The Priceless Part of You

If you wanted to build a human being from scratch, you could easily find the physical elements in about $20 worth of dirt. The other 'priceless' parts would be much harder to come by.

... just add force and intelligence

The 4th Principle in Chiropractic, "The Triune of Life," describes the human form as the union of matter (dirt) with a force (life), all ordered by an inborn intelligence (innate). From the moment of conception where all three unite, to birth in nine months, through adolescence into adulthood and ending in death, the interplay of matter, force and intelligence defines our basic existence. When they balance, we experience health.

Healthcare therefore, is much more than treating the physical part of you (as in the practice of medicine) but rather the effort to preserve the dance which occurs uniquely between your dirt, your life and your innate... and that is the practice of Chiropractic.

Take action this fall and see how we can help in your goal to become more in tune with your innate intelligence? How can we help you reach your inborn ability to be the healthiest you can be?

Give us a call for a consultation at (206) 826 - 1005

1/3 of Your Life

A few days ago, I was inspired by a teenager who was more intune and concerned with his health than most adults I know, including myself. While waiting for his grandmother to get adjusted by Dr. Bajwa, he asked me several questions about the Tempur-Pedic pillows we have for sale. He had great questions and had told me that his dad and grandma both have a Tempur-Pedic pillow. After about 10 minutes, he decided to buy a pillow with his own money. When his grandmother came out from her adjustment she asked her grandson why he had decided to buy the pillow and not something else. (I was thinking the same thing.) The young gentleman said, "You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping. So I want something that is super comfortable and that will last a long time." Smart guy! I complain that my neck hurts and that I need a new pillow but haven't made an effort to actually buy one. Time to step it up and follow this young gentleman's example. Tempur-Pedic neck pillow here I come!

A Heart-Warming Story

This a heart-warming story about the power of chiropractic care!

"A 16 year old triathlete / downhill skier who has the innate athletic ability of a one legged blind hippopotamus hurt his mid thoracics inexplicably when waking up one Saturday morning. Being a stubborn teenager, he thought he'd go to swim practice anyway just 'swim it off.' After 50m, he couldn't lift his arms above his head. He was devastated because he equated quitting a workout with failure in life and the end of the world.

A few days later, with his back still hurting, he noticed his heart rate speeding at rates of 170-180 beats per minute for hours at a time when sitting in school. He went to a heart specialist who after some tests said, "Well, your dad had a heart attack, so did your grandfather and a few of your uncles. This problem is obviously genetic. You can reasonably expect to be dead by age 30, and your triathlon days are over. Here are some pills. They probably won't work and they'll make you vomit a lot. "

The physiotherapist could not help the pain in the back. He tried for 6 months.

He lived in a small town in Newfoundland, Canada where there were no chiropractors. Until the day his mom saw an ad in the paper-a chiropractor had just moved there and opened up shop. He was one of the first new patients.

The chiropractor took x-rays, and used all these funny words like 'subluxation' and really made no sense to him. "You're a quack", he said, "but do your thing anyway because I'm having surgery for my back next week and if you break it, the surgeon will fix it."

He had an adjustment. He lifted his arms above his head for the first time in 6 months, pain free. After two adjustments, his heart rate returned to normal. He then sheepishly apologized to the chiropractor for that 'quack' remark and within a week had decided to become a chiropractor.

This guy never won a medal at the Olympics, or never made the team either. He also came from a broken home, dealt with an abusive drunken father in his teenage years and could not afford chiropractic. The chiropractor agreed to keep seeing him weekly for free or for sometimes $2-5, whatever he could scrounge together.

The guy who the heart surgeon said would never be able to train again set the fastest time for the 17km WhitSunday to Hamilton Island Swim, 5 hours and 17 minutes. Only 2 other people had ever done it. Thanks to chiropractic and bull headed stubbornness, he enjoys sports to this day.

He is just a few weeks away from turning 37. He is not dead. He tries to avoid letting his ego into the equation, but is fond of the Homer Simpson like expression, "In your face heart surgeon!"

(P.S. We do love and support our heart surgeons, just want people to look at all of their options before choosing surgery.)

Help us welcome our new Massage Therapy Team!  

Nicole Barthel- “I graduated from the Australasian College of Natural Therapies in Sydney, Australia in 2004. I am drawn to deep tissue, myofascial release work and mostly craniosacral therapy. All of which, are combined into each massage session and are personalized to fit the client’s needs. I have been studying craniosacral therapy for the past 4 years and am available for strictly craniosacral sessions upon request.

