Dr. Jonathan Leusden

The chiropractic profession has many technique manifestations and it can be difficult for potential clients to understand what the choices and differences are. I was fortunate to have met and learned this profound technique from Dr. Christopher John who has posted a great introduction to D.N.F.T.® on YouTube.

Watching this video allows a real understanding of the unique leg check, subluxation analysis, expected results and extremely light/low force corrections making up the core of this technique.

Watch a Master DNFT ® teacher, researcher and practitioner share this profound chiropractic technique and application.

Jonathan Leusden D.C.

Colorado Springs, CO

Viewing Upper Cervical Analysis Through a Parallel Technique Lineage

The intention with this article is to introduce an upper cervical perspective currently not well known in the canon of available resources regarding the upper cervical spine. The technique lineage I am writing about has existed since the late 1920′s. Not only has this technique independently confirmed the current descriptions used by upper cervical proponents, it adds important details which from a modern perspective are especially relevant.

Doctors specializing in the upper cervical spine have a strong membership base with consistent passion. The case histories, published studies and the enthusiasm which follow them is impressive to patients and chiropractic students. I certainly have experience with this passion for while in the tender period during chiropractic college when students seek and begin to specialize in particular chiropractic techniques, I came across the upper cervical crowd and became interested.

What attracted me initially was the specificity of analysis. The laser aligned x-rays and the resulting ability to mathematically define the exact vectors defining a subluxation created a sense of validity and confidence I had yet to appreciate in my quest to find how I was going to apply chiropractic art, science and philosophy. I was also attracted to the holding power of the adjustment. Testimonials of not needing to be adjusted for months and even years surfaced adding to my interest. Profound results where no one else was able to help drew me closer. At one point I was sold and even paid a local upper cervical specialist in Davenport, Ia for the x-rays and initial adjustments and checks out of my meager student loan income.

What I realized was adjusting the upper cervical complex should be a critical aspect of care offered and can certainly make profound changes to the dis-eased when done correctly. Although it is undeniably important, I also began to understand the body is much more than the upper cervical complex.

About six months later, I came across a completely unique analysis system able to identify in real-time relevance with consistent accuracy the exact language of stress accumulation. No x-rays, no thermo- type instruments, no computers, no electronics, simply accessing the only primary source available. The subject’s own body is capable of being an accurate, consistent and efficient feed-back mechanism. Yes/No, True/False is the language. Simple, elegant and consistent is the communication.  Address the issue and check again to see if it cleared. The detail the upper cervical camp is promoting, I found could be applied to the entire spine and even the entire body. Continue reading…

Dr. Jonathan Leusden explains the unique chiropractic services offered in his practice. Based in modern D.N.F.T. ® (Directional Non-Force Technique ™), Dr. Leusden has continued advancing this profound work to make it more efficient and effective than ever. Details regarding adjusting with light force without any popping and cracking and the progressive nature of the follow up visits is explained.

Expectations of care and progress visits are detailed: 3 total visits in about 4-5 weeks to clear out the majority of the accumulated life stress recorded in what chiropractors have traditionally called the subluxation.

Fewer visits, lasting corrections, answers for previously hopeless concerns…

Interested parties are welcome to click play in the audio player below to listen:

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Jonathan Leusden D.C. Colorado Springs, CO

The Language of Stress Accumulation has predictable elements. Once identified, these patterns, their compensations and underlying primary patterns can be resolved with light force impulses in specific directions. The result is a more stable, efficient system which prefers to be in the newly allowed state. Accessing this language of stress accumulation, it’s elements, factors and contributing factors requires communication with the body’s self-perception indicator. My preferred method is using a reflex taught today through D.N.F.T.® Seminars.

Once this communication is established, the language of stress accumulation is revealed to the careful and meticulous observer. When the body can be used as an instrument for identifying how stress is accumulated and then monitoring how well the adjustments are holding, one can then begin to quantify the treatment course with relative accuracy.

The analysis detail and efficient long lasting corrections available today have allowed my current practice and patient expectations to be relatively very high. Over years of applying a detailed and focused analysis and striving for complete subluxation correction, these elements can now be reasonably met:

1) Identification of compensation patterns applied by the subject’s body out of self preservation to reduce the effect of an underlying primary stress accumulation.

2) To reduce the above compensation and reveal a single primary (sometimes two vertebral levels at the same time) vertebral level actively causing stress to the subject’s body.

3) To identify the exact combination of directions and all associated soft tissue aspects involved with the primary subluxation or stress accumulation pattern.

4) To respectfully and completely eliminate the stress pattern expressed in 3).

5) To observe and address spontaneous and assisted retracing of stored primary stress patterns after 4).

