Exciting news!  Dr. Mark Morningstar, chiropractic physician at the Natural Wellness & Pain Relief Centers of Grand Blanc and Richmond, has successfully completed NeuroScience’s  NEI Certification Program.  This means he has successfully mastered the tools and approaches to comprehensively and effectively treat many of the most common, yet complex health concerns. This benefits the patient by providing quicker and more effective health management – saving time and money.  He is among the first 100 providers nationwide to achieve this distinction.

“It is very exciting to receive this certification . The human body tends to function as a single entity. Therefore, it is important to evaluate people with a whole-body approach. NEI certification serves as an assurance to patients that the NEI-certified physician will evaluate and treat them with this perspective. The NEI certification training program has challenged me to better understand the tools available to address health through the evaluation of nervous system function. It allows me to comprehensively and effectively treat many of the most common, yet complex health concerns through innovative nervous system assessment and unique treatments. This has benefited many of my patients, by providing new and very efficient approaches to health concerns – saving my patients both time and money,” says Dr. Morningstar
For more information or to schedule an appointment to discuss your health concerns and the options available to you, please call one of Dr. Morningstar’s offices below.

810.694.3576  Grand Blanc

586.727.7500  Richmond

In a new study published in the European Spine Journal, researchers wanted to see if hormone deficiencies were a triggering event for adult degenerative scoliosis, a condition that commonly occurs in postmenopausal women. It is thought that menopausal hormone changes affect bone density, which sets off a cascade of events that leads to degenerative scoliosis.

In this latest study, women given hormone replacement therapy were less likely to develop one of the initiating factors in adult degenerative scoliosis, called lateral listhesis, a rotational displacement of a vertebra.

The occurrence of adult degenerative scoliosis is more common that scoliosis in juveniles or adolescents. Therefore, this research is very important in helping to possibly prevent adult-onset scoliosis in the first place.

One note we would like to add to this however. Bio-identical hormone replacement has far fewer risks involved than conventional hormone replacement therapy, which is made from pregnant horse urine. Synthetic hormone replacement carries with increased risk of certain female reproductive cancers. So please do your homework if you are interested in hormone replacement.

Women who are already developing degenerative scoliosis will likely want a combined treatment approach, one that includes bio-identical hormone replacement and a conservative exercise-based scoliosis therapy like ARC3D to help reverse the scoliosis.

Source: Eur Spine J. 2011 Oct 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Modern medicine has become nothing more than a convoluted maze of deductibles, copays, HMOs, and preauthorizations. What has been lost in our system of health care is the basic act of a doctor and patient sitting across from one another, with the patient explaining his or her problems in complete detail. However, in order for the doctor-patient relationship to develop in this manner, it can only be done outside of the current health insurance model. Why? Because insurance companies aren’t interested in getting people healthy. Rather, they are only looking to get people asymptomatic. They believe, despite the level of published evidence to show otherwise, that restricting patients’ access to medical care will lower costs.
Here is a perfect example of why our offices and doctors do not participate with insurances. Yesterday a goon from Blue Cross/Blue Shield walked into our Richmond office and proceeded to strong-arm our medical assistant, Callie. The goon basically attempted to railroad Callie by chastising her because the doctors send “too much” bloodwork to out-of-state specialty laboratories (you know, the ones that actually identify the origins of various diseases). She told Callie that BCBSM would sanction us if we kept referring to these specialty labs instead of those that BCBSM likes.

This is exactly what the public never sees. Even with an insurance company like BCBSM, where you can choose your doctor, you are not truly free to select the type of medical care you want.

Anyhow, Callie ultimately directed her to me, and I promptly spoke to this goon and told her that we don’t participate with BCBSM at all (for exactly this reason). Hence, sanctions cannot be administered, and BCBSM cannot tell us how to treat our patients.

WE CARE ABOUT OUR PATIENTS ONLY. WE DON’T CARE WHAT INSURANCE THEY HAVE, WHAT IT COVERS OR DOESN’T, OR WHAT THEIR DEDUCTIBLE IS. WE WANT TO HELP OUR PATIENTS RECOVER FROM THEIR ILLNESSES, AND NOT JUST “MANAGE” THEM. WHATEVER LABORATORY STUDIES WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE ORIGIN OF A PATIENT’S ILLNESS, WE WILL USE.

