From the Desk of Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC.....

We are all creatures of habit, but when it comes to our food selections we can make "CRAZY" decisions.  Gluten can be very difficult to give up because of a little talked about compound it contains.  Often this compound can lead to addiction to wheat.  Similar compounds can lead to addiction to dairy and soy as well.  If the proper testing is not done - dire health consequences can be yours due to irrational decisions.

It’s that time of the year again…you know the drill – getting school supplies, backpacks, vaccinations, school physicals, school clothes, etc…

The human brain is a complex organ, capable of incredible feats of brilliance and fueling subconscious fears and desires. Until recently, many in the medical profession ignored the role our brains play in our overall physical health. Instead, doctors treated the symptoms — pain, insomnia, intestinal distress, ADD — while ignoring the role our brains play in causing these symptoms, particularly for chronic conditions. A new generation of physicians, however, takes a new approach to treating chronic conditions working with patients to heal through the brain. These treatments, often referred to as brain-based therapy or Neuro Metabolic Therapy promise especially exciting breakthroughs for patients with chronic conditions, particularly those with ADD and ADHD.

The Basics
Brain Based Therapy and Neuro Metabolic Therapy recognize that the brain controls all the functions of our bodies. Without proper brain function, the body falters. When the brain works efficiently and functions normally, we have healthy bodies. External influences like allergies and stress or internal influences like emotions or energy imbalances can interfere with the brain's ability to function properly. When our brains run inefficiently, it can lead to chronic conditions like ADD and ADHD.

The medical profession has identified possible physiological causes of ADD and ADHD. They include chemical imbalances in the brain and the underdevelopment of the areas of the brain that control attention. But these "reasons" don't get to the why a chemical imbalance might occur. Brain Based Therapy, on the other hand, seeks to get to the root cause — the why — of the chronic condition.

How it Works
Brain Based Therapy, Johnson Neuro Metabolic Therapy and similar methods of treatment use a variety of approaches to figure out why a chronic condition is occurring. The therapy most often starts out with a comprehensive brain and nervous system exam. Physicians specializing in more holistic approaches to treating ADD and ADHD will also explore possible allergic causes or nutrient deficiencies through extensive testing. Foods like gluten, yeast, soy and casein can cause a person's immune system to attack the body (autoimmune) and cause a host of symptoms including pain, neurological problems and intestinal distress. These allergies and food sensitivities then often cause nutritional deficiencies that can be treated with specific nutritional supplements and dietary changes.

These holistic therapies also work with patients' bodies. People with ADD and ADHD respond particularly well to treatments involving specific rhythmic exercises (Interactive Metronome). Doctors may also incorporate energy work to reestablish a body's natural energy balance. Acupuncture works on this principal and has been incorporated into standard Western medical practices.

The Treatments
Practitioners of Brain Based Therapy and Neuro Metabolic Therapy work from a whole body perspective. These are not the only treatments, however. Similar treatments that physicians using Brain Based Therapy might also include Interactive Metronome approach. This approach to ADD and ADHD challenges patients to match a range foot and hand movements to a precise computer generated tone. This treatment teaches patients how to focus for longer periods of time, filter out internal distractions, and monitor both physical and mental actions at the same time.

Another therapy often incorporated into Brain Based Therapy by Dr. Karl Johnson, DC of Shelby Township, Michigan is Nambudripad's Allergy Eliminations Techniques or NAET. These techniques expose patients to energetic analogs of allergens or stressors and focus on improving the body's energy balance. It is believe that hidden allergies can block energy pathways leading to conditions like ADD and ADHD.

Heal Thyself
The human brain is a truly magnificent wonder. It can make us sick and it can heal us. Taking a comprehensive, whole body, brain based approach to treating chronic illness is a proven pathway to treating chronic illnesses, particularly ADD and ADHD. Rather than spending your life on Ritalin, which only addresses the symptoms of this chronic condition, get to the why of this neurological approach. Brain Based Therapy using Johnson Neuro Metabolic Therapy has restored the proper functioning of the brain is many patients and returned their body to an optimal state of health.

Often times patients with severe back pain or certain conditions, such as when bones are weakened or have swelling and inflammation of the joints or even muscle strain, it is nearly impossible to perform high impact exercises. Since maintaining good health, muscle structure and flexibility is crucial to preventing further issues, it is imperative that patients find activities they can perform safely.  Read the articles below and follow the links to the full article for more information on low impact exercises for back pain relief.

Adopting a gluten free diet has helped many people begin a healing process that will take years. Thanks in part to a recent surge in gluten sensitivity diagnoses and improved gluten free products, more and more people are starting down the path that will help them find relief for the chronic pain, inflammation, fatigue and intestinal distress they have suffered with for many years. However, a gluten free diet alone may not be enough to stop inflammation from occurring. People who have started a gluten free diet but who still experience inflammation and other symptoms should consider additional testing and dietary and lifestyle changes to address ongoing, chronic symptoms.

Why Do I Still Feel Bad?
Adopting a gluten free diet makes most people with a gluten sensitivity or other inflammatory diseases like Fibromyalgia and thyroid disorders feel better within a short time frame. Severe symptoms may begin to abate, energy will start to return and skin disorders like psoriasis may begin to clear. But living gluten free is usually not enough to completely avoid the inflammatory symptoms caused by gluten and its relatives.

This happens for several reasons. First, cross contamination of gluten free food is common and gluten can hide in a variety of foods people might not consider as having gluten such as sauces, sour cream and snack foods. Additionally, many foods that are similar to gluten react with the gluten antibody. An immune system already on the defense against gluten will treat these other foods the same way it treats the gluten peptide thus starting the cycle of inflammation all over again. Finally, there could be additional unidentified health concerns contributing to a body's inflammatory response.

Additional Testing
Medical tests are not one size fits all and often, people receive misinformation from the medical community because physicians simply ordered the wrong test. Proper testing has to go in depth and cover a wide range and breadth of issues to truly present a whole picture of a patient. Until recently, there was only one test used by the medical community to determine if people had a gluten sensitivity or not and this test was often wrong.

Thankfully, Cyrex Labs in Arizona developted several tests that are more sensitive and more accurate and that allow physicians to look further into a patient's gluten sensitivity. These tests include:

Several recently published articles have confirmed a correlation between patients with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and those who also suffer from psoriasis and eczema, and that gluten sensitivity runs in the family[1].  These studies finally bring to light something people who have chosen a gluten free lifestyle have known for years.  Skin disorders can be caused by gluten sensitivity and living a strict gluten free diet can alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema.  And, gluten sensitivity is often present in several members of the same family. 

Thyroid problems can often be found in those that also have been diagnosed with lupus or fibromyalgia. Lupus, fibromyalgia and thyroid problems share similar symptoms, and all are difficult to diagnosis from each other. It's hard when all one can tell a doctor that is that something is terribly wrong. To make matters worst, symptoms might change on a daily basis, and symptoms for all three illnesses can vary with patients. There does seem to be a connection with those getting diagnosed with one of these illnesses and having two of them, or lupus, fibromyalgia and thyroid problems.