Author Archives: drlau

Vitamin D as a Flu Fighter

Use Vitamin D As Flu Medicine

Vitamin D therapy is gaining acceptance from the medical community as a healthy option to take year round.  In fact, many suggest it as a protective against the flu.  Vitamin D3 is believed to be the best source to take.

Different supplement companies are now carrying vitamin D3 in either liquid drops or pill form.

It is recommended  for adults to take 5,000 iu’s daily.

Additionally, testing for vitamin D deficiency via bloodwork is becoming widely accepted in primary care offices.

- Dr. Michael Lau

www.alternativepractice.com

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States


Enjoy Each Moment

How quickly life goes.  I was searching through an old archive of photos and came across this picture from a little over a year ago.  Having children really reveals the speed of life.  Only one year later.  The time is gone.  Did I make the most of it?

www.alternativepractice.com

 


Adding ‘Bounce’ to Your Joints

Much is asked of our joints.  Support, flexibility, protection.

As we age, we tend to lose that ‘bounce’ that is inherently there.  We may feel it as joint stiffness upon waking or dull, achy pains throughout the day.  There may be a feeling that we need to twist or stretch the back.  All are signs that perhaps our joints are starting to lose their ‘bounce’.

There are some things we can do to protect and add more life to our joints.

Adding motion to joints helps to ‘undo’ the aging process of a joint.  Adding healthy motion to stiff joints will reduce the accumulation of scar tissue.  Further, motion helps drive in needed nutrients to the cartilage or discs between the spinal segments.

Restoring motion to joints is a lot like adding WD40 to rusty chain links.

The chiropractic care in our office focuses on detecting the areas of the spine that may be out of alignment and ‘fixated’.  A short prescription of care is given to start adding the ‘bounce’ back into the joints again through a variety of techniques.

The results can be dramatic in a short amount of time.

- Dr. Michael Lau, D.C.

(918) 481-9200

www.alternativepractice.com

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States

 


Reduced Motion Found in Spinal Disc Arthritis

Research published in Spine conclude that spinal joints afflicted with arthritis reveal diminished joint mobility.  This is not a big surprise and a no-brainer since a lack of mobility is detrimental to the health of the discs of the spine and may lead to the water loss found in the discs.

The discs of the spine require motion to draw in nutrients from the edges of the vertebra.  This is due to the lack of blood supply to the discs.

The good news here is with the understanding of the requirement of motion to keep the spinal joints healthy, etc., we can promote this movement to keep joint disc degeneration from occurring.

A variety of chiropractic techniques are great at promoting this normal motion back into the spinal segments.

- Dr. Michael Lau, D.C.

(918) 481-9200

www.alternativepractice.com

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States


Your Pain and Connective Tissue

This small post is about stiffness and your connective tissue called ‘fascia’ and its relation to pain.

The concept of fascia is very important for patients with chronic pain to ‘get’.  Fascia is the connective tissue that holds us together so to speak.  Comprised of both collagen and elastin, fascia is prone to ‘stick together’ around areas of stress in the body or in areas that stay in one place for too long (like sitting all day at work).

Without much mobility throughout the day (trips to the water cooler), our backs are prone to become stiff over time.  This pattern of sitting in the modern workplace can lead to the fascia laying down what scientists call ‘cross-linking fibers’.  In essence, this causes the fascia to glue together.

The end result is a restriction of joint movement.   [Enter chronic back pain.]

In most cases, back pain that does not radiate and that gets worse with inactivity (sitting all day, sleeping, laying on couch) is due to joint restriction and stiffness.   As this fascia builds up, joints become restricted.   Scientists believe joint restriction triggers our dull, achy pain.

Patients with this type of scenario respond amazing well to treatments aimed at restoring the normal motion back into the spine through chiropractic care, deep tissue massage, myofascial release techniques and stretching.

In addition, stay active, try yoga and see your massage therapist and your chiropractor on a regular basis.

- Michael Lau, D.C., a Tulsa Chiropractor

www.alternativepractice.com

 

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States


Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Inflammation in the body is believed to accelerate again and be a factor in chronic disease and pain. Reducing inflammation is a crucial element of the wellness lifestyle. Certain foods promote inflammation and will be outlined below.

Foods that have been shown to increase inflammation include foods that contain high amounts of sugar such as candy, soda’s, soft drinks, pastries, sweetened cereals, white processed foods, etc.

Junk foods and fast foods are also on the list as they contain higher amounts of saturated and trans fats which have been shown to promote inflammation. In addition, processed meats and lunch meats are included here as they usually contain nitrates. Nitrates have been linked with inflammation as well.

Typically, a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables are associated with lower amounts of inflammation and pain. Fruits and vegies contain plant compounds which help to lower inflammation.

