atma-clinic

What is Dysbiosis?

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:55:46 GMT

Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) is a term for a microbial imbalance or maladaptation on or inside the body, such as an impaired microbiota.

Typical microbial colonies found on or in the body are normally benign or beneficial. These beneficial and appropriately sized microbial colonies carry out a series of helpful and necessary functions, such as aiding in digestion. They also help protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. These beneficial microbial colonies compete with each other for space and resources.

The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of microbes that need to exist in a harmonious balance for you to feel well. We have a symbiotic relationship with these microbes, and when they’re thrown off balance it can cause all sorts of discomfort.

An example of a type of dysbiosis is candida overgrowth, which happens when the fungus candida overtakes other microbes. While you always have some candida in your gut, if you have too much it can cause a white film on your tongue, brain fog, and many other symptoms.

Dysbiosis has been associated with numerous health conditions and should be taken very seriously. Dysbiosis can also lead to leaky gut.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Paul Reicherter.

Testing for CIRS

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:55:38 GMT

If chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) is suspected, we would conduct a blood test to check for the genes HLA-DR and HLA-DQ which indicate CIRS susceptibility. We also test for high amounts of cytokine in your blood and marked differences in levels of the following hormones and antibodies:

Vasoactive intestinal peptide – Responsible for regulating the absorption of water and electrolytes in your gut. Also responsible for some heart and vascular functions. Low levels can cause watery diarrhea and indicate CIRS.
Transforming growth factor Beta 1 – A specific type of cytokine, responsible for cell division and death. Large numbers indicate CIRS, and may be linked to your symptom of shortness of breath.
Melanocyte stimulating hormone – Otherwise known as MSH, this hormone controls the pigment of your skin but it also regulates how much cytokine your body makes. Low levels indicate CIRS, as your body is unable to shut down production of cytokine.
C4A – Part of the complement group, these are a group of proteins that work with your immune system. They are responsible for activating your neutrophil cells, which can worsen inflammation. Large numbers can indicate CIRS.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) – This hormone normally regulates your cortisol levels. Your ACTH levels may initially be high and then can drop when symptoms are more prevalent.
Cortisol – This hormone has many different functions in the body but is released in great quantities when you are stressed or your immune system requires back-up. Cortisol levels may be high initially but then drop over time.
Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) IgA/IgE – These antibodies are produced in response to gliadin. Often triggered if you have a gluten sensitivity, but they are also affected by mold biotoxins.
VEGF – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor stimulates blood vessel formulation. CIRS patients usually show a deficiency in VEGF.
Leptin – This hormone helps regulate fat storage in the body. High levels of leptin result in quick, easy weight gain, another signifier of chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACLA) IgA/IgG/IgM – These antibodies are often seen in patients with autoimmune disorders. Heightened numbers usually indicate that your body is dealing with high levels of inflammation. In fact, your antibodies are often attacking your healthy tissues instead of the biotoxins.
Antidiuretic hormone – This hormone is responsible for the regulation and balance of water in your body, your blood pressure, and concentration of urine being made in your kidneys. Reduced levels of ADH for a CIRS patient means that you suffer from dehydration, increased thirst, and frequent urination.
MMP-9 – This enzyme is responsible for many different bodily processes from memory and wound healing, to blood vessel formation. Increased levels are a sign of chronic inflammatory response syndrome.

We also take a full history – not only of your health, but also of your environment. We need to establish if the mold exposure is ongoing, due to an infestation in your living or working environment, or whether your symptoms were triggered in the past. Only by establishing these facts can we then treat you effectively.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

How Can I Tell if I Have a Leaky Gut?

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:55:24 GMT

Health The Gut Lining. Leaky gut leads to a lot of the symptoms listed above that aren’t so obviously caused by gastrointestinal health . For example, allergies and food sensitivities are a very common sign that you may have a leaky gut. In fact, when we have a patient who comes in with multiple food sensitivities, we assume that they have a leaky gut.

Heal the Gut Lining

What we do next is take steps to heal the gut lining, which helps restore immune system function. When we repair a leaky gut, we can help your body regain its strength so it can begin to take care of itself again. That’s always our ultimate goal, to restore the important self-healing processes within your body so you can enjoy life again.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

How Food Choices Help Restore Histamine Intolerance

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:33:09 GMT

Do you find yourself feeling bloated after certain meals or waking up with a headache? Maybe part of your morning routine consists of taking medication to reduce your hives or flushing – but you haven’t figured out what exactly you’re allergic to? Trying to identify triggers, especially related to diet , can be very confusing and frustrating.

Our body has built-in protection – our immune system. Among other cells, our immune system also consists of mast cells, which can release a wide variety of chemical mediators such as:

Histamine
Interleukins
Prostaglandins
Cytokines
Chemokines

When you are exposed to an allergen, toxin, and/or injury, these chemical mediators, especially histamine can be released into your body. These chemical mediators can affect multiple organ systems including the respiratory, circulatory, integumentary, digestive, muscular and nervous system.

Some symptoms of histamine intolerance can include headache, migraines, sinus symptoms, fatigue, hives, flushing, nausea, vomiting, digestive issues. However, if you’re struggling with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), your mast cells are over-producing histamines whether there is a trigger or not.

Regardless if you’re struggling from MCAS or histamine intolerance, your diet stands at the centerpiece for healing because certain foods are high in histamine. And these foods may be contributing to your histamine intolerance symptoms.

What Are Mast Cells and Histamine?

Histamine lives inside your mast cells and play a large role in your immune system. Histamine sends a battle cry to your body’s cells and tissues when an invader is sensed. Your blood vessels dilate, which helps your body’s troops arrive as fast as possible to fight the invader.

When histamine is released from your mast cells several things may happen:

Increased gastric acid secretion leading to bloating, flatulence, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Flushing
Headache
Itching
Hives
Sinus congestion

In rare, more serious cases, histamine can trigger asthma attacks or even cardiac arrest.

We have four types of histamine receptors – H1, H2, H3, and H4. Antihistamine medications can block these histamine receptors. For example, blockers of H1 receptors can treat flushing, hives, headaches, and itching, and blockers of H2 receptors treat gastrointestinal symptoms, most commonly acid reflux.

Although these medications can reduce symptoms, they aren’t treating the root cause of why you may feel like a bloated, itchy version of yourself.

Since these chemical messengers released by your mast cells produce both a local and systemic effect – symptoms of histamine intolerance can be confusing and difficult to diagnosis.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a disorder, which is not yet fully understood. What we do know is signaling pathways can develop errors and cause histamine to be released at an inappropriate rate.

MCAS can contribute to symptoms of excess histamine including:

Fatigue
Itching
Hives
Mood changes
Asthma and wheezing
Gastrointestinal distress – diarrhea, bloating, nausea

A few potential triggers of MCAS include:

Stress
Fatigue
Diet
Medications –– antibiotics, narcotics, contrast dyes, NSAIDs
Mold
Infection
Lyme disease
Environmental toxins such as heavy metals
Exercise

Contributing Factors to Histamine Intolerance

There are several contributing factors to histamine intolerance – your diet plays a role as well as stress levels and your gut health.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can also contribute to histamine intolerance. If you have an imbalance or overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine – this can lead to i ncreased intestinal pe rmeability also known as leaky gut syndrome.

This increased gut permeability can allow for high histamine foods to enter the bloodstream which otherwise would stay in the gut – potentially leading to histamine intolerance.

Histamine Found in Your Foods

The foods you eat are a major source of histamine in your body. If you’re struggling with histamine intolerance or mast cell activation syndrome, it’s important to first start with an elimination diet.

An elimination diet consists of avoiding foods high in histamine. You can then start to slowly add these foods back into your diet – taking note of which ones trigger your histamine intolerance symptoms.

Foods which have high levels of histamine include:

Fermented dairy products such as cheese, sour cream, and yogurt
Tuna and Mackerel
Fermented vegetables such as kimchi, sauerkraut
Raw and cured meat products
Pickles
Soybean paste
Red pepper paste
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Fermented beverages – wine, beer, kombucha
Chocolate
Certain fruits and vegetables such as bananas, pineapple, tomatoes

Ferm ent ed foods can potentially feed bad g ut b acteria as well if you already have an unhealthy gut. These foods can subsequently contribute to conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can also lead to histamine intolerance, which can make identifying your trigger foods a challenge.

Not only do certain foods have higher histamine levels, but a 2017 study found the way you prepare your food can have an effect on histamine. Grilling and frying food were found to increase histamine levels. Boiling food was found to have no effect and can even reduce histamine levels.

Low Histamine Diets Can Be Tricky

Low histamine diets can be a challenge no doubt. It’s a strict diet, which eliminates many popular foods.

Fortunately, studies have actually shown changing to a his tamine-free die t for only 4 weeks can show improvements of histamine intolerance symptoms as well as serum histamine levels.

So you might be wondering just what can you eat on a low histamine diet? Fresh is best on a low histamine diet.

Foods to fill your grocery basket with, for a low histamine diet includes:

Fresh and organic meat, poultry, pork, and fish (if you use frozen meat/fish, thaw quickly and use immediately)
Vegetables such as arugula, beets, bell peppers, lettuce (not spinach), leeks, kale, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, squash, and onions
Gluten-free grains and rice
Almond or coconut milk
Fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, blueberries, blackberries, melon, and mangoes

The challenge while on your low histamine diet lies in identifying what triggers your specific histamine response. Elimination diets can help dial in what triggers your individual histamine intolerance symptoms. What affects one person might not affect another.

