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If you had a thorn in your foot would you take an anti-inflammatory and a narcotic for it? That is the apparent status of much of medical practice. I acknowledge this example is extreme, but it is not out of the reality of our present medically accepted standards.

Over the years I have treated many patients that were on multiple prescriptions. In these cases I bring in an expert pharmacologist for help. Every time I have done so we have found out that some of the drugs were interfering or counteracting other drugs and sometimes creating side effects that required the use of even another prescription to treat. Luckily, in every one of these cases, I and my consultant, have corrected the multiple problems and returned the patient to health.

In my practice of TMJ disease (Temporomandibular joint, aka. jaw joints), which deals with headaches, jaw, facial and neck pain, I never give drugs. The most common cause of TMJ pain is holding the teeth together. The teeth are not supposed to contact each other more than sixteen minutes a day. They should only come together when swallowing. (When eating, there is food in between the teeth.) Those in pain average over sixteen hours of pain a day. WHY?

STRESS
As in the above example of a medication for a thorn in your foot, a lot of practitioners give a drug for stress and anxiety, without asking one question about habits. It is now vitally important, especially in alternative medicine, to find out if your habits are literally destroying you. In this article a common cause of self-destruction rarely considered, will be introduced. It turns out that mitochondria can be the source of the problem.

Mitochondria are tiny cells within our cells, from one to 10,000 of them per cell. They have their own DNA and reproduce on their own. These beautiful friends supply you and me with all of our energy. Our cells cannot reproduce without them. They are also responsible for the anatomy of our bodies and, very importantly, a phenomenon called apoptosis. Apoptosis is the destruction of cells that perform improperly, like cancer. Don’t you think we had better provide a healthy environment for these miracle workers? Inactivity and poor nutrition habits murder mitochondria.

It turns out that good and healthy habits cannot only help your mitochondria, but can greatly reduce TMJ dysfunction as well as many medical problems. There is a website called “The Care and Feeding of Your Mitochondria” where you can learn more.

In my practice I want my patients to be proactive and do their own research. I can assure you that very few doctors get out of the pharmaceutical box to do their own research. There are numerous new findings in this field like making sure PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone), which stimulates the reproduction of mitochondria, is in our diet. The supplement is available, but foods like parsley, one of the best sources, are also incredibly loaded with other nutrients. RESEARCH!

Foods to avoid: all processed foods, grain-fed animals (grass fed is okay), farmed fish, excessive out-of-season fruits, grains, cereals, dairy (aged cheeses are okay). Never buy foods in which the labels include “natural seasonings” (that’s MSG), nitrates (buy “uncured”), BHA, BHT, and avoid all chemicals additives. Use only Sea salt, Himalayan salt, or others that are natural salts of several minerals, not just sodium. Avoid water from BPA plastic. Just be as close to nature as possible.

One of the greatest rewards I find in my practice is watching patients get their lives back.

For more information about Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center, my TMJ and sleep apnea practice in Danville, please visit: www.aodtc.com.

Q. I want to plant Raspberries and Blackberries in a six-foot-wide side yard. How might I control the underground runners? I’m considering planting the vines in the ground or building a raised bed with a root barrier. Which option do you favor?

A. You’re correct in being concerned about the underground stems or rhizomes. Raspberries and Blackberries, also known as cane berries, are very intrusive and do not respect a property line. Planting them on any shared fence is a major mistake. You’ll have a difficult time controlling the vegetative growth that grows through and under the fence into your neighbor’s yard. Cane berries are a guaranteed expensive, neighbor dispute waiting to happen. So, I’d be looking to plant them off the fence line in a two-foot high, four-foot wide raised bed. A ‘root barrier’ is always a good idea whether the vines are in a raised bed or in the ground as another layer of protection. In the center of the bed construct a ‘T-bar’ trellis; a 4×8 post every six feet with a 2×4 cross beam, with wires running between the supports and attach the vines to the wire. Also, with the vines off the fence line, you are able to harvest the berries from both sides as each side should get an equal amount of light. Cane berries fruit only on the second year wood, so once you have finished harvesting the crop, you cut the fruiting canes off at the ground, otherwise, you’ll create a thick, thorny, unmanageable, vegetative mess. The new growth at the base of the plants is then attached to the trellis for next year’s crop. Runners will eventually escape and appear in the space between the bed and the fence. The shoots are controlled by hand pulling them or spraying them with a nonselective herbicide.
There are now two dwarf varieties: Raspberry Shortcakes, and Baby Cakes Blackberry, that give you a third option and it’s the option I prefer. They have a compact, upright growth habit, growing three to four feet, so they don’t require staking or trellising. I’d plant them in a raised bed and grow them as a fruiting hedge. The fruit is borne on the second year growth, so you still have to prune off the stems after harvesting. Raspberry Shortcakes and Baby Cakes Blackberry are ideal for individual containers. Joining strawberries and blueberries, they expand the homegrown fruit available to be grown on a deck, patio, or balcony. Fresh raspberries and blackberries are a now reality for all types of gardeners.

