Tag: chiropractic

Postcards from Our 24 Stop Tour

While you were going about your daily life these past six weeks, we were busy running around visiting local vendors, non-profits, artisans, and suppliers of ours in celebration of our 24^th Anniversary in business. We had a TON of fun doing it!

Each visit included a live broadcast to Facebook and Instagram. If you didn’t catch any of the action, you’ll want to head over to our Facebook page and check it out now. If you did catch one or more of our visits, you’ll notice a few things were made clear: we live in an amazing community filled with wonderful organizations, beautiful land, intelligent people, and fruitful wildlife!

Read more about each of our stops below!

First, we hung out with Olga, the owner of our favorite local kombucha company, Baba’s Brew. She taught us about some of the secrets behind her grandma’s (Baba herself!) famous recipe for this delightfully bubbly good-for-your-gut beverage that left us sipping daily.

Then, we headed down the street from our Clinton location to visit our favorite local coffee shop on Main Street, Citispot Coffee. We said hi to a friendly barista and checked out their awesome selection of hot and cold beverages while we enjoyed one of our very own snack packs, for sale in the deli case at their café!

Next, we stopped by Pulp Café in Frenchtown to get a behind-the-scenes tour of their kitchen with owner, Cody, and their vegetarian chef. We learned about how they make their vegan “bacon” and got to sample their delicious blueberry scones!

Then we enjoyed a long visit with our four legged friends at Common Sense for Animals in Broadway, NJ. After dropping off a much needed donation of goods, we got a tour of the facility and spread the word about all the adorable animals up for adoption.

Next, we visited staff at the Hunterdon Art Museum to check out the latest exhibit and learn about upcoming summer camps and learning opportunities for adults.

Then we took a break for some much needed fresh air at Sandbrook Meadow Farm in Stockton, NJ. We got a tour of their beautiful grounds and saw seedlings growing in the greenhouse before making it to our shelves.

The next visit was at Sugar Maple Jerseys where owner Heidi treated us to cheese curds and a walk through the pasture with her Jersey dairy cows! We met some of the calves and even got a chance to milk Emma – one of the ladies of the herd!

Next, we had the pleasure of visiting Goats of Anarchy – a local non-profit that rescues and rehabilitates goats through crowd-sourced funding. We held, petted and chatted with each of the goats that the world has grown to love thanks to the work of the founder, Leanne.

Then we pit-stopped in Flemington at Jersey Community Acupuncture to receive treatment and learn more about the practice. Owner Nicole, a licensed Acupuncturist and Oriental Medicine practitioner, educated us on the benefits of this popular and effective alternative treatment for pain, anxiety, infertility, depression, headaches, hormonal concerns, digestive issues and more.

Next, we drove out to the beautiful, certified organic Comeback Farm in the Musconetcong River Valley in Bethlehem Township, NJ. Farmer Mark walked us through his fields and demonstrated some of the innovative organic farming methods employed by his team.

The next place we stopped was the famous Red Mill in Clinton where we walked through the museum and got a live private demonstration from the resident blacksmith!

Her Fitness in Flemington was our next stop. Owner/instructor Marie let us peek in on a morning group workout session where we learned about what makes her techniques effective and fun!

Then, we hopped over the Delaware River to Upper Black Eddy, where Homestead Coffee Roasters is located. We enjoyed a tour and aromas of the roasting facility where we got to meet members of this family-run business.

Next, we stopped at Addicted Chic boutique in Flemington – just across the street from our store. There, owner and stylish Annie treated us to personal style make-overs and fitted us into new pairs of killer jeans!

A stop at Flemington Chiropractic Center got us straightened out again, as we received a free chiropractic adjustment from Dr. Lindsey, owner. We got a tour of her beautiful office and learned how chiropractic care can be a great alternative treatment for those suffering from pain.

Woodlands Wildlife Refuge was our next stop in Pittstown, NJ. We learned how this great organization takes in and rehabilitates wildlife in our community and we dropped off a donation of fruits & veggie scraps for the animals.

