Functional Medicine

Women and Hormones

Women feel their best when their hormones are in a state of balance.

This is true at any age and points in their development ranging from puberty, to the menstrual years, to perimenopause (which can encompass up to 10 years before the final period), menopause and post menopause.

Functional Medicine providers are uniquely equipped to help bring women back into balance because of their deep understanding of the role of multiple systems that are involved with creating balance. We are versed in the role of nutrition in creating hormone balance, not just for mental effects of poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, the role of environmental toxins and chemical toxicity in the body and its effect on hormones, stress and its impact on adrenal health and even the importance of having balanced gut flora and a fully operational liver.

We hear frequently from our patients that their hormone levels tested “normal” even though they had significant hormone imbalances. We partner with Precision Analytical Labs for next-level hormone testing that by far outpaces testing you had done before to give you a complete view of your hormonal balance. 

This broader view brings more intelligence to approaching conditions such as:

• Amenorrhea (the absence of periods)
• Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
• Ovarian cysts
• PMS
• PMDD (a much more severe form of PMS)
• Acne
• Irregular Cycles
• Hormonal headaches and migraines
• Infertility
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Heavy bleeding
• Breast cysts and tenderness
• Hormonal mood swings
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginitis and infections
• Chronic candida

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, lack of energy, or motivation. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Hypothyroidism:This is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone helps to regulate metabolism, energy levels, and other bodily functions.
• Lack of sleep or proper sleep:Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep per night. When you don’t get enough sleep, or when your sleep is disrupted, you can experience fatigue.
• Anemia:This is a condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues of the body. When you have anemia, your tissues don’t get enough oxygen, which can cause fatigue.
• Vitamin deficiencies:Certain vitamins, such as iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, are essential for energy production. If you are deficient in any of these vitamins, you may experience fatigue.
• Overt or covert infection:An infection can cause fatigue, even if you don’t have any other symptoms.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFIDS/ME):This is a complex medical condition that is characterized by severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest.
• Lack of good nutrition:Eating a healthy diet is essential for energy levels. If you don’t eat enough calories, or if you don’t eat a variety of nutritious foods, you may experience fatigue.
• Adrenal fatigue:This is a term used to describe a condition in which the adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help the body to respond to stress. If you have adrenal fatigue, you may experience fatigue, as well as other symptoms such as stress intolerance, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain.
• Hormonal imbalances:Hormonal imbalances can cause fatigue, especially in women. For example, fatigue is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause, and thyroid problems.
• Depression:Depression is a mental health condition that can cause fatigue, as well as other symptoms such as sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating.

Chronic Viral Infections: These stealth infections like chronic Epstein Barr infections and Long Covid rob the body’s ability to restore and renew and have been clinically linked to conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. We specialize in finding and addressing these infections in a natural and gentle method.

Heal your

GUT

and get back to living…

Has your life been “on hold” because of debilitating GI issues like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, food sensitivities, IBS, IBD, SIBO, or other gut-related problems?

Has your search for answers to your gut issues been unsuccessful?

From food sensitivity testing, to gastroparesis, to leaky gut repair, we have you covered! We use a multidisciplinary approach to the problem and use both stool testing and other lab tests to figure out what the root cause of your problem is. We will give you a comprehensive treatment plan that consists of herbs, supplements, nutritional guidance and food planning. No more guessing, no harsh medications!

Adrenals

Adrenals are small (about the size of walnuts) paired organs that sit on the kidneys and provide some crucial hormones that are necessary for the healthy functioning of the body.

Those hormones include epinephrine and norepinephrine, cortisol, back up sex hormones (pregnenolone, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA) and aldosterone).

Nor-epinephrine and Epinephrine

Nor-ephinephrine and epinephrine known collectively as adrenaline – represent not only your fight or flight hormones, but also act as neurotransmitters in the brain. Levels too high look like anxiety and panic and levels too low look like lack of willpower and depression. These hormones are also important to balance.

Cortisol

Cortisol is needed to raise blood sugar levels when too low, provide energy and stamina and is your body’s natural cortisone, working as an anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory agent. Too high or too low cortisol levels are problematic and can cause disease states and in balance in the body.

Aldosterone

This hormone controls water and sodium balance in the body which is important in determining blood volume (by controlling how much liquid is in our circulatory system) thereby controlling an important aspect of maintaining a normal blood pressure.