If you want to get better, come see us. If your insurance deductible and copay is your primary concern, then call BCBSM and get a referral to an office where they don’t really care about getting you better.

On September 24th, 2011, the Natural Wellness & Pain Relief Centers in Richmond will be hosting a Grand Opening!

The day’s events include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featured health workshops, and tons of free information and prizes.

As part of our community health awareness program, in partnership with the Michigan Health & Wellness Initiative, during the Grand Opening we will be offering FREE blood pressure checks, breathing tests, and FREE laboratory tests including intestinal flora, antioxidant status, 10-parameter urinalysis, and H. Pylori testing (a common cause of ulcers and autoimmune disorders).

We will be taking $15 donations, all of which will be given to a local charity.

Laboratory testing is on a first come, first served basis until test kits are gone.

Come and find out why the Natural Wellness & Pain Relief Center in Richmond is the most comprehensive integrative medicine clinic in Macomb County.

For more information, please call 586-727-7500.

Media contacts: Please call 810-694-3576 for interviews with Dr. Megan Strauchman, Medical Director.

We have a great blend of seminars coming up in May for our beloved patients, their families, friends and local communities. Of course, Dr. Strauchman will be speaking on her two most popular topics: Thyroid Care and Bio-Identical Hormones. However, we also have a couple of new seminars where we will be presenting some of the latest research and treatment strategies for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and idiopathic scoliosis.

Here is an outline of our upcoming seminars by clinic location:

Grand Blanc - All seminars begin promptly at 6:30pm.

Wed, May 11th -  Thyroid Care

Could you be suffering from hypothyroidism even though your labs are ‘normal?’ Find out which labs need to be ordered to get the most comprehensive approach toward total thyroid care. Are you aware that hypothyroidism may be caused by something completely separate from your thyroid?

Wed, May 18th – Bio-Identical Hormones

With all the mixed information in the media, how are we to know what’s correct? Dr. Strauchman provides very compelling information on the history, types, and effectiveness of bio-identical hormones (when correctly prescribed), and shares who may be behind the aggressive media campaign against them.

Wed, May 25th – Hypertension and High Cholesterol: An Insulin Problem?

The is the first time that Dr. Strauchman has given this presentation to the general public. Filled with new insights on the most successful strategies for naturally treating high cholesterol and high blood pressure, Dr. Strauchman will share her thoughts on one of the most ground-breaking theories behind these common disorders – insulin resistance. Learn how insulin resistance may be the reason your blood pressure medication is not controlling your blood pressure well, and why your LDL “bad” cholesterol just won’t come down with statin medications. You DON’T have to be diabetic to be suffering the effects of insulin resistance.

Richmond - Seminars start promptly at 6:00pm

Tues, May 3rd – Diabetes: Natural Alternatives for Rapid, Healthy Healing

Pre-Diabetes, Type II Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome are becoming epidemic problems in our fast-food, fast-paced society today. Rather than being relegated to giving yourself insulin forever, come and learn some of the most effective natural means of managing and reversing your diabetic symptoms. This seminar will discuss the benefits of banaba leaf, chromium, vanadium, and other natural nutrients that help your body properly manage your blood sugar levels.

Tues, May 10th – Sleep Away Your Chronic Pain With MUA

We know it sounds absurd, but it really is true. There is a revolutionary pain management procedure called MUA that can dramatically reduce your pain in only 3 days – and all while you’re asleep!

Come and learn how the MUA procedure can significantly decrease the pain associated with migraine headaches, bulging or herniated discs, degenerated discs, fibromyalgia, and recurrent pain following back surgery. The MUA procedure has helped thousands of patients across the country. Come and learn how MUA can give you the relief you’ve been waiting for. Just think…..in only 3 days, you could be golfing, running, playing with your kids, working, walking, and feeling great again! Click on the “Bulging or Herniated Discs” tab on our main website page to check out some introductory videos on the MUA procedure. You won’t be disappointed.

Tues, May 17th – Scoliosis and the TornadoSuit: The new era of scoliosis bracing

Developed by our own Dr. Mark Morningstar, the TornadoSuit is an activity suit designed to enhance the corrective benefits of exercise-based scoliosis therapies. This seminar will discuss the long-term importance of avoiding scoliosis surgery, and why parents from all over the country are bringing their children to us for the TornadoSuit. This truly is the next generation of American scoliosis bracing technology.