When the above operations are followed through, the number of visits required to significantly reduce the overall subluxation burden can be predicted over time. The current initial course of treatment expected at my office is an initial visit and two follow up visits within three to five weeks. Each visit should ideally pick up where the visit before leaves off. This allows for progressive expectations with a defined and reasonable initial treatment trial. These treatment expectations effectively resolves new patient anxiety and reservation about coming to a chiropractor in the first place. This approach also resolves apprehension and resistance people have in referring others to your office. Fewer visits and lasting corrections are top selling points when people talk to their friends and families about the care provided at an office like this. Add the point there is no cavitation, popping or cracking during the adjustment and most fears the general population has to coming to a chiropractor are eliminated.

Factors such as age, overall physical trauma history, overuse factors emotional burdens and dietary habits are all relevant when considering the overall subluxation burden. Regarding specific and pure chiropractic, identifying and eliminating how the stress of life is stored is the top priority. When this stress accumulation is identified completely it is possible to essentially “clear the slate” of the stored past stress allowing more system wide efficiency and stability. When some one’s body is cleared of the subluxation burden, the energy it was spending on compensating and accommodating for that stress is redirected towards healing, repair and regrowth.

Chiropractic’s value is obvious to those who have experienced its capabilities first hand. Removing the resistance and misconceptions commonplace in the general society’s perception toward chiropractic will allow the profession’s true value to emerge and develop into the potential it deserves.

Written By Jonathan Leusden D.C., Colorado Springs, CO

Below is an overview explanation of the chiropractic subluxation. Through the clinical experience in the office of Dr. Leusden, a clarified explanation of the subluxation’s purpose, identity and involved aspects has emerged. Credit needs to be given to practitioners of Dr. VanRumpt’s research, development and life’s work as being foundational in the work of Dr. Leusden. Further research through the office and clinical practice of Dr. Christopher John should be acknowledged for developing the detail possible as well as discoveries related to reducing compensations and revealing primary subluxations. The reduction methods below are not comprehensive of what is currently being researched although do give the reader an idea of the function reduction technologies have.

Subluxations can be thought of as a way the body compensates and stores information of some kind of stressor. The accumulation of life stress results in what the author is identifying and describing as “patterns of accumulated life stress” or the “language of stress accumulation.” Utilizing the reactive leg reflex, practitioners of the foundational work of Dr Richard VanRumpt have been able to identify, in detail, numerous aspects of the subluxation complex including soft and hard tissue, organ relationships and potentially factors related to emotional and nutritional contributions. Other contributing factors can be discussed in more detail in the LowForceDoctors.org forum.

The author utilizes a variation of the thumb trust used and taught by Dr VanRumpt and currently taught by Dr Christopher John. This thrust equals ounces of pressure applied as an impulse or spike in pressure. There is no cavitation or popping/cracking of joints involved. Twenty-five to thirty-five different aspects of every thoracic vertebrae (for example) are analyzed and corrected in a specific order. The holding power of these adjustments is checked by analyzing the client/patient on follow up visits. When a subluxation is corrected completely including all contributing factors, the body perceives this state as more efficient and stable and in a sense, prefers to be in the corrected state.

•    Compensation subluxations, their reduction and revealing underlying entities:

True, primary subluxations are completely different entities than simply regions or levels of fixation. For example if one finds the area from T3 through T6 as stiff and fixated, one approach could be to mobilize the area. another approach could be to adjust the lowest involved vertebrae, another could be to adjust the atlas or do trigger point procedures. Once communicating with the body’s intelligence is added and used properly, we find much more to the story.

Thankfully, compensations can be reduced and the primary underlying lesion patterns can be revealed using a few different ligament adjustment options. The supraspinous ligament, for example, over the area can either be indicated as superior or inferior. The inter-spinous ligaments within the counter-rotated area or just above could also be used. The nuchal ligament can also be used to reduce a compensation and reveal a primary subluxation. One of these ligaments should be actively subluxated and when corrected, the compensation pattern will be reduced to a single vertebral level.

The above mentioned ligaments either have superior of inferior subluxation listings. Once the direction of lesion is identified, the correction is made in the opposite direction. Corrections are done respectfully and never when the subject is resisting.

When the area is rechecked, one specific level will be revealed as the primary subluxation. Laterality within ligaments is more relevant when addressing significant vertebral disc lesions, see below.

It is always wise to check adjacent vertebrae after primary subluxations are identified and corrected. For example: if a counter rotation is found from T6 through T3, the supra-spinous ligament over this region could be found inferior and then adjusted superior. This could reveal a primary subluxation at T5. Once all available aspects of T5 are corrected, a rescan reveals T4 now showing as a primary subluxation. This is called a retracing event. A post T4 adjustment rescan can then reveal a T3 and so on until the deep, underlying injury is revealed and corrected.

