​It also means that partially broken down food isn't making it to your large intestine where they are feeding up dysbiotic (bad) bacteria.  If you are having gut issues, a good quality enzyme is really important, and you probably need it. The enzyme I like the best also has a few probiotics, which help acidify your large intestine. Take with every meal. 

The second product that I really like, and in a perfect world I would start all my patients on for a month before treatment is curcumin. It is a potent anti inflammatory- in the gut or otherwise. In Chinese Medicine we use curcumin for pain, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, and shoulder pain. Our product from Designs for Health is bioavailable and really effective. 

I think we can all agree we are ready to say goodbye to the shit show that was 2020. Goodbye sneaky rat, hello the hard working, dependable ox energy. The ox is a strong-willed animal and it is believed it values family and teamwork.  This is exactly the energy we need to rebuild and repair after a chaotic 2020.  The Ox gets things done but is also stubborn, slow and might be the best at communicating.  This means we'll all have to reach deep inside and find the patience and focus we need to persevere and get through the year. 

But you, dear reader, may not be playing with the same deck of cards they have. 

• Your ability to metabolize fats may not be the same as that ripped keto person. 
• You may be harboring infections in your gut that cause your cortisol to elevate at night and disrupt your sleep. 
• Maybe you feel terrible after you exercise and don't get that "elevated" feeling so many people speak of. 

As for "detox" programs- I can say that 70% of my patients are not in a physical position to handle any sort of "detox". A properly designed liver detox program will upregulate the functioning of both phase 1 and phase 2 liver pathways and is always the last step in any wellness program. Done too soon, on a body that is harboring latent infection, inflammation, high cortisol, poor sleep and it will make you feel worse, not better. 

We practice the Kalish Method of functional medicine. We test your Adrenal, GI, and Detox systems, and make a plan based on your personal circumstances. We correct the problems in the order that they occurred. We check to be sure that your endocrine system is balanced before we jump into a GI program, so that your body can maintain a balanced state on its own. We take the seemingly random chaos of symptoms and organize them into logical physiologic systems and address the problems systematically.  

Questions?  Book a complimentary consult with us, we're here t help!

​We know it is important that we be transparent about our choices. We realize that many people have concerns about the vaccine, so we want you to know how we made our decisions.

We, too, had concerns but we did our research and talked with each other and other health care providers. We weighed our concerns, our research, the enormous toll the pandemic is taking, and our commitment as healthcare practitioners to do no harm. We concluded that getting vaccinated as soon as we’re eligible is the right decision for us.  Here we are a few weeks later, feeling lucky to have gotten it. 
Jennifer and Elanita both received the Moderna vaccine and agree that the first dose was much easier to handle than the second dose.  While we experienced nausea, chills, mild fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and fatigue about 12 hours after the second dose, symptoms had mostly resolved after 36-48 hours and we don't have one ounce of regret. We understood that our symptoms we're really side effects per say but an immune response which is what we wanted. 

Bone-Building Stock
(Makes 10 to 14 cups)
(Taken from "Ancient Wisdom Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" by Yuan Wang, Warren Shier, and Mika Ono)

Once you have made the stock, simply add ingredients you prefer: veggies such as mushrooms, carrots, Chinese cabbage, or kale; and/or meat such as shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork. Season with salt or soy sauce to taste.  You can also make one large batch and freeze the broth to use later.
​
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of cooked or raw beef, lamb, or pork bones (I strongly recommend buying organic, if available. You can often buy just bones at your local market.)
• 1/2 cup rice wine, white wine or vinegar (the acid is necessary to draw out the marrow)
• 16 cups of water
• 1 medium size carrot (optional) chopped into 1-inch pieces (Can also use broccoli stems, mushrooms, or leeks)
• 1 medium-size onion chopped into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

1.) Place the bones, wine, water, and vegetables (if using) in a large pot.  If the bones aren't covered with liquid, add water until they are.
2.) Bring to boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.  Skim off and discard any froth that rises to the top of the stock.
3.) For beef bones, simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 hours; add more water if needed.  For pork or lamb bones, simmer, covered, for at least 2 1/2 hours.
4.) Remove the bones, vegetables, and ginger from the stock, using a slotted spoon, a strainer, or piece of cheesecloth.
5.) Skim off any excess fat.  Season the stock with salt if desired (or wait to add until you cook with the stock).
6.) If you aren't using the stock immediately, you can store it in the fridge for a few days or freeze it in small portions for later use.

After 10 plus years of being immersed in the world of natural health care, I can definitely say that the path to good health and happiness are simple. Not always "easy", but simple.

