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Author: Dr. Debra Muth

Hormonal Disruption

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Hormones, Men's Health, Women's Health.

Chemicals and genetics cause hormonal disruption

Dr. Muth is asked everyday why do so many people have issues with hormone and thyroid function? Certainly looking back over the past century it appears people are experiencing more symptoms with menopause and certainly more thyroid disease. There can be several causes for these changes.

First, we are more open about discussing our medical conditions compared to fifty years ago. But there are distinct problems that can cause the hormonal system to malfunction. The chemicals in the environment are more prevalent. There are more people using these chemicals that enter our water system through typical disposal down our drains and toilets. There are many more chemicals than ever before being used, according to World Meters. Over 10 million tons of chemicals are disposed of every year into our environment. Over 2 Million of these are cancer-causing chemicals.

Many of these chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors, which is defined as chemicals that, at certain doses, can interfere with endocrine (or hormone) systems. This means they can disrupt the natural function or the production of the hormones.

The million-dollar question is why do some people have problems with these chemicals and others do not? We believe this has to do more with genetics than exposure. The more we know about genetics, the more this comes to light on how people react to various exposures. There are known genes that prevent one from excreting hormones like estrogen. This can be a significant problem if one takes estrogen and is not supporting their body to get rid of the excess.

MTHFR (Methytetrahydrate Folate Reductase) is just one gene that many are familiar with that assists in detoxification. But there are several others that are equally or even more important such as; SOD, COMT, NAT, that assist the body in creating amino acids necessary to remove these toxins. Diseases like Fibromyalgia, Cancer and Thyroid disease can occur when these genes are blocked.

What Can We Do About Endocrine Disruption?

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Hormones, Men's Health, Women's Health.

What Can We Do About Endocrine Disruption?

A variety of symptoms occur when chemical exposures cause “endocrine disruption”

The following is a short list that can correlate with many different disorders: fatigue, pain, brain fog, weight gain, irritability, depression, anxiety, cancer, chemical sensitivity, numbness, tingling, ear ringing, memory loss, PMS, or premature menopause are just a few symptoms that can occur as a result.

Now that you know some of the things that can cause the body to lose balance, the more important thing to discuss is how do we get balance back?

Keeping our environment free of as many chemicals as possible is the first step. Eating organic can be very expensive and when you are trying to feed a large family it can feel impossible. A few tips for that are: purchase from the local farmers market or a local CSA allows you the opportunity to talk directly to the person growing your food. You can ask what chemicals they are using. Practice canning or freeze items for the winter. Pay particular attention to the “Dirty Dozen” this is a list of foods you should always eat organically. Here is a link that will provide you fantastic information on this topic: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

Get your genetics tested you can use https://www.23andme.com it is inexpensive and your information can be used for research or kept private. I would caution you, do not ever let a health care provider keep a copy of this information because you can be denied life insurance or other health related insurance based on these results. Once these results are obtained you want to have an experienced person review these results so you can create a plan to support the genetic detox issues that you have. These treatment plans are usually life long because your genes do not change.

Use clean chemicals for house cleaning. There are good premade products that can be purchased in many stores or you can make your own with essential oils. Companies like Young Living Oils or doTerra are happy to share information on how to mix essential oils together. You can also use these in lotions instead of the chemical based products on the market. You can also make a Baking Soda scrub and vinegar and water great cleaning products.

Detox is Key

Practicing regular detox is key. Using sauna therapy Far Infarred is what we recommend by a company called https://www.hightechhealth.com/, (if you mention our name you can get a discount). I would recommend following instructions based on your health. Detox footbaths are another great source for cleansing the body of chemicals. If you can tolerate these you should use them a few times a week.

These various detox methods mentioned so far involve a series of enzymatic reactions that neutralize and solubilize toxins; homeopathic remedies can be added to assist in transporting the toxins to the secretory organs (like the liver or kidneys), so that they can be excreted from the body. These should be chosen individually based on your health. Sometimes we use products to move through the liver or kidneys and these organs have to be functioning properly before you start this process. Some people recommend Detox Programs with herbs; this can be helpful but again talk to your health care provider first. One tip: you may not feel well for the first few days; this is a good indication you are toxic.

Excess hormones, vitamins, inflammatory molecules, and signaling compounds, among others, are typically eliminated from the body by the same enzymatic detoxification systems that protect the body from environmental toxins, or clear prescription drugs from circulation. Metabolic detoxification reactions, therefore, are not only important for protection from the environment, but also central to homeostatic balance in the body.

