The Functional Medicine Approach to Biotoxin Illness

GLP-1 medications are transforming healthcare in ways no one expected. What started as a diabetes breakthrough has unexpectedly become one of medicine’s most versatile tools, with benefits extending far beyond blood sugar control. Let’s start at the beginning.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders, affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, you already know it’s not just about irregular cycles …

Enter GLP-1 receptor agonists—the unexpected anti-aging powerhouse.
Originally designed to help with diabetes and weight management, these synthetic peptides are now making waves in longevity science.

If you’re ready to boost your metabolism naturally, keep reading for three powerful strategies that not only shed pounds but fuel your body and elevate your whole health.

Treating depression isn’t a straightforward process. It’s not like a cold which runs its course as long as you get plenty of rest and fluids, or a broken bone that slowly knits itself back together with time.

Living with a chronic condition often means battling discomfort, fatigue, and frustration on a daily basis. It can be overwhelming and frustrating to try and find relief…

Sugar isn’t good for us. Sugar affects our energy, mood, mental clarity, digestion, and so much more. But, whether you’ve decided to …

Hormones are the body’s messengers, carrying signals from your muscles, organs, and tissues to the brain and back…

Biting bugs like ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers are such a common nuisance that most of us don’t give them any thought at all. However …

Environmental toxins may be all around us, but by limiting your exposure at home and in your immediate environment, you can protect yourself …

Parasites live on or inside another living organism (known as a host) and live off of nutrients at the host’s expense. They can enter the body…

Kids aren’t spared from exposure to the rising number of toxins in our environment and diet. They need detox as much as adults. However, because kids are …

In a world inundated with remedies, castor oil is one that has stood the test of time. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine highly recommends this natural remedy for detoxification and flawless skin. Castor oil has a history rooted in traditional medicine and enhanced by modern science. Ever heard of a castor oil pack? The topical application of …

Sirtuins are one of the seven “longevity genes” found inside your cells. These tiny enzymes are essential for regulating cell cycles and protecting your DNA. They also play a major role in cellular processes that control inflammation and metabolism. From deep within your cell, sirtuins influence…

In the intricate world of gut health, two often misunderstood conditions stand out: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO). SIBO and SIFO not only sound similar, they have similar symptoms including bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

When you first decide you want to be a parent, you are overcome with emotion – from anticipation to excitement and everything in between. Unfortunately, for about 15% of couples that excitement is replaced with anxiety when faced with infertility.

When you were in school, you probably learned about the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell. Every cell in your body, from your brain to your heart, has mitochondria. They convert energy from our food into a form that our body can use as energy to move, speak, think, and grow.
But what happens when your mitochondria don’t work properly? And how do you keep your mitochondria …

Every day, the average person is exposed to 700,000 toxic chemicals. In the umbilical cord of babies at birth, you can find an average of 287 chemicals. Unfortunately, these toxins are not passive …

Every day, the average person is exposed to 700,000 toxic chemicals. In the umbilical cord of babies at birth, you can find an average of 287 chemicals.
Unfortunately, these toxins are not passive bystanders. Most of these toxic chemicals are carcinogenic, nerve toxins, or teratogenic …

Do you fall asleep easily only to lie in bed wide awake at 3 a.m.? Or maybe it’s easy to fall asleep but you wake up exhausted? Do you dread bedtime because you have such a hard time sleeping? Nobody wants to stay awake in the middle of the night, mind racing through scenarios that may never come to pass. But good sleep is more than a desire – You need to sleep. Not only because sleep supports healthy digestion and detoxification, but because the world …

The functional medicine providers at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine make it a point to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in alternative treatments. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is one that is increasingly popular among holistic medicine practitioners because studies have shown it has significant benefits for those suffering from autoimmune diseases and chronic …

Hair loss in women is more common than you might think. Women both young and old may have clumps of hair come out in the shower or see areas of thinning in the front or top of their head. Societal standards of beauty often center on healthy hair and skin. So now female hair loss comes with emotional strain on top of worries about potential health problems. Not to mention that stress about your looks and health can lead to high levels of cortisol, which can lead to …

A healthy immune system defends the body against harmful infections, illnesses, and outside pathogens. It attacks the invaders and quickly eradicates them from your system. When it comes to chronic illness, the immune system can react in a way that seems counterintuitive. The immune system may become …

Fasting is an ancient therapeutic technique that dates back to the 5th century BCE. Back then, fasting mainly was a religious practice, but it was also used to treat certain illnesses. It took the advances of modern science to reveal the many benefits of fasting for your health. Intermittent fasting is the most recent trend in fasting, a practice …

Over 300,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. Despite growing awareness of Lyme disease’s prevalence, the tick-borne illness often goes unnoticed. Even properly diagnosed, Lyme disease can remain in your system for years and severely affect your quality of life. The doctors at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado are Lyme disease specialists who …

