Completing high school and either deciding to pursue a career in the skilled trades, or continuing education in a chosen field through college courses are a couple of paths towards a fulfilling and rewarding career. Most of us have taken one of these paths and have been able to make a living and for some, land their dream job. I feel blessed to be among those who realized the latter.
For many years growing up, my goal was to help people improve their health. Thankfully (for 30 years this memorial weekend) I have been able to bring light to the darkness of illness for scores of patients over the last 3 decades. I wrote and published my book about what I have learned to help those with chronic health issues, entitled, “Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body’s Life Changing Secrets For Renewed Health”. My hope is that you choose to read and share my book, which is available at my office, or on Amazon.com…and then write a review on Amazon – it’s easy and I highly appreciate your time and thoughts.
Stemming from the desire to help those whose bodies were stubbornly resistant to my best efforts, I have continued my education almost continually.
I started my foray into augmenting my Palmer chiropractic education with a specialized nutritional approach. At the time, Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA), taught by Dr. Richard Versendaal, provided a fresh and systemized approach to nutritional healing. This functional neuromuscular testing method utilized a biofeedback method of determining specific whole food nutrition to help bring an ailing nutrition-starved body area, back into full service. The results were spectacular and I held many seminars at the Utica Library to help interested patients and guests see this method in action.
As more and more patients brought their children in for care, I felt the need to further my pediatric and maternal education. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s’s Canadian seminar series offered a locale I could drive to. For a year I traveled monthly to a Toronto suburb to glean all the information the instructors provided. I was awarded a fellowship for my 120 hours of learning. The specialized pediatric chiropractic adjustments and evaluations along with CRA were a godsend for many a child whose parents realized that the endless sickness – antibiotic – sickness cycle could be broken.
A yearning to delve more deepling into the philosophical roots of my chiropractic education from Palmer College of Chiropractic essentially led me to take the Legion of Chiropractic Philosophers program. Under the tutelage of Dr. Fred Barge, Dr. Guy Riekeman and others, a newfound appreciation for the roots that nourished my chosen profession was instilled in me. All attendees were tasked with writing a dissertation on a thesis on an approved topic and eventually defending its tenants at a formal meeting. My thesis, “Innate control of body function and the role of the serous circulation in subluxation and homeostasis”, kind of “ruffled feathers” as it looked at the role of nutrition rather than focusing on the more accepted mainstream chiropractic concepts of nerve interference. Nonetheless, I did pass what seemed like an inquisition, and received my Legion of Chiropractic Philosophers (LCP) designation in 2000. To this day, I use the information I learned to help patients learn about their inner healing wisdom (innate intelligence) and the truth about the importance of the quality of food in determining, to a large extent, the quality of ones health.
I’m always yearning to get to the root of WHY a person’s body is malfunctioning, leading to ill health. Due to this reason, I enrolled in courses that delved deeper into the nutritional and neurological underpinnings of improper body function. First, Nutrition Response Testing, then Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) training along with certification in the concepts of Blood Type Diet science. Currently, I am working on my fellowship with the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture, partly to earn the credentials that will allow me to qualify for the highest level of NAET certification (which have just changed).
The concepts of acupuncture and auriculotherapy are complimentary to the chiropractic philosophy and principles and are a very powerful way to improve balance in the body systems. We use the AcuGraph Digital Meridian Imaging device to accurately determine what meridians are out of balance and which acupoints to stimulate using 21st century methods (laser, and micro current electrical stimulation). Our patients are finding that anxiety, constipation, bio-incompatibilities (akin to allergies), and many other health challenges can become a distant memory using these ancient principles married to modern stimulation methods.
Last but definitely not least, is my foray into learning the practical application of functional neurology, known also as Brain-Based Therapy and functional medicine. Functional Medicine looks for contributing factors that lie in the altered body physiology, which is at the root of many of the conditions that patients with chronic health challenges suffer from. I am currently enrolled at Functional Medicine University, and plan to earn my diplomat in nutrition after I successfully pass the examination.
I combine all these methods in a systematic approach to healing I call Johnson Neuro-Metabolic Therapy (JNMT). With JNMT patients with some of the most stubborn health challenges find their bodies are able to recover to the point where they are enjoying life once again!
Patients with fibromyalgia, balance disorders, chronic back and neck pain, migraines, stubborn thyroid symptoms despite medical management and others are finding that a doctor with a well rounded educational background can reclaim their lives!
When looking back over the past 30 years, I realize that I have been in nearly continuous formal education. Interestingly, the more I learn, the more I find out I am just scratching the surface. For me, it is a necessity to continue learning, so I can maintain my high standards in caring for those who entrust me with their health care needs. I enjoy being part of each patient’s health care team. You can keep in touch with articles that I write at my blog. If you are on facebook, check out my company pages:
https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyChronicConditionDoctor
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnson-Chiropractic-Neurology-Nutrition/252448508120089
If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the top of this post and please share with those you know who are still suffering with low thyroid symptoms or other chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical managment. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
