Detox Yourself!

Can knowing about the health benefits of hot yoga help individuals decide if it is right for them?

Hot Yoga

The body has a system for ridding itself of what it can't use or doesn't need, called toxins. Individuals may have heard that they can sweat out toxins by doing various hot yoga styles. Hot yoga, practiced in a heated room, has become popular. The standard room temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40% humidity. (Mayo Clinic 2020) Because of the temperatures, hot yoga is not for everyone, and those with heart problems or dizziness are recommended to stick with regular classes. However, the detoxification medical benefits may not be there, or there is still insufficient research to confirm.

Body Detoxification

Broken down by the liver, the toxins in the blood or bile are filtered in the kidneys or intestines and removed in urine or stool. (Boyer J. L. 2013) Sweat is not part of the removal equation. The function of sweat is to cool the body down when it becomes overheated. This can happen during strenuous activity, when overdressed, or in summer. Sweat comprises primarily water with trace amounts of urea, lactic acid, and minerals. (Baker L. B. 2019) Except for water, none of the products in sweat are excreted in large enough quantities to alter or improve metabolic function. The sodium excreted in sweat is quickly re-absorbed through the skin's epithelial sodium channels, which does little to alter the sodium levels in the blood. (Hanukoglu I. et al., 2017)

Environmental Toxins

The body is exposed to all sorts of toxins daily, including pollution and pesticides in the air, preservatives in our foods, and detergents and cosmetics on our skin. (Hunt P. 2011) Sweat-based exercise to remove these toxins is still unfounded.

Sweating In Hot Yoga

Many think that sweating in a hot yoga class will cleanse the alcohol or unhealthy foods. Yoga won't help sweat these things out, but the practice still provides benefits that help burn some fat from the calories consumed. Exercising helps burn fat regardless of the temperature of the surroundings. (Swift, D. L. et al., 2014) The benefits include:

• Increased circulation to deliver more oxygenated blood to the muscles.
• Improved muscle tone and flexibility.
• Stress relief.

Instead of sweating out the toxins, minimize exposure by eating a healthy, balanced diet, using natural products, and reading the labels of products placed on or in the body.

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness program that fully benefits the individual to get back to normal. Using an integrated approach to treat injuries and chronic pain syndromes, the ability to relieve pain is improved through flexibility, mobility, and agility programs. Our providers create personalized care plans for each patient, including Functional Medicine, Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture, and Sports Medicine. If other treatment is needed, Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, and rehabilitation providers to provide the most effective treatments.

Body Signals Decoded

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please get in touch with Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Mayo Clinic. (2020). What is hot yoga? Mayo Clinic Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. https://sportsmedicine.mayoclinic.org/news/what-is-hot-yoga/

Boyer J. L. (2013). Bile formation and secretion. Comprehensive Physiology, 3(3), 1035–1078. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c120027

Baker L. B. (2019). Physiology of sweat gland function: The roles of sweating and sweat composition in human health. Temperature (Austin, Tex.), 6(3), 211–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2019.1632145

Hanukoglu, I., Boggula, V. R., Vaknine, H., Sharma, S., Kleyman, T., & Hanukoglu, A. (2017). Expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and CFTR in the human epidermis and epidermal appendages. Histochemistry and cell biology, 147(6), 733–748. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-016-1535-3

Hunt P. (2011). Toxins all around us. Exposure to the chemicals in everyday objects poses a hidden health threat. Scientific American, 305(4), 14.

Swift, D. L., Johannsen, N. M., Lavie, C. J., Earnest, C. P., & Church, T. S. (2014). The role of exercise and physical activity in weight loss and maintenance. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 56(4), 441–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2013.09.012

For individuals suffering from back pain, can knowing basic chiropractic terminology help in understanding diagnosis and treatment plan development?

Chiropractic Terminology

The chiropractic principle is that a properly aligned spine positively affects an individual's overall health. One of the main aspects of chiropractic care is applying calculated force to the spinal joints to restore correct spinal alignment. Chiropractic terminology describes specific types of techniques and care.

