1. The "Incurable" Migraine (Dr Ron's Story)
2. Frequently Asked Questions
3. Alternative Health Care -- How We See It!
4. Chiropractic -- An American Born Science
5. Personal Injury
6. What Grandmother Already Knew?
7. Laser Acupuncture
8. A Whole Body Approach to Health Care (Deborah Walker)
9. The Battle Continues
10. What to Expect from Treatment
11. Clinical Quality Supplements
The “Incurable” Migraine
Dr. Ron Cherubino
The other day I was in a consultation with a new patient. She told me that she had seen our sign for months as she drove by, and had eventually noticed the health food store next door. She began shopping there, all of the time keeping a watchful eye on our center. It seems that she was sold, as she put it, on traditional Chiropractic, “the kind where they crack your spine”. She had heard that some chiropractors used different methods, ones that included more alternative treatments. She had noticed our sign for laser acupuncture and deduced that our services were different than the ones she was used to. She finally asked them at the natural food store, what they thought of us. Along with a positive response, she also heard about our free initial consultation. She asked me some of the best questions I‘ve been asked in years. And frankly, I gave her some of the best answers that I have ever given. As I have been known to do, I did become somewhat passionate about the subject of treatment methods and philosophies. With a smile on her face and genuine curiosity in her eyes, she asked me why I was so excited about what I did. I was initially taken back by this question, but then answered by telling her some of my background.
Over the years, I have told this story to one extent or the other to a variety of people both individually and in groups. Many have asked me to write it down. So finally, here it is! I began Cherubino Chiropractic in the early 1980’s in Framingham Massachusetts in a small building positioned between the area’s major hospital in front of us and the Framingham heart study directly behind us. I mention these two bastions of traditional medical thinking because our philosophies differed so dramatically that they served as a constant reminder to me why I was there. My passion has always been to offer a non-traditional, natural way to treat sickness and disease and to offer hope to those that have been discarded by the traditional system.
As a young adult, I had made the unfortunate discovery that medicine was not all that I had been taught it was. In fact, much of it was deceptive and dangerous. At the age of 19, I was involved in what initially appeared to be a minor automobile accident. I had lost control of my car in the snow, and slid into a tree. Covered in blood, I was taken to a nearby hospital emergency room. After examination it was determined that other than a split lip and a traumatized front tooth, I was uninjured. As I tried to return to my normal life, a variety of conditions began to express themselves. This occurred subtly at first, but in time grew gradually worse and eventually became serious.
Traditional Medicine to the Rescue
What began as congested sinuses and mild headaches gradually grew to severe migraine headaches, partial hearing loss and severe equilibrium disturbances. I sought the advice and care of traditional medical practitioners. Thirteen medical doctors later, I had a handful of incorrect diagnoses, which were based solely on symptoms, no further understanding of the cause of these conditions and thousands of dollars in medical bills. I had also been given dozens of prescriptions and a variety of medications, some of which made me worse, none of which made me any better. I ended up bed ridden, barely able to walk to the bathroom a short distance down the hall from my sick room. I was disabled for nearly two years.
Light - To Shatter the Darkness
In the midst of the pain, anguish and hopelessness, several books on natural health found their way to my bed. My vision had been badly effected by my illness and reading was most difficult. I struggled through these books, however, because something in me wouldn’t give up. The more I read, the more hope I felt. At first, the concepts put forth in these books seemed strange, in ways even absurd. After a while though, I was able to see the sense in what they were saying.
Finally, Fed Up With Medicine!
It was at what turned out to be my final appointment with my ear, nose and throat doctor that my reading started to pay off. He was clearly exasperated with this persistent and stubborn young man that wouldn’t take “sick” for an answer. When I again pressed him for an answer as to the cause of my ongoing sickness he replied, “maybe a change of climate would help”. I was so fed up with the lack of real answers, that I became very upset and stormed out of his office.
Willing to try a “Quack”!
