"We can also think of this fascial scarring and adhesion in terms of hair. Remember our example of well-manicured hair that a comb or brush glides through easily? Now think of the exact opposite. Think of a hair tangle. What happens to hair that is not well taken care of, or was slept on wet? Instead of the individual hair follicles lying parallel to each other in a neat and orderly fashion, they become tangled with the individual hair fibers running in every conceivable direction. The result is a tangled mess —— a ball of hair that takes forever just get a comb or brush through it. “Hair balls” can be so restrictive that just trying to get a comb through it, pulls and causes great pain.  This is even more true with fascia."    Dr. Russell Schierling from his Destroy Chronic Pain site.

"Dr Schierling; just a quick note. My name is Michael Boyle, I'm a strength coach based in Boston.  One of my coaches forwarded me your blog link and I loved the analogy of fascia and hair ( combed vs. uncombed) and I want to tell you that I will eventually use it in a blog or article. Thanks for a great analogy."  Michael Boyle, owner of one of America's top gyms as voted on by Men's Health (Body by Boyle), as well as being the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Boston University Men's Hockey Team --- the 2009 National Champions.

Fascia is not only the most abundant connective tissue in the body, it is arguably the most pain-sensitive as well.  On top of this, in most areas of the body it is so thin that it cannot be seen with even the most advanced imaging techniques commonly in use today (for example, MRI).  Couple these factors with the fact that fascial injuries are exceedingly common, and you can see a PERFECT STORM brewing on the horizon.  This is especially true when you realize that FASCIA is found everywhere.  It's a big reason I have written so many articles on this subject.  Below you'll find a few of them.

• SKULL PAIN
  

• NECK PAIN
  

• HEADACHES
  

• PULLED MUSCLES
  

• FASCIA AS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE
  

• THORACOLUMBAR FASCIA
  

• FASCIA & CHRONIC PAIN
  

• WHAT IS SCAR TISSUE?
  

• FASCIA AS A SECOND NERVOUS SYSTEM
  

• FASCIAL PAIN FROM MASTECTOMY SCARS
  

• SCAR TISSUE REMODELING FOR HORSES
  

• STATINS ATTACK BOTH TENDONS AND FASCIA
  

• FASCIAL ADHESIONS AND THE INABILITY TO HOLD ADJUSTMENTS
  

• TENSEGRITY AND FASCIA
  

There are tons of others.  If your doctors are having a difficult time telling you why you are having CHRONIC PAIN, or are treating your Chronic Pain to no avail, take a few minutes to read about Fascia.  These articles may provide a glimpse of hope.  When you are trying to cope with Chronic Pain, a little hope goes a long way.

One of the hallmarks of PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME is that like DISC PROBLEMS, it has the ability to cause SCIATICA (leg pain).  One of the hallmarks of Workman's Comp is that people tend to get the run-around.  Annette had been a patient for quite sometime, as had her HUSBAND; so when she developed severe hip / buttock pain at work, she knew where to come.  Unfortunately, in Missouri, patients injured at work cannot choose their own doctor (the employer along with the WC carrier sends you to the "Company Doctor").   As usual, Workman's Comp had her on the MEDICAL MERRY-GO-ROUND; a place she knew she did not want to be considering what her husband had gone through several years prior (look at the link above).  I saw Annette ONE TIME in the latter part of last year, and did not see her again until yesterday.  Rather than me tell you about how well she is doing, I'll let her tell you herself.  For those that are interested, I have many other POSTS & VIDEO TESTIMONIALS on Piriformis Syndrome.  Enjoy.

What is the chief reason that LOW CARB DIETS work (my preference is PALEO because it does such a good job of dealing with INFLAMMATION, GLUTEN, AUTOIMMUNITY, and LEAKY GUT SYNDROME)?  I have been telling people for a very long time that if you truly want to get healthy, the very first thing you'll have to do is strictly control your Blood Sugar (HERE).  Failure to keep your blood sugar on an even keel (huge PEAKS and even deeper VALLEYS) is the hallmark of UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR.

