Advice about Alternative Medicine

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  • Functional Health Doctor for Deeply Exhausted Mom

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    Oct 23, 2024

    I’m in my early 40s with two young kids, and though I have always felt “deeply exhausted,” more recently I have felt such deep deep levels of exhaustion that it has caught me a bit off guard.  No amount of sleep makes me feel better, and I’m beginning to feel pain in my body.  

    I don’t eat well nor do I exercise - I’m just trying to juggle life is an active mother, lawyer, cook, cleaner, etc. 

    What I’m looking for is a functional medicine doctor that can help me through what I’m hoping to be a journey to good health.  Maybe even a message therapist too? I want to fix this, but I don’t know where to start really.  

    Oct 23, 2024

    Strong believer in functional medicine. It helped me get my life back a few years ago. I really liked Dr. Teresa Tsingus. She's super knowledgeable, empathetic, and practical. You can find her here:

    https://www.lamorindanutrition.com/

    I'm so sorry you're dealing with this!

    Oct 30, 2024

    My advice would be to start with a health coach that can help you safely and gently make susutainable changes around nutrition and exercise. Functional medicine should hopefully emphasize those things as well but may also recommend expensive supplements or tests that won't help if nutrition and exercise aren't part of your routine. It might also be worth putting that money towards more support for cleaning, cooking, etc. I would also recommend a mental health therapist if possible - even if this isn't depression they can also help you with the mental component of exhaustion! (from another overworked tired mom of 2)

    Oct 30, 2024

    Been there! Check out InWella (inwella.com) - they helped me tremendously with my exhaustion related to perimenopause, amongst issues with my weight, stress, brain fog, and general inflammation. They're amazing, and work virtually. They run all of the right tests and provide a clear, easy to follow plan with tons of support. :) Good luck! 

    Oct 30, 2024

    This could be a simple issue to solve, such as a b12 deficiency, so you could start with bloowork with your regular doctor while you wait to get in to a new one!

    Oct 30, 2024

    Might also be a good idea to get your thyroid levels checked, especially if there is a history of hypothyroidism in your family. 

    Oct 30, 2024

    I’m so sorry to hear you’re struggling with the deep exhaustion. I’ve been in a similar situation, though I of course can’t say if my root causes are the same as yours. Mine were sleep apnea, adrenal fatigue, and being in “fight or flight” mode for way too long as a result of untreated anxiety. 
    Definitely check w your Western Dr for bloodwork (I second the suggestion to ask for a complete thyroid panel!) and also check out Christine Dao LAc (licensed acupuncturist) and Dr Todd Maderis. I worked with both of them for years for my health when no Western Dr could find out what was wrong with me and essentially sent me the silent messages of “it’s all in my head”. Needless to say, that wasn’t helpful. But Christine and Todd WERE helpful. Wishing you answers and better health. 

    Oct 30, 2024

    My local Naturopath, Dr. Katherine Monahan, specializes in women beyond 25 and helping them feel better. She has helped me on numerous occasions over the past four years related to many issues. When i was at my wit's end, she was able to sort out options and solutions. She is kind, empathetic, caring and a very good, clear-headed problem solver. I highly encourage you to reach out to her.

    Katherine Monahan (she/her)

    Naturopathic Doctor

    Remedy Natural Medicine

    katherine [at] remedynaturalmedicine.com (katherine[at]remedynaturalmedicine[dot]com)

    510.543.1728

    Oct 30, 2024

    Hi there - I’ve been working with Dr. Amy Nett since April and she’s been hugely helpful in making manageable adjustments to lifestyle that have led to significant improvements in my energy levels (also an exhausted lawyer Mom of 3 and 1). One simple thing she’s recommended has been incorporating a protein rich breakfast (overnight oats or chia pudding with both a scoop of protein and a scoop of collagen( and eating to be more mindful of blood sugar balance (eg 3 solid meals with protein and fiber, rather than the quick snacks that don’t sustain me). 

    We’re still refining my plan but I already feel much better.

    Good luck!

