Chiropractor Makes Whole Life Adjustments

When Dr. Eunice Deane sees a new client, she’ll give them more than just a standard questionnaire about health history to fill out. Her chiropractic office in Chicago is a place where people know they will get a comprehensive exam, a specific adjustment and a treatment plan that includes diet and other changes to help their condition. She states, “My ideal client is someone who is ready to invest in themselves and ready, willing and able to commit to healthy lifestyle changes in order to get different results and outcomes in their life.”

Deane has experienced firsthand the powerful effects of multifaceted treatments. She had never thought about chiropractic medicine until suffering a traumatic head injury in 1982. After seeing a number of doctors and not making much progress, she was referred to a chiropractor that used applied kinesiology and cranial work to help her headaches and inability to concentrate. In a short period of time, Deane made a full recovery and became extremely interested in the process. “I was in a premed program in college, but got sidetracked,” she says. “This was literally the hit on the head I needed to go back.”

Deane immersed herself in learning as much as she could by going to chiropractic school during the week and taking postgraduate classes on the weekends. She now has extensive training in chiropractic neurology, internal medicine, rehabilitation, emotional and energetic techniques, acupuncture and clinical nutrition, and has been practicing for more than 16 years. “My focus is really on treating the whole person,” she says. “Structure, biochemistry and emotion all go together, and are the three parts of the wellness triangle. If one of them isn’t strong, then the others won’t be either.”

Deane starts by completing a comprehensive exam and intake on her clients. “I have to find the root of the problem,” she says. “The place that’s painful isn’t always where the issue is.” Chiropractic adjustments are done to stimulate the nervous system. “Nerves move the muscles, and muscles move the bone,” says Deane. “When you release where the nervous system is impinged, you release the nerve, the artery and the vein, allowing for better blood flow for delivery of nutrients and faster removal of waste products.”

A biochemical analysis shows how the body is functioning inside. “A lot of people have inflammation, which prevents them from healing properly,” says Deane. “I need to make sure that people have the proper building blocks to repair after an adjustment.” She checks adrenal, potassium, chloride, sodium, and vitamin D levels, does a complete blood count and looks at lipid levels. She also evaluates blood sugar imbalances and autoimmune levels. “Seventy to 80 percent of your immune system is in the digestive tract,” she says. “Leaky gut is the beginning of autoimmune disease, which can be the beginning of cancer.” Deane might suggest nutritional or lifestyle changes, noting, “Our food today is so full of chemicals, and some people’s bodies don’t tolerate dairy or gluten.”

An emotional component complements Deane’s work. “Emotions play a large part in Chinese medicine,” she says. “Energy gets stored in the muscle when an emotion is unresolved. Each emotion has its own meridian. For example, anger, rage and frustration are stored in the shoulders and result in shoulder tension and headaches in the side of the head.” She says this is a big sign that the emotional energy is off. “There has to be a balance in energy,” says Deane. “Too much is just as bad as too little.” She works with her clients to help neutralize their reactions to certain emotional triggers and advises, “If you are able to let go of your emotional associations, then when the same issue comes up again, you won’t have the same reaction.”

Deane has also developed techniques for assessing and treating limiting beliefs. “How somebody thinks about their condition is directly related to how they’re going to heal,” she says. “They might not be happy about their autoimmune condition, but if they can say they unconditionally accept it, to be neutral, they are more likely to be able to move forward.” Her clients are most able to heal when they practice forgiveness and unconditional love.

Helping people get to a better quality of life is what makes Deane’s job so satisfying. “After my injury, I was scared I could never work again,” she says. “I feel like I got my life back, and I love to be able to do that for other people. I see improvements in their energy, cognition, alignment, mood and overall functioning and well-being. It’s extremely gratifying.”

The office of Eunice Deane, DC, is located at 6137 N. Elston Ave., in Chicago. For more information, call 773-631-5001 or visit DrEuniceDeane.com.

Carrie Jackson is a staff writer at  Natural Awakenings. Connect with her at CarrieJacksonWrites.com or @Carrie1Jackson on Twitter