Dr. Mapes uses nutritional and herbal medicine because he believes that the body is, in some ways, like a car. If you put the wrong fuel in the tank, you can expect that the engine may not work as efficientlyl. The same is true for the human body.  It is important to put the right quality and quantity of food with the appropriate supplements. There are many chemicals, such as growth hormone, that are made in adequate quantities when we are young, but in less quantities as we mature. It has been shown to be beneficial to supplement some of them as we grow older.

The hallmark of Chiropractic is and always has been spinal manipulation. Initially, it was thought that manipulation repositioned a "bone that was out of place".  Today we have a better understanding of Anatomy and physiology. Today's Chiropractor thinks in terms of a "Subluxation complex" meaning that there are numerous changes made when we restrore function to a sick or injured vertebral joint. These changes include such things as: Chemical changes, endorphin release for pain control, breaking up of fibrotic adhesions, changes in neurotransmission to name a few.

   Most people think of manipulation as the mainstay of chiropractic medicine. According to the Illinois Medical Practice Act,  in the state of Illinois Chiropractors are licensed to practice medicine without the use of drugs or surgery. If a Chiropractor meets certain criteria for the state of Illinois he may even incorporate the use of drugs and surgery. Dr. Mapes defines Chiropractic as the ultimate conservative therapy. Conservative therapy is usually a good place to start, it is generally safer than more invasive therapies and in the hands of a good competent doctor, it is usually effective.

  Dr. Mapes also works with many allopathic doctors including almost all specialties. There are times when conservative medicine is not successful and in those cases, Dr. Mapes is quick to refer to the appropriate practitioner.

 Dr. Mapes training a patient on biofeedback.

Dr. Mapes has been using Hypnosis and Biofeedback since 1975.  Although biofeedback and hypnosis are not usually used together, Dr. Mapes has been incorporating them since 1975.  Some people prefer either one or the other and others may benefit from using both. 

   Many people are under the misconception that hypnosis causes one to lose control and allows the hypnotherapist to take over their will. Nothing could be futher from the truth.  Dr. Mapes describes hypnosis as relaxation, and mental concentration with the therapist being a "guide".  Hypnosis is especially useful for such things as Smoking sessation, weight control, motivation and goal setting, among many others.

   Biofeedback is a therapy where sophisticated equipment gives the patient feedback of physiological functions where otherwise they would have no indication of these functions.  Using this information, the patient is able to learn how to control things, such as heart rate, peripheral circulation, brain waves,  muscle tension, and others. Biofeedback is used for many things such as Headaches, raynaud's syndrome, cardiac arrythmias, tension, anxiety, ADD, ADHD,  Alcoholism, pain control, and many others.  

Acupuncture is based on the concept that there are channels of energy. called MERIDIANS, in the body. When these meridians get out of balance, the patient gets sick. Acupuncture is a method that can balance these energy channels leading to restoring health.