are THE BEST! It has been said, "The best compliment you can give us is the referral of your friends and family".

YOU have complimented us weekly by those referrals.

Thank YOU!

We are excited about the changes we are implementing. Our goal is to provide quality, comprehensive and affordable health care to treat the mind, body and spirit.

Our office is under utilized and we are currently seeking qualified professionals who would like to use our facility to provide additional services to include:

massage therapy,
nutritional counseling,
pilates,
acupuncture
counseling.

If you haven't been in recently, we have rearranged the office to make chiropractic more streamlined.

Our front office assistant is Allison and she is eager to assist you in scheduling, filling out new patient forms, checking patients in and out and helping with therapies.

Tammy is handling all our insurance billing, verification and collections. She only works part-time but can be accessible for urgent needs.

In addition to being the only Upper Cervical practice in this area, we want to make your experience as personal, comfortable and positive as possible.

FYI- due to the Privacy Act requirements, we will have everyone update their information and sign our privacy policy statement.

Is your brain fried?

2008-06-05T21:18:00.004-05:00

Recently a relative was trying to come off some medications she had been prescribed for mild situational anxiety. She was told by her doctor (MD) that she wouldn't have to take it long term but that she would have to taper off the dosage slowly when she did want to get off it.

WELL, she ended up in the ER. She was never told exactly how to decrease her amount. She prudently felt 90 days would probably be slow enough to allow her system to adapt. Apparently Not! If you come off this medication in less than several months you can experience severe withdrawal symptoms. She began to have high blood pressure, brain shivers, extreme agitation, depression, fatigue, tactile hallucinations (feeling of ants crawling on your skin), insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and even inability to think of words. She found out later that some of the other conditions she has developed may be due to this drug. She is still suffering withdrawal symptoms and may for some time.

MY POINT!

DRUG ARE DANGEROUS!

She never imagined she would have such severe symptoms when coming off a low dose anti-anxiety/depression medication.

I am convinced that too often our medical profession rushes to prescribe a drug to treat a symptom or more appropriately the drug companies are manufacturing drugs to treat conditions we can treat with more conservative measures.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TRANQUILIZER DEFICIENCY

Amino Acid therapy combined with whole food nutrition, mineral supplementation, exercise and appropriate mental exercises and conservative care are much more effective at treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, drug abuse, sleep disorders, personality changes, memory problems, no interest in sex, headaches, digestive problems and more.

Amino Acid deficiency causes neurotransmitter deficiency and that can lead to any of the problems outlined above (fried brain). Before you get hooked on some drug, fully investigate its benefits, side effects and withdrawal symptoms. IN FACT, for your overall health I am convinced you would benefit more from a conservative approach incorporating specific upper cervical chiropractic care, auriculotherapy, Amino Acid supplementation, whole food supplements and exercise.

You'll be surprised at how good you will feel.

RATE YOUR DOCTOR

2008-04-09T15:39:00.005-05:00

As some say, "Do or Die, Sink or Swim, Talk the talk and Walk the walk!"

Which ever cliche is applicable, I'm asking for your honesty. Now is the time to really let me know what you think. Do you like your care or not? Not only will this help me but others looking for a chiropractor in this area. I don't mind a little "stepping on my toes" but please don't stomp too hard. I am asking you to go to either link and leave your comments on yellowbook.com at my listing- Lonny R. McKinzie, D.C. and Weaver Chiropractic. (If you'd prefer to email me personally and not post your comments for the world to see just send them to mail@drmckinzie.com)

I just found it really helps for patients to give feedback regarding their doctor. As you know I primarily specialize in the Atlas/C1 or Upper Cervical Technique . Since taking over for Dr. Weaver I've found he used a variety of techniques and I've tried to accommodate patients as best I can. However, the Upper Cervical technique, in my opinion, is truly the most advanced chiropractic care available to the public today. As I've become better acquainted with many of my patients and learned their particular needs, many benefit more from the Upper Cervical care than any other technique.

I hope you all tell others about the benefits of chiropractic care and encourage friends and family to seek the natural healing that can take place with chiropractic. Emergency health care and first aid are essential and we have very qualified doctors trained in those areas but chiropractic works to assist your body in healing itself. We all need the life restoring care that chiropractic offers to stay healthy and to keep our immune system functioning at its optimum. Give yourself the gift of life-better health through upper cervical chiropractic care.

Your comments (positive I hope) will really help to let others know about chiropractic and Upper Cervical care.

I just realized you need to leave comments on both if you want people to know about me.
Thank you.

Lonny R. McKinzie, D.C. listing
Weaver Chiropractic Listing

Redefining Health

2008-04-03T09:31:00.002-05:00

I have been challenged to start looking at things differently. Have you been so used to doing something the same way for so long that you just don't think it is possible to change?