General Subluxation

A subluxation can mean different things for various doctors. In general, a subluxation is a significant structural displacement or an incomplete or partial dislocation of a joint or organ. 

• To medical doctors, a subluxation refers to a partial dislocation of ​a vertebrae.
• This is a serious condition, usually brought on by trauma, that can result in a spinal cord injury, paralysis, and/or death.
• X-rays show a conventional subluxation as an obvious disconnect between the vertebrae.

Chiropractic Subluxation

• The chiropractic interpretation is more subtle and refers to the misalignment of adjacent spinal vertebrae.
• Subluxations are the main pathology treated by chiropractors. (Charles N.R. Henderson 2012)
• Subluxation in this context refers to position changes in the joints and soft tissues of the spine.
• Vertebral misalignment is believed to lead to pain and abnormal intervertebral joint motion.
• This difference between the serious subluxation medical condition and the chiropractic version may cause individuals to dismiss seeking back pain treatments.

Motion Segment

• Chiropractors and surgeons use it as a technical term.
• Motion segment refers to two adjacent vertebrae and the intervertebral disc between them.
• This is the area chiropractors assess and adjust.

Adjustment

• The chiropractor performs a spinal manual adjustment to realign joint subluxations.
• Adjustments involve applying force to motion segments to bring them back into a centered alignment.
• The goal for adjustments and realigning the vertebrae includes:
• Nerves can transmit signals without interruption.
• Positively affects overall health. (Marc-André Blanchette et al., 2016)

Manipulation

Spinal manipulation is a technique used by chiropractors to provide relief for musculoskeletal pain related to the back and neck. Manipulation provides mild to moderate relief and works as well as some conventional treatments like pain-relieving medications. (Sidney M. Rubinstein et al., 2012)

• Spinal manipulation is divided into grades of mobilization.
• Depending on their training, practitioners of various medical disciplines may be licensed to perform grade 1 to grade 4 mobilizations.
• Only physical therapists, osteopathic physicians, and chiropractors are licensed to perform grade 5 mobilizations, which are high-velocity thrust techniques.​
• Most massage therapists, athletic trainers, and personal trainers are not licensed to perform spinal manipulations.

Based on a systematic review, the effectiveness of these treatments found that there is quality evidence that manipulation and mobilization can help reduce pain and improve function for individuals with chronic low back pain, with manipulation appearing to produce a more profound effect than mobilization. Both therapies are safe, with multimodal treatments potentially being an effective option. (Ian D. Coulter et al., 2018)

As with any treatment, results vary from person to person and with different chiropractors. There are also potential risks with spinal manipulation. Though rare, cervical, carotid, and vertebral artery dissections have occurred with cervical/neck manipulation. (Kelly A. Kennell et al., 2017) Individuals with osteoporosis may be advised to avoid chiropractic adjustments or manipulation because of the increased risk of injury. (James M. Whedon et al., 2015)

Many individuals choose chiropractic treatment for a variety of conditions. Understanding chiropractic terminology and reasoning allows individuals to ask questions as they discuss their symptoms to develop a personalized treatment plan and restore function and wellness.

What Causes Disc Herniation?

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Henderson C. N. (2012). The basis for spinal manipulation: chiropractic perspective of indications and theory. Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, 22(5), 632–642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.03.008

Blanchette, M. A., Stochkendahl, M. J., Borges Da Silva, R., Boruff, J., Harrison, P., & Bussières, A. (2016). Effectiveness and Economic Evaluation of Chiropractic Care for the Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of Pragmatic Studies. PloS one, 11(8), e0160037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160037

Rubinstein, S. M., Terwee, C. B., Assendelft, W. J., de Boer, M. R., & van Tulder, M. W. (2012). Spinal manipulative therapy for acute low-back pain. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2012(9), CD008880. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008880.pub2

Coulter, I. D., Crawford, C., Hurwitz, E. L., Vernon, H., Khorsan, R., Suttorp Booth, M., & Herman, P. M. (2018). Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 18(5), 866–879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2018.01.013

Kennell, K. A., Daghfal, M. M., Patel, S. G., DeSanto, J. R., Waterman, G. S., & Bertino, R. E. (2017). Cervical artery dissection related to chiropractic manipulation: One institution's experience. The Journal of family practice, 66(9), 556–562.

