Blue Heron Chiropractic & Healing Arts Center is directed by Dr. Dana Sibilla and features the following services:

Chiropractic Physician: Dana Sibilla, DC (280-9759) Full-body health care with orthopedic & rehab focus.

Licensed Massage Therapists, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Individual, Couple and Family Therapy: Please contact the Center for referrals to specific practitioners.

WHAT’S NEW AT BLUE HERON?

The Web Site has finally been updated. We are trying to keep it as simple and “organic” as possible. Check out the “New Stuff” feature which is going to be the showcase for our specializations. Dr. Sibilla has become certified in Functional Capacity Evaluation and continues his membership in the American Chiropractic College of Rehabilitative Medicine, the American Board of Disabilities Analysts, the ACA Council on Chiropractic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and the North American Academy of Impairment Rating Physicians. We have continued to expand our arsenal of physical testing and exercise equipment. We have recently acquired a set of three Bodyblade™ exercise and rehabilitation tools, as well as a full set of Medicine Balls, for use with our Rebounder or while sitting on our PT-Balls. We now have two Certified Chiropractic Assistants who are licensed massage therapists on therapy floor working directly with Doctor Sibilla.

UP TO 4 VISITS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AT NO COST? HOW? REFERRAL CREDIT PROGRAM!

Blue Heron Chiropractic is offering a visit credit for each person you refer in to this clinic. Dr. Sibilla would be honored to treat your friends, relatives and co-workers; they can mention your name when they come in. You should then receive a notification card in the mail, which must be used within three months! We have patients who basically never have to pay for their care, as a result of their word-of-mouth! Thank you!

IT’S STILL COLD AND FLU SEASON – TREAT THE CAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS

I have recently been seeing a lot of success prescribing Olive Leaf Extract (Oleorupein) for both viral and bacterial infections. This traditional remedy is actually a very potent anti-microbial, meaning it is effective against both viruses and bacteria. It was in the emergency kit we recommended in case of an Anthrax crisis, and it remains as an excellent remedy for the infections causing colds and flus. It is an inexpensive and invaluable addition to your medicine chest.The clinic has a medicinary of natural medicines, homeopathics, botanicals and vitamins.

CHIROPRACTIC NOW AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS AND THE MILITARY

President Bush recently signed into law H.R.3447, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001, that installs chiropractic into the health plans available to veterans through the VA. 

WHAT DOES CHIRORACTIC DO FOR INJURY? FOR HEALTHY PATIENTS? WHY GO TO A CHIRO?

The chiropractor is licensed as a doctor, which means that our scope of practice permits us to perform differential diagnosis. Chiropractic manipulative therapy is effective for reduction of subluxation, improving range-of-motion in restricted or deranged joints, restoring function, decreasing muscle spasm, and improving tone and body balance.The thrust manipulation is a unique form of very directed intervention. Research also suggests that use of reflex nerve signals in chiropractic can facilitate states of health or help achieve a balanced physiology. Chiropractors are highly trained and exposed to cutting-edge health information and are usually willing to talk about issues other docs might avoid.Even “healthy patients” can have improved function, and preventive care keeps smaller issues in the healthy patient from becoming bigger problems if ignored. And remember, there is a lot more I can do than just “adjust” – even rehab and nerve injury recovery procedures.

STUDY: DOCS SPEND MORE TIME WITH PATIENTS?

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that face-to-face contact between doctors and patients increased between one and two minutes between 1998 and 2000. An average visit with the doctor 

lengthened 1.1 minutes to 21.5 minutes in 1998 from 20.4 minutes in 1989. The National Center for Health Statistics survey found the average visit went to 18.3 minutes from 16.3 minutes. The added minutes may not mean much, agrees Dr. Joshua Zivin, assistant professor at Columbia University. "Duration is only a small part of what we care about with doctor's visits," Zivin says. "What are we doing in those minutes?" The quality of the interaction is what counts. As a clinician, I do my best to give you the attention you need. Blue Heron’s visits remain scheduled for 30 minutes unless a patient requests a shorter appointment. (Editor’s Note:Remember, if you are late, you may get less time; if I run late, you will get the full time. Thanks for being on time.DWS)

GOVERNMENT REPORT SAYS BACK INJURIES #1 WORK INJURY

HEAT OR ICE? CHOOSE BASED ON THE PHASE OF HEALING. 

- Editor’s note: this article was so popular and it is so important that we are repeating it.DWS

A recent analysis of treatment methods for new injuries suggest that many physicians (both chiropractic and medical) as well as most patients, are confused as to whether heat or ice should be used after an injury.The general advice is that applying ice for the first 24 to 48 hours followed by heat is based on the often inaccurate assumption that the patient has progressed beyond the acute inflammatory phase to the repair phase of healing according to a “normal” time scale. As a clinician for 7 years, having attended 14,000 treatment visits, I have seen that many, many patients show signs of acute inflammation for as long as a week or more after the original injury. Therefore, overuse or premature application of heat can prolong the normally short-lived inflammatory response. My guideline is as follows: Within the first 48 hours, ICE ONLY; for the next 72 hours (within the first 5 days after the injury), Heat and Ice can be alternated, always ending with Ice (this includes after “hot tubs”!), then, after 6 days, PERHAPS heat-only can be applied, or heat/Ice/Heat ending with heat.For muscle fatigue spasm only (no injury) use heat. Two more “rules of thumb” (to be applied only after the 48 / 72 / 6-day rule!): If no body position is pain-free – use Ice; If there are pain-free positions, but there is pain with muscle contraction – MAYBE use heat.Remember, “stiffness” in the morning with some mild pain might seem like a time for heat. However, the activities of your day may trigger a recurrence of an inflammatory response, hence a return of constant pain in the evening – and thus heat is not best. When in doubt – remember you can ASK!

THE BLOOD-TYPE DIET – EAT RIGHT. KNOW YOUR TYPE.WE CAN TEST YOU.

You eat something new and suddenly you just know that the food “didn’t agree with you”. You feel bloated or sick or have a headache, perhaps even feel hung-over or fatigued. You may have discovered a food intolerance which may be related to your blood-type. If you know your type, we can discuss a blood-type diet plan. If you don’t know your type, we can test you. The cost for this complete service is $40. 

DECAF COFFEE MAY ENCOURAGE OR ACCELERATE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)

A chemical used in the decaffeinating process has been shown to increase the incidence of RA, especially in Women. Only “water-decaf” is free of this process. Alert! Organically “grown” coffee isn’t necessarily RA-safe.

The highest form of compliment is the referral of your friends and family. Thank You!