Consumers might think that drugs sold without a prescription are completely safe. This is, unfortunately not true. All drugs carry side effects, some serious, some life-threatening. Let the buyer beware. Educate yourself on the drugs you and your family take. Also...watch this blog for a future article on natural pain relief.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relief Risks and Benefits

 Analgesics reduce pain, but do not reduce inflammation. Examples of analgesics include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an OTC analgesic. Taking high doses (>3,000mg = 6 Extra strength Tylenol per day) of acetaminophen for a long time can lead to liver damage or liver failure. This can be fatal (cause death).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and also reduce inflammation. Side effects can include: headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, stomach pain, ulcers, kidney damage and death from internal bleeding.

• Aspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph)
• Naproxen sodium and naproxen (Aleve) (OTC and prescription strengths).
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol, Nuprin) (OTC and prescription strengths). In addition to the side-effects listed above, Ibuprofen can also cause heart attack. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends taking the smallest dose that works for you and only taking it for up to 10 days.
• Diclofenac (Zorvolex, Voltaren) (OTC and prescription strengths). Diclofenac-misoprostol (Arthrotec) combines diclofenac with a drug to protect against stomach ulcers but side effects still include: stomach pain, diarrhea and nausea.

Topical corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

• (Cortef, A-Hydrocort, Hydrocortone). Low-dosage topical steroids are available OTC. Like NSAIDs, corticosteroids (or steroids) reduce inflammation, however they also suppress the immune system, constrict blood vessels and suppress the growth of new cells. Side effects (with overuse) include skin thinning (atrophy), stretch marks (striae) in armpits or groin, easy bruising (senile/solar purpura) and tearing of the skin and enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia)

Topical pain releif (analgesics)

• Capsaicin (Capzasin, Zostrix, Icy Hot). Derived from cayenne peppers, this OTC drug comes as an ointment. Side effects can include severe burning, pain, swelling, or blistering of the skin.
• Methyl salicylate and menthol (Bengay). This drug cream is made from mint plants and also contains a topical aspirin-like NSAID. Side effects can include redness, warmth, stinging, or burning of the skin.
• Trolamine salicylate (Aspercreme). This topical cream contains an aspirin-like drug that relieves inflammation and pain. Side effects can include blistering, peeling, redness, irritation of the skin as well as nausea/vomiting or ringing in the ears.
• Lidocaine cream is local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body. Side effects can include redness, stinging, and swelling of the skin.

Pain relief medications are not a cure, nor do they get to the root cause. Talk to Dr. Kelley about how chiropractic can remove pain at its source.  Call 843 321-8119 or schedule online now.

Most people will have periods of anxiety and depression during their lifetime. But for some anxiety/depression can be intense, long-lasting or debilitating. If you have suffered from mental health problems then you understand the frustration with trying to alleviate those symptoms. But did you know that chiropractic care is a non-invasive and natural alternative treatment that has been shown to improve anxiety and depression symptoms?

A chiropractor will give you a thorough examination to find and correct subluxations - joints within the spine which have become stuck out of alignment. A chiropractic adjustment restores movement and alignment to the spine - not unlike aligning your car. The adjustment also restores blood flow and lymph flow which removes toxins and relaxes the muscle and other tissues that surround the joint. This relief of chemical and physical stress is the musculo-skeletal system lowers the overall stress load that the brain must manage. Those who suffer from anxiety or depression may come to realize that physical imbalance and subluxation within the body contribute to their mental stress as well as physical symptoms.

When spinal vertebrae are stuck out of place, it creates pressure on the surrounding nerves and tissues. When a nerve is blocked in the back or neck it can reflexively affect other areas of the body including the stomach, heart, intestines and any other organ. The reflex goes in both directions. Mental stress can cause spinal misalignment, muscle spasm and back tension. (People often hold their stress in their shoulders or low back, right?) The goal of chiropractic is to use this reflexive system to balance the entire body including the brain, adrenals, etc, which manage stress. Chiropractic care can help by addressing the physical stress which contributes to mental stress overload. Chiropractic lowers the overall stress in the body, freeing up a person's energy so they have better concentration, better sleep and more focus.

