​       Depression touches one in three Americans in their lifetime and comes at great personal and economic cost.  Current treatment for this problem in America is often impersonal and focuses primarily on psychopharmacology.  The impact of depression is enormous in terms of human suffering and economic costs both nationally and globally.  Estimates of the yearly economic cost of depressive disorders, in the United States alone, range from 30 to 44 billion dollars (Wells, 1996).  Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and World Health Organizations (WHO) have released a five-year study of the leading causes of death worldwide, which reveals that depression was the fourth leading cause of disease-burden in 1990.  By 2020, it will be the single leading cause of death worldwide (Murray & Lopez, 1996).  It seems that people are unable to cope with hustle and stress in every day life.  Daily T.V. commercials talk about depression and the medical treatment for it, most commonly Prozac.  (Prozac) Fluoxetine is now one of the top ten most prescribed drugs in the U.S. with 30 million users (Stokes & Holtz, 1997).
       Research showed that rats and mice with artificially induced cancer developed an increased rate of tumor growth when they were given Prozac or other antidepressants.  Prozac has been implicated in numerous suicides and acts of violence, and can cause nausea, nervousness and insomnia.  So, given the facts and the side effects of the medical choice, what are my alternatives?
       Nothing is easy in life, and just taking a pill will not solve problems.  Health and happiness comes from within, not from an outside force, pill or potion.  Wouldn’t it be great if there were a quick fix?  We all know that quick fixes are NOT long-term, but the side effects of a drug can be!  Getting down to basics can be part of the solution as well as part of our earthly journey.  Therapy, change of diet, exercise, and chiropractic care create the foundation for change and is the “alternative” versus the quick fix.  The nervous system is the connection between the brain and body.  If there is any subluxation, or misalignment, your mental status, attitude and overall quality of life will be affected.  In my nine years experience, I have found that people under chiropractic care lead happier, healthier and more productive lives.  Certain lifestyle changes are essential: exercise (secret natural endorphins, which are 200 times more powerful than morphine with no side effects), diet changes (no refined sugars, white flour, or artificial sweeteners), and meditation, which creates focus, balance and better connection with yourself.  The combination of these will make a huge impact on you and your family life. 
       In a recent research project, they compared chiropractic care, exercise and anti-depressants.  The results showed that the group that exercised and received chiropractic adjustments had the best results with no side effects.  One patient said, “After having depression for fifteen years, chiropractic care, along with exercise and the proper diet, has allowed my body to be the happiest and healthiest it’s ever been.”
       By taking a pill, people want a quick fix, while the path to health a lot more of a commitment.  Remember, in order to have happiness, you must be willing to change.

     This has been a question that many people ask all the time.  It is also a common phone call that states, “I won’t be coming into to the office because I am sick.”  Well the answer is very simple.  Did you know that your nervous system is the master controller of your body? Current research states that the immune system is directly controlled and connected to your nervous system.  It only takes the pressure of a dime to decrease the ability of your immune system by 60%.  Interference in the nervous system is called a subluxation, will lead in decreased ability of the body to heal, regulate and fight off infections.  This is like driving your car on the highway with the emergency brake still on. You will still get to your destination, but the journey will take a long-long time.  It has been shown that people under chiropractic care will get sick less often and less severely.  They also miss fewer days from work and school.  One hundred and seven patients were evaluated and found to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had no chiropractic care.  It was also determined that these chiropractic patients had a 400% better immune response than people with immune compromised diseases like Hepatitis and AIDS.
     Health experts are indicating that drug resistant diseases are on the rise.
Experts from the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that the overuse of antibiotics is causing the increase of the diseases and infections.  The World Health Organization reports that the unnecessary use of antibiotics has created a breed of "superbacteria" which are resistant to standard drugs and which actually weaken the immune system.  The abuse of antibiotics has been a factor in the worldwide epidemics such as Ebola and AIDS.  Antibiotics are often prescribed for colds, ear infections and sore throats even though they are unnecessary an ineffective in treating the problem.  It has been shown that these health problems go away with or without antibiotics.
     So getting back to the Question.  Yes, absolutely you should get adjusted when sick.  An adjustment will increase your body’s ability to fight the infection to 100%.  And I expect to adjust you and your child when you have the cold or flu.  But won’t I get everyone sick when I come into the office.  Remember people under chiropractic care get sick less often and less severely.  They also recover in half the amount of time than someone who does not get adjusted.  I look forward to seeing you in sickness or health.