Adrenal glands can grow into a depleted and weakened state and may go through stages of over and under production of adrenal hormones. Low levels of cortisol can cause fatigue, manifestations of allergies and inflammations, joint pains, tendon inflammation, and hypoglycemia. Low levels of sex hormones can cause hormonal imbalances, worsening menopausal symptoms, low libido, poor stamina, etc. Low aldosterone can show up as the inability to maintain sodium and water balance, urinating too often, low blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension (or “head rushes” when moving from lying down or bending over and getting up quickly).

High levels of cortisol are associated with putting on belly fat, insomnia (especially if the spike is at night), high blood sugars, possibly high blood pressure. Excessive hormones wreak their own havoc. High aldosterone can raise blood pressure and water retention.

Suffice it to say, adrenal hormone imbalances can really wreak havoc on health.

Our team at Better Body Health know how to accurately assess adrenal hormones and have a plethora of natural strategies to heal and restore adrenal health. This can take several months to turn this all around, but it is well worth the effort.

Renewed energy and vitality, mental and emotional balance restored, everything working well together once again, our patients are very grateful that their health problems have been identified and they are feeling well and whole again.

Thyroid

Many of our patients, tired of their past medical practitioners only doing the bare minimum tests for thyroid health and offering a cookie-cutter approach to treatment that may not be working for them, come to our clinic for expert advice and individualized treatment for hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Grave’s Disease and Hashimoto’s.

We offer many avenues and formulations, based on your particular needs.

Are you tired? Dry skin? Hair shedding? Do you have cold hands and cold feet? Are you depressed and either sleep too much or can’t sleep?  Do you have a family history of hypothyroidism?

You may need help with your sluggish thyroid and/or adrenal issues.

Do you feel like your body temperature is turned up or you cannot stand an extreme of temperature? Do you feel weak? Do your hands shake? Are your bowels loose? Are you experiencing heart palpitations? Insomnia? Extreme anxiety and nervousness? Then your thyroid may be hyperactive (hyperthyroid).

Do you have some of both categories of symptoms (expressing hyper and hot symptoms simultaneously? No, you are not crazy, but clearly there is an imbalance in your thyroid hormones! But don’t dismay! We are very skilled at treating complex thyroid cases with great outcomes.

Dr. Hannelie will assess your thyroid by using complete testing protocols to enable the development of a plan to meet your specific needs. We think outside the box and have helped many people with thyroid challenges so they can feel good again.

Did you know that many thyroid conditions can go undiagnosed?

Most physicians only test for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone released by the pituitary gland), when they should also be testing for active levels of the T4 and T3, thyroid antibodies and in some cases reverse T3, iodine levels and thyroid antibodies.

Could Mold Toxicity be the cause of your symptoms?

Have you “not felt great” since “that one time…” or “since you moved into that house/office”?  Do you have a variety of unexplained symptoms?

Mold in Fayetteville? Yes, unfortunately our warm moist summers produce quite a bit of mold.   In this wet and warm climate, we need to think about moisture problems and often buildings do not get serviced for water prevention.

What symptoms could you experience?

Depending on the length and severity of exposure, mold can cause a range of issues: from mild allergies and respiratory symptoms all the way to debilitating chronic fatigue and some cancers. Often when the common solution to a health ailment is not responding, we will check for underlying/hidden causes.  Mold has been the culprit in about 40% of my ‘mysterious illness’ cases.

Symptoms may include but are not limited to:

• Frequent colds
• Persistent cough or asthma
• Sinus issues
• Foggy brain, trouble concentrating, poor memory
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Allergic reactivity and hypersensitivity to ‘benign’ substances
• Headaches
• Vision disturbances
• Fatigue and muscle weakness
• Gastrointestinal dysfunction
• Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet
• Sensitivity to light
• Appetite variations with weight loss or gain
• Muscle cramps
• Joint pain
• Hair loss
• Endocrine /hormonal/thyroid imbalances

Food Sensitivity Test Panels

A sensitivity, or delayed reaction, can occur days after an exposure. Food sensitivities may arise anytime throughout one’s life, and can be exacerbated by many factors, including stress. They may result from repetitive eating, lack of diversity in the diet, emotional or physical stress, reduced oral tolerance, and acute or chronic conditions.

