Hidden Treasure – Collin Bartoe, DC Student

Found on Life’s Campus

I recently discovered a hidden treasure on Life University’s campus. I was originally notified by a field doctor of the existence of this treasure, and the map was promptly laid out with a little help from some of the faculty doctors. I found the treasure in an unsuspecting location, and at first it seemed like an insignificant finding, until I learned the truth behind this historic and Chiropractic wonder. When I first saw it, hanging on a dark wall, hidden away in the student preparation lounge in the C-HOP, I didn’t realize what I was looking at. An average looking picture frame containing an unsuspecting official looking document that I had previously passed by, sat under, and even glanced at, but something I had never given a second thought.

After sitting down and reading this document, I began to realize that this was something beyond anything I have previously seen. It was, rather it IS a State Senate Resolution. A legal governmental document recognizing not only a physician for their work in healing and educating people, but a chiropractor! I did a little more asking around to clarify the true meaning of the document, and came to find out a few very interesting and unique things about it. Apparently, in 1989, when the resolution was accepted by the New Hampshire State Senate, no physician had ever been honored with a senate resolution, and to my knowledge, it still has yet to happen again! For those of us who are ignorant about the specific workings of senate politics, in order for a resolution to be passed like this, it has to be agreed upon by ALL of the members of the senate. The magnitude of this find, and the fact that it is located on Life University’s campus is astounding. This is a one of a kind piece of not only chiropractic history, but American history. An original document commending a chiropractor for their work both nationally and internationally is completely unheard of.

This document was written in commemoration of Dr. Carrick, a chiropractor who has utilized chiropractic care in combination with his extensive knowledge of human physiology and neurology, (functional neurology,) to help innumerable patients. Dr. Carrick has become a world-renowned chiropractor and educator, teaching hundreds of chiropractors, PT’s, and even MD’s about utilizing a drug-free and surgery-free approach to improving the function of the nervous system.  He was honored with this resolution for his extensive work in research, the publication of that research in indexed journals, and successfully treating patients around the globe. By utilizing his knowledge of how both subluxations and adjustments work on a physiological level, as well as focusing on research and publication of topics relating to chiropractic treatments, Dr. Carrick has created a global shift in how healthcare is being viewed. This is a change that all of us can help to progress.

As chiropractic continues to shift more toward proposing, completing, publishing, and utilizing research within our profession, we are able to transform the lives of more and more people. Most everyone in chiropractic agrees that our ultimate goal is to help sick people get well and/or to maintain or maximize the expression of health in those who are not sick. So if the principles of life in all places and in all things are based on growth and adaptation, should we as chiropractors not strive to adapt and grow? As Chiropractic was founded on a tripod principle, we must ensure that we continue to grow the profession in an even and balanced manner. If any one of the legs is over-developed or forsaken, the tripod will topple. The Art, Philosophy, and Science of chiropractic must be combined and nurtured together. So why are so few chiropractors contributing toward the research that validates the scientific proof of our work? This research isn’t just meant to validate our work, but to show HOW our adjustments work. As that body of knowledge increases, we not only become more sought after doctors, we find ever better ways that we can help our patients! Dr. Carrick himself noted in his lecture at Life University on March 7^th, 2011, that upon seeing the specificity and affect of chiropractic as performed in an empirical and directed manner, the medical (allopathic) community is shifting toward adopting what we do….because it is unlike anything that any other profession can do! Let’s appreciate the work of those who have gone before us; the achievements they have made, and then let us step up, assume our responsibility to make chiropractic the predominant health care system, and become contributors of our time and money to the production of chiropractic science research! For more information please contact neurodork@gmail.com.

Freshness Delivers – James Beuerlein, DC Student

New Student Run CSA brings premium produce to campus

For those who care for high-quality nutrition and sustainability, this is big, big news! Two Life students were recently recognized with an article in Atlanta Magazine for their work beginning a new Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative at Life University. A CSA is essentially a co-op between farmers and consumers, bypassing the middleman grocery chains in order to deliver the cheapest, freshest produce to the consumer and to promote and sustain small business practices for the farmer.

It works like this: The consumer pays a set, recurrent membership fee to the farmer in return for a consistent quantity of fresh, local, and seasonal produce each week. The farmer delivers identical baskets of produce to all consumers each week, based on what the farm is producing that season, so the exact produce received is constantly changing with the seasons.

What are the benefits to this system?

1. Freshness.     The produce delivered to each consumer is usually picked the day it is delivered or the day before.

2. Absolutely local.    All of the produce comes from one farm (or a co-op of farms) in the immediate vicinity of the CSA. This benefits small farms, creates a more sustainable relationship between producer and consumer, and reduces the environmental impact because the produce doesn’t have to be shipped across the country or globe! CSA’s usually imply a face-to-face relationship with the farmer. Often, members are invited out to see the farm and to be familiar with the farmer’s practices and methods. There are also health benefits from eating locally-grown produce, including greater nutrient concentration and reduced seasonal allergies.

3. Seasonal dietary variety.     The changing of the seasons places different demands on the body’s chemistry. Humans (as have all animals) have evolved to be nourished by different foods during different seasons. When people eat seasonally, they give their bodies the nutrients needed to maintain health in response to a changing environment (seasonal temperature, sun exposure, etc.). When consumers buy the same 15 items at the grocery store year-round, they compromise their bodies’ ability to adapt to the environment (i.e. feeding it summer-food in the winter).

