Dr. Bryant Esquejo, Naturopathic Doctor

GUT-HORMONE AXIS // I got this message from a patient who has been expericing IBS & hormone imbalance. Many times, when I’ve supported healthy gut function with naturopathic treatments, symptoms of hormone imbalance get better. Why? It is because the gut (and the microbiome) is how hormones are processed and eliminated out of the body. With this case, I mainly focused on gut health to reduce symptoms of IBS (gas, bloating, loose stools), hormone imbalance (yeast infections,... irregular cycles, heavy bleeding), and fatigue. For work up, testing I did involved: Baseline blood work: To assess root causes for fatigue and how to optimize foundational health and wellness. RESULTS: low iron Comprehensive stool analysis: To assess gut function, gut inflammation, and gut microbiome imbalance. RESULTS: microbiome imbalance with high beta-glucuronidase Food allergy testing: I usually do the 6-food elimination diet, but since the patient is vegan and wanted more-targeted elimination, we did a food allergy panel. RESULTS: Positive findings for lentils, Lima beans, peas, and soy. From those results, personalized treatment included: Diet: Elimination diet with the results from the food allergy panel & increasing food-based fiber intake to increase anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids in the gut Mineral supplementation: Targeted iron supplementation for low iron Microbiome balancing: Targeted herbal treatment. TAKEAWAY: The gut can sometimes be a root cause in some hormone and vaginal symptoms, and if you are experiencing gut issues & hormone imbalance, seek out care from a licensed naturopathic doctor for integrative medical treatment #livenaturopathically #licensedND #NDhealth See more

INFLAMMATION // The term inflammation is tossed around like no other. And, when people are asked what inflammation really is, most don’t know. Inflammation is an immune signaling process that brings in various immune cells to: 1Protect the body against injury and infection 2Signal cells to heal and repair damaged tissue So, inflammation can be due to various things, more than just infection and injury, such as:... Food intolerance/incompatible diet Physical and emotional stress Lack of sleep Chemical exposures (solvents, heavy metals, smoking, etc.) Suboptimal detoxification pathways Nutrient deficiency Microbiome imbalance Hormone imbalance High blood sugar And much more Inflammation is all about balance! Sometimes inflammation can be a *good* thing and sometimes it can be a *bad* thing. At balanced levels, it can protect the body and promote healing. At chronically imbalanced levels, it can lead to tissue damage and suboptimal health and wellness, with common general symptoms being: 1Body pain, joint pain, muscle pain 2Chronic fatigue and insomnia 3Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders 4Constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux 5Weight gain or weight loss 6Frequent infections PMID: 29630225 Chronic inflammation can also lead to a variety of complications that can involve heart health, and much more. So, if you are experiencing symptoms such as those above, make sure to speak to your trusted naturopathic/functional/integrative doctor to get the best root cause treatment! #livenaturopathically #licensedND #NDhealth See more

DETOX FAQ // Here were some common questions you guys have been asking me: 1Why is it important? Detoxification of things absorbed by the body and things made in the body is necessary since it puts the body in biochemical balance (aka homeostasis). Anything that teeters the careful balance could lead to disease and pathology. ... 2Doesn’t the body naturally detox itself? Yes, it does! I aim to support your own body’s channels of detox (aka emunctories), which are the liver, kidneys, lungs, gut, and skin. There could be some biochemical pathways in the liver that are inhibited (such as MTHFR, COMT, and more), and could be supported with activated nutrients, minerals, and herbs. 3What are some conditions from improper detox? As said before, keeping a balance of things absorbed by the body and things made in the body is necessary for optimal function. Some things that could be absorbed by the body are heavy metals & hormone-disrupting chemicals. Some things made in the body are hormones & chemicals from infections. Heavy metals could lead to cognitive and neurological deficits. Hormone-disrupting chemicals from plastics, pesticides, and personal care products can cause defects in fertility, menstruation, and sperm quality. Some of these chemicals have also been related to certain types of cancers. Excess hormones made in the body (aka hormone imbalance) can lead to very painful periods, long period cycles, irregular periods, and much more. And finally, toxins made from infections can cause a variety of issues with the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating), chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and in worse cases, shock (fever, low blood pressure, rash, skin peeling). 4How do you detox? It’s all about supporting the body’s natural detox processes first to reduce the body’s toxin load. That can be done with diet, lifestyle (exercise & sauna), vitamin and mineral supplementation, and herbs. In addition to that, reducing exposure to toxins is necessary. So, identifying the source will be vital and also identifying any aggravating sources will be necessary. #livenaturopathically See more