Next, we were paid a visit from the founder and owner or Trimona Yogurt. We learned what makes Bulgarian-style yogurt unique and how it is great for your digestive system. Sampling the different flavors was a real treat!

Then, we visited the gorgeous Stanley at Riding With Heart. Stanley is one of many horses that work with children and adults with special needs, behavioral disorders, and emotional trauma. We took a walk through their sensory garden and learned how volunteers can help.

Owner and Artisan, Jennifer of Bon Nut Butters graciously allowed us to stop by her production facility to see the making of her nut butters in action. We sampled each of her varieties and had way too much trouble deciding which one was our favorite!

Next, we stopped by Dvoor Farms in Flemington to witness opening day of the Hunterdon Land Trust’s summer farmer’s market. As an annual sponsor of this weekly event, it was a joy to see the market crowded again this year!

Then, we loaded up our van and brought a hefty donation of food and goods to Fisherman’s Mark in Lambertville. We learned how this organization helps support the needy in our community by providing them with access to nourishing food.

A tour of the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter next generated a lot of attention. We met with kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs – all up for adoption. We also dropped off several boxes full of treats, food, and cleaning supplies to help support the good work of the shelter!

Next, we visited Gardener Family Chiropractic to meet with Dr. Gardener herself and see several patients receiving care. We learned about her innovative alternative treatment method and gained fresh appreciation for chiropractic care.

Then, we got a visit from Erin of Chia Star. We enjoyed sampling of the delicious, low-sugar, refreshing chia beverages outside on our patio in the sun.

Our final stop was to Cotton Cattle Company in the Musconetcong River Valley in Bethlehem Township, NJ. We hung out in the grazing fields with the herd and Farmer Bryce where he taught us about the holistic approach to his grass-fed cattle company where cows enjoy freedom, stress-free living with a nutrient-dense diet.

June 6, 2017
Guest Post: Developing Your Personal Health Plan
A Chiropractor’s Guide to Creating Health & Happiness This Fall & Beyond

By Dr. Michele Gardner of Gardner Family Chiropractic, Flemington, NJ

Have you ever attempted to program your GPS and found it searching for satellite? It won’t show your travel route until it first knows where you are… Finding your way in life is incredibly similar! You cannot get to where you want to go without first knowing where you are. In helping you develop your Personal Health Plan, we’ll talk about where you are on your journey to health, different philosophies of health, and actions to ensure your future wellbeing.

Because we are all at different places on our journey to health, we will each have a different plan. You will tailor your own program to suit your lifestyle. The idea behind a Personal Health Plan is that it is a decision to stay healthy and take steps toward insuring your future success. (Madeira, 2006) My favorite definition of health is one that includes physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing – not merely the absence of disease. (WHO, 1948) Health is a lifelong journey and requires a bigger picture view of life to be in view at all times. With this in mind, know that you are building awareness here. You are defining your interpretation of yourself and getting specific about what you want.

Some of us are healthy and want to stay that way. Some of us are facing a health challenge or crisis that is new. Some of us are managing chronic illness. Whether you have survived a health crisis and want to insure it never comes back, or want to take your current health to new heights, a Personal Health Plan will help you succeed. No matter where you are on your journey, I want to encourage you to make your choices from a place of self-love. A frantic push toward a desired end with a rigid list of to-do’s will not serve you and is not sustainable. Plus, you’ll miss out on the gifts you have the potential to receive – even while in crisis.

If you owned a million-dollar race horse, what would you feed it? Would you exercise it? Would you keep its environment clean? Would you give it plenty of rest, sunshine, and fresh air? Of course you would! The reason you would is because this isn’t just any horse… this is a million dollar race horse! (Madeira, 2006) Have you guessed it already? Yes, you are the million-dollar race horse! Why would you do any less for yourself? For the parents reading this, I know you want the best for your children and you know they learn through observation. Lead by example. Love yourself enough to treat yourself as you would your children so they can learn to do this for themselves. Our ability to love is infinite. I promise you, if you love yourself more you won’t be taking anything away from them. You’ll be giving them more than you can imagine.

