AAT has applied Traditional Acupuncture principles to a western scientific understanding of human physiology.    
     AAT uses gentle pressure to stimulate points along two meridians on the back, corresponding with the major organ systems. 
    According to Traditional Acupuncture, this stimulation relaxes the body and temporarily strengthens the major organ systems. The body associates this positive stimulus with the allergen, eliciting a "positive conditioning" effect.     
    By associating an allergen with a strengthening of the major organs, the body alters its perception and corrects its own erroneous response.

Nutrition Advice for a Healthy New You!   Is Nutrition Really Important?
There is no better way to rejuvenate your health than by eating more nutritiously. In fact, even a few simple changes in your diet and lifestyle can have a positive impact on your health-and can also prevent a variety of health problems in the future.
The traditional coffee and donuts for breakfast; a hamburger for lunch-or no lunch; candy, cookies, and a soft drink for a snack; followed by a huge dinner with more protein than a person needs-are unhealthy dietary choices. As a result, younger people are starting to suffer from heart disease-not only because of poor diet, but also because of an epidemic of inactivity.
To reverse the alarming trend, many doctors of chiropractic urge patients to stop smoking, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and augment their balanced diet with appropriate nutritional supplements.
What Can You Do?
As your Doctor, I offer the following prevention and wellness advice:
Lifestyle Changes everyone can make?

·           Exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes three or four days a week.

·           Eat out more sparingly. Food preparation methods in restaurants often involve high amounts-and the wrong types-of fat and sugar.

·           Brown-bag your lunch to control your fat and sugar content while adding nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains.

·           Limit your intake of alcohol and quit smoking. Drinking alcohol excessively and/or smoking hinder your body's ability to absorb nutrients from your food.

Dietary Changes

·          Eat more raw foods. Cooking and canning destroys much of the nutrition in foods. With the exception of canned tomatoes, which can help prevent prostate cancer, 1 fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables always have more natural vitamins and minerals.

·          Select organically grown foods when possible, because they have lower amounts of toxic elements, such as pesticides and heavy metals. Consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. Whole-grain breads and cereals, beans, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber. High-fiber diets can help prevent digestive disorders, heart disease, and colon cancer.

·          Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and alcohol are dehydrators. Don't substitute them for water.

Vegetarian Diets
Research shows that a good vegetarian diet as part of a comprehensive health program can help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.2,3 However, fried foods, hydrogenated fats, and commercial meat substitutes may contain more sugar and fat than a meat-eater would consume.
If you are considering a vegetarian diet, keep the following tips in mind:

·          Don't rely on fruits and vegetables at the expense of grains and legumes. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to consume a wide range of nutrients.

·          Tiredness, malaise, and anemia can be signs of deficiencies. Have your B12 and iron levels checked at least once a year.

·          Consume fortified foods or take supplements to obtain the nutrients you no longer get from animal-based products, such as vitamin B12. Before eliminating animal products from the diet, learn to do it right. Children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and people recovering from illness should consult their health care practitioners.

 Adding Supplements to your life:  “But I hate taking pills!” Ever Said That?

       While it’s essential to remember to consume dark green vegetables, oils, nuts, and seeds, which are sources of magnesium, fatty acids, and many other vitamins and minerals,  appropriate nutritional supplements are necessary also.

Have You Ever Wondered?
Have you been told “through the grapevine,” stories about Chiropractic, from persons who have not experienced treatment firsthand?

Now, get it from the “horse’s mouth” so to speak:

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

 Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health care plans.  For example, the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management offers chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both the Mail Handlers and BCBS benefit plans.  In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in Federal Workers’ Compensation, and if you are involved in an Auto Accident.  

What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
As your Chiropractor, I’m educated as a primary contact health care practitioner, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment.  Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions.  The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training. Then, there is Continued Education throughout each year of practice.  

In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

 How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function.  Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary.  Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

 Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles.  The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released.  There is no pain involved.

Call for your appointment with Dr. Murray for an initial allergy evaluation.
PHONE: 605-697-5090
Clinic Location: 313 3rd Ave. Brookings SD 57006