    Oct 30, 2024
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  • Functional Medicine Doctor

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    Feb 25, 2023

    Hello, I'm looking for recommendations for a functional medicine doctor for my 75-year old mother. She has, among other things, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, low sodium levels, and a poorly functioning kidney, some of which seems to have been caused by various medicines she's been prescribed. She sees a long list of specialists but I'm not convinced that any of them are looking at her health holistically or considering the new problems they may be creating with the solutions they provide. Thank you for any recommendations. We are in the East Bay (Berkeley area) but willing to travel.

    Feb 25, 2023

    My mother has similar health problems, and it has been challenging finding doctors who will take the time to understand all of her issues and medications.  Currently, we have had good luck working with Gurpreet Boparai as her family physician and Yvonne Chen for nephrology.  Both doctors have offices in Oakland.

    Mar 1, 2023

    I’ve been working with Dr Sharman at the Remedy in Martinez and have found her helpful.

    Mar 1, 2023

    The Over-Sixty clinic in Berkeley treats seniors in a wholistic way, rather than a collection of maladies. It is a wonderful place, a non-profit.

    Mar 1, 2023

    As an older woman myself with multiple health challenges, I can highly recommend my Functional practitioner, local to Oakland:

    Dr. Katherine Monahan (she/her)

    Naturopathic Doctor, Remedy Natural Medicine

    katherine [at] remedynaturalmedicine.com (katherine[at]remedynaturalmedicine[dot]com)      510.590.6208

    Yes, Dr. Monahan is kind, an attentive listener, knowledgable and she does look at my health holistically. 

    Mar 8, 2023

  • ISO Functional Medicine sliding scale, affordable or Medi-cal

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    Nov 17, 2022

    Hello,

    I am the primary and sole custodial parent of a 13 year old, and a DV survivor. I was diagnosed with IBS in 2018. Is started overnight on day, so I strongly doubted being handed my doctor's "chronic illness with no cure" sentence. I have since treated for SIBO three times (2x antibiotics, 1x herbal) and am currently treating for Candida. My hunch is it could be both, also with some Vagus nerve disregulation due to prolonged stress and trauma. We live in West Oakland, and I have just discovered air pollution can cause this. I feel neglected by the medical system and potential bait for endless, expensive, exploitative alternative services. Does anyone know of a highly experienced, skillful functional medicine doctor who can provide care on a sliding scale or find a way to use my insurance? I am not at the beginning of this journey. My level of health knowledge and action is high. My dysfunction is currently disabling.

    THANK YOU!      

    Nov 17, 2022

    I had so many health issues and chronic fatigue and hashimotos, RA, and other problems. I have seen many different doctors over the years. No one doctor whether functional, regular, well known, or well regarded had been able to do it all. What has worked for me is picking on thing like chronic fatigue and researching everything on it, working out my hypothesis for what may help and searching for doctors likely to work with that approach. Then doing the same thing for the next ailment. I have a doctor who helps with my thyroid, an obgyn who helps with hormone imbalances and sleep, a gp for anemia and other standard testing, etc. I have read so much over the years and realized that the common thread was over use of antibiotics and gut microbe imbalances which I have worked hard to improve and (touch wood) and in better health than I’ve been in in years. 

    Nov 23, 2022

    Hello. I can very much empathize with a lot of your post, and I truly hope that you find the person(s) to help you on this journey to better health. While I have not been treated by her since the start of Covid, I was a patient of--and can recommend--Dr. Christine Dao in Alameda for several years and had great success in treatment for SIBO (among other health challenges).  She's really knowledgeable, is caring, and offers acupuncture, a wide variety of testing, and herbal supplements. IDK if she does sliding-scale or handles insurance at this point, but it would be worth a call/look at her site. 

    Best of luck and here's to your health!

    Nov 30, 2022

  • 4 month old - alternative practitioner for reflux?

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    Dec 30, 2021

    Hi there, we have a four month old who I (and a doctor) suspect has acid reflux. We’re dealing with lots of crying, spit up, back arching, only feeding when drowsy, etc. I’m wondering if anyone has a recommendation for an osteopath / naturopath / or chiropractic care to effectively deal with a similar issue. Thanks! 