For some of you, the following will be a big ah-ha moment. There are three different philosophies of health.
1. Mechanistic Philosophy: This is the one our culture is most familiar. The belief inherent in this philosophy is that living things are like complicated machines, composed of many parts lacking any intrinsic relationship to each other.
2. Holistic Philosophy: This is the one most familiar to Eastern cultures. This philosophy values the idea that living things should be viewed as wholes- not as collections of parts. Functioning cannot be fully understood solely in terms of component parts.
3. Vitalism Philosophy: The basic principle of this philosophy is that living things have an innate intelligence which animates, motivates, heals, coordinates and inspires them. (Glassey, 2010)
Our culture’s medical model is based in the mechanistic philosophy. It is the most beneficial in emergency scenarios. If your kidney if failing or you’ve broken a bone, this is the approach best utilized. However, when faced with chronic illness, the modalities steeped in holism may fair better. And vitalistic philosophy can help us choose to add actions and traditions to be utilized whether we’re sick or well. There really isn’t necessarily one right answer. It is what is right for you right now. And, that may change too. Life and growth are a dynamic evolution.

Directions for Creating Your Personal Health Plan:

Once you’ve chosen your primary philosophy of health, you’ll develop your personal health wheel. Some examples of a health wheel are shown here along with a blank one you can print to create your own.

You’ll notice there is a center circle on this wheel.

Out of your health philosophy, choose up to three traditions that support your philosophy.

Some examples are: Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Biofeedback, Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, Energy Medicine, Faith Healing, Feldenkrais Method, Functional Medicine, Gestalt Therapy, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Hydrotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Kampo Medicine, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Polarity Therapy, Pranic Healing, Prayer, Qigong, Rebirthing, Traditional Medicine, or Yoga Therapy.

Next you’ll choose facets of health that are important to you.

The most common are physical, spiritual, recreational, professional, social, emotional, mental, financial, romantic, creative, relational, environmental, and family. Within each category you can get specific and detailed.You have the ability to know what area of your life needs your attention to reach health goals. Simply evaluate yourself on the wheel. There is an example wheel that is multi-colored with tick marks to help quantify the level of health achieved in that category. (Baker, 2013) What do you want your life to be?

After you have chosen which areas to work on, you can decide what or who will help you with your action steps.

You are not meant to do this alone. Find practitioners within that can walk with you along your journey. They will help hold you accountable while giving you the support you need.

Get started right now:

Print one of the sample wheels. When thoughts come to you about what you want for yourself, journal them or use a voice recorder on your phone. You’ll build upon this with time and allow the specifics to unfold.

If you’d like support from me, don’t hesitate to reach out. Visit my website for more information on how to reach me. I can help you find a practitioner you are looking for or guide you through some choices. Lastly, I’ll leave you with a quote I like:

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

No matter where you are on your journey toward health, you can make choices today that will lead you where you want to go. Surround yourself with people who help you passionately move toward self-actualization!

Works Cited

Baker, B. (2013, September). Retrieved from http://www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-life-a-self-assessment-tool/

Glassey, D. (2010, September). The Vitalistic Healing Model. Retrieved from Pathways to Family Wellness: http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Holistic-Healthcare/the-vitalistic-healing-model.html

Madeira, J. (2006). Developing Your Personal Wellness Plan. Setting Things Straight (p. 1). Madeira Success Strategies.

Duke University (2014). Retrieved from Duke Integrative Medicine: http://triadintegrativehealthcoaches.com/

Unknown. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386492434313/

WHO. (1948). WHO definition of health. Retrieved from WHO International: http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html

Wikipedia. (2016, August). Holism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism

Wikipedia. (2016, June). Mechanism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanism_(philosophy)
October 20, 2016
Summer Camp Week 9: Boost Your Immunity!
This week at Summer Camp, we have an exciting guest post from one of our favorite local Chiropractors, Dr. Michele Gardner! Check out what Dr. Gardner has to share about optimizing immune health below.

