Lab Evaluation

Normal Versus Optimal

Many patients come to my office feeling exhausted, constipated, have trouble sleeping, are losing hair, and have been told by a conventional practitioner that they are “fine, all of their labs are normal!” This unfortunately can create doubt in patients because they have symptoms but are told they are healthy based on a numerical value. I have even had patients who have been told “it is all in your head” and to “move on.” Having previously been in a similar situation, I found a practitioner who looked deeper into my individual health and did more specific testing- a naturopathic physician.

Not only are lab reference ranges wide, they are not particularly accurate or individualized depending on age or gender, either. Many times, when patients are told that their blood work looks “normal,” practitioners are not evaluating if these values are OPTIMAL for the individual.

Evaluations Outside Routine

Beyond optimal values, there are, in many cases, more tests that can be measured than what is routinely tested. Routine labs are a great way to monitor general health for those who are overall healthy. However, many patients who find their way to my office have chronic, complex concerns that can require deeper evaluation. Routine labs are not telling you how your digestion is functioning, if there are imbalances in gut pathogens, if you are reacting to a certain food in your dietary regimen, or if your hormones are balanced; all of which can have profound impacts on overall health.

What options are out there?

• Full thyroid panel (more than just TSH)
• Vitamin D levels (becoming more commonly tested)
• Salivary hormone tests (including Adrenal testing)
• Comprehensive stool analysis
• Heavy metal and environmental exposures
• Food and additive sensitivities (very common inflammatory trigger)
• Homocysteine, Folate, B12
• Micronutrient testing

These are the most common, but pending each individual’s concerns, exposure and history, we can customize our evaluation. Many of these we are able to do via a simple blood draw in office; others require a kit that we can send directly to the patient to complete. Following the collection we sit down with each patient to explain the results and determine the optimal plan moving forward for their health.

You don’t have to settle for “normal” or routine labs. Get to know your health by looking deeper.

Dr. Burns’ Top 4 Supplements

Now that things are opening up, it feels good to be back to work, to be able to eat at restaurants and to be out and about. However, it’s important to remember the risk is still present, and social distancing will be more of a challenge now. It is specifically significant for those in high risk groups who have compromised immunity including people with lung conditions, heart conditions, diabetes, obesity, and people with cancer, to continue diligent means of supporting their health.

 

While maintaining recommended practices such as hand washing, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a mask can help, I am asked what vitamins or nutrients I take on a daily basis. While I strongly encourage an individual approach to a care plan, I have found that the majority of my patients also benefit from the following:

 

1. Magnesium: I cannot say enough about this wonderful mineral! Magnesium is involved in over 300 reactions in our body and can benefit many systems including our cardiovascular, digestive, and neurological health.
2. Probiotic: If you’re like me and have a tendency to catch a bug anytime you travel, you may want to think about your gut bacterial balance. After catching a number of exotic souvenirs, I am religious about taking my probiotics, and it has made a difference! After all, a happy tummy makes a healthy human.
3. Vitamin C: This is widely established as an essential component to a nutritional regimen for humans. Unlike other species, we cannot synthesize our own. It is essential for collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitters synthesis as well as optimal immune function.                    
4. Collagen: This supplemental nutrient has been a game changer for me, largely because of the effects on my digestion and therefore skin health. It is a great addition to smoothies and can be an easy way to get more protein.

These are my personal picks, however, it is encouraged that each person speak with their health provider to make sure their plan is optimal for them. All of us are unique in our needs, digestion, and physiology. Our new reality can be challenging and may require adjustments. Being mindful of simple steps to reduce the risk of exposure, together with strengthening your immune system, can help you stay protected and healthy!

Evaluate Your Health

The challenges we currently face remind us how precious our health is and how we may have neglected it due to poor nutrition and lack of sleep.