More determined than ever and willing to try almost anything, I made a call to a doctor whose name I had been given, as a last resort. This doctor was a chiropractor, and in my mind somewhere was the thought that this was stupid, all hope had been lost, and this move was probably the next thing to suicide. This will undoubtedly seem strange to some of you. But, you must remember that I was raised to believe that medical doctors were everything and that chiropractors were quacks. May God bless that chiropractor. He had the cause of my problems diagnosed in less than one half hour. It turned out that I had several pinched nerves in my upper spine, apparently caused at the time of the car accident nearly two years before. What thirteen medical doctors of various specialties from some of the most respected institutions in the world had failed to see was that the many symptoms that they observed were just that, symptoms, and not the cause of the condition they sought to cure. The sad truth is that they didn’t even think to look back to the spinal nerves, which are responsible for regulating each of the areas where symptoms were present. To make matters worse, when questioned by me as to the efficacy of chiropractic care and its appropriateness to my conditions, I was told that it was useless at best and harmful at worst. The attitude was, what could a chiropractor possibly know that we wouldn’t know?
The Right Track - And A Mission
I required chiropractic and osteopathic treatment coupled with a variety of other alternative supports, including nutrition, relaxation therapy and energy balancing. It took several years for my health to be completely restored. In the process, I felt a strong sense of mission, which led me back to school and eventually on to Chiropractic College. Needless to say, I made a dedicated and determined chiropractic student. While in Chiropractic college, I was introduced to a revolutionary concept in holistic care that involved the identification and correction of energy imbalances in the body as they related to overall health and healing. This philosophy became the cornerstone of my treatment methods and the basis by which I formed my perspective on human health and disease. I am so thankful for the good that has come out of my trials. With it I have been able to touch the lives of so many others. I am still passionate about sickness, disease and healing. Over the years I have been able to put my passion to use, sometimes against formidable odds, and help thousands of people restore their health and overcome many different forms of sickness and disease. As we move forward into this new century, I am more hopeful than ever before that we will come to a new and better understanding of natural health care, and with that knowledge we will give the gift of health to millions of more people.
At Cherubino Health Center, we have worked diligently through the years to develop treatment methods that identify and efficiently remove the underlying causes of disease. Our goal is to help you achieve your best health, naturally. In this way your symptoms are relieved and the recurrence and establishment of the same or new conditions is prevented. To these ends, we offer individualized treatment programs that are designed to meet your specific health needs.
We encourage you to make an appointment for your initial consultation, and find out what we can do for you!
www.cherubhealth.com
Cherubino Health Center
Framingham/Southborough MA 01772
877-275-3776 - 508-229-0007
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Q. Who can benefit from your approach to care?
A. Anyone whose health has room for improvement can benefit from one or more of the alternative treatments offered at Cherubino Health Center. We offer individualized programs that are designed to improve your overall health and help your body resolve specific health conditions.
Q. How do I know if I can be helped at your center?
A. The initial consultation with Dr. Cherubino or another practitioner at the center, helps determine this. You'll have an opportunity to discuss your health history and get answers to your specific questions. Our goal is to determine:
1. If we can help you
2. What approach is appropriate
3. Where to refer you if you would benefit from treatment offered outside of the center.
During your initial consultation, we will sit down to discuss and evaluate your particular health problems and answer your specific questions.
Q. What kind of conditions do you treat?
A. We treat the whole person by identifying and correcting the cause of their conditions, not merely by treating the symptoms. In short, we treat people, not conditions. Our type of alternative health care is appropriate wherever there is room for improvement. The methods we have chosen to utilize and develop over the years are the result of treating thousands of patients with hundreds of different conditions. People with almost any condition can be successfully treated with these methods.
Q. Is your type of alternative treatment safe?
A. Yes, most definitely. When I am asked this question, I like to answer as follows; "the worst that can happen is nothing" (and this is unlikely due to our thorough evaluation and screening processes). This statement has occasionally been criticized as sounding negative. However, this is a powerful statement, and can be made only because such regard has been given to utilizing only treatments that work in harmony with the body. We never force the body to do anything it wasn't designed to do. Over the years, we have eliminated any approach that has the potential to harm the body. As is the case with traditional medicine, there are a number of alternative treatments out there that potentially offer quick relief of symptoms. Unfortunately, they are all too often associated with harmful side effects and short-term results. Our type of alternative treatment is completely safe.
Q. If alternative treatments are so effective and safe, why doesn't my medical doctor recommend them?
A. I could write a book about this, but I won't. All of us working at the center have asked ourselves this very question countless numbers of times.
1. Medical students in this country are taught only a small portion of the total information available worldwide concerning human health and physiology. An example of this is the fact that the study of nutrition is optional, not mandatory, in American medical schools.
