Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Patient Success Story: Brittni Love
Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Patient Testimonial from Brittni Love
For over two months I suffered severe shooting pain in my lower back that went down the backs of my legs. I was very stiff and could barely get dressed in the morning. It just kept getting worse, and that's when I decided to try chiropractic.
I knew what would happen if I went to a doctor at a clinic. I really did not want to take pills.
I really liked how positive Dr. Folkers was that chiropractic would help my problem. I also appreciated how realistic he was about how long it may take.
The staff treats me like they know me, and they are pretty much amazing. Now I can get dressed without pain almost every day.
I would recommend anyone to try out Hackbart Chiropractic! Listen to them and trust that you will start feeling better with time. I did, and it has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Patient Success Story: Tom Jorgensen
Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Testimonial from Tom Jorgensen
I've been dealing with shoulder pain and weakness for the last six months and reflux for the past 20 years on and off. For the shoulder pain I was taking ibuprofen, and a variety of acid blockers for the reflux.
My symptoms have improved greatly. I am able to get all my workout done without pain, and sleeping through the night instead of waking up from the reflux. My stress is less as a result of the reduced pain.
My treatment by the staff is excellent; they are good people and very caring. Dr. Folkers is very thorough and helpful.
I would recommend to anyone to give chiropractic a try. I have had a very positive outcome!
Patient Success Story: Amy Johnson
Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Testimonial from Amy Johnson
I had been dealing with a lot of issues when I first started seeing Dr. Hackbart: hip and leg pain, arm pain and numbness, restless legs, and headaches. The headaches had been going on most of my life; the other problems about a year and a half.
I took aspirin for the aches and pains and migraine medication for the headaches because they were so bad. Nothing helped permanently.
Now all that's left of my original problems are minor headaches that I can deal with easily. I don't have the extreme headaches anymore or pain in my arms or legs. I am not as stressed as I used to be, my sleep has gotten better and so has my energy level.
The staff is amazing—everyone treats you as a person and not a number. I love the positive environment. All the staff members are very understanding.
I especially like the personal attention and quality care I receive each time I come in. I also liked the educational classes that helped me change my habits to healthier and safer ones.
Doctors Hackbart and Folkers are here to help you get better as long as you are willing to do your part! I love the way they know what areas to work on to get you feeling better, so you can enjoy your life.
Patient Success Story: Deb Hemphill
Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Testimonial from Deb Hemphill
Definitely worth trying!
I've been having problems with my left hand for about 3 ½ years. When the problems started I couldn't make a fist and my hand was very tight. I was prescribed medication for it. I was able to get off the meds, but 6 months later it all came back. After visiting with Dr. Folkers I decided to give chiropractic care a try.
I had been seeing an arthritis doctor for joint pain in my hands and also for inflammation. I had to take other medication to deal with the side effects and have monthly lab work as well.
Having regular adjustments has helped my hand! I don't like the many appointments, but I understand why they're necessary.
My original symptoms are much better. I'm trying to get off the medication to see if the symptoms return.
The staff at Hackbart Chiropractic is VERY nice and helpful. Chiropractic care is definitely worth trying!
Healing Digestive Disorders with Chiropractic
The Digestive System
Like all the body's systems (respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, nervous, and others), the digestive system is made up of several organs which work together to accomplish a task. The job of the digestive system is to break down food so the body can absorb energy and nutrients from that food, and remove from the body whatever the body can't digest or doesn't need.
Each organ in the digestive system (the throat, esophagus, stomach, and intestines) is connected to the brain via nerves which pass through the spinal column, just like every other organ in the body. If any of those nerves is pinched due to a vertebral subluxation (vertebrae which are out of place), the signals between the organ and the brain will be disrupted or prevented entirely. This can cause a host of problems and conditions.
Types of digestive disorders:
Various digestive disorders include: dyspepsia (chronic stomachache), ulcers (stomach acid burning through the lining of the stomach and intestines), heartburn (stomach acid escaping up into the esophagus), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach walls), chronic constipation (difficulty eliminating the bowels). These are some of the most common digestive disorders.