Whedon, J. M., Mackenzie, T. A., Phillips, R. B., & Lurie, J. D. (2015). Risk of traumatic injury associated with chiropractic spinal manipulation in Medicare Part B beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years. Spine, 40(4), 264–270. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000000725

Detoxifying does not necessarily mean juicing and going on a diet. Detoxing is about cleansing the whole body of environmental pollutants, food waste, bacteria, and toxins. Things like medications and alcohol also need to be flushed from the body. When the body becomes unhealthy and overweight, it can put its systems in a chronically stressed state, leading to nerve energy production failure, fatigue, a weakened immune system, and disease. The body constantly works to cleanse itself. Exercise helps expedite the process.

Exercise To Detoxify

Exercise removes harmful toxins by getting the lungs and the blood pumping and increasing sweat production, which encourages detoxification. More blood circulating throughout the body allows the liver and the lymph nodes to flush out toxins properly. With exercise, fluid intake increases, allowing more sweat production to release toxins. Drinking more water during workouts also helps the kidneys function at optimal levels to flush out toxins, fats, and waste.

Aerobics

Any low-intensity aerobic exercise that increases heart rate and increases heavier breathing is recommended as long as the breathing is within the fat-burning heart rate. Exercises can be anything from:

• Dancing
• Elliptical trainer
• Bike riding
• Jogging
• Swimming

Bouncing/Rebounding

Bouncing on a mini-trampoline, also known as rebounding, is another form of exercise that promotes toxin release. The low-impact motion stimulates the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes filter substances and fight off infections by attacking bacteria/germs that travel into the lymph fluid. Twenty minutes on the trampoline two or three times a week to detoxify.

Yoga

There are yoga poses that help to detoxify specific organs. Yoga can help the body cleanse inside and generate more energy.

Revolved Chair Pose

This pose stimulates the liver, spleen, digestive system, improves spinal alignment, and tones the abdominals.

• Start with the feet together or hip-width apart, depending on what is most comfortable.
• Bend the knees as if sitting in a chair.
• The knees should be aligned with the center of the feet.
• Place the palms of the hands together in a prayer position at the center of the heart.
• Bring the elbow to the opposite knee.
• Squeeze the shoulder blades together.
• Allow the chest to open up.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend

This pose improves circulation, stretches, and strengthens the low back, hips, hamstrings, and calves.

• Step with the feet 3 to 4 feet apart.
• Hands-on hips.
• Lift tall through the whole torso.
• Fold slowly over the legs.
• Bend from the hip joints without rounding the lower back.
• If the back starts to round, stop folding forward.

Sweating and Detoxing

Sweat is one of the body's primary ways of eliminating toxins. However, more sweat does not mean more toxins are being flushed. Excess sweat could be caused by the body overheating and can lead to dehydration. This is why it's vital to maintain the body's hydration levels while working out. Fluids like juice and sports drinks can help maintain hydration, but they contain sugar and other ingredients that could interfere with thorough detoxifying.

Body Composition

Before Starting A Detox Diet

Individuals are recommended to talk with their doctor, nutritionist, health coach about detox diet methods to lose and maintain weight.

Talk with a doctor

• Seek consultation with a physician before starting any body detox cleanse, especially if there are underlying medical conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.
• For individuals struggling with obesity, a physician can recommend alternative diet approaches and exercise programs.

Realistic expectations

• Detox diets work primarily through caloric restriction like a conventional diet.
• Individuals could feel better from a body cleanse because they will likely be avoiding processed foods and empty calories.

