In October every year, I call several very qualified chiropractors together to teach their techniques at a seminar titled “Practical Chiropractic”, held in Denver CO. The GPA® (Gravitational Pattern Alignment) was one of those techniques. Dr. Roger Smith demonstrated how to look at structure from head to toe. Dr. Carolyn Gochee is an SOT® (sacro occipital technic) methods doctor who demonstrated how the organs or viscera could be causing the postural misalignments. Dr. Bill Strempel is a specialist in neurological disorganization, and showed the class how to eliminate bunions. That’s right, not just help them, but eliminate them. Dr. Steve Ediss is an AK (Applied Kinesiology) doctor who showed the muscle tests that correlate to imbalances. Synergistically the doctors taught how the body operates as a whole, incorporating different skills and techniques. It all gets put together with the proper supplementation to provide revealing protocols to help heal the body.
Dr. Roger Smith (certified GPA) presented first. He related a story about an NFL player. The player had taken turtle force from the top of head down to the rest of the body... the player had also already gone through unsuccessful epidurals.
“From the force of impact, the focal point became the right SI joint that locked up from the trauma. This all happened 11 months prior to my getting the call.
The consequence of the trauma was a herniated L-5/SI disc. Using the GPA method, I went through the balance protocol. Skull and pelvis were balanced, patient was completely balanced - he was an incredible athlete.
However, on right leg extension, L-5 rotated almost A inch forward on the right, the SI joint was locked and the leg would not come up very high. On left leg extension, L-5 was stable, ROM was normal; all seemed typical for an athlete.
Once I adjusted the right SI joint and pelvis using a wedge and incorporating the GPA method, L-5 became stable, and the disc stabilized. The hope was that the disc would heal now that there was no tension on it. When I said this player was a heck of an athlete, it was very interesting that after going through the normal GPA routine, you would have said he was balanced and clear from a posture perspective. It was because of the mechanical part of the GPA method that doing active palpation presented this issue.
This verified a theory I’ve had for 22 years as a chiropractor - that a locked SI joint causes the L-5 to rotate anteriorly on the side of the locked SI joint in compensation. There is usually so much other stuff going on it is easy to miss, but because the annular fibers were torn in the disc, I was able to feel it and understand how it fit the theory.
I recommend nutritional supplementation individually, but find that most are in need of vagus nerve (and entire nervous system) support. The vagus nerve produces the anti-inflammatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine. I find that nutrients such as choline, phosphatidyl choline, and the newer cholines like alpha GPC choline and CDP choline (cytidine 5’-diphosphocholine) with high absorptive properties are highly effective support for the central nervous system.”
Dr. Carolyn Gochee reports that, “The GPA doctor’s ankle adjustment was very easy for me to master in one weekend and made a huge change to my practice. I demonstrated how manipulating the liver using SOT® (sacro occipital technic) Methods with CMRT® (treating the spine or vertebral visceral syndromes associated with viscerosomatic or somatovisceral reflexes) protocol will help correct a dropped shoulder. The organs or viscera can many times be causing the postural misalignments such that adjusting the vertebrae subluxation along with the soft tissue reflexes will nourish the organ. Also very helpful is manganese for the nutritional support, as manganese will help hold adjustments because of its effect on ligaments and soft tissue; manganese is necessary for the mucopolysaccharide component of connective tissue. Additionally, the supporting soft tissue structures can benefit from nutritional boosting with glucosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, green-lipped mussel and similar nutrients that serve to optimize joints and connective tissue structures needed for correct alignment.”
Dr. Bill Strempel, DC presents a bunion adjustment: “Check feet for bunions and equality of size of related joints. The enlargement of the joint (bunion) is due to the rotation of the 1 st metatarsal bone. The sesamoid bones add an extra level of height in the rotated metatarsal.
When the arch collapses, the first and second metatarsals roll into each other. There is nothing supporting the lateral side of the 1st toe and it rotates and bends at inappropriate angles, while the 2nd toe rotates and bends into the first toe. Adjust with aggressive de-rotation of the 1st metatarsal and some for the 2nd.