To go from a counter-rotation to revealing each individual subluxation one by one, the practitioner must be respectful of what level and exactly what subluxation directions the subject’s body is showing at any given time. The more specific the practitioner is, the greater depth the correction has. The result is a lasting correction with fluidity of movement and an absence of fixation in the area.

•    Primary subluxations. Aspects to look for:
Most subluxations (with very few exceptions) have a combination of these basic elements:
1.    a rotation (anterior left or anterior right = posterior right or posterior left
2.    a transverse tilt (superior or inferior)
3.    a spinous process tilt (superior or inferior)
4.    a laterality (left or right)
5.    an A-P directional lesion (posterior, anterior, or neutral)
All spine subluxations have a combination of these elements. Correction is done opposite the direction of lesion.

Examples:
•    L3 could be found rotated and tilted anterior and inferior on the right with an inferior tilted spinous with a lateral left component. The vertebrae is also either neutral A-P, anterior enMasse, or rarely posterior enMasse.
•    Another listing could be anterior and superior on the right with a superior tilted spinous process, right laterality and neutral enMasse
•    Anterior/inferior on the left, superior spinous, lateral right and anterior enMasse.

Soft tissue elements:
Every single subluxation (if one checks for it) should also have disc, ligament, and possibly muscle involvement. These can be analyzed individually and adjusted specifically. Correction is done opposite the direction of lesion.

Ligaments:
Check for the inter-transverse ligaments on each side and above and below the level being adjusted. Also check the inter-spinous ligaments above and below the subluxated segment.

The most important finding should be if these ligaments are either superior of inferior (stretched or contracted). Laterality within the ligaments should be checked especially when there is a known significant disk lesion at that level.

Intervertebral Disc:
Next check for the intervertebral disc above and below the subluxation. There should be a disc listing at 45° at the Inter Vertebral Foramen (IVF). There should be a lateral disk component to the side of vertebral laterality (check both sides though as it can be bilateral). There are also disc listings almost straight posterior just lateral to and on both sides from the spinous process. Antero-lateral disc aspects can be assumed and are corrected from the front. Corrective contacts are made along the transverse plane. The corrective force is directed along this plane towards the specific level found and adjusted form the posterior.

Muscles:
Paraspinal muscles are less important as muscle tension in the area is usually compensatory and is resolved through correcting the bone, disk, and ligament elements. Occasionally, muscles can be used to reveal or further reinforce the correction. Muscle like the levator scapula, trapezious, sub-occipital, psoas, iliacus, quadratus lumborum, and others can be used if found to be actively subluxated. Listings are usually  found along the muscle fibers and can be thought of as either stretched or contracted. Correction is the opposite direction of lesion.

Overall correction order: This order has been refined and is now the standard procedure when addressing all aspects of a true subluxation.
1.    rotation and tilt
2.    spinous tilt
3.    laterality
4.    ribs (if present)
5.    ligaments (intertransverse, interspinous)
6.    disk below and above (45°, lateral, postero-central)
1.    Paraspinal muscles, attaching or inserting muscles (ex. psoas) Anterior disk element at 45° from the front, and anterior enmasse is corrected at the end by turning the subject over and completing the anterior aspects of corrected segments all at once.

*The exception to the above findings would be finding a level in the spine simply anterior enMasse. If one were to correct this anterior aspect and the same level is again analyzed, one should now find a rotation, tilt, spinous tilt and laterality, minus the anterior aspect. This is rare and usually only seen at the atlas or L5 levels. The intervertebral disk and ligaments mentioned above should also be considered.

More to Come…

Written by Jonathan Leusden D.C., Colorado Springs, CO

Homeopathic Treatment for the Flu

Written by Dr. Faith Christensen

Homeopathic remedies have been used for hundreds of years to treat colds and flu’s. Homeopathic remedies have a history of shortening the duration(length of time being sick) and intensity( how sick someone gets) of illnesses since the Spanish Flu Epidemic (also a Type A influenza virus) in the early 1900’s. Currently gelsemium, bryonia, nux vomica, and mucoccinum have been used with success in treating both the seasonal flu and H1N1. For most homeopathics, you want to match your symptoms to the specific symptoms of the remedy to get the best results. Mucococcinum and oscillococcinum are combinations of certain homeopathics and can be used as directed below. If you start on any acute homeopathic and do not see any improvements in 2 doses (1-2 hrs), change to the next likely homeopathic.

Remember to help your body heal by getting plenty of rest, lots of water or herbal tea, and no sugar or refined carbohydrates. Warming sock treatment, constitutional or contrast hydrotherapy can aid the body in eliminating the virus through temperature and blood flow alterations.