I bring all of this up to tell you that there is a growing number of physicians and researchers who believe that FIBROMYALGIA is the result of NEUROPATHY throughout the smaller nerves of the body.  In other words, many believe that instead of "CENTRAL SENSITIZATION" with Fibromyalgia, the problem is that Neuropathy is present not only in the larger nerves of the Nervous System, but the smaller nerves as well ("Small Fiber Neuropathy").  There is actually a lot of research that backs this theory up, with the latest study coming out of the most current edition of Arthritis and Rheumatology.  It seems that not only were there about 20% fewer superficial nerve fibers present in those who had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but they also had high levels of a specific marker of Inflammation (IL-2R --- a marker in some Autoimmune Diseases).  HERE is a partial list of inflammatory markers that indicate whether a person has high levels of systemic (whole body) Inflammation present.  I would say that the argument is no longer whether or not this Small Fiber Neuropathy is present in people with Fibromyalgia, but whether it is actually causing the problem, or merely a symptom of the problem.

There are any number of reasons that my vote would be that this Small Fiber Neuropathy is a symptom as opposed to being the actual cause of the problem.  We know that Small Fiber Neuropathy is a characteristic of many chronic pain syndromes.  Chronic Pain has the ability to alter the nervous system (brain atrophy is one of the most well known), and my best guess is that Small Fiber Neuropathy is just one more example of this phenomenon.  We also know that a diagnosis of Neuropathy does not account for all the other problems commonly seen with Fibromyalgia (MIGRAINE HEADACHES, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES such as IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS, or others ---- click on the "Autoimmune" link above for a list).

The truth is, we have known for a very long time that Fibromyalgia is intimately linked to something called "ADRENAL FATIGUE".  After a certain amount of time (it's different for everyone) a body that is trying to process the quantum amounts of SUGAR (160 lbs per person per year) and starch in the typical American diet will start to fall behind.  The further behind the body falls, the higher that blood sugar rises.  One of the very first things the body will do to compensate for this failure of the pancreas alone to control blood sugar is kick in the Adrenal Glands (the stress glands that produce Cortisol) to help take up the slack.  After a period of time (again, different for everyone) the Adrenal Glands become "burned out" or "fatigued".  This is why you will never find a person who has Fibromyalgia who does not have Adrenal Fatigue.  And because their sugar regulation system is so fouled up, these folks are almost always ADDICTED TO SUGAR AND STARCH as well.  So; in answering the question of Fibromyalgia or Small Fiber Neuropathy, the point is almost moot.  Why?  Because you would deal with both in essentially the same manner --- the manner that I spoke of in the first sentence of this post.

Just remember that while Low Carb is a great starting point, for many of you it will not be enough.  This is because TYPE II DIABETES is not simply a "Blood Sugar" issue.  Type II Diabetes is considered one of the numerous "INFLAMMATORY" health problems.  This means that it is driven not only by sugar (which is itself considered to be extremely inflammatory), but potentially by all sorts of other things as well.  These can range from gluten or dairy (or other food sensitivities), to heavy metal toxicity, to parasites, to XENOHORMONE EXPOSURE, to POOR GUT HEALTH, chronic bacterial or viral infections, or any number of others.  This is why "MONOTHERAPIES" (taking supplements for symptoms in the same way one would take drugs for the symptoms) are never a solution for any health problems, including Fibromyalgia. 

As surprising as it may be to you, when Dr. Palmer started the Chiropractic Profession back in 1895, it had almost nothing to do with pain.   The first CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT was given to a deaf janitor (one Harvey Lillard), which promptly cured his deafness.  Although I have seen my fair share of similar miracles over the years (several people getting their sense of smell / taste back after over three decades without, a person with 42 years of deafness cured (HERE), and thousands of "GARDEN VARIETY" miracles), the thing that still continues to drive large numbers of people into our office is CHRONIC PAIN. 

The medical community continues to treat Chronic Pain patients with the status quo (lots and lots of TESTS, DRUGS GALORE, and eventually SURGERIES).  Part of the problem is that Chronic Pain ---- particularly CHRONIC NECK PAIN --- alters the way the brain functions (HERE).  This is why failure to actually address the underlying causes of Chronic Neck Pain by simply trying to cover the overt symptoms, will always lead to increasing numbers of health problems and increasing amounts of pain (HERE). 

