Timmy has strep

Hello! I have recently been inspired to start a blog and this is my maiden post. My blogs are intended to get you thinking, not as personal health advice. If you find a nugget in my writing that sparks your curiosity, I encourage you to research it more, pray about it, meditate over it, and put it in the context of your goals and values. No one perfect way exists to accomplish any task. The ideas in my blog are what fit the values and goals for my family. I will do my best to provide the logic, research and science behind all the topics. If one of my blogs helps one family make one conscious decision, then all my time and effort have been worth it.

First, let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Daryle Hightower, a 26 year old chiropractor in Quincy, IL. I recently graduated chiropractic school and have opened my own practice called Thrive Chiropractic. I am married to my best friend, soul mate and forever life partner. He challenges me each and every day to become the best-version-of-myself. And as I type this blog my 8-month old son is trying to bite my coral painted toes!

Now, I know you might be thinking, "What authority do you have to blog about certain topics? You're only 26 and your clinical experience wouldn't fill a thimble." And to you I say that is true! I am a very green doctor in experience, but I love to read! In fact, my version of relaxation involves cuddling up with a good health/birth/pregnancy/baby/religion book and taking notes on lines that inspire or intrigue me (while the baby is sleeping, of course). My coffee table and guest bedroom are piled high with such books that I have either read or are in the course of reading. You can call me a bit of a nerd! And as if 35 credit hours of class during chiropractic school wasn't enough, I engaged in class on the weekends as well. I am currently pursuing a certification in pediatrics and pregnancy chiropractic. Only two classes and a research paper stand between me and the 200 hour certificate. I also have a bit of a knack for learning. School always came easy to me and I believe learning, especially health-related, is just one of those special gifts that came from above. I try each and every day to develop that gift further and serve God by sharing it with others. Hence this blog!

Now to the point, Timmy has strep. I have been hearing this very often in the past few months from friends, family, practice members at my clinic, and reading posts on Facebook. My child has strep, a cold, the flu, xyz infection, etc. What I always want to ask is, "What do you mean that Timmy has strep?" Is this something new? Was the streptococcus bacteria hanging out on the door handle that Timmy touched and now he is infected leading to all the symptoms? Does bacteria in the body automatically equal symptoms? Of course not! You could swab the throats of hundreds of asymptomatic people and find the same streptococcus bacteria that causes strep throat. So why don't they have a sore throat, fever, chills, aches and all the other symptoms that come with what we call "strep throat?" Strep throat is not the presence of streptococcus bacteria in the throat, it is the body's inability to adapt to the streptococcus bacteria in the throat. So I suggest a paradigm shift, a language shift, where instead of saying "Timmy has strep," we say "Timmy has succumb to strep." Option two is more accurate.

A great in the field of chiropractic, Dr. Fred Barge, DC, uses the following analogy. Rats are always found in dumpsters full of trash. Therefore, rats must create the dumpsters full of trash. Of course we all know this isn't true. The trashy conditions in the dumpster are perfectly suited for rats, therefore rats take advantage of the conditions and dwell in the dumpster. The same is true with our bodies. Streptococcus bacteria is always found in the throats of children with strep throat. Therefore, streptococcus bacteria causes strep throat. Knowing the previous analogy, we now know this cause-effect is silly. Strep bacteria is found in asymptomatic and symptomatic people alike. The difference is the condition of the body. Those that have healthy functioning bodies have no trouble adapting to the strep in their throat. Those whose bodies are not in the best condition will likely succumb to the strep. Their body is unable to properly adapt and the strep bacteria take advantage and wreak havoc. Therefore, our goal should always be to strengthen the body, not kill the bacteria. You can kill all the rats in a dumpster, but if you do not remove the trash, new rats will make their home.

We all have within us an intelligence that constantly adapts the internal environment to external conditions. It is always at 100% and always functioning. It always makes the correct decision. It coordinates the function of all the organ systems. When you cut your finger, it orchestrates the healing process. In chiropractic we call this innate intelligence. It travels over the nervous system from above-down-inside-out (brain-spinal cord-peripheral nerves-tissues). As long as this intelligence can move freely throughout your body, health ensues. When the communication of innate intelligence is interfered with, health declines. Chiropractic is the philosophy, science and art of removing interference to the nervous system and innate intelligence. One of my favorite quotes from the developer of chiropractic, B.J. Palmer, D.C., states, “While other professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body, chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.”

So next time Timmy succumbs to strep, or the flu, or a cold, or xyz infection, remember this blog. Before you run to Walgreens to pick up an antibiotic/antiviral/etc., consider seeing his symptoms as signs to strengthen his weakened body. Choose health. Choose chiropractic.