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Author: Dr. Debra Muth

What is Progesterone?

What is Progesterone?


Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, the brain and peripheral nerves.

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we use bioidentical hormones to treat imbalances and improve the functions of female hormones, especially during menopause and other transitional periods of life. We have the expertise and knowledge to address hormonal issues and other health problems that are affecting your quality of life. Contact us for an appointment.

Progesterone’s Function

  • Need It During Pregnancy
  • Used To Convert Fat To Energy
  • Promotes Sleep
  • Natural Calming Effect
  • Normalized Blood Clotting
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Helps With Fluid Retention
  • Helps Balance Thyroid Functions

Natural Progesterone

  • Helps Build Bone
  • Protects Against Fibrocystic Breast Disease
  • Balances Water Retention
  • Protects Against Endometrial & Breast Cancer
  • Normalizes Zinc & Copper Levels

Reasons For Low Progesterone

  • Stress
  • Impaired Production
  • Antidepressants
  • Sugar Consumption
  • Excess Saturated Fat Intake
  • Low Levels of Vitamin A, B6, C, Zinc
  • Decreased Thyroid Hormone

Symptoms of Progesterone Deficiency

  • Breast Tenderness
  • Weight Gain
  • Thyroid Dysfunction
  • Headaches, Migraine
  • Anxiety
  • Spotting
  • Irritability
  • Hot Flashes
  • Nervousness
  • Depression
  • Amenorrhea
  • Oligomenorrhea

Symptoms of Excess Progesterone

  • Sleepiness
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Candida Infections
  • Mild Depression
  • Increased Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms


4 Benefits of a Phone Consultation

Why Phone or Zoom Consultations Could Be Right For You!

Comfort

You can talk from the comfort of your own home, where you may feel more relaxed, focused, and in-tune with your consultation. If you’re battling symptoms, it may be easier (and healthier) to receive consultation remotely.

Ease

Wisconsin’s winter storms can be severe. If roads are bad, traffic is slow, or something else interferes with your schedule, you won’t have to worry about commuting to the clinic.

Convenience

Some of our patients travel long distances to meet with our practitioners – a phone consultation can save you time and money spent traveling. For our patients with kids, you won’t need to spend money on babysitters or day care.

Accessibility

If a practitioner has sudden openings (and you’re able to fit a different slot into your schedule), you could meet with them sooner than the original scheduled date – without having to commute.

For patients who still prefer to see practitioners visually, we can offer Zoom Video Consultations as well! Please contact our office for information on phone or Zoom consultations!

*Disclaimer – Please contact our office or PCP to see which consultation type is right for you. Some patients will still need in-person consultations.

How To Improve Saliva Production For Sample Collection Using Bacon

How Bacon Can Improve You Saliva Production

Saliva is a reliable, noninvasive, and cost-effective method to measure active hormone levels. However, in certain populations, saliva sampling may be difficult because of insufficient saliva flow.

Methods recommended to increase saliva include using lemon or vitamin C water or chewing gum, has been found to potentially compromise sample integrity, especially if the methods involve the presence of a collection aid in the oral cavity like a cotton swab.

A recent review of the literature reveals a potentially more tantalizing option for saliva production….bacon!

A 2015 study evaluated an over-the-counter anhydrous crystalline maltose lozenge (intended to increase saliva production for patients with xerostomia long after the lozenge dissolves) and the smell of freshly cooked bacon on saliva output compared to passive saliva collection, without assistance.

Results revealed that both the lozenges and bacon significantly decreased collection time compared with the passive saliva collection day. Furthermore, no significant changes to the levels of cortisol, testosterone, or DHEAs were seen when comparing lozenge or bacon to the passive collection. Post-bacon saliva hormones values also did not differ from post-lozenge saliva hormones values.

Further studies are needed to support the use of an OTC anhydrous crystalline maltose lozenge, but smelling bacon is an easy way to improve saliva production without the risk of compromising the integrity of the saliva sample. If you are struggling to produce saliva while collecting your hormone sample, fry up some bacon while you are collecting and see what happens.  


