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Preventing Toxic Mold Growth

Information you need about preventing toxic mold growth

Information you need about preventing toxic mold growthPreventing toxic mold growth helps prevent mold allergies and toxic mold illnesses. The experienced practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee have some tips to help you reduce your exposure to toxic mold.

Preventing toxic mold growth begins with three critical steps

There are several crucial components of preventing toxic mold growth. You need to prevent moisture build-up, prevent airborne mold spores from entering the home, and focus on the kitchen and bathrooms, rooms where mold is especially prevalent.

Mold spores grow and thrive in moist environments. Mold allergies and illness are spread by airborne mold spores that enter the home through ventilation, air conditioning, and heating systems, as well as through windows and doors. The spores can also attach themselves to clothing, bags or pets and bring the mold spores indoors. If you take the following three steps, you will be well on your way to preventing toxic mold growth in and around your home.

    1. Protect your home’s air quality

      Preventing airborne mold spores begins by installing and using central air conditioning, if possible, with a HEPA filter attached, and changing air conditioning and heating filters often. Using air conditioning makes it easier to keep windows and doors closed to keep mold spores out. It’s also very helpful to keep the humidity level in your home at 35% or below or at a maximum of 50%.

    2. Inspect your environment for water leaks and sources of moisture in and around your home

      Preventing toxic mold growth requires regular inspections of areas where water may leak, including appliance hoses, toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, hot water heaters, attics and ceilings. You should also have your sump pump inspected regularly.

    3. Take extra care in the kitchen and bathroom areas

      Kitchens and bathrooms are particularly vulnerable to moisture problems, but proper ventilation can help quite a bit. The practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee recommend that you do not carpet moisture-prone areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. Frequent cleaning with mold-killing products will also help with preventing toxic mold growth.

Despite your best efforts, you may still have a problem with mold in your home. Rather than try to tackle it yourself, you should reach out to professional mold remediation specialists for help removing the mold.

The providers and staff at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee diagnose and treat toxic mold illnesses. Preventing toxic mold growth is something you can do to protect yourself and your family. Contact us for an appointment if you have been exposed to toxic mold or have symptoms of toxic mold illnesses or allergies.

Provider Experience with Lyme Disease

Learn the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease

Learn the importance of provider experience with Lyme diseaseMany patients do not understand the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease, but choosing an inexperienced practitioner can lead to misdiagnosis and years of bad health and frustration. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our Lyme literate practitioners have diagnosed and treated thousands of cases of Lyme disease. A Lyme literate practitioner is someone who possesses extensive knowledge, experience and skill with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Our practitioners explain the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease

Provider experience with Lyme disease matters for many reasons. The Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee explain three of the reasons.

  • Inexperienced providers often misdiagnose Lyme disease. Traditional medical doctors and other clinics rely on the Western blog test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to diagnose Lyme disease. These tests miss about half of the cases, leading to misdiagnosis, a primary reason why provider experience with Lyme disease matters. Often, patients with Lyme disease are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or other autoimmune diseases, especially if they do not display the characteristic Lyme disease rash. Only 20-30% of patients develop the rash, so practitioners should not rely on finding this symptom.
  • Many practitioners totally rely on antibiotics for treatment. A study at Columbia University with mice found that antibiotics alone often cannot cure Lyme disease, yet many providers still rely on these medications to treat the disease. In this case, provider experience with Lyme disease matters because knowledgeable practitioners, like the ones at our functional medicine clinic in Milwaukee, understand that Lyme disease needs to be treated with a comprehensive treatment plan that is based on an individual’s needs and goes above and beyond antibiotics alone.
  • Ignoring the effects of Lyme disease on the immune system often leads to more health problems. Finally, provider experience matters with Lyme disease because many traditional doctors and other providers do not understand how Lyme disease affects the immune system. The disease lowers a patient’s immunity, making them vulnerable to coinfections and other health problems. It is vital to address the patient’s issues with immunity if he or she is to return to optimal health.

Our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee offers a comprehensive Lyme disease program

It’s safe to say that provider experience with Lyme disease matters. Our Lyme literate practitioners are ready to help. Contact us.

Lyme Disease Rash

Even if you don’t have the Lyme disease rash, you may still have Lyme disease

Even if you don’t have the Lyme disease rash, you may still have Lyme diseaseThe Lyme disease rash is a telltale sign of the illness. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we emphasize the fact that 20-30% of people with Lyme disease develop the Lyme disease rash. It’s important that you understand this fact so that you can look for other signs and symptoms that may indicate that you have Lyme disease.

What is the Lyme disease rash?