Wise Words

Why not take this time to evaluate your wellness and set some healthy goals for you and your family? Here are some guidelines to help you:

1. Take an honest look at where you are now
   1. What do you see as your current challenges? Do you find yourself focusing on a certain component of your health? Be open to a new perspective about what health and happiness concerns you have. 
2. Envision what you want your health to look like
   1. Imagine what an overall sense of well-being would be. Then break this down into smaller pieces and outline the steps that can help you to live your vision.
3. What are your top 3 goals?
   1. Realistic goals are key. What will work in your schedule that you can commit to? Are there habits that need to be adjusted? Try to set yourself up to succeed. Be honest with yourself about your likes, dislikes, cravings, patterns, strengths and weak areas. 
4. Seek professional support
   1. You don’t have to go through this transformation on your own! Long lasting habits require knowledge and action. While many people follow opinions from a Google search, it can be more beneficial to recruit a team of experts to empower you and support the optimal actions for you. 
5. Hold yourself accountable
   1. Share your goals with a friend, find a walking buddy, or keep a habit journal. Discover what motivates you- what is your purpose for doing this?

Morning Routine

Our health is a lens through which we experience life. We have the ability to apply the fundamentals of good health and improve our wellness. Optimal health is a journey with a vision that looks different to each of us. Your health and how you care for yourself is your responsibility. At Big Sky Natural Health, we are here to support and empower you on your journey.

Earth is enjoying its new found health

Local Cryotherapy- Revive Your Wellness

Have you ever put a frozen pack of peas on an injury? Cold compress has been a widely recognized therapy to reduce pain and inflammation. However, a more effective method taking over the scene: Cryotherapy! This therapy operates on similar principles to ice application since it can be used as a localized treatment but it is much colder.  Cryotherapy has been used in many parts of the world for decades with benefits including injury/workout recovery, skin health, overall wellness, surgery recovery and weight loss. In the United States, cryotherapy has most commonly been used for its advantages in sports recovery.

There are two common types of cryotherapy: Localized and Whole Body Cryotherapy. Local Cryotherapy uses a small handheld device that applies a fine mist of chilled air to a specific body part or facial. Local cryotherapy is used to reduce pain/inflammation/swelling, repair tissue damage, enhance blood circulation, and improve skin tone. Cryotherapy also uses cold laser to stimulate the release of special proteins that speed up recovery. 

Local Cryotherapy for Injury and Rehabilitation is commonly used if one has a sprained, strained, or pulled muscle, is recovering post surgery, or is an athlete who has sustained an overuse injury. Local cryotherapy penetrates past the top layers of the skin to provide an efficient, powerful, more comfortable treatment over traditional applied ice treatments.  This type of cryotherapy can be applied to any specific injured part of the body such as ankles, shoulders, feet, elbows, knees, and necks.

Local Cryotherapy is commonly applied to the following body parts:

• Feet – Plantar Fascia, Morton’s Neuroma
• Calves, Ankles and Achilles- Sprain, Tendonitis
• Shoulders- Rotator Cuff, Labral Injury
• Elbows- Epicondylitis
• Neck- Whiplash injuries, disc degeneration
• Back Pain – Lower Back Pain, Upper Back- Trapezius/Rhomboid Pain
• Lower Extremities- Hamstrings, Quadriceps
• Knees- Arthritis, ligamentous injury

The severity and chronicity of the injured area will dictate the number of treatments necessary. 

Cryotherapy Facial Benefits: 

• Blood flow and circulation is enhanced helping to:
  • Stimulates collagen production leading to firmer, smoother, and more elastic skin
  • Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
• Improve acne and superficial scarring
• Reduce pore size and tighten skin producing a refreshed facial glow
• Reduce puffiness
• Ameliorate skin conditions, such as Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Eczema

Most patients feel great after the first treatment and their pores have tightened. Many people actually use the treatment right before they go out at night or before an event where they want to look their best. Typically we recommend 5-10 treatments for maximum effects.

Cryotherapy’s benefits go far beyond inflammation, too. Short bursts of cold therapy can also increase antioxidants, which help immune function, optimize cellular function, and protect the tissues. Typically treatment takes between 4 and 12 minutes.  To learn more or try out a treatment schedule today by calling the office or booking online.

