The Atlas of Life Chiropractic » Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Balancing the Spine Through Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:51:57 +0000

I found this video of Dr. Noah Kaplan discussing Upper Cervical Chiropractic care and found it extremely well done! Take a look for yourself, and see if it doesn’t also give you a better understanding of what Chiropractic is all about.

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to Get More Energy for Healing, Digestion, and Thinking

Brandon Harshe, DC — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:40 +0000

“Better than 90% of the brain’s output is directed towards maintaining your body in its gravitational field. Therefore, the less energy one spends on one’s posture, the more energy is available for healing, digestion and thinking.” -Roger Sperry, 1981 Nobel Prize winner for brain research

The first cervical vertebra, Atlas or C1, is the most freely movable vertebra in the spine, and the one most likely to cause irritation or tension to the spinal cord. It pivots around the second cervical vertebra, Axis or C2, connected only by ligaments and tendons, but no disc as in the rest of the spine. This is what allows the majority of spinal rotation to occur, but at the price of instability. In most cases, you will not feel the vertebral subluxation in your upper cervical spine.

When a vertebral subluxation occurs in the upper cervical spine, you won’t feel it in most cases, but it will have a number of negative effects on the body. Because it is causing irritation and/or tension near the brain stem, vital organ function can be negatively impacted. Conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, allergies, and digestive problems can arise. Because of a high number of sensory nerves in the upper cervical spine called mechanoreceptors, a vertebral subluxation can manifest itself in various conditions such as neck pain or stiffness, or tension headaches. You could even experience other conditions like migraines or vertigo as a result of having an upper cervical vertebral subluxation.

A vertebral subluxation can also cause an overall body imbalance that, because of the misalignment component of the upper cervical spine, will result in overall spinal compensation. This will be characterized by spinal curvature, contracted or tight muscles on one side of the spine, postural imbalances such as a tilted head, high shoulder, and high hip, and an imbalance in leg lengths. Over time this will lead to advanced forms of degeneration like bone spurs and fusion of the vertebrae, as well as back and shoulder pain, and even herniated discs.

So restoring proper position to the Atlas and Axis vertebrae have more of an effect on your overall well being than you have ever imagined. If you haven’t had your nervous system and upper cervical spine checked, it’s time you did.

1 Last Sign that Moving to Childress, TX was the Right Choice

Brandon Harshe, DC — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:24:37 +0000

If you read my blog post last week about the reasons for moving to and setting up shop in Childress, TX, the reasons for all this happening were definitely out of my hands, that’s for sure.

As if all that wasn’t enough, here’s one more sign that Childress is the right place for me and my family. The day we moved into our house, I went out into the backyard to look around at everything. I glanced down at an arrangement of bricks right outside our back door and saw this brick.

Having experienced a number of amazing events that led to our arrival here in Childress, this is simply icing on the cake. How likely is that of all towns, of all houses, someone like me, a Chiropractor (and not to mention one who specializes in the upper cervical spine and predominantly focuses on the Atlas (C1) vertebra) would find a brick with ATLAS engraved on it in the backyard?

(Update: Come check us out at Childress Specific Chiropractic today!)

Putting Bricks in Your Purse and Wearing it on Your Shoulder = BAD

Brandon Harshe, DC — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:30:51 +0000

This post is primarily for the female readers of this blog, though if you are a man and wear one of those “man-bags” or “murses,” I suppose this is for you, too.

If you are anything like my wife January, and you put bricks in your purse to make it as heavy as you can (which I think she does sometimes), please don’t wear it on your shoulder if at all possible. I know habits are hard to break and you need your hands free, but when you put that added weight on one shoulder instead of equally distributed across the upper back (or not at all), it pulls down on that side of your upper body. This causes you to lean more to one side, putting added and unnecessary weight and strain on that side of your body, which only adds to the body imbalance you may be experiencing if you haven’t been under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care.

If you have been under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, then this sort of strain on one side of your body on a repeated basis will undoubtedly contribute to you losing the restored alignment of your spine, causing you to need another adjustment sooner than later. And as you know, when your spine is out of alignment, due to a vertebral subluxation that is causing stress and tension on the spinal cord, this will ultimately affect your entire body i.e. organs, glands, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints.

So you see, putting bricks in your purse to make it as heavy as possible, and then wearing it on one shoulder, might actually be putting a damper on your health.

Great Upper Cervical Safety Study by Eriksen et al.

