Ray Pendergraft of California states that while there are numerous options, he goes with his tride and true treatments. Pendergraft said: "Chiropractic is based on the idea that if the body works as naturally as possible, it will be as healthy and pain free as possible. We restore motion and this changes the master control system in a positive way. Besides this primary approach, additional help is often found in the dietary and home changes we use. While there are a million of these ideas good and bad, here are the ones I've used for over 30 years. For acute pain, the most consistent help comes from ice 20 minutes per hour on the area of pain. Turmeric 1800mg (95 percent curcumin) per day helps noticeably about half the time. This is anecdotal, but it's just food in a capsule. Omega 3 fish oil 2400mg per day of omega 3s NOT oil! It sounds like a lot, but again it is food in a capsule. I usually give them a two-day supply just to see if it helps before selling it to them. For more chronic pain including arthritis, regular stretching is essential. Glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate 1800 mg per day omega 3s 1200mg per day. Another anecdotal one is pomegranate juice 4oz per day. Again let's stress that it is food."

Karen Erickson of New York was the only response that included essential oils with her treatment plan. She briefly states: "Homeopathic Remedies: Traumeel and Zeel for soft tissue and joint pain respectively. Essential Oils applied topically: peppermint, wintergreen, clove, helichrsym. Supplements: containing ginger, turmeric, bioflavonoid, quercetin. Chinese Herbal Patches: that patients wear on painful area for 3 days."

Sinuses, Gluten-Sensitivity and Others

Responses that addressed conditions such as sinusitis and gluten-sensitivity were rare but should be mentioned. Christopher Wolcott of Chicago, the windy city, has remedies for addressing sinus irritation. He states: "The dry air of the winter months irritates the lining of the paranasal sinuses causing swelling, which sets the stage for sinus pain, congestion and potential infection. We focus on preventing infection by encouraging all our patients (particularly those prone to sinusitis) to utilize nasal irrigation followed by steam inhalation nightly before bed. From November through February we also encourage 5,000 IU D3, 25,000 IU beta-carotene, and daily probiotics all to bolster the immune system. Antibiotics for acute sinusitis appear to be relatively ineffective.¹ Local and oral decongestants, while effective in the short-term, host several undesirable side effects including excitability, nervousness, insomnia, transient hypertension, heart palpitations, dizziness, nasal dryness, and rebound congestion.² When a patient presents with sinus congestion, our treatment protocol consists of: hot moist packs over the frontal/maxillary sinuses with eucalyptus aromatherapy, followed by needle acupuncture or acupressure to local sinus points LI 20, ST 2-3, GB 14, and Yintang, followed by manual sinus percussion, and finally spinal manipulation of the upper thoracic and cervical spine. Patients love the results and often present specifically for this treatment. References: 1. Guarch Ibáñez B, Buñuel Álvarez JC, López Bermejo A, Mayol Canals L. [The role of antibiotics in acute sinusitis: a systematic review and meta analysis.]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2011 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print] Spanish. PubMed PMID: 21237732. 2. www.drugs.com."

Proactive solutions such as incorporating a gluten-free diet will aid in mobility and pain relief, believes Craig Stellpflug of Arizona. Stellpflug said: "One word... GLUTEN! As a neurodevelopment specialist, I find that gluten interferes with leptin. Leptin is a hormone that does three main things in the human body. It tells the brain when the tummy is full. It signals fat cells to metabolize. And finally, leptin normalizes peripheral pain receptor sensation in the spine. I have found that in the vast majority of my Fibromyalgia patients that gluten sensitivity (not necessarily Celiac) is the biggest exacerbator of pain. In order to nail this bad-boy down it takes one committed patient to become a gluten Nazi. If a product doesn't say "gluten free" it probably has gluten injected in it somewhere. I recently found that one piece of Chicklet's gum a day contains enough gluten to send one of my autism patients to the time out corner in day care. Gluten is the most highly complex protein that the human digestive system comes in frequent contact with. It contains disulfide bonds like those found in rubber. So in conclusion, if you encounter the patient with elevated pain levels bordering psychosis, try a gluten free diet before referring them out to a pain specialist. After all... chiropractic care takes into consideration the whole patient and not just a part."

Higher Power

And finally, Don Schmolder of California was the only response to mention turning to a higher power for treatment. Schmolder said: "I have learned and grown into over 24 years of practice and at 49 years of age that personal prayer and prayer with patients takes pain to another level of tolerance and often acceptance if not total relief that is often neglected regardless of the entity of the pain."