Using the two-handed contact for a dropped metatarsal, adjust and add a medial rotation to the first and lateral rotation to the second.
Check involved bones for intra-bone torque involvement and need for bone nutrition. I use a formula with veal bone meal and the essential vitamins and minerals that are involved in maintaining bone health. This includes calcium, phosphorus, manganese and vitamin D, which all play various key roles in
bone metabolism. Veal bone meal makes bioavailable the natural ratios of nutrients necessary for bone health.
Additionally, hydrolyzed (and therefore hypoallergenic) protein present in bovine protein powder provides the collagen peptides and amino acids that contribute to strengthening the body’s framework.”
Steve Ediss DC presents a heavy metal detox challenge:
“When challenging a patient for heavy metals, a previously strong Pec Major ClavicSteve Ediss, DC ular (PMC) wifi test weak when starting the test past the patient’s midline. Heavy metals tend to deposit in the brain, liver and/or kidneys most of the time. The patient can touch each of the three organ’s lymphatic reflexes while retesting the PMC. The organ(s) that strengthen are likely involved. Supplement recommendations for the involved organs are: choline precursors for the brain; glutathione for the liver; kidney glandular with supporting vitamins and minerals for the kidney; homeopathics (for mobilization of metals) combined with nutrients that bind and remove metals from the body, such as fish oil*.
Once the organ involvement and nutritional support has been established, place 3 drops of the metal homeopathic in the patient’s mouth, place the patient’s fingers on the lymphatic reflexes associated to the involved organs and then have the patient cross crawl at least 10 times on each side. Have the patient take the recommended supplements at the doctor’s recommended dosages and repeat the administration of metal homeopathic and cross crawl exercises at home. The process is complete when the patient no longer tests weak for heavy metals (usually about 1 month).”
*Fish oil is an excellent binder for metals, but caution patients not to use drugstore fish oil or oil that is not pharmaceutical grade or not molecularly distilled. Fish oil is such a good binder that unless there is a guarantee for the absence of toxins (such as molecular distillation), patients may be consuming more toxins than they are trying to remove. It is also important to protect the fish oil, as the thing that allows for increased cellular flexibility and function (the double bonds in the fish oil) is the very thing that allows vulnerability for free radical attack on those double bonds. Water soluble antioxidants such as vitamin C and lipid antioxidants, such as glutathione, alpha lipoic acid and Co-Q 10 will help prevent the free radical attack on the fish oil. Note that fish oil affects the flexibility of all cells and receptors, and as such affects osteoblastic function as well.
Dr. Lynn Toohey provides an editor’s note on the nutritional supplementation:
One of the nutrients mentioned was bovine collagen peptides and amino acids, which are present in hydrolyzed bovine cartilage and provide a rich source for Types I, II and III collagen fibers. This makes hydrolyzed protein powders from a bovine source excellent support for joints, skin, hair and nails. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue composed of mucopolysaccharides (including chondroitin sulfate), protein substances, calcium, sulfur, and collagen. Collagen is one of the proteins found in most connective tissues, including cartilage, bone, and skin. Vitamin C is of course one of the integral nutrients needed for the infrastructure of collagen.
Structural deterioration in biomechanically loaded musculoskeletal organs, e.g., joint dysfunction, osteoarthritis and back pain, are linked to the breakdown and changes in their collagen-rich cartilaginous tissue matrix. Osteoarthritis is commonly caused by the disintegration of the protective cartilage at the ends of the bones. A critical component that enables function of the biomechanical properties of cartilage is the ultrastructural collagen fibrillar network in cartilage. Scientists have studied that ultrastructure, and determined that the cartilage fibrils resist loading by a mechanism at the molecular level, and that inflammation reduces this functionality (Inamdar SR, et al. Reversible changes in the 3D collagen fibril architecture during cyclic loading of healthy and degraded cartilage. Acta Biomater. 2021 Dec; 136:314-326.) This is why it is important not only to provide collagen peptides and amino acid substrates for building connective tissue, but to reduce inflammation in order to increase functionality. Bovine derived protein powders can provide substrate, and natural substances can contribute to a non-inflammatory environment. There are many such natural substances, such as curcumin, boswellia, ginger, quercetin, etc. that support a non-inflammatory environment, and of course fish oil heads the list for quelching the offending prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes that are produced during the inflammatory process.
