Although most people are familiar with chiropractors in general, most have never heard of “upper cervical chiropractic” care. In this episode, Dr. Rachae Bell joins the show to explain this specialized field of medicine, as well as the benefits for things like headaches, neck pain, neurologic diseases, and post-surgical pain. 

• Dr. Bell grew up in Davenport playing multiple sports and was interested in medicine from her experience in sports. While working on her undergraduate degree in California, her roommate convinced her to talk to some chiropractors, as Dr. Bell was much more interested in natural medicine vs. pharmacology. This started off her journey to becoming a chiropractor.

Luke is back with part 2 of this topic, sharing 4 additional natural strategies you can use to reduce pain and inflammation, without relying on medications (or at least not as your first option).

Show Notes

• The show starts with a quick review of the last episode, which included the first 4 ways to naturally reduce pain and inflammation. Make sure to check out that episode before listening to this one. Here’s a quick recap of those first 4: eating less sugar and simple carbs (and eating more high-quality proteins and fats instead), eliminating food allergies and/or sensitivities, reducing your toxic load (related to things like pesticides or other chemicals around the home) and getting more probiotics in your diet (with fermented foods and/or supplements). 

In his first solo full-length episode, Luke shares some key insights into how he helps his clients reduce their levels of pain and inflammation naturally. During this episode, he shares the first 4 strategies, and the next 4 will be covered in Part 2 (8 strategies total). 

• One of the biggest frustrations in medicine these days is that people feel like they’re being “farmed out” to multiple specialists for their various conditions, and no one is in charge of finding the underlying, root cause of the problem. For example, you might see a GI specialist for your stomach issues, an Endocrinologist for your Diabetes, and a Rheumatologist for your joint pain. But what if the underlying issue with these conditions was simply too much systemic inflammation and an overactive immune system? Wouldn’t it make perfect sense to reduce your level of information, with the hope that it would have a positive impact on every aspect of your health? Is that too much to hope for?

Cori Noll with doTerra joins the show to discuss the health benefits of using essential oils. As the title implies, the discussion was geared towards people who are looking to get started with essential oils but want to know more about the common oils, as well as some easy ways to use them. Cori provides some awesome beginner’s information!

• Cori got started using essential oils several years ago when a co-worker gave her some oils to treat an ongoing tension headache. After experiencing some immediate relief, Cori became very interested in using oils to improve her health with natural products.

Dr. Jason Aldred, neurologist and Parkinson’s expert, joins the podcast to discuss how people with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) can still live an active and enjoyable life. The podcast covers for main topics: early signs and symptoms of PD (including diagnosis), treatment options (natural and medical), other issues related to PD, and additional resources and research in the field.   

• Dr. Aldred initially studied Greek and Latin, as well as the study of consciousness and the idea of free will. This led him to an interest in neuroscience and how the brain controls movement of the body.

Jenny Stuchell, nutrition enthusiast and owner of Pantry Fuel, joins the podcast to discuss how “soil health” has an impact on the nutrition of the foods we eat. She also shares her journey to creating Pantry Fuel, which prepares delicious meals for people who don’t always have the time or energy to cook nutrient-dense meals.

• Jenny’s road to natural health began at a young age when she was experiencing pain in her abdomen, which was believed to be related to her ovaries. After expensive testing and no results, she finally discovered that she’s lactose intolerant. This kicked off her interest in nutrition and health, which she later studied at Gonzaga University.

Dr. Lindsay Donahue (Naturopath) joins the show to discuss the ins and outs of natural medicine, as well as sharing some simple and effective ways to maximize your health. A great start to the Stay Healthy podcast!  

• Dr. Donahue was first exposed to natural medicine when she was 14 years old, after she and her family were looking for solutions to repeated ear infections and issues with asthma

• Favorite book: “The Bridge at Andou” by James Michener

Welcome to the very first episode of the "Stay Healthy Spokane" podcast, hosted by Dr. Luke Gordon, physical therapist and owner of Gordon Physical Therapy. This podcast is dedicated to helping people in and around the Spokane region stay as active and healthy as possible, while avoiding things like painkillers and more invasive medical procedures, such as injections and surgery. In this introductory episode, Luke will explain the inspiration for the podcast, his passion for natural medicine, and the future vision for his guest interviews and health-related information. Enjoy!