Conditions

What We See:

~Gut dysfunction: Heartburn/GERD, IBS, IBD – Inflammatory bowel disease aka Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease, SIBO, Candidiasis, constipation, diarrhea, nausea…

What do these gastrointestinal conditions have in common?  The MICROBIOME!  The gut is made up of over trillions of bacteria and comprises about 70-80% of the immune function.  If you were once a colicky baby or have even taken just merely one dose of antibiotics, then that’s enough to cause a plethora of symptoms either immediately or later in life.  As the microbiome changes over time due to diet, stress, medications like antacids, birth control pills or antibiotics to name a few or even that one incident of food poisoning, the microbiome will start to harbor unfavorable bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and parasites.  All of which will cause an array of GI symptoms from constipation, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, abdominal distension, which can result in cramping and pain.  As inflammation progresses, more injury to the gut lining  (aka leaky gut) causes indigestion, malabsoption of nutrients, even as severe as ulceration, blood and mucus in stool, and weight loss.  With proper lab testings, appropriate diet and stress modifications, and implementing supplements to remove the unfavorable microorganisms, one can start to heal and bring the gut back to homeostasis.  GI conditions can then be in remission or resolved.

~Adrenal Dysfunction: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, Fatigue, Insomnia, OCD…

These common symptoms are caused by the imbalance of Hormones (adrenal, thyroid, female & male), Neurotransmitters and Nutritional Deficiencies.  Lifestyles of sleep deprivation or insufficient/unhealthy choice of diet causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can also attribute to these symptoms.  Which organ system is being affected or how one organ system can affect the other can be differentiated and properly diagnosed through history intake and lab testings.  Research states anxious or depressed individuals have different microbiome make-up from individuals without anxiety or depression.  Therefore, not only do we need to look at deficiencies of hormones, neurotransmitters, and nutrition but it is also essential to start looking at one’s microbiome make-up, hence a Gut-Brain Connection.

~Women’s Health: Hormonal Imbalance, PMS, PMDD, Infertility, PCOS, Menopause, Bio-Identical Hormones…

When a woman is experiencing abnormal menstrual cycle, she is often automatically placed on birth control pills; when experiencing menopause, hormonal replacement therapy is implemented.  When faced with these issues, hormonal imbalance must be addressed  As also in infertility, hormonal deficiencies, including thyroid and adrenal hormones should not be overlooked.  Medications are commonly used to combat women’s health issues but the root cause of hormonal imbalances are never addressed.  As lab tests can reveal hormonal deficiencies, one can be introduced the power of using not only nutritional (vitamin and mineral) supplements but also herbal and homeopathic remedies to regulate one’s cycle or gently ease one to gracefully embrace menopause without the side effects from medications.

~Autoimmune: Food & Environmental Allergies, Eczema, Hypothyroid Hashimoto Thyroiditis…

When food or environmental allergens trigger an immune response, antibodies are produced to provide a protective mechanism to keep one safe.  But when an overwhelming production of antibodies cause a chain of reaction that leads to an over stimulation of an immune system, this turns into an autoimmune condition.  Inflammation is the outcome causing eczema, allergies, etc.  Instead of suppressing the immune system with medication, we can address the triggers that bring on inflammation.

~Colds/Flus, Sinusitis:

Were you a colicky child or missed many days of school due to illness, or experienced frequent ear infections to the point of needing ear tubes?  Do coughs and colds always end up in an asthma attack?  And what about those debilitating sinus pressure succumbing to alternating between courses of antibiotics and steroids every month?  Just when a cold seems to be getting better, another one comes about.  Or perhaps when the second course of antibiotics is about to be done, the sinusitis returns with a vengeance and now needing to start the third course of antibiotics.  While it may seem like a hopeless, endless cycle, we must first look deeper to the root cause, which is THE IMMUNE SYSTEM! And where might we address this?  Well, it all goes back to the gut because majority of the immune function resides in the gastrointestinal system.

~Prenatal Care

Healthy babies start with a healthy pregnancy.  Whether considering to get pregnant or have been trying to conceive (TTC) without success, it is imperative to ensure that the mom to be is healthy first by making sure she is at optimal health through healthy diet and nutrition.