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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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The Spinal Column ~ “I don’t believe in the Germ theory.”

“I don’t believe in the Germ theory.”

Dr. Redmond: I remember laughing at the absurdity of this statement when I was in chiropractic school. After all, this is something we learn about from birth! We get exposed to a germ, it infects us, and we get sick. Done deal. Simple. There were actually people who claimed they “didn’t believe” in this simple concept. Really? How could they be so ignorant? But one day, I decided to put my pre-programmed dogma aside and really think about this idea.

Microscopic organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungal spores, etc.) cover every surface we come in contact with. They even cover our skin and line the walls of our digestive tract. They reside in every orifice of our body. Many of them are beneficial and necessary to our survival. This means that, more than likely, we are actually exposed to the critters that cause colds and flus almost every day of our life! Staph and strep are regular residents on and in our body.

So why don’t we all have staph and strep infections all the time?

The answer lies in our extremely effective immune system! Our body is constantly working to keep our little ecosystem in balance. This is why a group of people can all be exposed to the same infected individual, yet they don’t all get sick.

So it really isn’t as simple as just getting infected, is it? There are many things we can do to strengthen our immune system to help fend off invaders. If our body is properly cared for, we can defend ourselves. Aren’t we amazing creations?!

Location: Samsara Chiropractic Wellness Center, 1 Eastern Ave, Second Floor East, Somerville. 908-300-8800. [email protected]. DoctorRedmond.com.

Local Insights
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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