Symptoms Caused By Toxic Mold

Symptoms caused by toxic mold range from allergies to severe health problems

Patients who come to our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee will find a caring staff who understands the symptoms caused by toxic mold. Our providers are experts at diagnosing toxic mold illnesses. From teaching patients about home remediation for toxic mold, to providing medications and other treatments, our staff knows how to help patients get back to health.

Toxic mold is not the same as a mold allergy

A mold allergy affects the immune system, so when you are exposed to mold (usually a specific type), you have an allergic reaction. This causes allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose and sneezing.

In contrast, toxic mold is a mycotoxin that is put off by a mold. When these mycotoxins are released, they cause different symptoms caused by toxic mold. These symptoms do affect the immune system, but it is not the same as an allergy response.

Mold illnesses can cause more severe symptoms

Symptoms caused by toxic mold become more severe with continued mold exposure. Here are some of the serious conditions our practitioners see.

  • Respiratory symptoms like wheezing, nosebleeds and sore throat
  • Circulatory problems such as low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat
  • Vision problems like blurry vision
  • Skin conditions such as dermatitis
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Muscle weakness and pain
  • Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
  • Symptoms of depression
  • Severe headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Hair loss

Misdiagnosis is common when patients have symptoms caused by toxic mold

Conventional medicine practitioners often misdiagnose symptoms caused by toxic mold, attributing them to other conditions. The treatments these physicians prescribe often leave patients frustrated and chronically ill because they fail to address the cause of the problem – toxic mold.

Mold itself is not toxic, but the mycotoxins the mold produces cause health problems. Only trained practitioners like the experienced staff at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee can recognize toxic mold illnesses.

Our experienced practitioners understand toxic mold illnesses

Our practitioners go above and beyond to treat people with toxic mold illnesses. When people come to our clinic with symptoms caused by toxic mold, our staff begins their extensive diagnostic process. Our treatment protocol is not limited to medication and home remediation. Our practitioners are trained in the Dr. Shoemaker protocols to address toxic mold. In addition, our patients receive nutritional supplements, dietary recommendations, immunotherapy and alternative therapies to improve their overall health and wellness. Treating the whole patient, not just the symptoms caused by toxic mold, helps our patients and improves their quality of life.

Patients who have given up hope due to chronic problems and symptoms caused by toxic mold should contact our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee for an appointment.

Diagnosing Toxic Mold Illnesses

Our experienced practitioners are experts at diagnosing toxic mold illnesses

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our skilled practitioners combine experience and knowledge when diagnosing toxic mold illnesses. Illnesses caused by toxic mold cause symptoms that are often confused with other conditions and are misdiagnosed by conventional medicine. When patients receive the wrong diagnosis, they do not receive proper treatment and continue to suffer from chronic problems that severely affect their quality of life. Our practitioners leave no stone unturned when diagnosing problems caused by toxic mold.

Diagnosing toxic mold illnesses requires a thorough investigation

One test is not the answer to diagnosing toxic mold illnesses. Instead, trained practitioners need to utilize a combination of methods to determine whether patients are suffering from symptoms caused by toxic mold.

Our staff begins the diagnostic process by taking a thorough medical history that also addresses the environment in which a patient lives, works or studies. Taking time to carefully investigate a person’s environment is important when diagnosing toxic mold.

If a patient’s medical history and symptoms point to exposure to toxic mold, the next step is taking blood and urine samples and nasal swabs to look for evidence of toxic mold spores.

Another important part of diagnosing toxic mold illnesses is allergy testing. When patients come to our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee with signs of mold allergies, their treatment plan may include allergy drops, or sublingual immunotherapy.

The visual contrast sensitivity test

The visual contrast sensitivity test is helpful for diagnosing toxic mold illnesses that have caused severe symptoms that affect the nervous system. This test challenges a person’s ability to distinguish between black, white and shades of gray, testing the patient’s optic nerve function. The experienced practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee recognize that toxins can decrease the oxygen supply available to nerves, affecting their function. The visual contrast sensitivity test is very effective in determining whether the toxins from molds are negatively affecting patients.