You might not know it, but a crucial bodily process is often overlooked when it comes to mental health. Methylation and mental health are naturally intertwined, and supporting methylation could revolutionize mental health care. Mental health disorders are rising – about one in five adults is …

Methylation and Mental Health: Why We Should Pay Attention to Our DNA – You might not know it, but a crucial bodily process is often overlooked when it comes to mental health. Methylation and mental health are naturally intertwined, and supporting methylation could revolutionize mental health care. Mental health disorders …

Inflammation May Be Aging You Faster Than You Think :: Inflammation may be aging you faster than you think and if you want to live a long, healthy, active life – decreasing your inflammation is critical. Inflammation is a natural, healthy part of the healing process. However, sometimes this inflammatory response is …

When we educate ourselves about menopause, we are more capable of understanding and supporting the women in our lives who will inevitably experience menopause. If you’re a man and don’t think this article pertains to you – I urge you to read on. All of us are affected by menopause. We either go through it ourselves or watch our mothers, grandmothers, wives, and lovers experience

Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, and PTSD are on the rise. One in five children and adults will experience any of these mental afflictions in a given year. Functional medicine offers a unique approach to mental health support. Instead of treating the symptoms, it treats the root cause of mental health. What we get wrong about mental health is looking at the …

We all know what happens if we don’t change the oil in our cars, but what about the oil in our bodies? Every cell membrane in our bodies is made up of a phospholipid bi-layer and maybe even more importantly, every mitochondrion in our cells also is made up of the lipid bilayer. So what happens to the fats in our membranes over time? Exposure to …

Low testosterone in men can lead to fatigue, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty building muscle. Some studies even show a connection between low testosterone and depression. While testosterone levels naturally decrease with age, some men experience a dramatic onset of low testosterone symptoms …

The health benefits of coffee enemas may include relief from symptoms of Lyme disease, multiple chemical sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity. There are very few toxicity-related reactions that couldn’t be stopped or tremendously reduced with a coffee enema. Coffee enema is great …

Most people have some experience with mold, but what does toxic mold look like? The black gunk in a window frame, the moldy smell in a damp basement, or the fuzz on food left in the fridge for too long.
Not all molds are inherently harmful. Some strains of mold …

We are hormonal beings. Hormones are powerful and connected to every part of your body in a beautiful, delicate balance. They control many of the body’s essential functions including your mood, energy level, survival instinct, libido, anxiety, and sleep.

What is the limbic system and how does the limbic system function? The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional response. Often referred to as our animal brain, the limbic system is dramatically affected by illness. It responds to illness like a smoke alarm responds to smoke or fire. It activates and stays activated until …

A staggering 60 to 70 million Americans suffer from gut dysfunction. Many people with gut dysfunction don’t seek medical help, preferring to deal with symptoms of bloating, gas, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea on their own. Others simply wait for the symptoms to pass without considering what these signs might reveal about their health. Gut dysfunction includes many common gut disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysbiosis, parasites, small intestinal bacterial…

What are biotoxins? Biotoxins are toxic substances that come from living organisms. But even though they come from nature, biotoxins are poisonous to humans –

According to recent estimates, about 10 million Americans suffer from an underactive thyroid. This condition, called hypothyroidism, causes several tell-tale symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, constipation, low mood, and temperature intolerance. What causes low thyroid? These symptoms are related to inadequate or imbalanced thyroid hormones, including high reverse T3.

The heat is ON and it’s a great time to revitalize, hydrate and boost your immune system to get the most out of the last few weeks of summer before school starts. Medical grade nutritional IV’s have been found by many to help get your energy and vitality back after COVID.

Boulder Holistic has an exciting announcement! Our Registered Nurse extraordinaire, Ame, is back! She will be in clinic 2-4 days per week including some Saturdays and we are offering Nutritional IV’s, blood draws, PRP (more info to come), urine and throat checks, ionic foot baths, etc. on those days. Please call the office at 303-390-1245 or email us at info@boulderholistic.com to schedule.

It was an honor and pleasure to be interviewed by Dr. Jill Carnahan! Dr. Carnahan is a functional medicine doctor, researcher and lecturer. She specializes in biotoxin illness and has a wonderful, informative YouTube channel interviewing experts in the field. Check it out!

Masks are now the new hot accessories but wearing a mask for hours a day can block the pores of your skin and put you at risk of developing acne. As healthcare providers, we know the best way to treat acne is to prevent it before it happens.

So, since mask wearing is not likely to go away for a while, it seems important to figure out how to best protect our faces and stop the pimples that masks can cause.

Insulin resistance is a hot topic in the health and functional medicine world. Our fast passed, high stress and inactive lifestyles put many people at risk for this undesirable condition. Luckily, insulin resistance is not only preventable, but may be reversible by making healthy diet and lifestyle changes now!