OPEN // As we continue to adjust our daily lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to share an update on how the clinic is responding. During these strange and uncertain times, we are dedicated to maintaining our commitment to our community by staying open to support and enrich the Silver Lake’s health and wellness. To that end, I wanted to outline the adjustments and protocols we’re making at the clinic to ensure your and our health and safety: SCREENING PROCEDURE: ...Scheduled patients will be called 1 week before and 1 day before for COVID-19 symptoms screening. Patients will also be asked the same questions on the same day as well as their temperature taken as a part of our screening procedure. Any patients with symptoms will be recommended to quarantine and schedule a telemedicine visit or reschedule in 2 weeks if an in-person visit is necessary. Healthcare providers are to self-monitor for symptoms, and if they do experience symptoms, they are to quarantine for 14 days. BARRIER PROTECTION: All patients and providers will wear face coverings during their time in the clinic. If a patient comes in without a face covering, one will be provided to them. All patients are to sit on the provided paper coverings on couches and chairs. HEIGHTENED STERILIZATION: Patients are recommended to either wash their hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds OR use the provided alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering the clinic. All provided paper coverings on seating will be disposed of after each use. All commonly-touched surfaces in the examination room will be sanitized with medical-grade disinfectant after each patient visit and after each day. STAGGERED WAIT TIMES: No walk-in appointments for the time being. Patients will be spaced out by 15 minutes to reduce patient-patient contact. If patients arrive early, they are to wait in their cars in our parking lot and to text the front desk before entering. We are hopeful that these heightened protocols will reassure you to feel safe and comfortable coming into the clinic during these times. And, we will keep you updated with any changes and continue to be open and transparent with our procedures. See more

GLUTATHIONE // Glutathione is vital antioxidant used in phase II detox to eliminate: Heavy metals Solvents Herbicides/pesticides Mold toxins... Salicylates Estrogen metabolites And, there are a variety of conditions where glutathione is depleted, such as: Autoimmune conditions Chronic infections (EBV, mold, etc.) Type II Diabetes Parkinson’s disease And much more The *best* way to get glutathione into your system is through IV treatments since it goes straight to your cells. Other methods to support glutathione levels beyond IV treatments: Liposomal glutathione Milk thistle seed Selenium: Supports glutathione regeneration in cells Turmeric N-acetyl L-cysteine To enhance IV glutathione, it is best preceded with an IV micronutrient drip composed of: B-vitamins (especially activated B6) Magnesium #livenaturopathically See more

http:// Messages like this from patients really makes my job as a licensed naturopathic doctor worthwhile! As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I provide patient-centered care that *should* be the standard for all of medicine. Patient-centered medical care entails *truly* listening to the patient to understand their health experience, their health goals, and their treatment preferences. As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am trained to provide non-toxic, natural care & conventio...nal, pharmaceutical care. Having this spectrum of natural to pharmaceutical allows for personalized treatment plans, and allows for the patient to feel reassured and comfortable with the choices they have. It is also my goal for patients to *understand* why they are experiencing the symptoms they have. A gratifying part of my job is educating patients since it empowers them to make the best choices for their health and wellness. And, patient empowerment is slowly becoming the norm in conventional medical settings. Some thought-provoking questions you might want to ask yourself concerning your current medical care: 1When was the last time you *truly* felt heard by your doctor? 2Did they make feel you comfortable with your treatment by explaining your options and explaining why they recommended the treatment they did? 3When was the last time your doctor made you feel empowered to make choices for your health and wellness? #livenaturopathically #licensedND #NDhealth See more