2. Medical students are told that treatment methods, regardless of how effective they have been shown to be, are only legitimate if they can be explained and understood by the current state of scientific knowledge. This is the equivalent of saying that until medical science was able to identify the element oxygen in the air that we breathe, human beings were unable to benefit from its presence.
3. Medical doctors who implement alternative treatment methods in their private practices are subject to intraprofessional litigation, loss of hospital privileges and often times the loss of their license to practice medicine.
4. Medical schools continue to insist that their current system of belief, which is based on a chemical model of human existence, is the only acceptable one regardless of the many systems of healing that are being successfully utilized worldwide. These systems, some of which are based on an electrical or electrochemical model of the human body, have in some cases been practiced successfully for hundreds or in some cases thousands of years.
There is, therefore, a distinct lack of training when it comes to the graduates of our current medical system in regards to alternative healthcare methods and philosophies. I am always amazed when a patient tells me that they have sought nutritional advice from their medical doctor. This shows a distinct lack of understanding from the person asking the question and an even greater misconception from a medical doctor that feels qualified to give an authoritative answer in an area that he or she is almost certainly unqualified in.
While there are more and more medical doctors worldwide joining the ranks of those who use alternative methods in their practices, the number in this country remains quite low due to resistance to the spread of knowledge pertaining to alternative approaches. This resistance has been fostered by such notable entities as the American Medical Association and various pharmaceutical interests.
I personally feel that more progress could be made to further alternative treatment methods in this country if some of the inordinate profit were taken out of the health care system. Much more research needs to be undertaken simply because it will improve the health of mankind, not because it has the potential of generating "healthy" profits.
Q. Once I start with treatment, will I need to keep coming forever?
A. No. We offer both corrective and preventative care. Corrective care is designed to resolve specific problems or conditions as quickly and completely as possible. Once this is accomplished, treatment for that problem is no longer necessary.
Preventative care, on the other hand, is desirable on a long-term ongoing basis and can likened to regular dental cleanings.
Q. What is Preventative health care?
A. Preventative care is given to help the body maintain a high level of health. Some people are in more obvious need of this type of care than others. People who work and live under high-stress conditions and those with chronic health conditions are examples of these individuals. Preventative treatment can be received at any frequency dependent on an individual's desires, needs and circumstances.
Q. What if I have a condition that can't be treated at your center?
A. We will try our best to help you with a referral to the appropriate people, places and resources. We are here to serve you and our community. We frequently make referrals and receive them in return.
Q. Does insurance cover your services?
A. Many insurances do cover a limited number of our services. Coverage varies from insurance company to insurance company and from policy to policy. There has been an unfortunate trend nationwide which was recently reported in a national survey of major insurance carriers. Insurance companies are now beginning to specifically exclude alternative and integrative medical procedures from their current policies. This means that an insurance company may opt to offer coverage for specific procedures offered by an alternative health care practitioner as long as those procedures can not be considered alternative. (sounds absurd, but is an actual example of convoluted thinking)
In this way an insurance policy can appear to offer coverage for alternative healthcare when in actuality it contains specific language that will deny coverage for anything but non-alternative, traditional healthcare.
Our staff is familiar with most insurance companies and most of the current deceptive insurance practices and will be glad to help you understand your specific policy.
Q. Do you offer payment plans?
A. We do offer flexible payment plans with reduced rates available based on the type and length of care required. Our goal is to deliver the health care that each patient needs, at a reasonable price.
Q. How do I know when I need your kind of health care?
A. If you currently have a health problem or would simply like to know more about our center and the services that are available here, an initial consultation is your best first step in that it will enable us to discuss your health concerns in detail and answer your questions. Remember, we are here to help you however we can, and are happy to answer your questions in any capacity that we can, whether it be, via The Ask Dr Ron Radio Show, e-mail, by phone, in writing or in person.
Call the Cherubino Health Center toll-free at:
877 -Ask Dr Ron (275 -3776)
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Alternative Health Care -- How We See It
Dr. Ron Cherubino, D.C., A.M.D., D.A.C.F.E.
Alternative is a relative term. It's definition depends on a number of factors. Geographic location and individual perspective are two that come readily to mind. What's considered alternative to a person living on the east coast of this country, may well be considered mainstream to someone living on the west coast. The differences however, become most obvious when comparing perspectives from one country to another.