4. Variety.     As part of a CSA, members will be receiving some produce that they may not normally eat – or perhaps have never tried. CSA communities are great about sharing recipes and increasing one’s appreciation for food, as well as expanding the palate. In addition, fresher food tastes better! The longer produce is “preserved” on the shelf, the more taste it loses.

5. Fewer shopping trips.     This system allows for far fewer trips to the grocery store, since each week’s shipment brings a new supply of produce for the week. Less standing in line and searching for needed items equates to less stress in one’s life.

Now let’s talk about the new CSA at Life. Life’s CSA is the brainchild of Peggy Kalis and her fellow enthusiast Noah Beaudry. Oddly enough, both were raised on farms in Canada, and so were raised with an appreciation for food and for the farmer. The CSA came about as a result of Peggy’s own search for a CSA. She met a local farmer, Neil Taylor of Split Cedar Farms, this past summer. In the fall, he called her and asked her if she would help start a new CSA that would go year-round. Peggy and Noah went out to visit his farm later that same day and got to see his dedication to his farm and the passion he has for organic produce and good food!

They struck up a deal and landed on the arrangement of $300 for 10 weekly deliveries during the quarter (corresponding with the 10 weeks of class). This buys members a delivery of 5-7 lbs of fresh-picked produce each week. Most CSA’s work on a “meet-up” system, where the members come to the farm at a certain time on a certain day and get the food directly from the farmer. Life’s system is a little different.

With the class and life schedule of each member varying greatly, creating a meeting time was impractical. This is where Noah’s genius came into play. He built a locker system in the Sports Health Science building. Mr. Taylor brings his produce on Friday, opens up the back of the lockers (similar to a community mailbox) and deposits identical baskets in each locker for the members. Then each member comes at their convenience and unlocks their personal compartment to get their produce.

Peggy and Noah have a vision of an expanded and completely autonomous CSA. As more and more members are added, Peggy would like to see cooking classes put on in the kitchen of the nutrition department on campus, giving members ideas on how to use their produce. The goal is for each member to deal directly with the farmer – rather than having to go through Peggy and Noah – so that the CSA can survive long after they graduate. Currently, members make checks out to Neil Taylor and give them to Peggy or Noah, who deliver them to Neil.

Currently, there are 26 members from the Life University community, with plenty of room for more. If you’re interested in joining, or simply want more information, email Noah Beaudry at nbeaudry@student.life.edu. Additionally, check out Neil Taylor’s farm online (as well as recipes for the produce that he grows) at both of the following websites: taylorganic.blogspot.com and http://www.localharvest.org/taylorganic-farm-dba-split-cedar-farm-7359.

Making Scents Of It – Kelly Milano, DC Student

Becoming a scent-free campus?

Recently a discussion came up on Life’s Facebook page, asking students, faculty and other ‘friends’ of LIFE if the University should adopt a ‘scent-free’ policy. What this would mean is that all scented oils, lotions, perfumes and colognes would be banned from campus.  From time to time this topic raises its head and demands attention, creating a fine balancing act between individual student rights and the rights of the community as a whole.  Many students feel it is their right to wear whatever fragrances they want, while others feel it is their right to not have to breathe the scented air. This same argument could go the other way, as well, with others that would rather a student smell of overwhelming perfume and flowers than smell like BO because of going the more ‘natural’ route.  People have their own ideas of what smells are good. For me, it’s chocolate, lilies and the ocean, but I don’t think anyone really wants to go around smelling like Hershey Kisses or sea salt all day long! And we each have our idea of what we don’t like. For me, I dislike patchouli, but I’ll never say you can’t wear it. It might be your chocolate!

While only a handful of people actually responded to the poll, the overall take was that people don’t want a scent free campus. 68% of those who responded answered with a “No,” while several said it was going too far. One response stated, “This is an absolute must. The minute you open your office and start treating headaches, you will see that scents are entirely incongruent with patient care. Many of these odors linger in the air, get on the adjusting table OR ON THE DOCTOR. This is a quality of care issue, people, to say nothing of the individual’s right not to have to smell you!” Another responded with, “Maybe the conversation should revolve around why the patient is so sensitive to smells and work on fixing that issue – that’s not normal.”

Other responses included, “I do believe it would be considerate to keep it to a minimum. On the other hand, it infringes on others’ right to their hygienic practices,” and, “I think all the environmental changes at school are great, but this would be going too far. I will keep wearing my perfume every day.”

While LIFE is not currently looking into creating a “scent-free policy” on this campus, there are several things each of us can do to be more considerate to others:

First, remember what we learned during anatomy and CNS classes; the olfactory nerves are highly adaptable and quickly become immune to smells.  When we use a specific perfume or cologne every day, our own senses become immune to it, requiring us to put on more just to have the same effect on our own senses that we are accostomed to.  Remember, not everyone thinks your perfume or body wash is as amazing as you think it is! Try to be courteous when applying your favorite fragrance.

Second, maintaining the overall quality of inside air and having good quality air purification systems are also beneficial. The overall air quality in buildings like ours is a constant issue that needs to be addressed.

Lastly, if someone is wearing a scent that is giving you a headache, making you sick or just irritating you, you can always move to another area in the room. It’s their right to wear their perfume and it’s your right to move to a different seat.

Life University states, “At this time LIFE is NOT adopting a scent-free campus, but we are always exploring ways to optimize the campus for the LIFE community!”  Continue this discussion on Facebook at Life University and also on our Facebook page at Vital Source. We’d love to hear from you!