When you are stuck in a cycle of health issues without moving forward, there are actions that can be taken to get out of the loop. It involves searching for the underlying cause of the problem. Many times the root cause is not being addressed. For example, constipation may be treated with diet and supplements. Candida may be one cause. But, many times there are other causes such as parasites and allergies to certain foods that may be causing inflammation in the gut lining and contributing to constipation. I use tools such as specific lab testing and symptom questionnaires to find the authentic root cause. From here, we can find remedies to treat the root cause and clear the symptoms and health issues.

Q: What is the answer for hot flashes?

A: First of all, there is no "recipe" treatment for hot flashes. Every woman has a different balance of hormones. Testing the hormones is the best way to find out hormone levels. Saliva hormone tests are used because they are the only tests that show the amount of active hormone in the body.

The treatment may be natural remedies to support the adrenal stress hormones, herbal remedies,
nutritional support, or bio-identical hormones.

When you are tested, the correct treatment can be used for your specific hormone imbalance. Without testing, you are just guessing.

Having a deficiency of hormones can bring on osteoporosis, premature aging, digestive problems,
increased allergies to foods, weaken the immune system, decrease stamina, increase insomnia,
memory problems, and many more menopausal symptoms.

Too much hormone can bring higher risk of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke and other health issues.

That is why testing the hormones are so important. If you have the correct balance, you can stay healthy and decrease risk of chronic disease.

Q: I have a skin rash and I cannot figure out what caused it? Can you help me?

A: Skin rashes have many causes beyond contact dermatitis. They are usually allergy related, but may
be caused by a low grade infection in the digestive tract. Other causes are decreased liver detoxification function, that may not show up on a lab test, or fungus infection on the skin, among other causes.

There is treatment beyond cortisone cream. With natural medicine, we try to find the underlying cause of the problem, whether it is allergy, low-grade infection, or some glandular imbalance. Then the body is strengthened with herbal or homeopathic treatment. There are no bad side-effects and because the underlying cause is being treated, the symptoms can be cleared, not just suppressed with topical cortisone.

Dr. RB

Q: What is the best type of hormone replacement?

A: First of all, how do you know you need hormone replacement? Unless you have a baseline saliva hormone and adrenal test, you are just guessing. Many women think they need hormone replacement.
When they come into the office for testing they find out they need herbal and nutritional support, not prescription hormones.

Just because you have hot flashes, it does not mean that you need hormone therapy. To lower the risks of taking estrogen when you don't need it, make sure you take a baseline saliva test first. You can also take the test after taking natural or bio-identical hormone replacement to find out if the levels you are taking are correct.

At this office, we do the testing and the treatment for hormones with natural products to decrease the risk of breast cancer, immune diseases, and osteoporosis, that can increase when your hormones are out-of-balance.

Menopause, peri-menopause, andropause, and PMS symptoms can be helped with natural medicine and saliva hormone testing.

Dr RB

Q: How do I know if I have food allergies?

A: There are three main methods to find out if you have food allergies and sensitivities. Blood lab tests are used traditionally, but they are quite expensive. Another holistic method is with acupuncture point testing called EAV or skin resistance testing.  This method is quite accurate and will give immediate biofeedback results as to what foods are reactive. The third way is by doing an allergy elimination diet and then adding foods in, one by one, observing any allergic reaction. 

The quickest and most effective method is to test the acupuncture points. The reactive foods can then be eliminated from the diet. The NAET or Allergy Elimination Technique can be done to desensitize the allergic reaction to the food or other allergens. The body becomes desensitized and does not over-respond to the allergen after the treatment. All allergies can be cleared with this method using acupressure points. This method is painless and effective for children and adults.

Dr. RB

A:  Many people think that thyroid medication will cure all their symptoms. Any type of thyroid problem is not just limited to the thyroid gland. In holistic medicine, we look at all the systems of the body and find that the digestive system, liver, hormones, and nervous system all are effected when the thyroid is malfunctioning.

They thyroid gland affects so many other cells in the body, that just taking thyroid medication alone most likely will not relieve all the symptoms. The immune system is weakened when the thyroid or hormone system is out-of-balance and unless this is addressed, the symptoms will continue.

Traditional medicine does not diagnose or treat the thyroid malfunction in a holistic way. They give you the thyroid hormone and they readjust it periodically(mostly higher) to try to calm the symptoms. But, the answer is not the magic thyroid pill, the answer is to find out what is out-of-balance and re-balance it with diet, herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, along with necessary medication when needed.

Dr. RB

Many people come in to the office for headaches, fatigue, or sleep problems and in the course of testing them, we discover that they have multiple food allergies.  They never had digestive symptoms or the usual runny nose or sneezing that most people associate with allergies. The symptoms may not be directly related or obvious.

More and more children and adults are testing for gluten sensitivity. This is a sensitivity to wheat, rye, or barley gluten (protein found in these grains). Most likely, what we eat and drink, along with stress, is effecting our immune systems.

No one knows for sure, but there is a possibility that GMO (Genetically Modified Food), pesticides, additives, in food can cause a weakness in the gut immune system.  So what do we do? Eating organic food and food that is not GMO is a good place to start. Also, drinking purified water (not tap water) is recommended. Besides chlorine, there are low levels of chemicals, like medications, that have been found in the water system. There has not been enough research to know what these low level chemicals can do to our bodies and immune system. Eating healthier food will help to strengthen your immune system.

Treatment with the Allergy Elimination Technique is the next step, since it clears the sensitivities. Symptoms like fatigue and sleep, headaches, and migraines can go away completely.

Dr. RB