Although I believe that the average person could benefit from some sort of periodic chiropractic care, how many people do you know who are getting lots and lots of adjustments, but not getting any sort of tangible long-term relief?  I can assure you that there are many.  At Schierling Chiropractic LLC, our goal is to get you out of pain as quickly as possible (emphasis on "as quickly as possible").  Is this simply hype?  One of the common threads you'll see if you watch any of our VIDEO TESTIMONIALS is how quickly people are getting relief with what we do here (HERE), with most of the REHAB being done at home. 

Take Annette for example.  After being involved in an MVA well over two decades ago (WHIPLASH), she has struggled with Chronic Neck and SHOULDER PAIN ever since.  About the only thing that would bring her relief was Chiropractic Adjustments.  The problem was, the results were always short-lived.  That is, until she visited our office two years ago.  Two treatments two years ago, and a treatment today has made a night-and-day difference as far as the pain that Annette struggled with on a day-to-day basis.  But instead of me telling you about it, I'll let her tell you.

The great thing about what I do is that you'll know in one treatment if it is going to help you.  Note that I did not tell you that one treatment was going to "cure" you, but that one treatment would tell you whether or not you were on track (HERE).  For more information, simply follow some of the links on this page.

One of my wife's friends sent this to us yesterday.  The video, by Pastor Jesse Butterworth of Bellevue Washington's RAIN CITY CHURCH is absolutely hilarious.  It's really sort of amazing how he hit the nail on the head with this one.

The picture above is of me with our daughters Grace (left) and Addie (right). 

Neurological Diseases are ravaging our nation.  In fact, One of the most common is ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, for which there is no cure (the drugs for treating Alzheimer's are for the most part pathetically ineffective and loaded with serious side effects).  Approximately five and a half million Americans are stricken with this disease, which is expected to double in numbers in the next fifteen years.  One year ago this month, the RAND Corporation, in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that, "the total monetary cost of dementia in 2010 was between $157 billion and $215 billion. Medicare paid approximately $11 billion of this cost."  And now we can add Alzheimer's to the list of neurological diseases being linked to Gluten -- a protein found in wheat and similar grains. If you have been following my articles concerning the NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GLUTEN (Part II is HERE) you aren't surprised.  This small bit of information gives us warrant to at least look into the potential benefits of a "LOW CARB" or more specifically, a PALEO TYPE of diet.

The benefits of "Low Carb" are really nothing new.  Not only was cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins talking about the numerous health problems associated with processed carbs, grains, and sugar back in the early 1970's (1972's The Atkins Diet Revolution), there were many before him preaching the same message.  DR ROYAL LEE and others were warning people about the dangers of processed grains clear back in the 1920's.  There were several early nutritional pioneers who understood that the modern milling process leached virtually all the nutrients from grains, leaving nothing but empty carbohydrates.  In fact, in one of his newsletters, Dr. Lee wrote that, "The vitamin of flour is lost as soon as its oils becomes rancid, a change that occurs in a few days after the milling of the grain unless the flour is refrigerated". 

We are being duped to think that the products we are purchasing and consuming under the auspices of "Whole Grain" are wholesome and healthy.   The fact is, we live in a society whose way of eating is based largely on processed grains.  On top of that, our government is telling us we should consume up to 14 servings of grain a day (HERE), while the majority of the sugar comes from grain as well (HFCS).  The truth is, it is difficult to avoid grains in our society.   But it is increasingly looking like this might be a necessary step in avoiding CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES as well as a host of Neurological Diseases such as PARKINSON'S, EPILEPSY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS, NEUROPATHY, and numerous AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS.

Most recently, Dr. David Perlmutter stirred the pot with the publication of "Grain Brain" late last year.  Just understand that his is not a new message.  Having attended numerous seminars that were put on by a number of FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGISTS, I began hearing this message years ago.  It seems, however, that Dr. Perlmutter is being blasted by any number of people within the scientific community for not being, well.... 'scientific'.  Many claim that the research he uses to prove his points does nothing of the sort --- particularly when it comes to linking GLUTEN to ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. 

