Top Tips for Laboratory Testing in Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
A friend of mine from school recently emailed me asking for guidance on testing for EoE. Here are some of the basics I start with:
Recovering from Morbid Obesity, Depression and Metabolic Syndrome Using Functional Medicine: One Woman’s Inspiring Journey to Wellness
Recovering from Morbid Obesity, Depression and Metabolic Syndrome using Functional Medicine
Pin-Point Precision Personalized Nutrition: A Tale of Two Very Different Weight Loss Success Stories
Last week I ran a nutrient intake analysis (NIA) on a couple of patients of the clinic; let’s call them Ava and Paige. In both these cases, weight loss is one of the primary goals. An NIA is something we regularly do with individuals that we work with to ensure that not only is their…
Introduction to Tongue Nutrient Diagnosis in Functional Medicine
“Red, raw tongue; red, raw gut.” —Jeghers, New England Journal of Medicine, 1942. In 1942 it was understood that what was happening in the gut was often reflected in the tongue. A red, irritated tongue was thought to mirror a red, irritated gut. This was seen in B-vitamin deficiencies, glossitis and ileitis. Simply correcting the B deficiency…
Nutrition Physical Exam: Tongue & Nails Suggest Gut Health
Two of the most useful — and often overlooked — components of the nutrition physical exam are the tongue and fingernails. Together, abnormal findings can often be sourced to gut. In this blog, I’m presenting a case where tongue and nails were extremely useful in providing clear treatment direction. Next month, I’ll give some additional…
The Rash That Wouldn’t Quit
Clinicians, if you read anything today, read this: A case of total body contact dermatitis of unknown etiology, hives and dermatographism. Ellen found my practice after listening to a podcast I did on allergic disease with Dr. Amy Meyers for her Autoimmune Summit. It’s at times like these that I’m glad I do outreach of…
PCBs-A Case Report Suggests We Can Reduce Burden Despite Their Years-Long Half-Life
A patient was in my office the other day explaining that she’s gotten rid of all her plastic cookware, purchased new pots and pans and wooden cooking utensils. “I am going crazy thinking about all the toxins and what to do!” she said, “It keeps me up at night!” After expressing my admiration for her…
Age-Specific Phenotypic Expression of Food Allergies
We in functional medicine have long been aware that children can start out with a clearly identified food allergy. As the child ages, the primary allergic symptoms fade and some other clinically relevant presentation appears in its place. For example: we’ll see a classic milk allergy in infancy — often as milk colitis.
SIBO and Chapped Lips: A Connection?
It’s winter. Chances are that if you live anywhere cold and dry, your lips have been chapped at least once this season. For most of us, we slather on the lip balm and all is well. But for some folks, the chapped lip experience is an entirely different animal: A relentless cycle of peeling and healing, peeling and healing that no amount of lip balm resolves. Lips are fissured and inflamed, making…
We Are What Our Gut Bugs Eat
A patient named Barbara bounded into my office. She threw herself into a chair, and looked at me with eyes of terror, guilt and shame. I knew from her countenance that it was confession time. She launched into her story, retelling an all-too-familiar tale: She hadn’t stuck with her anti-inflammatory diet. Her food cravings, she explained, were out-of-control, and she was miserable….
