Natural Harmony Reproductive Health

April is National Infertility Awareness Month - https://mailchi.mp//free-telemedicine-consults-resources-a

Endometriosis Awareness & Women's History Month - https://mailchi.mp//free-telemedicine-consults-resources-a

Happy February! We're moving... downstairs! - https://mailchi.mp//free-telemedicine-consults-resources-a

I’m excited to share that our clinic will be expanding into a larger space this spring, which means WE’RE HIRING! . About us: Our integrative reproductive healt...h clinic is seeking to hire a licensed acupuncturist to join our AWESOME team. Our practice specializes in holistic reproductive health and fertility. As an integrative clinic, we use a myriad of tools to support our patients including acupuncture, herbal and nutraceutical medicine, lab testing, nutrition therapy and lifestyle support. . We are a group practice who enjoys working + growing together to ensure that both our providers and our patients are thriving... and we have the *best* patients. . About you: We are looking for someone who is genuinely excited about integrative reproductive health (we’re nerds over here ), who works + plays well with others, has a compassionate and collaborative spirit and a strong drive to learn and grow (as there is *always* something new to learn in this medicine). . Details: * About 25 hours/week (3-4 days/week), with room to grow at least one weekend day required * Preference given to those with a background in women’s health, fertility and integrative/functional medicine (or who have a strong drive and willingness to learn training provided for the right candidate) * This is an employee position (as opposed to an independent contractor). Show up, see patients, go home easy * Competitive wages based on experience * Retirement package offered (even for part time employees) * Monthly clinical trainings to encourage ongoing learning and growth * Partial annual CEU coverage ($) * In short: we invest in our team and we want you to love working here as much as we do! . Please send your resume and an informal cover letter (give us a sense of YOU and why you’d be a great fit!) to [email protected] . We can’t wait to meet you! . Dr. Merritt and the Natural Harmony Team. Learn more about us at https://naturalharmonyhealth.com/natural-fertility/. . *Side note, we’ll also be looking for a part time assistant to support our office manager in her growing role coming soon! See more

Resveratrol for endo + fertility . One of the most frustrating (infuriating?) things about endo is how it can negatively impact fertility. The inflammation, hormone receptor variances and abnormal tissue growth seen with endo can lead to some major fertility drama, even when everything looks fine on paper (I’m talking to you, the endo patient who has had the excision surgery, the HSG, endometrial biopsy, a bajillion vials of blood work, etc). It can be downright crazy mak...ing to hear that everything looks normal, and yet, here you are not pregnant. . In cases like this, often there are more subtle chronic inflammatory issues going on things that don’t show up in imaging or on most standard labs. This is where digging a little deeper for answers, and augmenting with strategic supplementation, nutrition therapy and other interventions to reduce inflammation and support blood flow like acupuncture and abdominal massage may be helpful. . Resveratrol is one of my favorite supplements for endo and fertility because, in simply terms, it kicks butt for reducing inflammation and promoting healthy blood flow. . The magic in resveratrol is owed to a type of polyphenol most famously found in the skin of red grapes. It has consistently demonstrated significant benefit as an antineoplastic (anti-cancer), anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic (anti-growth of new blood vessels) agent. Those last two functions are of particular interest for anyone with endo, as there are two of the major issues were often face. . In fact, a recent study highlighted how resveratrol, given at 400mg for 12-14 weeks may optimize the uterine lining for implantation, particularly for folks with endo. Pretty cool. . Have your tried resveratrol? What did you think? . PMID: 33387724 See more

Happy New Year! Got up for a sunrise hike with a sweet friend this morning to start this year off with a full heart. Wishing each and everyone of you a year of joy and hugs and awesome periods. #2021 #hny #periods

Curious about integrative reproductive health, acupuncture, nutrition therapy and more? Our doctors are here for you!