Who is correct in this argument? The studies are all there for everyone to look at.   All I can tell you is that person after person who makes the commitment to go GLUTEN FREE sees substantial changes not only in their GUT HEALTH (LEAKY GUT SYNDROME), but in their neurological systems as well.  This should not be a surprise considering what we already know about the NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GLUTEN and the fact that most (80%) of one's Immune System is found in the Gut (HERE).  Let's play the devil's advocate though, and say that Gluten has nothing whatsoever to do with Alzheimer's.  It's almost a moot point.  Why?  Because we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that HIGH GLYCEMIC INDEX CARBOHYDRATES (such as those found in grains) do cause / contribute to Alzheimer's Disease (HERE) simply because they contribute to UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR and INSULIN RESISTANCE.  Believe whomever you wish, but if the doubters are wrong, and non-celiac's with Gluten Sensitivity are creating AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES against their own brains; the results will be disastrous (see Dr. Hadjivassilou's 12 year old quote from the very top of the page). 

I guess you could always look at the bright side.  If you do get Alzheimer's, it will probably only be a short mater of time until you are unaware of the fact.  Trust me on this one.  I never see people who cut sugar and crappy, processed carbs from their diets who feel worse after doing so.  Furthermore, the leap from Low Carb to Gluten Free is a small one.  If you value your brain, take the plunge.

Today we are going to look at an interesting dichotomy --- the story of women and testosterone.  Did you ever wonder what it is that gives men a greater sex drive than women?  Many of you are aware that it's the hormone testosterone.  Interestingly enough, women also produce testosterone (albeit, in much smaller amounts), which happens to be the hormone that is largely responsible for their sex drive as well.  The classic sign of PCOS is that it causes women to have increased amounts of male sex hormones (most particularly testosterone) in their systems.

Generally speaking, when men have chronic health problems they end up with low libidos, which is actually one of the first signs of ill health in males (HERE).  They are usually told that this is the result of "Low T" (not enough testosterone), although Low T is almost always caused by something else.  Women likewise end up with low libidos as the result of long-standing generalized health problems.   You have heard me say repeatedly that UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR --- even in the absence of full-blown DIABETES ---- is at the root of almost every health problem you can name (HERE is a recent post on this topic).  One of the most visible examples of this phenomenon is something called PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome).  We know that PCOS is heavily linked to BLOOD SUGAR and INSULIN RESISTANCE.  So much so in fact, that it is frequently treated with Diabetes drugs such as metformin / glucophage.  With PCOS, women's bodies fail to respond normally to insulin (they require more) and they make much more testosterone than they need.   And as you might have imagined from this post's title, it affects the libido.

Although I did not spend a lot of time trying to sort out the peer-reviewed literature on this topic, a simple search of the PCOS Message Boards will reveal this simple fact to you.  Some women with PCOS actually have an increased sex drive.  On some level, this makes sense (HERE is one such example).  On the other hand, I would say that the majority of the PCOS Message Boards tell a different story ---- a story of dramatically decreased (or even non-existent) libido.  HERE is a frankly shocking example of how pervasive this situation is.  It seems that PCOS is not only the number one cause of INFERTILITY in America (it is inarguably America's #1 female endocrine problem), but also a huge contributing factor to SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION as well.   While the medical community is busy trying to solve this problem with a host of drugs and procedures (including IVF), I would like to show you what you can do to start the process of getting your life, your fertility, and your libido back.   Why is this such a big deal?  Read the email I got from R.F. of the Seattle area just the other day.

I told you that I would answer you via a blog post "R".    Make no mistake about it.  SUGAR is every bit the drug that heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine are (HERE).  I have written about the ADDICTIVE NATURE of sugar and carbs repeatedly.  A junkie's whole life revolves around their next fix, whatever that fix is.  One of the more "acceptable" addictions in our affluent society is sugar.  In fact, I rarely find people (mostly women) with chronic health problems (THYROID, FIBROMYALGIA, AUTOIMMUNITY, ENDOCRINE PROBLEMS, etc) who do not have an issue with sugar / carb addiction.   One other tidbit of information for my readers is that if you are taking an ANTIDEPRESSANT, you should plan to have sexual dysfunction (HERE).

