By David Pollack, DC

Every day I have patients come in with a variety of new symptoms. Sometimes they’re mundane and simple; other times they seem scary—even bizarre—at first. 

Just this past week I had a patient tell me that out of nowhere, the left side of her face and her left arm and leg felt slightly numb, with a pins-and-needles sensation. After interviewing her and examining her for red flags, I felt with a high degree of confidence that despite the seemingly terrible sound of the situation, it was not critical or life-threatening. I proceeded to do what I do: a combination of soft-tissue treatment, chiropractic adjustment, cold laser therapy, and acupuncture. She left without any of those symptoms. They were completely gone. 

She then said to me (which was embarrassingly flattering), “You are a miracle worker, Dr. Pollack. If I’d gone to my regular doctor, they would have sent me to the ER. I would have been there for hours getting MRIs and who knows what. Then they would have sent me to several specialists over the next few weeks. It would have been torture. And just to come back here and have you fix it anyway.” 

I said, “Thank you. It probably would have cost thousands, as well.”

This kind of thing happens most days. It has become almost funny how often I ask people, “Do you think I can just fix anything?” And they tell me yes, yes you can. 

Coaxing the Body to Heal

Now, this really isn’t about my abilities. There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of amazing healers in this country—with a variety of degrees, backgrounds and experiences—that have dedicated their lives to helping people heal naturally. 

Again, we need those amazing medical doctors and surgeons for the times when our health or even our life is critically threatened. They are experts in diagnosing and treating life-threatening conditions. But if it isn’t life-threatening, it’s just not their thing. 

On a regular basis, we natural and holistic healthcare providers help people overcome their health problems—like heartburn and GERD, colitis, thyroid disease, infertility, and chronic pain of every shape and size, just to pick a few. Certainly, let’s find out if there is something nefarious going on, but if it isn’t a critical, acute, and life-threatening situation, let’s work on coaxing your body to actually heal and not cover up the symptoms with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and other temporary Band-Aids.

David L Pollack, DC, is the owner of Pollack Wellness Institute, located at 66 Commack Rd., #204,

Commack, NY. For appointments or more information, call 631-462-0801, email [email protected] or visit PollackWellness.com.