Category: Naturopathic Medicine

In today's world almost everything can be tested. Through testing there is less guessing, and health can be improved. Many of my patients are working hard to improve their overall health through optimizing hormones, improving diet and exercise, lowering blood pressure, getting better sleep, and controlling stress. We always do a very thorough traditional blood panel which is billed to insurance but there are many more tests that can be done. For those who want to take it to the next level I created this list of tests that I highly recommend. Everything in the body is integrated; cells talk to each other. The nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system are all connected. All of the following testing measures body systems and allows for targeted treatments that result in improvements in cellular and biologic aging. As a result, you might feel better too! Specialized Lab Testing for Optimizing Health Genetic Testing. This measures DNA mutations and DNA aging. Mutations in DNA cause problems with gene expression and can increase cancer risk. Based on the results, treatment can be started. There are specific panels for identifying heritable risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease. There...

A recently published study showed significant improvement in symptoms and immune function in a small group of people diagnosed and being treated for Lyme disease. This is groundbreaking since very few studies are conducted on natural treatments for Lyme disease and the symptoms of the disease can be debilitating. Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) and tick-borne illness is rapidly increasing world-wide with over 400,000 new cases reported yearly in the US. As many as 50% of those treated with a standard protocol of antibiotics report persistent or recurrent symptoms six months after the end of treatment. Herbal remedies can be very effective treatment due to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting properties. However, very few studies exist on the specific action of herbal remedies against B. Burgdorferi. The Complexity of Lyme Disease To get a better understanding of the spirochete and how it affects the human body, a group of researchers deciphered its genome. They thought the project would only take days, but instead it took them years due to its complexity. The Borrelia spirochete is composed of one chromosome, however that chromosome is shredded, meaning it is made up of 20 or more plasmids—small...

In December, 2023, a local online publication called Shoutout Colorado featured NatureMed's Dr. Kelly Parcell. Shoutout Colorado is part of a larger group of magazines and online publications nationwide that focus on the stories of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and independent artists and creatives. The publication encourages readers to spend their money locally and with independently owned businesses. In the feature, Dr. Kelly Parcell discusses why she and her husband, Dr. Steven Parcell, started NatureMed Clinic and what sets their clinic apart from others. She goes on to give recommendations for fun, local things to do including recreation, entertainment, and restaurants in Boulder and the surrounding areas. Read the full article: Meet Kelly Parcell, Naturopathic Doctor

Niacin (vitamin B3) was one of the first drugs that was ever used to improve cholesterol levels. It was frequently used with good results before the introduction of statin medications. Now it is common for conventional medical doctors to tell patients to stop taking niacin and take statins instead. When Statins for High Cholesterol Are Patient Incompatible In 2019, Lipitor was the most prescribed drug in the United States and is still considered the standard of care for anyone with an LDL over 100. Typical statins (lipid-lowering medications) include Crestor (rosuvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Livalo (ptivistatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), and pravastatin (Pravachol). Statins work by blocking an enzyme called HMGCoA reductase. Unfortunately, this mechanism also blocks the body's production of coenzyme Q10. About 25% of patients are statin intolerant or do not fill their prescriptions. The most common symptoms I see are tendinitis, muscle pain, joint pain, elevated blood sugar, and cognitive difficulties. Recent studies point to less benefits from statins in the elderly. In patients who do not tolerate statins well I have had good results with lowering the dose of the statin medication and adding niacin. I sometimes use niacin alone or with a number of other natural...

When it comes to cholesterol, it is helpful to know that “lipids” is the medical term for your HDL, LDL, VLDL, non HDL, and triglycerides. [1] Though simplistic, LDL is referred to as the bad cholesterol and HDL the good cholesterol. The reason for this is that cells have a receptor for LDL that allows the cholesterol particles to go in and HDL has receptor that pulls cholesterol away. This is called reverse cholesterol transport and it is important for arterial health. It is increasingly common to see humans with the metabolic syndrome of poor cholesterol numbers. It is mainly because of a lack of exercise coupled with too many carbohydrates. This is characterized by low HDL and high triglycerides and blood sugar is often mildly elevated. The metabolic syndrome is also referred to as prediabetes. This condition increases plaque buildup in the arteries among other things. In this post I share my advice on how to improve your cholesterol levels without medication.   How Diet and Exercise Affect Cholesterol A diet excessive in carbohydrates (starches and sugars) puts strain on your glucose regulation system. If you are not burning carbs then you are turning them into triglycerides and fat....