So why do many chiropractors neglect their technical development while investing time and money into listening to some self-made guru tell them that if they do what he did, then they will get as rich and popular as he is?

I believe the first and foremost reason is that we doubt that we can get better results by doing what we currently do better. I think that we assume that to get better results we need to do something different. There are a lot of internal and external influences devaluing the chiropractic adjustment and its therapeutic potential and we become easily distracted by programs and products that offer us a quick and easy alternative path to “success”.

The simplest way to fail is to be distracted from the most important priorities in your life – Stephen Covey describes it as climbing the ladder of success only to discover at the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. As Chiropractors we should be the happiest and most fulfilled when we are caring for our “patients” – and to achieve this requires that we have absolute faith, confidence and belief in our products, services and ideas (thank you James Parker for that truism).

The biggest priority for a Chiropractor is to be a great adjustor. You might think that it is more important to be a great communicator, but remember that an adjustment is “communication through touch” – your hands speak much louder than your mouth can. This leads to me to today’s question – when was the last time you attended a really good technique seminar? Here is my top 8 list of the attributes to look out for in an exceptional technique program:

1) What you learn can be applied to nearly every single practice member: I see a lot of programs claiming that they will show you how to fix the troublesome 5% of your practice. And then there are programs that will show you how to fix obscure and rarely seen conditions that another 5% suffer with. What about getting better results with the 90%? This will grow your practice exponentially instead of additively. Here’s how someone else put it: “I have found the TRT to be the first technique that I have found to be superior to what I have done in the last twenty seven years. I made the change slowly at first. I have seen intriguing and wonderful results with TRT. I now adjust about 90% of patients with TRT.”

2) You leave the program with the practical skills and clinical know-how to apply on Monday morning on your first practice member: I’ve left some technique shows with the feeling that they knew what they were doing, but had no idea how to train anyone else in how to do it. When it comes to technique, there is a big difference between lecturing and training. Here’s how one of our registrants put it: “Thank you for the generosity and knowledge/wisdom. Other courses promise you will be able to confidently apply the technique on Monday morning. Well I beat that and took my table over to family members on Sunday night. Miracles are happening in my practice and I feel as if I am honoring the body’s innate wisdom through the checking system and finally not over-treating. THANK YOU.”

3) You leave excited, inspired, challenged, stretched and enlarged: It’s great to get feedback like this: “Hi Nick, Great seminar – has renewed my faith in true chiropractic – was seriously considering de-registration from the profession so was very timely intervention!!! Many thanks for all your efforts Nick – It’s made a huge difference to the soul of this chiropractor!!!”

4) Lots of supervised hands-on coaching: I could charge a lot less for my seminar, get dozens more people attend, sell heaps more products and make a lot more money by doing this. But my intent is to see each participant “get it” not long after lunch on the second day of our program. I’ve left other programs where I’ve been hugely disappointed with the “hands-on” component of the training, and I just know that I am going to have to spend hours deciphering notes and experimenting with the application before it’s of any real use. As one of our past participants said “It was the best conference and technique seminar I have ever been to. It provided me with some very timely answers to a lot of questions that had been coming up for me in the last couple of years, especially about knowing that Chiropractic and being a Chiropractor is truly what I am here for, but being endlessly frustrated by it (me) just not working the best I knew it (I) could. That was until I learnt about primary subluxations and non-linear adjusting.”

5) It is “real” chiropractic: I know that there are lots of other treatment modalities out there – I even teach some. But you can never get too much of good chiroprac-tic teaching. The thing that continues to inspire and motivate me to keep teaching Torque Release Technique is just how congruent it is with chiropractic philosophy and history, while being completely scientific, contemporary and cutting-edge. That’s what I call balanced – isn’t that what chiropractic is about after all? I really relate to what someone else said: “TRT makes more sense than anything else I’ve learned in chiropractic. I want to learn more!”

6) Plenty of follow up and advanced training opportunities: Some treatment tours arrive in town and then vanish just as fast. Some technique programs expect you to attend the same program over and over. Over the last few years we have developed practice building resources, as well as DVD, online and hands-on advanced training which helps to take our practitioners to new levels of skill and confidence. This is the kind of feedback that feeds my soul: “Thank you Nick. You are always so informative and helpful. Your website is absolutely amazing! I use it all the time. I love your blogs and newsletters also. You have put together an awesome product list as well. As you know, I have ordered your DVD and a poster in the past and they are great. I also use your patient brochures which are SO wonderful. With your help I am able to make a very smooth transition from a pain practice to a wellness practice. We need you in the U.S.!!! HA!”

7) Has an ongoing research agenda: When I look into whether I am going to explore a new technique or method, I check the research first and foremost. It’s great to hear what other people think about it, but what measurements of efficacy have been made? If all I find in promotional materials is testimonials then I won’t be going! You can check out the impressive TRT research pedigree at http://www.torquerelease.com.au/TRT-Articles.htm

8) Excellent notes: I love leaving a seminar with more to read and the ability to review and expand on what I heard at the program. Many programs give you a Hotel note pad and some sales materials for the not-to-be-missed discounts. My seminar notes are usually so comprehensive that I’m starting to have trouble getting them bound at the printers. My wife tells me off for giving “too much information”, but my attitude is that you can never have too much information, for those that want it… Don’t believe me? Listen to someone else: “I spent the weekend reading, watching video, revamping my thinking – and today did as you wrote – I jettisoned by mechanistic habits and truly did tonal chiropractic. It was a rush! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the support materials you’ve put together!.. Thanks so much for all you’ve written! My brain feels ultra-oxygenated and for the first time in 6 years of practice, I really feel like I’ve got “the Big Idea”.”

