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Author: Dr. Russell
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Dr. Russell

How To Make A Viral Oxymel

Looking for an easy back-to-school herbal immune support? Try making an oxymel! Oxymels use vinegar to extract the healing properties of the herbs and then the mixture is combined with honey. A delicious herbal potion, just in time to fight any back-to-school germs. -In a large pot, pour at least 32 oz of apple cider vinegar. Add your favorite immune herbs like rosemary, thyme, onion, garlic, sage, oregano, or turmeric. -Cook on low for 30 minutes. -Sift out herbs. Measure

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September 9, 2026 No Comments
Immune Health
Dr. Russell

6 Natural Ways to Support Your Immune System This Fall

Even though we’re technically not quite to Fall yet, it certainly feels like illness season is already starting! We’ve had a tough summer with illness going around, and as much as I spend my days talking about immune support with patients, I know I’m not immune to getting sick myself. We’ve had our fair share of illnesses this year, thanks in part to our daughter’s first year in daycare, which has been a very effective way of introducing our household to every germ imaginable!

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September 8, 2026 No Comments
Digestive Health
Dr. Russell

The Estrobolome Explained: What Your Gut Has to Do With Your Hormones

When we think about hormones, we often think about the ovaries, thyroid, or adrenal glands. When we think about gut health, we think about digestion. But these systems don’t operate independently. Your gut is constantly communicating with your brain, immune system, metabolism, and endocrine system. And the trillions of microorganisms living in your digestive tract, the gut microbiome, are active participants in this conversation. Scientists are increasingly studying what is sometimes called the gut–endocrine axis: the two-way communication between the gut microbiome

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August 10, 2026 No Comments
Women's Health
Dr. Russell

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Becoming the Default Answer to Menopause?

For centuries, menopause was viewed as a natural transition that women navigated with varying degrees of support. Today, however, it can sometimes feel as though the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Social media is flooded with menopause influencers, celebrities are openly discussing hormone therapy, and many women are hearing the message that they simply need hormones to feel like themselves again. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), can be life-changing for some women,

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July 16, 2026 No Comments
Hormones
Dr. Russell

Hair Loss: Looking Beyond The Surface

For many people, hair is much more than just strands growing from the scalp, it is an important part of identity, self-expression, and how we present ourselves to the world. Whether it’s a favorite hairstyle, color, cut, or simply the confidence that comes with healthy hair, our hair often reflects our personality and sense of self. For many women, changes in their hair can feel like changes in how they see themselves. Hair loss is often dismissed as a cosmetic concern,

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June 16, 2026 No Comments
Women's Health
Dr. Russell

When Motherhood Feels Heavy: Unraveling Postpartum Depression

Bringing a baby into the world is often portrayed as one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. While welcoming a new child can certainly bring joy, it can also bring exhaustion, overwhelm, anxiety, identity shifts, and emotional struggles that many mothers never expected. During Postpartum Depression Awareness Month, it’s important that we normalize these conversations and remind mothers that struggling after birth does not mean they are failing. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 1 in 7 women, though

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May 12, 2026 No Comments
Women's Health
Dr. Russell

Endometriosis: More Than Your Average Monthly Nuisance

I recently completed our family with the birth of our daughter, Paulina, in November. While I am not a fan of being pregnant, one of the few perks is not having a period for an extended period of time. For reasons that I cannot comprehend, my period quickly returned, not even 7 weeks postpartum, even while exclusively breastfeeding. With the return of my period, it made me reflect on periods in general. One thing I’ve commonly seen in practice is

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March 2, 2026 No Comments
Women's Health
Dr. Russell

Is It My Thyroid? How To Comprehensively Evaluate Thyroid Health

What distinguishes our practice from conventional care is our personalized, whole-person approach. We meet individuals where they are and thoughtfully evaluate all of their symptoms to piece together a clearer picture of their health. However, one area where I sometimes feel a bit “lazy” is when it comes to ordering labs, especially thyroid panels. By “lazy,” I mean that I test almost everyone for thyroid function.  Because the thyroid influences nearly every system in the body, dysfunction can show up

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January 6, 2026 1 Comment
Women's Health
Dr. Russell

POTS, Hormones, and Hidden Triggers: What Every Patient Should Know

What Is POTS? Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, commonly called POTS, is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system controls “automatic” body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation. In people with POTS, the body has trouble adjusting to upright posture. When standing, instead of blood flowing smoothly back to the heart and brain, it tends to pool in the lower body. To compensate, the heart races —

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October 1, 2025 No Comments
Hormones
Dr. Russell

How Do I Know If I’m In Perimenopause?

I hear it all the time. A woman in her 40s comes to me feeling like she’s going through puberty again. She’s irritable at the smallest things and feels like she’s PMS-ing half the month. Her sleep and energy are all over the place and she’s having a hard time concentrating at work. Is this perimenopause? Like any concerned individual, she goes to her doctor to see if they can figure out what’s going on. After a quick visit, she leaves

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September 3, 2025 No Comments
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