Supplement of the Month: Berberine Active (MediHerb® / Standard Process®)

This month’s pick for patients working on a weight-management plan is Berberine Active — a MediHerb® formula available through Standard Process. It is standardized to contain 200 mg of berberine per tablet from phellodendron bark extract. On the product label, Phellodendron is used traditionally to support healthy liver and bowel function.* Those digestive and metabolic foundations are often part of how we approach weight-loss goals in the office — never as a stand-alone “fat burner.”

Key product specifics (from standardprocess.com):

• Suggested use: 1 tablet, 2–4 times daily, or as directed by your practitioner
• Per serving (1 tablet): Calcium 26 mg · Phellodendron 20:1 extract 440 mg (from Phellodendron amurense stem bark 8.8 g, containing berberine 200 mg)
• Traditional uses listed: Support healthy liver function · support a healthy bowel environment · promote regularity of bowel function · antioxidant activity*
• Size: 60 tablets
• Introduced: 2019

Our Standard Process process at Happy Bones: we recommend supplements as part of a personalized plan — never one-size-fits-all. Before starting Berberine Active, we’ll review your goals, labs when appropriate, and medications (including those for blood sugar). Current patients can reorder recommended products through our Patient Direct page.

Caution: Not to be used during pregnancy and lactation unless otherwise directed by a qualified health care professional. Keep out of reach of children.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Educational only — not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Individual results vary.

Weight Loss Tip: A 10-Minute Walk After Meals

If you want one September habit that supports a weight-loss plan without another strict diet, try a short walk after your largest meal — even 10 minutes around the block or a few laps of the office hallway. Light movement after eating helps many people feel steadier energy and fewer “I need a snack right now” swings.

Pair it with protein and produce on the plate (see this month’s recipe). Small consistency beats extreme restriction. Ask us at your visit how walking, sleep, and your supplement plan fit together.

Healthy Recipe: Pinellas Rainbow Veggie Bowls

Serves 4 · About 35 minutes

Ingredients: 2 cups cooked quinoa or brown rice; 1 can chickpeas (rinsed); 2 cups cubed sweet potato; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp cumin; salt & pepper; 4 cups mixed greens or shredded cabbage; 1 avocado sliced; 1 cup cherry tomatoes; 1 yellow pepper sliced; optional yogurt or tahini drizzle and cilantro.

Directions: Toss sweet potato and chickpeas with oil, cumin, salt, and pepper. Roast at 425°F for 20–25 minutes until edges brown. Divide grains and greens into bowls. Top with roasted mix, avocado, tomatoes, and pepper. Drizzle and serve.

Fiber, color, and leftover-friendly — a filling bowl for busy September nights without a drive-through default.

Kids’ Health: After-School Sports, Screens, and Snacks

By September, the backpack is packed and the calendar is full. The next layer of kid-spine care is what happens after the bell:

• Water bottle in the sports bag — heat plus practice is a common headache and crankiness trigger
• A protein + produce snack before practice (cheese and fruit, leftovers, yogurt) beats a vending-machine default
• Homework screens: 20–20–20 (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds) and a backpack check that still holds
• If your child is sore after sports, leaning into the couch, or getting headaches, schedule a chiropractic checkup

Growing athletes need recovery as much as they need playing time.

Spinal Hygiene: Car-Line and Commute Reset

August’s habit was the desk reset. September’s is the time you spend in the car — drop-off lines, commutes, and sideline waiting. Stacked sitting plus a forward head on the phone is a fast path to neck and shoulder tightness.

1. At a red light (parked / not driving): roll both shoulders back 5 times
2. When you get out of the car, stand tall and reach both arms overhead for 3 slow breaths
3. Hold the phone at eye height instead of dropping your chin to your chest
4. Scoot the seat so hips are slightly above knees if you can, with the headrest actually touching your head

If a movement causes pain, stop and mention it at your next visit so we can tailor your care plan.