Here is one of the things you have to remember about all of this.  When women end up with high levels of testosterone caused by Insulin Resistance, they also end up making excess Estrogen as well.  This is why they not only end up with PCOS, but are thrown into ESTROGEN DOMINANCE at the same time.  Because the female hormones get fouled up, one of the common solutions is to get a prescription for certain hormones (bio-identical hormones are particularly hot right now) to "balance" things out.  With women, it is often some sort of HRT, with men, it is taking testosterone for the supposed "Low T".   Let me show you why in and of itself, this is extremely short-sighted.

Don't get me wrong, someone who really knows what they are doing with these hormones can make some dramatic changes in symptoms --- at least for awhile.  The problem is that virtually all of the hormones in your body are on a negative feedback loop ---- the same sort of loop your air conditioner and heater are on.  A thermostat has an adjustable set point, and shuts off your heater or air conditioner once that temperature is achieved.  When the temperature changes, the thermostat fires your unit up again.  Hormones are on similar thermostat-like feedback loops.  When the body has enough of a hormone, it will shut down endogenous (its own) production.  This is why bodybuilders who take testosterone end up with shriveled testicles. 

So; how are you going to solve this problem?  What are you going to do?  You've already been the medical route and saw how far that got you.  The truth is, there are any number of things you can do to deal with this problem.  I have talked about most of them in the past (simply start clicking some of the links and reading).  The bottom line is that you must find out what is driving the body's "Intracellular Communication" to excess.  Huh?

Your body's tissues / cells communicate with each other via a number of chemicals.  These chemicals have interesting names like cytokines, chemokines, interleukins, or any number of others.  We like to refer to these chemicals collectively as "Inflammation".   Not too long ago I was at a nutritional seminar where the speaker made an interesting statement.  When referring to solving chronic disease states, he said, "Inflammation is everything".  In other words, find out what is driving INFLAMMATION, and you'll likely be a long way to solving your problem.  Sugar is extremely inflammatory, as is JUNK FOOD.  For many people, GLUTEN is massively inflammatory.  The list is extensive, and can include everything from heavy metals to parasites.  In fact, it can be nearly endless.

What does this have to do with PCOS?  Listen to what Hethir Rodriguez of the Natural Fertility Info website has to say on this subject.  "It has also been found that women with PCOS have low-grade inflammation, which may be a cause for insulin resistance. White blood cells produce substances to fight infection, this is known as inflammatory response. In some predisposed people eating certain foods, or exposure to certain environmental factors may trigger an inflammatory response. When inflammatory response is triggered, white blood cells produce substances that may contribute to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis."  If you want to see a list of the "substances" she is talking about, HERE is a post on the subject.

But back to the question at hand.  Why do you find some women with PCOS who are obese and some who are not (because 70% of our society is overweight or obese, most of those with PCOS are naturally going to fall into this category)?   And why do you find some women whose sex drive is off the charts, while others (the majority) have sex drive that are in the dumps?  There are any number of reasons, but I will attempt to shine some light on a few that I am aware of.  I am sure that I am just scratching the surface.

• LENGTH OF TIME WITH THE PROBLEM:  When researching this post, it seemed that generally speaking, the vast majority of the women touting increased sex drive with PCOS had not been living with the problem for very long.  It also seemed like they were not, for the most part, women struggling with the most hardcore PCOS Symptoms.  In other words, I am not sure if I recall seeing a post from a woman with all of the PCOS SYMPTOMS saying that she had a raging libido.  Those in this boat were generally younger and less severe as far as their symptoms were concerned.  In fact, many had no other symptoms than high testosterone on their blood work, and the inability to get pregnant (they may or may not have been overweight).

• SHBG:  SHBG stands for Sex Hormone Binding Globlulin.  Women manufacture testosterone in several places (25% from the adrenals, 25% from the ovaries, and about half comes from the conversion of androstenedione in the fatty tissues).   However, when it comes to testosterone, the number that really matters is how much free testosterone is circulating in the blood stream --- most labs will say this is about 30-75 ng/dl, which is only about 1% of one's total testosterone.  According to Dr. Mohamed Yahya Abdel-Rahman, some of the things that cause SHBG to "unbind" from testosterone and leave women with increased levels of free testosterone circulating in their bodies includes HYPOTHYROIDISM (sometime take a moment and compare the symptoms of Hashimoto's to PCOS), EXCESS INSULIN / OBESITY (these two go together like peas in a pod), Glucocorticosteroids such as CORTISOL and CORTISONE, as well as excess androgens themselves.  An interesting side note is that Estrogen is antagonistic to Testosterone (it decreases it), which is why the birth control pill is a commonly used medical treatment for PCOS.  Just be aware that 'The Pill' has an incredible number of potential side effects itself --- particularly with long term use.

