By: Alyssa Musgrove

 

Colloidal silver is a powerful germicidal that is non-toxic to the human body, but lethal to over 650 bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and molds. This substance has been used for hundreds of years to treat a variety of ailments. My most memorable experience with colloidal silver was on a chiropractic mission trip in El Salvador. Eating locally-prepared food in a village resulted in an awful experience that involved numerous trips to the bathroom. Colloidal silver provided a quick remedy. Needless to say, these days, I do not travel without it!

 

Ingestion of colloidal silver can boost the immune system by assisting the body in the war against invading microorganisms without affecting our friendly bacteria in the intestines. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Poison Control Center reports no toxicity listing for colloidal silver. However, misusage or using something other then true colloidal silver, like cheaper products such as ionic silver or silver protein, could be harmful. True colloidal silver has a high production cost, so in order to get maximum benefit make sure you are getting the real thing. 

 

Colloidal silver needs to be applied differently for each condition. To experience colloidal silver benefits, it may be used as follows, always keeping in mind to never use it for more than 14 days in a row.

 

Skin issues:

Robert O. Becker, MD, says colloidal silver stimulates healing in the skin by speeding the repair of damaged tissues and boosting cell recovery. It can help treat ringworm at home because it’s a potent anti-fungal. Colloidal silver is also beneficial in reducing inflammation caused by itchy skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. It’s soothing to scrapes and even repairs tissue damage from burns. Apply 2 to 5 drops directly to the skin, or apply drops onto a Band-Aid to help disinfect any wound.

 

Eye issues:

Thanks to its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, colloidal silver can be used to soothe and eliminate pink eye, conjunctivitis and sties. To treat these conditions, add two or three drops of colloidal silver to the eye, three to four times daily. Alternatively, you can create a colloidal silver eye wash and spray it gently over the eyes, or apply a warm cloth compress soaked in colloidal silver over the eye instead. 

 

Viruses and Sinus issues:

Colloidal silver can be used as a nasal spray to help fight sinusitis, stuffy nose or pressure in the face. You can also add a few drops of silver to a “neti pot,” which is specifically designed to flush out the sinuses. Colloidal silver can speed recovery from all types of flu and the common cold. For cold and flu symptoms, start with one teaspoon twice a day.

(Before I travel out of the country, I start boosting my immune system one week prior to departure with a teaspoon of colloidal silver a day and continue once I arrive at my destination.)

 

Throat issues:

Gargling with colloidal silver is an effective way to pick up and remove the pathogens in your throat that cause pain. Gargle with one to two tablespoons of the colloidal silver for up to two minutes. Repeat this up to five times per day until recovered. Remember to spit it out in order to remove the microbes from your body! You can also use colloidal silver as a throat spray, administering several times a day.

 

Cleaning produce:

While buying or growing organic fruits and vegetables is best, sometimes it is not always possible. Remove harmful pesticides by cleansing your produce in a colloidal silver fruit and vegetable wash. Combine the following: 

 

1 cup of water 

½ cup of vinegar

2 tsp. salt (dissolve completely) 

¼ cup colloidal silver 

 

Soak your fruits and vegetables in this solution, or apply the wash to the produce with a spray bottle. Let the solution remain on the produce for at least five minutes before rinsing and preparing as usual. The vinegar in this solution helps break down any waxy substances applied to fruits and vegetables. (Water alone will not penetrate them. In fact, many pesticides are designed to be water-resistant.) Salt helps to pull out any microscopic bugs. The colloidal silver will safely kill any harmful fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens.

 

For pets:

Colloidal silver can be a fantastic natural remedy for our four-legged friends too. For cats and dogs, it can be used for tear stains, infections, minor cuts, wounds, eye and ear infections. As a wound cleaner, apply a few drops several times a day on a cotton swab. Ear infections require a few drops daily into the ear or spraying inside the ear for up to ten days, while for eye infections, one drop given three times daily should do the trick. 

 

Colloidal silver is also a simple and natural way to remove stubborn pet odors. If you have a cat that regularly ‘sprays’ or a dog that marks his territory, try dousing the area in a solution of colloidal silver. It is said to remove the odor and stop the pet marking in that spot again. For general pet odors, and to freshen up sofas and pet beds, mix up colloidal silver and distilled water in a bottle and lightly mist the fabric.

 

Pathways to Healing specializes in holistic chiropractic care. Dr. Alyssa Musgrove draws on a variety of techniques, including chiropractic, kinesiology, nutrition, food allergy testing and lifestyle counseling to assist clients in achieving optimal health and wellness in one setting. Pathways to Healing is located at 1022 Founders Row, Lake Oconee Village, Greensboro. The office can be reached at 706-454-2040.

