Chronic Migraines Helped With Chiropractic

A study published in the February issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT), showed that people suffering with migraine headaches were helped with chiropractic care. The study was conducted in Australia at the Chiropractic Research Center of Macquarie University. In this research 177 volunteers were studied who had migraine headaches for over 18 years on average. Many of the participants also suffered from neck pain.

The average response of the group that received chiropractic care showed a statistically significant improvement in migraine frequency, duration, and disability. The study also showed that those who received chiropractic care were able to reduce their medication use, with a significant number reducing their medication usage to zero! Additionally, 59% had no neck pain after a period of two months, and another 35% had a decrease in neck pain.

Meet The Staff

Dr. Ernst, Chiropractor and Clinic director for Shelton and Hoodsport Chiropractic.  Dr. Ernst enjoys helping the patient reach their potential health and well being through chiropractic.  Dr. Ernst and Shannon have 4 children and one grandchild.

Dr. Morson is our token Canadian chiropractor, contributing to the multicultural feel of the office- not really eh!  He is a 2002 graduate of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, and has been practicing chiropractic in the South Sound since 2003.  He lives in Shelton with his wife and 4 young children, and  enjoys aviation in his free time.

Dr. Norton graduated cum laude from Western States Chiropractic College in 1996. He and his wife Hati have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Dr. Norton practices full time at Hoodsport Chiropractic and part time at Shelton Chiropractic Center. Dr. Norton loves to help people with their health and get them feeling better. He looks forward to helping you.

Shannon Ernst is our Office Manager and the better half of Dr. Ernst!! :) We have been in Shelton since 1998, We enjoy the beauty of this area and the small community. We have a great staff at Shelton Chiropractic and Hoodsport Chiropractic, and we are here to help you!

My name is Carolyn.. I've been at Shelton Chiropractic Center since 1999. My position here is Chiropractic Assistant.  I can help you with all of your insurance questions and much more. If I can't figure it out, I'll have Shannon do it. :) I am the mother of 2, stepmother of 2, mother-in-law of 3 and grandma to 1!

Erika, Chiropractic Assistant.  My Husband Curtis and I moved from North Bend to Shelton in 2005. Including Shelton Chiropractic I have eight years experience working with chiropractic. When I'm not at work you will most likely find me knitting on some project. Look forward to seeing you soon at Shelton Chiropractic Center.  

Carolyne W. Chiropractic Assistant started at Shelton Chiropractic July 2007 she is learning the ropes and is eager to help you.

Kristin, massage therapist, joined Shelton Chiropractic in 2000. She specializes in deep tissue and personal injury work. Kristin also works part time as our office manager/massage therapist in our Hoodsport office.

Sara, massage therapist, joined Shelton Chiropractic this year.   She lives in Shelton with her husband and two children.  Sara employs several therapeutic techniques including hot stone massage.

Jennifer, massage therapist, graduated from Massage School in August of 2000 and has worked at Shelton Chiropractic since April of 2005. She lives here in Shelton with her husband, step daughter and new baby girl born on January 4th!

Did you know germs do not cause disease?

Claude Bernard was a 19th century French physiologist and contemporary of French chemist Louis Pasteur.  The two famous doctors argued throughout their lives as to what really was the cause of disease, the soil or the seed.  Pasteur insisted it was the seed (germ) while Bernard claimed it was the soil (the body).  On Pasteur’s death bed, it is said that he admitted that Bernard was right; he said, " it is the soil, not the seed."

The seed (germ factors) or the soil (the body, host factors) argument was as prevalent then as it is now again today.  Today many medical authors are agreeing that, although germs are certainly a factor involved in the diseases of man, the germ alone is not the cause of disease.  Dr. B. J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, and the son of the man who discovered chiropractic stated: "If the germ theory of disease were correct, there would be no one living to believe it." Think about it for a moment, and you will see the common sense in Dr. Palmer’s statement.

Dr. D.D. Palmer, the discoverer of chiropractic stated, "Disease is abnormal performance of certain functions: the abnormal activity has its causes."  Chiropractic has sought to find these causes which often are due to nerve interference along the spine caused by a spinal misalignment, called subluxation.  Subluxations can impair normal nerve transmission which then causes abnormal body function, lowering the body's resistance and making the body susceptible to disease.

Chiropractic and Constipation

The January issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) published a case study showing the beneficial effects of chiropractic care on an 8 year old boy suffering from chronic constipation. In this case the boy had been suffering with the condition since birth and was treated medically with laxatives, high fluid intake, and high fiber intake, all of which had no effect on his condition.

In this case the young boy's condition was such that he only had a bowel movement at 7 to 10 day intervals and at times approaching every 2 weeks and were quite painful.  He was apparently born healthy and was breast fed until 6 months of age. No other underlying diseases were identified by his medical physicians.

The child's mother brought him to a chiropractor who examined him and determined the presence of a sacral subluxation. Care was initiated and adjustments were given to correct the subluxation.  In this case the patient reported an immediate dramatic improvement in bowel function after just the first visit. His mother was very excited and reported that he had a bowel movement on the day of his first visit and 2 days later. She reported that this was extraordinary because her son had never in his life had 3 bowel movements in 4 days.

The study points out that chronic childhood constipation accounts for 3% of visits to general pediatricians and nearly 30% of visits to pediatric gastroenterologists.  They note that medical treatment usually includes dietary management, biofeedback, and laxatives.  However, statistically 30% to 50% of children do not respond to these treatments and continue to have long-term problems.

Chiropractic and Exercise

How is your spinal endurance and stability?  Scientific studies continue to show the relationship of spinal fatigue leading to spinal joint dysfunction, stiffness, pain and ultimately spinal degeneration; this process begins and any age.  The good news is that taking steps to change and slow this process can be started at any age J.  The most significant area of fatigue is at the very root of the spine; the spinal joints and surrounding muscle and other soft tissues.  Scientific studies also continue to reveal the ineffectiveness of drugs and surgery; both contribute significantly to the negative degenerative cycle.

While many patients turn to chiropractic for pain relief which is an important and very effective part of quality of life, it is also a very important part of changing the degenerative process.  The adjustment restores normal spinal joint function which reduces inflammation and pain, but how can we help the adjustment "last" so that we can slow the degenerative process?  Good, regular effective exercise that addresses the spinal stabilizer muscles.  Most exercise does not address the deep, small muscles of the spine that become weak and atrophied due to the above process.

I have found a very "effective" exercise for this most important area of the spine.  "Pulse Flex" is a new exercise piece that we use in our clinic.  This exercise is "functional" exercise that is very user friendly for any age.  The Pulse Flex Bar is designed to reproduce hundreds of natural conditioning movements and forces for the spine and core.  In my professional opinion, this exercise tool exceeds any other spine and core conditioning program.

Exercise is one of the 5 primary keys to good health; the five primary keys are regular effective exercise, good nutrition, stress management, good rest, and a sound nervous system.  Chiropractic adjustment helps restore the optimal nerve conduction from the brain to the body and body to the brain which results in a "sound nervous system".  Exercise is an essential part in maintaining the unique benefits of the chiropractic adjustment.

We are ready to help you with the 5 primary keys to good health; as with any exercise program, you need to follow specific guidance from a health care professional.

Dr. Damon

During the month of July we will be holding our Holiday New Patient Program.

Friends and loved ones you feel could benefit from Chiropractic, will receive their First visit complimentary. Including Consultation, Exam, and X-rays if needed. (Normally $260.)

If you have a family member, friend or loved one, that you feel could benefit from Chiropractic care, we would be proud to consult and examine them as a personal favor to you using this special program. (You may also use this for yourself if you have not recently been into the office.)