The characteristic Lyme disease rash occurs in 20-30% of people with the disease. Typically, the rash appears about a week after a tick bites you, but it may appear anywhere from three to 30 days after the bite occurs. The rash begins at the site of the bite and gradually expands. You may notice a warm sensation, but won’t feel pain or itching. If you are one of the people who does not have a Lyme disease rash, you need to learn about the other symptoms.

Early signs and symptoms occur in the first 30 days after the tick bite

During the first three to 30 days after a tick bites you, you may not develop a rash, but you may experience the following symptoms of Lyme disease.

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Aching muscles and joints
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Later signs and symptoms can occur months after a tick bite

The early signs of Lyme disease mimic so many other conditions that you may dismiss the symptoms, especially if you haven’t developed a Lyme disease rash. If you aren’t diagnosed and treated in the first month after a bite, your symptoms may change and become more severe.

  • Stiff neck
  • Severe headaches
  • Severe swelling and arthritic joint pain, particularly in large joints like the knees
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Drooping or loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of your face
  • Tingling, numbness or shooting pains in the hands and feet
  • Short-term memory issues

Our practitioners are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease

Even if you don’t have a Lyme disease rash, you need to seek help from an experienced Lyme literate practitioner as soon as you are able if you notice signs and symptoms. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we understand the complexities of Lyme disease. Contact us for an appointment.

Seek Treatment from a Hormone Therapy Expert

Three reasons to seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert

Three reasons to seek treatment from a hormone therapy expertDue to the increasing amount of inadequately trained hormone providers, it’s imperative to seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert like the experienced hormone providers at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee. Our hormone providers, Debra Muth ND and Amy Hoffman NP, have the skill, knowledge and experience to administer bioidentical hormones.

Why you should seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert

Our hormone providers want to explain why it’s so important to seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert.

  • When you seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert, you are receiving care from a practitioner who has specialized knowledge. Not all hormone providers are equally well-trained. Some may have received a minimal amount of training and information about hormones, while others, like Dr. Muth and Amy Hoffman, possess extensive credentials.

    For example, when you seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert like Dr. Muth, you are going to receive care from a leader in the field who has been administering bioidentical hormones to patients since 1988.

  • An expert in hormone therapy understands the various methods of administering bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones can be administered in several forms. Many providers use pellets, but the experts at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee do not use this type of hormone because pellets can cause many problems. When you seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert like our providers, you will discover that hormones administered in a transdermal form, or through the skin, are more controllable and less expensive. Oral medications, gels, creams and injections are also available.
  • When you purchase hormone supplements from an expert, you can rest assured that they only use accredited, reliable compounding pharmacies. The final reason why you should seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert is the way hormones are created. Our bioidentical hormones are only created from the best raw materials, never ingredients grown in a toxic environment. They are created at accredited, reliable compounding pharmacies to ensure the highest quality.

The experienced providers at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee are the perfect example of why you should seek treatment from a hormone therapy expert. Our clinic provides the standard of care you deserve. Contact us for an appointment.

Benefits of IV Nutritional Therapy

Four benefits of IV nutritional therapy you should know about

Four benefits of IV nutritional therapy you should know about

The skilled practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee want you to know about four benefits of IV nutritional therapy. During IV nutritional therapy, vital nutrients, minerals and vitamins are administered through an IV drip in our office. The process takes anywhere from a half hour to six hours, depending on your needs. This therapy is a valuable treatment that helps many of our patients improve their health and quality of life.

 

Learn more about the four benefits of IV nutritional therapy

If you have a chronic condition or other health problems, you need to know more about IV nutritional therapy.

  1. One of the main benefits of IV nutritional therapy is that it provides important minerals, amino acids, vitamins and nutrients directly to the bloodstream. Delivery to the bloodstream ensures that all the crucial nutrients are absorbed fully into the body where they can be used to improve your health.
  2. IV nutritional therapy allows nutrients to bypass the gastrointestinal (GI) system, so the body absorbs the maximum amount of nutrition. Many patients have a damaged gastrointestinal system that may be inflamed or harmed by viruses or exposure to toxins. Bypassing the damaged system and delivering the nutrients via the bloodstream means that you will receive the maximum benefits of IV nutritional therapy.
  3. IV nutritional therapy allows us to deliver larger doses of nutrients to your body than you could tolerate in oral doses. Higher oral doses of vitamins and other nutrients can enter the GI system and cause stomach problems. Delivery through an IV bypasses the GI tract, allowing us to deliver the maximum amount of nutrients your body needs.
  4. One of the most important benefits of IV nutritional therapy is that it can be used to treat several conditions and chronic health problems.
    • Immune deficiency
    • Damaged GI tract
    • Hydrochloric acid, or digestive enzyme, deficiency
    • Lack of friendly gut bacteria
    • Exposure to toxic metals
    • HIV infection
    • Hypertension
    • Asthma
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Congestive heart failure

If you are suffering from chronic health problems, and you are not getting relief from your current treatment plan, consider the benefits of IV nutritional therapy. The experienced team at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee can help you feel better. Contact us for an appointment.