I like the quote, "Life is too short to stay on the merry-go-round, where there is obvious movement but the scenery never changes."

We can lull ourselves into thinking "we're doin OK" when in fact, we are not OK but we are actually in a downward spiral. This relates to our health as well.

Health is not just the absence of disease or infirmity but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

I would dare to say that our mental and social well-being are probably the cause of disease or infirmity more often than some physical incident.

What are you doing that is sabotaging not only your physical health but your mental health and social well-being?

Are involved in habits that are unhealthy- smoking, excessive drinking, poor diet, not exercising, complaining, spending time in selfish endeavors instead of quality time with loved ones-hobbies, TV, or just being a recluse in your "man cave" or "sewing room"(sorry I don't know the best comparison to the man-cave for women).
No sense of compassion for others
No time to devote to prayer, meditation and spiritual renewal
Thinking "the sky is falling" ie, can't afford gas, groceries are too high, we are in a recession.
Working too much, or in a job you hate. Find work you love and your health will improve.

I would like to challenge you to look at life a little differently. Change some things- drive to work a different route or create a new morning routine to include Bible reading and prayer. You might just meditate on a exciting and productive day. Consciously spend more time with family (not glued to a movie) actively engaging one another in meaningful conversation or activity. Spend time getting feedback from friends and loved ones about what you are good at. You may just decide to change jobs or start your own business. Life is too short to spend years doing the same thing (merry-go-round) or not accomplishing what God created you for- those goals and dreams you had as a child but somehow got put on the top shelf of the closet of your mind.

Make your life and your health a priority. Focus on developing healthy habits in all areas of your life-physical, mental and social. If we would spend the same amount of money preventing disease that we will spend trying to treat or cure disease we'd be a whole lot healthier, live longer and have a better quality of life.

Like the saying, "If I'd known I was going to end up like this I'd have taken better care of myself".

Chiropractic is a natural form of health care that focuses on the body's own recuperative power. Your body knows best what it needs to heal, we just have to give it the opportunity with good nutrition, healthy spine care, exercise and quality air and water.

If you want to know more about the beneficial effects of Upper Cervical (Atlas) Spine care. Just contact me. I would love to share what I can to help you.

READ No More Mondays (click here)

Dismissing False Expectations

2008-02-09T14:33:00.001-06:00

With the WebMD report becoming a banner for Specific Upper Cervical, we are getting questions about "just what will Upper Cervical chiropractic cure"? First of all, we have to make certain a patient is a candidate for chiropractic care. Most people are, to one degree or another, but an exam and full upper cervical evaluation is necessary to really determine if a patient will benefit from care. I've always said that "if you don't have a chiropractic condition, chiropractic won't help but if you have a chiropractic condition, nothing but chiropractic will help".

Just what is a "Chiropractic condition"? A classic chiropractic term that describes a chiropractic condition is SUBLUXATION. Now it seems as a profession, we seem to use the word less than we used to. But it is a chiropractic term. If I may use a definition that seems to represent the majority of chiropractors; A subluxation is an area of disharmony in the spine which interferes with the functioning of the nerve system. Adjusting subluxations removes the interference, restores proper nerve functioning, and allows your body to restore and fully express health through its own innate healing ability.

So who can benefit from chiropractic care? Anyone with a subluxation. Think of it this way. You are driving down the road in your vehicle and there is no problem with your vehicle, the tires are pressurized properly, the tires are balanced, handles very effortlessly with no pulling to either side. Unsuspectedly you hit a pot-hole in the road. It is a hard hit and you swerve a little. Now you notice your car pulling to the side and you have to maintain tension on the steering wheel to keep it in the lane. What just happened? Something got knocked out of alignment. Exactly the same thing happens with your spine. You have a car wreck, you fall on ice, you get hit hard play football or collide playing soccer. There are any number of incidents that can cause your spine to "get out of alignment or subluxated".

The problem is that most people haven't been educated to know the effects of incidents that cause subluxations. Typically, individuals seek to treat the symptoms that are caused by the subluxations but rarely do they understand what is takes to treat the underlying cause. We have not educated the public that we must adequately assess the spine for subluxations and get them corrected. Our job as chiropractors is to find the subluxations and fix them if possible. We are more concerned with the correction of the subluxation than the symptoms a person is feeling. If the symptoms are due to the subluxation then the body's own innate ability to heal will remove the symptoms if the subluxation is removed.

Chiropractic is really pretty simple. Correct the subluxation, remove the interference, then let the body heal itself.

Now what if a person has cancer. Do we treat cancer? NO. But the patient should be evaluated for subluxations and get those corrected. Who knows, maybe the nervous system can stimulate the immune system strongly enough that the body could deal with the cancer internally and heal itself. It has been reported to have occurred.