An accurate diagnosis is critical for patients suffering from toxic mold illnesses

Diagnosing toxic mold illnesses requires time and attention. Our staff takes the time to be thorough and obtain an accurate diagnosis to help our patients return to optimal health.

Traditional medical doctors often tell patients that they have lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis or mental illnesses when they actually have toxic mold illnesses. Misdiagnosis leads to more serious problems, including chronically ill and depressed patients.

Patients who visit our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee can depend on us. Diagnosing toxic mold illnesses is one of our specialties. We take the time to get to the bottom of every problem. Patients who are looking for this kind of expertise and attention to detail should contact us for an appointment.

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.

What is a Lyme Literate Practitioner?

Lyme Literate Practitioners

What Is A Lyme Literate Practitioner?

Lyme literate practitioner are trained from International Lyme Disease Association. Practitioners are trained by some of the leading experts in the field of Lyme disease. Practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee gain their knowledge of the disease through training with Dr. Horowitz and Dr. Cameron. Our practitioners have been treating Lyme disease for over 15 years. The Lyme Literate practitioners are not all MD’s they can be Nurse Practitioners, Naturopaths, and Herbalists to name just a few who help patients cope with Lyme disease.

Five things that stand out about a Lyme literate practitioner

If patients are looking for a Lyme literate practitioner, they should talk to the provider and the staff to determine whether the medical professional meets the following criteria.

  • Experience in treating Lyme disease. Provider experience with Lyme disease helps patients because these medical providers recognize the many ways that Lyme disease presents itself. Our expert practitioners treat thousands of cases of Lyme disease a year.
  • Knowledge and training. Most people in the traditional medical community don’t have extensive knowledge of Lyme disease. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our Lyme literate practitioners specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Constantly striving to learn more about the latest research from ILADS and treatment innovations helps our clinic to provide patients with the most up-to-date care.

    Our medical professionals trained with nationally recognized Lyme disease experts. Debra Muth ND trained with Richard I. Horowitz MD, a medical doctor renowned for his expertise. Greg Brown MD trained with Daniel Cameron MD, another nationally known leader in the field of Lyme disease.

  • Awareness of chronic Lyme disease and other infections. A Lyme literate practitioner recognizes that chronic Lyme disease is a real condition that is difficult to treat and diagnose. These experts also understand how viral, parasitic and fungal infections can adversely affect patients with Lyme disease.
  • A comprehensive, innovative approach to diagnosis. Our experienced providers and staff don’t rely on one or two tests to diagnose Lyme disease. A Lyme literate practitioner realizes that the best way to obtain an accurate diagnosis is through a variety of methods and tests.
  • A full-spectrum approach to treatment, based on research. Conventional medicine believes in treating Lyme disease with antibiotics alone, but our experience at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee tells us that this approach is only effective for patients who are in the early stages of the disease, and it may not be effective for all of these patients. At an appointment with a Lyme literate practitioner like ours, a patient benefits from a multi-functional approach that addresses the patient’s immune system, treats coinfections and health problems, and provides alternative therapies and supplements to help patients improve.

Our Lyme literate practitioners are highly trained and skilled experts

Debra Muth ND, Greg Brown MD, Amy Hoffman NP, Sharon O’Neill NP, are here to help patients with Lyme disease, even those who have suffered for years without a proper diagnosis.

Our Lyme experts and staff diagnose and treat even the most difficult cases of Lyme disease.

Contact us for an appointment with a Lyme literate practitioner.

Seeking Help for Lyme Disease

Patients shouldn’t take a “wait and see” approach when seeking help for Lyme disease

Patients shouldn’t take a “wait and see” approach when seeking help for Lyme diseaseLyme disease is so misunderstood and misdiagnosed that many people take a “wait and see” approach to seeking help for Lyme disease. The Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee encourage patients not to put off diagnosis and treatment. When ticks bite people, it’s best to get a medical opinion from a Lyme disease expert like Debra Muth ND, NP or Greg Brown MD and their team.