Adopt a long-term frame of mind

• Diet and exercise to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is a lifelong journey.
• Detox diets can be a helpful tool to get going in the right direction.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Ernst, E. "Alternative detox." British medical bulletin vol. 101 (2012): 33-8. doi:10.1093/bmb/lds002

Klein, A V, and H Kiat. "Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence." Journal of human nutrition and dietetics: the official journal of the British Dietetic Association vol. 28,6 (2015): 675-86. doi:10.1111/jhn.12286

Obert, Jonathan et al. "Popular Weight Loss Strategies: a Review of Four Weight Loss Techniques." Current gastroenterology reports vol. 19,12 61. 9 Nov. 2017, doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0603-8

For individuals suffering from neck pain and headaches, can craniosacral head massage therapy help provide relief?

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle massage to release fascia or connective tissue network tension. The therapy is not new but has gained new attention because of the public interest in natural pain treatments and therapies. Studies are limited, but clinical research is ongoing to see if the therapy can become a mainstream treatment option. The therapy aims to alleviate the symptoms of various health ailments and conditions, including:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome - CRPS
• By relieving compression in the lower back, head, and spinal column, cerebrospinal fluid circulation is restored, and the body rhythms within the nervous system are reset. This provides pain relief, lowers stress, and improves overall well-being.

Massage Objectives

Several conditions and ailments said to benefit from craniosacral therapy include (Heidemarie Haller et al., 2019) (Heidemarie Haller, Gustav Dobos, and Holger Cramer, 2021)

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Chronic pain conditions
• Stress-related disorders
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Tinnitus - ringing in the ears
• Dizziness
• Infantile colic
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD
• Asthma
• Therapy to relieve cancer treatment side effects.

The focus areas are those along the fascia, the connective tissue that holds organs, blood vessels, bones, nerve fibers, and muscles in place. By working this tissue through gentle-pressure massage, practitioners help to calm the fight-or-flight response by relaxing the sympathetic nervous system. The symptoms will determine what areas of the body necessitate craniosacral therapy. Individuals with headaches will be given a head or neck massage. Other areas involved in craniosacral therapy include: (Heidemarie Haller, Gustav Dobos, and Holger Cramer, 2021)

• Back
• Around the spinal column.
• Other areas like the joints or muscles.
• The pressure applied during craniosacral therapy is light and not the same as a deep tissue massage.
• Light pressure is applied over the affected fascial tissue to help reset certain body rhythms that could play a role in pain and other symptoms. (Heidemarie Haller, Gustav Dobos, and Holger Cramer, 2021)

Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous System

• The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems control various body responses.
• The parasympathetic nervous system supports proper rest and digestive functions, and the sympathetic nervous system regulates the body’s fight-or-flight response. (Cleveland Clinic. 2022)

Therapy Techniques

The massage techniques used in craniosacral therapy rely on low pressure intended to be as gentle as possible. The fingertips are often used to avoid applying too much pressure. Healthcare providers work the areas between the skull and the bottom of the spine to identify and reset imbalances within the body and the cerebrospinal fluid. If there is an imbalance in cerebrospinal fluid, the massage therapist will reposition the individual or press on the area to release and/or increase circulation. The techniques work to improve the body’s ability to regulate physiological responses. (Heidemarie Haller et al., 2019) During and after the session, individuals may experience different sensations, including: (Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America, 2024)

• Relaxation.
• Feeling like being in a meditative state.
• Sleepiness.
• Energized.
• Feeling a sense of warmth.
• Deeper breathing.
• Feeling the body is straighter and taller.

Individuals Who Should Not Receive Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is considered safe; however, some individuals should avoid it or consult a healthcare provider before trying it. Those recommended not to receive the treatment include individuals with the following ailments or disorders:

• Concussion or other traumatic brain injuries.
• Blood clots.
• Brain swelling.
• Brain aneurysm - a blood-filled bulge in a blood vessel in or around the brain.
• Conditions that cause cerebrospinal fluid buildup.