 

By Dr. Alyssa Musgrove

Technology offers many conveniences in terms of staying connected and entertained via small devices that fit in our pockets. But, unfortunately, as smart phones and gadgets get smarter, our posture gets weaker. 

 

When we stand in proper alignment, the cervical spine (neck) and surrounding structures are able to support the weight of the head, which on average weighs about 10 pounds. When we look down at a phone, computer or electronic device (something we do on average between 2 to 4 hours a day), the neck is flexed forward and the weight of the head increases dramatically. In fact, a researcher by the last name of Hansraj evaluated the amount of pressure placed on the neck and shoulders when the head is at varying degrees. He concluded when the head is tilted just 15 degrees forward, it nearly triples the head weight to about 27 pounds felt on the neck and shoulders. At 45 degrees of tilt, head weight increases to about 50 pounds on the neck and shoulders. 

 

“Text neck” and “tech headaches” refers to conditions caused by chronically holding your head flexed and forward, as we do when looking at our handheld devices. This new societal posture norm generates a tremendous amount of unnecessary stress to the posture system and, over time, is the culprit of many symptoms people experience on a daily basis. 

 

Chronically maintaining a forward head posture can lead to muscle strain, headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain and TMJ (jaw) pain. Forward head posture can also cause disc injury, pinched nerves, early arthritic changes of the neck, numbness and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers. As the head moves forward and your upper back and shoulders become rounded and hunched, lung capacity decreases, resulting in shallow improper breathing that restricts the amount of oxygen reaching your tissues. 

 

Here are several simple steps you can take today to avoid developing degenerative neck changes, muscle strains and pain from “text neck” and “tech headaches”:

 

Limit the time

Limit the amount of time you use your device. If you must sit for an extended period of time, take breaks to change your posture, move around and stretch. Develop a habit of taking a two to three minute break for every 15 to 20 minutes you use your device or sit at a desk. Utilize your smart device to set automatic reminders and that will notify you when to take a break, stretch and reposition. 

 

Raise the device

Elevate your device as close to eye-level as possible. (You can find holders for devices that make this possible.) Also, be aware of the placement of your computer screen. You should be able to look forward without looking down to view the screen. Simply lifting the computer screen to eye level will help maintain proper posture throughout the day.

 

Stretch

Chin tucks are a great exercise to stretch the neck. Move your chin backwards towards your chest without moving it up or down and hold for five seconds as you feel a comfortable stretch at the base of your skull. You can also tilt the head to one side, bringing the ear close to the shoulder. You may use your hand to pull your head further into the stretch (best done while exhaling your breath), holding the stretch up to 20 seconds. You can also do the same thing while rotating your head from side to side to reach different muscles, repeating 3-5 times on each side. 

 

A doorway can be helpful for stretching chest muscles. Place your palms flat against either side of the doorframe, with your shoulders and elbows at a 90-degree angle to your forearms. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in your pectoral muscles and hold for 30 seconds at a time.

 

Rest the head

If you sit at a desk for long periods of time, switch to a chair with a headrest and focus on keeping the back of your head in contact with the headrest, trying to keep your chin parallel to the ground and avoid looking down. You can also practice this while driving — focus on pressing the back of your head on the headrest in the car and bringing the shoulders back.

 

Be aware of pain

Use pain as a warning sign to check yourself. Experiencing pain in your neck, burning between the shoulder blades, numbness or tingling in the arms or frequent headaches is your body’s way of telling you to act quickly and make a change. Pay attention to these warning signs and take action before a more serious permanent issue arises. 

 

If your symptoms do not improve after incorporating new posture methods, stretching and reducing the time spent on handheld devices, then it may be time to seek help from a qualified professional. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve joint pain, reduce tight muscles and promote posture habit re-education. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely it is that you will have success in treating the problem and keep it from progressing to permanent damage. 

 

By: Dr. Alyssa Musgrove

 

Inflammation has been associated with just about every health condition. Inflammation is not always bad. It can be the body’s natural attempt to heal itself and eliminate damaged cells, viruses, and bacteria. Acute inflammation starts quickly and disappears in a few days. Chronic inflammation, however, can last months or even years. A sedentary lifestyle, stress, minor food allergies, and poor diet are just a few of the most common contributors to chronic inflammation.