On a recent trip to China, I was struck by the realization that what I considered alternative, the Chinese considered mainstream. In fact, they call it TCM, (Traditional Chinese Medicine). 
Similar differences can be found in Germany and Switzerland when it comes to herbal medicine, and in France when it comes to auricular therapy (ear acupuncture). When I was first introduced to this kind of health care, in the early 1970's it was called natural, non medical or holistic.
As I became more convinced of the effectiveness of these kinds of approaches, I remember telling people that it shouldn't be called alternative because for many it had become a first choice over medicine. Be that as it may, clearly we in America have been taught to think of health care in a certain defined way, and anything that doesn't fit that description is different. And different is alternative.
PRINCIPLES MATTER
The following definitions, concepts and descriptions will give you an idea of the way we at Cherubino Health Center, look at alternative care. These principles form the foundation from which we practice. And have influenced the development of the methods that we now use on a daily basis.
1. Alternative health care seeks to treat and correct the root cause of the disease or condition, not only the symptoms.
2. All treatments and approaches are non drug and non surgical.
3. The body is a self healing organism.
4. We recognize that the nervous system controls and regulates every function in and of the body.
5. The health of the nervous system will determine the health of the body.
6. Symptoms are often times very poor indicators as to the severity of a particular condition. They may be mild to severe or non-existent. Unfortunately, some of the most serious and potentially life threatening diseases have no noticeable symptoms associated with them.
THE BODY ELECTRIC
The following material is taken from a course that I teach in Pulse Energy Technique, one of the foundational techniques used at the center. The body is electrical. Electromagnetic energy is present in the body from the time of conception on. Where there is life, there is energy. When the body is healthy, this energy is freely and equally distributed throughout the central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral (extraspinal) nervous systems. When the body is subjected to undo stress or trauma, it's energy becomes imbalanced. Some areas therefore, end up with too much energy while other areas get too little.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The body runs on electromagnetic energy which is transmitted through the nervous system as electrical nerve impulses. The nervous system is made up of hundreds of nerves which carry electrical impulses from the brain and spinal cord to and from all parts of the body. This forms the body's communications system. This vast network of nerves is responsible for the proper functioning of every organ and system in the body. Your circulation, immunity, muscle tone, digestion, respiration, to name but a few, are all controlled by your nervous system. Every cell, every tissue, every organ needs to have a proper amount of electrical nerve impulse to be healthy. Stress is the great imbalancer. Whether it is physical, emotional or chemical, stress holds the potential to cause serious harm. Sufficient stress will break down proper nervous system communications leading to malfunction and eventual disease. The body is a self-healing organism. But, it must have sufficient and balanced nerve impulse available to every part, in order to heal and maintain it's health and vitality. Anytime there is disease, pain or dysfunction present in the body, nervous system function will be compromised. And one or both of the following will be true: 1. Nervous system malfunction is causing the disease, pain or dysfunction.
2. The disease, pain or dysfunction is causing a malfunction of the nervous system. Either way, the body can't be healthy in that condition.
3. When faulty lines of communication in the body's nervous system are restored to a normal level, the natural process of healing occurs.
The methods used at Cherubino Health Center, are designed to identify and correct communication imbalances of the nervous system. With it's use, we have seen remarkable results in people suffering from a wide variety of conditions and diseases.
The following are just some of the signs, symptoms and conditions that we commonly see:
chronic fatigue syndrome
inflammation
muscular strain
sciatica
yeast infection
neuritis
migraine headaches
poor posture
arthritis
allergies
fibromyalgia
constipation
erectile dysfunction
emotional tension
insomnia
spinal misalignment
numbness
infection
weakness
pain
muscular tension
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Chiropractic: An American Born Science
What do you think of when you hear the word Chiropractic? Most people think of back pain. But chiropractic actually started as a way of treating the whole body.
Chiropractic was discovered in 1895, in Davenport Iowa, by D.D. Palmer. Dr. Palmer was what we would call today "a naturalist", a health practitioner concerned with the natural ways of healing the body. He was a pioneer in the areas of what we now know as "energy medicine" and "hands on healing".
The first "chiropractic patient" was a man by the name of Harvey Lillard, the janitor of the building in which Dr. Palmer had his office. One day as Mr. Lillard was being treated, Dr. Palmer noticed that there was a raised area in his upper spine. Pressure was applied to this area and something moved, creating a small popping sound. The miracle was that Harvey had gotten on Dr. Palmer's treatment table a deaf man, but after that first chiropractic treatment was given, his hearing was restored. As you can imagine, word of chiropractic quickly swept the nation.