A medical doctor's approach to treating these disorders seems simple: prescribe a drug and solve the problem. But most drugs don't solve the cause of the disorder. They cover the symptoms.
Pain is not always a bad thing. If you have a headache, that can be a sign of pinched muscles or nerves, dehydration, or sleep deprivation. When you touch something hot you feel pain because your nerves send your brain a signal: something is wrong. Fix it!
The same is true with digestive discomfort of all kinds. A stomachache is a sign that something is wrong. Either there is something in your digestive system that shouldn't be there (food that doesn't agree with you, a bacterial infection or virus), or something isn't working right. The brain and the organ aren't communicating the way they should be.
This is where chiropractic comes in.
A chiropractic approach to treating digestive orders
- Get to the source of the problem. Chiropractors will examine the spine to see where there are pinched nerves. They will also help the patient determine if a lifestyle habit could be causing the problem, such as overuse of alcohol, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise or dehydration. Instead of using drugs to cover symptoms, chiropractic looks for the root cause of the problem and seeks to solve it.
- Correct vertebral subluxations. When an out-of-place vertebra (or more than one) are the cause of the problem, chiropractic care solves that! Regular adjustments are necessary for keeping all the body's systems working the way they were designed to.
- Increase water consumption and avoid dehydration. Especially in older patients, dehydration can be a problem because the sense of thirst can diminish with age. The digestive tract needs plenty of water to move food through it, and water is essential for the body to absorb energy and nutrients into the bloodstream. Dehydration can cause constipation, ulcers, colitis and dyspepsia.
- Improve diet and remove foods that trigger digestive issues. Many people's digestive problems are simply a result of a poor diet. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, with plenty of whole grains, healthy fats and protein, will ensure the digestive system works optimally. An overabundance of sugar-rich foods, spicy foods, or greasy foods (made with unhealthy fats) can cause chronic digestive issues. Try improving your diet, eating less fast food and processed foods, and see if that helps your digestive system.
If you suffer from chronic (or even occasional) digestive disorders or problems, try chiropractic care before you try drugs. Chiropractic will help improve the health of your whole body, and you won't be stuck with taking medicine the rest of your life!
Source:
Koren, Tedd D.C. (2012). Digestion, Heartburn and Ulcers (pamphlet). TFL Koren Publications Inc.
Patient Success Story: Allie Alt
Patients at Hackbart Chiropractic have seen significant improvements in their health because they receive chiropractic care. Some of these patients have extraordinary improvements and are examples of the life-changing power of chiropractic. We've asked some of these patients to share their stories. These testimonials are proof that chiropractic works and that it truly does change lives!
Testimonial from Allie Alt (age 9)
All my pain was gone after the second treatment!
"I was experiencing pain in a variety of areas—head, lower back, legs—for a couple weeks. Now I have no pain at all!
"I felt better after the first treatment. All the pain was gone after the second! Now I can play without a headache, and I wake up with no headache.
"I was treated very well by the staff—they and the doctors are all very nice. "
Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy
Most expectant mothers understand the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, and supplements during pregnancy, as well as avoiding alcohol, smoking and certain medications. However, many pregnant mothers may be unaware of the benefits chiropractic care can provide before, during and after pregnancy.
Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy
Before:
When trying to conceive, it is important to keep all the organs working properly, especially those pertaining to reproduction. Dads-to-be can benefit from chiropractic for this reason as well. Obviously maintaining a healthy diet and, if necessary, taking appropriate supplements are important when trying to conceive. But if any nerves leading to the reproductive organs are pinched at all, fertility will be negatively affected. (Read more in this post about how and why this works.) In this way chiropractic can help improve fertility and chances of becoming pregnant.
Chiropractic also helps prepare the mother's body for carrying a growing baby. A woman's body goes through myriad changes during pregnancy. Chiropractic care will keep her at optimum health by keeping her spine in alignment, and a healthy mother means a healthy baby.