Treatment

Craniosacral therapy is offered by several healthcare providers, including:

• Craniosacral therapy licensed massage therapists 
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Osteopaths
• Chiropractors

These professionals know how to perform the massage technique correctly.

Tension Headaches

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Haller, H., Lauche, R., Sundberg, T., Dobos, G., & Cramer, H. (2019). Craniosacral therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 21(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-3017-y

Haller, H., Dobos, G., & Cramer, H. (2021). The use and benefits of Craniosacral Therapy in primary health care: A prospective cohort study. Complementary therapies in medicine, 58, 102702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102702

Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) (Health Library, Issue. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23123-peripheral-nervous-system-pns

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America. (2024). What is a session like? https://www.craniosacraltherapy.org/what-is-a-session-like-

Headaches are a common condition that most experience and can differ greatly regarding type, severity, location, and frequency. Headaches range from mild discomfort to constant dull or sharp pressure and severe throbbing pain. A headache chiropractor, through therapeutic massage, decompression, and adjustments, alleviates the headaches, whether tension, migraine, or cluster, releasing the tension and restoring normal function.

Headache Chiropractor

 Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches caused by overactivity, muscle tension, or problems with pain-sensitive structures in the head. These are not a symptom of an underlying disease and include tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. The other 5 percent of headaches are secondary and are caused by an underlying condition, infection, or physical issue. Headaches have various causes or triggers. These include:

• Long hours driving
• Stress
• Insomnia
• Blood sugar changes
• Foods
• Smells
• Noises
• Lights
• Excessive exercise or physical activity

Individuals spend more hours in one fixed position or posture, like sitting in front of a computer or standing at a workstation. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the upper back, neck, and scalp, causing achiness and discomfort that builds up to throbbing soreness. The headache's location and the discomfort experienced can indicate the type of headache.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors are experts in the neuromusculoskeletal system. Research shows that a headache chiropractor can adjust the spine's alignment to improve spinal function, release and relax the tense muscles, and alleviate nervous system stress helping decrease the intensity and frequency. Treatment includes:

• Therapeutic massage
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Spinal decompression
• Postural training
• Electrical stimulation
• Ultrasound
• Physical rehabilitation
• Body analysis
• Professional nutritionist recommendations

The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Team will develop a personalized treatment plan for the individual's specific condition and needs. 

Migraine Treatment

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Biondi, David M. "Physical treatments for headache: a structured review." Headache vol. 45,6 (2005): 738-46. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05141.x

Bronfort, G et al. "Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review." Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 24,7 (2001): 457-66.

Bryans, Roland, et al. "Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache." Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 34,5 (2011): 274-89. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008

Côté, Pierre, et al. "Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration." European journal of pain (London, England) vol. 23,6 (2019): 1051-1070. doi:10.1002/ejp.1374

Stressed Out - L-Theanine

Ever wondered why your job is so stressful? Or that you haven’t gotten enough sleep due to partying with your friends, even though you were supposed to finish that essay for that one class you signed up for and now you are typing away to meet the deadline and turning it in. Or even better… the two p.m. slumps.

Well, it might be because your L-theanine is a bit low. However, there are many ways to make sure that you get a boost of energy even though you feel tired and you are probably drinking it right now. Green tea seems to help us when we are overly stressed and when it’s nice and hot, we feel relaxed and whatever stress we hold onto melts away. However, L-theanine can also stimulate the brain and overall make you feel good, as well as blocking out certain neurotransmitters in your brain.

Try Green Tea

If you are wondering about the benefits of green tea, you can look at many Google searches and they will tell you different things about the health benefits of drinking green tea. However, they will say the same thing that is truly effective. That green tea can help your central nervous system function properly. Even though green tea has the same properties as coffee in the caffeine department without the extra “jittery” effect.