 

Regenerative Medicine and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common medical conditions in the United States, affecting approximately one-third of adults. With an increasingly active and overworked population, this number is growing rapidly. Musculoskeletal conditions affect muscles (strain, tears), bones (such as osteoporosis), joints (such as osteoarthritis), and tissues (such as tendons and ligaments). Decades of research have assessed a variety of therapies for relief including physical or occupational therapy, application of heat or ice, reducing workload, strength and conditioning exercises, massage, medication, exercise, and rest. 

However, beyond these therapies, lies the field of regenerative medicine. This arena is filled with potential. At its most central focus, regenerative medicine involves working to harness the body’s natural healing mechanisms. One example, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), has been around since the 1970s. PRP is a procedure that involves the delivery of a patient’s own blood plasma to the site of injury for repair. PRP contains platelets, which are a natural source of key growth factors for regeneration. 

PRP has a profound regenerative capacity, however, there are cases where stem cell therapy may be more optimal.  Stem cells have the ability to divide, renew and become certain types of specialized cells. While there are a few methods for obtaining stem cells, the therapeutic potential of stem cells from the umbilical cord is vast. The number of clinical trials using cord tissue stem cells in human patients has increased to approximately 150 since the first clinical trial in 2007. Umbilical Cord (UC) stem cells consist of young, viable cells and growth factors that can promote a sustained effect when it comes to tissue healing. 

Role of Cells

One common misconception is the larger the cell count, the better results. This is not necessarily true. Researchers have found that regeneration depends more on chemical messengers consisting of growth factors and cytokines than on the specific stem cell count. These signaling molecules encourage the patient’s own cells to engage in the healing process. 

Safety from the Start

Regenerative medicine products sourced from UC require specific safety measures and responsible labs. The UC must be procured from full-term births of healthy donors. Once collected, there are a variety of tests conducted to ensure compliance with FDA requirements, including a comprehensive analysis to rule out any pathogens. With safety as the number one priority, the product we use is tested beyond the requirements of the FDA, to mitigate the risk of donor-to-recipient reactions.

Knowledge is Power

Whether you are looking to recover from an injury or prevent an injury, regenerative medicine may hold the answer. There is immense value in staying active throughout your lifespan. When it comes to your health, the more informed you are, the more empowered you are as a member of your healthcare team. Stem cells are not a cure-all, but they do have potential to aid in the healing process. A thorough evaluation with a physician is required for your specific health concerns to see if you are a good candidate for regenerative therapy. 

 

Beauty Counter- My Choice for Clean Skincare Products

November is National Healthy Skin Month, as sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology. Your skin can reveal a lot about your overall health. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I believe that what we put in and on our bodies is extremely important to our health. Prevention is our best defense when it comes to confronting the assortment of environmental toxins we are exposed to every day.

Education equals empowerment to help individuals create the conditions for optimal health. It is important to me to provide resources and safe alternatives to those who want to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

Beauty Counter is a company I trust as a safe option for skincare, make-up, bath/body and kids/babies. Learning to read labels and understanding the ingredients we put IN and ON our body made me choose Beauty Counter for myself and for clients.

Research has noted that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Moreover, the average person uses more than 500 chemicals daily from beauty and skincare products. Conditions such as infertility, cancer, autoimmune diseases and a host of other afflictions are on the rise due to these exposures!

This applies to men as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that male reproductive problems doubled between 1970 and 1993, listing environmental chemicals to be strong contributing factors. Several recent reports have also highlighted the presence of low-level concentrations of potential reproductive or developmental toxins in cosmetics and personal care products.

The skin is our largest organ, isn’t it time we thought about what we are putting on it? Give yourself the opportunity to be your optimal you and say “no” to toxic skin care. You can use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database to research ingredients. You will also find an explanation as to why a certain chemical is best avoided.

Stay tuned for our upcoming event to learn more, try some samples and start collecting clean beauty care items!

 

Check out my website: beautycounter.com/drkaley to learn more.

