How I View My Clients

My philosophy and approach are holistic. By this I mean that each person is considered in the context of his or her environment, physical and social heritage, personal habits, and as an interlocking complex of physiologic systems that respond both to each other and also to emotions and mental attitudes.

I use both intuitive and traditional diagnostic methods to determine the underlying causes of imbalances and blockages generating poor health for a patient. I work under the assumption that each person has a life purpose to fulfill and that imbalances, besides creating physical discomfort, can be a reflection of the personal growth process.

The Mind-Body Connection - It's All Hooked Together

Human beings (and plants and other animals for that matter) possess a combination of the gross physical, and successively more refined emotional, mental and spiritual bodies that all interact. Our thoughts can be associated with and generate specific emotional states which in turn alter our physiology for better or worse. The reverse is also true - physical indisposition can adversely affect our emotional and mental climates.

At the level of the individual physical body, the various systems support each other in keeping us alive. Communication between them is mediated by the nervous system and the hormones of the endocrine system. When any system is under stress, other systems will pitch in until the primary system recovers. A back-up system may itself start to produce symptoms if it is a weak link in our constitution, or if it has been working overtime for too long. As a result, a symptom may be either a direct reflection an imbalance or indirect sign of a deeper, less obvious problem.

Determining the Path Back to Health

A thorough assessment begins with personal history and symptom analysis followed by a physical exam which may include ryodoraku assessment, traditional orthopedic and neurologic tests, chiropractic evaluation, and perhaps laboratory tests to help me zero in on the source of the problem. Treatment consists of meridian balancing integrated with gentle chiropractic adjustments, nutritional and/or herbal remedies, dietary recommendations, and exercise. I also attempt to understand to what extent each person is capable of making changes so that they can succeed rather than be overwhelmed with instructions.

Evaluation of each person's progress and changes in symptoms at each successive visit lets me keep track of the effectiveness of my approach. It also allows my patients to see that they are indeed improving and provides a chance for them to ask questions and express any concerns. Frequently, they are able to see how their willingness to implement their portion of the program gives them power to directly affect their own life. Often too, other conditions clear up that they had not even considered to be anything but their unchanging lot in life.

Some Names of Conditions and Symptoms Responding to Holistic Care

Imbalances or blockages can manifest as acute or chronic pain in the back, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists or hips, knees and feet. Or as generalized stiffness, chronic fatigue, or global or regional tension.

They may also be revealed by moodiness, poor concentration, headaches, susceptibility to colds and flu, allergies, arthritis, sinus congestion, digestive distress, palpitations, chronic chilliness, problems with the skin, hair or nails, the inability to maintain a comfortable body weight or other discomforts. Women may experience PMS or menopausal symptoms.

Sometimes a person's major concern is whether they are maintaining their health properly. I provide screening for potential problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, all of which can silently progress without any symptoms until its too late. Stress profiles are used to determine oxidative and hormonal status.

Methods Used in My Practice

I primarily use a gentle method called the Sacro-Occipital Technique. It was developed by Major Bertrand DeJarnett who was both a chiropractor and osteopath. It combines gentle spinal adjusting, organ manipulation, autonomic nervous system adjustments and cranial releases, all integrated in a deliberate fashion to recenter the physical and energetic bodies. Diet and nutritional supplementation are an integral part of this approach which acknowledges the impact of environmental factors on health. Meridian energetics, a needle-free application based on acupuncture theory, is used to evaluate and balance organ system tone and also for local pain relief. I have added this technique into my work as natural expansion and refinement of my interest in the reflex points used with organ manipulation.

Besides a thorough history, I rely on careful diagnostic assessment of posture and patterns of tender, swollen, or hot regions on the skull, torso and spine to specifically identify what is the most crucial, underlying problem in the body. As a result, disturbance of the body's natural compensations is minimized, and "healing crises" are for the most part avoided. These compensations, and their symptoms, clear up naturally according to the body's own priorities for maintaining its balance as it heals. In this way, I work with the body's ability to heal, rather than as an opponent to it.

Wholefood and hypo-allergenic nutritional supplementation, herbal remedies, dietary recommendations, and exercise may be combined to create an individually tailored program to optimally support and nourish the whole being and hasten the healing process.

Although some individuals will benefit from nutrition and dietary alterations alone, generally speaking the physical/energetic corrections make a tremendous difference by unwinding the core of the body and removing energetic blocks. So I generally apply both simultaneously to produce the best effect.

My Credentials

I graduated summa cum laude (class saludatorian) from Life Chiropractic College West, am certified through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and am a California licensed chiropractor. I have completed California state board approved post-graduate work in Meridian Energetics through Logan College of Chiropractic and the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. I regularly attend post-graduate seminars to stay updated with the latest in nutrition protocols and laboratory diagnostics.

I have a BS in biology from Beloit College and did master's level study in botany and biological oceanography at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Prior to obtaining my chiropractic degree, I have held research positions at Cornell University Medical School, Columbia University's Institute for Cancer Research, and more recently, in osteoporosis research, at the University of California San Francisco.

I also have a second degree Reiki initiation through the Makai Usui lineage and have been an active initiate for more than 20 years with the Chisti Sufis, which includes the study of various healing techniques, and also spiritual breath and walk. I have studied Tai Chi Chuan (Yang-style short form and push-hands) and both Integral- and Iyengar-style hatha yoga and pranayama.

If you would like to contact me about my practice or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me and I will reply as best I can.