Introducing Penrith Chiropractor Dr. Peter Bennett
I am healhier, stronger and have more vitality at 44 than I did at 22!
From my early teens I suffered from headaches, usually about 1 or 2 per week. I also got a lot of throat infections and was prone to colds. When I was at college I had an incident where my neck locked up painfully. Physiotherapy eased it eventually but my headaches got more frequent and painful. Coincidentally (I thought) my jaw joints were getting sore because I was grinding my teeth. In my 20s I was working for pharmaceutical companies researching new medicines (I can tell you some stories about clinical trials that would make your hair curl). I couldn’t cope with stress – I would get sick headaches. If I skipped a meal I would pass out. Strangely enough I always thought of myself as very healthy! My GP couldn’t diagnose anything so from her point of view I was healthy.
Finally my jaw was so painful I went to my GP. She said I could either wait until the pain was so crippling I could have my jaw joint surgically replaced “or I suppose you could try a chiropractor” I went through the Yellow Pages, found a chiropractor and went to the first visit feeling pretty fed up and sceptical.
Lynne (the chiropractor) examined me and explained that the problems in my jaw, neck, headaches, digestion and reactions to stress were all part of the same process – my nervous system was disrupted. I was amazed that it took her 30 minutes to give a better explanation of how the body works than I had had in years of study and working in the medical field.
Within a few months all my problems were easing. Now after 14 years of regular chiropractic care I feel the best I have ever been. I am healhier, stronger and have more vitality at 44 than I did at 22! Lynne impressed me so much I gave up my career and studied to be a chiropractor. This is a decision I have never regretted. My only regret is that I didn’t know about chiropractic as a child – I could have been saved from all that ill-health. This is why all my children are adjusted regularly.
Our number one principle is that you have responsibility for your body. You decide when to start and stop care, you decide whether to follow our advice or not. Our role is to offer you the best information on how to achieve better health and to be the best provider of that health care.
Our number two principle is that if it is good enough for me and my family it is good enough for you. Everything we offer has been tried by myself and my family first. We also do not keep things just for us as that would give my children an unfair advantage.
I have a wonderful wife and seven healthy and energetic children. We moved to Cumbria because we love the open air and we are out walking, sailing and climbing whenever possible. We all need space and freedom and this is the best place to get it.
All of my family receive chiropractic care at least once a week. I go to my colleagues at Carlisle Family Chiropractic for my care. I would like to go weekly but I have to balance my health against family time so I compromise on once a fortnight.
Chiropractic care is at the heart of our healthcare. We get adjusted first. If necessary we use herbal remedies and aromatherapy. If there is an emergency we will take medication and visit the GP but these emergencies are rare. Accidents will happen and we have had occasion to be very grateful for the high quality medical care we have received but we believe the NHS is there for emergencies only - our health is our responsibility.
Our children have received very few vaccinations. We made our decisions based on the balance of risk. For example we live on a farm so the risk of tetanus is high and the relative risk of the vaccine is therefore lower, so all the children have had the tetanus vaccine.
We don't watch television as we try to keep the children active all the time. Janet and I are members of the local gym and we all walk, cycle, swim and sail.
We are careful to eat a balanced diet with lots of fish and olive oil etc. We find that Cumbria has excellent suppliers of high quality local food and we make the most of it. Our approach is "If it ain't food, don't eat it". Look at the list of ingredients - if you don't understand it or can't pronounce it it isn't food so avoid it.
I am an excellent listener and I hope I get the opportunity to meet you in person and discuss your health challenges. Call our practice or email me on the link below.
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