Hi all! I have some new followers, and I want to formally introduce myself. I am Dr. Bryant Esquejo, a California-licensed naturopathic doctor, practicing in the Silver Lake neighborhood in LA. As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am trained to provide integrative primary medical care, and in my practice, I focus on treating patients who experience: Gut issues: IBS, gas/bloating, constipation/diarrhea, heartburn, etc. Skin issues: Acne, eczema, rosacea, rashes, etc.... Hormone issues: Painful periods, irregular cycles, thyroid issues, difficult-to-lose weight, etc. Chronic fatigue Naturopathic medical care means integrative medical care, which all means evidence-based use of natural and conventional medical assessment, diagnosis, & treatment. Assessment & diagnosis can include: Multi-systems/holistic medical intake Physical examination Diagnostic lab testing Diagnostic imaging Integrative treatment can include: Therapeutic diet Lifestyle medicine Targeted vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplementation Herbal medicine IV and IM nutrient injections Regenerative injections (PRP, PRF, prolotherapy, peptides) Hormone replacement therapy Pharmaceutical therapy Minor surgery And more During these times of uncertainty & worry, I am continuing to support awareness of naturopathic medicine through social media. Many times, people are unaware of their treatment alternatives beyond pharmaceutical and surgical care. Ultimately, I want people to learn their alternatives and feel confident to speak to their doctors about the alternatives they want to take. For those living outside of Los Angeles and want to include a licensed naturopathic doctor into their health teams, I recommend that you go to the following accounts’ directories: @theaanp @institutefornaturalmedicine #livenaturopathically #licensedND #NDhealth See more

SKIN BASICS // I like to think of the skin as a window to a person’s internal health and wellness. In my practice, I like to combine various tools to help me understand root causes for acne, rashes, redness, etc. A lot of my foundational recommendations for patients center around building & supporting firm health foundations with little supplements as possible. Some of the common recommendations have involved: Diet: A whole-foods, plant-focused diet enriched with red and p...urple vegetables and fibrous fruits and vegetables can support overall health and wellness. Red and purple vegetables are rich in antioxidants to support internal and skin health, and food-based fiber can support gut health, which is vital to maintaining skin health. Note: You need to have adequate water intake with increased fiber intake or else you’ll get constipated. Lifestyle: Stress reduction strategies (sitting or walking meditation, journaling, breathing exercises, etc.) will support overall health and wellness and reduce stress-related hormone imbalance. Exercise: 30 minutes of moderately-intense exercise daily can increase blood and lymphatic circulation to support detoxification and overall heath and wellness. Herbal medicine: Milk thistle supports healthy liver function and detoxification pathways. Topical skincare routine: Some skincare products have acne-causing, hormone-imbalancing, and/or skin-irritating ingredients. I usually recommend that patients get topical skincare product recommendations with holistic, non-toxic estheticians that I trust. Most people find benefit when they combine personalized internal and topical skincare treatment since everybody’s skin and health journeys are unique. Personalized internal treatment can involve more in-depth recommendations for supplements, probiotics, herbal medicine, and IV nutrient therapies. Here are some LA-based estheticians who I trust and who you should reach out to: @emma.skinworship @the_organic_esthetician @natural_feeling_spa @jessi.esti @heydayskincare #livenaturopathically See more

http:// I got this message from a patient a few months back who originally came in for naturopathic treatment for endometriosis. Endometriosis is when there is estrogen-receptive endometrial tissue (which is usually found lining the interior of the uterus) outside of the uterus. Endometriosis can cause symptoms of: Severely painful cramping 1 week before menstruation, continuing into menstrual bleeding. Heavy menstrual cycles & menstrual clots larger than the size of a quarter.... Irregular menstrual cycles & bleeding in between menstrual periods. Pain with bowel movements. And more As a naturopathic doctor, I try to look at underlying issues that could be contributing to the patient’s symptoms, which can include: Diet: Identifying pro-inflammatory foods that could be contributing to the patient’s symptoms. Studies show that having a plant-focused diet can reduce severity of menstrual pain. Estrogen production: At times the patient can have suboptimal estrogen-progesterone balance, rooted in high androgens. High levels of androgens can sometimes be rooted in high adrenal production of DHEA, which can be due to stress. Estrogen detoxification: Estrogen is metabolized/detoxified via cytochrome, MTHFR, and glutathione. Then, these metabolites end up in the gut to get eliminated/excreted out of the body via poop. If there are any aberrations in metabolism and excretion, this can lead to build-up of estrogen and making symptoms worse. And more Beyond doing the regular blood work and imaging for endometriosis, these contributing factors can be worked-up with the following: DUTCH Test: To assess estrogen production, estrogen metabolism, and stress-related DHEA production Comprehensive stool analysis: To assess for dysbiosis that could be increasing gut beta-glucuronidase, which causes reabsorption of estrogen metabolites back into the blood stream. Depending on what the medical intake reveals and what work-up shows, the following can be prescribed for the patient’s treatment plan: Diet Lifestyle medicine Targeted vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplementation Herbal medicine and plant extracts IV nutrient therapy #livenaturopathically See more