For homeopathic prevention or first symptoms:

Ferrum phosphoricum 12c or 30c: first sign of flu within the first few hours( fatigue, slight fever, scratchy throat no clear symptoms) 2 pellets 30 min away from food, dissolve under tongue every few hours until symptoms resolve or a more clear picture that matches the homeopathics below.

Oscillococcinum: For prevention of the flu or at first sign of getting sick. Take 2 pellets every 2 hours until symptoms resolve or develop into a specific picture that would be best treated by taking a specific homeopathic.

Influenzinum: for prevention 2 pellets 1x a week Aconite 30c: Sudden onset no clear symptoms (general fatigue, slight fever, scratchy throat) Take 2 pellets every 1-2 hrs if severe or 3-4 hrs if more mild. See below for aconite’s complete picture.

Mucococcinum: For prevention and treatment of flu. In a recent study it was found to be 88% effective at prevention of flu and 82% effective at treatment of flu. Take 2 pellets 1x a week for prevention and 3 pellets 3x a day for treatment.

Homeopathy Guide for Remedy Selection For Colds and Flu (adapted from Miranda Castro’s article Oh fluey) Suggested strength and dose: 30x or 30C every 1-2 hrs if severe and 3-4 hrs if less severe. Back off from taking if feeling better and
only repeat if same symptoms start to return. Switch to new remedy if completely new symptoms arise that match a different remedy.

Click here to open the full PDF Homeopathy Guide for Remedy Selection For Colds and Flu

After the Flu Recovery

China: feeling debilitated after the flu especially from loss of fluids through massive sweating or vomiting, feel chilled, pale with dark circles under eyes, touchy and irritable. Suggested strength: 6x, 6C or 12x 2-4x a day for up to a week.

Kali phosphoricum: general exhaustion and unusual depression after flu, oversensitive and nervous, hypersensitive to noise, touch etc. Suggested strength: 6C or 12x 1-2x a day until symptoms resolve 1 day to 1 week.

Gelsemium: continued dullness, apathetic, heavy and trembly, can maintain a mild temperature…can develop into chronic exhaustion if not treated. Suggested strength and dose: 12C or 30C 2x a day for three days. Influenzinum: indicated for those that have never been well since the flu or flu shot. Suggested strength: 30C 1x a day for 1-2 days.

Written By Faith Christensen, N.D., R.N.

Reprinted with permission of Springs Natural Medicine

1010 W Colorado Ave Ste D | Colorado Springs, CO 80904 | 719-685-2500 | www.springsnaturalmedicine.com |

This article is open for constructive professional peer review. Add comments below as seen fit.

When a new technology appears, it has the potential to change entire professions, disciplines, and old ways. In this case, the game changer has been around for over 80 years. Discovered, developed, and currently living on in a small repository of dedicated doctors and practitioners, this technology has the potential to drastically change alternative medicine diagnosis procedures. Beyond diagnosis, this technology allows experienced operators the ability to evaluate treatment appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency.

The foundational perspective required to appreciate this technology is an honoring of the living body’s awareness of self. This awareness is most closely aligned with what Dr. Leslie S. Feinberg describes as the “other than conscious” (OTC). The muscle response testing methods used by practitioners of NeuroModulation Technique – The Feinberg Method (NMT) can be found here. A distinction these practitioners make between active and passive muscle response testing is important:

a) Active MRT – The ACS (Autonomic Control System, author added) influences the quality of contraction, in response to a challenge force delivered to a selected test muscle.  Any muscle can be used that is convenient and can be isolated for testing (as opposed to trying to test a complex muscle group).
b) Passive MRT – The ACS expresses a response by demonstrating a pattern of muscle contraction/relaxation.  E.g., Leg length testing done by “Activator method” chiropractors, arm length testing.  The practitioner observes shortening or lengthening of one leg or arm versus the other as a response to the content of the practitioner’s OTC input.¹

Based on interviews with long time practitioners of DNFT® regarding the origins of the “Activator method” passive MRT described above, this author (Jonathan Leusden D.C.) is under the impression the “Activator method” passive MRT was initially developed in the 1950′s originally modeled after the DNFT methods taught at the time. DNFT practitioners at that point had been using what they are calling VanRumpt’s reactive leg reflex for over twenty years. Here is an interview with Dr Richard VanRumpt describing his work and its development. Since Dr VanRumpt’s death in 1987, DNFT research, development and teaching responsibilities have been headed by Dr Christopher John. Currently, the DNFT technique taught today is the result of systematically selecting and filtering for detail, accuracy, and consistency. The detailed analysis available to today’s DNFT practitioners relative to the detail known even ten years ago has increased dramatically. The extremely accurate, consistent and sensitive “reactive leg reflex” has been the foundation for developing the detail available today within modern day DNFT methods.