I so hope that you can join me for this year’s Torque Release Technique Program in May in Melbourne: Go to www.torquerelease.com.au/Torque-Release-Discount.htm for an extra cheap rate…

TORQUE RELEASE TECHNIQUE is the first chiropractic system to be developed through a randomised, placebo controlled, scientific research project. With research published in Molecular Psychiatry, the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, JMPT, JVSR, Annals Vertebral Subluxation Research and featured on a documentary by the Discovery Health Channel: 2012 is your time to learn how to adjust with Quantum Science and a Neurological Art to match your Vitalistic Philosophy.

Learn how to differentially diagnose the primary subluxation at any moment in time:

We hear at seminars that “Chiropractic Works” but in our own rooms we all struggle with how to get the best results with each individual practice member: And this is not always as simple as we (and they) would like is it? Sometimes this hunger to help can send us to obscure seminars that offer us the secret to helping that 1 in 10 patients that just don’t respond. And this may help us to get slightly better results with some patients. We do have a tendency though to think that to get better results, we need to do something different - other than adjusting that is. But here’s a thought - maybe if we did what we do best, better, then we would get consistently better results! One conclusion I have drawn through my nearly twenty three years in practice - is that the most important thing I can do for a practice member that comes to my rooms for help, is to deliver the best possible adjustment that I can. Now here’s the challenge - the best adjustment is delivered where it needs to be, when it needs to be, in the manner in which it should be - and that requires a differential diagnosis to be able to make such a decision - few technique methodologies truly provide a way of delivering this. Ask yourself this - do you have absolute confidence that the next adjustment that you deliver, is going to be THE ONE that is most needed?

See the Integrator in action – the only three-dimensional adjusting instrument to reproduce what the hands were intended to do with true inter-professional reproducibility:

I’ll be honest - I was never a huge fan of instruments - after all Chiropractic means “done by hand”! And most of the instruments I have seen in action are poor second cousins to what the human hand can offer. That was until I saw the Integrator and its technical specifications. Now I repeatedly hear that an Integrator looks just like many other silver hammers - what the Australian Doctor called “sticks that click”. But “looks like” does not mean “works like”. A chiropractic adjustment is three dimensional in correctional vectors, but all instruments I have seen are two dimensional. The Integrator delivers a super fast impulse, with or without torque, plus recoil, at the exact tonal hertz frequency required to adjust a subluxation, and with a pre-loading mechanism (you don’t fire it, it fires at a pre-determined pressure). In short the Integrator is the only adjusting instrument I have seen that surpasses the specifications of an adjustment by hand.

Experience how to tap into the mesolimbic system with every adjustment to deliver significant state of wellbeing changes:

This is the “final frontier” for chiropractic research, chiropractic science and chiropractic practice: We talk about the power and wonder of the central nervous system, and then regress into showing pictures of squashed spinal nerves in distorted intervertebral foramina. People are not that silly, the scientific and medical community is certainly not that simple, and I’m not sure why we persist with being this immature. The magic of the nervous system is happening deeper than this - at least at the dorsal horns, and all the way up into the mesolimbic system: And the magic of a chiropractic adjustment happens in the depths of the central nervous system and we are rapidly developing the art and science that maximises this effect.

Please come and join us for an intense weekend of philosophy, science and art that will truly expand your horizons, potential and outcomes…

This year’s only opportunity to participate in a Torque Release Technique Seminar and Hands-On Workshop is on Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20 in Melbourne. Go to http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Torque-Release-Discount.htm for a great discount offer to register early.

But then occasionally you will hear mention of DD and BJ stating that chiropractic would empty the prisons. And interesting research findings come out suggesting that Chiropractic changes the function of the brain. And then someone publishes research showing that chiropractic adjustments, delivered properly, improve the recovery process of people gripped in a lifestyle of addiction! For most chiropractors these concepts exist outside the walls of the daily scope of practice. And let’s be really honest – we might secretly prefer that they stay there: We feel a bit safer at the thought that certain segments of the population are behind bars as we sleep. The medical profession holds a therapeutic monopoly on the growing demographic of people with disorders of “the mind”. And the thought of drug addicts sitting on our waiting room chairs can create a sense of dis-ease in our own nervous system.

But contemplate this claim – treatment of the mind without care of the spinal cord is less effective – perhaps even ineffective! Consider this – our jails are close to full – they don’t have any problem with client retention and reactivation. The pharmaceutical industry is enjoying unfathomable cash flow due to prescriptions of psychoactive drugs – it’s rare for these people to discontinue care. And our addiction rehabilitation industry is failing – spectacularly – after all dissatisfied customers drop out of care! And one of the possible reasons for these failures is the passive and at times active exclusion of chiropractic care from the therapeutic mix.

According to a new study published in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research entitled “Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care in the Management of Cocaine Addiction: A Case Report”, although subluxation based chiropractic care is not the main course of treatment for addiction, it is postulated that improvement of spinal neural integrity and neural dopaminergic pathway efficiency through chiropractic adjustments may contribute to improved homeostasis, Brain Reward Cascade and Reward Deficiency Syndrome thus allowing the body to express a greater state of well-being and human potential as an outcome.

But if you think this research only applies to a small demographic of the community that some of us don’t want anything to do with – then you may be missing the point of Chiroprac-tic. This research is to do with state of wellbeing and quality of life: Something that everyone needs.