Summer is almost over which means school will be starting soon! There’s a funny thing that happens when children get together in large groups and have the added social stress of starting a new year. It seems to do with both stress-coping strategies and gut health. We now understand that stress affects our nervous system, which in turn alters immune function- especially when it is chronic. (Segerstrom, 2004) We also know that a large percentage of our immune function resides in our gut. (Vighi, 2008) Each family essentially has its own ecosystem that gets challenged when encountering another that our immune system is unfamiliar with. (University of Utah, 2014) Fortunately, there are daily choices you can make to support general immune health, actions you can take for prevention during exposure to an illness or during a high stress time-period, and treatments you can use to ease your symptoms and possibly shorten their duration.

For starters, I have never seen more stressed-out kids than those in school today. The level of academic and social demand placed on our children requires we teach them stress-coping strategies. Do you know what works for your child and your family? As parents, the pressure is just as great- in different ways. And if you’re a “big kid” – this applies to you too.

Here’s my list of Top 10 Daily Choices to Support General Immune Health:
1. Get adjusted by your family chiropractor. Adjustments not only boost immune function for hours afterward (Brennan, 1991), they increase relaxation and digestive health through the nervous system! (Yates, 1988) (Takeda)
2. Consume high-quality, nutrient-dense food for a healthy gut. We have many knowledgeable people here in Flemington who can help you learn to make the best choices for you and your family. Just ask! We’ll help you get started by finding the right person for you. It can be simple too – no need to get overwhelmed. It can be all about adding in good stuff that crowds out what you don’t want. And, it can taste great so you don’t have to feel deprived. If you regularly eat at Basil Bandwagon’s Farm to Market Café, then you know I’m right!
3. Find appropriate exercise. Did you know exercise immunology is a thing? Regular moderate exercise is shown to decrease risk of illness while over-training can have the opposite effect. (Gleeson, 2007)
4. Get quality rest. Our bodies restore and regenerate while we sleep. The amount of sleep we require changes with age too. For most adults, seven to eight hours will suffice; teens and infants require more like ten to twelve! (Olson, 2015)
5. Take quality, whole-foods supplements including vitamins and trace minerals tailored to your needs. Whether you need to establish/restore your gut health or counter the depleting effects of stress, supplementation can be instrumental in your health. The key is to first find out what your specific needs are, and that can often begin with bloods tests. There are certain supplements that are safe to use even if you don’t have a deficiency (essentially you’ll just eliminate the excess). But, there are others you want to take ONLY if you are deficient – especially fat-soluble vitamins (that means they get stored in your body). (Medicine Net, 1999) There are medical doctors with post-doctorate training in Functional Medicine or Integrative Medicine who have a more comprehensive understanding and testing capabilities. Again, we have many here in our community and neighboring counties.
6. Learn to reduce stress. We’ve already established that our community has a high level of stress, and chronic stress affects our immune function. Help yourself and your family by cultivating stress-coping strategies. We aren’t going to eliminate the stress in our lives so we’d better adapt! And, for the love of Pete, don’t add this to your already overloaded to-do list and become the health “Nazi” in your family! These are strategies that develop over time, organically, and from self-love! Surround yourself with practitioners from traditions that make sense to you, who can guide you along this journey. Ask and we’ll help you find your:
  - Family Chiropractor
  - Community Acupuncturist
  - Aromatherapist
  - Massage Therapist
  - Yoga Instructor
  - Family Gestalt Therapist
  - Tai Chi or Qigong Instructor
  - Ayurvedic Practitioner
  - Minister
  - Energy Medicine Practitioner
  - Herbalist
  - Homeopath
  - Personal Trainer
  - Meditation Guru
  - Art Therapist
  - Hypnotherapist
7. Make sure the humidity in your home stays close to 50%. In cold air our mucous membranes (lining of your respiratory tract) get dried out, which can lower our body’s defense to illness. Their job is to trap those pesky bacteria or viruses we don’t want so we can sneeze or cough them out. (Mercola, 2014)
8. Play outdoors. Good ol’sunshine and fresh air! If you’ve had a recent physical, then your medical doctor has probably checked your vitamin D level. Direct sun exposure for 15 minutes without sunblock is still the best way to allow your body to absorb vitamin D. (Vitamin D Council)
9. Hydrate on a cellular level. Those are fancy words for drinking water. Not just any old water, though. pH balance and mineral balance have an effect on cell uptake of water and hydration appears to be linked with immune function that starts in our saliva. (Adams) If you’ve got good well water- fantastic! If not, research options for quality filtration and consider electrolyte supplementation when appropriate. I like to avoid bottled water when possible, but there are bottled waters that provide trace minerals and a healthy pH.
10. Laugh! Why does Snoop Dogg use an umbrella? For Drizzle! But, seriously, laughter is the best medicine. Laughter will reduce the stress response in your body, boost your immune system, relieve pain, and improve your mood. (Mayo Clinic, 2016) I hear we have some new comedy acts coming up here in Flemington…
What actions can you take for prevention during exposure to an illness or during a time-period of high stress?

