I did something this year I thought I'd never do, something I SWORE I'd never do. Yet after doing it, I'm so glad I did. It was a wise decision, and has improved the life of my family for the better.

We bought a minivan!!

As with any car purchase at a dealership, making the deal was a bit of a chore...

One of the things I really appreciate about practicing in a small town is the relationships that come from day-to-day interactions with the public. Growing up in the small town of Ringling, OK, I learned the value (and drawbacks) of living in a small town. While Ardmore is certainly larger, it's still small enough to maintain that small town hominess that so many folks long for. Through my work as a chiropractor, I've met lots of folks in the Ardmore area. As I've trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I've met dozens of new people, many of whom I've forged friendships and relationships with both on and off the mat. One of my good friends runs a little Jiffy Lube over on West Broadway, Hogan's Jif-E Lube. Hogan's is a family-owned business of which my family have been customers for years. When I last got my oil changed, I couldn't help but think of the similarities between his business and mine.

The jiffy lube concept wasn't really a thing until the early 1970's. In 1971, Edwin Washburn established the first Jiffy Lube store in Ogden, UT. His business grew, and he added 6 more franchises until his business was purchased by W. James Hindman in 1979. In the years that followed, the official Jiffy Lube brand wasn't without it's corporate and financial problems. But the Jiffy Lube concept itself was revolutionary.

Before Jiffy lube, if you wanted to get your oil changed, you would take your car to a mechanic who would change your oil for a premium mechanic's fee. But Edwin Washburn changed that with his jiffy lube concept; instead of booking an appointment at a mechanic's shop and paying an hourly mechanic's fee, you could drive up without an appointment, get your oil changed, and be on your way within minutes for a more affordable fee. While my friends at Hogan's Jif-E Lube run a wholly independent, family owned business, it's easy to see that this concept is attractive to folks. The Hogans have a thriving business that's been around for a long while, and it's not going anywhere. That's because Mr. Washburn changed the game with his business model. He provided something that was lacking in automotive repair; simplicity.

A person goes to a Jiffy Lube for one thing; an oil change. You don't go there to get your tires rotated, to get your engine overhauled, or to have your transmission rebuilt. It's simple. It's really not unlike chiropractic.

Back in the early years of chiropractic, chiropractors focused on one thing; the analysis and correction of vertebral subluxation. In the early years of chiropractic, medical insurance didn't cover it. Then, in the 1960's, that changed. Medicare included chiropractic as a covered service after heavy lobbying by the profession. When insurance began to cover chiropractic, chiropractors everywhere began billing much more than what they were previously when everyone paid cash. After a few years, the insurance companies got wise to it and began to cut reimbursement. As a result, many chiropractors began offering more services; colonic irrigation, foot baths, e-stim, ultrasound, laser therapy, exercise therapy, brain 'balancing', etc. The reason? More services = more billings. More services equates to a false perception of greater 'value'. As a result, many chiropractors have forgotten what our real job is; the analysis and correction of vertebral subluxation!

But things are changing. Chiropractors across the country and around the world are returning to their roots. With insurance reimbursement at all-time lows throughout both chiropractic AND medicine, and with the uncertainty of the Affordable (HA!) Care Act, Chiropractors are letting go of the insurance model and embracing a 'jiffy lube' model of sorts. You can come in without an appointment, get adjusted, and be on your way in minutes, all for an affordable fee.

Without regular oil changes, your engine will lock up and your car will be rendered worthless. Without regular chiropractic checkups and adjustments when needed, your spine will do the same thing. So give us a call. Come see what Chiropractic can do for you!

As a Chiropractor, it's not uncommon for folks to call my office complaining of low back pain, neck pain, headaches, or other conditions. While chiropractic has a good track record in resolving complaints of that sort, it often surprises people when the learn that Chiropractic is NOT about treating conditions! Chiropractic is about something much bigger than treating symptoms. It's about reconnecting YOU with all the potential that is inside you. Read what a colleague of mine, Dean Sottile, DC has to say about it.