In certain cases we need to eliminate more toxins because of illnesses like Parkinson’s disease. In those cases we will use IV amino acids to assist in more extensive detox methods. This can be used when people have bacterial overloads as well.

This information is not meant to cause fear but to provide a basic understanding of how the body can be affected and give you a basis for correcting the problems. Do some homework on what chemicals you have in your home that you are exposing your family to and make small changes to start with and grow your knowledge from there.

Infections and Endocrine Disruption

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Hormones, Men's Health, Women's Health.

Infections & Endocrine Disruption

Various bacterial, fungal and viral infections can cause endocrine disruption and are not commonly evaluated.

I have encountered numerous women who experienced premature menopause or perimenopause because of exposures to bacterial infections like; Lyme disease, mycoplasma and mold toxicity. Rarely do I see any of these conditions evaluated in women who are experiencing hormonal imbalance.

Mold is especially toxic to the endocrine system and often times will cause thyroid disorders that can go undetected for years. Thyroid labs will often be normal, but the patient will be symptomatic. Evaluating for autoimmune thyroid disease can be helpful in identifying these patients and providing treatment. Unfortunately, for many people, they do not receive treatment until the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or TSH is abnormal. Many people will suffer for 5-10 years before they receive treatment.

When autoimmune disease is an issue, it is a dysfunction of the immune system that is present and support to rebuild the immune system is necessary. Without support, the immune system can often attack another part of the body, such as developing Rheumatoid Arthritis years later.

Chronic bacterial infections cause both men and women to produce fewer hormones. Blood or saliva testing can identify this. A variety of symptoms occurs and both men and women share some; fatigue, decreased sex drive, hair loss, and irritability, loss of creativity and motivation or better put a zest for life! Men can experience loss of muscle tone and strength, erectile dysfunction and loss of their competitive drive. Women will experience irregular periods or loss of periods, PMS, weight gain, bloating, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats and loss of sexual desire and thinning of the skin. This certainly is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, but you can see the symptoms that can occur.

Defining ADD, ADHD and Autism

Defining ADD, ADHD and Autism

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in ADHD/ADD, Autism, General Health. No Comments on Defining ADD, ADHD and Autism

How are practitioners defining ADD, ADHD and autism?

Defining ADD, ADHD and AutismIt’s helpful for people to understand how practitioners are defining ADD, ADHD and autism. First, focus on the similarities. All of these conditions may cause someone to be overly active or impulsive. They may also have difficulties interacting with people. In fact, people can be diagnosed with both ADHD and autism.

Autism is often confused in the early years with ADHD. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we make every attempt to ensure that we make the correct diagnosis so we do not miss someone who is on the autism spectrum.

Defining ADD, ADHD and autism—what patients need to know

The first thing to know about defining ADD, ADHD and autism is while the public still uses the term ADD, medical practitioners generally do not. Today, ADD, or attention-deficit disorder, is defined as one of the three types of ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Inattentive only—the type of ADHD the public sometimes refers to as ADD. People with this form of ADHD are not hyperactive, but have an attention-deficit issue.

Hyperactive/impulsive—People with this type are hyperactive and impulsive, but they don’t have an issue with attention deficit. Since this type is uncommon, most people don’t know about it, but it’s important to know when defining ADD, ADHD and autism.

Combined inattentive/hyperactive/impulsive—People with this type of ADHD exhibit all three of these characteristics. This is the type most people think of as ADHD.

An autism diagnosis may or may not share characteristics of ADHD

The National Autism Association defines autism as a neurological disorder characterized by social and cognitive impairments, communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.

Symptoms on the autism spectrum may be mild or extremely severe. Some common symptoms include:

  • Non-responsive behavior
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Difficulty understanding their own feelings, or the feelings of others
  • Problems with social skills

Understanding how practitioners are defining ADD, ADHD and autism is especially important for parents because early diagnosis and treatment are very helpful.

Our functional medical clinic near Milwaukee treats ADHD and autism

Greg Brown, M.D., our board-certified internist and experienced practitioner, takes a biomedical and functional approach to treating ADHD disorders. He also offers an integrative medical approach for people with autism with our Autism Care program. Contact us for an appointment.

Lyme Disease - A Mother’s Story

Lyme Disease – A Mother’s Story

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Lyme Disease. No Comments on Lyme Disease – A Mother’s Story

Getting help with Lyme disease – A mother’s story

Lyme Disease - A Mother’s Story

Talking with Shelly Bourdo about her son’s experience with Lyme disease, it’s easy to hear the pain she felt when she was dealing with her very sick child for many years. She said he had been lethargic, very tired, and never felt like doing anything. When her son began having symptoms at age five, conventional M.D.s diagnosed him with asthma. She said he would get sick for a day and get better repeatedly, but he never fully recovered from his symptoms, and no one ever suspected Lyme disease.