The stress often associated with food elimination diets can also contribute to histamine release so using a collaborative approach is key. S tres s is also a key factor in SIBO and IBS – therefore working with a physician to develop your low histamine diet safely is helpful.

There is no single test to determine if you have a histamine intolerance or identify which foods you’re more sensitive to. But by working with an experienced physician to create a plan to help you discover those foods – you’re more likely to be successful and create your personalized low histamine diet.

Origin of post, Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Bredesen Protocol: Giving New Hope to Those with Alzheimer’s Disease

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:33:04 GMT

Watching your parent, spouse, or significant “other” struggle to find words and memories can be heartbreaking and often frightening. They may be more forgetful – frequently misplacing items or losing their sense of direction. You may have noticed they take longer completing everyday tasks such as paying bills, preparing dinner or getting dressed.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease can make you feel alone – sadly, this is not the case. There are close to six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and the statistics grow even greater with those battling cognitive decline.

Before 2014, those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s were given little hope with their bleak diagnosis. Their only choice was medications (never proven to work) for them to try, hoping they might slow down the disease’s symptoms. But with Dr. Dale Bredesen’s ground-breaking research in his ReCODE (Reversal of Cognitive Decline) protocol, there’s a new bright light at the end of the tunnel for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting over 5.7 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in adults. It’s a disease which is becoming a national health epidemic and is anticipated to greatly shape the face of healthcare in the future.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and is divided into three stages:

Mild
Moderate
Severe

The hallmark sign for Alzheimer’s disease is a build-up of beta-amyloid plaques, tau proteins, and activated glial cells in your brain. This build-up leads to miscommunication between your neurons resulting in memory loss, impaired judgment, and cognitive decline.

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:

Progressive memory loss, which could be mild at first
Taking more time to complete tasks
Getting lost or losing items
Personality or mood changes
Difficulty remembering names or words
Decreased conversations
Difficulty dressing, bathing, eating, and cleaning
Depression
Agitation

The greatest risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease have always focused on genes, specifically the apolipoprotein E e4 allele (ApoE4), and age – two uncontrollable risk factors.

Fortunately, with Dr. Bredesen’s research, he has identified multiple lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as metabolic imbalances causing Alzheimer’s. These controllable risk factors now give you the power to prevent and even reverse Alzheimer’s disease.

Can Alzheimer’s Disease be Treated?

With conventional treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, a monotherapeutic approach with medication is given to cognitively impaired patients. This single pill approach has not been successful in reversing Alzheimer’s – it may only slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms.

These medications focus on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, not the root cause of why these proteins are building up on the brain.

However, through Dr. Bredesen’s ReCODE protocol, we are now looking at the body as a whole and treating Alzheimer’s with a multi-therapeutic approach. With this approach, he has discovered ways to prevent and even reverse cognitive impairment.

Although in its infancy, Dr. Dale Bredesen’s research has led him to uncover the defining characteristics of Alzheimer’s – uncovering the “why.”

Functional Medicine Approach to Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is no doubt a complicated and complex disease to treat, which is why monotherapy hasn’t proven successful – there are multiple factors causing this disease.

The Reversal of Cognitive Decline, also known as the ReCODE Protocol , is a functional medicine approach to Alzheimer’s disease. It focuses on 45 underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease in the individual.

The ReCODE protocol is designed for those with pre-symptomatic cognitive decline, mild cognitive decline (MCI), subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This protocol uncovers the active pathways of the cause of cognitive decline in the specific individual.

These active pathways include defining characteristics such as:

Genome
Metabolic issues
Toxicity
Inflammation
Mitochondrial damage
Gut permeability
Imbalanced hormones
Nutrient deficiencies

Through Dr. Bredesen’s study , patients who had to quit their jobs due to their cognitive decline were able to return to their positions after this functional medicine approach to Alzheimer’s. Patients, as well as their family members and coworkers, were interviewed and found restoration in several areas of cognitive function with his ReCODE protocol.

What Does ReCODE Consist of?

Dr. Bredesen’s ReCODE Protocol is a computer-based algorithm, which determines the contributing factors of the individual that are causing neurodegenerative cognitive decline. It evaluates large datasets of genomic, biochemical, functional, and radiological data from the patient.

Examples of the factors taken into consideration as causes include:

Inflammation
Chronic pathogen exposure
Trophic withdrawal
Insulin resistance
Vascular compromise
Trauma
Exposure to certain toxins such as mold
Gut health

These risk factors can lead to an anti-trophic effect – or reduction of communication – in how our brains work and function. Someone with one or several of these risk factors may have early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or may be suffering from more advanced symptoms.

Ways the ReCODE Protocol can be utilized once risk factors have been identified:

Treating pathogens such as Borrelia or the Herpes viruses as well as others
Repairing gut permeability and strengthening gut microbiome
Restoring insulin sensitivity and reducing protein glycation
Rebalancing nutrition and hormone levels
Reducing toxin and heavy metal exposure as well as mold detoxification

By identifying and treating these risks factors, doctors have been able to reverse the symptoms of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison and Dr. Paul Reicherter.

Is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet Right for You?

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:33:01 GMT

When you’re always searching for the nearest bathroom or unable to join friends at certain restaurants, digestive issues can really hinder your quality of life. You may start secluding yourself from social situations if you’re having constant bouts of intestinal issues.

It’s not fun when you feel as if your body has turned against you, taking away your freedom.

There’s a diverse community of microbes, both good and bad, in your gut. These gut microflora are all trying to compete for real estate on your intestinal walls since it’s the perfect environment for them.

This is a good thing if most of the bacteria settling down in your intestinal tract are beneficial bacteria. These healthy bacteria help strengthen your immune system and promote digestion and absorption.

But if pathogenic bacteria overpopulate your beneficial bacteria, it can really cause a commotion in the neighborhood. These harmful bacteria release gas and toxic byproducts which can lead to constipation, diarrhea, inflammation , and other digestive issues.

An overgrowth of unwanted bacteria in your small intestine, also known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), could be the culprit taking away your digestive freedom.

What you feed this rich ecosystem of microbes in your gut plays a significant role in letting you get your independence, and your health back.

Reverse the Vicious Cycle

An overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine is prompted by certain environmental factors which disturb the balance of your gut bacteria.

Certain triggers which can cause SIBO include:

Antibiotics
Overuse of antacids
Reduced stomach acidity
Poor nutrition
Prior bowel surgery
Heavy alcohol use
Oral contraceptive pills

If there’s an imbalance in your gut bacteria, consuming and avoiding certain foods can either hinder or help rebalance your gut microbes.

Harmful bacteria thrive off of complex carbohydrates in your diet. These non-digestible molecules are leftover for your bad microbes to gobble up through the fermentation process. During fermentation, these bacteria leave behind harmful waste products which irritate and damage your gut.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is designed to help digestive disorders by eliminating many complex carbohydrate sources including all grains, dairy products, most sugars, and many starches.

Digestive disorders including inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can also affect your intestines resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet can be helpful in reversing the vicious cycle happening in your gut and begin to heal your gut.

Studies show The Specific Carbohydrate Diet can vastly improve symptoms in the following digestive disorders:

Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Inflammatory bowel disease
Celiac disease
Diverticulitis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic diarrhea
Leaky gut

By altering your nutrition, you can alter your gut microflora species and population, restore your beneficial gut bacteria, and heal your digestive tract.

The Art of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet was developed by Elaine Gottschall to help her child whom was suffering from severe ulcerative colitis. After years of clinical studies with Dr. Sidney Haas, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, when followed strictly, has shown improvement in up to 75% of patients.

Food is a powerful substance for your digestive tract. It has the ability to change the diverse ecosystem of microbes inhabiting your gut. This could be a good thing if you’re eating nutritious food. But, on the other hand, if you’re consuming a poor diet, it can catapult you into a spiral of digestive health issues.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet allows you to eat simple carbohydrates such as monosaccharides. Monosaccharides are easily broken down by your digestive tract. These single molecular structures don’t leave leftovers for pathogenic microbes to thrive off of.

Complex carbohydrates such as disaccharides (double molecules) and polysaccharides (chain molecules) are finger-licking good for your bad bacteria, helping them dominate your beneficial bacteria.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet Basics

For those struggling with mild digestive issues, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet can be just a short-term diet. Once the bacteria is finally eliminated, you can usually start to slowly introduce restricted foods back into your diet.

But if you’re severely affected by intestinal bowel disorders you might want to consider making this a long-term diet.

At first, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet can seem overwhelming. Reading labels, looking up ingredients, and changing your lifestyle is a big challenge. But once you form a habit and start feeling the results, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet can become second nature.