One question I get on a regular basis is, "Why don't you bill any insurance?"

There are more and more doctors, both MD's and Chiropractors, who are leaving behind the ball and chain of medical insurance for different reasons, but the primary cause of this sea change in health care is the fact that it's hard for a doctor to truly do what's best for the patient when draconian insurance policies dictate the care that they'll pay for. I was thinking about this idea when I visited my chiropractor for a check-up (yes, chiropractors need to see other chiropractors for adjustments!) when I saw this article in his reception area. I don't know who wrote it, so I can't give proper credit, but it perfectly illustrates how medical insurance is NOT the answer for America's health care crisis.

Another week, another blog post! This week, I'd like to write a little about a new passion of mine; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We're really blessed in Ardmore to have a first-rate BJJ school, Sasser Jiu Jitsu and Fitness, which is owned and managed by a top-tier black belt in BJJ.

One of the things I love about BJJ is that it's a pure martial art. What I mean by that is PURE BJJ technique has a unique identity all it's own. When I first started training, I didn't really know what BJJ was all about. I thought it was another martial art, a Karate offshoot, or something like Kung Fu or Tae Kwon Do. What makes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu different from other martial arts is that there is no striking. No punches, no kicks, no elbow or knee blows.

TWO posts in two days?! I must be on the ball! Today's post has been inspired by a good friend of mine, Dr. Jason Ulsrud of RockStar Chiropractic in Rockwall, TX. Dr. Jason is the real deal. He's a chiropractor's chiropractor and I think the world of him. If you're in the DFW area and need a chiropractor, you owe it to yourself to give Dr. Jason a visit.

One of the questions I get regularly when folks call is "How much does it cost?" This is a fair question. I like to know how much something costs before I buy it so I can make sure it fits my budget. When folks ask me how much chiropractic costs, what they're really asking is does your service fit my value system?

It's been a long while since I posted here, so I figure it's about time for a new article. There's a story in the bible about a Syrian General named Naaman. (The account is in 2 Kings chapter 5 if you'd like to read it)

Naaman was a wealthy Syrian General who had developed leprosy. Leprosy is a bad, bad thing. The body, even though it's alive, pretty much begins to decay and die. Body parts fall off. It's not a way you wanna live. Anyway, Naaman's wife had a little servant girl who was from Israel. She remarked that if Naaman would go see the prophet Elisha who was in Samaria, that Elisha would heal Naaman from his leprosy.

Well, Naaman and a bunch of his buddies take a trip to Samaria. Naaman brings a gift for Elisha; ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. The modern value of this gift is roughly 1.2 million dollars with today's gold and silver market being what it is. Naaman was a serious man with a serious problem, and in his mind if Elisha solved his problem, he'd be paid handsomely. If he didn't... well, Naaman had his entourage with him and he'd probably string Elisha up by his toenails and use him for target practice.

So what happened? This General, this severe man, this IMPORTANT man hollers at Elisha from his chariot, and Elisha doesn't even come out of his house. He sends his servant out to him and he tells Naaman, "If you'll wash yourself in the Jordan river 7 times your skin will be cleansed." Naaman was incensed! What audacity! He's an important man, mind you. He's traveled a long way to visit this so-called prophet and he doesn't even have the courtesy to come out to meet him. Naaman goes on to gripe a little. "In Damascus, we have clean rivers! Beautiful rivers that are far better than the Jordan!" One of his servants approaches Naaman and tells him, "Master, if the prophet would have told you to do something great, you would have done it. Just give it a shot and see what happens." Naaman washes in the Jordan 7 times, and is cleansed. The bible says his skin was like that of a newborn baby! Naaman goes to Elisha to give him the gift, and Elisha refuses to accept it, but Elisha's servant was greedy and chases Naaman down the road and takes some of the gift for himself. Elisha strikes the servant with Naaman's leprosy for his greed.