    Dec 30, 2021

    My friend took all 4 of her kids to Awaken Chiropractic on Grand. I planned to take my baby there is he has any issues. I was a patient there both during and after pregnancy. They are great!

    Jan 5, 2022

    Something to consider is that it isn't acid reflux, but rather bottle aversion (which is often misdiagnosed as acid reflux).  The symptoms you write about - crying, spit up, back arching, only feeding when drowsy - are all indicative of bottle/feeding aversion.  Does you baby turn its head when presented with the bottle?  Does it take a minimum out of the bottle and then refuse to drink more?  Are you worried about how much milk it is drinking?  Check out this article: https://www.babycareadvice.com/blogs/bottle-feeding/feeding-aversion.&n…; If it sounds like this might be the case, I highly recommend you read Rowena Bennett's book on the subject.  Life changing for my daughter who had bottle aversion coming out of the NICU.  Bennett's book has a specific plan for overcoming the aversion and it really works.  Feel free to DM me for more details and guidance.  

    Jan 5, 2022

    Hi there, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. My little one is turning 1 this week. He and his older sister (3) suffered a lot from reflux. Unfortunatley, we didn't get any good guidance for my daughter and just dealt with it for months and months. For my son, we were directed to a craniosacral nurse who transformed our baby's quality of life.

    How? She diagnosed him with a severe tongue and lip tie and we were referred to a specialist and that doctor released the tongue tie (if this is the case it must be done before 6 months of age)  The reflux was reduced by 85%. His comfort levels, breathing, choking all shifted. I can't emphasize enough how much I understand this is so hard to watch your newborn go through. If you can connect with Holly, she will assist you. Wishing you ALL THE BEST. 

    in community, 

    Amel 

    Holly Edson MSN APRN FNP-BC CST
    Family Nurse Practitioner
    Craniosacral and visceral bodywork for all ages.TummyTime!™ Method
    Pronouns: she/her/hers
    sfcranio.com

    craniosacralnurse [at] gmail.com

    Jan 5, 2022

    Consider getting evaluated for lip and tongue tie at East Bay Lactation Associates or Happy Milk or another lactation consultant. Kylie Walsh Osteopath and Grow Faiy Acupuncture are other resources, as is Cranial Sacral Therapist Andrea Byers.

    Jan 5, 2022

    Flow Chiropractic! https://berkeleyflow.com

    I have been going to see Dr. Ariel for years through both pregnancies. Just dealing now with some things I want her to look at with my 7.5 month old baby and she is so knowledgeable and very wise and helpful. Good luck!

    Jan 12, 2022

  • Integrative Medicine Practitioner Recommendation - Mom w/ Anxiety

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    Dec 13, 2021

    I'm a 40 ish year old mom of a 1 1/2 year old and I'm curious about any integrative medicine practitioners that anyone has used for anxiety. I'm looking for a practitioner that has more of a holistic approach. Preferably someone who works online with telemedicine.

    Any suggestions would be most welcome.

    Thank you!

    Dec 13, 2021

    Hi! I highly recommend Montserrat Corsino. She practices acupuncture and functional medicine and is located in Albany on Solano. I’ve been seeing her for years. I am a mother of two boys, 11 and 6 years old and struggled with severe anxiety and depression. Seeing Montserrat has truly life changed my life, I feel like I am thriving again and have my health back. I have recommended other mom friends to her for the same reasons and they are now being supported by her too!

    Montserrat Corsino L.Ac.

    (510) 698-2591

    Acumontserrat [at] gmail.com

    montserratcorsinolac.com

    acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, lifestyle wellness

    Dec 16, 2021

  • Looking for Alternatives

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    Aug 28, 2020

    I have been experiencing total body responses to most food.  This started suddenly and has been getting worse over two months.  Western medicine MDs have done lots of tests - no diagnosis, no remedies.  I am looking for recommendations for alternative practice providers - Naturopathic, Chinese Medicine, etc.  Please, if you have ideas for me or have experienced similar reactions (joint swelling/pain, airway constriction, etc.) I would love to hear from you.  I am currently limited to approx 10 foods.  Thank you

    Aug 28, 2020

    I found that the Naturopaths at Berkeley Naturopathic were extremely knowledgeable about a similar issue.