 

Chronic inflammation will not typically produce symptoms until actual loss of function occurs somewhere. Chronic inflammation tends to be low-grade and systemic, silently damaging your tissues over an extended period of time. This process can go on for years without you noticing until disease suddenly sets in.

 

Since chronic inflammation tends to be “silent,” how can you determine if inflammation is brewing in your body? Clinical tests used in allopathic medicine include:

 

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test: Measures a protein found in your body that signals responses to any forms of inflammation
• EST (sed rate) test: Checks for non-specific indicators of inflammation
• Fasting blood insulin test: Although usually used to screen for diabetes, it is also marker for inflammation. Typically, the higher fasting insulin levels are, the higher your levels of inflammation tend to be.
• Thermography: Also known as Medical Thermal Imaging, is an alternative test used to measure heat patterns in the body. Abnormal heat spots on the body are an indication of inflammation.

 

Eating a wide variety of anti-inflammatory foods on a regular basis can go a long way toward calming inflammation and preventing chronic health issues. The following foods deserve special mention for their ability to put a stop to inflammatory responses in your body:

 

Animal-based omega-3 fatty acids:  The body converts omega-3’s into powerful anti-inflammatory chemicals. These fats can be found in fish like wild Alaskan sockeye salmon and krill oil. Studies have shown fish oil can relieve joint tenderness, reduce morning stiffness duration.

 

Blueberries: Blueberries are high in antioxidants. They are in season right now and available at local farmer’s markets. They are lower in sugar then most fruits, and can easily be added to a salad, yogurt or even frozen and added to a smoothie.

 

Shiitake mushrooms:  These nutritional powerhouses contain ergothioneine, which inhibits oxidative stress and discourages inflammation. These mushrooms also contain a variety of other nutrients that most people do not get enough of in their diets, such as copper.  The body cannot produce copper and depends on outside sources for supply. Copper deficiency has been found to be a factor in developing coronary heart disease.

 

Garlic:  Garlic has been heavily studied and shown to help with hundreds of different conditions. It has antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Garlic also has sulfur-containing compounds, which can help support inflamed joints.

 

High-quality herbs and spices: These are among the most potent anti-inflammatory ingredients available, ounce for ounce.  Spicing up your meals is not enough, but it is a great place to start.

 

Fermented foods: Optimizing your gut flora is important for a high-functioning immune system and helps ward off chronic inflammation. In fact, the majority of inflammatory diseases start in the gut, as the result of an imbalanced microbiome. Fermented foods help “reseed” your gut with beneficial bacteria and also help the body rid itself of harmful toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides, which can promote inflammation. Some fermented food options are kimchee, pickles, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha and olives.

 

Vitamin D:  This vitamin has been shown to inhibit inflammation. Sun exposure of 5-30 minutes at least twice a week on the arms, legs and face is a beneficial, natural source of this fat-soluble vitamin. Food sources include wild-caught salmon, mackerel, cod liver oil, tuna, sardines and mushrooms.

 

Dark leafy greens: Kale, Swiss chard, spinach and collard greens contain powerful antioxidants, which help protect against cellular damage. Choose organically grown veggies that are in season and from a local source. Try eating a fair amount of these greens raw.

 

Juicing is an excellent way to get more greens in your diet. Here is a quick and easy recipe for a healthy green juice that incorporates some of these anti-inflammatory powerhouses. It can be made in a blender instead of a juicer. You can strain the juice through cheesecloth for a thinner consistency, if desired. Wring out as much liquid as possible from the cheesecloth, as there are additional hearty nutrients in the pulp.

 

Dr. Alyssa’s Anti-Inflammatory Green Juice

 

– 1 ½ cups water

– 2 cups kale OR baby spinach

– 2 medium green apples, cored

– ½ cup parsley leaves

– 1 medium cucumber, cut into quarters

– 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped

– 1 piece of ginger (1 inch), peeled

– 2 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice

 

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order in which they are listed. Blend on the highest setting (such as liquefy), until the juice is well-blended. It should be the consistency of a smoothie. If you want to enjoy the pulp with your juice, pour mixture into glass and serve. If you prefer thinner consistency, strain through a cheesecloth.

 

Pathways to Healing specializes in holistic chiropractic care. Dr. Alyssa Musgrove draws on a variety of techniques, including chiropractic, kinesiology, nutrition, food allergy testing and lifestyle counseling to assist clients in achieving optimal health and wellness in one setting. Pathways to Healing is located at 1022 Founders Row, Lake Oconee Village, Greensboro. The office can be reached at 706-454-2040.