Bringing Care to Big Sky

Dr. Burns is excited to be offering naturopathic and regenerative medicine in a new community! Naturopathic medicine is part of the fast-growing natural health industry, as an increasing number of patients are seeking a more natural approach to their healthcare.

Big Sky Natural Health is a medical practice utilizing holistic methods and customized treatments to empower patients and reestablish optimum health through whole person, patient-centered primary care. Moreover, the clinic brings regenerative injection therapy and nutrient IV therapy to enhance the medical community of this region.

As a specialist in the field of regenerative medicine, Dr. Burns has experience with the excitement and demand this therapy creates within a population. The Big Sky community is a highly active population and is home to events that bring in renowned athletes. The ability to be and stay active without pain and injury is vital to the life of Big Sky residents.

Big Sky Natural Health reflects the Big Sky values promoted by the Chamber of Commerce, inspiring physically and intellectually wholesome lifestyles with a strong connection to the surrounding natural world.

Stay tuned for more to come!

Be the Girl Who Stands Up on the Paddleboard

Nothing quite compares to accomplishing something we weren’t sure we could. Many of us spend the majority of our days criticizing every move we make; yet we embody more moments of confidence than we credit ourselves. We are more unstoppable than we often let ourselves believe.

Much of today’s society is focused on our performance or appearance. However, when we encourage character, we foster confidence both within ourselves and in those around us.

Recently we were at the lake with my boyfriend’s seven-year-old daughter, Teagan. She was nervous about getting on the paddleboards with us and wasn’t confident she would be able to float in her life vest.

After a few minutes of observing me glide across the water, she mustered up her courage and hopped into the water. When I paddled over she was filled with joy that she was not only able to float but was swimming in her vest! Her confidence growing, she hopped up onto my paddleboard and rode along.

A little while later, she looked back at me and asked to stand up. “Of course!” I cheered. She proceeded to stand and sit, then stand for a bit longer and sit again and so on. Each time, gaining more self-assurance and delight.

There’s a lot to be said for being confident in a society that has distorted our self-worth. There are rewards for standing when you would rather sit, and there is something to be said for facing a challenge when you would rather retreat.

Internally and externally we repetitively absorb compliments that highlight performance and appearance. I challenge all of us, myself included, to praise moments of strong character: Perseverance. Courage. Honesty. I applaud Teagan for these things; yet too often neglect to admire them within myself.

A few days after this, Teagan was hesitant to run through a sprinkler. I watched the battle in her mind of whether or not to “go for it.” I looked at her and said, “Be the girl who stands up on the paddleboard!” Instantly her expression changed and she took off running for the water. It was brilliant.

If we let go of extreme comfort, we make ourselves stronger and more resilient. I encourage you to transform challenges into opportunities and continue searching for solutions to whatever might be holding you back.

Many of us don’t trust our heart as much as we listen to our brain. While the brain tunes into our external cues, the heart allows us to feel what is best at an internal level and connects to our intuition. We have been trained to think that emotions can cloud our judgment but in reality it is often the other way around. As Teagan demonstrated so eloquently, confidence is a skill you build through action and now is the time to take action for your life.

This experience was simple, yet she inspired me deeply. Just as I reminded her that she is capable and strong enough to overcome trepidation, I was reminded that I too embody these qualities.

Keep going and most importantly, keep believing. Realize that you are the only thing stopping you. — Richard Branson

Be the Girl Who Stands Up on the Paddleboard

Nothing quite compares to accomplishing something we weren’t sure we could. Many of us spend the majority of our days criticizing every move we make; yet we embody more moments of confidence than we credit ourselves. We are more unstoppable than we often let ourselves believe.

Much of today’s society is focused on our performance or appearance. However, when we encourage character, we foster confidence both within ourselves and in those around us.

Recently we were at the lake with my boyfriend’s seven-year-old daughter, Teagan. She was nervous about getting on the paddleboards with us and wasn’t confident she would be able to float in her life vest.