Laurinda Hager- “I enjoy diversity and have my own unique style—every massage is tailored to those person’s unique and diverse qualities. My intuitive and versatile approach to massage allows me to give a very fluid and energetic massage. I incorporate various techniques to create an original experience for each individual.”  

Josephine Rocha- “No two massages should ever be the same. I like my massages to be designed specifically for each individual client. With my firm yet calming touch, I adapt my pressure and techniques based on each client’s unique preferences and needs. My greatest proficiency is in my structural deep tissue skills, where I have the opportunity to give a meaningful treatment and experience.”  

Lacey Stamper- “Massage therapy is vital to health care, a human art for healing. I have a particular interest in specific muscle work and deep tissue. My overall intention is to help my clients feel improvement in their range of motion, set their mind at ease and be able to improve their general quality of life. I have a passion for helping others, so with each session I enjoy learning from my clients while also educating them through massage.”

Check out our website to schedule your appointment today!

Chiropractic's Birthday

It has been 115 years since the first chiropractic patient, Harvey Lillard was adjusted by D.D. Palmer. Below is his written description of the encounter:

"Harvey Lillard a janitor in the Ryan Block, where I had my office, had been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear the racket of a wagon on the street or the ticking of a watch. I made inquiry as to the cause of his deafness and was informed that when he was exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf. An examination showed a vertebrae racked from its normal position. I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man's hearing should be restored. With this object in view, a half-hour's talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it. I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever and soon the man could hear as before. There was nothing "accidental" about this, as it was accomplished with an object in view, and the result expected was obtained. There was nothing "crude" about this adjustment; it was specific, so much so that no Chiropractor has equaled it."

Chiropractic is not magic; it is a very calculated approach to health care that examines the body as a network of systems. What D.D. Palmer proved 115 years ago is that there are underlying problems to common symptoms that cannot be ignored or simply treated with a pill.

Join us this month as we celebrate the only health profession developed in the United States as we raffle off a $500 Best Buy gift card! Come into the office for details. Any new patients in the month of September will automatically be entered.

How We Deal With Stress

Chiropractic is about the whole person. Although many assume that we deal only with back or neck pain, in truth the philosophy of chiropractic is really about the entire individual and how they function. What this means is that when looking to treat and take care of a patient we look at what the founder of chiropractic, D.D. Palmer, called the "Three T's:" Thoughts, Trauma and Toxicities.

Even though it often goes unnoticed, Thoughts are the biggest culprit in keeping you from getting well. With all of the stresses we deal with on a daily basis -family situations, working overtime, dealing with chronic illness, etc- it is easy to let yourself fall victim to letting these things overrun your body. We're here to help. Chiropractic is about balancing your life in a way that everything comes into a better perspective and you will be able to deal with your thoughts considering these stresses in a more effective way.

If you know of anyone who you think could benefit from the relief of chiropractic care and massage, refer them to us and we'll take care of the rest.

Seattle Chiropractic: info@seattlefamilychiro.com (206) 826 1005

Chiropractic and Children's Health

Chiropractic is not just for adults. Nor is it simply for those experiencing symptoms, seeking pain relief. Chiropractors are nervous system doctors, and we all have a nervous system! Now you have to ask yourself, when is the body at one of it's most vulnerable states? When it's GROWING, or when it's constantly meeting new and unfamiliar pressures.

Here, we know that subluxations can and do occur on a daily basis thanks to the hundreds of stresses we put ourselves through. Perspective wise, think about how many new pressures and stresses our kids have compared to us. Not only this, but the first subluxation commonly occurs at birth!

Because children are so fragile, the traumas to their spine and nervous system are easier to correct when young, compared to waiting until adulthood where certain uncorrected traumas become the most difficult to correct problems. Bedwetting, for instance, is seen as a "phase" just as ear infections are written off as a "common ache," but truly these pains at ANY age are a signal that the body is in distress. Subluxations could be the cause! Rather than using adult techniques, we use special low force techniques to adjust kids and consider each child on an individual basis.

Our office loves taking care of families. We just witnessed the blessing of one of our dearest patients giving birth to a beautiful baby girl and cannot wait to check her nervous system at just a couple days old.

You love the people you take care of, let us take care of the people you love :)