Health Topics

Introduction Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) has become increasingly common throughout the Midwest, especially in regions populated by the Lone Star Tick. Most patients who suspect AGS come in with stories like: “I feel inflamed or nauseous hours after eating meat — not immediately.” “I react to beef one day, dairy the next, and gelatin randomly.” “My labs are positive, but nobody can explain why it’s inconsistent.” This inconsistency is the hallmark…

Introduction Many patients are told their thyroid labs are “normal,” yet they still feel tired, cold, foggy, inflamed, or simply “not themselves.” A normal TSH does not guarantee optimal thyroid function. TSH is a signal, not a measure of hormone conversion, cellular utilization, gut-liver processing, or inflammatory stress. The thyroid is not a single gland operating alone — it is tied to nutrient status, mitochondrial efficiency, immune balance, digestion, liver…

Introduction We’ve all heard the phrase “running on adrenaline.” But what happens when your body can’t keep up? Chronic stress, inconsistent sleep, and blood sugar swings can push the adrenal glands—and the entire hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—beyond their capacity. The result isn’t just fatigue. It’s a systemic communication breakdown that affects mood, hormones, metabolism, and resilience. In functional medicine, we see this pattern daily. Patients may have “normal” labs yet describe…

Introduction Most people think of the gut as a digestive organ—a system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste. But inside your digestive tract lives a dense, complex world of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome. This ecosystem contains trillions of bacteria, fungi, and archaea that influence everything from hormone balance to immune resilience and mental health. For decades, medicine viewed gut microbes as passengers. Functional medicine…

Introduction Many patients come in frustrated after being told, “Your labs look normal.” Yet they’re still exhausted, foggy, anxious, or unable to lose weight. They don’t want another medication—they want an explanation. That’s where functional labwork becomes invaluable. Conventional lab testing is designed to detect disease, not necessarily dysfunction. Functional medicine asks a different question: What’s going wrong before a diagnosis appears? When we interpret bloodwork through this lens, the…

Introduction When patients come in struggling with thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, estrogen dominance, or unexplained weight gain, they often say, “I’ve already cleaned up my diet, I’m taking supplements, and my labs look normal — but I still don’t feel right.” That frustration is valid. I see it often. What most people don’t realize is that the gut and hormone systems are deeply interconnected. Your digestive tract doesn’t just break…