Brandon Harshe, DC — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:58:17 +0000

Last week a new safety and efficacy study in regards to Upper Cervical Chiropractic was published. This study was conducted by Dr. Kirk Eriksen, with help from Dr. Bo Rochester and Dr. Eric Hurwitz to conduct the statistical analysis.

Overall, 83 Upper Cervical Chiropractors submitted information on 1,090 patients, which totaled 4,920 office visits (4.5 per patient) requiring 2,653 upper cervical adjustments (2.4 per patient) over 17 days. After this initial course of care, patient satisfaction was a 9.1 out of 10. It was fairly common for patients to report a worsening of or new symptoms in the first 24 hours of care, but this is not surprising considering the realigning the spine goes through and healing the body begins to do when the upper cervical spine is restored to its proper juxtaposition. What’s really remarkable, but not surprising, is that all 83 Chiropractors have delivered over 5 million adjustments with no reported incidence of serious adverse events.

I uploaded a copy of the study for you to see here. Enjoy!

“The MD’s don’t seem to know what’s wrong with me…”

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:56 +0000

Gene had a pain in his side for 10 years, degeneration in his spine, shoulder pain, and vertigo. Ginger had sciatic pain for 15 years, had been taking hormones for the previous 30 years, and had frequent hot flashes. Then they came in to see me and get under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. Read on to find out what happened in their own words.

“My husband Gene and I started going to Dr. Harshe about 2 months ago. Gene had been to the typical chiropractor several times throughout his life, but I never had been to one and was very skeptical about going. A friend had asked me to consider going to an Upper Cervical Chiropractor a year prior, but I just graciously said I don’t really have confidence in them.

She called after my husband had gotten sick and said I really wish you would go to Dr. Harshe in Carrollton. Her Upper Cervical Chiropractor recommended him, so I told her I would tell Gene. He said sure, let’s give it a try, the MD’s don’t seem to know what’s wrong with me.

We called for an appointment and I let my husband see him the first visit and then the second visit I agreed to see him. After hearing Dr. Harshe explain the adjustment he does, it made perfect sense to us. God created our bodies to heal themselves and we felt God could work through Dr. Harshe to help our bodies function as they were created.

Gene had a pain in his side that had hurt for 10 years and a pain in his hip that gave him lots of trouble. After his first adjustment, these pains were gone and he has been free of that pain since. Gene was also having some dizziness and the MD’s had told him that he had severe vertigo and that the casing around his spinal cord was calcifying and would probably close in time and recommended we see a surgical doctor for the spinal cord. He was having what seemed to be a pinched nerve.

With patience, the dizziness is gone and the pain in his shoulder has subsided. We did not see any other doctor for his health issues except for Dr. Harshe.

I have had trouble with a sciatic nerve for more than 15 years. After my first adjustment, my hip pain was gone and has not returned. I have taken hormones for more than thirty years and am now free of taking hormones and have no hot flashes.

We are looking forward to our bodies feeling better and better as we reach the point of being able to stay in adjustment for longer periods of time. I am looking forward to be able to get off my blood pressure meds in the very near future. We are thankful for Dr. Harshe and his practice of common sense chiropractic and for God working through him to help our bodies function as they were created to function.

We encourage you to schedule a visit with Dr. Harshe and gain a wealth of knowledge about how your body is created to function and have your first adjustment for a healthier, drug free YOU!!!!!!”

Gene and Ginger K.
Fort Worth, TX

“I was devastated…”

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:00:50 +0000

What should you do if doctors tell you they don’t know what’s going on with you and can’t help you? You go and get your atlas (C1) adjusted by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Read on to see what the result was.

“In late spring I went to the eye doctor, because I was having such horrible pain in my eye and severe dry eye. They gave me a diagnosis and said “There’s nothing we can do for you…” I fell apart! I was devastated. Then I called Dr. Harshe’s office, made an appointment and after my adjustment with him, my pain subsided… as I continued my care, the pain in my eye was eliminated and the dry eye is so much better! I’m so thankful for Dr. Harshe and the great care he gives!”

Isabel W.
Wylie, TX

“I was in such pain that I did not know what I was going to do…”

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:00:44 +0000

What happens when someone has excruciating pain all over their body, to the point where they can’t even think straight, and they finally get their atlas (C1) adjusted? Read on to find out.

“When I came to The Atlas of Life Chiropractic—Dr. Brandon Harshe, a few months ago, I was in such pain that I did not know what I was going to do. I was experiencing pain down the side of my left leg, bottom of my feet, and pain that would start under the base of my skull and move into my shoulder and then down my arm. Mainly, I hurt all over and was having such difficulty sleeping through the night.