Some legal foods on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet include:

Most vegetables
Homemade yogurt fermented at least 24 hours
Organic and unprocessed fish, eggs, meat, and poultry
Specific low sugar fruits
Healthy fats
Certain soaked/sprouted legumes
Unsweetened and unprocessed drinks
Cheddar cheese
Spices, but avoid spice mixtures

Illegal foods to avoid on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet:

Complex sugars
Grains and grain-based products
Processed fish, meat, and poultry
Most dairy products
Potatoes, corn, canned vegetables
Canned fruits (fruits canned in their own juice are allowed)
Refined oils and fats
Sweets and packaged snacks
Food preservatives
Sweetened drinks, beer, and juice
Most beans and legumes

You can download and print a full list of “illegal and legal” foods for easy access while following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

Functional Medicine Doctors in the Kansas City Area

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a very restrictive diet no doubt, especially if you are used to the Standard American Diet. Consider thinking of SCD as starving off the harmful bacteria causing all of your unwanted digestive symptoms.

Once you continuously restrict their fuel sources, these pathogenic microbiota populations usually have no choice but to leave.

At Jellison Integrative MD, we can help guide you on your journey to digestive recovery. Dr. Jessica Jellison and Dr. Paul Reicherter understand how confusing and frustrating sticking to a new diet can be. But eradicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can make all the difference in your digestive health.

If you’re in the Kansas City area and battling with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or inflammatory bowel disease, request an appointment today with Jellison Integrative MD or call (913) 568-0608.

References:

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Demystifying Food Allergies vs Intolerances vs Sensitivities

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:32:58 GMT

Today more than 15 million Americans have food allergies. Almost half of these statistics include children under the age of 18 years old. This ever-growing prevalence of food allergies has increased by 50% since the 90’s.

Identifying if your reaction to certain foods is a true allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity is important since food allergies can be life-threatening.

Food intolerances and food sensitivities are less emergent, but they also provoke their own set of problems. Irritations to certain foods can promote intestinal inflammation which can cause gut dysbiosis.

Gut dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria has been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders, and even certain cancers.

So whether you’re struggling with a food allergy, food intolerance, or food sensitivity, it’s important not to ignore your systemic or gastrointestinal reactions to the foods you eat.

In this article, we will discuss the difference between a food allergy vs intolerance vs sensitivity.

A No-Go Zone – Food Allergies

Allergies are an indication of how unique every individual truly is. One person can eat all the peanuts in the world while another person can’t even touch the surface of leftover peanut residue without getting a reaction.

This is because when proteins in certain foods enter the bloodstream, their immune system incorrectly tags this protein as an invader. Their immune system responds by releasing powerful “fighter” proteins called antibodies to seek out these “invader proteins” to attack.

These antibodies, also known as immunoglobulin E (IgE), are released within minutes of a trigger food. These antibodies are what cause systemic food allergy reactions.

The most common food allergies include:

Cow’s Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree Nuts
Fish
Shellfish
Soy
Wheat

Common food allergy symptoms include:

Hives, itching, or eczema
Tightening of the throat
Tingling or itching in the mouth
Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
Trouble breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Nasal congestion or trouble breathing
Anaphylaxis

It’s important to identify if you have a true food allergy because exposure to trigger foods can progress rapidly into a life-threatening situation such as anaphylaxis.
Air on the Side of Caution – Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities start out in a similar way to food allergies. Your immune system attacks certain proteins in foods, but instead of the fighter protein IgE being released, immunoglobulin G (IgG) is released.

These IgG antibodies don’t have such a vigorous response time as IgE antibodies. Food sensitivity reactions can take up to 72 hours after consumption of trigger foods. Due to this delayed reaction time, it’s harder to detect the offending food.

Common food sensitivity foods include:

Gluten
Eggs
Dairy
Animal meat
High FODMAP foods
Soy
Corn
Shellfish
Peanuts

Food sensitivity symptoms may include:

Migraines
Fatigue
Gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, gas, and heartburn
Body aches
Itchy skin, skin rashes, and eczema
Congestion
Sleep disorders
Brain fog

A common misconception among gluten sensitive individuals is that if you have a food sensitivity to gluten then you must have celiac disease. But that’s not necessarily true because you can have a food sensitivity to gluten and react with similar symptoms of celiac patients, but your blood and endoscopy tests return normal.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a less severe form of gluten sensitivity, but can also lead to chronic inflammation of the gut, neuroinflammation, and cognitive dysfunction .

An unresolved low-grade inflammation in the body from the diet can be the precursor to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut, and autoimmune diseases.

Uncomfortable Food Intolerances

Food intolerance is different from food allergies and food sensitivities in that it’s a biological deficiency in your gut causing your reactions. Food intolerances don’t have an immunoglobulin antibody reaction. Instead, food intolerances have a digestive reaction, being unable to properly break down food. This can be due to enzyme deficiencies, reactions to naturally occurring chemicals in foods, or sensitivity to additives in food.

For example, in lactose intolerant individuals, they’re missing the enzyme lactase which breaks down lactose. Therefore, this leaves lactose undigested in your intestines, leaving you with all those uncomfortable gastrointestinal issues.

Like food sensitivities, food intolerances may also be hard to pinpoint the exact culprit because of their delayed reaction compared to food allergies.

Foods most common with food intolerance responses include:

Dairy
Grains
Gluten
Beans
Cabbage
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Food additives
Chocolate
Citrus fruit

Food intolerance symptoms include:

Diarrhea
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Gas
Bloating
Nausea
Heartburn

Without eliminating the trigger food, food intolerances can lead to increased symptoms, diverticula, rectal disorders, bile acid malabsorption, and gut dysbiosis, and possibly certain infections .

In addition to eliminating the trigger food(s), you can also supplement with digestive enzymes to assist your gut in the digestion of certain foods. Digestive enzymes such as lactase and peptidase can enable lactose and gluten to be broken down into nutrients so your body can readily absorb it.
Functional Medicine Doctors in the Kansas City Area

If you find you’re allergic to a particular food, then complete avoidance of your trigger food is necessary to prevent a real life-threatening situation such as anaphylaxis. Food allergies can subside over time, but never try to reintroduce a true food allergy unless you’re under the direct supervision of your doctor.

An elimination diet is one of the most common ways to discover if you have a food sensitivity or food intolerance. Intolerances and sensitivities are usually not permanent. By avoiding the trigger food, you allow your gut to heal from inflammation and the negative responses may decrease.

If you don’t let your gut properly heal from food intolerances or food sensitivities, you can eventually damage the lining of your small intestines. This can prevent you from absorbing the nutrients you need from your food.

Food is something you eat every day, multiple times a day. Trying to pinpoint which food is causing your reactions when you can’t even remember what you had for breakfast yesterday can be frustrating.

Gluten and dairy are the two most common intolerances and sensitivities we see in our patients. We suggest eliminating these two food groups to help give you a starting point in discovering what’s causing your reactions.

If you’re in the Kansas City area and looking for guidance in your food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity, request an appointment today with Dr. Jessica Jellison or Dr. Paul Reicherter or call (913) 568-0608 .

References:

https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440529/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24533607
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4579563/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27188621

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:27:33 GMT

A tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi with more than 200,000 US cases per year

Treatable by a medical professional

Spreads by animals or insects

Requires a medical diagnosis

Lab tests or imaging often required

Deer ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme disease causes a rash, often in a bull’s-eye pattern, and flu-like symptoms. Joint pain and weakness in the limbs also can occur.

Most people with Lyme disease recover completely with appropriate antibiotic treatment. For those who develop syndromes after their infection is treated, pain medications may provide symptomatic relief.

To accurately test for Lyme disease, we use a number of tests – more than one test is usually ordered as borreliosis is extremely good at hiding from view.

Western blot test – Looks for antibodies directed against a range of Borrelia burgdorferi proteins.

PCR test – Using this test we check for the bacteria DNA. We take multiple samples, as we can test blood, urine, spinal fluid and small tissue and therefore can test different sites of the body.

Antigen detection – This test can be performed on urine. We check for toxins.

CD-57 test – As Lyme disease can suppress the immune system, the results of this test can indicate if borreliosis is present.

We also check for co-infections – another form of tick-borne disease co-existing with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Paul Reicherter.

Types of Autoimmune Disease

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:27:29 GMT

There are over a hundred autoimmune diseases , but here are some of the most common:

Type 1 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Multiple sclerosis
Psoriasis
Systemic lupus
Inflammatory bowel disease
Addison’s disease
Graves disease
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Autoimmune Disease List

A complete list of autoimmune diseases, you can also visit the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association website.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:27:23 GMT

Like many other autoimmune diseases, there can be a number of risk factors and underlying health issues that can contribute to the development of CFS.

Risk factors include:

Being female.

Being between the ages of 40 and 60.

Suffering from stress or burnout.

Stress is an important factor to consider in a society that sees being stressed as a badge of honor. Here is a dramatic example: a study of Gulf War veterans showed a higher incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome against a civilian control group. Experiencing stress can make you ill. A period of prolonged stress can result in developing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Underlying health issues that can contribute to the development of CFS:

A viral infection such as Epstein-Barr (responsible for mono) or the flu, mold exposure, tick-borne illness.

An already compromised immune system, caused by an existing chronic condition, hepatitis, or cancer treatments.

Adrenal gland fatigue or other hormone imbalances. Low cortisol, in particular, has been linked to CFS.

You may check all the boxes for risks and underlying health issues, but the criteria lists don’t guarantee that you have chronic fatigue syndrome. We recommend reading a detailed list of symptoms to decide.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Paul Reicherter .