Establishing and utilizing accurate communication with a subject’s body can enlighten the practitioner as to exactly what is contributing or causing a given health concern. In theory, this approach would be ideal concerning finding how trauma is stored in the system, how organs are functioning and communicating, what acupuncture meridians are imbalanced, what nutritional excesses, deficiencies and allergies may be present, what emotional considerations are involved and more.  Once the intelligence of the “other than conscious” is recognized, using this type of communication can access a source of real-time knowledge directly from the subject’s body. In theory, detailed, accurate communication would open the door to exactly what, when and how contributing factors preventing a healthy living experience can be identified, addressed and monitored there after for their presence and affect.

In actual practice, when communicating with a subject’s body, considerations such as accuracy, consistency and reliability need to be recognized. Factors influencing diagnosis accuracy include the type of testing, practitioner distraction or presence, subject fatigue (in the case of active manual muscle testing), practitioner training and experience, and practitioner attention to detail. Concerning active manual muscle testing (aMMT), there is a considerable body of research available ranging from case studies using aMMT as a primary diagnosis method, accuracy studies, randomized controlled trials, and literature reviews (²,³,⁴). There is little overall consensus as to aMMT’s consistent accuracy or even its validity as an accurate diagnosis procedure or post therapeutic intervention indicator of success or non-success. There is consensus there needs to be more study in this field.

Active MRT and aMMT which are essentially the same procedure, require the test subject to actively resist while a muscle is being tested. This action requires the subject’s conscious control of their muscle to contract. In situations where the subject is tested repeatedly, issues of  subject muscle fatigue and the resulting accuracy can be present. Very little research has been done concerning passive muscle testing, its accuracy and abilities beyond clinical experience and informal investigations between colleges practicing this analysis tool.

The Passive Muscle Test:

About halfway through chiropractic college, students typically begin searching for chiropractic techniques which are going to work with their particular personality, healing world view, and practice goals. Personally, my experience was similar in that I was searching for what technique or methodology was the most effective, the longest lasting and produced the most dramatic results. I had come across various techniques which included active and passive muscle testing as a diagnosis method. Technique teachers and masters of active muscle testing made the process look very easy although it was difficult for me to reproduce the consistency they demonstrated. Without consistency, the confidence of the practitioner’s findings goes down dramatically which equals decreased patient confidence in the practitioner’s ability to help their case. A solution to the problem of consistency and accuracy was needed.

A long time family friend happened to send me a care package with a little book titled: “It Works: The Famous Little Red Book That Makes Your Dreams Come True!” By RHJ.  A critical part of making “your dreams come true” according to this book is including a date by which you want your dreams to come true. I started the exercise in March of 2005 and I wanted the criteria below by the middle of April, 2005. I had been looking at this criteria every meal everyday. My dream for how I wanted to practice included these specific criteria:

1. A way to objectively and consistently obtain an accurate yes or no response from a patient’s body.

2. A way to respectfully correct a chiropractic subluxation with very low force with lasting holding power of the adjustment.

3. A way to “clear out” someone’s accumulated life stress patterns (layers of subluxation) in three visits.

In Early April, 2005, A seminar was held in Davenport, IA. Amazingly, what was being taught had the potential to fulfill my three main requirements for practicing chiropractic.

As a student in chiropractic college, to reasonably expect the above criteria was even possible required real faith. Having seen it in action (or at least the potential to realize my criteria) and knowing it was right before me, required another leap of faith to dedicate the time and energy required to become proficient with this technique. Soon after I began practicing the work, my understanding of true chiropractic and experience in the art of its application felt as though I had boarded a constantly accelerating rocket ship destined for a very specific knowledge set. The “reactive leg reflex test” allowed just what I was looking to accomplish.

The details of this test have been published here ⁵. How this test actually functions physiologically is largely unknown but what is understood is the very high level of consistency available to the diligent and well trained practitioner. The reactive leg reflex has been primarily used since it’s discovery over 80 years ago, to identify the exact structures and the combination of directions these structures have when they are actively causing stress to the subject’s body. As Dr. VanRumpt described the chiropractic subluxation “Any osseous or soft tissue which is out of alignment and producing nerve interference.”⁶. I would further clarify this definition to include identifying the exact language of stress accumulation stored in the living body from the perspective of the subject’s internal body awareness mechanisms. The reactive leg reflex reveals a black or white response: either what ever action (challenge, test) the practitioner did causes stress on the system, or the action does not cause stress. By testing all possible directional planes and retesting these planes again and again, the practitioner can conclude with an extremely high degree of accuracy the exact combination of directions a particular structure is expressing as subluxated.

