I enjoy answering all questions a patient may have because it opens up the opportunity to take part in one of my favorite aspects of being a chiropractor and that is patient education. After all the word Doctor means, “to-teach” in Latin.

The question I get most from new practice members, “Doc, what can I do on my own to help me get better faster?”

It has always been my opinion, both personal and professional, that there are many keys to having total body health, outside of a chiropractic adjustment. I can be the world’s greatest chiropractor, a title I work toward daily, but if a practice member leaves my office to a stressful environment with little rest, poor diet, and no exercise, how long can the positive effects of chiropractic care last? This is why the acronym D.R.E.A.M. is a powerful tool for a patient to evaluate his or her own total body health:

D iet
R est
E xercise
A djustment
M ental Health

At its roots, DREAM, is about finding balance in those five elements that contribute in the improvement of health.  With the aid of the internet, healthy recipes and workouts are at your fingertips in a matter of seconds.

So how do I find a balance in my life? It comes with an understanding of my body, what works and what doesn’t, as well as what healthy choices can I stick with long term. I know that I don’t ever want to live in a world where ice cream doesn’t exist so I make sure I eat well 90% of the time  (ok 85% of the time but who’s counting).  I find that with Yoga I am able to mix my exercise with stress relief.  Yoga isn’t for everyone, but it is important to find something you love to do that engages you physically and doesn’t add stress to your life.

When you have found your balance between diet, rest, exercise, and mental health that world-renowned adjustment I deliver becomes even more powerful in restoring the proper function between brain and body.  Plus, what is a girl to do if the messages from your bicep to the Ben and Jerry’s container aren’t functioning at 100%?

Remember, it’s okay to take care of YOU because, “you can’t medicate yourself out of a disease you behaved yourself into.”