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:27:15 GMT

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut.

Often, people don’t realize that many of the symptoms they experience may be connected to their gut health. Issues like bloating, allergies, fatigue, or brain fog may seem unrelated, but they can all stem from an imbalanced gut microbiome. Because the gut plays a major role in regulating the immune system, when it is out of balance, a wide range of symptoms can appear throughout the body.

Here are some symptoms of an unhealthy gut that may not seem obviously digestive-related:

Allergies
Food sensitivities
Asthma
Anxiety
Depression
Ulcers
White film on the tongue
Brain fog
Autoimmune disease
Skin problems
Sugar cravings
Halitosis (bad breath)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms along with gastrointestinal discomfort, it may be a sign that an underlying digestive issue needs further evaluation. Functional and integrative medicine approaches focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of gut imbalance rather than simply treating symptoms.

At ATMA, our providers regularly work with patients experiencing complex digestive and gut-related health concerns.

Enroll today to become an ATMA member and begin working with one of our integrative medicine providers to restore balance to your gut and support your long-term health.

Origin of blog provided by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Omega 3-6-9: Are You Getting Enough of These Fatty Acids?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:20:48 GMT

Low-fat diets are outdated fad diets, which could be harming you more than helping you. The myth “fat makes you fat” is one to be challenged – and it has been by numerous studies proving its falsehood. The “low-fat” motto has been plastered on products such as dairy, salad dressings, and more. But these products end up taking out essential fats and replacing it with processed sugar and salt. This exchange for nutrients can be harming your body since it needs healthy fats for proper growth and development.

The right balance of healthy fats such as omega-3, 6, and 9 promote proper absorption of minerals and nutrients, as well as supporting good heart health and weight management. Studies show that a high-fat dairy intake among women actually lowered their risk of diabetes and obesity . However, not all fat is created equal, which is why we will discuss the importance and balance of the essential and non-essential omega fatty acids.

Why You Should Get Your Daily Omega-3s

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) needed for vital human functions. These fatty acids play an integral part in every human cell membrane in your body and have major anti-inflammatory effects.

Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include:

Improving cognitive development and learning
Enhancing visual development
Boosting Immune strength
Fighting Inflammation
Supporting fetal development
Improving cardiovascular function
Lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Supporting mental health
Promoting bone health
Maintaining blood sugar

Despite what people might think of “fat”, the essential healthy fats of omega-3s can benefit you by helping you lose weight. With regular exercise and consuming a diet filled with omega-3’s, studies show you can reduce your weight and waist size.

Omega-3 fatty acids can help fight inflammation, which is the precursor to multiple diseases including cancer. Omega-3s can also help reduce inflammation in patients with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) . This is because omega-3s suppress inflammatory cytokines in MCAS patients.

Linoleic acid (LA), is an omega-6 fatty acid and ⍺-linolenic acid (ALA) is an omega-3 fatty acid. These are considered to be essential fatty acids (EFAs) because they can’t be synthesized by our bodies. Through a series of desaturations and elongations, our bodies are able to synthesize longer omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids from the EFAs, LA, and ALA. A couple of longer chain omega-3s, which you may be more familiar with, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are synthesized from ALA. However, due to low conversion efficiency (which occurs primarily in the liver and reported rates of <15%), it’s still recommended to also obtain EPA and DHA from additional sources.

Unfortunately, if you’re an American following the westernized diet, chances are high you aren’t getting enough of these healthy omega-3s in your food. So making sure you load up on the following omega-3 foods can benefit your overall health. ALA is present in plant oils, which include flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils. DHA and EPA are present in fish, fish oils, and krill oils, but these fatty acids are originally synthesized by microalgae, not by the fish. When fish consume phytoplankton that consumed microalgae, the fish accumulate the omega-3s in their tissues.

Foods high in omega-3’s include:

Atlantic mackerel
Wild caught Alaskan salmon
Canola oil
Walnuts
Chia and flax seeds
Herring
Albacore tuna
Green leafy vegetables

According to the National Institutes of Health , the average recommended daily dose of omega-3s is approximately 1500 mg.

The recommended daily dose for omega-3s varies depending on certain health conditions. You’ll need to consume more omega-3s or consider a supplement if you struggle with conditions such as chronic inflammation, heart conditions, cognitive impairment and/or depression.

An Overabundance of Omega-6 Fatty Acids

As mentioned earlier, LA is an essential omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Your body doesn’t produce this essential fatty acid and you need to get it from your diet. Food sources of LA include vegetable oils and safflower oils. Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and arachidonic acid (AA), are omega-6 fatty acids, which are produced from LA through a process of desaturation and elongation. Sources of GLA include hemp seeds, spirulina, evening primrose oil, borage oil and sources of AA include meat, poultry, and eggs.

Omega-6 fatty acids are needed for growth and development. However, an excess amount of omega-6 fatty acids can trigger the body to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals. That’s why it’s important to keep a healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Western diets have an average 15:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in their diet. Processed seed and vegetable oil, along with endless amounts of processed food, have had a major impact of this fatty acid imbalance.

A 2:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is recommended to have optimal benefit for your health.

This imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 promotes chronic inflammation and promotes the pathogenesis of many diseases such as:

Cancer
Autoimmune disease
Arthritis
Cardiovascular disease
Asthma
Obesity
Alzheimer’s disease

How to Balance Your Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio

You’re bombarded with omega-6s in the American world today. Try to increase your daily intake of foods high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (listed above) to help even out the playing field.

Also, consume less unhealthy omega-6s such as:

Corn oil
Safflower oil
Soy oil
Peanut oil
Vegetable oil

Reducing the amount of processed and packaged foods such as snack foods, cookies, fast foods, and sweets is important. These modern days foods are normally high in unhealthy omega-6s.

Make smarter choices for omega-6s such as:

Flaxseed oil
Borage oil
Evening primrose oil
Grapeseed oil
Acai
Pistachios
Pumpkin seeds

Studies show a lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratio promotes better health and reduces many chronic diseases, which are high in prevalence in Western societies.

Don’t Forget Your Omega-9 Benefits

Omega-9 fatty acids are different from your omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids because these are non-essential monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fatty acids contain a single double bond (in contrast to PUFAs which contain two or more double bonds and saturated fatty acids (SFA) are without double bonds). They are produced naturally by the body. Oleic acid is the most common omega-9 fatty acid.

Omega-9s benefit the body by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and can actually influence positive mood behaviors.

Foods high in omega-9s include:

Avocados
Pecans
Cashews
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Chia seed oil
Olive oil
Olives

Functional Medicine Doctors in the Kansas City Area

Making sure you are getting the correct balance of your omegas can naturally help prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s , autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. If you’re in the Kansas City area and struggling with inflammatory issues request an introductory visit with one of our functional medicine providers today or call email connect@atmaclinic.com.

Reference

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27006479

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15458813

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22332096

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18640689

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884553/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17490962

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16841861

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546618/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607650/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22902330

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3335257/

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

What is Lyme Disease?

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:41:21 GMT

Ticks are a type of arachnid that have evolved to feast on blood. A tick bite in itself is harmless, but the bacterial and viral infections that can result range from mildly inconvenient to deadly.

The majority of human infections happen in spring and summer when the ticks go through the nymphal stage, and are the size of a poppy seed. Ticks can be hard to identify in the larval or nymphal stages. If you find a tick attached to your skin, the best way to remove it is with a pair of tweezers, and ensure that you clean and protect the wound after. Do not squash the tick, as this can also transmit disease. Read on to learn about Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease, also known as borreliosis, is an autoimmune disease triggered by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. You receive the bacterial infection through the bite of the blacklegged tick (deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) or the western blacklegged tick.

The longer a tick stays attached to your body, the more likely you will contract Lyme disease – but not all ticks carry the bacteria. On average, the tick needs to stay attached to your body for anything upwards of 36 hours – and they are easily missed when they are so small.

When the bacteria pass from the tick’s mouth to your skin, it immediately makes itself at home, often creating a rash as it creates a localized infection. From there, the bacteria move to infect your organs, muscles, joints and hiding from your immune system. As the bacteria is so widespread across your body, it incites many symptoms that can be confused with other illnesses.

The bacteria also creates neurotoxins, which can damage and destroy otherwise healthy nerve tissue, affecting function. The damage causes mental impairment and the misfiring of your neurons, causing tingling, numbness, and pain. Lyme disease also triggers molecular mimicry – where the immune system mistakes healthy tissue for the bacteria and attacks it.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Take Care of Your Gut and Your Gut Will Take Care of You

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:07:13 GMT

Your gastrointestinal tract takes in food and drinks every day – pulling and creating important nutrients while keeping pathogens out so you stay healthy and well. When your gastrointestinal tract is doing a good job it’s easy to take it for granted. Only when there’s inflammation interrupting the gut’s daily tasks do we suddenly realize how important the gut is to our overall health.

Your gastrointestinal tract is also home to trillions of bacteria called the gut microbiome. Research has found that the gut microbiome is largely responsible for your wellbeing. We evolved alongside these microbes and they help us extract nutrients, make important byproducts, and maintain balance to keep harmful pathogens in check.