Due to his continual sickness, she became disenchanted with conventional medicine. She said, “Doctors kept trying to put my son on medication, but I felt like that wasn’t the solution, so I kind of backed off. I was trying to medicate him with herbal supplements based on what I thought his symptoms were.”

When she realized that this approach wasn’t working, she turned to Serenity Health Care Center.

The journey from extreme illness to successful treatment for Lyme disease

Shelly’s son began his journey with Dr. Greg Brown, Serenity’s board-certified internist. Dr. Brown conducted several blood tests, and his initial diagnosis surprised the family.

“The first result we got back surprisingly said that our son had walking pneumonia, which was shocking to all of us. He had had lung issues his entire life, which led us to believe that our son had had walking pneumonia since the age of five when he was misdiagnosed with asthma. Once we dealt with that issue with antibiotics, he suddenly didn’t have the breathing issues.”

Dr. Brown’s blood work discovered several other health issues, including thyroid problems. These issues and her son’s symptoms led Dr. Brown to believe that they might be dealing with Lyme disease, so he began treating her son as if he had Lyme disease, even before a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment began with antibiotic therapy, along with supplements and antimicrobials. Shelly said Serenity would change his antibiotics and/or the dosage every couple of months. After the antibiotics and supplements had done their work, Serenity performed IGeneX testing, and it determined that her son had Lyme disease.

After Shelly’s son began treatment, and she began to see results, she began to suspect that her daughter, too, might also have Lyme disease. She was dizzy and tired and had other symptoms. Testing showed that she did have Lyme disease.

Both of her children now take part in other therapies that help patients with Lyme disease, including Bio Terrain Therapy or bio-magnetic pairing, and Ondamed, a therapy that combines a specific pulsed electro-magnetic field in combination with biofeedback.

Serenity made the difference for Shelly’s children

Lyme Disease - A Mother’s Story

Shelly says the Bio Terrain Therapy and the Ondamed have really helped her children.

“My daughter can go in there [to Serenity] not wanting to talk, barely able to function and feeling horrible, and by the end of the session, she’s talking, laughing and feeling better, so I know this stuff works! Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s just magnets,’ but I can see the difference in my child.”

She also notes that her son had several issues caused by Lyme disease when he first went to Serenity. He had vision issues, neurological issues and Lyme rage. Shelly says, “It’s all gone. I attribute all of that to the care at Serenity.”

Shelly and her children feel like they are involved in treatment decisions.

“I feel like we’re part of the family at Serenity. We know each other; we communicate. I always feel like they listened to me – listened to my kids. They were always responsive to what we were trying to say.”

She is happy she turned to Serenity’s functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee for diagnosis and treatment.

“I’m so grateful we found Serenity because I don’t think we would have gotten this kind of treatment [for Lyme disease] anywhere else.”

Seek diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease as soon as symptoms appear

Early diagnosis for Lyme disease makes treatment easier, but our experienced team can also diagnose and treat complex, chronic Lyme disease cases. Contact us today for an appointment.

Underlying Medical Issues and Autism

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Autism, General Health.

Underlying Medical Issues & Autism

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we take an integrative approach to diagnosing and helping patients on the autism spectrum, which includes addressing underlying medical issues and autism. Patients of all ages benefit from treatments that Dr. Greg Brown, our board-certified internist, provides for medical issues.

Addressing underlying medical issues and autism is part of our approach

People on the autism spectrum frequently experience co-existing medical conditions at a higher rate than those who aren’t on the spectrum. These issues include:

  • Epilepsy
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • ADHD disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia

  • Issues involving eating and feeding
  • Chronic pain
  • Problems with immune regulation
  • Eczema and rashes
  • Behavioral problems

It’s very important to deal with underlying medical issues and autism in an integrative treatment setting. At our functional medicine clinic, we combine a medical approach with holistic treatments such as supplements and dietary changes, along with alternative therapies to treat the whole person.

We vary our approach to meet the individual needs of the patient.

Underlying medical issues can impact a child’s development or adult’s behavior

Conventional medicine doesn’t always recognize that underlying medical issues and autism can negatively impact a child’s development and an adult’s behavior and skills. For example, adrenal and thyroid issues can affect a child’s language, motor function, socialization skills and more. In addition, mitochondrial diseases need to be considered. The organization Autism Speaks believes that “…around 5 to 10 percent of children with autism have mitochondrial dysfunction as the underlying cause of their symptoms.”1

Yeast is another subject that involves underlying medical issues and autism. Conventional medicine often fails to see the connection between untreated yeast, primarily Candida albicans, and how it affects those on the autism spectrum. Untreated yeast leads to stomach pain and other problems. Children or adults who have problems communicating may not be able to describe their pain adequately, and that can lead to behavioral issues.

