There was a potter who needed a pitcher for the milk she poured over her cereal every morning. She went to her studio, chose the clay she thought best and sat at her wheel. She made a shape pleasing to her eyes–after all it was her pitcher. She brushed on her favorite color of glaze, fired it and was delighted with the results–she had created a beautiful pitcher.

She took it home, filled it with milk, put it in the refrigerator and went to bed. The next morning the potter poured a bowl of cereal, opened the refrigerator, and reached for her new pitcher.

The pitcher suddenly shouted, “Oh, no you don’t! Keep your hands off!”
The potter responded, “I was just going to pour some milk on my cereal.”
“No, you’re not!” Replied the pitcher. “I worked hard to get this. I started out with no milk at all, but through hard work and careful stewardship, I am now full of milk. No one’s going to come along and pour out all that I’ve wanted so long to achieve!

“Hmmm,” pondered the potter. “I don’t think you understand the real story here. You see, I created you and I made you for the express purpose of filling you with milk so that I could pour it out each morning on my cereal. You were made to pour not to store!”
“A nice story, but I don’t get it,” said the pitcher.

Well, I see you are in need, and I am a generous pitcher. I will give you two tablespoons of my milk. That should wet the cereal nicely. Everything in Moderation — that is what I think!”

The potter looked deeply into the heart of the pitcher, “You’re afraid,” she said, “If you allow me to pour out the milk you will find yourself empty, that you will then be poor, and that I will throw you out and find another pitcher. You don’t realize that if you allow me to empty you, I will have found you to be a priceless pitcher. Then I will continue to fill you to the top over and over and over again, and we will become partners in emptying and refilling you. Perhaps, if you are willing to be emptied more completely and more often, I will find many other bowls of cereal who are longing to be drowned in the love of your giving.”

“And what if I don’t believe you and want to play it safe and just keep the milk I’ve got?” The pitcher inquired.

“You are free to make that choice,” the potter said with a sad voice. “Then I will make another pitcher who is willing to be my partner. I will have to set you on the back of the refrigerator shelf. You can keep your milk. But after a time, your odor will keep everyone away, and you will have missed the greatest job for which all pitchers are created — the joy of being poured out!”

Keep the sour milk out of your fridge on the next page

Don’t Let Your Milk Stink.

You were made to pour not to store!”

I think we are all inherent givers. It feels good to give. If you don’t give of yourself or work to help others, you start to feel like the old milk in the back of the fridge. I think we all know some stinky milk.

I was in church last Sunday and there was a significant plea for food shelf donations. Nine more families have signed on for help. The need for food is greater than any years past. Sometimes giving falls by the wayside because it is easily forgotten. So I hope to inspire you and reward you for giving.

Most of you have food you don’t need and often times should replace with an organic variety or something of that nature.

Bring Food Shelf donations to the office.

You get $1 off for every food item you bring in. Yes, I’ll give you a $1 off adjustments or supplements for each item you bring in by November 26^th, 2008.

As a bonus: If you bring in something you are looking to replace with an organic counterpart, I’ll tell you what to replace it with and where you can buy it.

I really want to make a huge office donation to the food shelf with a card with everyones name on it. I would like them to see how many people are trying to help make the world a little better.

On a side note. Raw, non-pasteurized milk goes sour and is still healthy and used as such throughout the world. Pasteurized milk rots and becomes toxic. Something to ponder?

For Higher Enlightenment and Good Karma.

Here is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. Can you make a difference in someones life who is suffering from physical ailments.

You get 1 free visit for every person you share chiropractic with and bring into the office as a new patient.

This is what can happen

This Thanksgiving give thanks for your health and follow in the footsteps of local guardian angels and embrace helping others.

One of our patients shops at Barnes & Noble fairly often and has come to know one of their employees. After seeing and hearing about the numerous health problems this employee had, our guardian angel encouraged over and over again for her to come to the office and talk to me. Our patient (guardian angel) didn’t quit after one “I’ll think about it” or “I can’t afford it”. Our guardian angel knew she needed help so she kept on. Many times people with chronic problems have been given the “there is nothing we can do speech” and assume that is true. Our patient knew better. This is what can happens when someone puts their whole heart and faith into getting better.