With that said, some patients have difficulty with the nightshade family – potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, etc. Such foods can trigger a worsening of inflammation in the body in certain individuals.

Some favorite foods of patients incorporating an anti-inflammatory lifestyle include:  tuna, salmon, fruits & vegetables, legumes, ezekial bread, raw nuts and seeds and nut butters, brown rice, purified water, whole grains and daily intake of supplemental fish oil from a mercury free source.

- Dr. Michael Lau
www.alternativepractice.com

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States


Tylenol Restrictions and Pain Management

There is talk about the potential restrictions or dose lowering of Tylenol and other pain medications in the market the associated press reports.

One thing to keep in mind about the use of such over the counter medications is that not only do they come with some potentially serious side effects, they block an enzyme that is necessary for cartilage remodeling. Studies show they block both the formation and elongation of chondroitin sulfate polymers; thus reducing cartilage and causing more joint degeneration.

Essentially, what this means is that pain med’s can lead to a breakdown of the joint and potentially increasing the likelihood of pain from such damage.

A potential feed forward cycle could be created as a patient takes the med for pain, yet, the resulting effect is further joint pain and destruction after such use leading to taking more meds, etc.

In order for a joint to retain healthy cartilage, the joint must first of all have the nutrients that are necessary for cartilage repair (glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate) as well as compression and decompression forces to drive fluid in and out of the joint.

Chiropractors help to restore proper joint mobility which is not only pain-relieving, but it is healthy for the joints!

- Dr. Michael Lau
www.alternativepractice.com

(918) 481-9200

Natural Health & Chiropractic Center
6130 S Maplewood Ave # D
Tulsa OK 74136
United States


Back from Maine

Recently, my wife and kids went to Maine for a vacation around the fourth of July.

What struck me most about the area was how many people have an American flag on their house or in their yard. Businesses also flew the American flag quite often as well.

It is great to be an American. I am truly thankful for all the sacrifices our countrymen have had for the cause of freedom.

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I had such a great time with our family this week.  Here we are above on the back of the rented lake house.  The weather didn’t cooperate as we had hoped (it nearly rained everyday), but it allowed for great family bonding and total relaxation.


Tulsa Spinal Decompression Therapy

Patients often ask what is spinal decompression.  They have heard a commercial on the radio or have seen an ad in the paper.

My answer is that Spinal Decompression is highly effective for disc herniations or conditions where there is excessive pressure on the nerves of the spine that are causing either hand or leg/foot pain.  The pain can be quite severe in nature. The therapy works by placing a harness around the waist and another on the upper torso while laying on a relaxing and sturdy table.  A force is applied to the harness around the waist allowing for an axial pull or distraction. This distraction creates an opportunity for disc herniations to self-correct.  Repeated pulls or distractions are held for a variety of seconds each treatment to “exercise” the spinal segments and allow as much healing to occur in the disc and the affected joints.

I have seen amazing results with Spinal Decompression Therapy.  With that said, I typically take an approach toward decompression of a short trial of chiropractic care with intensive muscular work first to see if the pressure on the nerve may be coming from an entrapment due to loss of normal joint mobility and muscular tension.  For instance, a strong case of piriformis syndrome (the piriformis muscle is a muscle in the buttocks area that can get tight and create pressure and referral patterns down the back of the leg) can be a source of leg pain as well.

There are cases when patients bring in their MRI’s with evidence of large herniations that are occurring in their spine.  In such cases, there is also high levels of discomfort and we immediately get to work.

I usually follow each decompression session with muscle stim.  I like to recommend certain nutritional items to feed the body’s soft tissues to allow for maximum healing potential.

Click here to see our Decompression Page on our website.

If you would like to know if you are a candidate for Decompression Therapy, call our office at (918) 481-9200 and we will find a time to talk.

- Dr. Michael Lau

www.alternativepractice.com


Massage Therapy in Tulsa

When you mention massage, most would say “I love them and want more of them!”.  I think we inherently know that they are good for the body.

A few of the benefits that we know of include:  breaking up of scar tissue around injured or stressed areas, improvement of lymphatic flow, improves recovery for athletes, helps increase joint flexibility, reduce muscular spasms and splinting, increase muscle circulation and in general, provide a sense of balance and rejuvenation.

In today’s economy, it can be a challenge to budget out this luxury into our lives.  At the Awaken Wellness & Rejuvenation Spa in Tulsa, they are providing a “spa membership” that I think is great for clients.  Number one, there is a strong discount on massage and spa services as a member and number two, it is like a built-in accountability wellness plan as you schedule a massage once a month.  Since you are paying for it, you will typically use it.

For more information, call Awaken at (918) 495-3663 or visit their website at: www.awakenspatulsa.com

- Dr. Michael Lau


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