When approaching a challenge such as anxiety/depression, a multidisciplinary approach can often be beneficial. Chiropractic removes the physical stress that is often easily corrected with a few adjustments, then regular maintenance. Chiropractic treatment can be used in conjunction with therapy and medication.

More people than ever are finding relief for symptoms beyond just back pain at the chiropractor!  Patients often say they feel calm and balanced leaving the office. So why not try chiropractic and observe its effects?  Do you have better sleep? Better concentration? More energy? Feel lighter mentally?

If you are trying to cope with feelings of anxiety or depression, please schedule an appointment today to see how chiropractic care can help you move forward on your journey to wellness. Questions? Call now to (843) 321-8119 or schedule a Complimentary Consultation appointment online at ChiroKelley.com

"There is more to life than increasing the speed" (Gandhi)    
 
When overwhelmed or exhausted do you feel the to-do list will not accommodate a break? Maybe the to-do list will grow much too long if you take a vacation. Maybe you feel guilty just for wanting/needing a break! Is the guilt compounded by not allocating enough time for your loved-ones or for your own physical/emotional well-being?
 
Hmmm….Could there be some shame or fear lurking in the background of our frantic busyness? Are we trying to prove that we are Productive? Successful? Secure? Whole? Worthy? A good provider? A good parent? Perhaps we are frantically striving to fulfill a higher purpose?
 
To begin to create a sane life, you can make small, selective, conscious choices. Such simple acts can slow you down enough to break the compulsive thought cycle and leave your mind free to…have an actual life. Taking just a little time every day refuels your energy tank. Loving yourself a bit will translate into being capable of managing the small and big stresses - with grace. Rest and play are not a waste of time. They are instead an investment in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Relaxation can boost creativity and creative problem-solving. A recharged heart has enough energy to give attention to a loved one.

1. A Simple Cup of Tea or Coffee… enjoy it unplugged. Sip, taste, feel. Enjoy the flavor, feel your favorite mug warm in your hands. Feel the lovely warmth in your mouth, throat, tummy. It's a beautiful thing!
2.  Add Fun to Errand Time! While on errands spend a little time window shopping. If you pass a fountain, throw in a penny and a wish. Look at other shoppers and imagine “They are just like me.”
3.  Read Something Wonderful. Why does a good book fill you up when watching a movie does not? I don’t know but it does. Let a good book take you on a journey and let your imagination fly out of its cage for a little while. Don’t have time to read? Put an e-book on your phone and steal a few minutes here and there.
4. Get Out! We go from the house, to the car, to the office, to errands and repeat. Even during short times outside, make a point to look at the plants, trees and sky. Feel the sun on your cheeks. Listen to the birds. Get away from the phone/desk for 30 minutes and take a walk outdoors.
5. Feel the Support of the Earth. As often as you can, ground yourself: garden, early morning or evening walks, put your feet in the water, wiggle your toes in the sand or mud, rock on the front porch. Mother Nature is always waiting for us. Before I open the door to my office each day, I feel Mother Earth supporting my feet. I give her my cares, open the door, and feel ready to support my patients.
6.  Discover a New Place! Travel is a great escape from the daily rush and routine. Meet new people, experience new cultures, taste new foods. If you can’t do a week, then a weekend or day trip. Have an adventure! My husband and I love to drift in the car. We drive with no agenda and stop as we find things of interest. Sometimes I let my intuition guide me in the car. “Turn left. That road is calling. Stop at this shop.” I’ve found some real treasures this way.
7.  Treat yourself – to something healthy! Health and wellness has a way of being pushed down in the priority list. Push it back up in a small way or a big way. Wake 15 minutes early and do some stretching. Take a class, yoga, dance, kickboxing hoola-hooping, the list is endless. Treat yourself to a regular massage for deep relaxation and muscle health. Make better choices in your diet – More organic, more greens, buy some fresh squeezed greens/fruit juice, eat less sugar. Become a label reader. Stay toward the outside of the grocery store – that’s where all the fresh food is.
8.  Reduce stress with Chiropractic?! Yes! Chiropractic restores motion and balance to joints and muscles, which reduces the overall stress in your system. Patients report better concentration, better sleep and of course less pain. As a holistic chiropractor, my goal is to help you live at your optimal level by looking at nutrition, strength, balance, energy, mental and emotional well-being. I help my patients navigate all areas of health. If I don’t have a recommendation, I probably know another professional who can help you. Schedule online now at www.ChiroKelley.com or call the for more information at (843) 321-8119. 

