September 2008

Getting sick

by Dr. Ogi Ressel

I'm going to cover an issue that has a number of doctors totally perplexed.

You're doing your chiropractic "thing" in your office and a patient suddenly says to you: "Dr., I couldn't see you last week because I had the flu. I thought that when I get adjusted, I won't get sick anymore." And you -- a rational being, a well-adjusted doctor, one who's studied the art & science of chiropractic, has a university degree, tons of experience, and amazing hands -- start to babble defensively.

Have I missed anything?

We tell our patients that chiropractic will keep them healthy and well and it's true, it does. However, sometimes the body, according to the Principle of Limitation of Matter has other ideas. Patients need to understand this.

Look at a child who has this flu thing happening. His nose is running, he's coughing, he has fever, his eyes are swollen and glassy, he has loss of appetite, he's lethargic and just not feeling well at all. Parents have been conditioned to believe that this is sickness at its "best," that this child is really ill. We've been taught that we must do something to interfere with this sickness process. After all, we're parents who are supposed to have all the answers. As doctors, we often fall into that same trap.

I have news for you. When children are feeling really badly, that doesn't necessarily mean they're "sick."

I used to remind my patients of this, and you may want to do the same. Remind your patients that there is an Intelligence ruling their bodies. Each has his or her very own internal Wisdom, and ultimately, that Innate Intelligence force knows what's best for that body at that time.

For instance, do your patients realize that their child's fever is actually of great benefit? That Innate Wisdom cooks up a temperature in order to burn the germ that's invaded the child's body? But at the same time, the eyes, which are very temperature sensitive, are continuously washed with tears to cool them down? All body energies are directed to fighting off the offending invasion so appetite is suppressed. Muscles are made to shiver to produce work, which then produces heat, and we call this fever. The child is coughing, has diarrhea, increased breathing -- all these functions are designed to eliminate the attacking germ even faster.

Your Innate Wisdom also knows that all body systems need to be exercised regularly in order to function at their optimum level at all times. That's the expectation, isn't it? Well, just like any other part of the body, the immune system also needs to be exercised.

So, I feel we have a built-in "clock," which activates the immune system and temporarily lowers our immune response so that we are then attacked by a bug of some sort. The response is a sudden activation of the immune system to fight off the invading organism.

Your patients need to understand that this is NOT sickness. This is an expression of health, the body doing exactly what it's programmed and designed to do. This is a good thing!

When your patients get "sick" you'll say to them, "wonderful!" At first they'll feel you've lost all your marbles, but once you explain this process, they'll think you're amazing -- and you are! They need to understand that having the occasional flu is a very important part of keeping healthy, that the body won't be at its best without it. That's not to say it's something to LIKE, but it's for the best.

Relax. Tell your patients the truth. They will get it! Really.

(Dr. Ogi Ressel, author, researcher, and an x-ray and pediatric specialist, teaches The Practice Evolution Program, the "fastest-growing coaching program on the planet." Visit online at www.practiceevolution.com and take the Practice Health Mini-Checkup. Dr. Ressel may be contacted by e-mail at drogi@practiceevolution.com or by calling 800-353-3082. Interested in receiving his weekly THOTS "on seeing tons of children and families in your practice?" Send him an e-mail and asked to be added to the list.)