Globe Syndicate

 

For release Friday April 2, 2004

 

 

The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents

 

by Carol Abaya, M.A.

 

 

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES WORK

Part 2 of 2

 

 

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS:  Several medical doctors chastised me about my statement that chiropractic adjustments can help relieve indigestion and migraines. (See Jan. 29 column).  I stand by this statement! 

 

MEDICAL FACT:  The body’s central nervous system is housed in the spine.  The nervous system directs the functioning of organs and various bodily processes.  If nerves in the spine are irritated then the natural flow of nerve energy is interrupted.   Various organs and bodily processes are negatively impacted.

 

Indigestion can result from nerves being irritated at certain vertrabal levels in the middle back.  Sick headaches, dizziness and mental confusion can result from irritated nerves in the neck.

 

FACT:  Chiropractic adjustments can relieve the pressure on the nerves that traverse the spine, thus relieving and/or eliminating the problems.   More than one adjustment may be necessary, as there is no magic wand number of adjustments to be effective.

 

Unfortunately, many drugs only mask symptoms (antacids and pain killers, in particular).  They do not help the body to function normally.

 

I will not belabor here the discussions about the medical value of chiropractic adjustments.  There probably will always be a narrow-minded element against it.

 

However, the validity of chiropractory as a medical discipline is recognized by both the federal government and insurance companies, who pay for treatment.

 

 

MAGNET THERAPY:  There is some dispute about the validity of magnet therapy.  There is one theory that the magnets tie into the iron in the blood and help increase circulation.  Studies do show that increased circulation means more oxygen flows through the blood stream, with better healing powers.  Seems reasonable to me.  I asked one doctor friend of mine about this and why there is not a wider acknowledgement of magnet therapy benefits.  His reply “Medical doctors have to be repeatedly hit over the head before they believe or accept anything new.”

 

Regardless of the scientific discussion, millions have been helped and pain has been dramatically reduced.  No one should have to live with constant pain.  Magnet therapy is certainly an excellent non-invasive and non-drug way to relieve pain.  It may not work for everyone.  But then again many prescription drugs don’t work either.

 

FOOD ALLERGIES and SENSITIVITIES:  Several letters pooh-poohed my statement that eliminating “sensitive” (as opposed to allergic) foods can help reduce high cholesterol without drugs.  Traditional medicine stresses diet and exercise to help reduce cholesterol.  This is fine as far as it goes.  Food sensitivities as a serious heath problem is a new area of medical science that few doctors even know about.  It is something I’ve learned about in the past couple of years.

 

If one is allergic to a food, usually an immediate reaction occurs.  Hives or itching.  Dizziness. Nausea.  Various other symptoms.

 

“Sensitivity” is not so apparent.  But “good” foods, even those supposed to help contain cholesterol, may in reality be bad for that person.  Many health problems can be dramatically helped, even “cured” without drugs, if “sensitive” foods are eliminated from the diet. 

 

 

I am not trying to denigrate modern medicine nor prescribe anything specific.  Traditional medicine has come a long way in recent years.  But everyone should ask questions and investigate options.   More caution is warranted when it comes to pill popping because pills can kill.

 

Also, the traditional medical practioner needs to open up his/her mind to alternatives that don’t kill or negatively impact quality of life on a daily basis.  Bashing alternative medicine serves no positive purpose!

 

The Medicare cap on physical therapy continues to bounce back and forth. The cap re-instituted last fall was again eliminated in December.  The Feb. 29 column was drafted before the December change.   So now Medicare will pay for physical therapy treatments with no cap for the rest of 2004.  The cap is supposed to be re-introduced in 2005.

 

 

Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time?  Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?

 

Do you feel alone?  Rest assured you are not alone!  The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.

 

 

 

* * *

 

Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, mail direct to her at PO Box 132, Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132 or contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.com.

 

Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 634 words; other material = 160 words

 

We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.