» Medications

  • Health and Wellness - You get the message but how to ...
    By admin on April 20th, 2009 | 4 Comments4 Comments Comments

    For those of you who couldn’t make it, you missed an incredible night at Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Bistro on Linclon Ave.  We had about 50 people turn out for the presentation of, “7 Health Secrets Even You MD Doesn’t Know.”

    I had so many of you come up to me afterwards during dinner to thank us for sharing my passion about the many truths that YOU, the consumer, are unaware of regarding so many over-the-counter and prescription meds that are literally destroying the health of this great nation.  One woman in particular was from Estonia in Eastern Europe, and she mentioned how she had never heard of a doctor’s office give such an educational yet entertaining event for their community.  I tried to explain to her that this isn’t common in the United States, which is why we do it.  We feel obligated to get the message out that so-called modern medicine is not the answer to health.  While it may be helpful in some circumstances, most people are being bamboozled into think they need a pill for
    everything.

    Another woman asked a question during the lecture about her father in law, whom is in his 60’s and taking Blood Pressure and Cholesterol meds.  She stated how concerned she was that he thinks he is “OK” because now his numbers look good on paper, yet his lifestyle of no exercise and nightly ice cream scoops, with a beer belly to boot haven’t changed a bit!  She was frustrated that his doctors haven’t tried to address this.  She wanted to know what she could do to help him understand that just because he is taking medication,
    it doesn’t mean he is functioning better.  This is such a difficult situation in so many, many ways. But I’ll try to answer this frustration dilemma the best I can in this email, for those of you with similar concerns.

    The first problem is that people are being told they are healthier when their blood pressure, cholesterol, or even bone density scores, measure better on paper after taking the prescription medication to help “thier numbers.”  The fact is that a guy who is still 50 pounds overweight with a terrible diet and no exercise is not somehow “Miraculously” ok after popping a pill!!!!  The reason why is that his body is not actually functioning better, which prevents his body from making the necessary changes to fix the problem.
    Don’t even get me started on the potential side effects, which that alone should be reason enough to not take these “Preventative Drugs,” which how can you call something preventative when it causing something else?  Just read the label on the drugs they want people to take?  It is scary.  You see, the medications are only addressing the symptom that is the result of the problem.

    The second problem is more psychological.  People generally think they are ok if they feel fine.  This is very similar to not having your car tuned up or having the oil changed until you hear a bad noise coming from the engine.  We are taught since childhood that if you feel fine you are healthy?  Then maybe you are smart enough to have a physical exam, such as a prostate exam, mammagram, colonoscopy, or stress test, which all only tell you if you have disease, but don’t tell you how close you are to getting it. So you see, someone can walk out of an exam for their heart in which they pass the ridiculously easy treadmill test, which compares their ability to other sick people not to really healthy people, and feel good because the doctor says, “You passed, in which he really means, “You didn’t fail”…..There is a really big difference you know.  Just ask any parent….”Do you want your kids to pass with flying colors or JUST NOT FAIL?”  I guess it depends on if you care or not too!

    I hope everyone is getting the point here.  Health is more about how you function not just how you feel.  The current medical model is failing this country and the average American over 55 years of age is taking 8-10 prescription drugs a day!  Preventative Health measure through better chemistry isn’t working…just look at the numbers. Lipitor for example made 25 BILLION with a “B” in profits last year, yet all peer reviewed studies show better exercise and diet is much more effective, with no side effects.  They are now trying to get Lipitor approved for children, to prevent them from having heart disease as adults…..ARE THEY SERIOUS?  They are because it would help them extend their patent rights on the drug.  If you actually think it is not about money you are living under a pretty BIG rock.  Wake up and save your family from this destructive and damaging way of thinking that is rotting our nation to the core! My own father even woke up just in time.  He had a heart attack two years ago at age 59. He was one of the 25% who don’t die the first time they have one.  He finally decided then to start listening to me.  He is now 62 and functioning great.  He takes ZERO
    prescription medications, walks a mile everyday, eats a ton of fruits and vegetables, and visits a wellness practitioner every other week such as his doctor of chiropractic to help balance his nervous system and body structure and function.  He still sees his medical doctor, but once a year because that is just an appointment to tell him if any disease is present.  He sees his chiropractor twice a month minimum to help maintain
    health and function by addressing the cause naturally!  He decided to be healthy by choice and by being pro-active not re-active.  I hope for you the reader, you won’t need a heart attack to wake you up like it took for my very lucky Dad.

    Much Respect,

    Dr. McKinley

  • The Body Knows What the Body Needs
    By admin on April 17th, 2009 | No Comments Comments

    Earlier this week, I had a patient in her 90’s who wanted to know if she should continue taking Fosamax, which is an osteoporosis drug.  It is the only medication she is on, which is probably why she is still alive.  According to the CDC, most Americans are on 8 prescription drugs per day.  Studies show that anyone on eight prescription meds per day will most likely not live past 75.  Anyway, she was noticing stomach cramping, which she had noticed was listed as a common side effect for the drug Fosamax.  I told her I don’t think any of the osteoporosis drugs are very safe, including Fosamax and Actonel.  I told her to report this side effect to her doctor or get a second opinion.  She then told me that she decided to stop taking it a
    few weeks ago anyway, and now she isn’t having nearly as much stomach cramping!

