Whether you seek to address acute or chronic illness, or you seek to promote health and vitality in an effort to prevent degenerative illness, I will
meet you at the next step of your health journey.  We will create step-by-step, comprehensive and achievable health goals.
        I believe we cannot simply take our health for granted.  I believe we should be mindful about how we live.  Our bodies need nourishment,
not simply calories.  The potential for our physical and spiritual being to thrive in a healthy state depends on our lifestyle choices.  The functional
medicine approach acknowledges that health imbalances occur and progress over time often before an illness can be
identified. Similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine, FM does not separate the organ systems but recognizes the relationships they have
to each other.  For example a skin problem may not simply be a dermatological one but is often a manifestation of a deeper
 condition known as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Integrating TCM & Functional Medicine is a treatment approach that combines nutritional supplements, herbal and
dietary protocols with Acupuncture to treat conditions such as;

Chronic Inflammation / Fibromyalgia
Adrenal Stress Syndrome
Thyroid Dysfunction
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Metabolic Disorders / Weight Gain
Neurotransmitter Disorders (Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Bipolar, AHDD)

                   More About Neurotransmitter Disorders such as Anxiety and Depression...

     What are Neurotransmitters?  They are chemical messengers that relay signals between nerve cells.  There are
     inhibitory neurotransmitters such as GABA, Serotonin and Endorphins.  We also have excitatory NT such as Glutamate
     and Catecholmines (Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine) and these are stimulated by the Sympathetic Nervous
     System during stressful 'fight or flight' events.

    
*90% of Serotonin is produced in our intestines.  This is why an imbalance in our gut bacteria (Dysbiosis) affects our mood.

What causes Neurotransmitter Imbalances? 
1. Stress- Chronic Stress without periods of rest is damaging to the brain.
2.Dysbiosis / Leaky Gut Syndrome- Gut-Brain Connection- gut bacteria modulates neurotransmitter production.
3. Inflammation- Cytokine elevation is linked to major depression.
4. Environmental Toxins- Toxins like heavy metals and pesticides are damaging to cell membranes and can disrupt neurotransmitter regulation.

What is the Integrative Medicine approach for Neurotransmitter Disorders?
1. Amino Acid Therapy can help balance Neurotransmitter Imbalances.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Diet to reduce inflammatory triggers.
3. Herbal/Supplemental Remedies for specific conditions.
4.  Supportive Care- Cultivating Practices for Self Care and Enhancing Adaptation to Stress.

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