Dr. Desiree Curley struggled with chronic infections growing up – but her life changed in high school when she discovered chiropractic care.
“I started to learn about how the body works and understood that disease occurs when there is interference in the communication between the brain and the body,” she explained. “When you remove that interference (physical, chemical or emotional), the body will heal itself.”
Curley has been a chiropractor since 2002 and bought her current practice in 2023, changing its name to Essential Life Chiropractic. She is not only the owner, but the sole practitioner, clinic director and treating physician, and works with two staff members.
“The brain is the control center of the body …,” Curley noted, so when thinking of her business name, “essential life” was a fit.
Total body health can only be achieved when physical, chemical and emotional health are as close to 100% as possible, Curley advises. She describes chiropractic care as a non-invasive and safe form of holistic care.
“Educating my patients about how their bodies work is key to changing their health,” she pointed out. “As our bodies age, chiropractic care can increase mobility and help manage symptoms associated with arthritis and other age-related issues.”
“When you remove that interference, the body will heal itself,” Dr. Desiree Curley says of chiropractic treatment.
Essential Life Chiropractic offers adjustments and therapies such as Estim, laser, ultrasound, exercise and kinesiology taping. Curley counsels patients in the physical realm with adjustments, exercise, diet and sleep; explains the effect of chemicals in the body, namely food but also supplements and medicine; and touches on emotional health as it is affected by family, careers and other issues.
“I specialize in pre- and post-natal chiropractic,” Curley said. “I use the Webster breech technique (manipulation that re-aligns the sacrum to move a baby from a buttocks or feet-first position into a head-first one) and have had much success treating sciatica, low back pain, upper back and neck pain.
“I treat infants who have experienced physical issues – torticollis, digestive and eating problems – following the birth process, with great success.”
Curley also treats children who have neurological issues like autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) with spinal adjustments.
“We can improve autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and communication between the brain and body,” she stated, “potentially leading to improved focus, emotional regulation and sensory processing.”
Curley also treats children and adults with sports injuries.
“Managing repetition injuries through chiropractic adjustments, therapy and kinesiology taping can help performance and potentially prevent long-term injuries,” she said. Curley has served as the team chiropractor for Freehold Elite Gymnastics and the Brick Pop Warner Dragons and Berkeley Shooting Stars Soccer Club.
She also emphasized that desk-related strain and posture issues can be managed with chiropractic care.
“I go over exercises and recommend supplements that all of my patients can incorporate into their daily life to optimize their health,” she related.
Curley also offers holistic natural products that strengthen the immune system, including oregano oil, colloidal silver throat spray and magnesium spray.
An adjunct professor of anatomy and physiology at Monmouth University, Curley chose Freehold for her practice in part because of its school system. Her daughter graduated from Freehold Township High School and is now in college.
To support the community that has given her family so much, Curley has been a member of the Freehold Rotary Club since 2019 and its president for the last two years. She is also on the Freehold YMCA advisory board and is a former president of Kiwanis of Brick and a former board member of the Women’s Task Force of Ocean County.
“Freehold,” she remarked, “has been an exceptional place to build my business and raise my family.”
Essential Life Chiropractic
1 Broad St., No. 6,
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 780-8802
Website: drcurleychiro.com