And so outcomes such as increased addiction treatment retention rates and decreases in relapse are postulated after combining non-linear tonal chiropractic care with standard addiction treatment and behaviour modification. Previous randomised, placebo controlled research had measured the positive outcomes when subluxation based chiropractic care was added to the standard rehabilitation mix. This new case study adds a qualitative point of view to this past quantitative proof.

According to Drs Jay Holder and Brandon Shriner, the purpose of chiropractic is to optimize human potential and state of well-being. This objective is primarily realized by the successful adjustment of vertebral subluxation allowing the brain and spinal cord to effectively communicate to the rest of the body creating improved overall nervous system function.

And if you are wondering why I included three seemingly unrelated disorders – crime, depression and addiction – in one sentence, then this case study may help you to comprehend that they are completely interconnected disorders living along a continuum of severity from brain dis-ease to brain disease.

In the study a 63 year old white male presented at the Exodus Treatment Center with a 50 year history of poly substance abuse. He was court ordered to Exodus Treatment Center after a felony conviction for cocaine, violation of probation and eleven failed traditional addiction treatment programs. Cocaine addiction started at age 21 with previous use of alcohol, cannabis, and amphetamines as early as age ten. He had multiple felony convictions and incarcerations for many violations including sales and possession of cocaine and other illicit drugs.

The patient was not reaching therapy goals and performing poorly in standard rehabilitation. Results indicated that traditional addiction treatment was failing to improve cognitive function and or increase the P300 EEG wave amplitude. This was reported to the court. The judge then required the patient to remain in Phase One of treatment and complete a neurophysiologic re-evaluation to develop a more aggressive and comprehensive treatment plan. Therefore, Torque Release Chiropractic (TRT) was added to the treatment plan for an additional eight months to improve addiction treatment outcomes, neurological and behavioural function and to make the care more comprehensive.

After introducing TRT into the residential addiction treatment program milieu, considerable improvement in the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) scores occurred. Data revealed a continual decrease in both depression and anxiety scores. Patient P300 wave potentials at initial phase of care had showed steady decrease in cognition, attention, cognitive function, and decision making ability. (P300 amplitude in drug-dependent patients is influenced by a complex interaction between CNS pathology that predates and promotes the onset of drug dependence and CNS pathology that should resolve during the process of recovery from drug dependence.) Amazingly the P300 findings started to improve progressively and dramatically once TRT was included.

Comparable thermal and EMG scans were taken at the onset of TRT and new scans were retaken every 30 days. Post EMG amplitude and asymmetry scans show improvement in overall asymmetry and severity of paraspinal muscle activity. Post thermal scans show not only a decrease in overall absolute temperature but side to side differentials as well.

The paper concludes that after approximately eight months of Torque Release Technique at the Exodus Addiction Treatment Center, while being co-managed with traditional drug addiction treatment professionals in a residential setting, the patient had seen improvement in health and vitality as revealed with P300 wave results, Thermal/EMG scans, and ASI scores. The patient is currently living on his own in a 3/4 way house and has been free from cocaine addiction for over two years. The patient has chosen to continue chiropractic care.

To find out about being trained in Torque Release Technique go to http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Torque-Release-Discount.htm

Chiropractors face a unique opportunity to be part of the solution if they are ready to embrace and promote the true benefits of a chiropractic adjustment - that is improved state of wellbeing.

Sure we may be good at musculoskeletal pain management, but the big picture is optimised human potential: In terms of addiction recovery this translates to improved retention and better results.

Now back to the claim that addiction is the leading cause of death? Most stats quote heart disease and stroke as being the number one and three leading causes of death - BUT, the leading risk factor for vascular disease is obesity - AND, obesity is an addiction based illness! Coming in at number four is lower respiratory diseases - BUT, the leading cause of lung disease is smoking - AND, smoking is an addiction based illness! Coming in at number five are injuries - BUT, alcohol and drugs have been linked to 50% of traffic fatalities - AND so addiction is a contributor to this cause of death. And just to add to this picture: Alcohol and drug use have been associated with 30% of suicides, 49% of murders, 69% of drownings. Based on these figures addiction is a major contributing factor to roughly 40% of all deaths.

Genetic studies have revealed that 20-30% of the population has the genetic predisposition to addictive and compulsive disorders. This cuts accross every culture, every sociodemographic group and both genders. What I am saying is that if you think that you don’t want to deal with addicts - then you are probably in denial yourself, because you already are - they are already in your practice! They are usually very clever at concealing their behaviour.

You need to listen to this recent presentation by Dr Jay Holder, during his recent Australian tour to get your head around this problem: Click on this link to download the mp3: http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Chiropractic-Addictions-4.mp3 (or to save to your computer right click and select “save as…”)

To find out how to become part of the solution click on this link:

First let’s summarise the most recent findings:

1) Satisfaction in a wellness clinic: This study involved feedback from health professionals being given access to wellness services including Auriculotherapy once a week in the workplace. Most participants agreed or strongly agreed they felt more relaxed after sessions (97.9%), less stress (94.5%), more energy (84.3%), and less pain (78.8%). Ninety-seven percent (97%) would recommend it to a co-worker. Among surveys completed after five or more visits, more than half (59%-85%) strongly agreed experiencing increased compassion with patients, better sleep, improved mood, and more ease in relations with co-workers. Perceived benefits were sustained and enhanced by number of visits.