Some of the original documented chiropractic cures involved the successful treatment of conditions such as scleraderma (a serious skin and connective tissue disease), diabetes (this was before the discovery of insulin), and a wide range of other health conditions. D.D. Palmer had discovered how important the nervous system is to the health of the body.
The raised area that he observed on Harvey Lillard's spine was causing interference with the flow of electrical nerve impulses. When this raised area was pushed, pressure and irritation on nerves, which in this case had to do with hearing, was removed and hearing was restored.
Chiropractic techniques have changed and evolved over the past century, but the same principles that were at work in 1895, (when hearing was restored to the first chiropractic patient), are alive and well today.
Cherubino Health Center
877 - 275 - 3776
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Untreated Injuries
One of the conditions that we often see in our center is post traumatic dysfunction. These are conditions that result from unresolved traumas, which occurred months, years or even decades earlier. 
Most patients suffering from post traumatic dysfunction, are not even aware of what the original cause of the condition was. Only through careful examination and a detailed history are we able to make the connection between their current condition and a past trauma.
In these cases the original trauma caused little or no immediate symptomatic change. To make matters worse, often times the person was told at the time of the accident by well-meaning but ill informed health-care professionals, that there was no injury or that their symptoms were unimportant and should be ignored. In time, their original symptoms did disappear, but the body didn't return to normal or properly heal.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident or other type of personal injury, past or present, you need to be aware that symptoms are not always reliable indicators of the actual level of injury. Injuries can occur at the time of the trauma, which may not be obvious for days, weeks, months or even years later.
Injuries that have gone untreated will commonly cause a variety of health problems. Some of these symptoms may include; migraine headaches, muscle spasms or tightness, weak muscles, poor posture, scoliosis, joint pain and stiffness, nerve pain, circulatory problems or fatigue, to name but a few.
Cherubino Health Center - 877 Ask Dr Ron -(275 - 3776)
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What Grandmother Already Knew
When your grandmother was just a girl, people used herbal teas and other natural remedies to treat sickness, get healthy and stay well. Today, some people consider the things that your grandmother would recommend to be mere wives tales.
Over the past twenty five years we've helped thousands of people restore and maintain their health by using natural approaches, some like the ones that your grandmother used.
If you have a specific health problem, or are wondering what our type of natural alternative health care can do for you, just ask us. We are ready to consult with you to help you get acquainted with what we can do for you. We think Grandma was right.
Cherubino Health Center
877-Ask Dr Ron (275-3776)
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Laser Acupuncture
At Cherubino Health Center, we have implemented the use of low power cold quartz lasers in acupuncture and auricular therapy treatments. Our results have been very favorable in the treatment of both acute and chronic conditions. The use of laser light is safe, painless and effective without the risks and complications associated with the use of needles.
About Laser Therapy
Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The term Laser Biostimulation refers to the use of low-powered laser to irradiate local areas or points on the skin. This procedure is being used for reduction of pain, acceleration of wound healing, acupuncture therapy, to name but a few applications.
The discovery of Laser in 1960 opened up new prospects for the medical use of light. Lasers now provide the clinician with optically pure sources of light capable of producing specific photochemical and photoelectrical reactions.
Since 1971 thousands of papers have been published in dozens of countries dealing with the physiological effects of low power laser. Low power laser has emerged as an important therapy for the treatment of a variety of conditions.
Research has demonstrated significant results, often times far exceeding those obtained with traditional needles, from the use of low power (635 - 690 nm) laser stimulation of acupuncture and energy points. When these points are stimulated, sympathetic and other afferents (nerves that conduct impulses to the spinal cord) transmit information to the central nervous system.
Researchers have demonstrated therapeutic changes to the central and peripheral nervous systems in patients following laser therapy. The laser penetrates the epidermis, dermis and sub-cutaneous layers, entering the flexor tendons and surrounding tissue. Along its path the laser deposits photons into the cells. Nerve stimulation is immediate. Within minutes microcirculation is improved bringing increased oxygen and blood flow into the area. The laser beam also blocks pain enzymes and activates the synthesis of endorphin enzymes.