• ESTROGEN DOMINANCE:  I believe that there are any number of reasons that women can have higher testosterone levels in their system.  PCOS is only one of many.  Some women simply have more T than others.  Read the internet message boards on the subject or look at the peer-reviewed literature, and you'll find that women who engage in heavy, complex, multi-joint weight lifting also seem to have both high testosterone levels and higher sex drives (HERE).  Remember that although there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of reasons that women have androgenic hormones (testosterone or precursors such as DHEA) in their systems, conversion to Estrogen is one of the biggies.  Over-conversion is just one more thing that can lead to Estrogen Dominance, which is an epidemic among American women.  As far as I am aware, you simply do not find women with Estrogen Dominance who have heightened (or even normal) sex drives.  To read more about ESTROGEN DOMINANCE, just follow the link.

• GENETICS:  I would never hope to tell you that genetics play no part in PCOS.  However, it is critical that you understand that EPIGENETICS trumps genetics in case after case after case.  "It's my genes" has become the excuse du jour.  Once you understand that in many cases you have the ability to turn genes on or off via diet and lifestyle, it can be very empowering.

• POLLUTION / TOXIC LIVING:  We are exposed to a wide array of pollutants on a daily basis.  The majority of these are considered to be "Endocrine Disruptors".  Most of these are considered XENOESTROGENS.  If you are not familiar with this term, you need to do so immediately.  Along this same line of thinking, having a toxic (or absent) microbiota (POOR GUT HEALTH) is being linked, along with blood sugar, to most health problems as well.  This is loosely called "DYSBIOSIS", and is one of the major consequences of our nation's UNBRIDLED ANTIBIOTIC USE.

• STRENGTH TRAINING:  STRENGTH TRAINING can increase androgen levels somewhat.  However, because it is extremely effective at lowering insulin levels, you will never see it associated as a causal or contributing factor as far as developing PCOS is concerned.

Constipation.  At some time or another, we've all dealt with it.  Our modern medical mindset leads us to believe that other than being a pain in the rear end to deal with --- an "annoyance" --- constipation is no big deal.  However, this is not the case.  For millennia, Oriental Medicine has told us that chronic constipation will lead not only to body toxicity, but to problems such as ASTHMA, HEADACHES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE / HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, and many others, including heart disease.

This post is not really geared for the person who is occasionally constipated, but for those people who deal with it every single day of their lives --- those who go to the bathroom every week or two ---- or even less frequently (yeah, I've seen it on numerous occasions).  According to a 2006 meta-analysis of nearly 150 studies on the subject (Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology), "the incidence of constipation is determined to be >30% in the general population."  In other words, darn near one in three Americans of all ages is constipated.  In other words, there are a lot of folks you know who are, like you always suspected, literally full of it.  Just remember that constipation is never really a diagnosis unto itself, but a symptom of a deeper problem.   This means that dealing with this problem will probably entail more than simply taking that special formula you bought at the health food store.

The two types of constipation are "Obstructive" and "Hypomotility".  Obstructive Constipation simply means that people "plug up" because they are full of impacted fecal matter.  Hypomotility means that the rhythmic motion of the intestines called "peristalsis" slows to the point a person has trouble evacuating their bowel.  Be aware that Hypomotility can and frequently does become Obstructive over time.  Some of the reasons people become constipated also have to do with the medications they are on --- brutally common medications (STATINS, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ACID BLOCKERS, and NARCOTICS are some of the biggest offenders).  HYPOTHYROIDISM and UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR are both common causes as well.  PARKINSON'S, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, and numerous other neurological issues can contribute to this problem also.  IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME can cause both constipation and diarrhea.   This does not even begin to get into the potential problems caused by things like polyps.  There is also the mysterious "Slow Transit" (Severe Hypomotility --- sometimes called STC), which simply means that things move through the digestive tract extra slowly, and which doctors sometimes try and deal with via colostomy.  This problem is thought to be caused by a deficiency of one of the chemicals related to intracellular communication, SUBSTANCE P (one of those chemicals that falls under the heading of "Inflammation").