During:
Chiropractic will correct vertebral subluxations (out-of-place vertebrae) that often occur during pregnancy. This happens when the mother's lower back will get pulled forward as her abdomen grows. To compensate, the mid-back and shoulders pull back, and the neck and head tilt forward. All of this can mean backaches and headaches for the mother-to-be. Chiropractic care keeps the spine in place, relieving the mother of many aches and pains.
Regular adjustments can help decrease morning sickness, back pain associated with a growing belly, and keep mother and baby healthier. A healthy spine allows the immune system to function at its best, which means the baby's immune system (intimately connected with the mother's) will be stronger as well.
Chiropractic also often shortens labor time and can decrease amount of labor pain, since a pelvis which is properly aligned makes enough room for baby to grow and be delivered more easily.
Chiropractic care is so safe that it can continue up till the day of delivery, and the mother may choose to be adjusted during labor, according to the discretion of her doctor and chiropractor.
After:
As the mother's belly returns to a normal position, chiropractic helps her spine return to its normal position. Adjustments can help curb back pain from nursing, carrying baby, and normal wear-and-tear from the work of caring for a newborn.
Keep baby healthy and make sure he or she gets adjusted too, as soon as possible after birth (see our post on Kids and Chiropractic).
Chiropractic care is for everyone, and that includes expectant mothers! If you received chiropractic care during pregnancy, please comment below with your experience. We'd love to hear your story!
Source:
French, Matt D.C. (2007). The Gonstead Difference: Pregnancy (pamphlet). Chirodesign, LLC.
Up, Up and Away: A Teleseminar for Kids
Check out the "Up, Up and Away" teleseminar and listen to it with your kids!
What do you think makes these Superheroes so SUPER?
Is it because of their superhero masks?
Or their superhero capes?
Or the fact that they can fly?!
Nope – although flying does sound pretty super.
They’re super because they followed the tips in our “Up, Up, and Away” teleseminar for kids.
This teleseminar is for parents and their kids to listen to together!
Click the "play" button below to listen.
[audio mp3="http://hackbartchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/upupandaway.mp3"][/audio]
Summertime Chiropractic Care
summertime chiro care
Summer: a time for family vacations, visits to the pool, lemonade stands, suntans, and-- chiropractic visits?
Yes! Chiropractic care is needed during the summer as well as during the rest of the year, if not more! Special summer activities can get your spine out of misalignment. If you're in the car or plane for a family vacation (and if you're lucky enough to be able to sleep on long trips), just think about the strange positions your neck and back is in! An adjustment is always a good idea post-vacation.
image via morguefile.com
Summer work can also be hard on your back, whether you're digging in the garden, mowing the lawn, or working on the farm.
As for your children, they'll be participating in summer sports, playing outside, and probably at least as active as they are during the school year. Bring your kids with you to get adjusted so they can stay healthy while they play and relax during the summer months!
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Keep your back healthy this summer with these tips:
- Focus on keeping your posture straight, whether standing, sitting, or lying down.
- Be careful when lifting heavy objects. Use your legs, not your back.
- Stretch before and after exercising (and make sure your kids do the same).
- For long car trips, get a neck pillow so you can sleep comfortably without hurting your neck. On a car trip, stop to stretch and walk around every couple hours. On plane trips, get out of your seat every hour or two (if it's safe to do so) to stretch and move around.
- Don't let the dog days of summer keep you from exercise! Swimming and walking are easy, pleasant, and not damaging to your back.
- Continue to get adequate sleep (7-9 hours for adults) and eat healthfully (always essential!) to keep your whole body in optimum health.
- See your chiropractor for regular adjustments!
This summer, keep yourself and your whole family healthy and happy with chiropractic!
Why Chiropractic Makes Sense
It's hard to understand the benefits of chiropractic care if you don't understand how the human body works. The whole body is connected. It was designed to be able to heal itself from injury and infection. But the body can't heal itself if the connections between the brain and the organs and muscles--nerves--aren't functioning properly. That's where chiropractic comes in: it helps keep those connections working the way they were designed to.