 

Taking supplements may not be your thing- so what else can you do for nutrients and vitamins? COLD- PRESSED JUICE! Healing comes down to providing the elements the body needs to heal and repair itself naturally. Often chronic diseases can be linked to two areas – toxicity and malnutrition. Many times, regardless of age- we do not supply our bodies with the nutrients required to combat illness. Juice is a concentrated form of abundant nutrition and juicing, is a simple, easy and delicious way to provide your body with healing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, chlorophyll, phytonutrients and lots of micronutrients that are not available in manufactured vitamin pills. As a Chiropractor, many of my patients see me for nutritional guidance concerning the gut and digestion, juicing floods the body with easily absorbed nutrition, which is healthy for everyone but critical for those with illness especially digestive system issues!

Juicing daily or even a few days a week is a wonderful gift to yourself and your health. There are countless micro nutrients in whole foods, yet only a small number are included in vitamin supplements. The best "vitamin supplement" you can get, is fresh, organic juice, alongside a well-balanced organic diet. Juices help to create the strong foundation upon which good health and vitality are built upon. And intense juicing has been successfully used in treating serious illness. I frequently recommend to cancer patient that they investigate intensive juicing therapy as used by The Gerson Institute.

Are you ready to take the next step and get started juicing for your health? Amazon supplies a variety of cold-press fruit and vegetable juice machines. There are many styles, sizes and price ranges.  A couple things to remember: 

• I recommend a cold-press juicer which extract juice by first crushing and then pressing fruit and vegetables for the highest juice yield. They press more goodness making the juice more intensely flavored as well as more nutrient dense. Because cold-press juicers don't produce as much heat, they avoid oxidation and keep more of the fresh ingredients' nutrients intact.
  
• It's best to consume the juice while fresh. However, to fit your busy lifestyle, juicing at night and storing in an air-tight container over night in the refrigerator may be necessary. It's best to consume fresh juice within the first 24 hours for optimal nutrients and benefit- after all, there are NO preservatives here.
• Always juice Organic fruits and vegetables! You're goal is to get healthy and absorb the most out of your juices- you don't want extra toxins.  Keep your food as clean as possible and give our body the best available. 
• Feeling lost about what fruits and veggies to combine? Try the recipe below for Green Juice. Utilize online resources and search for delicious recipes to get you going. Maybe you like a savory concoction or more on the sweeter side- find what makes your body feel satisfied.
• There are cold-pressed juice cleanses out there but it's important to start small if this is your first experience with juicing. As your body becomes acclimated and you feel like a full juice cleanse is the next step for your system, please book a nutritional consultation with Dr. Kelley so together we can help you achieve your goal of optimal health. A healthy diet incorporated with Chiropractic stability is the perfect recipe to keep you going!

Green Juice Recipe and Preparation from the Gerson Institute

Ingredients:

• Dark green lettuces – ¼ to ½ of a head (depending on the size of the lettuce): red and green leaf lettuces, romaine, endives. (Iceberg is useless and do not use!)
• Escarole – 2 or 3 leaves
• Beet tops (young inner leaves) – 2 to 3 leaves
• Watercress – 5 or 6 leaves
• Red cabbage – 2 or 3 leaves
• Green bell pepper – ¼
• Swiss chard – little
• Green apple – 1

Preparation: Greens should be washed taking care to rinse off sand or soil that is often present at the base of the leaves. Shake off water or put in salad spinner to remove excess moisture. Cut off bottom portion of stems of chard or any other fibrous leaves. Chop up because it is quite stringy and hard to pulp. This avoids raising temperature of pulp and killing enzymes. Using a two-step (grinder/press) juicer, grind and collect pulp in a bowl. When all produce has been ground stir thoroughly, but not so much as to introduce unnecessary air into the pulp.

