Category: Blog

When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, find yourself overweight or struggling with yo-yo weight, or in general realize that you are not as young as you used to be, you might consider trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. But making lifestyle changes is not always an easy thing to do on your own. Our staff are experienced in the First Line Therapy program, and we can help you meet your goals.

What is First Line Therapy?

First Line Therapy is a medicine program from Metagenics, designed to help people make lasting lifestyle changes to live healthier and longer. The program includes an initial exam and testing to see where you are with your health, regular consultations to help keep you on track, and a program guide to help you find solutions for making healthier choices.

Continue reading Find a Healthier Lifestyle with First Line Therapy

If you are considering an injectable to reduce the effects of aging, you may be surprised to learn that Botox isn’t the only option available. One of the most similar treatments on the market now is Dysport. Learn how these two dermal fillers are similar, how they are different, and how to choose the right one for you.

Similarities

Botox and Dysport both have the same active ingredient. They both use a type of botulinum A, the purpose of which is to relax the muscles that tense and cause frown lines and other wrinkles. Both Botox and Dysport have to be repeated every 3 to 6 months. Both injectables are commonly used with lidocaine to decrease discomfort of injections. Really, Botox and Dysport are like comparing apples to apples. There are different varieties of apples, but they are all still apples. Botox and Dysport are that similar.

Continue reading Botox vs. Dysport: Similarities and Differences

Malnutrition can happen for a number of reasons. If you live a very busy lifestyle and grab food on the go, your food choices may not be the healthiest options. You may also have trouble with malnutrition if you are dieting and not getting enough of the right foods. It is important that your body is well nourished to ensure optimum health. Here are some of the symptoms of malnutrition and what to do about it so you can feel your best.

Common Symptoms

There are some symptoms that indicate you are malnourished, and they’re easy to overlook. You may be malnourished if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Always feeling cold
• Loss of body mass or tissue
• Lowered immune system
• Increased wound recovery time

Many of these symptoms may be easily dismissed as just easily getting sick, wearing yourself down with your job and activities, or being under too much stress. But a combination of these symptoms is a sign you are malnourished, and getting the right nutrition will make you feel like a whole new person.

Continue reading Symptoms of Malnutrition and What to Do About It

One of the effects of aging that both men and women encounter is hormone imbalance. As you get older, hormones once produced by your body decrease. This can cause a number of problems, including mood changes and changes in libido, among others. While synthetic hormone replacements are frequently prescribed, there are a lot of advantages to using bioidentical hormone therapy instead.

All Natural

Bioidentical hormones are all natural rather than being manufactured in a lab. This makes it much safer to use than synthetic hormone treatments. Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants and animals that have the same hormones in a way that is identical to the hormones the human body produces naturally.

Continue reading Advantages of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

A surprising number of people in America suffer from hypothyroidism. It is estimated that 20 million Americans suffer from hypothyroidism, and about 60 percent of them are unaware of the condition. It is important to know the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism and see a doctor if any apply to you.

Fatigue

One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is unexplained fatigue. You may feel extremely tired most of the time, with few if any short bursts of energy. You will feel more tired than usual at work, get tired easily when exerting yourself such as going up a flight of stairs, or find yourself completely unable to exercise due to tiredness and weakness. Severe fatigue of this sort can be explained by a number of conditions, but the most common is hypothyroidism.

Continue reading 3 Most Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Most people have heard of acupuncture as a natural treatment. It has been featured in many magazines, television shows, and movies. But did you know that it is an effective method of pain management? With the opioid crisis in full swing and recent crackdowns on painkillers, it is more important than ever for people to find pain relief in more natural ways. Acupuncture could be that option for you.

How It Works

Acupuncture involves applying needles, heat, and pressure to targeted areas of the body. Although needles are used, it is a non-invasive procedure and does not cause any discomfort. Many people find acupuncture a very relaxing experience.

This practice is part of Chinese Traditional Medicine. According to the traditional Chinese philosophy, acupuncture works to relieve pain and improve health because it restores the body’s chi, or life force, into balance. Many scientific studies have been done on acupuncture since it came to the US in the 1970s. These studies have discovered that acupuncture is likely beneficial for pain management due to the release of endorphins that follows the procedure.

Continue reading The Benefits of Acupuncture for Pain Management

Acupuncture has been utilized for its health benefits since ancient times, particularly in Chinese medicine. This holistic health technique has become more popular in the United States and other western cultures over the past few decades, making it easier than ever to seek acupuncture treatment for acute and chronic conditions alike.

If you suffer from headaches, hypertension, or chronic pain, acupuncture could be the treatment capable of restoring your quality of life. Here’s everything you need to know about this ancient practice and the many ways it can improve your health.

A Quick History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture was developed by the ancient Chinese as a system of pricking the skin or tissue with needles in order to treat a variety of physical, mental, and emotional conditions. They believed that by treating specific points on the body, acupuncture could release a flow of energy and stimulate the body’s healing process in order to restore balance.

Western science explains this differently, but the result is the same. Today, it’s believed that acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles, and connective tissue to activate the body’s natural painkillers and blood flow. Continue reading Acupuncture 101: Everything You Need to Know

It’s easy enough to undergo basic lab work, but those labs fail to offer a comprehensive picture of your health. It’s all too common for doctors to order a standard lab without ever digging deep into the root causes of your health problems.

If you’re struggling with symptoms that don’t seem to make sense with your lifestyle or have no obvious trigger, you need the help and expertise of a doctor who knows how to use functional medicine testing to decode your health mystery.

What Is Functional Medicine Testing?
Functional medicine testing is distinctly different than traditional lab testing. In most doctors’ offices and hospitals, physicians run standard blood work to see if they find an established disease process. Action is taken only when the lab results are out of the “normal” range.

This standard blood work process fails to help or recognize the many patients who have chronic symptoms but will not show anything remarkable or out-of-the-ordinary in blood work. Functional medicine lab testing is used to assess subtle patterns of imbalance that would otherwise be ignored. More than anything, the goal of functional medicine testing is to prevent disease before it happens by identifying potential or developing problems and guiding patient care accordingly. Continue reading Considering Functional Medicine Testing: What You Need to Know

A New Year has finally arrived, which means it’s the perfect time to reflect on your wellness and make goals for the upcoming year. Healthy living is one of the most sought-after achievements, but it isn’t always easy to improve your habits alone.

Tackle your health differently this year with FirstLine Therapy, a specialized therapeutic lifestyle program that strategically helps you embrace a healthier lifestyle. When you entrust your health to FirstLine Therapy, you will learn how to incorporate a sensible eating plan, customized nutritional supplementation, exercise, and stress management techniques to transform your quality of life.

What Is the FirstLine Therapy Program Like?
You can’t walk into any doctor’s office and expect to receive FirstLine Therapy. You need to find a holistic and integrative practitioner like Dr. Shemesh at MindBodySpirit Care. Dr. Shemesh helps you take simple, gradual steps to enhance your overall health, reverse existing signs of disease, and prevent future disease.

FirstLine Therapy begins with an initial exam and follow-up testing that identifies your current health strengths and challenges. You will benefit from regular consultations and a program guidebook to identify solutions for staying active, eating well, and sticking with the best lifestyle choices. Dr. Shemesh will provide lifestyle counseling, nutritional product recommendations, and progress tracking to ensure you reach your goals. Continue reading Start the New Year Right: 3 Reasons to Consider FirstLine Therapy