From Brain to Organ and Back
The nerves in your body send messages between the brain and your organs and muscles. Nerves need a clear path to send a correct signal: to tell a muscle to move, to tell organs to do their job, basically to keep your body running properly.
All nerves go back to the spinal cord and travel up to the brain from there. The spinal cord is protected by the spine: vertebrae (the bones of the spine) and inter-vertebral disks. If the vertebrae and disks are not lined up correctly (out of alignment), the nerves can become pinched, thus sending a faulty signal to the brain and/or the organ or muscle to which the nerve leads.
Below is an image illustrating this. This is a side view of the spine. You can see the herniated disk (red and "inflamed"), above the vertebra that is out of alignment. Between the two is the pinched nerve. Compare this to the normal disks and properly aligned vertebrae above and below, and the nerves which are free and not pinched.
Why Chiropractic Makes Sense
Many people visit a medical doctor for health problems such as headaches, digestive issues, allergies, and other ailments. These health issues can be caused not by something wrong with the organs of the body, but by incorrect signals between those organs and the brain resulting from pinched nerves in the spine.
This is how chiropractic care helps keep the whole body healthy. It keeps the nerves functioning the way they were designed to, so the rest of the body works the way it's supposed to.
A medical doctor doesn't always consider a pinched nerve to be a possible cause for health issues. Instead, they prescribe drugs to fix the problem, when those drugs may only mask the problem.
Consider as an example the problem of chronic constipation: a relatively minor problem, but frustrating and painful nonetheless. A doctor might prescribe a laxative to be taken daily, which can have other less-than-desirable side effects. A chiropractor will look for misaligned vertebrae in the area of the spine where the nerves are which lead to the intestine. (This is why x-rays are necessary in chiropractic care, so the doctor and patient can see where the problem areas are in the spine.) The chiropractor will also discuss nutrition with the patient in the example given, since a less-than-healthy diet might also be an underlying cause of constipation. Good nutrition and chiropractic care go hand-in-hand: but that's a topic for another article!
The Importance of Continued Care
A few adjustments may be enough to heal the spine to the point where the nerves and organs are functioning normally once again. But most people have habits and lifestyles that cause their spine to get misaligned on a regular basis. Injury, poor posture or already worn-down inter-vertebral disks make regular adjustments a necessity to keep the body functioning optimally.
Poor posture is something that can be remedied, simply by changing one's habits. (This will be discussed in greater detail in a future article!) But many people have disks that have been worn down over time, and those disks will never "grow back" to their original healthy state.
When a spine is affected by scoliosis, a condition many people have to some degree or another, the spine is bent or twisted. The disks of the spine with scoliosis are worn down where the spine is unnaturally curved. Several adjustments will help the spine get back in place where it should be. But because those disks are already worn, the vertebrae will slip back into the twisted or curved position. Thus to keep the nerves free and not pinched, regular adjustments are absolutely necessary.
No drugs will keep the spine aligned properly. No drugs can solve the problem of a pinched nerve. Drugs can help with many things, this is true, but if the cause of a problem is a pinched nerve, drugs will only cover the symptoms, not heal the actual problem.
This is why chiropractic makes sense!
Why Choose Hackbart Chiropractic?
Our top priority at Hackbart Chiropractic is the health of you and your family. Our goal is for you to experience lifelong health and freedom from pain, not just to mask your symptoms. Learn more about how our doctors can help you achieve that in this welcome video from Dr. Hackbart.
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Work Like A Charm: an Audio Seminar
benefits of chiropractic for your work and career - Hackbart Chiropractic, Seward, NE
Dr. Hackbart, Dr. Isaacson and I have put together an audio seminar. We've got great tips and advice for staying healthy at work. You don’t have to sacrifice your health for the perfect job – in fact, the healthier you are, the more successful and productive you’re likely to be in your career as well! So give yourself the balanced life you deserve and be happy, and healthy, all work-day long.