2) Effects on autonomic function in healthy individuals: The results of this study using non-invasive assessment methods showed a significant decrease in heart rate, a significant increase in heart rate variability total, and marked (but statistically insignificant) decrease in pulse wave velocity. This translates to signs of decreased stress physiology internally.

3) Chronic low back pain: This pilot study found that Auriculotherapy was safe and demonstrated additional clinical benefits when combined with exercise for people with chronic low back pain. This supports my own observation that the best treatment for low back pain is a combination of passive and active treatment.

4) Effect on inflammatory reactions: This study using animals showed that Auriculotherapy can increase serum Tumour Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-6, and down-regulate pulmonary NF-kappa B p 65 expression suggesting a cholinergic anti-inflammatory mechanism. This suggests a neurological pathway for antiinflammatory effects of Auriculotherapy which makes sense since Auriculotherapy is a neurological intervention!

5) Treatment of migraine attacks: This study compared using a reflex point well documented to relieve migraine (group A) versus a point unlikely to have a therapeutic effect (group B). During treatment, there was a highly significant trend in the reduction of symptoms in group A, whereas no significance was observed in group B. Symptoms were significantly lower in group A than in group B at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after treatment. This study suggests that the therapeutic specificity of auricular points exists and is linked to the somatotopic representation of our body on the ear.

6) Analgesia and sedative effects during abdominal gynecological operation and effects on postoperative recovery of body function: This showed sedative, analgesic and function-regulating effects from Auriculotherapy. Anxiety was less, lower-doses of anaesthesia were required, breathing response was improved after the operation, and higher levels of serum beta-endorphin were found when Auriculotherapy was added. Anything that potentially improves surgical outcomes sounds like a really good thing to me!

7) Improving postural stability: Balance performance was measured on a force platform before and after Auriculotherapy. Main balance parameters pointed to an average short-term improvement of about 15% 1 hour after treatment and 5-10% after an interval of 3 days. However, a few participants showed a better than 30% improvement with the same parameters. The explanation tentatively put forward to account for the results was that Auriculotherapy reduces nociceptive interference and thus improves postural control.

Treating headache, trigeminal neuralgia and retro-auricular pain in facial palsy: In this study Auriculotherapy treatment showed pain alleviation in headache, trigeminal neuralgia, and retro-auricular pain levels. The researchers noted that treatment number should be no less than 10 sessions.

9) Preoperative anxiety treatment: Preoperative anxiety has become more frequent in preoperative patients and can bring negative impact on operation outcomes. The study concluded that Auriculotherapy was significantly effective in decreasing anxiety in preoperative patients.

Sounds like some good reasons to check out Auriculotherapy training to me… Go to http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Auriculotherapy-Discount.htm to find out more…

Now for the abstracts:

1) Employee use and perceived benefit of a complementary and alternative medicine wellness clinic at a major military hospital: evaluation of a pilot program.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):809-15. 2011 Aug 11. Duncan AD, Liechty JM, Miller C, Chinoy G, Ricciardi R.

Abstract Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the feasibility of a weekly on-site complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) wellness clinic for staff at a military hospital, and to describe employees’ perceptions of program effectiveness. Setting: The study setting was the Restore & Renew Wellness Clinic at a United States Department of Defense hospital. Subjects: The subjects were hospital nurses, physicians, clinicians, support staff, and administrators. Interventions: The walk-in wellness clinic was open 8:00am – 2:00pm 1 day a week. Participants selected one or more modalities each visit: ear acupuncture, clinical acupressure, and Zero Balancing. Outcome measures: A self-report survey was done after each clinic visit to evaluate clinic features and perceived impact on stress-related symptoms, compassion for patients, sleep, and workplace or personal relationships. Results: Surveys completed after first-time and repeat visits (n=2,756 surveys) indicated that most participants agreed or strongly agreed they felt more relaxed after sessions (97.9%), less stress (94.5%), more energy (84.3%), and less pain (78.8%). Ninety-seven percent (97%) would recommend it to a co-worker. Among surveys completed after five or more visits, more than half (59%-85%) strongly agreed experiencing increased compassion with patients, better sleep, improved mood, and more ease in relations with co-workers. Perceived benefits were sustained and enhanced by number of visits. The most frequently reported health habit changes were related to exercise, stress reduction, diet/nutrition, and weight loss. Conclusions: This evaluation suggests that a hospital-based wellness clinic based on CAM principles and modalities is feasible, well-utilized, and perceived by most participants to have positive health benefits related to stress reduction at work, improved mood and sleep, and lifestyle.

2) Brain-modulated effects of auricular acupressure on the regulation of autonomic function in healthy volunteers.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011 Aug 29. Gao XY, Wang L, Gaischek I, Michenthaler Y, Zhu B, Litscher G.

Auricular acupuncture has been described in ancient China as well as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. At the end of the 1950s, ear acupuncture was further developed by the French physician Dr. Paul Nogier. The goal of this study was to develop a new system for ear acupressure (vibration stimulation) and to perform pilot investigations on the possible acute effects of vibration and manual ear acupressure on heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and the augmentation index (AIx) using new noninvasive recording methods. Investigations were performed in 14 healthy volunteers (mean age ± SD: 26.3 ± 4.3 years; 9 females, 5 males) before, during, and after acupressure vibration and manual acupressure stimulation at the “heart” auricular acupuncture point. The results showed a significant decrease in HR (P ≤ 0.001) and a significant increase in HRV total (P = 0.008) after manual ear acupressure. The PWV decreased markedly (yet insignificantly) whereas the AIx increased immediately after both methods of stimulation. The increase in the low-frequency band of HRV was mainly based on the intensification of the related mechanism of blood pressure regulation (10-s-rhythm). Further studies in Beijing using animal models and investigations in Graz using human subjects are already in progress.