Biologically, the laser light will increase the cell production rate in connective, tendinous and cartilaginous tissue. In addition, the laser beam has the capability of increasing the rate of regeneration of nerve cells and will not stimulate bacterial growth or cancerous tissue.
Cherubno Health Center
877-Ask Dr Ron (275-3776)
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A Whole Body Approach To Health
Deborah Walker, Director of Asian Healing Arts for Cherubino Health Center
We have all heard it said that there is no substitute for experience. With over 20 years of experience in natural health care, Meridian therapy, nutrition and Asian treatment techniques, Deborah Walker is in the unique position of being able to effectively care for people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. In the mid 1970’s, Deborah’s desire to help the sick led her into the fields of occupational and physical therapy. Years of extensive and varied responsibilities, including hospital as well as home based service, gave Deborah a first-hand view of the value of traditional medicine as well as some of its inherent limitations. Through the years, she has always maintained her passion for healing and love of knowledge. Deborah is a certified Meridian Therapist and has to her credit been trained and certified in numerous alternative treatment methods. CranioSacral Therapy, KI Method, PET, Relaxation Therapy, Pain Management and Clinical Nutrition are all part of Deborah’s specialized techniques. The following is a partial list of the conditions that have been shown to respond to Deborah’s type of bodywork. Whether your specific condition is listed or not, we encourage you to consult with us at the center directly for more information.
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
Chronic fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Migraine headaches
ADD ADHD
Inflammation
Muscular tension
Back Pain
Emotional tension
Muscular strain/sprain
Insomnia
Constipation
Arthritis
Sciatica
PMS
TMJ
Carpal Tunnel
Multiple Sclerosis
Scoliosis
CranioSacral Therapy
One of the core techniques that Deborah uses is CranioSacral therapy. She has received her training directly through the Upledger Institute in Florida. CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands on method of evaluating and correcting problems affecting the craniosacral system, the environment in which the brain and spinal cord function. This gentle hands on therapy encourages the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the operation of the central nervous system, relieve the negative effects of stress, improve overall health and strengthen the body’s immune system. The craniosacral system consists of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum, or tailbone area. An imbalance or restriction in this system can potentially cause any number of problems with the body’s nervous system.. Treatment with this approach is non-forceful with the practitioner generally applying only five grams of pressure. This is roughly equivalent to the weight of a nickel. CranioSacral Therapy is practiced worldwide by doctors and therapists of all known disciplines including medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic medicine, doctors of Oriental medicine, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other professional body workers.
KI Method
Focusing on the body’s electrical system the KI Method has acquired its roots from Japanese Medicine. KI method is a hands-on technique. with the practitioner, sequentially placing their hands lightly on two different and precise locations on the body (over clothing) at a time. This stimulates the body’s electrical energy to move, shift and rebalance. This flow promotes better blood and lymphatic circulation, increased CNS (central nervous system) conductivity, and improved enzyme activity - all of which are necessary to promote healing, rejuvenate body systems and improve overall health. This technique is highly effective in restoring the normal flow of electrical energy to and from all areas of the body. We have found this technique to be particularly effective in integrating the function of the peripheral nervous system with that of the central nervous system. It can be used as a stand-alone technique, or as an adjunctive and supportive therapy and is an excellent choice for maintenance and preventative treatment regimens.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage is capable of affecting the body’s physiology in a number of positive ways. The many benefits of therapeutic massage include release of chronic muscular tension and pain, improved circulation, increased joint flexibility, reduced mental and physical fatigue, reduced stress, faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improvement of posture and reduced blood pressure as well as an increase in overall relaxation.
Cherubino Health Center
23 Turnpike Rd., Framingham/Southborough MA
877-275-3776 - 508-229-0007
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The Battle Continues
A perspective by Dr. Ron Cherubino
As a young doctor, I had a dream. I dreamt of someday putting myself out of practice. I dreamt of people getting healthy and staying healthy. I imagined them becoming so healthy that doctors would no longer be necessary. I hoped that by the year 2000 we would see a dramatic decrease in illness. I believed that the principles and techniques that I was applying would become so widespread that people would get healthier and healthier. I saw health spreading like fresh air into a stale closed up room. But I was wrong. I have realized for the past decade or more that we have not been moving in the direction of health. Chronic degenerative disease is more widespread than ever before. Oh, it's true that we have more nontraditional health-care available, but not nearly enough. Educational material explaining the how's and why's of these alternatives and the wide-range of benefits offered, is sorely lacking.