With these tips you will feel full of energy, vigor, passion, and enthusiasm!
Click play below to listen to the Work Like A Charm Seminar:
Chiropractic for Athletes
chiropractic for athletes at Hackbart Chiropractic in Seward, NE
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Chiropractic isn't just for car accidents and headaches! We provide care to a wide variety of people, many of whom are avid sports players. Chiropractic care is an excellent supplement to a healthy, fit lifestyle and influences coordination and balance. Regular adjustments can also improve reaction time and strength. One of our local college athletes talks about how chiropractic has benefited him in his athletic career.
Click play below to watch...
Want more information on chiropractic for athletes? Stop into our office and pick up one of our pamphlets full of excellent information and fascinating studies that reveal just how beneficial chiropractic can be in the world of sports.
Ear Infections
Ear infections or otitis media account for more than 35% of visits to the pediatrician each year. According to the American Chiropractic Association almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they’re 1 year old and two-thirds of them will have an ear infection by the age of 3.
Common signs your child may be experiencing an ear infection include: tugging or pulling at the ear(s), crying, trouble sleeping, fever, problems with balance, trouble hearing, etc.
Despite the routine use of antibiotics, incidence of ear infections (otitis media) with fluid (effusion) in the United States has increased by 250% from 1975-1990. Chiropractors typically find nerve pressure in the upper neck of children who suffer from ear infections. A chiropractic adjustment to the specific area of the neck has shown great results in helping with ear infections. With a Chiropractic adjustment, the nerves affecting the ear can be freed from interference allowing the ear to drain off any fluid and function properly. If left uncorrected, chronic infections can lead to permanent hearing damage or loss as well as developmental delays.
Avocados: Heart Healthy and Delicious, plus a Recipe!
Did you know that avocados are not only delicious, but they are powerhouses of nutrition, too!!!???!! With this being Heart Health week at Hackbart chiropractic, it's the perfect time to highlight this delicious super food and share some ways it can contribute to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Avocados contain oleic acid, an omega-9, monounsaturated fatty acid that can help lower our "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Oleic acid is also believed to slow the pace of heart disease and promote the production of antioxidants. The vitamin B6 and folic acid in avocados also control homocysteine levels, which again, helps to reduce the risks of heart disease.
Avocados are simply an all around nutrition burst. The lutein they contain helps to prevent age-related eye deterioration. And they are loaded with fiber which helps with digestion and regulation of blood sugar. Glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants, is also found in avocados. Glutathione boosts the body's immune system and promotes a healthy nervous system.
Chiropractic is about natural health and healing. Regular chiropractic visits go hand-in-hand with appropriate exercise and a healthy diet to be the least invasive, chemical-free and most successful ways to attain, and keep, good health. They all help to prevent and to treat the root cause of health problems, instead of simply trying to mitigate symptoms.
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Call the office, today to schedule a regular health maintenance adjustment and check out the recipe link, below, for just one example of how delicious, healthy eating can be. Our friend, Glenda, at Busy-at-Home has a fabulous recipe for Avocado Salsa (Click the picture or this link to get the recipe.) that will tantalize the taste buds of even the most finicky eaters in your household! Enjoy!
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Prostate Health: A Chiropractic Approach
Like any organ in the body, the prostate gland is in constant communication with the brain and if that communication is disrupted the prostate is not working at its optimal level. This makes it more difficult for the prostate to function normally, as well as ward off bacteria or viruses that may play a role in some forms of prostatitis. If there is a subluxation involved, (typically in the lower back), then it is likely that the prostate will respond to specific adjustments performed by a chiropractor. Some common symptoms associated with an unhealthy prostate include the inability to empty the bladder, decreased urine flow, and increase in frequency of urination at night, to name just a few. Another issue that typically gets good results with specific adjustments to the lower back is erectile dysfunction. When the prostate is unhealthy, the sex organs are involved making it difficult for some men to function normally on their own.