On Friday November 20th 2020, Boulder and Denver counties entered the “new red” COVID restriction levels. So what does that mean for us at Boulder Holistic?

Due to the current risk of COVID-19 infection, we are trying to do our part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus by limiting the number of face-to-face appointments per state order. We are booking appointments with our doctors via telemedicine through zoom or over the phone over the next few weeks in order to best comply with the new restrictions.

As fall turns to winter, the number of coronavirus cases in our state and the country continues to grow. Thankfully, over the past months doctors and researchers have learned more about the virus and how to best approach prevention and treatment.

Functional medicine thrives when it comes to understanding root causes of illness and how to support proper immune function. The research has shown that a step-wise approach to the coronavirus may be the best medicine.

Autumn is my favorite season…it must be the Midwesterner in me. I absolutely love watching the leaves change, feeling the crispness in the air and diving headfirst into my fuzzy sweaters.

As the nights get colder, my family and I are enjoying our back yard, social distanced dinner gatherings seated near our propane fire pit, wrapped in cozy blankets. One thing quarantine has gifted me is a deep appreciation for the connections I share with close friends and family.

Heal The Vagus Nerve and Improve Your Health

Optimum Vagus nerve function or vagal tone is a hot topic in current research, especially as it relates to the treatment and management of chronic illness.

As practitioners, we are just now beginning to understand how important supporting this nerve is to maintaining health.

So what exactly is the Vagus nerve?

Many of us are familiar with the use of melatonin for better sleep, but did you know that melatonin might also be helpful in managing some of the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection?

Over the past few months, we have learned more and more about this new virus. Much of what we know about those individuals who become very sick from COVID-19 is the devastating effects this virus has on the lungs and respiratory system. Many of those who become hospitalized with coronavirus end up there because the inflammation in the lungs is so great that they are no longer able to get enough oxygen on their own.

Healers have used herbal medicine for thousands of years. Unlike prescription medications that typically have one specific function and target organ, plants hold within them the power to perform multiple actions across many body systems.

We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities and are pledging to donate 10% of all IV sales for the months of July and August to organizations that support the health and wellness of these communities.

Vitamin C has a unique ability to support our body’s immune system, especially against viruses.

Boulder Holistic is dedicated to providing the best possible service to you and your family during this crucial time. We are excited to announce that we will be re-opening for IV therapy and blood draws on Wednesday and Friday through the month of June.

There’s bad news and there is good news this allergy season.

Many of the symptoms of seasonal allergies can be mistaken for signs and symptoms of other upper respiratory infections including COVID-19. Many symptoms include runny nose, stuffy nose, red eyes, scratchy throat, cough, tight chest and sneezing.

COVID Prevention AND great for allergy season too!
One great way to help prevent the seeding of a virus into upper respiratory tract is by sinus rinsing. Sinus rinse and prevent viral infection, improve allergies and neurodetoxification!

As we enter the seventh week (or is it week 107?) of social distancing and quarantine, for some, ongoing social isolation may be eroding our

Boulder Holistic will be offering antibody testing beginning this week At Boulder Holistic, we believe accurate and widespread testing for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is essential to

Ok, so you’ve stayed home, limited your contact, washed your hands like crazy, disinfected everything and still, you or someone you love gets sick. What can

Please do not come to the office if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Call or email instead. We are happy to

Please do not come to the office if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Call or email instead. We are happy to

Vital Support for You and Your Family If you are tuned in to the media at all, it’s hard to ignore the anxiety-provoking news concerning

What Exactly is EMF? Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are a form of non-ionizing radiation (their frequency is somewhere between microwaves and radio waves). This radiation is

The holiday season is upon us and it comes with warm gatherings with family and friends, tons of travel, and don’t forget about fortifying your

In functional medicine, we commonly refer to the Standard American Diet as the SAD diet. The SAD acronym correctly sums up the profoundly negative effect

My husband recently forwarded me an article published in a medical journalthat linked the use of proton pump inhibitors to the development of seasonal allergies in

My patients often ask, “Why is my energy always dragging?” Or for some, “Why am I so tired during the day, but then at bedtime

Do you fall asleep easily only to lie in bed wide awake at 3 a.m.? Do you sleep but don’t feel rested when you wake

Glutathione may actually be one of the most important molecules you have never even heard of in your life. I know I was not introduced

Spent. Haggard. Beat. There’s no end to the words we can use to describe being tired, especially in today’s hyperspeed cyber world. My personal favorite?

By Terri Fox, MD Did you know? That the common symptoms of mold toxicity are headaches and migraines? Mold is often not visible. It thrives

By Dr. Amy Reidhead, DC, FNP, BSN-RN, FIAMA Lately, I’ve been a bit obsessed with broccoli. In fact, my relationship with broccoli is a bit

By Terri Fox, MD Did you know that taking large amounts of biotin can falsely elevate your thyroid results? Many people take biotin for hair