I was dismayed to recently read in a professional journal that pharmaceutical companies and the Federal Trade Commission are waging an aggressive movement against alternative health-care. They have specifically targeted a number of areas including the chiropractic profession and are attempting to stop the distribution of educational literature and brochures. These brochures explain how specific approaches and techniques work. The FTC is challenging the type of research that has gone into the understanding of these approaches. They are comparing the high budget research common to the pharmaceutical industry to the research supportive of nontraditional therapies.
Firstly, the pharmaceutical companies have an inordinate amount of money for independent research. Historically, this research is not only expensive but also anything but independent. It is most often the type of research known as directed research. This is where specific conclusions are sought after, even before the research begins. This so-called "scientific" research seeks to reach a desired conclusion. Many projects of this type are abandoned as soon as an undesirable finding is discovered.
The positive effects of nontraditional methods have been observed for many years. Chiropractic, which was discovered in this country, has been in existence for over 100 years. The Chinese have used their form of observational medicine for 3000 to 5000 years. In actuality this type of observation is the basis for the scientific method. Sir Isaac Newton, Copernicus, Leonardo Davinci, Einstein and others considered observation to be the heart and soul of this method. This is the same scientific method that is taught in the most basic course of scientific study in the U.S. and globally.
When I first heard about these attacks I was disturbed. After several days, I remembered a favorite old saying, Every knock is a boost. It was true years ago and it is still true today. The other part of that saying goes, What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. And there are those who would like to see alternative health care dead. That simply will not happen. It isn't as though the establishment is fighting against something that people don't want, or are protecting people from anything dangerous. While traditional medicine is dealing with potentially dangerous and often times lethal drugs, we are dealing with methods, which have great potential to heal with no dangerous side effects. In spite of what they would like us to believe, the major danger that exists is to their corporate profits.
I would suggest that instead of holding alternative therapies to the standard of big money research, we begin to hold pharmaceuticals to the standards of observational medicine. Would the drugs that we are using today stand up to the scrutiny of observation over time? Not if past performance is any indicator of future results. Remember the birth defects caused by the "miracle" drug Thalidomide, the heart and lung problems created by Fen-fen and the lesser known but equally tragic results from Tambocor. Thomas Moore, Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Center for Health Policy Research, in his book Deadly Medicine, tells us of the tens of thousands of heart patients killed from the effects of Tambocor. And it is still in use today. Whatever research was done before these drugs were used as medicine, pales in comparison to the incredible harm we have observed from their use.
The truth is that people want natural health-care because it works, without the side effects and dangers inherent to our current medical system. It meets standards and principles that are far higher than what traditional medicine has to this point lived up to.
There is a movement afoot for medical practitioners to begin to practice alternatively. As long as the intent is to practice alternative health-care, and not just capture a bottom-line profit, then that would be a victory for natural health-care. It is exactly what I would like to see.
Insurance companies are beginning to realize that people want alternative care. A letter that came by my desk several weeks ago from the insurance industry stated that "in the next five years insurance carriers will be unable to compete unless they offer increased coverage and access to nontraditional therapies." What we have seen over the last five years from insurance companies, HMOs particularly, is the inclusion of alternative care in their policies. Unfortunately this appears to be little more than financial posturing. Commonly, one or two providers of a specific alternative specialty may have been allowed into the system where the need may exist for a hundred or more. In this way, when an insurance company approaches a potential business or client, they can legally state that the policy offers alternative health-care. Unfortunately, they have not only limited the number of alternative providers but have carefully selected practitioners that intentionally limit the range and quality of services available. In this way they have profited by alternative health-care without having to really pay for it. Of course we are the ones that end up paying for it, not only with higher premiums but also with our very health.
One of the reasons the industry is trying to stop alternative health-care is because they see it as a threat. The pharmaceutical industry is aware that billions of dollars each year are being spent on alternative therapies. U.S. News and World Report, in a recent article, wrote of the 27 billion dollars per year that Americans are spending on alternative therapies. Just five years ago that dollar amount was around 14 billion. It is easy to see why big business wants a piece of the alternative health-care dollar. But they will need to start providing the services that people want or they will continue to lose ground. We are talking about providing natural, non-drug and non-surgical health-care, as a primary source of treatment. More and more people in the U.S. and around the world are choosing our kind of health-care first. And why not? Why would anyone choose drugs and surgery if they had a safer more effective treatment to choose from?