If you’re using an electric press raise the juice part slowly to avoid having pulp squirt out of cloth and onto the juice person. Using multiple juicing cloths you can prepare the second cloth while the first one is pressing. Also, some people will fold over the squashed cloth/pulp package and press it again to get a little more juice out of the pulp. Wash juicer after every green juice. After pressing, the remaining pulp, conveniently packaged in the juice cloth, can be discarded. The green juice is much more active than the carrot or carrot/apple juices and should be consumed immediately. Dr. Gerson did not recommend storage of the green juice for any length of time before consumption as it deteriorates rapidly.

If you're interested in getting healthy and have questions, please call (843) 321-8119 or schedule online at    www.chirokelley.com

Text Neck is a syndrome of over usage and a repetitive stress injuring the neck by holding your head in a forward and downward position for extended periods of time. This kind of excessive tension over long periods of time creates acute and chronic pain deep in the muscles of your neck and across the shoulders. Chronic headaches have also been linked to this condition.

With upright posture, the ears should align with the center of your shoulders. With good posture, the weight of the head is balanced on top of the spine. The average human head weighs approximately 10-12 pounds (think bowling ball).  When your head is moved forward by 1 inch away from neutral position, the force pulling on the neck and shoulder muscles increases 6 times - In other words, your traps and other muscles are holding up 60 pounds!

Prolonged and frequent "Text Neck" can lead to inflammation of the neck ligaments, nerve irritation and changes in the natural curves of the spine.

Do I have symptoms of "Text Neck"?

• Frequent upper back or neck pain when using a handheld device
• Nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders at the end of the day.
• Shoulder pain and tightness.
• Headache following use of handheld devices, reading or use of the computer

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it would be wise to see a chiropractor to examine your posture and neck alignment. Call today for an appointment, (843) 321-8119

Recent animal studies have demonstrate remarkable beneficial benefits of Sea buckthorn oil made from the plants berries and seeds.  Use of Sea Buckthorn is by no means new. It's medicinal use was noted in ancient Tibetan healing texts since the Tang Dynasty (617–907) and has been called “the Holy Fruit of the Himalayas.” Its use has been recorded in early Ayurvedic medicine.

Sea Buckthorn berries, together with the juices, jams, and oils made from them, have a range of beneficial antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects (1). Sea Buckthorne oil has been shown to stimulate the immune system, improve kidney and liver function (1). In cancer patients it kills cancer cell as well as slow their reproduction (1). Sea Buckthorne oil has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.  It protects the cardiovascular as well as the cerebrovascular systems (3, 4). The oil has also been shown to help reduce depression in mice under chronic stress (2,5).

When used topically, Sea Buckthorne oil is a great natural cleanser and exfoliater. It can also help heal burns, cuts, wounds, sunburn, rashes, and other types of skin damage. Sea-buckthorn oil improves blood circulation, facilitates oxygenation of the skin, removes excess toxins from the body and easily penetrates through the skin (2). Sea-buckthorn oil protects against infections, prevents allergies, eliminates inflammation and inhibits the aging process in skin (2).

Sea Buckthorne oil is an excellent source of two important unsaturated fatty acids palmitoleic acid (omega-7) and gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) as well as vitamins A and E (2,3) and phytosterols, especially beta-sitosterol (1, 2, 3, 4).

The optimal dosage for Sea Buckthorn oil is to yet to be determined through human studies.  A guideline is to look for a supplement made from both pulp and seed. Take enough to get about about 300-400 mg of palmitoleic (Omega 7) per day.