3) Exercise and Auricular Acupuncture for Chronic Low-back Pain: A Feasibility Randomized-controlled Trial.

Clin J Pain. 2011 Jul 12. Hunter RF, McDonough SM, Bradbury I, Liddle SD, Walsh DM, Dhamija S, Glasgow P, Gormley G, McCann SM, Park J, Hurley DA, Delitto A, Baxter GD.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effects of adding auricular acupuncture (AA) to exercise for participants with chronic low-back pain (CLBP).

METHODS: Participants with CLBP were recruited from primary care and a university population and were randomly allocated (n=51) to 1 of 2 groups: (1) “Exercise Alone (E)”-12-week program consisting of 6 weeks of supervised exercise followed by 6 weeks unsupervised exercise (n=27); or (2) “Exercise and AA (EAA)”-12-week exercise program and AA (n=24). Outcome measures were recorded at baseline, week 8, week 13, and 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire.

RESULTS: Participants in the EAA group demonstrated a greater mean improvement of 10.7% points (95% confidence interval, -15.3,-5.7) (effect size=1.20) in the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire at 6 months compared with 6.7% points (95% confidence interval, -11.4,-1.9) in the E group (effect size=0.58). There was also a trend towards a greater mean improvement in quality of life, LBP intensity and bothersomeness, and fear-avoidance beliefs in the EAA group. The dropout rate for this trial was lower than anticipated (15% at 6 mo), adherence with exercise was similar (72% E; 65% EAA). Adverse effects for AA ranged from 1% to 14% of participants.

DISCUSSION: Findings of this study showed that a main RCT is feasible and that 56 participants per group would need to be recruited, using multiple recruitment approaches. AA was safe and demonstrated additional benefits when combined with exercise for people with CLBP, which requires confirmation in a fully powered RCT.

4) Effect of electroacupuncture of auricular concha on inflammatory reaction in endotoxaemia rats.

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2011 Jun;36(3):187-92. Zhao YX, He W, Gao XY, Rong PJ, Zhu B.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of the auricular concha (EA-AC) on serum cytokines contents and pulmonary transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced endotoxaemia rats so as to study its mechanism underlying cholinergic anti-inflammatory efficacy.

METHODS: Male SD rats were randomized into normal control, model (LPS), simple EA-AC, EA-AC + LPS, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) + LPS, and EA-Zusanli (ST 36) + LPS groups (n = 12/group). Endotoxaemia model was duplicated by intravenous (tail vein) injection of LPS (0.5 mL/kg). Two intradermal needles were inserted into the central sites of the cavity of concha and cymba of auricular concha respectively on each side and stimulated electrically by using an electrical stimulator (i.e, EA-AC). VNS was applied to the left cervical vagal nerve, and EA (1 mA, 10 Hz, pulse-width 1 ms) was also applied to bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36). Serum cytokines (TNF-alpha IL-6) contents 2 h after modeling were determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and pulmonary NF-kappaB p 65 expression 2 h after modeling was detected by using western blotting.

RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 contents, and pulmonary NF-kappaB p65 expression level in the model group were increased significantly (P < 0.01). In comparison with the model group, serum TNF-alpha contents in the simple EA-AC, EA-AC + LPS, VNS+ LPS and ST 36 + LPS groups, and serum IL-6 contents and pulmonary NF-kappaB p 65 expression levels in the simple EA-AC, EA-AC + LPS and VNS + LPS groups were down-regulated considerably (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the VNS + LPS group, serum TNF-alpha -28) and IL-6 contents, and pulmonary NF-kappaB p 65 expression level in the ST 36 + LPS group were increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In comparison with the EA-AC + LPS group, pulmonary NF-kappaB p 65 expression level in the ST 36 + creased remarkably (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Both EA of auricular concha and vagus nerve stimulation can increase serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 contents, and down-regulate pulmonary NF-kappaB p 65 expression level in endotoxaemia similar cholinergic anti-inflammatory mechanism between them.

5) Ear acupuncture in the treatment of migraine attacks: a randomized trial on the efficacy of appropriate versus inappropriate acupoints.

Neurol Sci. 2011 May;32 Suppl 1:S173-5. Allais G, Romoli M, Rolando S, Airola G, Castagnoli Gabellari I, Allais R, Benedetto C.

Ear acupuncture can be a useful mean for controlling migraine pain. It has been shown that a technique called the Needle Contact Test (NCT) can identify the most efficacious ear acupoints for reducing current migraine pain through just a few seconds of needle contact. The majority of the points were located on the antero-internal part of the antitragus (area M) on the same side of pain. The aim of this study was to verify the therapeutic value of area M and to compare it with an area of the ear (representation of the sciatic nerve, area S) which probably does not have a therapeutic effect on migraine attacks. We studied 94 females suffering from migraine without aura, diagnosed according to the ICHD-II criteria, during the attack. They were randomly subdivided into two groups: in group A, tender points located in area M, positive to NCT were inserted; in group B, the unsuitable area (S) was treated. Changes in pain intensity were measured using a VAS scale at various times of the study. During treatment, there was a highly significant trend in the reduction of the VAS value in group A (Anova for repeated measures: p < 0.001), whereas no significance was observed in group B. VAS values were significantly lower in group A than in group B at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after needle insertion. This study suggests that the therapeutic specificity of auricular points exists and is linked to the somatotopic representation of our body on the ear.

