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Your Health

Spirit

Erika Bradshaw, MD - Personalized HOrmone Therapy

Holistic and/ or Integrative medicine can be described as peeling away the colorful layers of a rippened onion. The initial patient consultation with either Dr. Bradshaw or one of our knowledgable nurse practitioners consists of an hour long, one-on-one consultation with the provider. This visit includes a physical, complete medical and lifestyle history, discussion of symptoms, goals, previous ailments/ concerns, etc.. Together, you and the provider put together a treatment plan, tailored to you as individual. Treatment plans vary, and can include both initial recommendations (i.e. supplements, medications, IV therapies, dietary changes, etc..) and a layout of whatever testing they believe will give a better picture of what lies beneath the surface symptoms. One of our team members will then review your personalized treatment plan, answering any questions, providing additional literature, and giving pricing information so that you can make the best decision for your health.

For hormone evaluation, there are typically 3 testing options most commonly utilized:

1. Hormone blood testing has been compared to taking a snapshot in time. It shows the levels of the hormones in the body at the specific point in time that the blood labs are collected. This gives a general idea of what the hormones are doing and how best to start/ adjust course of treatment.

2. Saliva testing is the next step up, giving insight into what is bioavailable for use by the endocrine system. There is also the option to include corisol testing alongside the hormones, thereby showing how the adrenal glands are effecting the picture.

3. Giving and even deeper dive into the hormone and adrenals is the 24-hour urine testing. Whether done via 'dried urine' or a complete 24 hour collection, this type of testing shows the metabolites associated with both the hormones and adrenals. In doing so, we are able see how the chemicals move and are processed by the endocrine system. If there is any deviation or hiccup causing the system to act out of character, this information can provide insight on the glitch and allow quicker, more direct action on how to correct course.

There are advantages to all three of these testing options based on what you and your provider determine to be best.

Each patient will have their own unique hormone profile that will be discussed at their follow up visit. Treatment options will then be decided upon. A compounding pharmacy will create the specific prescription for the patient’s individual needs. It is important to remember that because treatment is so individual the dosage may need to be adjusted before all symptoms are resolved.