Take all the above and add a few immune boosting tweaks:
Last but not least, what to do to reduce your symptoms and shorten their duration:
There you have it, my friends! With a clear nervous system, quality nutrition, rest, recreation, exercise and hydration, you can achieve greater heights in your health. If you do start expressing symptoms, support your body to do what it knows how to do via your immune system and you’ll be well in no time. Snuggle on the couch and watch your favorite comedy shows while someone pampers you. And, if you don’t have someone to pamper you, call me – I’ll grab a healthy soup from Basil Bandwagon and bring you a care package fit for an Olympic Champion!

Dr. Michele Gardner is a Holistic Chiropractor whose focus is on wellness and preventative care for families and individuals facing physical, mental and emotional issues. She specializes in prenatal care and pediatrics. Her passion is to educate and inspire everyone to achieve the best possible health without drugs or surgery. Gardner Family Chiropractic is located in the Old Egg Auction complex at 84 Park Avenue, Suite G105 in Flemington,www.drmichelegardner.com, 908-782-7470, gfctasks@gmail.com.

References:

Adams, W. e. (n.d.). Immune Function: Basic Considerations of Exercise and Hydration. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Korey Stringer Institute: University of Connecticut: http://ksi.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1222/2015/04/Immune-Function-and-Hydration.pdf

Brennan, e. a. (1991). Enhanced phagocytic cell respiratory bursts induced by spinal manipulation: Potential Role of Substance P. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics , 399-400.

Gleeson, M. (2007). Immune function in sport and exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology , 693-699.

Mayo Clinic. (2016, April 21). Healthy Lifestyle: Stress Management. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456?pg=1

Medicine Net. (1999, October 14). water soluble vitamins vs fat soluble vitamins article. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Medicine Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10736

Mercola. (2014, January 13). Effects of Low Humidity on Health. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Mercola.com: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/13/low-humidity-health-effects.aspx

Olson, E. (2015, June 9). Expert Answers on Insomnia. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757

Palevsky, L. (2006, December 1). A Holistic Perspective on the Digestive System of Infants and Children. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from ICPA: http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/a-holistic-perspective-on-the-digestive-system-of-infants-and-children.html

Pattnaik, S. e. (1996). Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro. Microbios , 237-46.

Segerstrom, S. C. (2004). Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychological Bulletin , abstract conclusion.

Takeda, Y. e. Long Term Remission and Alleviation of Symptoms in Allergy and Crohn’s Disease Patients Following Spinal Adjustment for Reduction of Vertebral Subluxations. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research , 4 (4), 1.

University of Utah. (2014, August 15). Your Changing Microbiome. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Learn.Genetics. Genetic Science Learning Center.: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/changing/

Vighi, G. e. (2008). Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clinical and Experimental Immunology , abstract.

Vitamin D Council. (n.d.). How do I get the vitamin D my body needs? Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Vitamin D Council: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/

Yates, e. a. (1988). Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics , 484-488.
August 15, 2016