Detoxification and autism

Another difference between our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee and conventional medical centers is our detoxification program. Underlying medical issues and autism that may require detoxification may be caused by exposure to heavy metals, lead, pica and organic toxins. We provide therapies such as chelation therapy to rid the body of toxins.

People with underlying medical issues and autism should consider seeing our experienced team. Our approach is about people, not symptoms, and our goal is to improve each individual’s quality of life.

Contact us for an appointment.

1 https://www.autismspeaks.org

Toxic Mold Treatment in Illinois

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Toxic Mold.

Seeking toxic mold treatment in Illinois? Visit our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee

Patients in the Midwest and those who need toxic mold treatment in Illinois have an outstanding resource nearby—our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee.

Toxic mold treatment in Illinois

Toxic mold treatment in Illinois is necessary, as it is in the rest of the Midwest and the country, because toxic mold can cause both mold allergies and mold illnesses. Toxic mold is a term that is sometimes misunderstood to mean “black mold,” but the term actually refers to any type of mold that causes symptoms of mold allergies or illness.

The mold itself isn’t toxic, but the mycotoxins it produces are. Mold allergies and illnesses are often misdiagnosed, so it’s important to find an experienced practitioner when seeking toxic mold treatment in Illinois.

Symptoms of toxic mold allergies and illnesses

At our clinic, we take a very proactive approach with patients who come to us with symptoms of mold allergies and illnesses. Toxic mold allergies cause symptoms such as:

  • Watery eyes
  • Itchy eyes, nose, lips and/or mouth
  • Congestion, runny nose, sneezing

Toxic mold treatment in Illinois also needs to address more serious problems such as:

  • Respiratory problems
  • Problems with digestion and stomach issues
  • Depression symptoms
  • Unexplained numbness, tingling, twitching and/or muscle pain

A trip to our clinic is worthwhile

Toxic mold treatment in Illinois may not provide the extra diagnostic and treatment resources that are available at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee. Patients seeking toxic mold treatment in Illinois who come to our clinic can expect a thorough diagnostic process that includes a medical history, lab tests and expanded testing. More importantly, in addition to recommendations for home remediation and medication, we offer treatments that other medical practitioners don’t provide, including:

  • Immunotherapy
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Dietary changes

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we see patients from across the Midwest and the United States. Patients seeking toxic mold treatment in Illinois should contact us for an appointment if they exhibit symptoms that may be related to mold allergies or illness. It is best to begin diagnosis and treatment earlier rather than later.

The Microbiome and Autism

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Autism, General Health.

The Microbiome & Autism

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we understand the important relationship that exists between the microbiome and autism. Researchers are conducting studies to determine how the state of the microbiome affects people with autism. Evidence has come to two conclusions about the microbiome and autism:

  1. There is a potential relationship between intestinal microbes and autism, indicating that this relationship may even increase symptoms or be the cause of certain symptoms.1
  2. “Research suggests that as many as 9 out of 10 individuals with the condition also suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and leaky gut.”2

Additional research is needed and is being conducted; however, in the meantime, we check our patients for gastrointestinal problems and treat them with herbal supplements and antibiotics if necessary.

Understanding the microbiome and autism

It’s helpful to understand the microbiome and autism. The microbiome is comprised of 100 trillion microbial cells that inhabit the body. The microbial cells in the human gut are also known as “gut flora,” and they are responsible for several important functions in the body, including:

  • Absorption and breakdown of nutrients
  • Producing vitamins
  • Protecting the body against pathogens
  • Helping balances the immune system

1,2 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-bacteria-may-play-a-role-in-autism/

We work to balance the microbiome

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we believe that the relationship between the microbiome and autism is important. As part of our biomedical intervention for any underlying medical issues that people with autism may have, we test for gastrointestinal imbalances. We attack the problem in different ways, including:

  • Specific dietary changes
  • Herbal supplements
  • Antibiotics, if necessary

Another problem we address is yeast overgrowth, or candidiasis, which is related to the microbiome and autism. To have a healthy gut, people need to have a good balance between yeast and good bacteria, but yeast overgrowth is a problem for many people with autism. Conventional medicine practitioners often ignore this problem. At our clinic, we attack yeast with a three-pronged approach that gets rid of yeast already in the colon; limits sources that provide yeast to the diet; and restores beneficial bacteria in the colon.