    Sep 2, 2020

    Hi, I highly recommend Eva Whitmore at Balance Chiropractics in Oakland. She does applied kinesiology energy & nutrition testing. She is amazing, will have your body answering the question of "what is wrong" with pure undeniable physical proof. She has helped me immensely over the past 3 years where western med failed. 

    Sep 2, 2020

    I’m definitely not a doctor, but your symptoms sound familiar. You might want to look into autoimmune disorders, specifically about mast cells. There’s a Facebook group on histamine and salicylate reactions. Rather than food allergies, it’s the histamines and salicylates in foods that can cause the immune system to react with hives, airway constriction, fatigue, etc.

    Sep 2, 2020

    Hi, I am in a very similar boat and have a whole lot of feelings and thoughts and hopefully helpful referrals. First off, I know how incredibly tough this situation is, and scary - especially on top of a pandemic!

    The most helpful person I can recommend in alternative medicine in the area is Rachel Alkire at Grow Acupuncture. I cannot say enough positive things about her. She won't be able to figure out everything that ails you but her acupuncture treatments have offered me a lot of pain relief and improvement in symptoms. She also has a great network of referrals and folks she can recommend, as well as supplements and tinctures.

    I have heard great things about the folks at California Functional Medicine up in Kensington. My cousin saw them for similar symptoms and they really took her on as a case and worked with her to do the sleuthing that modern medicine didn't do/wasn't able to do. I am currently working on becoming a patient. I would strongly recommend getting a Functional MD like one of them, as that has been a major gap for me.

    I have also been working with two nutritionists - one specializes more in some of the things I have going on but is great overall (Stacy Roy); the other offers meal plans and recipes based on the recommended protocol (Jessie Black). They have both been very helpful.

    I also have been seeing a physical therapist, which has helped me feel empowered and have exercises I can do to help. I can't speak highly enough of her. She was actually the person who first noticed my joints were swollen. Her name is Romy Havard at Peregrine PT. She was a referral from Rachel as a matter of fact. Like I said, Rachel's referrals are golden.

    I would guess you have a lot of leads and tricks, but I'm currently doing a SIBO and low-histamine protocol combined. It essentially boils down to about 20 foods and is incredibly restrictive but I am starting to feel better. The benefit of doing it with a nutritionist (or MD) is they can run tests to actually figure out the underlying issue, treat it, and add foods back in (or so I hear...I'm looking forward to doing that at some point soon!) That way you're not on a restrictive diet with no end in sight - and you're less likely to grow additional intolerances.

    I also started finding all the endless cooking to meet my calorie requirements exhausting (I also have an infant so lots going on), so we are looking into the Heirloom Chef, which provides cooked meals according to specific autoimmune protocol. Not financially accessible to all but may be worth considering for a short period as you figure everything out. This was actually a referral from Rachel as well :)

    I've found that the MySymptoms app is hugely helpful for detailed tracking of foods and symptoms (including customizable symptoms)
    It's the best app I've found, including by asking my nutritionists. It makes suggestions of what might be causing symptoms based on the data you provide (data they also are especially careful with, which I appreciate).

    I'm running out of space but would be happy to keep the conversation going. My cousin when I spoke with her said the most helpful thing to me, along the lines of, I believe you. And it's really hard. And you will feel better one day!