As you might be noticing, most of these problems are "Functional".  This means that even though you who suffers with constipation will end up going through all sorts of blood work, Upper GI's, Lower GI's, and a host of other tests, there is no pathology to be found.  In most cases, this means that your problem can be improved naturally.  That is, if you know what to do.  Although everyone is different, here are some things that will help the average person stay regular.  Many will simply be the sort of common sense things you are already familiar with.  Some you will be surprised at.  Just remember that MONOTHERAPIES DON'T CHANGE HEALTH.

• CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT:  Although this should come as no surprise, I found numerous peer-reviewed studies linking OVERWEIGHT / OBESITY to constipation in both children and adults. 

• EAT THE RIGHT FOODS:  This goes hand-in-hand with the bullet point above.  Heavily processed foods, SODA, SUGAR, and JUNK FOODS, are highly associated with constipation when compared to a healthy diet.  It goes without saying that you need to be consuming lots of soluble and insoluble fiber (fruits, vegetables, etc).  However, fiber is not the be-all end-all it has been made out to be concerning constipation.  More on this in a moment.

• STAY AWAY FROM BAD FOODS:  Some of these are obvious and go without saying.  Some are more subtle.  GLUTEN, for instance (most people who are sensitive to Gluten are also sensitive to dairy).  Make sure to learn how some of the neurological diseases mentioned earlier are related to Gluten (HERE).   HERE is a video from one of our patients who had this problem her entire life --- until she changed her diet.

• DRINK LOTS OF WATER:  Notice I did not tell you to drink lots of fluids.  I told you to drink lots of WATER.  In most cases, the difference is huge (Green Tea is an exception to this rule --- particularly if it is hot). 

• EXERCISE:  Although this is fairly generic, it is important nonetheless.  I have written on this topic extensively (HERE).

• EAT THE RIGHT FATS AND PLENTY OF THEM:   Americans have been freaked out by dietary fat ever since the FAT-FREE 80's, when they got fatter than ever.  If you are not getting enough good fats in your diet, you are setting yourself up for a host of health problems, including constipation.  Coconut oil and EVOO are both excellent fats.   The Livestrong website once said, "Saturated fats are difficult for your body to digest and can contribute to hard, difficult-to-pass stools. Your child should eliminate consumption of saturated fats to help alleviate abdominal pain associated with constipation."  Terrible advice to say the least.  FISH OIL, cod liver oil, and castor oil, can be beneficial for constipation as well.  When possible, add lemon to your oil to really get things moving along (it's great for the liver and gall bladder).

• TAKE CARE OF YOUR LIVER AND GALLBLADDER:  This is huge.  A sluggish Liver / Gallbladder is going to sludge up your bile production, which fouls up your digestion, and can lead to constipation.  BEETS are a good way to do this.  Just be aware that any and all the medications you take affect the liver.  This is why your meds can cause or contribute to constipation.  There are any number of Gallbladder Cleanses online that are all basically the same (EVOO, lemon juice, organic apple juice, etc).

• ACIDIFY YOUR STOMACH:  Although this is possibly the single most important bullet point on the list, I will warn you that this point is going to sound counter-intuitive for many of you.   As crazy as it sounds, most people have too little (or too weak) stomach acid.   If you want to see how this all works and how you have been duped into thinking you have too much or too strong stomach acid, read THIS POST.  Along with acidification of your stomach, DIGESTIVE ENZYMES can be extremely beneficial as well --- especially for those not consuming raw vegetables (a chief source for such enzymes).

• LEARN ABOUT GUT HEALTH:  Be aware of the numerous things including ANTIBIOTICS that literally destroy your GUT'S HEALTH.  Fail to understand Gut Health, and constipation will be the least of your worries.  You may need to take PROBIOTICS.  Kombucha, Beet Kavass, Sauerkraut, DIRT, and any number of other fermented foods are helpful in this arena as well. 