METABOLIC SYNDROME // Metabolic syndrome is a preventable condition that is seeing close ties to COVID-19 complications. Metabolic syndrome is the combination of: Heart disease: high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, low good cholesterol (HDL) levels Diabetes: High blood sugar levels, insulin resistance Obesity ... Literature coming out of China showed that people with COVID-19 had the following coinciding conditions/co-morbidities: High blood pressure (14-22%) Diabetes (6-11%) Cardiovascular diseases (4-7%) Respiratory disease (1-3%) This study also showed patients with severe disease were: 2.36 times more like to have high blood pressure 2.46 times more likely to have respiratory disease 3.42 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease PMID: 32173574 A JAMA article on Italian COVID-19 mortalities revealed that patients had the following co-morbidities: Ischemic heart disease (30%) Diabetes (35.5%) Active cancer (20.3%) Atrial fibrillation (24.5%) History of stroke (9.6%) PMID: 32203977 Licensed naturopathic doctors are trained to provide evidence-based, holistic & integrative primary medical care, and are highly skilled in using various natural and pharmaceutical medications to treat and prevent metabolic syndrome. Naturopathic assessment (60-90 minutes) involves: In-depth medical intake that looks at biological/physiological health and psychological health Comprehensive lab ordering Personalized treatment plan composed of therapeutic nutrition; lifestyle medicine; targeted vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplementation; herbal medicine; IV micronutrient therapies; pharmaceutical treatment; and more. #licensedND #NDhealth #livenaturopathically See more

WORRY // During these uncertain and isolating times due to the global pandemic, conversations about mental health have been on the rise. Naturopathic medicine is holistic medical care that looks at health being composed of biological/physiological health, psychological health, and sociological health. And, I usually check-in with patients and have conversations about their mental wellbeing during visits with them. In recent conversations with patients experiencing heighte...ned anxiousness and worry, some common themes that arose were: 1Control: Many feel their points of control to maintain security & psychological wellbeing (called locus of control) drastically shifted with the pandemic. Common elements that reduced their locus of control involve media sensationalism & lack of trustworthy information for guidance; sanitation practices & doing enough; financial stability & maintaining basic necessities; and more. 2Adjusting to the new normal: Many have found difficulty adjusting to the new normal of heightened awareness of health and illness; staying in; finding new strategies to feel connected; and finding novel approaches to cope with new domestic stressors. 3Identity: Some find their identity with and attribute their value to their daily activities and occupation. And, some have spoken about how being busy and productive is important to them. During a time when we are told to stay in, keeping busy & staying still have been difficult for some, causing cognitive dissonance. Having these conversations about anxiousness and worry were eye-opening for patients, and helped patients develop new habits to build and maintain psychological well-being. If you have been experiencing heightened worry and anxiety, I urge you to have conversations with professionals or those you trust to help identify triggers; find new, healthy ways to cope; and identify sources of optimism and hope. #livenaturopathically See more

INSOMNIA // Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep are common issues that my patients experience and come to see me for. Read below to learn more about insomnia and how I personally use naturopathic treatments to support optimal. Insomnia types: 1Initial insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep 2Middle insomnia: Waking in the middle of the night... 3Late insomnia: Difficulty waking in the morning in the absence of initial and middle insomnia Some root causes for insomnia: Stress & anxiety Late workouts Blood sugar dysregulation Late caffeine intake Estrogen-progesterone imbalance Pain syndromes Depression Sleep apnea Medications & supplements Late screen exposure My favorite general ways to support optimal sleep: Diet: Making sure you have a complex carbohydrate with protein for dinner to support steady blood sugar through the middle of the night. Targeted mineral & amino acid supplementation: Magnesium, glycine, and phosphatidylserine are some of my personal favorites to support initial and middle insomnia. I usually do not reach for melatonin, but when I do, I usually go for doses less than 1 mg to reduce risk of feeling groggy in the morning. To reduce the possibility of feeling wired in the evening, I do not take any energizing supplements after 4:00 pm. Herbal medicine: Valerian and passionflower are things that I go to for initial insomnia. If I am feeling more stressed and anxious from the day, I sometimes reach for motherwort & holy basil to calm my adrenals and nervous system. Lifestyle: Reducing nighttime screen exposure will support optimal levels of naturally-produced melatonin in the body; doing warm baths, infrared sauna, or breath work will support relaxation; exercising in the morning; and maintaining nighttime routines will help support a healthy circadian rhythm. #livenaturopathically See more