As a parent, business owner, doctor, and lecturer I understand what it's like to be truly sleep deprived. When my kids were still feeding through the night, I remember that tiredness that is just in your bones. The red, burning eyes that feel like they need a fire hose to put out the fire, and the need for bottomless cups of coffee. The worst part of those few weeks was the brain fog!

Even when I would lie down, my mind would start racing and be wide awake but too tired to do any productive work. I know that I am not alone in the lack of sleep department, so it's not surprising that a recent research paper said 60 million Americans take prescription sleep aids. One of the more popular sleep aids on the market is Ambien, which increases the action of an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

This inhibition is what causes you to "fall asleep" because it turns off your brain. I don't know about you, but that sounds terrifying to me! My brain has been by far my biggest investment in life, an...

Question: I have debilitating migraine headaches and hate taking medication, is there anything that Chiropractic can do to help?

Yes, Chiropractic has been shown to help tremendously. In the past two weeks, I had two patients come in with active migraines that would have sent them home to lay in a dark room for the rest of the day, and they left the office without any a headache at all.

Let's talk just a bit about what a migraine is, it is a throbbing pain that is usually one-sided, usually over the eye or near the temples or forehead. It frequently alters the activities of daily living and can last several hours to several days. Migraines tend to have sensory and emotional changes before a migraine. These can include changes in mood, becoming irritable or depressed. Some may have “aura” an hour or two before a migraine, which can include flashing lights, blurry vision or blind spots. Some can even have distinct smells or tastes as an indication that they are about to have a migraine...

"No illness which can be treated by the diet should by treated by any other means."
-Moses Maimonides

Moses Maimonides was a 12th-century rabbi, physician, and philosopher. This quote is one of the more brilliant things I've read. Modern physicians could learn a lot from what Moses Maimonides was teaching when he said these words. A recurring theme amongst drug companies is "when diet and exercise fail to try this drug or that surgery." The simple fact is - diet and exercise don't fail when properly taught and properly followed. Eating a diet that we were designed to eat, and moderate exercise with intermittent high intensity is the key to health!

Paleo Asian Flank Steak with Napa Cabbage Saute

This is one of the best meals I've ever made.  Erin was running late to a meeting the evening I made this and announced she would "just have a bite or two..."  After a "bite or two" she actually finished the entire plate!  You know it's an excellent recipe when that happens.

Asian-Glazed Steak 1⁄2 cup coconut

1⁄2 cup coconut aminos
1⁄3 cup toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 lb flank steak
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

Quick Napa Saute

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 small head Nappa cabbage, shredded
2 large carrots, cut into julienne strips
1⁄2 cup chopped green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger Combine coconut aminos, sesame oil, and red pepper in a large zip-top plastic bag.  Add steak, turning to coat.  Seal and refrigerate 8 hours. Preheat grill to medium-high. Remove flank steak from marinade, reserving marinade. Grill flank steak 5 to 6 minu...

"Just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy."
~Author Unknown

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, this should be one of the truths of life that are held self-evident.  Health is not the mere absence of disease but is the optimal functioning of the person in all aspects of their life:  physical, mental, chemical, and spiritual. 

We can look at sickness as something that is "diagnosable", which means, there are enough symptoms that it can be classified as a disease.  The problem with diagnosing sickness is that it only manages what is visible above the surface and doesn't take into account what is going on out-of-sight. I prefer to find the processes that are keeping my patient from healing the dysfunction, remove the blockage, and let the body return to health.  

The best way to determine what is going on with the patient, in my opinion, is to use Applied Kinesiology.  The best way to fix the underlying cause is through Chiropractic, diet and nutrition, and homeopathy....

It's that wonderful time of year again!  Across the country parents are letting out a giant sigh of relief as they send their children back to school and structure once again fills their home.  It's also the time of year that I get asked how to best keep kid's healthy and focused the entire academic year.  There are three surefire ways to keep health and focus on your side.

Diet Drop breakfast cereals and oatmeal, even the whole grain cereals are as bad as the sugary, chocolate puffs.  All cereals, even fruit, put your star students on a blood sugar roller coaster.  This will impede the brains ability to learn and focus because of the spikes and crashes in their blood sugar.  It also leads to moodiness, obesity, and overall crabbiness.  As I know with my own children, most kids don't need help with crabbiness! So start and end their day with heavier protein and fat based meals.  This will help balance their blood sugar, give them sustained energy throughout the day, and let them sleep...

 If you listen to the media reports I am one of the irresponsible parents that's causing the current outbreak of measles; a disease that the medical profession has “eradicated” in the Americas.  But, I ask, who is more irresponsible?  Me for not injecting my healthy children with a substance that may only provide short-term immunity to a disease that more than likely won't threaten their lives?  Or, the person that injects substances that don’t provide true immunity, and, in fact, are more likely to cause damage to their fragile nervous systems? Today I am going to focus on measles, which is normally a very contagious disease that does require quarantine and extreme hygiene for the caregivers of the infected.  While measles can be deadly, with proper care and support very rarely does it cause any serious or lasting symptoms. The most common symptoms are a head cold, red eyes, rash that can cover part or all of the body, and fever.  Although rare, one of the more serious symptoms caused...

Italian Pork Tenderloin
Primal Pesto Roasted Root Veggies

This was a simple Primal Pesto Roasted Root Veggies recipe.  I marinated the pork tenderloin the whole day and it was great.  The Primal Pesto Roasted Veggies made the meal though.  I would never have thought about coating these veggies in pesto then roasting them but they turned out great.  You have to be careful not to overcook the parsnips and still finish the carrots.  Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

• 2 cups organic Italian dressing
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lb pork tenderloin, trimmed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lb parsnip, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 large shallots, peeled and quartered
• 6.5 oz organic pesto
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine dressing, garlic, and pork in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate 2 hours. Preheat grill. Remove pork from marinade, and discard bag. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper...

A Few Reasons I had to Stop Billing Insurance

I get asked all the time by patients why don’t I take their insurance.  So I thought I would write the doctors perspective on insurance.

First, let’s start by recognizing that insurance companies did not get rich because they paid claims made to them.

The mantra of insurance companies is to Delay, Diminish, and Deny.

The first line insurance companies use is to Delay reimbursement as long as possible to providers.  The insurance companies take payments you make to them and invest that money so that it grows, (makes sense that’s what I would do!).  The problem comes when you go to the doctor and make a legitimate claim for coverage that you have.  By law the insurance companies have to respond to a claim within 45 days, yep 6 weeks.  Although most companies do process claims quickly, around 25-30 days, the problem comes when they question one of the legitimate charges; they hold payment on the entire charge not just the one in question. ...

One of the quickest, easiest Primal Paleo meal we have done.  It was super fast, tasty, and great for a busy weeknight meal!  The Shrimp Scampi was simple and really delicious.  I'm a big fan of butter to cook with as it adds so much flavor to the shrimp.  I thought this would way too much parsley but it worked out great.  For seamless prep, I would steam the broccolini first while you get the Shrimp Scampi ready.  The only change I noted for our palettes was to add more basil to the broccolini.  Hope you all enjoy this as much as we did!

• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 1⁄2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Grated rind and juice of 1 large meyer lemon
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 bunches fresh broccolini, trimmed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
2. Combine shrimp, garlic, lemon rind,
...