Pastor Niemoller and the Walnuts

[Todd Galley: Family Chiropractor]

This week’s THOT shares a message we received recently from fellow chiropractor, Joe Strauss.  Dr. Strauss practices in Pennsylvania.  He utilizes a “Box-on-the-Wall” fee system, which he has been offering his practice members since before we were born.  The original message was send to subscribers of his philosophical website, which are primarily other chiropractors.  We felt it was written so simply and so powerfully that it would be a shame not to share it with all of you.  We didn’t change a word.  If it rings as true with you as it does with us please feel free to share it with others.  Thanks for the inspiration and continued vigilance Joe Strauss… we appreciate you.

‘You had to know that if the government bureaucracy made enough rules and regulations to control our health care, eventually they would come up with a regulation that was philosophically correct but at the same time it would be constitutionally wrong, and that has got to be hard to do. Here is what happened: Apparently Diamond Foods, Inc. has been promoting their walnuts as beneficial to people who have medical conditions that are helped by Omega-3 fatty acids which the walnuts contain. They produced research and medical studies to support their claim. The FDA had no problem with the research or the claims of the benefits of the walnuts, but, and hold onto your seats folks, they claim that since the walnuts are treating disease, Diamond walnuts are, ready for this, a drug. The walnut company is practicing medicine. Apparently, chiropractors in New Mexico think they are qualified to prescribe and administer drugs but for the Diamond Walnut Company to say people with cancer, heart disease and diabetes would benefit by eating walnuts rich in Omega-3 fatty acids is, according to the FDA, practicing medicine. Technically, from chiropractic, philosophical viewpoint, if you are giving something to treat a disease you are practicing medicine, even if it is walnuts. Chiropractors should not be prescribing anything to treat diseases. But the FDA has obviously overstepped their bounds and I can see how they could apply their walnuts are drugs argument to anything done for health. That is the scary part. People who have cancer, heart disease and diabetes should be eating healthy, natural foods and walnuts are good natural food. They should also be receiving chiropractic adjustments as well as getting the proper rest and everything else necessary to health. There is a fine line between educating people as to the healthy benefits of healthy food as well as the benefits of chiropractic care to one’s health. Not having read the entire letter from the FDA to Diamond Food, Inc., I cannot say whether the walnut makers stepped over the line. I do think that the FDA has definitely stepped over the line, maybe not in infringing upon the rights of the Diamond Foods but definitely infringing upon the rights of Americans in receiving educational information. I don’t know whether Omega-3 fatty acids cure any disease. I know they are whole foods and good for your health. No one is going to mistake their ads for medical advice. I also know that chiropractic is good for your health and that the Pastor Niemoller statement during the rise of Nazism is apropos here. (if you don’t know it, google it!) We need to stand up for the rights of Diamond Foods Inc., not as chiropractors, but as American citizens who are committed to protecting free speech. If we don’t, they may come for us one of these days and there will be no one to speak up for us.’

                        Have a great week everybody.  Freedom isn’t free: it’s hard work.  Let it ring.

                                                                                    -Todd and Kelly