In fact, when your gut microbiome is out of balance it’s called dysbiosis, which is associated with numerous gastrointestinal issues but also chronic diseases – many you might not expect to be caused by the gut. When gastrointestinal issues go unchecked for a long period of time, it can progress into more serious and life-threatening conditions such as autoimmune disease.

This is why we always encourage our patients to take their gut health extremely seriously. You should never ignore signs of recurring gas, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion. These are often symptoms of a much bigger problem.

Gut conditions are one of the most common problems we see in our practice today, some of these include:

Leaky Gut
Dysbiosis
Inflammatory Gut Conditions
Yeast overgrowth
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

What Causes Autoimmune Disease?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:58:14 GMT

When it comes to autoimmune disease, there are usually multiple causes that trigger an overreaction, which results in an attack on healthy tissues. Because there are usually multiple contributing factors, it can be a complicated process to pinpoint exactly what the sources are. This is why it’s important to work with a doctor who’s willing to take the necessary time to sift through all the potential contributors so you can create a personalized treatment plan.

With that in mind, there are a few factors known to contribute to autoimmune disease, these include:

Dysbiosis (gut microbiome imbalance)
Leaky gut
Environmental toxin exposure
Infections
Excessive use of antibiotics
Very poor diet
Chemotherapy
Certain prescription drugs
Mold exposure

To successfully treat autoimmune disease, you must identify factors that are contributing to your immune system dysregulation. If you take medications for autoimmune symptoms, they simply mask the issue and can make it harder to know exactly what’s going on. This can perpetuate the condition and make treating the underlying condition more difficult.

This is why we recommend looking for the root cause of autoimmune disease. When we systematically go through potential causes and work to correct and reverse each, only then can patients experience a boost in health and return to life.

If you think you have an autoimmune disease, ask yourself which of these above factors could be contributing to your issues. Take the necessary steps to reduce the impact of each on your life and make an appointment with a functional medicine doctor who specializes in autoimmune diseases immediately.

Contact Atma Clinic Today

If you suspect you have CIRS or are looking for a physician knowledgeable in Mold Illness in the Kansas City area, call us at (913) 568-0608 or (785) 760-0695 to schedule your free consultation today.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:45:00 GMT

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). CFS is a condition characterized by feeling extremely tired and unable to sleep or rest adequately. Often dismissed in the past as ‘yuppie flu’, CFS is a seriously debilitating disorder that adversely affects the lives of patients we see.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is distinguished by extreme tiredness and fatigue that isn’t improved by rest. You don’t need a vacation or eight hours of sleep regularly – if you have CFS you suffer such crushing fatigue that you often can’t get out of bed, get dressed, prepare food, or manage any other daily tasks.

On ‘good’ days you may find you can do these things, but you may find it difficult to concentrate, or to walk to the end of the block. Pushing yourself to complete household chores and unfinished tasks can often exacerbate your symptoms (post-exertional malaise), meaning you have to spend more time in bed.

CFS is shown in part to be an autoimmune disease. Often, patients report that their energy levels dropped after coming down with the flu or mono, and they never recovered. Your body continues to fight an enemy that is no longer present, resulting in the following:

Your immuno-inflammatory pathways are being constantly activated, which results in inflammation of your different tissues (particularly those of the muscles and joints).

Molecular mimicry, where your immune system mistakes healthy cells for infectious agents and attacks them.
Depleted reserves of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – your body’s main energy currency.

When you consider all that is going on inside your body, it’s no surprise that you feel achy and struggle to find energy.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Factors with Autoimmune Disease

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:45:00 GMT

Autoimmune diseases affect millions of people every year and that number keeps growing. While there isn’t a consensus as to why autoimmune diseases are on the rise, chances are it’s due to several different factors, which may vary from person to person to cause the immune system to overreact.

Autoimmunity happens when the immune system mistakes the body for a pathogen and begins attacking healthy tissue. There are hundreds of different types of autoimmune diseases, and symptoms depend on which tissues are being attacked. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is when the immune system attacks healthy joints, which causes joint swelling and pain.

Another factor particular to autoimmune disease is that they affect women more often than men. It isn’t clear exactly why women are affected more than men when it comes to autoimmune disease.

When your body is attacking itself the immune system creates autoantibodies, which can sometimes be tested for. If you suspect you have an autoimmune disease, it’s a good idea to see a functional medicine doctor sooner rather than later because it can worsen over time.

Contact Atma Clinic Today

If you suspect you have Autoimmune Disease or are looking for a physician knowledgeable in Mold Illness in the Kansas City area, call us at (913) 568-0608 or (785) 760-0695.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:43:21 GMT

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut. Often times people don’t realize some of their symptoms are gut related and so they aren’t connecting the dots between symptoms like bloating and allergies, for example. But because your gut microbiome regulates your immune system to a large degree, when your gut is out of balance, you can experience all sorts of symptoms.

Here are a few symptoms of an unhealthy gut that aren’t overly obvious:

Allergies
Food sensitivities
Asthma
Anxiety
Depression
Ulcers
White film on your tongue
Brain fog
Autoimmune disease
Skin problems
Sugar cravings
Halitosis (bad breath)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms alongside gastrointestinal discomfort there is a good chance you have a condition that needs to be looked at by your functional medicine doctor. If you are in the Kansas City area and looking for a functional medicine doctor we regularly see patients for all sorts of gut-related issues.

This post was originally published on www.jjmd.com by Dr. Jessica Jellison.

Why Mainstream Medicine Often Fails Patients

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:20:39 GMT

The Problem with Time Constraints in Healthcare

One of the most significant challenges patients face in mainstream medicine is the lack of time doctors can dedicate to them. In today's healthcare system, doctors are often overwhelmed by tight schedules, leaving them with only a few minutes to spend with each patient. These rushed appointments make it nearly impossible to truly understand the patient’s full story or dig deeper into the root causes of their health concerns.

Imagine arriving at a doctor’s office with a list of symptoms and health concerns, only to be met with a quick examination and a hurried prescription. You walk out feeling as if your issues were swept under the rug rather than thoroughly explored. This experience isn't uncommon, and it highlights a fundamental flaw in the traditional medical system: a focus on efficiency over empathy. When time is scarce, the opportunity to connect the dots, understand underlying conditions, and truly engage with the patient's health journey is often lost.

Dr. Sandal and his team believe that healing begins with listening. Taking the time to hear a patient’s concerns, history, and aspirations for their health is essential to formulating a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the individual rather than just the symptoms.

Over-Reliance on Prescription Solutions

Another significant issue in mainstream medicine is the tendency to rely on prescriptions as a first-line solution. While medication has its place and can be life-saving, it often serves as a quick fix rather than a cure. Many patients find themselves on a revolving door of prescriptions that address their symptoms temporarily without tackling the underlying cause of their problems.

This approach can feel like placing a band-aid on a wound that needs stitches—it covers up the issue temporarily but doesn’t solve it. Patients who come to their doctors seeking a deeper understanding of their health issues are often disappointed to leave with nothing more than a prescription slip and little guidance on how to achieve long-term wellness.

Dr. Sandal emphasizes that true healing requires a broader approach. It involves looking beyond the symptoms to understand what is happening within the body and why. By combining the patient's insights, research, and the doctor's expertise, they aim to create a treatment plan that addresses the root cause and supports the body’s natural healing processes.

The Lack of Collaborative Care in Mainstream Medicine

One of the most transformative shifts in healthcare today is the move towards collaborative care—a practice that is sorely lacking in many traditional settings. In mainstream medicine, the doctor is often seen as the sole expert, the gatekeeper of knowledge. While doctors are undoubtedly knowledgeable, this approach dismisses the valuable insights patients can provide about their own bodies and experiences.

Dr. Sandal and his team at Atma Clinic believe that patients are not just passive recipients of care; they are active participants in their health journey. They view their role as guides, not dictators, working alongside patients to create personalized treatment plans. This collaborative approach recognizes that each person is the best expert on their own body and that their experiences, research, and instincts are crucial components of effective healthcare.

When doctors and patients work together as a team, the result is a deeper understanding of health conditions and more comprehensive, individualized care. This partnership fosters trust and empowers patients to take control of their health, leading to more meaningful outcomes.

A Call for Transformation in Patient Care

The challenges facing mainstream medicine aren’t simply the fault of individual doctors or nurses but are deeply embedded in a system that prioritizes quick solutions over quality care. Dr. Sandal, Conner Keyeski, and Dr. Lauren Poull are advocating for a shift in how we approach patient care—one that goes beyond managing symptoms to uncover the true causes of illness.

This transformation requires seeing patients not just as cases to be solved but as partners in the healing process. It means dedicating the time and energy to truly understand their stories, looking beyond prescriptions, and embracing a collaborative approach that empowers patients.

At Atma Clinic, the goal is to rebuild the patient-doctor relationship as a partnership, where the focus is on genuine healing rather than temporary fixes. They believe that by treating patients as individuals and integrating their insights into their care plans, we can move toward a healthcare model that values root-cause resolution over mere symptom management.

Conclusion

The current state of mainstream medicine leaves much to be desired, but there is hope for a better approach. By listening to patients, involving them in their treatment decisions, and focusing on the root causes of health issues, we can create a healthcare system that prioritizes true healing. As Dr. Sandal and his team continue to advocate for a patient-first model of care, they invite everyone to rethink their approach to wellness, moving beyond traditional medicine's limitations to embrace a more holistic and collaborative path to health.