Interestingly, 80% of men with chronic low back pain also have prostate problems! A study done, by Dr. Winsor, found that eight out of eight male subjects who were having prostate problems also had nerve interference in the lumbar region of their backs. This shows that a lack of communication with the prostate gland may have a role in the function and overall health of the prostate. Restoring communication, with specific chiropractic adjustments, will help achieve or maintain a healthy prostate.
If you have questions, or are experiencing symptoms that you think may be related to prostate health, call our office and make an appointment to speak to Dr. Hackbart, Dr. Folkers, or Dr. Isaacson about restoring the nerve communication to the prostate gland. Chemical medications or invasive procedures should never be a first course of action. Instead of masking symptoms with temporary fixes, the natural healing of chiropractic care should always be the first choice for restoring health and eliminating the root cause of the problem.
June is Men's Health Month: Why Do You Need a Sports Exam?
During the month of June we will be looking at and discussing different topics that involve men’s health. Some examples of issues covered this month include: sports performance, prostate health, heart health, “tough guy” syndrome and nutrition.
Amateur and professional athletes are starting to make chiropractic care a top priority in their training. The three main ways chiropractic care helps enhance sports performance are:
- injury prevention
- recovery time after an injury
- getting to the cause of the problem.
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Chiropractors work first and foremost with the nervous system of the body which controls every movement and function of the body. An unhealthy nervous system could lead to a lack of balance, coordination, flexibility, and range of motion to name a few. All of these may lead to injuries during sports activities. If the nervous system is healthy, and functioning properly, a person will not only improve on all the aforementioned activities, but also have the ability to excel in their sport, while reducing the amount of time the body takes to recover after an event or injury. Chiropractors will examine the athlete’s spine, and biomechanics, checking for any nerve pressure or misaligned vertebrae which may compromise the function of the nervous system. Once these are removed, with specific adjustments, the body has the ability to perform at its optimal levels.
Call Hackbart Chiropractic, today, to schedule a sports exam or to speak to one of the doctors about your health questions.
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Gastric And Peptic Ulcers: A Chiropractic Approach
Peptic ulcers can be felt 15-30 minutes after eating and may be caused by too little mucus being secreted by the cells of the stomach. Chiropractors relate this problem to a subluxation or nerve pressure in the mid- to upper-neck region. This area is involved with the parasympathetic nervous system. By removing the pressure on the nerves, it will restore mucus production to the cells of the stomach.
Gastric ulcers may subside 20 minutes after eating and may be aggravated by an increase in hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Chiropractors look for nerve pressure in the middle of the back and, if no response is seen, they will look in the upper neck region. Once the pressure is removed and the nerve function is restored the stomach can function normally. Also recommended is eliminating certain foods such as coffee and sugar from the diet. Niacinamide found in corn and pork will help aid in stomach tissue regeneration as well as vitamin A and/or Gastrex Capsules, both products in the Standard Process supplement line. Increasing water consumption has also been shown to help with digestive tract problems as many people are dehydrated and don’t realize that they are.
Acid Reflux: A Chiropractic Approach
Acid reflux is caused by your stomach producing too little, or too much, digestive enzymes or gastric acid. By working with the mid-back region, and the neck, chiropractors can help restore normal function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, which regulate the function of stomach digestion.
The muscle preventing the backward flow of stomach contents is sensitive to the amount of acid in the stomach. When more acid is being produced in the stomach, the tighter the muscle contracts, preventing the reverse flow of stomach contents. If there is not enough acid being produced by your stomach, the muscle will be more lax and more likely to allow reverse flow. If you experience heartburn, on an empty stomach, your body is producing too much gastric acid and this could be a result of interference with the parasympathetic system. Both are causes of too little or too much gastric acid production. Along with adjustments, we also suggest Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, available in our office or many health food stores, Gastrex (a supplement produced by Standard Process, also available at Hackbart Chiropractic), and a healthy diet.