Begin seeking help for Lyme disease by searching for a Lyme literate practitioner

Seeking help for Lyme disease can be tricky for patients. When they pursue help from conventional medicine providers, their symptoms may be dismissed, ignored or misdiagnosed. On the other hand, a patient who sees a Lyme literate practitioner, like our functional medicine experts, is listened to attentively. Patient information is as important as testing when diagnosing Lyme disease.

Conventional medicine primarily relies on one or two tests to diagnose Lyme disease, and these tests do not always identify the disease in its earliest and most-treatable stages. Patients seeking help for Lyme disease from our providers discover that our staff does not rely on standard tests alone. Instead, our providers employ various testing methods and diagnostic tools to find the answers people need. In addition, our Lyme literate practitioners have the experience, knowledge and training to recognize the often hidden and hard to diagnose symptoms of Lyme disease.

Left untreated, Lyme disease causes more severe problems

When patients have suffered for months or years with the symptoms of Lyme disease because they were misdiagnosed, they are often hesitant about seeking help for Lyme disease. Procrastinating is a mistake because acute Lyme disease can become chronic, leading to more complicated problems, including neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Patients should never put off seeking help for Lyme disease. The compassionate and knowledgeable Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee are here to help. Contact us for an appointment.

Genetics and Lyme Disease

Genetics & Lyme Disease

Conventional medicine practitioners rarely talk about the link between genetics and Lyme disease, but a Lyme literate practitioner at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee understands the relationship. Genetics can affect the way the body detoxifies when Lyme disease attacks. Our knowledgeable providers offer genetic testing to help develop the most complete treatment program for patients.

Pursuing the link between genetics and Lyme disease leads to better outcomes

Our experienced Lyme disease providers stay on top of the latest research and developments, including advances in genetics and Lyme disease. There are certain genes that help the body with detoxification, including the MTHFR and GSTM1 genetic mutations. Research shows that MTHFR genetic mutations, in particular, can affect patients with Lyme disease. People with the MTHFR genetic mutation have difficulty converting B vitamins and Folic Acid into their active forms, GSTM1 lower levels of glutathione in their bodies. Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps the body detoxify. A person with Lyme disease needs this substance in the proper amounts to help rid the body of toxins, parasites, coinfections, viruses and mold brought on by Lyme disease.

The relationship between detoxification and enzymes

In order to understand the relationship between genetics and Lyme disease, it’s important to comprehend how enzymes affect detoxification. During detoxification, one of the most important enzymes that affects patients with Lyme disease is Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). If there is a nutritional deficiency in any of the trace elements, such as copper, iron, zinc or manganese, that SOD enzymes usually contain, the body’s ability to detoxify is impaired. There are also SOD1 and SOD2 enzymes that play a role.

Testing for nutritional deficiencies helps our providers assess a patient’s needs

Genetic testing allows the experts at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee to discover the link between genetics and Lyme disease in each patient. Once our team has determined whether there are any genetic mutations, testing for nutritional deficiencies may follow.

Knowing which nutrients or trace elements are missing helps our staff devise a treatment plan that will help strengthen and support a patient’s enzyme system.

Our team provides special treatments for Lyme disease patients

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, patients can receive helpful treatments not available in the conventional medicine community. These treatments are based on the science of genetics and Lyme disease.

  • Types of IV nutritional therapy provide missing nutrients, minerals and vitamins to patients who suffer from chronic Lyme disease.
  • Lyme disease detox helps patients with genetic mutations and nutritional deficiencies rid their body of toxins and infections caused by Lyme disease.

Our Lyme disease team takes a comprehensive, multi-functional approach to treating and diagnosing Lyme disease.

Patients who believe they are suffering from Lyme disease should contact us for an appointment.

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.