Cannabis in Wellness: Benefits, Risks, and Legal Insights for Kansas Residents

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:21:30 GMT

Embracing Holistic Health & Exploring Cannabis
In today's dynamic landscape of health and wellness, the integration of cannabis into holistic practices is reshaping how individuals approach their well-being. Cannabis, long celebrated for its therapeutic potential, is gaining recognition for its role in supporting holistic health journeys. This blog explores the power of cannabis in promoting overall wellness and invites you to discover its benefits.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. Cannabis containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is illegal in Kansas, and this content does not endorse or promote illegal activities. It is essential to comply with local laws and regulations regarding cannabis use. This article does not constitute medical advice. For personalized health recommendations, please consult one of Atma Clinic’s qualified healthcare professionals.

The Holistic Approach to Cannabis
Holistic health emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit, advocating for personalized wellness strategies that address the root causes of health issues. Cannabis, with its diverse cannabinoids like CBD and THC, offers a natural complement to this approach. These compounds interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, influencing processes related to pain, inflammation, mood, and more.

Benefits of Cannabis in Wellness
Recent research and anecdotal evidence suggest that cannabis can play a pivotal role in enhancing wellness:

Pain Management: CBD, a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, has shown promise in alleviating chronic pain and inflammation without the adverse effects of traditional pain medications.

Stress Relief: THC, known for its psychoactive properties, may help in managing stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and reducing cortisol levels.

Sleep Support: Cannabis strains high in certain cannabinoids are believed to improve sleep quality by addressing insomnia and promoting restful sleep cycles.

Cannabis Education: Dispelling Myths and Embracing Facts
Education is crucial in understanding cannabis's role in holistic health. Dispelling myths and misinformation, such as concerns about addiction or impairment, allows individuals to make informed decisions. Holistic health practitioners can provide evidence-based guidance on strain selection, dosage, and consumption methods tailored to individual needs and health goals.

Integrating Cannabis into Your Wellness Journey
Embarking on a wellness journey that incorporates cannabis begins with self-empowerment and education. By exploring different strains, consumption methods (such as oils, edibles, or topicals), and consulting with knowledgeable practitioners, individuals can personalize their wellness regimen to optimize their health outcomes.

Join Us in Elevating Your Wellness
At Atma Cinic, we are committed to advancing holistic health through cannabis education and personalized wellness plans. Whether you're new to cannabis or seeking to deepen your understanding, our team is here to support you. Follow us on social media for insightful content, educational resources, and updates on upcoming events.

Facebook: @AtmaClinic

Instagram: @TheAtmaMD

YouTube: @TheAtmaMD

Achieve Balance in Your Fitness Journey

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:58:39 GMT

Dr. Sandal and Chad Richards Discuss Mindful Fitness

Join Dr. Sandal and his personal trainer Chad Richards, the powerhouse duo behind an enlightening conversation on fitness. In this video, they dive into the intricacies of achieving balance in your fitness journey, inviting you to ponder the relentless "beast mode" mentality.

Instead, they advocate for a more mindful and present approach to fitness, embracing the yin and yang of the process.

Rethinking Fitness: Mindfulness Over Relentlessness

Dr. Sandal and Chad Richards explore the crucial role of hormones in fitness and the significance of establishing a sustainable routine. They emphasize the importance of finding ease in your fitness regimen. It's not always about pushing yourself to the limit; sometimes, it's about listening to your body and honoring its needs.

By dismantling the notion of "go hard or go home," they empower viewers to reassess their perspectives on fitness and steer clear of the burnout that often accompanies relentless gym sessions or the pressure to attain physical strength at any cost. Instead, they advocate for a holistic approach that prioritizes mental well-being alongside physical prowess.

The Benefits of a Balanced Approach

Discover how adopting a more balanced mindset can revolutionize your fitness journey and lead to long-term success. Tune in to this insightful discussion as Dr. Sandal and Chad redefine what it means to achieve true harmony in fitness.

Transform Your Fitness Journey

Don't miss out on this transformative conversation – your body and mind will thank you for it! Dr. Sandal and Chad Richards provide invaluable insights that can help you find the perfect balance in your fitness routine, ensuring that you not only achieve your physical goals but also maintain your mental well-being.

Tips From Your Healthcare Team for a Happy Healthy Summer!

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 18:59:53 GMT

As the summer sun blazes on, it's essential to ensure you and your family stay safe and healthy

while enjoying all the season has to offer. Dr. Neela Sandal and Nurse Practitioner Conner

Keyeski share invaluable tips on how to survive and thrive during the summer months. From

swim safety to sun exposure, insect bites, and hydration, we’ve got you covered with expert

advice.

Swim Safety

Water activities are a summer favorite, but they come with their own set of risks. Conner

Keyeski emphasizes the importance of formal swimming lessons for both children and adults.

Knowing how to swim can be a lifesaver. Additionally, using flotation devices can prevent

accidents, providing extra security for swimmers of all ages. For parents, water safety can be a

source of anxiety. Conner offers practical tips to ease these concerns, ensuring that everyone

can enjoy the water safely and confidently.

Sun Exposure

Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial, but not all sunscreens are created equal. Dr. Sandal

recommends using sunscreens with titanium and zinc oxide over chemical sprays. These

options are not only more effective but also safer for your skin and the environment. The

Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) is a fantastic resource for finding healthy and

environmentally friendly products. Dr. Sandal introduces the concept of a "solar callus," which

involves gradual sun exposure to build skin tolerance. Using the analogy of plants, she explains

how proper sun exposure and protection can keep your skin healthy without overexposing it to

harmful UV rays.

Insect Bites

Summer also brings an influx of insects. Rather than relying on chemical bug sprays, Dr. Sandal

and Conner advocate for natural alternatives. They recommend oil blends known for their

bug-repelling properties and suggest planting Citronella and Eucalyptus in your garden as

natural deterrents. Regular and thorough tick checks are essential, as is early treatment for tick

bites to prevent chronic issues. For post-bite relief, products like Calendula oil and Pure3 Ozone

Oil can soothe irritated skin.

Hydration

Staying hydrated is a must, especially during the hot summer months. Dr. Sandal advises

drinking filtered water instead of tap water to avoid contaminants. However, filtered water can

lack essential minerals, so it's important to replenish them. Supplements like LMNT and Quinton

water are excellent choices. Innovative hydration tips, such as freezing LMNT popsicles or ice

cubes, can make staying hydrated more enjoyable. Proper hydration is crucial for preventing

heat stroke and maintaining overall health.

Holistic Care and Tick Bites

Dr. Sandal and Conner stress the importance of holistic care and early intervention for tick bites

to prevent chronic symptoms. If you feel unwell after a tick bite, it's crucial to seek help from a

Functional & Integrative Doctor or consult us at www.atmaclinic.com While mainstream

medicine typically treats tick bites with antibiotics and expects recovery, tick-borne illnesses can

become chronic. Functional and Integrative Medicine ensures thorough follow-up and

comprehensive care, even after initial antibiotic treatment.

Helpful Resources

For healthy product choices, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an invaluable

resource. Visit www.ewg.org to explore their recommendations and ensure you’re making safe,

informed decisions.

We hope you find these tips useful and have a safe and wonderful summer!

Navigating Parenting in the Digital Age: Insights from Dr. Neela Sandal and Nurse Practitioner Melissa Blake

Thu, 23 May 2024 20:27:21 GMT

In our most recent episode of "Talking Shift” on our YouTube Channel, Dr. Neela Sandal and Nurse Practitioner Melissa Blake delve into the challenges of parenting in today's rapidly evolving world. With technology advancing at lightning speed and societal norms constantly shifting, raising successful children requires a dynamic approach. But what does success truly mean in an ever-changing environment?

Success can vary greatly depending on your perspective, but one thing remains constant: social skills are a crucial component. Unlike biological traits, social skills must be taught and learned, and this is where modern parenting faces its biggest hurdle. The rapid advancement of technology far outpaces our biological adaptation, especially in developing children.

The Role of Schools and Physical Activity

While schools focus heavily on academics, they often fall short in teaching essential social skills. Additionally, children are not getting enough physical activity, with physical education classes and outdoor recesses being limited. It's biologically challenging for children to sit still for long periods, making it essential for parents to find healthy alternatives to screen time. This can be a tough sell, especially when it might make you temporarily unpopular with your kids, but the long-term benefits are worth it.

The Impact of Technology on Youth

Today's youth are engaged in activities that come with mixed benefits and drawbacks. While screen time has its advantages, it pales in comparison to the benefits of playing outside. Emerging sociological studies on EMF and blue light suggest significant yet not fully understood impacts on our well-being. At Atma Clinic, we strive to stay ahead in medicine and biochemistry, challenging perceptions that our approach is unconventional.

Practical Parenting Tips for 2024

Parenting in 2024 can feel overwhelming, but by shifting our mindset, we can develop reasonable interventions to support our children’s growth and long-term health. Dr. Sandal and Melissa recommend incorporating exercise and movement into daily routines. Encourage your children to earn their screen time by balancing it with physical activities. Play with your kids, rain or shine, and create lasting memories. Let’s get our children back into their bodies, moving away from the abstract reality of screen time.

