2502 NYCC TRANS FINAL2 - New York Chiropractic College

Ergonomic Nutrition
by Dennis Homack, D.C., C.C.S.P., Assistant Professor
talent
POOL
Dennis Homack, D.C., C.C.S.P.,
is an NYCC faculty member who
teaches ergonomics and the unique
role chiropractors play in industrial
and ergonomic issues.
Can nutritional supplements
be ergonomically correct? A clear
connection does appear to exist
between nutrition and ergonomics.
Ergonomic programs are
geared to improve worker safety,
reduce exposure to repetitive
stress, improve productivity, and
enhance the overall quality of life
for workers. Dietary supplements
that serve these ends can
be thought of as ergonomic nutrition.
Consider the case of repetitive
stress injuries where repeated
movements result in damaged tissues.
Supplements that contain
vitamins A, C and D support
such tissues’ healing. Similarly
with joints: Chondroitin and
Glucosamine relieve the articular
surfaces of joints and help
prevent repetitive stress injuries
(RSIs). A diet that helps heal
damaged tissues concurrently reduces
the devastating effects that
stresses impose on those same
tissues. Ergonomic specialists
make every effort to identify and
reduce environmental conditions
that pose potential harm to the
body. They similarly identify
those tissues that are likely to suffer
stress, and thereafter make
every effort to strengthen and
protect them through, among
other things, sound nutrition.
Safe work environments are
more likely to exist where employees
are mentally alert and
Dr. Les Moore Teaches
Herbal Types and Timing
by Randy John, 7th Trimester
thinking clearly. To the extent
Ginkgo Biloba favorably impacts
vascular insufficiency and agerelated
brain dysfunction, it is an
ergonomic assist.
Supplementation is only part
of the ergonomic picture.
Nutrition’s benefits reveal themselves
most strikingly where one’s
overall physical condition is conscientiously
looked after. Always
ensure that the body is adequately
hydrated. Remain on the lookout
for potentially damaging conditions.
An holistic approach to
ergonomic issues ensures that
workers optimally benefit from
even the slightest improvements
to their work environments.
Naturopathic physician Les
Moore spoke at the NYCC
main campus. Hosted by the
Botanical Club, his topic was
“Herbals and Musculoskeletal
Healing,” which he has studied
most of his life. Dr. Moore
grew up learning from his
herbalist father, was mentored
for a couple years by a Native
American herbalist, and then
attended the National College
of Naturopathic Medicine in
Portland, OR, where he earned
a Doctoral degree in Naturopathic
Medicine and a Master
of Science degree in Oriental
Medicine. He is also a licensed
acupuncturist.
Dr. Moore began his talk with
an overview of recommended
books, and then gave a brief history
of the herbal movement in
the U.S. He addressed the continuing
controversy of whole
herbs versus standardized extracts,
citing the benefits and
shortcomings of each, and then
moved on to a discussion of specific
herbs. Focusing first on
Western herbs, he reviewed anodynes
(pain killers), antiinflammatories,
anti-rheumatics,
and anti-spasmodics, and discussed
the use of herbs both singly
and in combination. As he
spoke, he passed around dried
herbs and tinctures for the audience
to smell and taste. Next, he
gave a brief overview of Chinese
herbal medicine, and talked about
the distinctions between Traditional
Chinese Medicine and
Classical Chinese Medicine. He
concluded with the use of liniments,
oils, and poultices for a
variety of ailments.
One of Dr. Moore’s most
notable points was that having
only a little information may be
as bad (or worse) than none at
all. For example, some herbs
are excellent at tonifying the
body when it is fighting an infection,
but taking those herbs
at the wrong time during the
illness may strengthen the offending
organism as well as the
host body, thereby increasing
the symptoms and making it
harder to regain health. Treating
with herbs, as with all aspects
of health care, requires us
always to learn more.
www.nycc.edu
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