“In a nutshell… Dr. Altman saved my life. When I first came to Dr. Altman 6 weeks ago I felt hopeless. I’m 36 years old and I truly felt that I was dying. I was so deeply entrenched in medical problems and worries since I was 6 years old, but I didn’t care what medications I took just as long as I could temporarily feel better. After all I thought didn’t have much longer to live, even my body support this feeling.

I was lethargic, depressed, forgetful, and had pain everywhere. I was taking 2 to 10 Ibuprofen a day. I was going through a bottle of antacids per week. This was in addition to my prescription. For asthma allergies and high blood pressure, but I was still having health problems.

I was referred to Dr. Altman and after my first adjustment I felt like new and I could actually move around without being stiff or in pain. I was put on a special diet with supplements. Each week that passed, I was able to ween myself off, of different medications and I didn’t have any more problems with heart burn or body aches, and I have more energy and can even work out without using my asthma rescue inhaler. I even lost 10 pounds without even trying.

So, now I am down to one medication and a standby asthma inhaler, which I rarely use. A big triumph was getting off the prednisone, which I have been on for almost a year. It was indeed killing me.

No, it’s not easy avoiding food, I crave, Nor is it a simple thing to force myself to exercise on certain days, but the results are worth it. I still have work to do. But with Dr. Altman’s everlasting kindness and knowledge we’ve accomplished so much in so little time, and we’ll continue to see results. I am hopeful and I feel alive. People have noticed this at work. I’d have at least 10 different people mentioned how good and healthy I look. I am and forever grateful to Dr. Altman for saving my life.”

- Monica Spees ,Mapleton, October 2008

Did You Know?

..According to the CEO of Allina hospitals, the U.S. healthcare system costs 2.5 times more than any other country and we get to be #24 on the list of countries for longevity and useful years..

…Basically our medical money is broken.  The nice thing is he recognizes the problem and wants to do something.  They are looking to “focus upstream on wellness.” Too bad they aren’t trying to tap into chiropractic, we’ve been doing it for over 100 years.

…According to the CEO, 60% of the resources are wasted in chronic diseases like heart disease.

…The hospitals don’t get any payments for wellness visits, only for E.R. visits.  Basically there is no financial incentive to promote wellness.

...Americans Spend $27 Billion a Year on Herbs, Massages, and Other Elective Treatments -HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

…In 1997, the study found, people in the United States made more visits to alternative medicine practitioners than to primary care doctors. The score was 629 million to 386 million.

-HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

…people turned to alternative help most frequently for such chronic conditions as back and neck pain, anxiety, arthritis, and headaches.

-HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

…If this is you or someone you know, come in and let us help you. Drugs are not a long term solution.

Good, Because You’re Right! 

Hot air makes things rise, and I want you to rise above the average American.  I want New Ulm to be the healthiest town in Minnesota.

Every month you read about Dr. Altman’s Top 10 most repeated phrases:  Now how many are you doing?

#10 How great organic food is.

#9 How bad pesticides are for you.

#8 How food additives will make you fat.  Additives like MSG (monosodium glutamate) and partially hydrogenated oil.

#7 Fast food contains all the nasty chemicals and additives we talk about.

#6 Whole food vitamins give you more nutrition than off-the-shelf vitamins.  Which is especially important if you are not eating organic food.

#5 How many medications are werewolves in sheep’s clothing.  Waiting to jump out and eat little Red Riding hood.  Yum Yum.  Depending on which numbers you use, medications are the #1 or #3 cause of death in the United States.  By the way,

according to the CDC itself, hospital-born infections are the #4 cause of death.

#4 How surgery should be your last resort.

#3 If you haven’t been in a major accident or bleeding, our office is a great place to start your health care.  If we can’t find a natural method to help, we will send you on to someone who can help.  We have patients with almost every problem under the sun. 

#2 68% of death and disease can be attributed to diet: (Ex-surgeon general C. Everett Koop)

#1 If you read this entire blog and take some action’ your health, well-being, and pocketbook will be better off.

Now more than ever taking care of your health is so important.  As many incomes dwindle knowing what to eat is critical.  We have a single patient who can only spend $20 a week on groceries and I have her food logs and she eats well, so well in fact she has lost more than 10 lbs and feels better than she has in 30 years.

The easiest and cheapest food you can buy that is good for you is eggs.  So check out the Eggs Florentine recipe.