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What to Expect at Your First EDS Appointment | Pacific Clinic
EDS: What Is It? Have you been told for years that your symptoms are “just anxiety,” that you are simply flexible, or that you just have unexplained pain? Have you started hearing about EDS and wondering if you might have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome? You are definitely not the only person who has asked us this question. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic connective tissue disorders. They can affect many different parts of the body, including the joints, skin, bloo
Dr. Tessaundra Steinhebel
Sep 1512 min read
Creatine After 40: What Women Need to Know About Muscle, Menopause, and Cognitive Support
Is creatine safe during perimenopause and menopause? Learn how it supports muscle, bone, and brain health, plus dosing and kidney safety tips.
Sharon Ona, MS, CNS, CN, LD
Sep 19 min read
Magnesium Deficiency Signs You're Probably Missing (And Why Your Supplement May Not Be Fixing Them)
Why isn't your magnesium supplement working? Learn the real signs of deficiency, which form absorbs best, and how RBC testing finds what blood work misses.
Dr. Teresa True
Aug 266 min read
The EDS-POTS-MCAS Trifecta: What's Actually Connecting Your Symptoms
If you've been diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), you've probably noticed these conditions are often discussed together. Many people eventually come across the term EDS–POTS–MCAS trifecta and wonder whether there's a single explanation for everything they're experiencing. The answer isn't quite that simple. As a naturopathic physician, I frequently meet patients w
Dr. Tessaundra Steinhebel
Jul 2511 min read
Gut Testing 101: Which Test Do You Need
TABLE OF CONTENTS Why "normal" gut labs don't always mean a healthy gut Conventional GI testing (what your PCP or GI doc typically run) Functional/specialty GI testing (what we run and why) Which test for which symptom How we can help Why "normal" gut testing doesn't always mean a healthy gut Many of the conventional screening gut health tests ordered by your PCP or your gastroenterologist are looking for only a few specific causes of disease. They tell us very little about h
Dr. Teresa True
Jul 97 min read
Everyone's Talking About Peptides - Here's What AI Won't Tell You
Peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 are trending everywhere, but most aren't FDA approved and nearly impossible to get legally. A Portland naturopathic doctor breaks down what's real, what's not, and safer alternatives backed by data.
Dr. Teresa True
Jul 39 min read
What Is Joint Hypermobility? Signs, Symptoms, Beighton Score, and When to Seek Help
What Is Hypermobility? Growing up, I was always told that being flexible was a good thing. I could sit in positions that seemed comfortable to me, but looked unusual to others, bend my fingers farther than most people, and move my joints in ways that often surprised friends and family. For many years, I simply assumed that flexibility was a unique trait and never considered that it might be connected to some of the symptoms I was experiencing. This is a story I hear often fro
Dr. Tessaundra Steinhebel
Jun 305 min read
The 6 Most Important Minerals for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Connective Tissue Health
One of the most common questions I hear from patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is, “What can I do to support my connective tissues?” This question is typically the first one I get when I see a new patient seeking support for hEDS. Usually, the conversation turns to physical therapy, improving joint stability, staying hydrated, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, or considering collagen supplementation. All of these strategies can be helpful for connective
Dr. Tessaundra Steinhebel
May 287 min read
Does Insurance Cover Functional Nutrition? (Yes — Here's How to Use Your Benefits)
Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling — including virtual visits. Learn how to check your benefits, what CPT codes to reference, which insurance plans Sharon Ona, MS, CNS, LDN accepts, and how functional nutrition support may be more accessible than you think.
Sharon Ona, MS, CNS, CN, LD
May 286 min read
Functional Lab Testing for Hormones, Gut Health, and More: What's Available Without a Doctor's Visit
We see a particular kind of patient pretty regularly. Usually, they've been to their GP, maybe a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, possibly a rheumatologist. Every specialist rules out the thing they were looking for - which is genuinely good news - but nobody has actually explained why this person still feels terrible. Tired, bloated, anxious, wired at night, foggy during the day, gaining weight for no clear reason. All the standard labs came back as "normal" or "unrem
Dr. Teresa True
May 288 min read
Natural Inflammation Treatment: Finding the Fire Before You Reach for the Hose
Inflammation gets talked about a lot these days. It's at the root of an enormous number of chronic health conditions, from joint pain and fatigue to autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and even depression. But here's the thing - knowing you have inflammation and knowing why you have it are two very different things.