6) Effects of magnetic auricular point-sticking on adjuvant anesthesia and postoperative recovery of body function.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Apr;31(4):349-52. Li WS, Cui SS, Li WY, Zhao WX, Wanlai SQ.

OBJECTIVE: To prove analgesia and sedative effect of adjuvant anesthesia with magnetic auricular point-sticking on abdominal gynecological operation and its effect on postoperative recovery of body function.

METHODS: Ninety-two patients with abdominal gynecological operation were randomly divided into 3 groups. The auricular point-sticking group (APS group, n=31) was pasted and pressed by plasters with magnetic beads at bilateral Shenmen, Pizhixia (subcortex), Zigong (uterus) and Penqiang (pelvic cavity), etc. the night before operation. The placebo group (n=31) was pasted by plasters without magnetic beads. The blank group (n=30) was given no intervention. The mental and gastrointestinal functional changes before and 3 days after the operation were observed.

RESULTS: As compared with those in the control group and the blank group, the postoperative score of Self rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was less (25.5 +/- 0.81 vs. 28.9 +/- 3.19, 28.3 +/- 2.36, both P < 0.01), with lower-dose of Innovar [(2.5 + 1.1) mL vs. (3.4 + 1.8) mL, (3.2 + 1.6) mL, both P < 0.05], earlier exsufflation after the operation [(34.2 + 12.1) h vs. (46.3 + 10.9) h, (43.2 + 14.8) h, both P < 0.01] and higher level serum of beta-endorphin before and after the operation in the APS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The magnetic auricular point-sticking has sedative, analgesic and function-regulating effects on the abdominal gynecological operation.

7) Laser acupuncture and auriculotherapy in postural instability – a preliminary report.

J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2011 Mar;4(1):69-74. Bergamaschi M, Ferrari G, Gallamini M, Scoppa F.

The risk of falling is rather high among elderly people. Indexes obtained through the Romberg stabilometric test on a force platform have been suggested to be correlated with the risk of falling. This work aimed to test the effectiveness of auriculopuncture and ultralow-power laserpuncture versus placebo (sham stimulation) in improving postural control in an elderly population. Balance performance was measured on a force platform before and after both forms of stimulation. Main balance parameters pointed to an average short-term improvement of about 15% 1 hour after treatment and 5-10% after an interval of 3 days. However, a few participants showed a better than 30% improvement with the same parameters. Although the sample size does not allow reliable statistical analysis, the modifications are remarkable and some differences are observed between the two kinds of stimulation. Further testing with larger sized groups and including one further group using both stimulations is suggested. Although postural instability has to be defined as multi-factorial, it is often associated with balance dysfunctions that cannot be related to vestibular or central impairments but rather to proprioceptive deficits. A significant role may be ascribed to (even subliminal) nociceptive interferences with proprioceptive inputs and to a reduced capacity for updating cortical motor control models in the case of progressively declining locomotor capabilities. The explanation tentatively put forward to account for the results observed in the present preliminary study is that laser acupuncture and auriculopuncture stimulations reduce nociceptive interference and thus improve postural control.

A clinical pilot study comparing traditional acupuncture to combined acupuncture for treating headache, trigeminal neuralgia and retro-auricular pain in facial palsy.

J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2011 Mar;4(1):29-43. Ahn CB, Lee SJ, Lee JC, Fossion JP, Sant’Ana A.

Traditional acupuncture (TA) and ear acupuncture (EA) are used for treatment of headache, trigeminal neuralgia, and retro-auricular pain. The purpose of this study is to develop effective treatment using combined acupuncture (CA) which consists of TA and EA and to set clinical protocols for future trials. Participants were divided into TA (n = 15) control and CA (n = 34) experimental groups. Obligatory points among Korean Five Element Acupuncture and optional individual points along with symptom points were used in the TA group. The CA group was exposed to ear points of Fossion and TA. Acupuncture treatment consisted of six mandatory sessions per patient over 3 weeks and extended to 12 sessions. Pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale. We compared TA to CA and researched their relevant publications. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (p = 0.968) which showed pain-alleviating tendency. Pain alleviation was significantly different after the fifth and sixth sessions (p = 0.021, p = 0.025), with headache being the most significantly relieved (F = 4.399, p = 0.018) among the diseases. When assessing pain intensity, both the Headache Impact Test and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale should be adopted for headache and the fractal electroencephalography method be used in pain diseases. In the future, studies should consist of TA, EA, and CA groups; each group having 20 patients. Treatment number should to be no less than 10 sessions. Korean Five Element Acupuncture should be a compulsory inclusion along with individual points being optional inclusion in TA. EA could be selected from Nogier, Fossion and so forth. In conclusion, acupuncture treatment, whether TA or CA, showed pain alleviation in headache, trigeminal neuralgia, and retro-auricular pain, but no significant difference was seen between groups. Prospective, well-controlled, and relevant protocols using multimodal strategies to define the role of TA, EA, and CA are needed.

9) Comparing the treatment effectiveness of body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture in preoperative anxiety treatment.

J Res Med Sci. 2011 Jan;16(1):39-42. Wu S, Liang J, Zhu X, Liu X, Miao D.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative anxiety has become more frequent in preoperative patients and can bring negative impact on operation outcomes. Many studies have reported the effect of body acupuncture in reducing anxiety syndromes. The aim of this study is to compare the treatment effect of body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture in preoperative patients with preoperative anxiety.