When the nervous system is free of interference from subluxations, it will function at or near 100% regardless of age or health condition.

Green and growing...

2008-01-05T00:40:00.000-06:00

There was a saying I heard once, " If you are green you are growing, if you're ripe you begin to rot." Well, that goes along with "You're never too old to learn new tricks". I hope that I'm still growing and that I can still learn new things. I sure don't want to rot and start to stink up the place. SO, that brings me to my announcement.

I will be offering Auricular therapy for patients who want and need that type care for additional pain control, addiction and craving control and other conditions. This is a proven technique that is a valuable adjunct to Upper Cervical Chiropractic care.
I will also like to help the ever growing number of patients who find it difficult to maintain their weight, eat right and find a program that works for everyone in the family. We are faced with unhealthy choices everyday and we need to learn to quit making mindless choices and be proactive in choosing the lifestyle we want. The choices we make today impacts the rest of our lives. Don't wait until it's too late to start taking care of yourself and your children. Our children are at even greater risk today than ever before. Let me help you get on the right track.

The new year always brings "RESOLUTIONS" but unfortunately they are just as easily forgotten as they are made. What would it take to truly make your resolutions a long term reality? Are you really ready for change? Are you willing to do what it takes? These are tough questions but the rewards are worth the effort. Let me share with you what I've found that works. It is not easy, but those things worth having rarely come easy anyway.

Leave a post and let me know what you think or email me and lets really get to the "heart" of the matter.

FYI- the Auricular therapy and Nutrition Program are not covered by insurance but are priced to be affordable.

Dealing with the Pain

2007-12-15T17:27:00.004-06:00

It was an honor to be invited to speak at the Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) Support Group meeting in Tyler at East Texas Medical Center (ETMC) on Friday, Dec. 14. This condition involves the 5th Cranial Nerve and is a nerve disorder of unknown origin. It causes sudden shock-like facial pains, typically near the nose, lips, eyes or ears. It is said to be the most excruciatingly painful human condition in the world. Link to TNA website

Having been a severe Migraine headache sufferer, I can't imagine the pain someone with TN experiences. It really makes you appreciate what health you do have when you hear some of the stories of individuals who are in so much pain they are willing to end it all with suicide (see What Time Tuesday).

As an Upper Cervical Chiropractor I have the unique opportunity to practice a type of chiropractic technique that has been successful in helping people with TN. As a matter of fact, my presentation touched on the connection between TN, Migraine headaches and High Blood Pressure. The proper function of this area of the spine and the brain stem is crucial and is most likely effected when there is an upper cervical misalignment (subluxation complex).

At this writing I am awaiting copyright approval for some illustrations I would like to post on this site. Once they are approved, I will be posting my presentation and it will be posted on the Texas TNA website as well.

If you are having facial pain, Migraine headaches or suffer with HBP, Upper Cervical Chiropractic may be helpful. There is no way to know until you are examined by a trained upper cervical specialist who can detect and correct the misaligned vertebra.

Feel free to search the attached links to learn more about Upper Cervical care and conditions that respond well to this specialized branch of chiropractic.

Links: Upper Cervical Chiropractic

NUCCA

Academy of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Organizations

Upper Cervical Advocates: Upcspine
ICS

Loving One Another

2007-11-12T08:43:00.000-06:00

Going "home" is sometimes bittersweet. Even though Tyler is our home now, Corpus Christi was home for many years. Our recent trip to Corpus was mixed with excitement and sorrow. The reason is because of relationships. Relationships tend to define "home" even more than the house you live in.

For my wife, Corpus Christ will always be home. She grew up there and spent most of her life there. It was the relationships that we most looked forward to renewing on this latest trip. Even relationships with favorite restaurants can end up "broken". One of the ones we were really looking forward to enjoying was out of business.

Spending time with old friends ranged from exciting and refreshing to bittersweet. We truly enjoyed seeing friends and for some it seemed to strengthen and reestablish those bonds of friendship. Some of the friendships didn't seem to have the same closeness we once felt and some that we may have felt a little less strong seemed to be even stronger. Hearing about the events of those we care about, whether success, heartache, illness or loss touched our hearts and reinforced the thread of love and concern for those with whom we have a relationship.

Distance doesn't define a relationship. Even as Jesus loves us, his command that we love one another is for one person to another person and is not dependent on location. We can maintain relationships through time and distance. Those that we care about tend to be easier to love but to really show Christ's love we must love the unlovable.

Why do we shy away from the people who are different from us? Are we afraid, embarrassed, or just don't want to mess with someone who might require more energy than we want to give? I hope we can learn to love as Jesus loves. This is where the fruit of the Spirit really starts to make us truly like Christ. Can you imagine the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that comes with that?

