Her Healing Path

In this bonus Q&A episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, I'm answering some of the most common questions I received throughout the series. We talk about how I think through complex symptom patterns, how to tell the difference between issues that can look similar, and why context is one of the most important pieces of functional medicine. We also discuss stress, trauma, anxiety, birth control, postpartum recovery, bloating, supplements, and why functional testing is about understanding your body (not testing everything). Whether you've listened to one episode or the entire series, this one will help you feel more confident about your next step.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:06 – Same symptoms, different root causes

03:20 – The first step if you're not sure where to start

05:01 – Exhausted, overwhelmed, and anxious

10:31 – Why your body always feels stressed

12:24 – How trauma shows up on lab tests

17:02 – Can stress really cause physical symptoms?

18:13 – Anxiety: mental, physiological, or both?

20:33 – Why you feel puffy, inflamed or bloated

22:14 – Hormonal vs. gut-related bloating

24:33 – "Normal" hormone labs with list of symptoms

28:08 – Birth control recovery + fertility

33:08 – Why am I reacting to supplements?

26:07 – Postpartum depletion patterns

38:54 – Should you simplify or test everything?

42:22 – Why my method is so effective

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

After you've addressed the foundations, how do you know whether it's time to dig deeper? And more importantly, how do you know which advanced tests are actually worth running? With thousands of functional lab tests available today, it's easy to feel like you need to test everything. But more testing doesn't always lead to better answers.

In this fifth episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, we're talking about when advanced testing makes sense and when it doesn't. We discuss why most people don't need to test everything, the situations where deeper testing can provide valuable answers, and how I decide whether to recommend tests like mold, heavy metals, environmental toxins, food sensitivities, or genetics. If you've ever wondered whether you're missing something deeper or feel tempted to order every test available, this episode will help you understand when advanced testing is truly worth it.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:05 – What the foundations tell us

03:42 – More testing isn't better testing

04:46 – When it doesn't make sense to test

06:37 – When it does makes sense to go deeper

07:43 – Mycotoxin testing

09:52 – Heavy metal testing

12:29 – Environmental toxin testing

14:34 – Food sensitivity testing

16:14 – Genetic testing

18:43 – Why these can't replace foundational tests

21:07 – Next week: answering your questions

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

When most people hear the word "metabolism," they think about weight or how many calories they're burning. But your metabolism is so much more than that. It influences your energy, brain function, stress response, hormones, recovery, and your body's ability to adapt to everyday life.

In this fourth episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, we're exploring how metabolism impacts nearly every system in your body and when it's worth taking a deeper look. We talk about the common symptoms that can point toward metabolic dysfunction, what an organic acids test (OAT) can reveal, and the metabolic patterns I see most often in practice. If you've ever felt like something is off but can't quite explain why, this episode may help connect the dots.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:04 – Connecting the dots so far

02:47 – Metabolism isn't just about weight

04:32 – Symptoms that point toward metabolism

05:31 – What an organic acids test (OAT) measures

06:24 – Low energy production & mitochondrial health

07:10 – Poor nutrient utilization

08:26 – Neurotransmitter imbalances

09:37 – Detox pathways + oxidative stress

11:25 – Next week: when to test deeper

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

Hormones are one of the most misunderstood areas of women's health. Too often we're told our hormones are "normal" because a blood test measured one or two hormones at a single moment in time. But hormones are much more complex than that.

In this third episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, we're diving into comprehensive hormone testing and why looking at hormone levels alone rarely tells the full story. We talk about how your hormones are influenced by your nutrients, gut health, stress, and nervous system. I share the most common hormone patterns I see in practice and why understanding how your body produces, metabolizes, and clears hormones is a huge missing piece in conventional hormone testing. If you've ever been told your hormones are "normal" but you still don't feel like yourself, listen in.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:07 – Welcome back to the series

02:02 – Why hormones can't be viewed in isolation

04:37 – What hormone imbalances can actually look like

05:58 – Hormones through every stage of womanhood

08:51 – Blood work vs. comprehensive hormone testing

09:59 – Estrogen & progesterone imbalances

11:40 – A closer look at cortisol & androgens

14:03 – The root causes behind hormone imbalances

15:00 – Next week: metabolism

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

Your gut is connected to far more than just digestion. Skin issues, hormone imbalances, fatigue, food sensitivities, inflammation, and even nutrient deficiencies can all have roots in the gut. But how do you know when gut testing is actually necessary?

In this second episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, we're diving into one of the most valuable tools I use in my practice: comprehensive gut testing. We talk about when gut testing makes sense, the five most common gut patterns I see in clients, and how those patterns can show up throughout the body. If you've been trying random probiotics, eliminating foods, or struggling with gut-related symptoms, this episode will help you understand what your gut may be trying to tell you.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:06 – Everything's connected to the gut

03:21 – When gut testing is the next step

04:07 – What a comprehensive gut test measures

05:01 – Gut microbiome imbalance

07:19 – The gut immune system

08:32 – Digestive insufficiency

09:18 – Inflammation & root causes

10:28 – Pathogens: H. pylori, parasites, bacteria

11:10 – The risks of unnecessary food elimination

12:02 – Why random probiotics usually don't work

12:55 – How gut testing connects back to your foundational labs

13:55 – Next week: hormone testing

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

Functional lab testing can feel overwhelming. Should you test everything? Are your annual labs enough? Why do so many people still feel awful when they're told their labs are "normal"?