    For anyone to live to 98 years old, they probably understand that the body generaly knows what to do, and medications should be used sparingly.  This particular patient obviously knew that her body is intelligent, and the side effects from the “Preventative Drug” were a warning that it was not right for her body.

    On that note, anyone interested in knowing more about the dangers of Fosamax, Actonel, and other osteoporosis medications should read “Fight for Your Health,” by Byron Richards, PhD.  He is a nutritionist, and he clearly explains how Big Pharma has everyone bamboozled on this crap.  I tell everyone in my family to get off of this harmful drug, and you would do well to look into it for anyone in your family being told to take this stuff.

    Much Respect,

    Dr. McKinley

  • Mixing Meds, Risking Health
    By admin on December 29th, 2008 | No Comments Comments

    When I returned to town on Sunday night, I found on my doorstep an excellent article from Wednesday’s Chicago Tribune. It outlined a study from the University of Chicago Medical Center that found that “At least 2.2 million older adults in the U.S. take medicine in combinations that could trigger dangerous drug interactions, causing gastrointestinal bleeding, muscle breakdown, disruption in heart rhythm and other serious problems. Overall, 1 in 25 older adults risked serious drug interactions, the study found. For men ages 75 to 85, it was as high as 1 in 10.” Study author Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau said risks might be even higher because the research focused only on major interactions among the 20 most common drugs and dietary supplements.

    This study confirms what we talk about so often in our office: It is vitally important that you take as few medications as possible. And we’re not just talking about prescription medications, the study states that half of the negative interactions involved over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin. Your chances of adverse interactions increase exponentially with each drug you take, this is the reason that reactions to correctly prescribed medications is one of the top four causes of death in this country. (Lindau said the analysis did not find people taking drug combinations that should not occur under any circumstances. This indicates that the medication was correctly prescribed, yet serious interactions occurred anyway!)
    .

    How can you decrease or eliminate medications? Most medications we take are for lifestyle conditions - conditions caused directly by our lifestyle. To get off of these drugs we must address the lifestyle that causes the conditions. Chiropractic directly plays a role in this. We all know that chiropractic care helps remove the need for pain medication - even if that isn’t our major goal, but did you know that studies show that it can help remove the need for other types of medications as well? For example a recent study done in conjunction with University of Chicago’s Blood Pressure Center showed upper cervical chiropractic adjustments effective in lowering blood pressure.

    Our goal with all of our patients is for you to be on as few medications as possible. We want to show you how by making lifestyle change you can remove the need for many drugs, and we want to work with your medical doctor in helping you remove the danger of these medications from your life. (Remember, never stop taking a prescription medication with consulting with your medical doctor first.) Together we can work to put you on a path to health and wellness, drug free!

  • Early flu season cases are resisting Tamiflu - Playin...
    By admin on December 22nd, 2008 | No Comments Comments

    MSNBC - Early flu season cases are resisting Tamiflu

    The drug companies and their researchers are seemingly baffled again early into the flu season! At least the public can finally start to see that taking medication or getting a shot doesn’t buy you immunity. The best bet is playing offense by doing the things that make us stronger naturally like getting adjusted regularly, getting off our butts and working out, staying positive, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, etc…..

    Sign up for our dinner party in January to have fun and learn time proven strategies to boost immunity and slow the aging process, including why Dr. McKinley would NEVER take the flu shot!! Call our office for details.

  • This is Your Gut On Drugs
    By admin on November 25th, 2008 | No Comments Comments

    One of the most unfortunate aspects of the drug culture we live in today is the law of unintended consequences: we take a medication to help a problem but it ends up causing us more problems. Once again we see this in action with antibiotics in some new research into stomach bacteria. Some new studies, highlighted on NPR’s Science Friday last week in an interesting conversion with Dr. David Relman from Stanford University School of Medicine (Science Fridays - A Community of Thousands, In Your Gut) give us insight into our stomach and the effects of antibiotics upon the bacteria in it.

    We have over 5600 species of bacteria living in our stomach, the majority of which we are in a symbiotic relationship where they help us in the digestion of food. This new research shows us that many common types of antibiotics disrupt these colonies of bacteria, preventing their growth from time periods from 1 to over 6 months. These bacteria are very important; loss of them can lead to diarrhea, yeast infections, growth of “bad”, resistant bacteria, vitamin deficiencies, and more.

    So what can we do to help prevent the loss of these all important bacteria? First, and most important, is to prepare our bodies so we don’t get sick from simple exposure to bacteria. Exercise, nurtition, and proper nervous system function are all important to correct immune system function. Second, if we do get sick we shouldn’t run immediately to the medicine cabinet, or pill bottle. Your body isn’t stupid, you are having symptoms for a reason. Runny nose, low fever, coughing, etc, are all ways that your body fights off viral and bacterial infections; using medicine to stop these symptoms works against your immune system, prolonging the illness. Finally, if we do have a bacterial infection and our body needs antibiotic help in fighting it off, then as soon as we finish the round of meds we must do things to promote regrowth and colonization of our gut bacterial. This includes eating foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and other fermented products, avoid very acidic foods, and taking a probiotic supplement to provide bacterial growth.

    Remember, in the end, the best way to avoid this law of unintended consequences is to keep yourself healthy in the first place!

    Related Articles:

    http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jYmMg5LQAvp-wbrxNPYAD_OvNSQQ

    http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/38081