"What's in here...a ton of bricks?!"

Top 5 Recommendations for Backpack Safety!

5.  Every Sunday empty out your child's backpack and review what they have stuffed inside...(it may be wise to bring a large trash bag along for this adventure!)  You'd be surprised at the amount of items that accumulate inside and add un-necessary weight!  If this your child is a teenager, find out if they need to carry all their books all the time, or if they can decrease the load by carry certain books for certain days. 


4.  Check out the backpack straps for proper shoulder placement.  Make sure that they bottom of the backpack is 2 inches ABOVE the waist and resting in the curve of the low back (contrary to the belief that it should be at their knees).


3.  Continue weekly reminders that wearing the backpack on both shoulders prevents postural problems (and it's cool to wear it like that anyway!)


2.  Weigh your child's backpack once a week to determine if it is safe!  It should weigh 15% or LESS of your child's body weight.  (Yes parents, this will require you to do a little math...or hey, make it a fun game for the kids to figure out themselves!)


1.  If your child isnt under regular wellness chiropractic care, be sure to check their shoulder and head leveling at least once a month to determine if they are showing early signs of repetitive stress on their developing spine.  Dr. Meggen and Dr. Kevin are trained to determine the early signs postural stress and misalignment.  Like dentistry, early detection and correction is the key to better health, especially for kids!  So get their spines checked out!!


**If you are concerned with the weight of your child's backpack, and would like us to do a presentation at your child's school on backpack safety, please contact us at our office. (540) 656-2885!  We would gladly set up a time to meet with the administration and teachers about this very important topic!!

Educate before you Vaccinate

As a Healthcare Provider, it is my privledge to educate.  Vaccinations are a sensitve topic among families, the medical world, big pharma, etc.  It is not my place to force my opinions and thoughts on the topic of whether or not to vaccinate, or what to skip or postpone.  My purpose here is simply to provide you with information to form your own thoughts, ideas and opinions.  My thought process for this blog topic came from reading a book "Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic" by David Kirby.  I highly recommend it!

Think on this fact for a few seconds:  Children recieve 49 doses of 14 different vaccines...all before the age of 6 years old!  And over half of those vaccines are given in the first 6 months of life!!  Children's immune systems are not completely developed at birth (hence the great importance to breastfeed as long as possible...but we'll save that for another blog!)...so inundating their immature immune systems from day one with toxic man-made and synthetic matierals and viruses, just sets them up for failure.  Over the years the 'routine vaccination schedule' has changed several times.  I was just reading a book that described the 'normal 2 rounds of DTP', which is now up to 5 rounds (yes, I said 5).  Please tell me, if these work as well as they claim...why do we need to add more??  Exposing babies to the multitude of vaccinations not only is damaging to their immune systems long term, but it is bad for development of the body, brain, health!

Let's also look at the Vaccine excipients or ingredients in trace or larger amounts depending on specifi c vaccine (partial list): lab altered viruses and bacteria; aluminum; mercury*; formaldehyde; phenoxyethanol; gluteraldehyde; sodium borate; sodium chloride; sodium acetate; monosodium glutamate (MSG); hydrochloric acid; hydrogen peroxide; lactose; gelatin; yeast protein; egg albumin; bovine and human serum albumin; antibiotics; unidentified contaminants. (*mercury can be hidden by several other names and/or preservatives and is the 2nd most toxic substance on earth!)

In 2002 the House of Representatives was about to approve the Homeland Security Act when a Last minute change was made to the incredibly lengthy bill.  Was it about homeland protection?  Security?  Or even anti-terriorist movements?  No...it was about dismissing HUNDREDS of civil suits filed by parents of children with vaccine-induce injuries against drug companies.  And the majority of congress had no idea it was added in.  The bill passed.  Thousands of children with permanent neurologic damages have no chance to tell their side of the story in court, let alone get compensation for their pain, grief and lifelong medical care.  Why do I bring this topic up??  Well to simply say it, as they did in Evidence of Harm "if the government and drug companies have nothing to fear or hide...what is the need for the secret maneuvering to slip this ruling in under the Homeland Security Bill"??

So parents, my biggest piece of advice...is EDUCATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE!!!  Remember, YOU really are the only person 100% invested in your child's health and well-being. So, double check, make a fuss, and don't be afraid to question the main-stream (and sometimes even saying NO)...especially when it comes to your family and what is being put into their bodies. 

Need somewhere to get information?  Here is a great website with loads of research!!  www.nvic.org

Ready, Set...EXERCISE!

This article in TIME magazine describes that regular aerobic exercise can help to combat the effects of daily stress and depression.  Check it out below!  Then get off the computer, put on your gym clothes, and get in a quick 20 minute work-out. 



http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1998021,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular






Exercise...it does a body good!  (and the brain too!)

Welcome to our blog!  This is our very first blog and we are super thrilled to begin this journey.  Granted, we may not be very good at doing postings at first...but with practice it will improve!  Our hopes with this blog are to begin educating people that it is never too late to begin taking steps towards a healthier life.  No matter what stage of life, or what age you are, change begins with you making a decision to do it!  We will have a smorgasbord of information from exercise, to organic eating, sleep, chiropractic, pregnancy and birth, to mental health and wellness.  We hope you will find something fun and interesting, and hey, maybe even learn a little something that you can share with others!

So welcome, ENJOY, and let us know what you think!!!  :)  Here we go!

Dr. Kevin & Dr. Meggen