Patients with autism benefit from our Autism Care program

In addition to addressing the microbiome and autism, our Autism Care program focuses on the whole patient, not just a series of symptoms. We check for toxins, yeast, imbalances in the gastrointestinal system, thyroid issues, and mitochondrial and adrenal issues. In short, we perform tests and examine patients to discover any underlying medical issues.

If you are looking for a complete, personal approach to autism, contact us.

Powassan Virus

Powassan Virus

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, General Health. No Comments on Powassan Virus

4 things you need to know about Powassan virus

Powassan VirusScientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the increase in the tick population in 2017. More ticks likely means more tick-borne infections like Lyme disease and a virus you may not have heard of—Powassan virus.

Powassan virus, also known as POW virus, is an RNA virus that’s related to some mosquito-borne viruses like West Nile virus, but Powassan virus is transmitted to humans by tick bites. The ticks become infected when they bite infected animals. The staff at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee wants you to know more about this little-known virus.

Stay alert to the prevention and detection of the Powassan virus

[righttextbox]The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the state of Wisconsin reported 22 cases of Powassan virus between 2006 and 2015.
https://www.cdc.gov/powassan/pdf/powv-by-state-year_2006-2015.pdf[/righttextbox]

  1. Powassan virus is rare, but it can be deadly.

    There have only been 77 cases of Powassan virus reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2003 and 2015, but 10% of people who developed Powassan virus encephalitis died.

  2. Certain populations have a higher risk of developing serious complications.

    Anyone can get Powassan virus, but children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems have a higher risk for serious complications.

  3. Tick bites occur in any area where the ticks live – not just in rural or remote areas.

    At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we hear patients express surprise that they are in danger of getting tick bites in their suburban backyards or urban parks, but ticks live anywhere that their hosts do; host animals include deer, squirrels, wood-chucks and white-footed mice. Take steps to avoid tick bites and always check yourself, family members and pets for ticks after being outdoors.

  4. Powassan virus symptoms usually occur between one to two weeks after a bite from an infected tick.

    If you were bitten by an infected tick, your symptoms may be non-existent, mild or very severe. Symptoms you should be aware of include:

    • Fever
    • Weakness
    • Vomiting
    • Headache
    • Confusion
    • Loss of coordination
    • Speech difficulties
    • Serious complications, including encephalitis and meningitis

If you or your family members exhibit symptoms of Powassan virus, even if you are not certain that you have had a tick bite, contact us at our functional medicine clinic near Wisconsin.

Functions of Female Hormones

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Hormones, Men's Health, Women's Health.

Functions of Female Hormones

Libido, Energy Levels, Mood & More

Some women are symptomatic and others feel no change during the hormonal shifts that occur during their lifetimes. To understand the significance of these changes, it’s important to understand the functions of female hormones. Dr. Muth and the team at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee are hormone experts. We take every factor of a woman’s lifestyle and her health concerns into consideration when treating symptoms caused by hormonal shifts.

Basics about female hormones and how they function

Many systems of a woman’s body are affected by the functions of female hormones. Hormones are chemical “notes” that are formed by an orchestra of eight glands. These are the biochemical “conductors” of the female body that communicate with neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, that are produced in the brain. Neurotransmitters affect a person’s mood, energy level, dietary cravings and sleep.

The functions of female hormones and their effects on the body change throughout a woman’s lifetime. Typically, hormones peak at age 20 and begin to fluctuate at approximately age 35. For example, at about age 40, estrogen levels begin to decrease as the body prepares for menopause.

If we think of hormones as an orchestra, then even one hormone that is out of balance will throw off the performance. Lifestyle, diet, toxic exposure and medications can all have direct effects on the functions of female hormones.

Functions of estrogen and progesterone

The functions of female hormones become very apparent when estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate.

Estrogen

  • Causes breast and uterine tissue to grow
  • Fortifies the collagen layer of the skin
  • Affects cognitive function and mood
  • Affects libido
  • Lubricates vaginal tissue
  • Affects energy

Progesterone

  • Balances estrogen
  • Maintains pregnancy
  • Bolsters fetal brain and nervous system development
  • Stimulates bone growth
  • Helps calm and focus the brain
  • Helps burn fat and energy

Hormone testing

When we investigate health issues, we always consider the functions of female hormones and their effects. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we often recommend hormone testing. We often test for estrogen, progesterone and testosterone (yes, women need this male hormone), DHEA-S and cortisol. We can also test melatonin, serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels.

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.