Green tea can be effective as it can make you more productive but can also give you more stable energy, while improving your brain to function properly. There is even a study that green tea can protect your brain when you are older. And that it may help lower the chances of getting Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Both are very common neurodegenerative diseases that can be prevented by the various protective effect by drinking green tea. Not only that but it can also balance out the two neurotransmitters that are a key essential to having a healthy brain activity.

Neurotransmission

There are two types of neurotransmitters in our brains that work together to make sure that we are functioning properly. They are Glutamate and GABA. Both are mostly located in the brain’s neuro system as they are together and bringing a balance to our system. Glutamate's function is to make our brain fired up and ready to learn new things. As well as being an important part of our brain development.

But when there is too much Glutamate in our brain, we become very hyper-aware of our surroundings, neurological inflammation, and anxiety. But when we add L-theanine to Glutamate, the Glutamate’s neurotoxicity is lowered by the L-theanine supplement. But the only way to counteract Glutamate is with GABA. GABA or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is the body’s main neurotransmitter that is responsible for our cells.

Chill Out

It’s basically the “chill pill” for our central nervous system. This neurotransmitter counteracts with Glutamate, which is very hyper; while GABA is very relaxed. Not only GABA calms downs our central nervous system, but it also gives us a much-needed restful sleep when we are exhausted from a long day. And when we are done with exercising, GABA helps our muscle tissue regenerate. GABA seems to know when we need to rest our brains from burning out and crashing hard on the couch after a long stressful day at work or school.

The best way to describe how GABA and Glutamate work together is to imagine your body as a car. Glutamate is the gas where we have to go from one place to the other and GABA is the brakes where we have stop and rest a bit. And when we add L-theanine to the mixture, it’s a sense of an added booster to our body and central nervous system to not only be relaxed but also have a bit of energy to go out on our daily day to day life.

But there is always still going to be stress in our lives if we don’t control it. Stress can be caused by many things that we all go through. Sometimes it can be something small like deadlines on projects that you are preparing for, that one exam that you have to take in class, or trying to find a job.

Those give us minor headaches that we have to step back a bit and take a deep breath. Other times stress can be something major like having too many commitments that we can’t handle, having poor organization skills, or even having a very highly stressed job. These major stressors can cause us to have high blood pressure and heart disease that we have to go to the doctor to get a prescription or even see a therapist so we can calm our mind down. 

L-Theanine

Going back to L-theanine, it is proven that L-theanine can help us relax a bit in stressful situations. An animal study showed us what would happen when L-theanine is in the blood system of rats. Those rats that are treated with L-theanine are more relaxed in a stressful situation than those that are not treated.

With L-theanine, it is proven that this supplement has beneficial properties to help us calm down our central nervous system but also makes us feel a bit better in our day to day lives. We all deal with stress differently as there are certain things that help us alleviate it and even help us get better if we continue to do the things we love.

Conclusion

Whether it is taking a walk, writing down in a journal, exercising, seeking some professional help if things get way too hectic or doing a hobby that we love; stress is always going to be there within us, but only we can control it with the right ingredients.

Therefore, whenever you feel overly stressed from working too hard, having way too many plans that you can’t commit, or feeling very low on energy. Remember to stop and breathe a bit as you get into your comfiest clothes, put on a movie or binge-watch a series on Netflix, and make yourself a cup of hot green tea. Then when you are all comfortable on the couch and when you take that first sip, not only your body; but your brain will thank you for that break in your hectic daily life.

Reduce Excessive *FOOT PRONATION & POSTURE* with Custom Foot Orthotics | El Paso, TX (2019) 

The following video discusses how excessive foot pronation can ultimately affect foot posture and mobility. Several factors can affect foot posture and mobility, such as excessive foot pronation. Excessive foot pronation is most prevalent among the general population, therefore, it is considered to be one of the most common factors for abnormal foot posture and mobility, which can lead to a variety of health issues like overuse injuries. Excessive foot pronation and even supination can ultimately affect overall health and wellness.