In this first episode of my Functional Lab Testing Series, I'm sharing the framework I use to help clients make sense of functional testing. We talk about why I don't believe testing everything at once is the best approach, how I strategically decide where to start based on your symptoms and health history, and how these tests help us identify the next best step before moving into more advanced testing. If you're thinking about investing in functional lab testing, listen to this episode before you spend thousands of unnecessary dollars on tests.

Resources:

• Which test is best for you? →

• Start with functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:06 – Welcome to the Functional Lab Testing Series!

03:13 – Testing everything upfront is a mistake

04:42 – My step-by-step approach to functional testing

07:49 – Why foundational blood work comes first

08:35 – Functional vs. conventional lab interpretation

12:40 – Basic vs. cellular micronutrient testing

17:49 – The foundations give us more direction

19:19 – Next episode: the gut is at the root

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

Trauma isn't just something that affects your thoughts. It can have a profound impact on your physical health too. In this episode, I share my own story of trauma, toxic relationships, burnout, and my path to understanding how those experiences were showing up in my body. We talk about the connection between trauma, the nervous system, cortisol, hormones, gut health, and why healing from trauma often requires much more than nutrition and supplements alone. If you've experienced trauma in your life, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen and gives you hope that healing is possible.

Resources:

• Find your root cause →

• Functional lab testing →

• Let's connect on IG →

In this episode:

01:06 – Trauma has major health implications

05:24 – Big T vs. little t trauma

07:05 – Growing up in survival mode

12:09 – My physical health raises questions

15:35 – Building back the ability to trust

20:14 – Toxic work environments & chronic stress

25:42 – Finding the missing piece in my healing

32:49 – The trauma response is intentional

34:27 – Learning how to feel safe again

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

What happens in your baby's gut during the first 1000 days of life can have a profound impact on their future health. In this episode, I'm joined by Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder of Tiny Health, to talk about the infant microbiome, how it develops, and why it's becoming such an important piece of the conversation around children's health. We discuss everything from C-sections and antibiotics to colic, eczema, food allergies, breastfeeding, and the critical role gut health plays in immune development. Whether you're currently raising a baby, planning for a future pregnancy, or curious about how early life influences long-term health, this conversation is full of practical insights and fascinating gut science.

Learn more about Tiny Health on Instagram @tiny.health and check out the Tiny Health blog

Resources:

• Which lab test is best for you? →

• Get functional lab testing →

• Follow along on Instagram →

In this episode:

01:05 – Introducing Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder of Tiny Health

03:58 – The story behind Tiny Health

11:27 – Baby gut-related symptoms

15:35 – Why the first 1000 days matter so much

17:59 – Conventional medicine vs. microbiome testing

25:09 – Case study: Noah's gut test results after a C-section birth

28:18 – Natural ways to support infant gut health

32:29 – Why both parents' gut health matters too

38:42 – Missing beneficial bacteria vs. pathogens

43:58 – Building gut resilience in children

50:29 – Introducing solids, allergens, and microbial diversity

55:42 – Key takeaway for parents

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

In this episode, I'm sharing a little life update and bringing you behind the scenes of what's been going on lately. We talk about Noah's latest sleep phase and how months of interrupted sleep have shown up in my own lab results. I also share an update on our kitchen remodel after discovering mold earlier this year. We get into what it's been like introducing solids and some of the unexpected challenges that come with teaching a baby how to eat. I definitely don't have everything figured out in this season of motherhood, but I'm bringing you along for the ride. 😅

Resources:

• Which lab test is best for you? →

• Get functional lab testing →

• Follow along on Instagram →

In this episode:

01:05 – Noah's latest sleep phase

04:27 – My body on sleep deprivation

05:46 – Our mold remodel update

11:28 – Designing our new kitchen

14:47 – Solids are kind of stressful!

19:07 – My musings on motherhood

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!

In this episode, I'm answering your postpartum questions and talking through some of the most common things women experience after having a baby – physically, mentally, and emotionally. We get into exhaustion, hormones, digestion, breastfeeding, metabolism, nervous system stress, and recovery timelines. I also share my perspective on postpartum healing from both a personal and practitioner standpoint on what's "normal" versus what may be a sign your body needs more support.

Resources:

• Which lab test is best for you? →

• Get functional lab testing →

• Follow along on Instagram →

In this episode:

01:06 — Is this normal?

06:43 — Energy + exhaustion

10:35 — Feeling "wired but tired"

12:36 — Getting back to the basics

15:30 — Feeling reactive + sensitive postpartum

19:00 — Hormonal fluctuations

20:37 — When to expect your menstrual cycle

23:15 — Breastfeeding + nourishment

26:26 — Metabolism + weight changes postpartum

29:14 — Digestion, bloating, and what's "normal"

31:03 — When to get more support?

36:24 — The postpartum recovery timeline

I'm so grateful to have you here, friend. If you love the show, be sure to follow and leave me a review. New episodes drop every Friday!