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

What is the vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve, known as the 10th cranial nerve, is a vital component of our autonomic nervous system. Responsible for rest and repair functions within our body's intricate neural network, this parasympathetic nerve emerges from the brainstem above the spinal cord alongside the other 11 cranial nerves. Its role in maintaining balance and regulating various bodily functions is crucial for overall well-being.

The cranial nerves are essential components of our body, playing a crucial role in transmitting sensory information, such as the sense of smell through the first cranial nerve to the brain's olfactory region. The trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve, branches out to supply sensations to the face, head, and mucous membranes, while also providing motor impulses for chewing. This nerve is responsible for providing sensation to areas like your teeth, jaw, and face. During a dental visit, when numbing is administered before a procedure, a branch of this important nerve is anesthetized.

An intriguing fact about the vagus nerve is its unique journey from your head all the way down to your intestines, making it the only nerve to venture outside of the cranial region. This long and intricate nerve, among the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, has a significant impact on various parts of the body, including the brain, neck, torso, tongue, pharynx, heart, and gastrointestinal system. With sensory, special sensory, motor, and parasympathetic functions, the vagus nerve plays a vital role in regulating skin sensations, taste perception, muscle movements, and smooth muscle activity in vital organs like the trachea, bronchi, and gastrointestinal tract. The vagus nerve also plays a vital role in reducing inflammation and enhancing immune function.

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What do electromagnetic fields and waves have to do with the human body? 

The human body generates electricity that flows through it. The human body also has its own magnetic fields.  The human heart produces an electric current that runs through the body and to every cell. This electric current in the body generates an electromagnetic field.Because the human body, and every living organism on this planet, is an electrical body all made up of charged particles, it is also subject to the laws of electromagnetism.  The body’s bio-electromagnetic fields are very low in intensity (amplitude/power) but can be measured using devices like MEG (magnetoencephalography) and MCG (Magnetocardiography). 

Every function of the human body relies on some type of signal transmission – from the immune system, to regeneration of cells, waste removal, healing, nerve function, immune function, to circulation and everything in between.  And it all starts on the cellular level. Every cell innately knows its purpose and function and how to do it.

In order for the body to function at all, these signal transmissions must be clear and strong enough so the message gets to where it needs to go and can be understood by the receiving end.  If there is any kind of interference in that electrical circuitry the message won’t make it or isn’t strong enough or too strong to effect the intended cellular reaction.

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For years I have been drinking green tea based on all the researched health benefits. Recently, however, I learned that a diet high in oxalates can cause a myriad of health problems. Since black and green tea are considered to be high in oxalates, I decided to stop drinking these types of teas and instead increase my intake of rooibos tea. Truth be told, I've had Rooibos tea in my tea cupboard for years, but didn't really investigate how many health benefits it possesses. Perhaps you haven't heard of this herbal tea. Maybe it's time you checked it out too. It is very healthy, delicious and very low in oxalates. Now that's a winning combination! 

Basic Differences Between Rooibos Tea and Green Tea

Rooibos tea and green tea are both known for their numerous health benefits, but they have some key differences that make them unique. One of the main differences between the two teas is that rooibos is low in oxalates, while green tea contains high levels of oxalates. In this blog post, we will explore the health benefits of rooibos tea and green tea and discuss the importance of oxalates in relation to health.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos, also known as red bush tea, is a well-known herbal tea, consumed for centuries by the Khoisan people of South Africa, has displayed potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, redox modulating, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardiometabolic support and organoprotective potential. This popular herbal tea that originated in South Africa is made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant and has a unique, slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Interestingly, rooibos tea only grows in the mountainous Cederberg region of South Africa.

One attractive feature of rooibos tea is that it is naturally caffeine-free. This makes it a great alternative to traditional tea or coffee for those who are sensitive to caffeine or for those who want to avoid caffeine for other reasons. Caffeine can cause jitteriness, anxiety, and trouble sleeping, and can also lead to dehydration.

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Halloween Survival Guide

You already know what Halloween is all about: costumes, pumpkins, candy and often unhealthy snacks. This year, be prepared so you can help your patients and their families avoid a giant sugar crash on November 1.

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COVID-19 can sometimes overwhelm young and old immune systems and in some cases can result in ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome’ pneumonia and death (CDC (2020). The risk is greater for older people who may simultaneously be dealing with cancers, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema or other health issues.  As we age the immune system deteriorates  (immunosenescence) which reduces the response of the adaptive immune system that needs to respond to the virus infection (Aw, Silva & Palmer, 2007; Osttan, Monti, Gueresi, et al., 2016).

Severity of disease may depend upon initial dose of the virus

In a brilliant article, How does the coronavirus behave inside a patient? We’ve counted the viral spread across peoples; now we need to count it within people, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and cancer physician Siddhartha Mukherjee points out that severity of the disease may be related to the initial dose of the virus.  Namely, if you receive a very small dose (not too many virus particles), they will infect you; however, the body can activate its immune response to cope with the infection.  The low dose exposure act similar to vaccination.  If on the other hand you are exposed to a very high dose then your body is overwhelmed with the infection and is unable to respond effectively.  Think of a forest fire. A small fire can easily be suppressed since there is enough time to upgrade the fire-fighting resources; however, during a fire-storm with multiple fires occurring at the same time, the fire-fighting resources are overwhelmed and there is not enough time to recruit outside fire-fighting resources.

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Because of the Corona virus scare, people have been asking what they can do about it.  In addition to being a doctor of chiropractic, I'm also a certified clinical nutritionist, certified functional medicine practitioner and have been helping chronically ill people for 36 years.

Who is at risk with the Corona virus?  Those whose immune systems are compromised, and people who are malnourished.  Also, older people are more susceptible. If you are not immunocompromised or malnourished, you aren't going to die.  And there is no reason to panic.

Here's some of the things you CAN do:

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In the closing days of World War I, a deadly form of influenza ("flu") appeared. The influenza pandemic of 1917-1918 claimed more lives than the war.

During this crisis, doctors of chiropractic noticed that their patients seemed to have a lower fatality rate than the general population. Although this chiropractic observation remains unpublished in the peer-reviewed literature (since no scholarly journals were willing to publish chiropractic data in those days), a study was published by the osteopathic profession. ¹   Among doctors of osteopathy of the time, it was routine to check patients' spines for "osteopathic lesions" (what we know as "subluxations"), and to correct them with manipulation. Due to this similarity, the osteopathic publication effectively verifies the chiropractic experience.
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