by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer  

According to a recent estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic health condition. For those who experience this alarming statistic on a daily basis, the pain can be debilitating—and all often, help can feel out of reach. But where many see a lost cause, Dr. Drew Hall sees an opportunity for sustainable, transformative healing. In this month’s Community Spotlight, he will introduce us to the Blair Upper Cervical Technique, which he practices right here in Sarasota.      

Natural Awakenings: What does it mean to operate within a healthcare model that focuses on treating symptoms? Why is it more effective to find the root cause of a condition, rather than masking the surface-level issues?  

Dr. Drew Hall: Conventional medicine and our mainstream health system perform many functions well. They are beneficial in crisis situations—car accident injuries, broken bones, heart problems, cleft operations and late-stage cancer palliative care. However, these models are not always effective at treating chronic health problems like vertigo, headaches, post-concussion syndrome or TMJ, to name just a few conditions. 

These mainstream systems do not remove the cause of a problem, thus coaxing the body back into health and balance. Instead, they are built to focus on symptoms, which can offer some temporary relief but will not prevent the dysfunction from continuing. Unfortunately, countless Americans take pharmaceuticals in order to function, but many are turning to alternative health practitioners who want to help the body heal to the best of its ability.   

We need both the conventional and alternative healthcare systems in order to meet different types of needs. I hope, in the near future, that more useful communication, education and awareness will exist between practitioners in an integrative context, so patients can access the right care providers to maximize their health potential.  

NA: How can our healthcare modalities do a more efficient job of activating the body's inherent wisdom to heal itself? How does your own area of expertise restore wellness and functionality in a more holistic, sustainable manner?  

Dr. Hall: I always tell patients that our bodies’ capacity to live for at least 80 years is a testament to how well they can adapt, heal and repair themselves. But in order to sustain this healing capacity, we must adhere to certain pillars of health. For instance, nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, sleep hygiene and a spiritual foundation are some important lifestyle factors that will optimize our bodies’ wellness and longevity.  

In my practice, we specialize in locating, analyzing and correcting upper neck structural misalignments that interfere with central nervous system function. Many of us never consider the fact that our bodies contain several trillion cells—each of which produce millions of chemical reactions every second. The central nervous system controls and monitors this network of cells, so it’s vital to be checked for any structural misalignment in the upper neck that could affect the body's potential to function normally.  

This is far different than just treating a symptom. Rather, it is a globally holistic approach that restores the body to optimal functionality. In correcting a structural misalignment, many other health conditions can improve (or entirely resolve) as well.  

NA: Can you describe what your specific treatment method entails? How does correcting a structural issue at the base of a person's skull not only relieve their pain, but also improve their health outcomes in the long-term?   

Dr. Hall: When a patient comes into our office, we perform a medical history intake, explain the logistics of our procedure, then run a battery of tests to determine if the person has an upper neck misalignment and at what level (C1, C2, C3, etc.).  

Next, we take a three-dimensional BCT (cone beam computed tomography) scan, which allows us to view the neck joints and confirm the direction of the misalignment. Once we glean this information from the scan, we make a precise alignment correction, while the patient lies on their side in a neutral position. The entire procedure is noninvasive without any spinal twisting, pulling or other forceful manipulation.  

Follow-up care is necessary to ensure the correction stays in place. If it shifts, then we will perform another correction. Our long-term objective is to restore the structural misalignment, so it can permanently maintain a normal position. This allows the soft tissue to repair, which leads to health restoration and optimal nervous system function. 

So why does correcting the neck lead to better wellness outcomes? The most important structure in the human body is the brainstem, which originates at the base of your brain, then extends through a hole in the bottom of your skull to the second cervical vertebrae. This brainstem controls all unconscious bodily functions such as blood pressure regulation, muscle tone coordination, heart and organ function, and so much more.   

Because the brainstem is responsible for all these critical operations, it makes sense that misalignment in the neck can compromise the body as a whole. Likewise, being able to correct that misalignment will empower the body to heal and function to its full potential. This is why our patients find lasting relief for a wide variety of conditions.  

NA: What inspired you to want to practice this modality? How have you seen it enhance patients' quality of life—especially those who have tried other conventional options with minimal permanent success (or none at all)?   

Dr. Hall: I practice the Blair Upper Cervical Technique because it changed my life. Never in a million years was I planning to become a chiropractor, but I experienced a  serious head injury at the age of 17, and the following 2.5 years of chronic health problems shattered the normalcy I once knew. After multiple doctor visits and $20,000 dollars worth of bills, I entered a homeopath’s office, who referred me to an upper cervical chiropractor in the San Francisco Bay Area. This transformed my health, while altering my entire life course.  

After recovering, I enrolled in chiropractic school with a burning desire to help others, just as I had been helped. Now I call myself the “Last Ditch Doctor” because patients often walk into our office as a last resort for their pain, due to a sheer lack of awareness that this treatment protocol even exists. We commonly see patients with vertigo, Ménière’s disease, migraines, insomnia, post-concussion syndrome, TMD or sinus-related issues. But no matter what brings them in, most of our patients reclaim their health and quality of life—it’s incredible what the human body is capable of when it can function with no interference!  

Dr. Drew Hall is the lead practitioner of Sarasota Upper Cervical Chiropractic. He has been practicing the Blair Upper Cervical Technique for more than 20 years after experiencing the transformative benefits of this modality for himself. His practice is located at 3920 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 101, Sarasota. For more information and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hall, please call 941-259-1891 or visit https://sarasotauppercervical.com/