Further research using the reactive leg reflex taught by Dr. Chris John through DNFT Seminars, has indicated the possibility to find directional stress listings for the vertebral disc associated with the identified subluxated bone, ligaments, muscles attaching, ribs, and potentially organ reflexes associated with specific levels in the spine. Once an accurate analysis method is established, the process of testing and observing the response reveals much more of the picture if the practitioner asks the question and objectively observes the subject’s body’s response. Since the reactive leg reflex is a passive and non-conscious response on the part of the subject being tested, many  different tests and appropriate retesting procedures can be accomplished without patient fatigue or a decrease in finding accuracy.

Passive muscle response testing is not limited to the reactive leg reflex (DNFT). Other lineages which have used a passive type yes or no testing procedure have also been explored by Clarence E. Prill, D.C., Dr Leon Truscott, D.C., Ph.C with Dr. Granville K. Frisvie, D.C., Ph. C., Dr. Louisa Williams, Tedd Koren D.C., Lowell Ward, D.C., Dr. John Veltheim, and others. It is important to note these different techniques and testing lineages have very different procedures, testing protocols and conclusions based on their findings. The “consistent accuracy variable” and “test sensitivity” is also variable depending on the testing approach. Some techniques may be better tools for purely structural stress information gathering, others may have a higher accuracy regarding psychosomatic factors. Some techniques may be able to give reliable information on a combination of contributing factors with varying degrees. Again, practitioner experience, objectiveness, focus and clinical knowledge are also factors in maintaining accuracy and confidence in test findings.

To have a truly accurate “other than conscious” testing system, it is critical the practitioner maintains objectiveness through out testing. It is also critical the person asking or challenging the subject’s body knows some context about the question/challenge to gain clarity of inquiry. Being accurate and clear in the questions/challenges asked of the body will reveal more accurate and consistent responses.

Skeptics have long pointed out the lack of solid double blind clinical controlled trials validating these testing methods. What is missing in the skeptic’s argument is the realization health expression and its lack is much more than a cause and effect thread. Formally intangible factors such as family tendencies/patterns, environmental factors, emotional sensitivities, personality variations, willingness and readiness to heal, nutrition quality over time, subtle primary stress accumulation patterns and other factors need to be recognized as contributing to someone’s overall health expression or lack there of. Evaluating a subject/patient through testing the “other than conscious” allows an honoring of where the client is that moment, what are the priorities this person’s body wants addressed, what associated factors are present and equally important, has the treatment been effective.

Communicating with a subject’s “other than conscious” through accurate yes or no inquiry is now practiced by medical doctors, naturopaths, osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and now massage therapists, counselors, and lay people. Within this group there are no doubt variations in accuracy and depth of findings. What should be acknowledged is the accuracy and results of the work on an individual practitioner basis. To disregard or demean an entire field because of a lack of traditional scientific research is more of a function of not asking the right questions than an indicator of value.

Accurate, consistent and sensitive “other than conscious” testing methods available today have the potential to dramatically accelerate patient care efficiency and healing options. A biological “open source” Application Programming Interface (API) is now available. Those who know its value are able to work with a real-time, accurate source code animating life and telling the thoughtful, present practitioner exactly when, where, how and if what was done accomplished the goal.

Written by Jonathan Leusden D.C. Colorado Springs, CO

¹ Muscle Response Testing (MRT) The NMT Way. Link

² Cuthbert SC, Goodheart GJ Jr.: On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review. Chiropr Osteopathy 2007, 15:4. PubMed Abstract | BioMed Central Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text

³ Hass M, Cooperstein R, Peterson D.: Disentangling manual muscle testing and Applied Kinesiology: critique and reinterpretation of a literature review. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2007, 15:11 Article full text

⁴ Cuthbert S. Letter to the Editor. Disentangling manual muscle testing and Applied Kinesiology: critique and reinterpretation of a literature review. A reply. (31 August 2007)  Link

⁵ Henson D.C. Laura, in collaboration with Christopher John D.C. Directional Non-Force Technique® Technical Paper, 1993. Link

⁶  VanRumpt D.C., Richard. Definitions and Philosophy of Dr Richard VanRumpt. date unknown. Link

Iodine Overview

by Faith Christensen, ND, RN

Iodine is a mineral utilized within every cell in the body. Iodine is necessary for proper thyroid hormone production and all other hormones. Iodine concentrates in the thyroid, ovaries, thymus, pituitary gland and hypothalamus, skin and adrenal glands. Adequate iodine levels are required for proper immune system functioning and iodine itself acts as an anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties. In the past, only significant deficiencies such as mental retardation, goiter, increased child and infant mortality, and infertility warranted iodine supplementation. Recent studies indicate that over 90% of the US population is deficient in iodine with pregnant women showing over 600% decline in iodine levels in the last 30 years. According to the World Health Organization 1.5 billion people, about 1/3 the earth’s population, live in areas of iodine deficiency.1