Low-T and Bioidentical Hormones

What men should know about low-T and bioidentical hormones

What men should know about low-T and bioidentical hormonesAt our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our experienced hormone providers are knowledgeable about low-T and bioidentical hormones. Low-T can affect men’s quality of life and health.

The basics of low-T and bioidentical hormones

To understand low-T and bioidentical hormones, you have to understand what happens when men have testosterone levels that are less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). There are several symptoms of low-T.

  • Low sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Irritability or depression
  • Fatigue or lower energy levels
  • Sleep problems
  • Reduction in lean muscle mass
  • Weight gain
  • Gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts

Three things men need to understand about low-T and bioidentical hormones

Our hormone providers urge men to learn more about low-T and bioidentical hormones. Here are three facts men should know.

    1. Bioidentical hormones can help relieve most symptoms in six to eight weeks.

      Although every patient’s experience is different, many patients will receive relief from sleep problems after the first week. After the third week of treatment, men may notice an increase in their energy levels, and many men will find about 80% of their symptoms are relieved after six to eight weeks of therapy.

    2. Treatment is available in different forms.

      Often, the variety of treatment methods surprises men who are learning about low-T and bioidentical hormones. Testosterone is available in various forms.

      • Skin patches that are applied every 24 hours
      • Gels that require daily use
      • Tablets to be used twice daily
      • Injections given each week or every two weeks
    3. Bioidentical hormones are better than synthetic hormones.

      Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular composition as the testosterone a male’s body makes naturally and are created from natural plant substances, helping to reduce side effects. Synthetic hormones can cause side effects, including aches, pains, allergies and urinary tract pain, because they don’t resemble the composition of a male’s natural testosterone. They are made with synthetically created substances and additives that can cause problems.

Men suffering from the possible symptoms of low testosterone levels benefit from learning more about low-T and bioidentical hormones. For more information or an appointment at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, contact us.

What you need to know about food allergies and weight management

What you need to know about food allergies and weight management

Many patients who come to our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee are surprised when we talk to them about food allergies and weight management. Food allergies may be the culprit behind many of their weight problems. Our team identifies the foods they need to eliminate from their diets with allergy testing and a rotation/elimination diet.

Eliminating inflammation is the key to food allergies and weight management

It’s important to understand the connection between inflammation, food allergies and weight management. When you eat a food that causes food allergies or food sensitivities, it causes inflammation. Inflammation causes several problems. It causes bloating, water retention and other digestive issues. Inflammation also causes insulin resistance, causing your body to produce higher levels of insulin. This can lead to weight gain.

Uncovering your food allergies

Allergy testing is the first step to address food allergies and weight management. Our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee offers three types of food allergy testing.

  • Rotation/elimination diet. You will need to keep a food diary to record your reactions as you eliminate certain foods, usually for 14 days. After that, you reintroduce the foods, and if you have an allergy, you will notice adverse reactions and know to eliminate that food from your diet.
  • Oral challenge testing. The tester feeds you certain foods in measured amounts, waiting to see if you develop symptoms. If you do have a reaction, you stop eating that food. This test helps diagnose food allergies.
  • IgG testing. Our practitioners perform IgG testing by taking a blood sample. This test checks for 50 or more food allergies.

Weight management is more successful once food allergies are diagnosed

Once you know which foods cause you problems, you can eliminate them from your diet. Avoiding these foods eliminates the inflammation in the body that is causing your insulin resistance and weight gain.

Our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee can help you with food allergies and weight management and individualized weight loss. Contact us for an appointment today and get on the road to good health.

Managing Holiday Stress

Managing holiday stress – Tips for 12 or more days of bliss-mas

Managing holiday stress – Tips for 12 or more days of bliss-mas

Managing holiday stress can help you experience more of the joy of the season and less of the humbug. The staff at our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee has some tips to help you survive and thrive during the holiday season.

Your guide to managing holiday stress

It’s probably unrealistic to say that you can get through the holidays without any stress, but we believe managing holiday stress is within your reach.