(1) "The Anticancer Activity of Sea Buckthorn" - Front Pharmacol. 2018 Mar 15
(2) "Abundance of active ingredients in Sea Buckthorn" - Lipids in Health and Disease 2017 May
(3) "The beneficial health aspects of sea buckthorn Research" - J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Mar
(4) "Beneficial effects of β-sitosterol on type 1 cholecystokinin receptor dysfunction induced by elevated membrane cholesterol" - Clin Nutr. 2016 Dec
(5) "Anti-depressive effect of polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acid from pomegranate peel and flax seed in mice exposed to chronic mild stress." - Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013 Nov

Sea Buckthorn Supplement on Amazon

Your body is designed for regular movement, but many of us spend the bulk of our day sitting. On average, a US adult spends 9 to 10 hours each day sitting. When you've been sitting for a long period of time and then get up, a number of molecular cascades occur. For example, within 90 seconds of standing up, the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol—are activated. All of these molecular effects are activated simply by carrying your own body weight. These cellular mechanisms are also responsible for pushing fuel into your cells and, if done regularly, will radically decrease your risk of diabetes and obesity.

Sitting for an extended period of time affects many bodily functions like your digestion, body posture and alignment, brain functions slow down when you enter a sedentary state and circulation becomes poor. All which can be improved simply by moving around. 

So how do you re-train your body and routine? Start with setting ACHIEVABLE goals- consider a stand up desk in the office, park a little further away in the parking lot, take the stairs rather than the elevator, make a commitment within your community for accountability like yoga or Qi gong. Below are two local sources I often recommend to my patients for movement. Remember to always listen to your body!

Island Yoga - Hilton Head Island: 1012 William Hilton Pkwy Unit 1 | Phone (843) 816-5734
Jiva Yoga -Hilton Head: 1032 Wm Hilton Pkwy  | Bluffton: 3 Godfrey Place | Phone (843)247-4549 Free Qi Gong Community Group- Jarvis Creek Park at 9 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Veterans Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Saturdays

Prime allergy season is upon us and the pine pollen is coating all surfaces, including our nasal passages! A proper diet and overall health can make a big difference for allergy suffers. Here are some remedies to try as we get through this vibrant spring season:

1.) Homeopathy - Homeopathy is widely-used and well-accepted in Europe and there is considerable research to prove it's effectiveness. As an allergy sufferer, homeopathy is my go-to. The premise of homeopathy is to use extremely dilute solutions of the substance to which you are sensitive (i.e. pollen). Putting several drops of the solution under your tongue spurs your immune system to correct it's response. If you would like a referral to a homeopath in the Low Country, please call our office.

2.) Raw, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar- ACV with "The Mother" contains a colony of beneficial bacteria, which is important for gut health. Also, vinegar naturally aids in mucous reduction and lymphatic health. Mixing a teaspoon 2-3x a day into a glass of water or diluted apple juice is a great way to internally supply relief.
3.) Neti Pot and Saline Rinse- The Neti Pot is filled with distilled water and sterile saline to create a solution that will flush the sinus cavities. The mucous buildup and bits of allergens that we inhale throughout the day are removed gently from the sinuses. ** It's important to use a sterile saline solution made for a Neti Pot and clean distilled water. Saline sold over the counter has a preservative which you might be sensitive to. So better to make your own. NeilMed makes measured packets to mix with your Neti Pot, which is convenient.
4.) Quercitin and Bromelain - Quercetin is a plant pigment that is found in many plants and foods, such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries.  It is a natural bioflavonoid that helps prevent the release of histamine. It is also a potent antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple juice and in the pineapple stem. Bromelain is used for reducing inflammation, especially of the nose and sinuses even after surgery. Taking Quercitin plus Bromelain works well if  implemented prior to allergy season and used throughout the irritating allergen months. 

The close relationship between the nervous system and immune system is good news for chiropractic patients! By improving the communication between the brain and spinal cord, chiropractic care can help regulate and coordinate the body’s reaction to allergens. For more information, contact us today to schedule an appointment, (843) 321-8119.

Professional guidance for detoxification is wise as the detox process can create free radicals that can damage tissue. Sources of toxins include pollution, food additives, pesticides, cleaning supplies, medication, etc.  You may have considered detoxification, but with so many detox methods, how do you know what is right for you?  To find a detox that's effective for your specific needs, it's important to work with an experienced healthcare professional. For more information request a complementary consultation.