It is not a suggestion that we love one another, it is a command! John 15:12 GO LOVE!

What do YOU want?

2007-10-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

I’ve had a few patients relating that they want more information about nutrition and how to determine the difference between good information and hype. Well, my first question is what are they trying to sell? Is it a cure for “every disease known to man” product? Is it something that makes sense and is believable or meets a need? We offer a whole-food product that is quite amazing but it is not a cure-all, magic bullet, or wonder product. It is a simple idea based on good science and tested in many different prominent institutions. If you are being sold a product ask if the product is:

tested by a 3rd party-a prominent institution that gives an unbiased opinion about the product
randomized- computer generated study subjects
blood tests to measure baseline of subjects
double blind -one group of test subjects takes the product being tested and one group takes a placebo
placebo- a look alike product to the real one being tested
cross-over - the subjects are given the actual product for a period of time then switched to the placebo
reproducible- another credible institution could likely get the same results if tested similarly
peer-reviewed-is a process of subjecting an author’s scholarly work, research or ideas to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field.
peer-reviewed journal- a scholarly periodical which requires that each article submitted for publication be judged by an independent panel of experts.

If the product doesn’t have the research to back it up then the claims are just that, “claims”. If it does have the research and is “proven” then you are likely to gain the same results as most everyone else. To learn more about the whole-food product I am talking about go to my website and click on “nutritional products” or click here.

If you have any other questions regarding nutrition, chiropractic, or any other health issue just post it here. I’ll be glad to get answers for you.

If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers.

What about Dr. McKinzie

2007-10-07T20:18:00.002-05:00

There seems to be a bit of egotism in writing an “about me” section. I don’t particularly like writing about me but maybe it’s important for you to know about me. Hopefully, learning about me will help you learn more about you.

You will find me freely and openly refer to God, Jesus, Christian, Creation, etc. because I truly believe that there is a Creator and without a personal relationship with our Saviour life is unfulfilled, lonely, unbearable, and without hope. May you examine your life and ask, “What if there is more to this life, then what?” If you are then enlightened enough to ask, “Then what?”, please email me and we can talk.
I am married to a very talented and wonderful woman who compliments and fulfills me.
My two children have made me very proud and they both continually strive to be productive, responsible young adults.
I like writing and wish I had done more of it in the past. I have completed one ebook and plan on writing others.
Volunteering for Bethesda Clinic, YWAM, and Mercy Ships has been rewarding and I look forward to more areas of volunteer service.

Dreams!

One of our dreams is to build a retreat facility for ministry leaders, couples, and those who serve in ministry, or those who just need to get away from the stress of everyday life to rest and relax. We want to serve those who serve. We are currently looking at the options to obtain land for the retreat center. Our ideal facility would be 15 to 30 acres with a combination of trees, pond, pasture, somewhat secluded but close to town. Visitors will be greeted with a warm and cozy cabin surrounded by trees. A back porch view of the pond and nature’s “critters”(as Rhonda calls all God’s little creatures). Nature trails, paddle boats, and a hot tub give visitors an opportunity to “really” relax. As our facility grows we want to offer massage therapy, chiropractic, health training DVDs and other learning tools for our visitors.

Anyone willing to offer advice, lend a hand physically or financially or just pray for us as we seek God’s guidance in this “bigger than we are” venture, we welcome you and PLEASE contact us. We have had many already interested in taking advantage of the “finished product”. Thank you in advance for your help.

Let’s build something

Oh yeah! I have an invention I would like to find financing for to produce a prototype. I’m sure we could make it financially worthwhile for both of us. It is a very specific piece of cervical rehab equipment that is unique. I haven’t seen anything like it and would love to build a test unit to use in research to prove its effectiveness. With the unbelievable number of whiplash injuries, this could really be of benefit to the patient and investors. Your help would be appreciated.

I Love my patients

I find I enjoy chiropractic more when people really are interested in their own health. It is fun to help people understand how their body works and what it takes to keep them healthy and then see them doing it. It is not too much fun though when I get blamed for not getting a person well or hear "your adjustment didn't work". I lovingly smile and try to explain the reasons why the adjustment didn't work. It may be that the patient has never been to a chiropractor before and has a misconception of what to expect. It could be they haven't led a very healthy lifestyle and are looking for someone else to blame for their current ill-health. It could be they have a condition that is causing them not to respond very quickly or maybe at all. I hope I can, in a loving spirit, explain how lifestyle, overweight, smoking, diabetes or other issues can keep a person's body from responding very quickly and give them hope that health can come if they are patient. We all must realize WE are responsible for OUR actions, choices and lifestyle? What we do today will effect us positively or negatively sooner or later. Choose well.