Women’s Health and Hormones: PMS, Painful or Heavy Periods, Peri & Post Menopause Symptoms, Bio-Identical Hormone Prescriptions, Endometriosis, PCOS, Acne, Weight Gain, Post Birth Control Rebalancing & More
The female body is beautiful, complex, profound and our fluctuating hormones make each and everyone of us unique in so many ways. Treating female hormone conditions and symptoms are my main specialty and absolute passion. I enjoy investigating and understanding symptoms to help women of all ages to support, rebalance, nourish and replenish their hormone levels so that they feel their best or at the very least improve their symptoms. A great deal happens from puberty to menopause and it’s natural and quite common to feel confused as to what’s happening at each decade or phase of life. I have a thorough understanding of women’s health conditions and can help them make sense of what’s happening and navigate them back to greater wellness. Fortunately, there is an abundance of natural, safe and effective treatments to best address many of women’s symptoms and changes.
Thyroid Hormone Support: Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, Graves Disease, Thyroiditis & More
The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped little powerhouse! Thyroid hormones are critical for the body’s metabolism (Basal Metabolic rate -BMR), greater energy, fat burning, hair growth, moisture of skin, cognitive sharpness and so much more. It helps us feel alert and ready to take on the day. In the case of too little thyroid (hypo-thyroid), we feel sluggish, tired, brain fog, constipation and we gain weight. Too much thyroid, (hyper-thyroid) and we feel as though we just had a triple espresso shot, revved up, overstimulated, wired and exhausted from poor sleep. For every patient, I order a comprehensive thyroid panel that gives a more sensitive evaluation of what’s happening in the body. This is the key to the most accurate diagnosis, the correct thyroid hormone prescription and greater outcome for feeling better.
Adrenal Hormone Support: Cortisol Testing, Stress Management, Fatigue, Energy, Circadian Rhythm Disruption, Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR)
Our tiny adrenal glands are powerful and yet tiny organs that sit on top of our kidneys. Despite their small size, they produce and secret hormones to boost energy, alertness, mineral balance, blood pressure regulation, stress adaptation and more for our entire bodies. Insufficient adrenal hormones (i.e. cortisol) makes us feel exhausted with fatigue, carbohydrate and caffeine cravings. With excess cortisol, we have trouble sleeping, we are agitated and we start to age faster. No one wants that. Get your adrenal gland hormones tested and find out what’s going on for the best course of action to get you feeling greater energy again.
Weight Loss: Therapeutic Diets, Exercise, Hormone Support/Balancing, HCG, Paleo, Ketogenic, Intermittent Fasting, Vegan, Whole 30 & All of the Other Popular Diets that Permeate the Internet
Weight loss is one of the most sought-after treatments. Who hasn’t tried a diet for weight loss at one time or too many times to count? Naturally, we want to look and feel better. Add in the Standard American Diet (S.A.D), lack of exercise (or ineffective exercise), stress, aging, insulin resistance or diabetes, menopause, andropause, hypo-thyroidism, poor sleep and you’ve got the perfect recipe for weight gain. With the right questions, assessment, functional medicine lab testing, hormone prescriptions and personally tailored diet and lifestyle recommendations, the weight can come off and stay off. And you become a healthier, happier person!
Skin Conditions: Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Hives, Dry Skin, Itchy skin, Herpes Simplex, Rosacea
Our skin is our largest organ and not only protects us from the outside world of every possibility, regulates our body temperature and allows us to physically feel touch, it also allows us to look and feel our best. When our skin is struggling to look healthy, that’s usually a sign that something deep within our bodies is the culprit. Often it can be attributed to GI Tract dysbiosis, inflammation, unhealthy diet, hormone imbalance, chronic stress, medications/drugs/alcohol, interrupted or insufficient sleep – all of which can weaken the dermal layers. Discovering the root cause(s) of why the skin is acting up through food allergy testing, gut/stool testing and hormone testing, along with a tailored treatment plan is the best step to better, vibrant looking skin and greater self-esteem.
Gastro-Intestinal Conditions: IBS, Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn/GERD & Discontinuing Antacids, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, SIBO
Our gut is the inner fire pit that breaks down our food, absorbs our nutrients and gives us the fuel and energy we need to survive and thrive. Our gut also houses the powerful microbiome, an ecological community of microorganisms. The digestive process begins when you see, smell and taste food. It continues down and involves several crucial organs which as digestive “team” augments the absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals that our body needs for sustenance and health. Any change to that organized process – unhealthy diet, infections, stress, inflammation, medications like antibiotics, antacids, corticosteroids – and the gut suffers along with the rest of our body. Think of our gastro-intestinal tract as the tree trunk and roots of our body. If the trunk is nourished, the branches (the rest of our body) are healthy and strong. If the trunk is malnourished and/or diseased, the branches start to get weak, brittle and break off. A similar effect happens with the rest of our organs if our gut is out of balance. Treat the gut first and the rest of the body gratefully follows.