METHODS: Thirty five elective ambulatory surgery patients were selected in the randomized and blinded trial. Subjects were randomly categorized in two intervention groups, the body acupuncture group who received acupuncture in the special points of body, and the auricular acupuncture group who received ear acupuncture. Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used before and after the study.

RESULTS: For the auricular acupuncture group, the mean score of SAS was 57.57 ± 8.22 before the intervention and 46.32 ± 6.37 afterward. For the body acupuncture group, the SAS score was 55.39 ± 5.41 and 44.82 ± 6.76 before and after the intervention, respectively. For both groups, the difference between pre- and post-treatment scores reached the significant level (p = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS: Both auricular and body acupuncture treatment methods were effective in decreasing anxiety in preoperative patients.

Sounds like some good reasons to check out Auriculotherapy training to me… Go to http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Auriculotherapy-Discount.htm to find out more…

If you have any desire or interest whatsoever in improving the mental health and brain function of your community then you must listen to this audio recording. Drs Pat Gentempo, Chris Kent and Jay Holder discuss the issues of chiropractic and how it can change the way people are feeling about themselves and improve their state of wellbeing…

Even if you think that Chiropractic is primarily about pain, then consider this - emotional pain is far more ongoing, crippling and debilitating than physical pain - and chiropractic could be one of the best kept secrets in reducing emotional pain…

Click on the link to download the audio MP3 file (or right click and choose “save target as…” to save to your computer - 30MB - so will take some time depending on your connection bandwidth)… www.torquerelease.com.au/Chiropractic-And-Mental-Health.mp3

The interview lasts an hour so I suggest you set aside some dedicated time and prepare yourself for a mind expanding experience!

Jay Holder will be teaching in Melbourne in August - to find out more and take advantage of a big online registration saving go to this link: http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Jay-Holder-Discount.htm

1. Chiropractors were able to use the methods taught to effectively determine the primary subluxation and how to best adjust it in 80-90% of their practice immediately upon returning to their office.
2. When asked if TRT had been useful in practice a 9/10 rating was achieved.
3. When asked if TRT had improved their confidence in practice a 8.5/10 rating was achieved.
4. When asked if TRT had increased their belief in chiropractic a 9.1/10 rating was achieved.
5. When asked if TRT had made them a better chiropractor a 8.8/10 rating was achieved.
6. When asked if TRT had improved their clinical skills a 8.8/10 rating was achieved.

This means that what is learnt at the program is immediately useful. We’ve all been to great sounding programs that when the rubber hits the road on Monday morning and you want to offer something better with your new skills, to be honest, they turn out to be too time consuming, or too fiddly, or are only useful for a small percentage of our practice members. It’s nice to know that TRT is easy to implement and relevant to the needs of nearly every practice member.

And don’t underestimate the power of becoming a better clinician and technician when it comes to adjusting. I think sometimes we get sidetracked looking for new ancillary procedures to somehow improve our clinical outcomes - when the real truth is that we can all hone and upgrade our adjusting skills - and as a result become better Chiropractors.

After running seminar programs for 15 years, I have noticed that Chiropractors are more likely to attend a motivational, practice management seminar than they are to attend a technique program - and I believe this is partly due to this perception of spending hours in a technique class to learn something that you will never use. It’s nice to learn that there is a technique program that delivers measurable benefits immediately upon returning to practice. Sounds like a worthwhile investment with great returns to me.

But you are probably sick of hearing this from me so here is what some of the participants had to say:

• “Great Seminar - Taught really well. Since finishing Uni, have lacked in confidence - But this technique has allowed me to be more sure of what I’m doing. Thanks!” Chloe Whiting, Australia
• “This is a great foundation chiropractic technique. It is simple to implement and improves my efficiency at finding and adjusting subluxations. It is an enjoyable seminar.” Penelope Seuren, Australia
• “Amazingly good seminar with excellent research based outcomes. Combines neurology and technique as an excellent presentation. I have been to many seminars but these CPD points are my most valuable!” Matthew Bailey, Australia
• “TRT makes more sense than anything else I’ve learned in chiropractic. I want to learn more!” David Schaller, Australia
• “It’s great. Surprised, Amazed! Thanks Nick for teaching me TRT.” Yi Ping Gu, Australia
• “TRT is a very elegant technique which reflect its origins in the triad of the Art, Science and Philosophy of Chiropractic. I look forward to exploring it further.” Anda McMillan, Australia
• “Thank you for the generosity and knowledge/wisdom. Other courses promise you will be able to confidently apply the technique on Monday morning. Well I beat that and took my table over to family members on Sunday night. Miracles are happening in my practice and I feel as if I am honoring the body’s innate wisdom through the checking system and finally not over-treating. THANK YOU. :-)” Clare McCardel, Australia
• “Thank you so much for the seminar last weekend, it was Awesome!!!! I have a new passion for Chiropractic, Neurology, Outcomes and using Low Force Techniques. This has re-lit my fire within! Your passion & honesty & knowledge was appreciated throughout the seminar & this has a flow on effect.” Matthew Bailey, Australia

The lead researcher and co-developer of Torqe Release Technique, Dr Jay Holder, will be in Australia in August for a rare appearance - don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from one of the great minds in Chiropractic. Go to this link to find out more: http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Jay-Holder-Discount.htm

Of course there are seminars that market solely on this desire that each one of us harbours: And they are usually selling a program of how to attract and commit practice members to your care - regardless of the actual “product” that you offer.

