As we age, changes in our normal standard of health can become more noticeable. Ever walked into a room and forgotten what you came for, woken up groggy for no reason, or noticed unintentional changes in body composition? These can all be frustrating to experience but are more common than you may think. Countless adults […]
If you’re anything like me, doing the functional medicine thing all the time and loving it, you will notice some things. You will have patients on both ends of the spectrum – either they get amazingly better with little to no intervention on your part, or they are frustratingly difficult to figure out. We tend […]
The basic tenet of natural medicine is that a healthy lifestyle of adequate rest, consistent exercise, sunlight exposure, along with a whole foods diet, fresh air, and pure water consumption is vital to longevity and wellness. However, despite one’s best efforts to maintain this healthy lifestyle, consistently good sleep can remain elusive for many people […]
Understanding Arthritis According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is a general term for joint pain or joint disease. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities, and permanent joint damage. Arthritis can be caused be degeneration of cartilage, autoimmune inflammation, […]
Understanding Crohn’s, Colitis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both types of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract and may affect any part from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is a […]
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. This nerve damage is caused by inflammation, most likely due to a virus, gene defect, environmental factors, or a combination of these issues. […]
Understanding Seizure Disorders According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures (also known as epilepsy), are characterized by episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which is caused by complex chemical changes that occur in nerve cells. Seizures are not a disease, but rather a symptom of many different disorders that can affect the brain. Seizure […]
UNDERSTANDING SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDER Mental health disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often have a biological basis. Chronic yeast overgrowth, Clostridia infection, toxic chemical exposure, and various nutritional deficiencies can all cause symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders. Comprehensive biomedical testing can detect these abnormalities so that treatment can be implemented. Symptoms of these disorders […]
The critically important job of fighting off infections falls to our immune system. As you might expect, this is a complex system because the invasions faced by the human body include diverse infectious agents as well as attacks from newly formed cancer cells. A large part of the immune system is located in or near […]
UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYALGIA Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex illness affecting the brain and multiple body systems. It is defined by incapacitating fatigue that is not relieved by rest and four or more of the following symptoms for at least six months: impaired short-term memory or concentration which significantly affects normal […]
UNDERSTANDING ECZEMA AND PSORIASIS? Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis are both rather common, chronic skin conditions caused by immune system dysfunction. Most people with eczema develop it in childhood, whereas most people with psoriasis don’t develop symptoms until adulthood. Eczema can occur anywhere, but it tends to affect the bends of the elbows and knees, […]
UNDERSTANDING CELIAC DISEASE? Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prohibits it from absorbing parts of foods. This damage is caused by eating gluten, commonly found in wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes oats. Symptoms may include diarrhea, short stature, discolored dental enamel, depression, premature degeneration of the nervous […]