That's the story of Naaman, and there are some interesting parallels I noticed between the practice of Chiropractic and what happened to Naaman. Many times, chiropractors see desperate folks with severe conditions who have tried everything to have their health restored to them, and chiropractic seemingly 'cures' their condition! But here's the interesting thing; Chiropractic does NOT cure anything, nor has it ever cured anyone!

In the same way, Elisha didn't cure Naaman, it was actually Naaman's obedience to God that brought about his healing. Chiropractic doesn't cure any disease or heal any ailment, it simply removes what is interfering with the body's healing; the Vertebral Subluxation. When subluxation is removed, the body just works better. If the electrical impulses from your brain are interfered with, things won't work right. Chiropractic removes interference, and the body heals itself, just as God designed it to do.

There's a saying in Chiropractic, "We move the bone, God does the healing." Your life won't be as good as it should be with subluxation. Why don't you drop us a line so you can ensure that your life will be as glorious as God designed it to be?

It's that time of year once again; the seasons are changing. The typically hot Oklahoma summer is giving way to the cooler climes of Autumn, and the frenzy of deer season has begun! Throughout the state, hunters are rising at the crack of dawn, bow and arrows in hand to engage in the great game of sport that generations of hunters have enjoyed for hundreds of years. As exciting as the onset of deer season can be, there's a more ominous season waiting at the gates; Flu season.

Every year, the same warnings are trumpeted from the rooftops; "flu season is upon us! It's time to get your flu shot!" Others say that the flu shot is a sure-fire way of getting the flu, while yet others declare that the flu shot is worthless, that it does nothing to prevent the flu. In fact, chiropractors around the world are notorious for opposing vaccination as an ineffective means of acquiring long-term immunity.

But this post isn't about whether or not you should get a flu shot. This short article is about the innate healing ability that lies within your body, and how chiropractic care can be an effective option for helping your body deal with flu season.

How in the world can getting an adjustment prevent the flu? Let's go back to 1918 for the answer.

In 1918, the worldwide Spanish Flu pandemic claimed the lives of between 30-50 MILLION people, which was up to 6% of the entire global population. In other words, the Spanish flu was no pussycat, it was lethal and strangely affected the young and healthy more than it did the young and old. Reports show that in New York City, during the influenza epidemic of 1918, out of every 10,000 cases medically treated, 950 died; and in every 10,000 pneumonia cases medically treated 6,400 died. That's .9% death rate in New York City for the flu itself and a 64% death rate for pneumonia. The crazy thing is that flu and pneumonia patients who sought out chiropractic care had far better results. The same epidemic reports show that Chiropractors in Oklahoma took care of 3,490 flu patients. Only 7 died.

That's an .002% death rate.

Why did folks under Chiropractic care fare better than those under medical care? Because those under Chiropractic care had interference corrected. Chiropractic has nothing to do with 'treating' the flu. In fact, Chiropractic doesn't 'treat' any condition whatsoever. Chiropractic is about analyzing the spine for vertebral subluxation and providing an adjustment to the spine when necessary. A study conducted in 1992 found that white blood cell levels increased significantly following an adjustment. Another study conducted by Ronald Pero, Ph.D found that Chiropractic care effects the immune system in a profound way.

Pero's team measured 107 individuals who had received long-term Chiropractic care. The chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or serious diseases. Interestingly, Pero found no decline with the various age groups in the study demonstrating that the DNA repairing enzymes were just as present in long-term chiropractic senior groups as they were in the younger groups.
(Pero R. "Medical Researcher Excited By CBSRF Project Results." The Chiropractic Journal, August 1989; 32)

So what does this mean? Does this mean that Chiropractic care can treat the flu? Remember; Chiropractic doesn't treat anything! Chiropractic simply removes nerve interference so the body can more fully express health. No matter what your thoughts are on the flu shot, your regimen of flu prevention is incomplete without chiropractic care.

So don't let the flu derail your hunting plans this year. Get adjusted and find out for yourself just how much Chiropractic can enhance your life!