We're Hosting a Food Drive! Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today. Amy Leigh Mercree... We're hosting a food drive & we would really love your help! There will be a large red bin in our front office & our ultimate goal is to fill it up with non-perishable food items for San Diego families in need by our pickup day, December 22nd. Each bin holds two hundred pounds of food, which can feed so many people! And, in order to make it even easier, we're hosting a virtual food drive as well; this way you can spread the word to those who we haven't quite had the pleasure of meeting yet. Please feel free to participate as much & as often as you'd like- there's no such thing as being too helpful to families who need it the most! Anything helps, but we have provided a list of items that are most needed. And, if you'd like to participate virtually, just click on the link below. Thank you in advance for your generosity! The Most Needed Food Items Are: Dry & Canned Beans Canned Chicken + Tuna Cereal Rice Nuts & Seeds Peanut Butter Canned Soup Canned & Dried Fruit Canned Vegetables Powdered Milk Infant Formula Note: We are unable to accept glass jars or homemade food products at this time. https://www.fooddriveonline.org/sandiegofood/NaturalHarmony

Happy Holidays from Natural Harmony - https://mailchi.mp//free-telemedicine-consults-resources-a

November is here! Bring on the holidays! - https://mailchi.mp//free-telemedicine-consults-resources-a

Test, don’t guess: Endo + Nutrient Deficiencies . This is a micronutrient panel for an endo patient I’m currently working with. The results seen here are similar to what I find in many of my endo patients deficiency in key antioxidants (inflammation fighting superheroes) like vitamin C and ALA and nutrients like B-vitamins and magnesium, essential for normal + healthy cellular function. . I’m a big fan of testing when possible, so that we can make informed decisions aro...und nutrition and supplementation strategy. . It’s common for folks with endo to be lower than the average person in a variety of nutrients. The ones I most typically see run low in endo patients include: B Vitamins Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Vitamin D Magnesium . There are a multitude of reasons why someone might be deficient in these key nutrients. Nutrient absorption, poor diet and/or chronic inflammation (which can essentially burn up your antioxidant reserves) are at the top of the list. . Food therapy is a wonderful way to replete these nutrient reserves, and a perfect place to start focusing on whole, unprocessed and diverse foods can go a long way. . However, if you’re already eating a nutrient dense diet and are still coming up deficient in these nutrients, it’s time to dig a little deeper. How is your digestion? Are you able to actually break down and use the food you’re consuming? If not, why? . This is why I love my job! I get to play detective with my patients, helping them figure out what’s at the root of their issues. See more

Talk nerdy to me. . 142 studies and counting. @heal.endo and I are in the process of organizing all of the studies we’ve cited for our new endo book, Endo, A New Way. In the last year, we’ve spend more hours than we can count combing through literally *hundreds* of studies relating to endo and its associated symptoms, and babes it’s about to get nerdy in here. . While it’s true that research for endo, when compared to other diseases, is grossly underfunded, there *are*... actually some really great smaller studies out there. And hopefully, as these smaller studies start to bring new understandings to the community, larger studies will begin to surface. . Reading all of these studies has made it more apparent than ever to me that while there’s a whole lot that we as a community *DO* understand about endo, there’s also still so much to learn. . This is why I believe it is so critically important that providers and patients alike remain open minded and flexible when considering new ideas around endo. Things are changing fast, and it often takes *years* for newest research to find its way into your doctors office. Truly, what we understand about endo now may change completely next year as new info comes out. . This is exciting, and inspires so much hope in me! We are making progress on our understanding of this disease and the more we know, the better we can combat it successfully. See more

Confused about what to eat for endo? You’re not alone. . I get DMs in my inbox on the daily asking (or telling) about dairy, meat, gluten, the elimination diet, the keto diet, if they should go vegan etc. . With so much information flying around out there, and so many folks *sure* their way is the right way how the heck are you supposed to know what to eat?... . The truth is, endo is complex. Eating, although simple in theory, is not always so easy when you’re living in constant fear of what might trigger an episode of pain for you, or what might cause your belly to blow up like a balloon. . It’s true that nutrition can hugely impact endo, and there *are* a few key tenants that I tend to recommend to nearly all my endo patients (ie: eat more produce, try to avoid vegetable oils, be mindful of where your food comes from, etc). Generally speaking though, there really, truly is no one-size-fits all diet for endo. . One person may thrive eating raw dairy every day, while another can’t come within 6 feet of it without triggering a flare. The same goes for just about all foods. Because there are *multiple* reasons that a person may be reactive to a food. Sometimes you just need to heal and seal the gut. Sometimes, you cells are just starving for nutrients, or maybe you’re stuck on the blood sugar rollercoaster and need a diet strategy to rebalance things. Whatever the case, your needs are unique, and must be approached as such. . Have you faced confusion around this topic? Let’s talk about it. See more