Conditions Treated With Iodine:

ADD/ADHD

Atherosclerosis

Breast Disease and Breast Cancer (see iodine and cancer prevention/tx handout)

Duputren’s Contractures

Excess Mucous Production

Fatigue

Fibrocystic Breasts

Goiter

Hemorrhoids

Headaches and Migraine Headaches

Hypertension

Infections

Keloids

Liver Disease

Nephrotic Syndrome

Ovarian Disease: Ovarian Cysts, etc.

Parotid Duct Stones

Peyronie’s

Prostate Disorders

Sebaceous Cysts

Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroid, Hyperthyroid, Autoimmune, Thyroid cysts, Thyroid Cancer

Vaginal Infections

Laboratory Measurement of Iodine and Associated Toxic Elements;

• Urinary Iodine: standard test MD would run but is not as accurate for total iodine levels

• Iodine Patch Test: a drop of iodine is placed on skin. If it disappears within a specific time then it indicates a need for iodine;however, skin contains only 20% of total body iodine.

• Urinary iodine loading test: Best way to measure iodine deficiency based on amount of iodine utilized by the body after ingesting a 50 mg tablet.

• Urinary Bromine and Fluoride excretion: used with urinary iodine loading test to check for these toxic minerals related to low iodine levels and contribute to many of the diseases listed above.

• Salivary/Serum Iodine ratio: measures defects with iodine uptake and utilization (NIS and pendrin symporters) Normal is 42 below 20 more investigation to defective symporters is indicated.

Why Are People Deficient In Iodine?

Diets without ocean fish or sea vegetables

Inadequate use of iodized salt including low-salt diets

High consumption of bakery products(bread and pasta) which contain bromine.

Vegan or vegetarian diets.

Drinking chlorinated and fluorinated water especially if contaminated with perchlorate(widespread and increasing).

Mineral deficient vegetables and fruit from mineral deficient soil(many areas naturally deficient)

Dosage of Iodine:

12.5 mg needed for thyroid and breast health(daily recommended intake 14x the RDA)

50 mg-100 mg based on lab results.

Best utilized with iodine/iodide combination

Cofactors and Minerals Needed for Iodine Utilization:

Riboflavin (B2) 100-200 mg a day

Niacin (B3) 500-1000 mg a day (non flushing will work)

Vitamin C 1000-3000 mg a day

Selenium(100-400 mg a day) and Vitamin E(gamma delta E(not d-alpha): iodine and thyroid hormone production

Unrefined salt: 1-1-5 gm a day(see salt handout)

Signs of Iodine Excess:

Ingestion of iodine and/or iodide has been associated with certain complaints. If you experience any of the following or experience any unusual symptoms since starting iodine, stop ingesting iodine and contact your physician:

• acne-like skin lesions in certain areas of your body

• headache in the frontal sinus

unpleasant brassy taste and/or increased salivation and sneezing

1 Brownstein, David. (2009). Iodine:Why you need it, Why you can’t live without it. 4th Ed. Medical Alternative Press: Michigan.

Reprinted with permission of Springs Natural Medicine: 1010 W Colorado Ave Ste D | Colorado Springs, CO 80904 | 719-685-2500 | www.springsnaturalmedicine.com |

Fueled by the public demand and guided by the medical industry (insurance providers, hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical industry, drug stores and more) and their lobbyists, the United States will soon have a new heath care system. The issue seems to generate high levels of passion concerning which side is right and who will gain or lose. This passion stems in part from consumers and business who are paying more and more for health-care benefits which rarely meet expectations:

Consumers are being pinched too as their health insurance premiums and medical bills have surged. The average employee will pay $3,515 for a family health plan that he or she gets through work this year, more than double the cost in 1999, according to a survey by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Businesses are facing even more pressure. Their average contribution to an employee’s family health plan ballooned to $9,860 this year from $4,247 in 1999, the survey found.¹

The costs for just the average plans available are staggering. Over $13,000 a year for a family for coverage which has significantly less benefits than ten years ago for more than double the cost. Add co-pays and high deductibles and it is hard for an objective perspective to understand why anyone would pay this much for arguably poor actual benefit.

