How Many...



"How many roads must a man walk down
before you call him a man?"

from Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind



"How many?" is one of the questions we all wonder about. Is the answer blowing in the wind? My patients wonder, "How many of these supplements do I need to take?" How often should I come in for a visit to keep my cranial and spinal stress at a decent level? How decent is decent, and how do I know whether I'm there?

For myself, I wonder how many seminars will I need to take before I know enough. How many books do I need to read to stay at the cutting edge for my patients? What's a good measurement?

This past Tuesday, patients who came to visit me in the office came from four different states. (So far in this office, I've seen patients from 33 different states and 14 countries.)  What does this tell me? Simply that I've got to continue to ready, study and take seminars. Why? Because it makes me better at what I do.

What else do I do besides study and work? I take care of my own body and brain! I personally receive cranial work regularly--every two to three weeks. How do I know that this is the right amount for me? I've experimented with longer and shorter time intervals. When I allow myself to have all the energy I want, I don't have to worry about being sick or in pain. That's the answer the wind carried to me.

That frequency may be different for you. When I was doing more conventional chiropractic work, I found that monthly adjustments worked well for a high percentage of my patients. When my practice switched to more of a cranial emphasis, I found that a much larger group could do relatively well if they came in at least quarterly, but started to subtly "go down hill" as they waited longer.

Recently, one of my patients had cataract surgery. She remarked to me that when she first got home after the procedure, she was amazed by how light and bright her apartment seemed to her. For a long time, she felt that her place was too dark. When the interference was removed, it was no longer like she was looking through a glass of water with a spoon of mustard stirred into it.

The dimming of her vision had happened gradually, not suddenly. This also happens to our muscles, organs and blood vessels when our nervous system is not operating with all of the advantages that the structural work we do offers.

How many times will my patient need cataract surgery? Just once! But it doesn't work that way for our nerves. My suggestion: Be honest with yourself about what works for you, and don't push the envelope and wait for pain to send you back for your next visit. Life, like eyesight, is precious: take care of yourself.

...before they can call him a man?

This weekend, I am taking another seminar in Austin. The main topic is Male Steroid Hormone Balance. We'll get into:

• Mental performance / the mental edge
• Physical strength, stamina and athletic performance
• Weight loss
• Prevention of prostate problems
• Protection against age-related disease

I'm taking this one for myself, and for all the great guys I take care of. A quote from the blurb I received on the seminar:

The steroid family of hormones includes the reproductive (male and female) and stress handling (adrenal) hormones. They have a direct influence on energy, stamina, vitality, cognition, and mood. Many are anabolic (body building) and anti-aging (disease preventative) in function. Because of their powerful actions these hormones are often used, misused, abused, and are generally misunderstood.

Another seminar-related schedule change

If you ever wanted to see me on a Monday or a Wednesday, here is your chance: The office will be OPEN on Monday, October 19 through Wednesday, October 21. It will be closed that week on Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23.