After my first visit, I experienced relief from pain for the first time in months, or should I say years. Also, I am now sleeping through the night.

With pleasure and without reservation, I will recommend Dr. Harshe to everyone I know.

I feel like I will have a life again!

Thanks Dr. Harshe!”

Dorothy L.
Arlington, TX

The Greek Titan Atlas Holds Up the Weight of the Universe, and What this Means for Your Spine

Brandon Harshe, DC — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:29 +0000

The story of the Titan Atlas is not a happy one. According to Greek mythology, Atlas participated in a war the Titans waged on the Gods. The Titans, led by Cronos, were defeated by the Gods, led by Zeus. As punishment for the war, Zeus banished most of the Titans to the hellish Tartarus. For Atlas, Zeus chose to have him stand at the western edge of Gaia (Earth) and hold up Uranus (the sky) to keep the two from squeezing against each other.

Later, Heracles (who we know as Hercules) was assigned to gather 12 golden apples from the garden of Hera. these apples were guarded by Atlas’ daughters, the Hesperides (who apparently weren’t very nice) and the dragon Ladon. Heracles duped Atlas into fetching the apples from his own daughters while he held up the sky. Atlas, thinking he was going to pull a fast one on Heracles, gladly obliged. Later he returned with a sack full of the golden apples, pleased with himself. But Heracles asked Atlas if he would kindly hold the sky for a minute while he rearranged his cloak. Atlas agreed. Heracles simply took the sack of apples and ran off, never to return, once again leaving Atlas with the task of holding up the sky for the rest of eternity.

A variation of Atlas’ tale tells of him trying to drive Perseus away from where the Atlas Mountains now stand in Africa. Perseus, the great grandfather of Heracles, revealed the head of Medusa. Atlas turned to stone and became a mountain range connecting Morocco to Spain. Later, Heracles was on his way to the island Erytheia and had to cross the mountains. Instead, he smashed through, creating what we now know as the Straight of Gibraltar. Obviously, this doesn’t match up well with the previous rendition of Atlas’ meet up with Heracles.

We know the pictures of Atlas holding a globe on his shoulders, which most of the time we think represents the earth. But this globe actually represents the celestial sphere of ancient astronomy. In a sense, Atlas is not holding the weight of the world on his shoulders, but the weight of the universe.

What This Means To Your Health

Just like how the Titan Atlas holds up the universe on his shoulders, your top cervical vertebra, a little 2 ounce doughnut-shaped bone, aptly named Atlas, holds up the 14-16 lb weight of your universe. Your universe is your body’s Innate Intelligence. It controls every single aspect of your body and nervous system.

The story of Atlas is obviously myth, but what do you think would have happened had Atlas slipped? Would the heavens have come crashing down on the earth?

So what happens when your Atlas, held in place only by ligaments and tendons, slips to the left or the right? Is it fair to say your universe could come crashing down, albeit slowly over time?

Would your spine be better off if your Atlas sat in its normal position, allowing brain-to-body communication to flow freely back and forth? Or do you think it would be fine if Atlas slipped off to the side, rotated and rocked up or down in an abnormal position at the top of your spine, causing spinal compensations all the way down, leading to a disruption of that vital brain-body communication, unilateral muscles tightness, and advanced degeneration of vertebrae?

Dr. Tayal on Daytime to Explain Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:55:39 +0000

I met Dr. Ankur Tayal a couple weeks ago at the Talk the TIC competition here in Dallas. He is passionate and highly knowledgeable on Upper Cervical Chiropractic and it was a pleasure to meet him. Recently, he appeared on “Daytime,” a show up in Canada to explain Chiropractic, upper cervical style. Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Atlas of Life Chiropractic » Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Balancing the Spine Through Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Recommended Reading

How to Get More Energy for Healing, Digestion, and Thinking

Recommended Reading

1 Last Sign that Moving to Childress, TX was the Right Choice

Recommended Reading

Putting Bricks in Your Purse and Wearing it on Your Shoulder = BAD

Recommended Reading

Great Upper Cervical Safety Study by Eriksen et al.

Recommended Reading

“The MD’s don’t seem to know what’s wrong with me…”

Recommended Reading

“I was devastated…”

Recommended Reading

“I was in such pain that I did not know what I was going to do…”

Recommended Reading

The Greek Titan Atlas Holds Up the Weight of the Universe, and What this Means for Your Spine

Recommended Reading

Dr. Tayal on Daytime to Explain Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Recommended Reading