Establishing Boundaries and Leading by Example

As parents, we must establish boundaries and lead by example. Take time for family meetings to set expectations that work for your family. This collaborative approach not only sets clear guidelines but also empowers your children to be part of the decision-making process, fostering responsibility and cooperation.

By shifting our parenting philosophies and implementing these strategies, we can support our children in developing the social skills and physical health necessary for a successful future. Remember, it's about finding a balance that works for your family and being adaptable as the world continues to change.

Let's continue to shift our parenting philosophies for a brighter future. Together, we can navigate the complexities of modern parenting and raise well-rounded, resilient children.

Moving Beyond Sunscreen and Dermatology

Fri, 10 May 2024 20:12:12 GMT

In the realm of modern medicine, skin health is often narrowly approached. Sunscreen is touted as the ultimate solution, and regular dermatologist check-ups are the norm. But are these practices sufficient? Believing sunscreen alone can protect our skin is easy, given its heavy marketing. Similarly, annual dermatologist visits seem responsible. However, do these practices truly address skin health complexities?

Many overlook deeper reasons behind skin issues, treating symptoms without tackling root causes. Blaming sun exposure for every problem neglects broader health and lifestyle factors. Our healthcare system often opts for quick fixes over holistic approaches, ignoring traditional wisdom.

It's time to reconsider. Instead of viewing the sun as solely harmful, acknowledge its role in vitamin D production. Moderation is key, balancing sun exposure benefits with potential risks. We're not discrediting modern medicine; it's about finding a balance. Embrace a holistic skincare approach, considering lifestyle and environmental factors. By understanding root causes, embracing natural solutions, and questioning conventional wisdom, we prioritize long-term skin health over quick fixes.

4 Tips for You Skincare Shift

Understand the Root Causes: Rather than simply treating surface symptoms, it's important to understand the underlying reasons behind skin issues. Everything from diet and lifestyle to environmental factors can impact skin health.
Embrace Natural Solutions: Instead of viewing the sun as solely harmful, recognize its importance in providing essential vitamin D. Moderate sun exposure, along with a balanced lifestyle and proper nutrition, can contribute to overall skin health.
Question Conventional Wisdom: Challenge the dogmas of modern skincare and dermatology. Are chemical-laden sunscreens truly safer than natural sun exposure? Are yearly dermatologist visits sufficient for addressing all aspects of skin health?
Prioritize Holistic Health: Shift your focus from quick fixes to long-term wellness. Consider lifestyle factors, environmental influences, and individual needs when it comes to skincare. By prioritizing holistic health, you can pave the way for a more balanced approach to skincare that encompasses all aspects of well-being.

By adopting these steps and shifting our mindset, we can move beyond the limitations of traditional skin care practices and embrace a more holistic approach to skin health.

Let Go of the Need to Do It All

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 15:33:57 GMT

One of the big stressors for a lot of us is “All the Undone Things” on our task list, in our emails box, and around our homes. “All the Undone Things” can feel overwhelming, weigh us down, make us scramble, or distract ourselves so as not to think about anything we could easily get done at the moment.

The stress comes from thinking we need to have all of that stuff done as soon as possible, but it's virtually impossible to keep up on everything because no matter how much we do, there will always be more. Washing the dishes one day doesn't mean there won't be more dishes, and answering all our messages does nothing to avoid more messages.

It can be incredibly liberating to let go of the need to do it all. How is that possible? Should we just scrap our lists and not do anything except what we absolutely have to do? That’s probably not going to make for an enjoyable life or keep us on top of what's necessary to cover at a minimum.

The balance might be to let go of the need to get it all done and focus on the big impact things on your list, one at a time. Choose your most refreshed, attentive times of the day to focus on what’s most important to you, and choose one or two times per day to catch up on emails, messages, and small organizational tasks, knowing you won't get all those done. Let that be okay.

Instead of looking at our tasks as a never-ending list of things we need to get done right away, what if it we saw that list as a grab-bag of opportunities? Seeing opportunities instead of burdens and might-dos instead of must-dos can bring us greater freedom in engaging with day-to-day chores.

Instead of feeling anxious about the entire list, we can aim our minds toward what would feel delightful to accomplish today. What would be a powerful step toward the impact you'd like to contribute to the world? What would light you up right now?

Then at the end of your day, we can simply practice wrapping things up and shutting down instead of feeling guilty about getting the rest we need or like we have to get so much more done, which can otherwise lead to overwork, burnout, and rarely or never letting ourselves enjoy feeling rested.

Here's some tips for reducing the guilt and fear associated with the need to do it all so that we can embrace greater rest and even more joy:

1. Recognize it when it's happening. When it's late in the day and we could be wrapping things up and closing our workday, we can notice the urge to do more. Notice the guilt of stopping. Just bringing awareness to the fear and guilt, without judging those feelings or needing them to go away, is the first step.

2. Breathe and feel. Pause, take a few deep breaths, and don't give power to the fear. Feel the physical sensation of the fear, but don't give into it. Give yourself some kindness and self-compassion around the guilt or fear you are feeling.

3. Use slower breathing, specifically slower exhalation to reduce your fear. Slower exhalations create slower heart rates and slower brain wave patterns. This is called “polyvagal breathing” if you want to research it, and it reliably reduces anxiety and the fight, flight, or freeze responses in most people. Simply breathe naturally on inhalation, then make your exhalation a little longer.

· Repeat this breathing cycle four or more times, then focus on one task without interruption.

· For bonus benefits, let yourself exhale with a sigh or make another low-pitched sound, like a low growl or foghorn. The low-pitch sound increases the relaxing effects of the long exhalation.

· When you notice your attention veering, kindly bring your attention back to breathing with longer exhalation than inhalation.

4. Remind yourself of a bigger truth. The idea that you should be on top of everything and working harder and harder can feel really true in the moment, but it is very rarely the bigger truth. Ask yourself: What is a bigger truth? Do you need rest to be able to serve others? Do you have the right to spend time with others, to take care of yourself, to feel joy at spaciousness in your life? Is this is a healthy model for living?

5. Then take a rest. Feel in your heart how this is worthwhile, and let yourself enjoy the space. You don't need to fill every moment with more work, more messages, more “To-Dos”.

What can you do today to practice letting go of needing to do it all?

_______________

Sharon Burch, APRN provides holistic health counseling and has been in healthcare for over 30 years with a focus on Holistic nursing. She welcomes comments to her post also. Consider visiting the clinic soon. -- call us at 785-760-0695.

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How to Make a Decision

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 18:52:01 GMT

How to Make a Decision

by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg

How do you decide what to say yes to and what to run from at a fast pace? Sometimes making a decision, even on the small stuff (and as the saying goes, "it's all the small stuff") can be overwhelming, so I devised this approach to more clearly assess your options. Please keep in mind that you need to find the best way forward for you, so feel free to tweak these questions as it serves you.

But first a little background: I’m a recovering girl-who-can’t-say-no. For years, everything I got offered and every possibility I thought up just sounds like too much fun to pass up, but after my health suffered from over-committing, I came up with the mantra, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” Then I ran the experiment a few thousand more times to realized I needed more than a mantra. Over a decade ago, a dear friend said to you, “You need to think up five questions to ask yourself before saying yes to anything.”

I have, and in fact, the five questions turned to six, and then I realized the questions weren’t enough: I needed to score them from 0 (heck no!) to 5 (this is the greatest thing since soft-serve organic ice cream). Are you wondering, “Do I bake 42 cupcakes for the preschool tomorrow to fill in for someone who backed out?”, “Should I present at a conference far from home just because I will be in the area at a family reunion at the time?” or “Do I take on the extra gig, obligation, opportunity, meeting, presentation, etc. just because I could?”

Well, then, try this out: score yourself accordingly on these questions: 0 = no way; 1 = I don't really want to; 2 = meh!; 3 = maybe; 4 = might be fun; 5 = stupendous!

Mine: The biggest question of all: Is this yours to do? Is doing this part of what your life, your soul, your essence is calling you to do at this moment?
Time: Is the timing right for doing this in your life, or will you be just recovering from doing too many other things? Or do you have enough time to do it the way you want to do it?
Team: If you’re working collaboratively, will you be part of a time aligned with your own values? If you’re just showing up to do something with others, is it organized with integrity and thoughtfulness, and good communication between the organizers and you?
Health: Does doing this bring you home to yourself in body and mind, or further out to field? Does this compromise your physical, mental or emotional health? Does it come at a time when you’ll be more vulnerable and need to take better care of yourself (such as after organizing a big event)? Also, does this add to your health in a positive way? Or does considering it make your stomach hurt?
Livelihood: Does this add to your right livelihood — the Buddhist term of making a living without doing harm (and by extension, contributing to your community and living out your life’s gifts)? Even if it doesn’t pay money, does it enhance your livelihood in other ways, or does it distract from how you live out your vocation and avocation?
Love: Do you love doing this? Are you working with, visiting with or playing with people you love? Is it in a place you love or would love to get to know?

Now, add up your scores and aim for at least a score of 20 before you say yes. Big caveat: If you get a lower score than that, but your heart drops because you want to do this so much, then consider what it would take to make this worthwhile (get people to help, stay in a nice little B & B on the way, travel with a bag of chocolate, dark chocolate so that it’s good for your health, etc.).