I think that we need to be encouraged and boosted by these attacks. We have the power to make change. If we collectively stay focused, refuse to listen to propaganda, refuse to close our minds, continue to let our desires be known and refuse to let big business run our lives, changes will occur.
I encourage anyone who has had a positive experience with any kind of nontraditional health-care to talk to their friends and neighbors, direct them toward sources of information, read and share books, visit appropriate Web sites. When you hear of health-care bills let your politicians know how you feel and where you stand.
Take opportunities, go into your human resources departments at work and let them know the kind of health-care coverage you want. If available, consider taking a better health plan that covers alternative care the next time you are able to make a choice. If your current health plan covers some alternative care but not the specific kind you want, complain to your employer and to the insurance carrier. Let them know that you are not happy with your current plan and that you will not put up with substandard health-care coverage. This fight is for your health and the health of your loved ones.
By pulling together, we can and will make a difference. We can see a future of children and adults living healthier and happier lives. We aren't going to see these wonderful changes by the year 2008, but we may see them by the year 2010 or 2015. We need to stay vigilant, because the battle is still raging!
Cherubino Health Center
877-Ask Dr Ron (275-3776)
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What to Expect from Treatment
Natural health-care is designed to eliminate symptoms by eliminating causes.
"What can I expect to feel from my first treatment and what can I expect to experience from treatment in general?"
There are three possible responses to treatment.
Feeling the same
Feeling better
Feeling worse
This may seem quite obvious since these are the only three potential responses to any stimulus. However, when a person is anxious to feel better they may expect to feel better from the first treatment on. Because of the nature of alternative treatment any one of the three responses is appropriate. It is very important to remember that we are seeking to correct the underlying cause of the problem and allow the body to heal itself. (For more information please refer to our article, Alternative Care - How We See It)
Feeling the same - Even though changes are being made to the nervous system from the first treatment on, it may take some time before these changes become noticeable. This depends on the severity of the condition, the length of time it has been present and other individual factors.
Feeling better - The patient experiences an immediate improvement in symptoms or some function of the body. This improvement may be temporary at first, but will return in time as treatment progresses. Even though our treatment is correction based, not symptom based, symptoms will disappear once the cause of the problem has been eliminated.
Feeling worse - We are taught from our earliest experiences with Western medicine that if we feel better we are better. That if something is good for us it will make us feel better, even if it takes some time to "work". We have difficulty believing that something that is good for us could make us feel worse, even temporarily.
There are many different treatments and therapies available from a variety of sources, both traditional and non-traditional. Even with some non-traditional methods it is possible to eliminate symptoms and make someone feel better, without correcting the cause of those symptoms. Not correcting the cause of symptoms is similar to cutting the wires to a fire alarm to stop the noise rather than putting the fire out.
On the other hand, it is also possible to feel worse without actually being worse. In fact, one may feel worse while actually getting better. If you sit the wrong way, your leg will go numb, "fall asleep". This occurs from temporarily cutting off the nerve and blood supply to your leg. While the leg is numb you feel no pain.
As you shift your position, nerve and blood supply is restored. Oxygen is carried back into the leg, the numbness gives way to a throbbing pain, "pins and needles," and before long it feels normal again as normal function is restored.
CORRECTIVE TREATMENT
With corrective treatment it is possible to feel worse before you feel better. Every condition has it's own unique physiological reasons for symptoms becoming temporarily worse before finally improving.
We see this when treating the chronic muscular imbalance present in conditions such as scoliosis (curvature of the spine). In these cases the muscles on one side of the spine are considerably tighter than the opposing muscles on the opposite side.
There is sometimes an increase in discomfort as tight muscles loosen, weak muscles begin to work and the spinal segments begin to straighten. Once the muscles become comfortable with their new balance, the discomfort is gone and doesn't return.
No matter which of these three responses you experience, please remember that our staff is always here to answer your questions.
Even though symptoms will disappear with treatment, our methods are designed to treat the cause of the condition, not the symptom. Symptoms disappear once the cause is corrected. Our methods help the body correct the underlying causes of disease so symptoms will no longer be necessary.
Cherubino Health Center
877-Ask Dr Ron (275-3776)
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