But here’s the sting - if for some reason you haven’t got your product right - if the quality assurance is not quite there - then no number of practice building “techniques” will result in sustainable and exponential growth. The answer is to get the product right first!

I was talking to one of our Australian Chiropractic legends the other day - you know those straight talking principled chiropractors that have built big practices time and again based on good old fashioned art, science and philosophy and commonsense business savvy. He’s spending less time in practice nowadays and more time mentoring chiropractic students (yes there is some good news in chiropractic!) and his advice to them is to figure out how to be a great chiropractor. And he is very clear that this depends on developing fantastic FCB in your technique. Not your practice building technique - your chiropractic technique.

Needless to say he has been in this game for a long time and surpasses annual professional development requirements by a factor of ten, and he makes it quite plain that one of the best techniques that he has implemented is Torque Release Technique.

He’s not alone though: Have a listen to a must-hear interview with “Chiropractor of the Month” Dr Wade Lofton by Patrick Gentempo and Chris Kent to see what can happen in a practice when TRT is added to the mix… Click on this link to start listening (it can take some time for the audio to beging to play depending on your download speed. Alternatively right click on the link and “Save Target As…” to your computer)…

http://www.torquerelease.com.au/Chiropractor-Of-The-Month.mp3

To find out more about TRT training with the developer Dr Jay Holder in August in Melbourne click on this link: http://www.torquerelease.com.au/TRT-Seminar.htm

“Recoil is the term used for Innate contraction of forces, in the body, in response to the adjustic concussion. Mechanically, recoil is the product of elasticity. It is the bouncing or springing back of an object when it strikes another object. It is not possible without concussion…”

If you have learnt Toggle Recoil you will recall the high speed, low amplitude thrust along with recoil that you may have spent hours trying to master. Often we were given the toggle boards with the hinge and latch mechanism that helped to train just the right depth, and I can remember a degree of competition in trying to be the most lightning fast adjuster.

One of the key ingredients built into the Integrator adjusting device during its development was recoil. This is partly provided by the pre-loading mechanism that allows the instrument to fire upon a pre-determined amount of pressure, but actual recoil is also built into the device’s specifications to maximise the “Innate contraction of forces” that Stephenson speaks of.

I think there are some key concepts shared in the short paragraph about recoil:

1. Something happens as a result of us delivering our thrust - recoil - we don’t realign bones, we don’t release stuck joints - the body has to respond for there to be a therapeutic effect - we just need to get the concussion right…
2. Recoil is dependent on elasticity - in chiropractic our disclaimer to the potential benefits from our care is something we call “limitations of matter” - this primarily means the structural changes that result from the long term dysfunction and distortion that restrict the body’s ability to be corrected. I would argue that this manifests most significantly as reduced recoil.

During TRT training we discuss The 14 Indicators of Subluxation - one of the benefits of understanding and having a system to objectify and review these indicators that I have found in my practice is to develop better intuition in predicting the state of a practice member’s “matter” - that is the degree of tension which is being stored in their system - or in other words the degree of elasticity in their body. This helps enormously with scheduling and with pre-empting the need for increased education and encouragemnt to increase the chances of compliance and hence great results…

To check out TRT training dates go to this link: http://www.torquerelease.com.au/TRT-Seminar.htm

“Cleavage is the movement of one body between two others splitting action. The friction is greater with slow motion than with fast, which is of course according to the law of friction. The application of the principle of cleavage, in Chiropractic, is the movement of a vertebra between two other vertebra…”

ART 10. CONCUSSION.

“Concussion is a blow as the result of arrested momentum, Momentum is the result of weight (mass) in motion and also of speed. In an adjustic concussion, it depends more upon speed than mass. At any rate it is necessary to get concussion, but without pounding upon the back. There should be a clean transfer through to the vertebra.”

ART 11. SPEED.

“Speed is the velocity of a moving body. The more speed a body has the more momentum it possesses. The more momentum it has, as the result of this speed, the more clean cut concussion it can produce. It is used in Chiropractic to obtain easy cleavage and to arouse Innate recoil.”

These articles are pivottal in understanding the reason why an instrument adjustment may be equal to or perhaps even potentially superior to a manual adjustment. And that statement can summarised in one word - SPEED.

An Integrator fires roughly ten times faster than the most often seen adjusting instrument, which in turn fires faster than the human hands can deliver a thrust. The beauty of this in physics terms is that the mass can be significantly reduced to still result in equal force (concussion) being produced. (Force equals mass times acceleration) And why superior results may be possible is due to the ability of speed to surpass friction resulting in more efficient cleavage.

Bottom line is that the evidence suggests at least equal benefits exist between a manual adjustment and an instrument based adjustment:

• “…either mechanical-force, manually-assisted or high-velocity, low-amplitude chiropractic adjustments were associated with a beneficial effect of a reduction in pain and disability in patients diagnosed with sacroiliac joint syndrome. Neither… were found to be more effective than the other in the treatment of this patient population.  (JMPT 2005)
• “…both instrumental (MFMA) manipulation and manual (HVLA) manipulation have beneficial effects associated with reducing pain and disability and improving cervical range of motion… no significant difference being observed between the 2 groups.” (JMPT 2001)

This can be hard to swallow for those who hold on to their superiority complex that comes from hearing nice noises emanating from the spines that we “adjust”. And I can say that because I have been one in that position of judgement: Until I swallowed my pride and put the Integrator to the test in real life practice that is.

DD Palmer himself stated that one day there would be better ways found to adjust - maybe that day has already come? What do you think?

Check out TRT training at this link: www.torquerelease.com.au