Acupuncture: Balance, Circulation, and Fall-Schedule Tension

Acupuncture is a needle-based therapy used to support circulation, ease tension, and help the body find balance — often described as restoring the flow of Qi along meridian pathways. Fine, sterile, single-use needles may also prompt the release of neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. At Happy Bones, Dr. Staci is certified in chiropractic acupuncture, so care can sit alongside your adjustment plan rather than in a separate office.

Sessions typically last about 30–40 minutes. Needles are hair-thin solid filaments (not hollow like a shot). Most people feel little more than an occasional pinch; many describe a dull, settling sensation. Wear shorts and a tank or sports bra, eat a light meal beforehand, and plan a calmer drive home — some patients feel pleasantly tired afterward.

September focus — Neck, shoulders, and “desk-to-car” headaches: When fall routines stack screens, commutes, and sports sidelines, acupuncture is a strong option for tension-type discomfort and for patients who want a non-drug, non-surgical support. If you take blood thinners, tell us — needling may not be the best fit, and other point-stimulation options exist.

Learn more about acupuncture or call (727) 585-8644 to book. · Request an appointment

EMSCULPT NEO Spotlight: Core Strength for Fall Routines

EMSCULPT NEO is the only non-invasive body-shaping treatment that simultaneously reduces fat and builds muscle in about a 30-minute session — with no downtime. It is FDA-cleared for multiple areas including abdomen, buttocks, arms, thighs, and calves, and can treat patients up to BMI 35.

Your midsection is involved in almost everything you do — standing up, lifting a bag, sitting through a workday, and staying steady on your feet. When those muscles are under-trained, posture slips, daily tasks feel heavier, and the back has to work overtime. Training the whole core — not only the “front abs” — supports how you move, not just how you look.

Low-back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work or skip what they enjoy. Most adults will feel it at some point, and for some it is severe. A well-balanced, resilient core can help protect the back. When pain does show up, core training is often part of the plan, along with chiropractic care.

When fall calendars fill up, a 30-minute EMSCULPT NEO visit is one way we help patients train the abdomen without adding another workout block to the week. One 30-minute session is equivalent to approximately 20,000 muscle contractions. Focused electromagnetic energy contracts the muscles while radiofrequency works on nearby fat, so core strength and contour can be addressed together.

We recommend two EMSCULPT NEO series a year — four 30-minute sessions in each series — to keep strengthening the core. That twice-a-year rhythm is especially helpful if low-back problems are already part of the picture.

September focus — Abdomen as schedules tighten: A stronger midsection supports the chiropractic goals we work on all year — posture, lifting, and how you feel in daily tasks — not only how a shirt fits. Ask us about an abdomen series that fits between school drop-offs and evening routines.

Learn more about EMSCULPT NEO or call (727) 585-8644 to book a consult.

Pelvic Floor Health: EMSELLA for Desk and Commute Confidence

EMSELLA uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy to stimulate the pelvic floor with thousands of muscle contractions in a single 28-minute session. The treatment is designed to engage the pelvic floor at an intensity that can be difficult to achieve through voluntary Kegel exercises alone, helping strengthen and recondition muscles involved in bladder control. One session is often described as equivalent to approximately 11,000 Kegel contractions — and you remain fully clothed throughout the treatment.

What does that mean for everyday life?

Urge incontinence involves a sudden, difficult-to-delay need to urinate. It can show up as frequent bathroom trips, needing to plan extra time before a meeting, or interrupting a commute to find a restroom.

Stress incontinence is leakage that happens when pressure on the bladder increases — such as with a sneeze, cough, laugh, exercise, or lifting.

Both can be associated with pelvic floor weakness or reduced muscle function, although bladder symptoms can have many possible causes.

If bathroom mapping has become part of your daily routine, it may be worth talking with a qualified healthcare professional about your options — including whether EMSELLA is appropriate for your individual goals and symptoms.

Your day should be planned around what you want to do — not where the next restroom is located.

September focus — Long days shouldn’t mean bathroom mapping: If you’re planning every meeting, car line, road trip, or commute around the nearest restroom, it may be time to ask a different question: Could EMSELLA fit your goals?

Explore pelvic floor therapy & EMSELLA · Appointments: Request an appointment