  1. Take a cue from the partridge in a pear tree, the turtle doves, the French hens and the maids a milking. Focus on a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy and whole grains. Don’t go overboard on sweet treats.
  2. Mimic the four calling birds and call a friend. Get together with people who make you happy, but don’t cause you stress. Do it because it’s fun, not because it’s an obligation.
  3. The geese a laying weren’t really lying around, but you should be. Rest is a wonderful way of managing holiday stress. Short naps are good for your health, and it’s also very important to get good sleep each night.
  4. Imitate the swans a swimming, the ladies dancing and the lords a leaping. Even though you think you’re too busy to exercise, it’s important to make time for some form of stretching, cardio or strength training each day.
  5. Take a hint from the pipers and the drummers. Play, sing or listen to music. Music is a proven way of managing holiday stress and calming your nerves.
  6. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the sparkling beauty of golden rings, silver lights and the other beautiful sights of the season. A positive attitude and feelings of gratitude can help alleviate stress.

We’re here to help with holiday stress

If you are having difficulty managing holiday stress, see the providers at our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee. We provide treatments and therapies that can help.

Our alternative medicine providers work with people who need help managing holiday stress or daily anxiety. Contact our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee for an appointment.

Food Allergies and the Holidays

Tips for food allergies and the holidays

Tips for food allergies and the holidaysAt our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee, food allergies and the holidays are a big concern for parents. Holiday celebrations mean more homemade treats, more meals out and more worries. If your child has food allergies, our tips can help you navigate this time of year.

Food allergies and the holidays at school

You might be especially concerned about food allergies and the holidays when your children go to holiday parties at school. It’s important to have a conversation with your child’s teacher about food allergies and ways to keep your child safe.

It helps to provide written guidelines that the teacher may copy and provide to other parents. You can also provide treats that are allergy-safe to ensure that your child will have something they can enjoy during parties. You should also talk to your children about food allergies and the holidays, emphasizing that they should not eat other children’s snacks or treats.

Tips for hosting a safe celebration at home

Hosting holiday celebrations at home can give you peace of mind because you can ensure that the food is safe and has not been cross-contaminated. Cooking at home makes it easy to provide safe food for the celebration. You can place dishes from family and friends in a separate area to ensure that children with food allergies do not eat those foods.

Important information for parents and children who are away from home

Meals eaten away from home raise additional concerns about food allergies and the holidays.

  • You should discuss your child’s allergies with the host, detailing the trigger foods.
  • It helps to offer to assist the host by bringing dishes that are safe for your child to eat or helping to create an allergy-safe menu.
  • To ensure your child’s dinner is safe, ask to make your child’s plate before other guests fill theirs to ensure that there is no cross-contamination.

Food allergies and the holidays do raise concerns, but with proper precautions, families can enjoy themselves and stay safe. For diagnosis and treatment of food allergies, contact our alternative medicine clinic near Milwaukee. Parents can also go to Serenity’s Kitchen to find allergy-safe recipes.

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

4 things you should know about Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Chronic Inflammatory Response SyndromeAsk a group of people if they’ve ever heard of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, and the answer is usually no. Traditional medical practitioners may not take this problem seriously or they may misdiagnose its symptoms. Here are four things the practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee think you should know about this misunderstood condition.

  1. What is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome?

    It’s a combination of illnesses or symptoms directly related to exposure to biotoxins like mold, bacteria, actinomycetes or mycobacteria. The exposure can occur through inhalation, a tick or spider bite, ingesting toxic substances or drinking contaminated water. Certain patients appear to have a genetic predisposition for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.

  2. What are the symptoms?

    Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Here is a sampling of what people experience:

    • Weakness
    • Aches and pains
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Sensitivity to light
    • Blurred vision
    • Respiratory problems
    • Gastrointestinal issues
    • Mood swings
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Night sweats
    • Increase or decrease in appetite
    • Vertigo
  3. What are the most common misdiagnoses?

    Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome who seek help from traditional medical practitioners are often misdiagnosed. These patients are commonly told they have fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few.

  4. How can I get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment?

    Traditional medical practitioners are not as familiar with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome as functional medicine doctors are. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we are experts in treating conditions caused by toxic mold and other problems that deal with biotoxins. We also provide many tests and treatments that the traditional medical community does not offer. For example, our clinic performs genetic testing to determine whether a patient is susceptible to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. We also test for the biomarkers that are the hallmark of the condition.

Patients who come to our clinic exhibiting symptoms of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome can expect a thorough diagnostic approach. Debra Muth, N.D., and her team are known for their medical detective work. They work together to explore every piece of the puzzle until they complete the picture and discover the true diagnosis behind your symptoms. This approach is critical when dealing with a complex problem like Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Contact us for an appointment.