Dr. Teresa True
May 226 min read
Natural UTI Treatment (And When You Need Antibiotics)
Few things are as miserable as a urinary tract infection. The burning, the urgency, the feeling that you need to run to the bathroom every five minutes even when there's nothing there can be exhausting and uncomfortable. UTIs are one of the most common reasons people visit urgent care, and for many people, especially women, they keep coming back no matter what is done. The good news is there's a lot more to treating and preventing UTIs than just antibiotics. This article walk
Dr. Teresa True
May 713 min read
GI-MAP vs GI Advanced: Which Comprehensive Stool Test Is Better?
Most people don't think about stool testing until something is clearly wrong, and has been for a while. But by the time symptoms like chronic bloating, IBS, brain fog, or recurring infections appear, gut imbalances have often been present for a long time. Functional stool testing, or comprehensive stool analyses can reveal what's actually driving symptoms. But not all stool tests are created equal. The two most popular functional options, the GI-MAP and the GI Advanced stool
Dr. Teresa True
May 613 min read
Brain Fog? Here’s What’s Actually Causing It (Even With Normal Labs)
Feeling unfocused, forgetful, or like your thinking just isn’t clear, you’re not alone! This is often called "Brain Fog". Many people are told their labs are “normal,” yet they still struggle with constant brain fog, low energy, and poor concentration and are not given a clear solution on how to correct this. Brain fog is something we commonly see, every day even, in our practice among new patients. The reality is, there are often underlying causes of brain fog that aren’t be
Dr. Teresa True
Apr 306 min read
It’s Not Your Willpower: Why You Can’t Lose Weight (Even Doing Everything Right)
Struggling to lose weight despite diet and exercise? Learn how insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and hormone imbalance may be blocking fat loss and what labs to check.
Dr. Teresa True
Apr 158 min read
When Chronic Stress Starts Affecting Your Physical Health
Most people think of stress as purely emotional or psychological. But chronic stress can affect far more than mood alone. Over time, stress can begin to influence digestion, sleep, immune function, hormone balance, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and energy levels. In today's world, stress is very different than what we evolved to handle. Today's stressors are not tigers, bears and staying alive for most people. The lifestyle of constant connection through phones, email
Dr. Teresa True
Jan 57 min read
The Complete Guide to Toxin Testing: Mold, Chemicals, and Heavy Metals Explained
Looking for reliable toxin testing? Learn what environmental toxins, mold toxins, and mLooking for reliable toxin testing? Learn what environmental toxins, mold toxins, and metals you can measure with the Mosaic EnviroTox Complete + Metals panel.etals you can measure with the Mosaic EnviroTox Complete + Metals panel.
Dr. Teresa True
Dec 4, 20255 min read
Natural Ways to Lower High Blood Pressure: An Evidence-Based Naturopathic Guide to Hypertension
Description: High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the world’s most common yet most dangerous chronic health conditions. Often called the silent killer, hypertension typically develops without obvious symptoms, making regular monitoring and early prevention essential. Over time, untreated high blood pressure significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and cognitive decline. Fortunately, naturopathic medicine offers effective,
Dr. Tessaundra Steinhebel
Dec 2, 20258 min read
Take Control of Your Health with Functional Lab Testing
Learn which functional lab tests explain bloating, fatigue, sleep issues, and hormone changes. Order digestive health tests, hormone panels, and cortisol testing directly.
Dr. Teresa True
Nov 10, 20254 min read
Understanding Gut Health: Why It Matters for Your Well-Being
Still dealing with bloating, constipation, or diarrhea despite “normal” results? Learn how functional digestive testing reveals hidden imbalances in digestion, microbiome health, and inflammation to guide real solutions.
Dr. Teresa True
Nov 10, 20255 min read
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