Gay mom led to lifetime of healing for doctor

As a chiropractor for five years, Dr. Jason Ellis has treated many LGBT patients and has developed a close relationship with the gay community. It's all because of his mother, who came out to him when he was 13 years old.
"My family all kind of took it their own way," Ellis said. "I decided to support her. I got to know the gay community that way. I went with her to a variety of functions … . Ever since then I've been really proactive working with the gay community."
Ellis, whose office is in Farmington Hills, believes chiropractic care is important regardless of whom the patient may be.
"I've had a 3-month-old with his neck completely tilted to the right since he was born," Ellis said.
Although doctors recommended surgery, his parents decided to bring him to Ellis before the child's scheduled surgery.
"He ended up coming here as a last resort before surgery and we fixed him. It can help anyone from the day they're born to the elderly."
Chiropractic care is commonly sought as a preventive approach, although some use it as a last minute measure, Ellis said.
"It's a preventive approach to keeping your body healthy by making sure your spine is in alignment and no nerves are being pressured or that there's no pinching of any nerves that's coming from your spine," Ellis said.
Most of his patients seek his care to stay healthy.
"Most people use it to keep their body well," he said. Some, though, use it if they experience pain.
"Most people will know when they need an adjustment just from feeling pain," he said. "They'll feel some kind of discomfort in their spine or a headache … and then they'll utilize a chiropractor."
While Ellis uses the traditional method of care, he also utilizes a rare activator measure, an effective but gentle technique.
"It is a gentle, precise technique that is very, very effective for all kinds of different issues like headaches, neck pain (and) back pain."
Ellis, who's one of few doctors in the area to specialize in the activator measure, said it's for those who fear the traditional method.
"It doesn't utilize the twisting and the popping people will hear when they're getting adjusted," he said.
Along with chiropractic care, Ellis also gives personal consultations on improving a patient's nutrition and fitness.
"If you're not eating right or if you don't have the vitamins that you are lacking it can cause muscle or body issues, causing the spine to go out of alignment …," Ellis said. "It's important to have a balanced nutrition, to utilize vitamins and supplements, (and) homeopathic remedies to help people with pain issues and with wellness and health."