After a few minutes of observing me glide across the water, she mustered up her courage and hopped into the water. When I paddled over she was filled with joy that she was not only able to float but was swimming in her vest! Her confidence growing, she hopped up onto my paddleboard and rode along.

A little while later, she looked back at me and asked to stand up. “Of course!” I cheered. She proceeded to stand and sit, then stand for a bit longer and sit again and so on. Each time, gaining more self-assurance and delight.

There’s a lot to be said for being confident in a society that has distorted our self-worth. There are rewards for standing when you would rather sit, and there is something to be said for facing a challenge when you would rather retreat.

Internally and externally we repetitively absorb compliments that highlight performance and appearance. I challenge all of us, myself included, to praise moments of strong character: Perseverance. Courage. Honesty. I applaud Teagan for these things; yet too often neglect to admire them within myself.

A few days after this, Teagan was hesitant to run through a sprinkler. I watched the battle in her mind of whether or not to “go for it.” I looked at her and said, “Be the girl who stands up on the paddleboard!” Instantly her expression changed and she took off running for the water. It was brilliant.

If we let go of extreme comfort, we make ourselves stronger and more resilient. I encourage you to transform challenges into opportunities and continue searching for solutions to whatever might be holding you back.

Many of us don’t trust our heart as much as we listen to our brain. While the brain tunes into our external cues, the heart allows us to feel what is best at an internal level and connects to our intuition. We have been trained to think that emotions can cloud our judgment but in reality it is often the other way around. As Teagan demonstrated so eloquently, confidence is a skill you build through action and now is the time to take action for your life.

This experience was simple, yet she inspired me deeply. Just as I reminded her that she is capable and strong enough to overcome trepidation, I was reminded that I too embody these qualities.

Keep going and most importantly, keep believing. Realize that you are the only thing stopping you.

— Richard Branson

 

 

Living With Intention

Do you ever wonder if you are living life to the fullest? Recently I have been confronted with the feeling that I am in yet another “hermit” phase of my ongoing growth, with a strong desire to uncover my next steps. When I have felt this sensation in the past, it is often before a “blossom” phase. There have been a series of events recently that have stimulated me to reflect and discover what makes my soul truly satisfied.

Dog Training

We recently enrolled Coyo (our dog) in day training and it has not only transformed her behavior, but it has also showed me how important it is to be cognizant of the small victories along the path to the final objective. Often, I find myself so eager to accomplish a goal that I lose sight of the fact that the journey can be more important than the outcome. When attempting to enhance a dog’s behavior, owners often give up after the first unsuccessful attempt. However, it is often through persistence and repetitions that dogs achieve success. Most of us have a tendency to forget the accomplishments we’ve made before reaching the end goal. Living with intention requires patience and perseverance.

Shine Volunteering

Shine is a special night at a local church for community members who have been diagnosed with developmental, physical, or mental disabilities. It is designed similar to Prom night; complete with red carpet and dancing. The night is a celebration of love and the value of life. Serving as an escort for the attendees and spending time with them on the dance floor showed me the true meaning of embracing your true self. This event aims to encourage every person, regardless of ability or background to have an active social life. Living with intention requires appreciating your uniqueness.

Ironman Coaching/Racing

Ever since crossing my first finish line, the Ironman race has been embedded at the core of my essence. To say that someone considering such an endeavor needs to be mentally tough would be a gross understatement. Similar to the training, coaching can be demanding but also highly rewarding. Being a certified endurance coach allows me to connect deeper with athletes but also friends. Over the past year I have had the honor of training a friend for the Boulder Ironman. Battling through the training out of her comfort zone, and crossing that finish line that did not seem possible a year prior, I watched her turn her weaknesses into the strength of an Ironman. Living with intention requires us to overcome our weaknesses to achieve our successes.

Ask yourself, “What sparks my soul? What makes me feel alive and happy?” Use the answers to help you make decisions and choose how you will execute your journey, especially in times of difficulty. Living with intention requires an appreciation for something greater than ourselves so that we may live a value-based life, with purpose.