In the realm of health, getting back to the basics are always the most important:

1. focusing on your breath
2. moving enough and resting enough
3. eating well and savoring when you're not eating well
4. staying hydrated
5. focusing on the friendships and relationships that bring you joy and anchor you
   
6. ask for help when you need it 

And, yes, all of these can feel boring at times! Or like you are not “doing enough.”. They are not as sexy or cool as the latest fad or trend.

The basics will never fail you. They may not provide you with all the answers during various challenges, but they will always support you and help you find more ease along the path.

COVID-19 Holiday Travel Update: If traveling outside of the area during the winter holidays, especially if traveling by air or gathering with groups outside your household, we kindly request that you get tested 3-5 days post-trip before coming into the office.

STAFF AND PATIENT SCREENING
We send out pre-appointment screening questionnaires. These are mandatory and must be completed before entering Blue Ova. They include screening for COVID-19 symptoms as follows:

• New cough*
• New shortness of breath*
• New fever, or feel feverish (100.1 oF or greater)
• Fever within the past two days: Please do not consider yourself fever free unless your temperature has been normal for two days without the use of fever-reducing medication (e.g. Tylenol, Ibuprofen Advil, etc.)

• New chills, or repeated shaking with chills
• New fatigue*
• New sore throat*
• New loss of taste or smell
• New nasal congestion*
• New muscle aches that are not caused by specific activity such as exercise*
• New diarrhea*
• Close contact with someone suspected/known to have COVID-19 in the last 21 days.

• Air travel within the past 14 days (see COVID-19 Holiday Travel Update at top of page)

*cannot be attributed to another health condition

• We require anyone to wait two weeks from the onset of above symptoms, test negative, or until you have been symptom free for 72 hours before coming in for an appointment.

• All Staff is screened before coming in each shift with the same screening.
• Upon entry, we will be taking the temperature of all staff and patients with a no-touch thermometer. If temperature of 100.1 F or greater we will ask you to reschedule your appointment.
• All staff and patients are required to wash hands or use provided sanitizer when entering the center.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
All patients are required to wear a mask at all times. If you do not have one, we will provide at cost.
All staff will wear medical grade KN95 masks at all times, scrubs, dedicated clinic footwear and hair tied back.
SANITIZATION AND DISINFECTION
We complete stringent sanitization and disinfection of every room after each patient. This includes using EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant on tables, chairs and counters. We sanitize all high touch areas including door handles and light switches. At all times we have HEPA with UV light air filters and air nebulizers running. The HEPA filters are in each treatment room and the reception, and filter room air 4x per hour. 
ACUPUNCTURE SAFTEY
All of our acupuncturist have tested through and follow the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s (CCAOM) Clean Needle Technique (7th Edition -February 2020). This includes best practices for acupuncture needle safety and related procedures.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
Safety is a cornerstone of our practice. If you have any questions you would like to discuss, please reach out to us

We could give you 100 and 1 tips and tricks (and we've got a few for you below) for reducing your covid-19 risk and staying healthy but this image says it all.  Its not one thing, its all the things. 
Luckily, each step is easy, cheap, and works when you use them all together. 

     Our digestive system is more than the part of our body that turns food into energy. Within our entire digestive system we have an entire ecosystem of billions of bacteria. What types of bacteria we host will have an affect on every aspect of our health: our adrenals, liver detox, inflammation, skin conditions, and even our emotions! Believe it or not, 90% of the serotonin is made in the gut. The neurotransmitter that spawned a whole industry of antidepressants is now available for free, if you feed the right microbes. 
     I have been seeing a lot of Hemorrhagic Ecoli showing up in gut tests this month. This bacteria is a pathogen that typically causes severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea in its early stages and lasts for about a week. It produces a Shiga Toxin that damage the mucosal layer, the intestinal wall, and can cause bleeding outside the gut. (Now think about where are those serotonin producing bacteria gonna live when Ecoli is trashing the place??) 

But that is not where the story ends with this pathogen. The people I saw this month don't have any memory of terrible bloody diarrhea (who could forget that?) and they didn't even have diarrhea at all in the last few months. Really- their complaints were of occasional abdominal pain, some odd food sensitivities, and irregular bowel movements. 

Luckily our gut test detected this nasty little bug and we are able to treat it with natural medicines. Antibiotics are life saving medicine but in the case of Hemorrhagic Ecoli, the Biomedical standard of care is actually not antibiotics- as they do not alleviate symptoms or reduce the spread, and in some cases actually make the bleeding worse. With herbal medicine we use special "phages" which are specialized viruses that only attack bacteria. I know- sounds bananas, but its extremely safe to you, and effective at eliminating this pathogen. 

1. Don't ignore your abdominal symptoms. 
2. You shouldn't live with pain or irregular bowel movements. 
3. Get tested and feel better!