    Along those lines she shared a blog of recovery stories. https://autoimmunewellness.com/category/articles-2/stories-of-recovery/

    In solidarity,
    Helen

    Sep 2, 2020

  • Holistic healthcare providers for PMDD

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    Mar 5, 2019

    Hello, 

    I'm slowly realizing that what has previously been diagnosed as anxiety/depression might actually be premenstrual dsyphoric disorder (PMDD). I talked with my Kaiser doctor and psychiatrist about it and they didn't have much to offer other than hormonal birth control or a SSRI. I'd like to explore more holistic approaches, such as acupuncture, herbs, specific exercise or diets, as well as social support from other women/parents who struggle with this. Any leads welcome, or personal messages if you have experience navigating this. Thanks! 

    Mar 5, 2019

    Jamie Miller, L.Ac. specializes in treating anxiety and depression with traditional Chinese medicine and is experienced in treating women’s health issues.

    I find her to be a great ally on my quest to achieve and maintain health.

    Jamie's needling, massage, other treatments and interactions with me reflect her passion for healing.

    She is mellow, an attentive listener, and a skillful communicator. She willingly shares her vast knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine.

    Jamie is an amazing acupunturist and all-around healer!

    Her coordinates follow.

    Cell : (831) 331-5598

    Email : Jamiemilleracupuncture [at] gmail.com

    Website : Opaldragonacu.com

    Mar 8, 2019

  • Seeking Functional Medicine MD

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    Jan 15, 2018

    Hello!

    I am looking for recommendations for a Functional Medicine MD in the east bay to treat low energy/fatigue, very difficult PMS, depression and anxiety.

    Thank you,

    Brooke

    Jan 15, 2018

    Hi, Winnie- I recommend Dr. Aparna Dandekar.  She is knowledgeable in both Western and Ayurvedic medicine and is based in north Berkeley.  She also makes house calls.  She works part time in a traditional primary care practice in the East Bay, and as an urgent care physician at Cal. But she sets aside the rest of her time to apply her combined skill set in her own private practice. She has been working successfully with a close friend of mine who has various longstanding issues and he's very happy with his improved health.  I worked with her to improve my overall well being, mostly through dietary changes.  She's also super nice and has a good (while appropriate) sense of humor.  Her contact info is below:

     threeriversayurveda.com. 510-423-4253

    Jan 18, 2018

    I recommend Dr. Sarah Ferguson in Lafayette - I saw her a few years ago for low energy/fatigue and perimenopause symptoms and found her to be thorough and caring. After a thorough evaluation, and blood and saliva testing, she prescribed a series of supplements that have been very helpful to me.  We self-pay for insurance or else I would definitely see her on an ongoing basis. Her office manager is also very efficient and helpful, office is warm and welcoming. Good luck!

    Jan 19, 2018

  • Good Holistic Doctor?

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    Nov 5, 2017

     I am trying to help my friend find a good holistic doctor in the Berkeley area. Any leads/ information  would be appreciated. 

    Nov 5, 2017

    Marcel Shapiro MD 510 525-2200

    Nov 8, 2017

  • Heavy metal hair testing for two year old

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    Apr 11, 2017

    We are investigating some persistent health concerns and temperament issues with my younger daughter, and our practitioner has suggested doing some heavy metal testing (using hair analysis, rather than the more accurate urine). I am wondering if others have undertaken this with such a young child, and if so, what it has shown and how they have addressed any deficiencies, excesses, imbalances, or disregulation that has shown up. I am a fan of alternative modalities, and use homeopathy, acupuncture, et al. frequently, but have never gone this route in particular. Thank you.

    Apr 11, 2017

    Hi,  I have used Dr Roy Dittman & his wife Allison for heavy metal hair analysis.  He's based in S. California, but I worked with him via phone & email.  He's an incredible wealth of knowledge and works with women who are trying to get pregnant and families who's children are struggling with the kind of issues your daughter is.  His email is roydittman [at] gmail.com and his website is called The Brighton Baby Method.  http://brightonbaby.com/index.html.  He's also coming out with a book that is for healthy children, but this is the first of the series on pre conception and perinatal health.

    Apr 13, 2017

    Hair analysis is completely unreliable as an indicator of heavy metals in the rest of the body and has been discounted numerous times over the years. It's just a way to separate you from your money.  

    A few reputable references:

    Apr 18, 2017

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