• GET PLENTY OF FIBER:  If you are consuming lots of vegetation, great --- you should be fine.  If not, get on it.  As an extra source of fiber, I prefer FLAX SEEDS in a special drink (click the link) as an extra boost of fiber.  Just remember that the more fiber you take in, the more water you will need to make it work.  If you fail to follow this step, the fiber will actually act like a plug.

• COLONIC IRRIGATION OR ENEMAS:  I realize that to many of you, this old-school method of dealing with constipation sounds terrible, but here's a fun fact for you.  Go back fifty or sixty years, and if you were admitted to the hospital for whatever sort of problem, you were likely to get an enema.  Why?  Doctors still understood Gut Health and the fact that a clean bowel helped their patients heal better and faster.

• HERBAL OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTS:  Many people use synthetic Vitamin C in large doses to help with constipation (this can actually promote diarrhea).  To see why I am not a fan of this, you can click HERE. People do something similar with the mineral Magnesium, which I think is not a problem for most people.  There are a host of formulas on the market for helping with constipation.  While most are certainly not harmful, how beneficial they are, I cannot say.  I do know that Aloe Vera seems to work well for lots of people.  Also, as part of the Master's Cleanse (one that I have done many times), part of the process involves the "Epsom Salt purge" each morning first thing.  It definitely works.

• HAVE YOUR SPINE ADJUSTED:  The nerves that emanate from the spine control every function of the body.  I cannot begin to tell you how many people, over the years, have found the solution for their constipation via CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS ---- even though they were coming in for something else (usually low back pain).
  

• FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANT:  Look folks; if you've tried everything and nothing has worked, FMT is the likeliest answer.  I put it last because many of these other things should be part of your health regimen anyway.
  

Fortunately for us, dentistry is no longer like the pictures above.  Modern dentistry is far easier on us patients than it used to be.  However, it is harder on the dentist --- much harder.  Dentists (and their assistants / hygienists) spend hour after hour in essentially the same crimped / cramped, leaned over position(s).  This is problematic in and of itself.  Throw in a severe physical trauma, and you have the potential for an ugly situation on your hands.

Below is a recent testimonial from Dr. Winna.  Dr. Winna entered the world of Chronic Pain almost 20 years ago via a skiing accident (CHRONIC NECK PAIN, CHRONIC SHOULDER PAIN, HIP PAIN, PIRIFORMIS).  If you enjoy testimonials like Dr. Winna's, take a few moments to watch some of our nearly 200 VIDEO TESTIMONIALS.

Neck Pain and Headaches.  Unfortunately, these two intimately related CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES are all too common here in the United States.  How common are they?  Listen to what Allysa Brown of the Gallup Polls wrote almost exactly two years ago. "More than one-third of Americans in their mid-50s and older have chronic pain in their neck or back."  When speaking of the problem of headaches in children, the February 2002 issue of The American Family Physician said this in their opening paragraph of a story on "Headaches in Children and Adolescents".  "Headaches are common during childhood and become more common and more frequent during adolescence. An epidemiologic survey of 9,000 school children found that one third of the children who were at least seven years of age and one half of those who were at least 15 years of age had headaches.  The prevalence of headache ranged from 37 to 51 percent in those who were at least seven years of age and gradually rose to 57 to 82 percent by age 15. Before puberty, boys are affected more frequently than girls, but after the onset of puberty, headaches occur more frequently in girls."  It's probably safe to assume that depending on age, somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of all American adults are fighting a battle with CHRONIC NECK PAIN and / or CHRONIC HEADACHES.

While there are a wide array of potential reasons for this (GLUTEN SENSITIVITY, FAILURE TO MANAGE BLOOD SUGAR, etc, etc), one of the more common is ADHESION OF THE FASCIA coupled with SUBLUXATION.  If you are one of those people who can barely turn their head, or who gets relief from Chiropractic Adjustment, but it never seems to last; watch the video below.  If you feel like it, you can watch some more videos (HERE).   Cooper (below) was at the end of her rope.  She had been through all sorts of tests, including BRAIN SCANS.  The medical community's solution?  DRUGS!  Fortunately; for most of you there is a better and far less expensive way to deal with this problem.  And the really cool thing is that doing it this way actually addresses underlying causes as opposed to simply covering symptoms.