Reducing these overall health-care costs are actually quite possible although an issue is the incentive to do so. The pharmaceutical industry, their shareholders, and business interests are interested in being paid what they feel is fair for their innovation, patent rights, lobbing and advertising costs. Providers need to be compensated and paid what they are worth. Hospitals have obvious funding needs. Municipal bonds, medical industry share prices, salaries, and provider benefits and resulting tax revenue all factor in maintaining profits and higher medical costs at the consumer and insurance provider levels. Providing health care to the uninsured and under-insured and making health-care affordable for businesses and families while maintaining existing revenue streams and their derivatives is a monumental task.

Finding an answer, as with many questions, should begin with looking at ourselves. Can we continue living a lifestyle of without regard to our health? Knowing that the food and water we consume is the very material building our bodies, the choice becomes clear. What happens when for even just a month, someone eats only fast food? What happens when someone incorporates green smoothies into a morning routine for a month? The difference is profound. While there are many paths and motivators for healing, all have a consistent mechanism: our living bodies prefer to be healthy if given the chance. It is more stable, more efficient to express health than to live with layers of disease and chronic conditions.

One of the great tenets of healing is the fact our bodies would prefer to be healthy if given the chance. This is accomplished by removing blocks and barriers to expressing the health of which we are capable. The body and mind will heal if given the chance. The answer to our nation’s health-care situation is first self reflection, and second making proactive health decisions at a personal and family level.

The Role of Alternative Health-Care in a Potentially Universal Modern Western Medical Environment:

“Alternative” health-care for these purposes will be defined by the services from providers outside mainstream medicine. This includes traditional Naturopaths (N.D.), Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.), alternative Osteopathic Doctors (D.O.), alternative Medical Doctors (M.D.), Acupuncturists (L.Ac.) and Chinese medicine, Herbalists, and including any other services paid for out of pocket at the consumer level. It is interesting to note since a landmark study in 2002, visits to CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) practitioners remains at 36% published in a follow up study in 2006 by Thomson-Medstat. Notable from this study is the demographic distribution of people utilizing alternative medical treatments:

Those households most apt to seek alternative therapies are at the top end of the income and education brackets. Half of all households earning more than $100,000 annually sought alternative treatment. Likewise, half of those with post-graduate degrees used alternative medicine. These numbers drop to 30 percent of households earning $15,000–$24,999 per year and 18.1 percent of those without high school diplomas. ²

Another interesting finding from the Thomson-Medstat study is the age distribution opting for alternative treatments:

The survey found that people in the 35- to 64-year-old age group led the pack of alternative medicine users, with 40.3 percent opting for alternative medicine in the past year. They were followed closely by the under-35 age group with 38.2 percent. And 28 percent of those in the over-65 age group have opted for alternatives over the last year.²

Why are people flocking to alternative medicine practitioners in such consistent frequency and demographic distribution? Although some insurance companies are extending benefits to cover some of these services, many who go to these practitioners are paying for treatment, supplements, and consultation out-of-pocket. Notice the baby-boomer generation, and even those eligible for Medicare are seeing alternative therapies. As more and more businesses and families are not able to afford beneficial health insurance, visits to alternative practitioners are becoming the next best choice and even people’s preferred health-care option

Finding the answer to how these visit numbers are maintained can be seen when looking at the motivating factors causing these people to seek alternative therapies. People want to go to a doctor or practitioner who has had success treating the condition they are experiencing. Referral networks made up from people who have similar conditions and who have had success treating those conditions continure to direct health seekers to someone who may be able to help.

Healing is a complex process involving many facets: proper identification of causative factors, timing, accurate testing, effective treatment, and even emotion and spiritual conflicts needing to be properly identified and addressed. The bottom line is people want answers and solutions. Many are seeing the facade of masking symptoms through medications and are seeking ways to remove the blocks to healing and to honor their bodies ability to heal if given the chance.

Structural accumulations of stress and injury, nutritional excesses and deficiencies, psycho-somatic patterns and misinformation, and family tendencies can all be considered with almost every health condition or challenge. People with the means and sometimes people out of desperation seek alternatives to traditional medicine precisly because there is an alternative. This choice is based on known past success, reasonable cost to benefit ratios, seeking an alternative perspective, and empowering options.

As long as alternative treatments are having success with clients, there will exist a grassroots referral network providing direction based on experience. Even without insurance coverage of any kind, patient visits to alternative practitioners should continue at current levels and even grow based on clinical success, and treatment efficiency at a reasonable cost.

Written by Dr. Jonathan Leusden, Colorado Springs, CO

¹. Levey, Norm B. “Splitting healthcare tab is a balancing act” Los Angeles Times 18 Sept, 2009: Nation

². THOMSON MEDSTAT RESEARCH BRIEF. “Sizing Up the Market for Alternative Medicine” Dec. 2006

© 2009. Jonathan Leusden D.C.