Q. We have a ten-year-old Photinia hedge that is approximately six-feet tall. Previously, some of the plants died. The leaves began to wilt, then they turned brown and finally, the whole plant died. They were replaced, and we thought the problem was corrected, but now it’s beginning again. What do we need to do to correct whatever is going on before we lose the whole hedge?

A. Photinias that wilt, turn brown and then die are suffering from root rot. Another tattle tail sign is that before the foliage wilts the leaf color fades. Instead of being a bright glossy green, it’s a dull, muted, greenish-yellow color. Excessive summer watering, especially following a wet winter, poor drainage, and plants that are planted too deep in the ground are the primary reasons for root rot. Similar problems occur with other ornamental shrubs like junipers, azaleas, ceanothus, and grevilleas, along with fruit trees such as cherries, apricots, peaches and others. Because of the age of the hedge, I’d suspect that excessive moisture is the reason for the decline. Established Photinia does not require constant moisture from frequent waterings. They’re waterwise, so once every ten days to two weeks depending on the temperatures, April through October is sufficient. To accomplish this, you may have to cap off the sprinklers around them and then hand water when necessary. By changing the watering pattern now, it may be many months before you see a noticeable change and then again you may not. You need to key on those plants that look healthy. With root rot, what’s going on under the ground is not always apparent above the ground until later.

Q. What can apply to eliminate clover in my lawn?

A. Ortho Weed-B-Gone and Bonide Weed Beater Ultra are two of several selective herbicides available that will remove clover and other broadleaf weeds without harming the grass. You could also apply a ‘Weed and Feed’ type turf product as it should control the clover along with many other broadleaf weeds. So, eliminating clover shouldn’t be that difficult. Another option is to leave the clover. A mix turf of grass and clover is not that undesirable. Clover doesn’t require much care, and it’s water-wise.

The condition known as Sciatica is one of the most common conditions that we treat at Align Healing Center. Some of the typical symptoms of Sciatica are sharp pain in the low back and/or buttocks accompanied by numbness, tingling, aching or burning down the back of the leg. In severe circumstances, weakness in the leg may also be seen.

The Sciatic Nerve is large and travels down the back of the leg to the foot. The nerve is buried deep within the muscles of the buttock and leg making it difficult to treat with common physical therapy methods. The Sciatic Nerve is composed of several smaller nerves and originates from the low back. It passes under the piriformis muscle (underneath the main buttock muscles) on its way down the leg. Irritation of the Sciatic Nerve at any point along its path is commonly known as “Sciatica.”

Understanding Sciatica
Let’s talk about nerves for a moment. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. They carry the signals that allow us to move, feel, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and so much more. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work the body will not work. That being said, it is important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal. Over time, neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called Neuropathy. The definition of neuropathy is a disease or injury affecting nerve cells. The common symptoms of Neuropathy include sharp pain, burning, muscular weakness, numbness or tingling either at the site of the nerve injury or wherever the nerve travels. The condition known, as Sciatica is a form of Neuropathy that specifically affects the Sciatic Nerve.

What can I do to relieve my Sciatica without drugs or surgery?
Since 1999 Align Healing Center has been offering many different modalities to heal Sciatica. We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offer outstanding results in healing stubborn Sciatica. Class IV Laser Therapy allows the practitioner to stimulate healing within the damaged tissue by delivering the necessary energy directly to the injured area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces pain and inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms and stiffness. In addition to laser therapy we implement spinal decompression to restore spinal disc health. Decompression works by gently stretching the spine, creating a vacuum effect, which can restore disc height and even reduce the severity of bulging disc conditions associated with chronic pain and neurological symptoms.

We have found laser and decompression therapy to be most beneficial for patients with pinched nerves, arthritis, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure. The treatment is finite and typically lasts for about a month. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic sciatica treatments. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine and nervous system you can be back to your healthy self quickly!

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA has been active in natural health & wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

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