Symptoms of Food Sensitivities

Headache

Attention disorders

Fatigue

Nausea

Skin disorders: eczema, hives, acne, psoriasis

Stomachache

Bloating

Acid reflux

Systemic inflammation

Constipation or diarrhea

Joint pain

Brain fog

Unexplained weight loss or gain

Difficulty in concentrating

Irritable bowels

Behavioral issues

Lyme Disease

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection typically caused by ticks, which are small arachnids that feed on the blood of birds, mammals, and sometimes reptiles or amphibians. Unlike insects, arachnids have two body segments, eight legs, and no wings. They also can’t chew.

Several factors can increase your risk of Lyme disease, including:

• Spending time in grassy or wooded areas
• Having bare skin in areas with ticks
• Removing ticks improperly or after they’re attached for 36-48 hours

There are several types of tick-borne illnesses, but Lyme disease is the most common and comes from infected deer ticks or black-legged ticks.

What are the signs of Lyme disease?

The earliest signs of Lyme disease include a small, red bump at the bite site followed by a rash that develops 3-30 days after infection. A Lyme disease rash sometimes develops a bullseye pattern and can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. These rashes usually don’t itch, but may feel warm when touched.

In addition to a rash, you might also experience:

• Fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Body ache
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Neck stiffness

When left untreated, you can develop additional symptoms, including severe joint pain and swelling, abnormal heartbeat, neurological problems, and rashes on other parts of your body.

How is Lyme disease diagnosed and treated?

To diagnose Lyme disease, Dr. Hannelie performs a thorough history to make sure the right test is ordered. We use IgeneX testing (considered the gold standard) and will also test for other tick borne diseases such as Bartonella and Babesia infections. Testing can take up to three weeks to get all results. Once we get an accurate picture we will continue to the treatment phase which will consist of chelation and herbal, and homeopathic treatments.

What if I have Post-Treatment Lyme disease Syndrome?

We specialize in cases where patients have been treated (usually by antibiotics) by their family doctor but have persistent pain, fatigue or brain fog. This is a common phenomena that we have seen more of since Covid. We hear you!

Tick Bite Induced Meat Allergy

Alpha-Gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals that has been in on a huge surge in Northwest Arkansas. In the United States, the condition is most often caused by a Lone Star tick bite but we are seeing a lot of local infections after chigger bites. The bite transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-Gal into the person’s body. In some people, this triggers an immune system reaction that later produces mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork, or lamb.  Symptom onset can be delayed 3 to 6 hours or more after consuming red meat.

We have seen our level of cases quadruple over the past year locally and while this allergy used to be rare it is now very commonplace in Fayetteville.

The time delay between eating red meat, and developing an allergic reaction, is one reason the condition was overlooked until recently. A possible connection between a T-bone steak with dinner and hives at midnight was far from obvious.  Researchers now believe that some people who have frequent, unexplained anaphylactic reactions — and who test negative for other food allergies — may be affected by alpha-Gal syndrome. Other symptoms experienced may be GI upset and dizziness or low blood pressure.

Out test is quick, inexpensive and will give you definitive answers.

Bredesen-Protocol Strategies to improve brain health and reverse cognitive decline

At Better Body Health, we believe that there is no more important component of your overall health than brain health.  Yet, before much of the emerging research that is being presented today, not much has been known about how to promote brain health and in particular how to lower risk for dementia/alzheimer’s and how to stabilize it for patients that already have early signs and symptoms through effective dementia treatment. 

For perspective, according to the CDC, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is present in 50% of patients in nursing homes, causes more than 110,000 deaths in the US per year and was the 6^th leading cause of death overall based on 2015 data. AD affects over 5 million people in the US alone.  Some recent data suggests that the problem is getting worse based on early data from 2016 and 2017.

If we look beyond the United States, dementia is fast becoming one of the world’s most burdensome illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently around 47 million people across the globe living with dementia, and this number is expected to reach 75 million by 2030, and 132 million by 2050.  AD is the most common form of dementia, accounting for around 60 to 80 percent of all cases.

Alzheimers Disease Symptoms

Take our quick assessment. Or, if you are a concerned observer, answer from your observations of their behavior. If you or the observed person have more than 1 of the listed symptoms above, a cognitive evaluation is in order.

Signs and symptoms of AD are not normal signs of aging. If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to make an appointment as possible because AD worsens over time.

Once a person has noticeable symptoms, they are in the later stages of cognitive decline. AD has an initial “silent phase,” where brain degeneration is occurring but these changes are not detectable using objective tests. Patients may, however, notice slight memory and cognitive changes.

We combine lab testing with gene testing and then take a lifestyle and nutritional approach to the problem, working closely with you and your loved ones to slow the problem as much as we can so you can focus on what is important – living!