Speaking of fish oil, it is commonly named as support for an inflammatory environment, for the heart, for circulation, for joints, for the brain, etc. but fish oil is also excellent bone support! Fish oil has been reported to influence bone formation and osteoblastic cell functions (minimizing bone loss) in studies (Watkins BA, et al. Modulatory effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on osteoblast function and bone metabolism. Prostaglandins Lenkot Essent Fatty Acids. 2003 Jnn;68(6):387-98) and recent research indicates that maternal supplementation of fish oil “could have a favorable impact on fat mass and skeletal integrity in broiler offspring” (Tompkins YH, et al. The effects of maternal fish oil supplementation rich in n-3 PUFA on offspring-broiler growth performance, body composition and bone microstructure. PLoS One. 2022 Aug 16; 17(8):e0273025.)
Manganese helps the body hold adjustments, and as such is a major addition to the chiropractic nutritional protocol, yet its role in maintaining structural balance is frequently overlooked. In fact, back in March/April 1982, Cheryl Hawk, D.C. wrote an article titled “Manganese Deficiency & Its Role in Structural Balance” for The American Chiropractor.
Dr. Hawk noted that “when a hair analysis is performed on a patient with a chronic structural problem (usually in the lower back), the manganese level is invariably low. This fact alone, however, would not be significant since manganese deficiency is widespread in the general population and since the clinical significance of hair levels of manganese is presently unknown. What is significant is that, when these chronic patients are given manganese, they begin to hold adjustments and their symptoms decrease in frequency and severity.”
Choline, phosphatidylcholine and the “designer cholines”, such as alpha GPC (glycerylphosphoryl choline) and CDP choline (cytidine S’-diphosphocholine) can raise levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the body, the same neurotransmitter produced by the vagus nerve, thereby accentuating the effect of a chiropractic adjustment in that respect. The designer cholines are known for crossing the blood brain barrier and being highly absorbable and effective. CDP choline is also known for raising other neurotransmitter levels like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. CDP choline is believed to serve a proactive role in maintaining nerve health (Gandolfi S.A., et al. Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine (Citicoline): Evidence for a Neuroprotective Role in Glaucoma. Nutrients. 2020; 12:793.)
In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 261 patients, alpha GPC demonstrated excellent cognitive support and clinical usefulness (Moreno, M. ... treatment with the acetylcholine precursor alpha GPC: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Ther. 2003 Jan;25(l): 178-93.)
Studies have proven that glucosamine along with other necessary synergistic building blocks, can make a difference in the health of connective tissue. Providing a synergistic nutrient profile assures sufficient building blocks for complete repair and eliminates the need for high dosing. High dosing can cause mild side effects and can also raise blood sugar, an unwanted effect for most patients. Partial reasoning for the high dosing of glucosamine is because it is needed to produce N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), however if you include NAG in your regimen, it eliminates the need to take in a large amount in order to make NAG. NAG is needed for synthesis of the chondroitin proteoglycans (bigger building blocks). Chondroitin is another nutrient that acts synergistically with glucosamine and reduces the need for high dosing. Good natural sources include green lipped mussel and bovine trachea glandular. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis “confirmed that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is effective and superior to other treatments”, noting the potency of utilizing synergy to achieve optimal results (Meng Z, et al. Efficacy and safety o f the combination o f glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and metci-cinalysis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022 Jan 13.)
These are just some of the nutrients that support the joints, the bones and the chiropractic adjustments presented by these instructors of the Practical Chiropractic Seminar. It was my privilege to have witnessed the healing that took place when these speakers all came together to make improvements in the structure and function of participants in the class. Dr. Lynn Toohey
Dr. Lynn Toohey organizes seminars, acts as a nutritional consultant to Nutri-West (www.nutriwest. com) and authored the Functional Health Evaluation program that analyzes blood tests and DNA raw data (www.FHEcloud.com). Dr. Toohey can be reached at [email protected] with any questions.