Looking back on projects I’ve done in the last year, I realize the ones I’m most happy I did all had pretty high scores. The ones that made a wet paper towel out of me didn’t. At the same time, it’s important to realize that you can score something high in advance and afterwards discover that it garners a lower score (the conference wasn’t what you thought, the car broke down, the team you were part of disintegrated because of external factors). Life does that, and there’s no way to have control, but at least this may be a tool for having a little more informed consent about what you and I choose to do. In any case, let me know how it works for you!

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg has been the blog editor for Atma Clinic. She's a poet and writer (and past poet laureate of Kansas), teacher and mentor, and writing and right livelihood coach. More on her here.

Find out how to set up your life for greater health at Atma Clinic. Your first visit is free -- call us at 785/760-0695.

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9 Tips for a Good Night Sleep

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:58:08 GMT

9 Tips for a Good Night Sleep

by Sharon Burch APRN.

Are you sleeping or sleeping well and long enough? If you’re not feeling refreshed upon waking, it's time to take action to improve your sleep. Here are 9 tips for getting a good night's sleep.

Get outside and MOVE every day: Fresh air and exercise can help calm and tire you out, while vitamin D from the sunshine helps regulate circadian rhythms to keep your sleep consistent.
Establish a bedtime routine: Consistency in your bedtime routine each night can go a long way in helping you achieve better quality sleep. Your body will naturally take cues and prompt drowsiness from the steps you regularly take to wind down, such as reading, taking a warm bath, or writing in a journal.
Style your bedroom for sleep: Keep temperatures cool, gadgets and electronics to a minimum, and bedding simple and comfortable.
Nix long daytime naps: While an occasional nap can be a great reset for the rest of the day, it may rob you of the more important and restorative sleep your body needs at night.
Consider what you watch on TV: Listening to discouraging news before bed could keep your mind racing throughout the night. Opt for shows that are lighter and more entertaining in the evening.
Set a wake-up time and stick to it seven days a week, even if you go to bed late one night or have trouble falling asleep, keep your wake-up time the same.
Stop "trying" to sleep if you’re anxious about sleeping. Find something quiet to do, like read or watch TV instead. When you feel sleepy again, get back in bed.
Stop checking the clock. If you have an alarm clock in your room or your phone near you, turn it around. As long as you have an alarm set, you don’t need to know the time.
Stop tracking your sleep. Smartwatches don’t adequately track sleep; they track movement. So use your smartwatch during the day and take it off at night.

If you’re experiencing sleep issues such as snoring or falling asleep during daytime hours, consult with your local integrative or functional medicine physician. In these cases, discovering the root cause is crucial to finding the right solution.

Sharon Burch is the Founder and Director of New Directions for Nurses, a business dedicated to empowering nurses. She is a holistic nurse coach, community health clinical nurse specialist & business owner with more than 30 years' experience in nursing, teaching with an emphasis on holistic care and treatment.

Benefits of Using A Sauna to Improve Health

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:44:00 GMT

Benefits of Using A Sauna to Improve Health

Sweating under any circumstances removes toxins from the body, and that’s generally a good thing. In a previous blog, I made some suggestions on how to safely do that through sweating in a sauna. Now I’d like to make some suggestions on how to optimize your sauna experience. The following strategies can potentially enhance the removal of toxins and prevent their reabsorption when you take a sauna.

Sweating helps to rid the body of toxins, but it also causes the loss of a lot of fluid and electrolytes, so it is important to drink at least a couple of glasses of water prior to your sauna and another couple glasses of water immediately following your sauna. If you are using a sauna more than once or twice a week, it also is important to take an electrolyte supplement along with the fluid. Electrolyte supplements can be purchased at most health food stores, but they can also be made at home with a recipe that can be found at the following link: Natural Sports Electrolyte Drink Recipe (With Flavor Options) (wellnessmama.com)

Just prior to your sauna, it’s good to do 15-20 minutes of aerobic exercise to increase your circulation and facilitate sweating. Niacin, which is one of the B Vitamins, causes flushing and therefore can facilitate sweating (1). Be sure not to use the “no–flush” version of niacin because this doesn’t produce the same effect. It is important to start with small doses, generally around 50 mg, and then increase the dose slowly as you develop tolerance to it. It should be noted, however, that some people do find the niacin flush rather uncomfortable.

If you decide to do both the exercise and take niacin before the sauna, timing is important. A recommended approach is to take the niacin and then start your exercise 20 minutes later. Twenty minutes after starting your exercise, start your sauna (1).

Japanese researchers discovered that 70% of the detoxification that occurs with infrared saunas is from sweating. The other 30% happens internally from the infrared rays penetrating the tissues (2). Therefore, taking an intestinal toxin binder just prior to the sauna, such as charcoal capsules or a supplement called GI Detox, can be helpful to prevent reabsorption of the toxins being excreted through the intestines.

An additional way to help optimize this internal detoxification is by taking supplemental glutathione just prior to the sauna. Glutathione is one of the most important players in your body’s built-in detoxification system. A dose of 200-300 mg of a liposomal form of glutathione should be adequate.

And last, but not least, once you have finished your sauna it is important to take a cold shower using a nontoxic soap to close pores, remove toxic sweat, and prevent reabsorption of the toxins.

From the link https://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/ExpertInterviewTranscripts/Interview-GeorgeYu.pdf
“The Scientific Basis and Therapeutic Benefits of Far Infrared Ray Therapy”, Yamazaki Toshio, Japan.

Did you know Atma now offers a sauna experience? Contact us to sweat out your toxins safely and for other ways to boost your health. Your first visit is free – call us at (785) 760-0695.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Taking Cold Showers

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:41:21 GMT

Cold showers can be used to produce many therapeutic effects. For this reason they can help to maintain general health and wellness, and prevent, or manage certain conditions.

These include:

Enhanced Immune Function
Increased Metabolism
Mood Improvement
Pain Reduction
Promotion of Post Exercise Recovery

A cold shower can be taken at the end of a hot shower and still have the same effect so long as you stay under for at least 30 seconds. At Atma Clinic we encourage all of our patient to live clean healthier lives. More information on this can be found in a paper at the NIH website and at this article on the Full Script website .

Americans say this Hobby has Improved their Mental Health

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:41:21 GMT

From baking bread to putting together puzzles to learning TikTok dances, Americans found many hobbies to keep themselves sane and occupied during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another popular past-time that emerged is plant-keeping. According to a new survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 to 54 and older, conducted by Trees.com in partnership with online survey platform Pollfish, two-thirds of Americans used this time to try out their green thumbs and spruce up their homes and gardens with plants.

Our survey found that not only is plant-keeping helping people pass the time, the hobby is also having a profound impact on people’s mental and physical health during this stressful time, to the point where the overwhelming majority of people surveyed said that they expect to continue with their plant-keeping hobby even when the pandemic is over.

To read the entire article please go to: https://www.trees.com/plants-improve-mental-health

Restorative Yoga: Stillness, Support, and Breath

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:41:21 GMT

Restorative yoga combines stillness, supportive props, and breath awareness to help practitioners find deep relaxation. This gentle style of yoga is appropriate for almost anyone, including beginners, older adults, and those with physical limitations or ailments.

What is Restorative Yoga?

Many other styles of yoga use movement—often vigorous—and cue many poses during a single class. In contrast, a restorative yoga class cues just a few poses, and each pose may be held for several minutes. In most poses, you are lying down; blankets, bolsters, and blocks support the body, filling the empty space between the body and the floor so that the poses are effortless. With no pull of gravity, tissues can relax completely. In a restorative yoga class, our only “job” is to pay attention to the breath and the sensations we experience.

What are the Benefits?

What happens when we experience this state of deep but aware relaxation that Dr. Amy Sedgwick calls “full body quiet” ? Our sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”) down-regulates, and our parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”) becomes dominant, sending “we are safe” messages to all the systems of the body. The benefits? Improved cognitive, physical, and emotional health. Think less reactivity, less pain, better sleep, better memory retrieval, better mood, better immune function, and much more! Scientists are studying the benefits of restorative yoga for people with particular health issues, like cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and lower back pain.

What to Expect in a Restorative Class?

If you join a restorative class at a yoga studio, you can expect the teacher to create a comfortable, quiet, peaceful environment. The lights will likely be dim; there may be meditative ambient music. You can wear comfortable clothes, including socks and a sweater, and you can cover up with an extra blanket for warmth. Teachers may offer individualized suggestions about how to use props, because different bodies need different forms of support to find ease. They may remind you to stay in tune with your breath. Expect to hold each pose from two to ten minutes, and expect gentle transitions from one pose to the next.

Best of all, expect to leave class feeling deeply relaxed, and know that you have given your body-mind the opportunity to rest and restore. So much to gain from “doing nothing.”

Sandy Beverly is the owner of the newly-opened Bluestem Yoga. All Atma Clinic patients receive a free class if you mention Atma Clinic when you schedule! Bluestem offers several styles of yoga, including Restorative, Gentle, and Ageless, as well as meditation classes and classes that combine guided stretching with myofascial self-care. Class packages, single classes, and private sessions are available. More about Bluestem Yoga here .