 

By Dr. Alyssa Musgrove

These days it seems as if the phrase “gluten free” is everywhere.   Why all the fuss about gluten? What is gluten, and why would we want to avoid it?

Gluten literally means “glue” and is what makes dough elastic and sticky.  It is a form of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and other grains. While most of us tend to view proteins as healthy, some proteins can cause our bodies more harm than good.  Gluten is one of them.

Gluten can be found everywhere – not just the bread aisle.  Gluten is used as an additive, thickener and filler.  It can be found in processed foods such as breads, cereals, cookies, crackers, canned or packaged soups, deli meats, soy sauce, salad dressings, pasta, pizza crust and even candy and some alcohol. This makes giving up gluten more challenging then it may initially seem.

There are two main problems people can have with gluten:  Celiac disease and gluten intolerance/sensitivity.  Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease.  When a person who has celiac eats gluten, his body initiates an immediate immune response and attacks the cells in the small intestine, causing lasting intestinal damage.

When someone tests negative for celiac disease, there is still a chance they can have gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance was once thought to be a rare condition, however, it is now believed to affect a third of the population (with some experts saying the real number is much higher).  Gluten intolerance can be genetically influenced and may not become symptomatic until a person reaches adulthood (30s or 40s).

Gluten intolerance differs from celiac in that while it can cause autoimmune issues over time, it is not an autoimmune disease.  A person who is gluten intolerant is unable to effectively break down the gluten protein.  The protein remains intact as it enters the small intestine, where it causes inflammation.  Over time, this inflammation damages the lining of the small intestine, making the intestine more permeable or “leaky.”  As the barrier between the contents of the intestines and the tissues of the body is broken down, the immune system becomes weakened, and inflammation spreads throughout the body.

Gluten intolerance can cause serious symptoms including:

Bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps or painful gas especially after meals
Fatigue
Skin issues; itchy rashes, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating, “brain fog”, forgetfulness
Joint pain and stiffness
Mood-related changes, depression and anxiety
Nutrient deficiencies, including anemia
Weight gain
Psychological conditions, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia
Over time, gluten intolerance can lead to long-term problems such as food sensitivities, allergies and autoimmune conditions (asthma, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus).  Gluten sensitivity can also increase your likelihood of gaining weight and make it nearly impossible to lose weight unless you stop consuming gluten.

Weight loss often occurs when we remove gluten for a few reasons. First, when someone is sensitive to gluten it causes inflammation, which then increases fluid weight.  Chronic inflammation can lead to weight-loss resistance.  When you avoid gluten, you will often lose this water weight.  Additionally, with inflammation subsiding, the body becomes healthier and more capable of losing weight.  Another, perhaps more obvious, reason weight loss occurs when removing gluten from the diet is simply because most of the foods that contain gluten are refined, high-carbohydrate foods — the main foods that cause weight gain and obesity.

The best way to find out if you have gluten sensitivity is to do an elimination diet and remove gluten from your diet for a period of 21 days (preferably longer, such as three months).  After this time, add it back into the diet.  If symptoms improve during the elimination period and then reappear once gluten is eaten again, that is a clear sign gluten was contributing to the symptoms. Keep in mind, it is important to test one variable at a time during an elimination diet in order to avoid falsely attributing symptoms.

The simplest way to ensure you are eating foods without gluten is to focus on foods that are “real foods” such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats and other whole foods raised organically, without hormones and antibiotics. Avoid most foods in packages, boxes and cans – even gluten-free versions! — since they are typically processed “foods” devoid of nutrients and can lead to cravings. When it comes to baking, try naturally gluten-free flour alternatives such as brown rice flour, almond flour, coconut flour and chickpea flour. (I even found a pecan flour at a farmer’s market!)

Eliminating gluten from your diet can help with fat loss, decrease inflammation, reduce digestive and skin issues, improve memory and provide extra energy. Though gluten is widespread throughout the food supply, there are plenty of foods available that can make switching to a gluten-free diet simple. I have been gluten free for 11 years — long before it was a buzz word, before restaurants had gluten-free menus and before gluten-free products were sold in grocery stores. Start reading labels, eat more whole foods and your health will improve in the process!

Pathways to Healing specializes in holistic chiropractic care. Dr. Alyssa Musgrove draws on a variety of techniques, including chiropractic, kinesiology, nutrition, food allergy testing and lifestyle counseling to assist clients in achieving optimal health and wellness in one setting. Pathways to Healing is located at 1022 Founders Row, Lake Oconee Village, Greensboro. The office can be reached at 706-454-2040.