Blog - Dr. Stephanie Davis

Blog

Articles on Functional Medicine, Health, and Life

Intentions for the New Year

I'm frequently asked about my favorite products. Here are some of the things I use to keep my family's health up and toxin load down!

Addressing Emotions to Prevent Eczema and Autoimmunity in Kids

When you have children we become responsible for another person and want to do our best but we still make mistakes. The key is how we handle those mistakes.

Avoid Stress During the Holidays

Holiday stress can wreak havoc on your immune system. I hope you find some of the tips helpful in navigating the amazing, yet stressful time of year!

October Update – Healthy Halloween

Can you believe it's October already??? I can't!! The year has gone by in the blink of an eye and to tell you the truth, I'm tired!! After a very busy spring and summer, I was looking forward to a quieter fall, but that's not really happening either.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Eczema Topicals

There?s nothing worse than being in the middle of an eczema flare. Here are some of my favorite eczema topicals to put on your skin to help tame the itch!

9 Healing Baths to Calm the Eczema Itch

There?s no one blanket approach to calm an eczema flare but a healing bath may help. Here are some of my favorite ways to heal from the outside-in.

How to Find an Experienced Functional Medicine Practitioner

Finding a new practitioner can be difficult itself- let alone a well vetted functional medicine practitioner. Having a checklist of wants and needs can inform the process and make it much less daunting. Hopefully this information will guide you in your process.

My Story of Eczema, Infertility, and Miscarriage

There is one thing that eczema, infertility, and miscarriages have in common? All three can make you feel very alone and very tortured physically and mentally. I?m sharing my story with you because I think it?s SUPER important to change attitudes on child loss. AND, inform people about the link between inflammation, autoimmunity, and infertility.

You CAN Do An AIP Elimination Diet While Breastfeeding

Many people wonder, can I do an elimination diet while breastfeeding (and working, mommying, and friending)??? The answer is YES! Here's what you need to know.

Manage Stress For An Eczema Free Easter

Don't let the Easter Bunny bring you eczema for Easter!! The topic of stress is tossed around so much these days that it seems we've become desensitized and brush it off. But the fact remains that stress is indeed one of the most notorious triggers for eczema and autoimmunity. And, the holidays are often stressful times for most of us. On the surface, Easter seems pretty easy and benign, right?? Well, not really.?

Treating Eczema With Functional Medicine: 101

Understanding? an eczema outbreak is really complex. And like a child learning language, you have to understand the alphabet and sounds first before you can talk. Same goes for eczema.? To really understand an eczema outbreak, you have to first understand the difference between the way functional medicine and conventional medicine views it.

Why a Leaky Gut is Robbing You of Your Health and How To Repair It

Leaky gut, as you might be imagining it in your head, is layman terminology for intestines that have increased permeability. This can be due to a variety of reasons, which we?ll dive into shortly, but first let?s provide a basic understanding of how the GI tract works.

How Inflammation Is Burning Your Health

If you look at the root causes of almost every single disease and death, you?ll notice that chronic inflammation is a player in the process. Some inflammation is good?in fact, it?s a normal, healthy biological process. It?s only when inflammation goes unchecked for extended periods of time that it becomes a big problem.

Testing For The Root Cause Of Your Digestive Problems

The condition of your gut and how well you can absorb, utilize, and eliminate nutrients represents the foundation of health in your body. Digestive symptoms manifest as anything from brain fog, fatigue and acne, to diarrhea, gas, and bloating. The symptoms are vast and can be confusing, so clearly knowing what you?re looking for helps.

Are Your Genes Really Your Destiny?

Genetic tests literally unravel your genes and read the story the DNA tells, which is your specific and individual blueprint, unlike anyone else?s. You now have the ability to see exactly what makes you, YOU.

Your Complete Guide to Autoimmunity and Allergy Testing

Allergies and autoimmunity are complicated conditions that exist on a spectrum, and have a few things in common.

When to Test for Blood Sugar and Metabolic Imbalance

Getting your blood sugar and metabolic hormones (such as insulin and cortisol) back in check is essential for reversing inflammation, aging, and many disease processes. Since blood sugar regulation reflects many disorders of metabolism, understanding the symptoms is the first step.

How to Test for Hidden Food Allergies or Sensitivities

If you?re experiencing a variety of health symptoms and have no known food allergies or sensitivities, you might wonder why you?d need to test yourself for them. You may believe that simply cleaning up your diet is enough. And while that?s certainly a good start, it?s not nearly enough to eliminate the immune and inflammatory processes that food reactions can cause.

Why Taking Care of Your Liver Will Leave You Feeling Shiny and New

Most of us are great at listening to our bodies when we experience something as uncomfortable and excruciating as a bad hangover, but we?re more likely to ignore the signs when they?re less obvious or when they require lifestyle changes that we may not want to make.

How Nutrient Testing Could Reveal The Root Cause of Your Symptoms

We take for granted that getting the correct balance of nutrients is required for maintaining good health. Even a small deficiency in one nutrient can have major consequences in the long run. Conditions ranging from acne to heart disease start with some type of nutrient deficiency or excess.

Why Autoimmunity Is Keeping You Sick And How To Reverse It

Do you feel fatigued even after you get a full night of sleep? Do you have achy muscles and joints, brain fog, an inability to concentrate, or insomnia? Do you get rashes, eczema, hives, or skin irritation? If you answered ?yes? to several of these, there?s a good chance you have an autoimmune condition.

How Gut Dysbiosis is Making You Sick

While most of the organisms in your microbiome are helpful, some are harmful and cause significant damage to the delicate balance of your gut ecosystem.

How I Solved My Pregnancy Constipation

I?m going to sharing how I achieved amazing poops since pregnancy constipation is one of the worst symptoms women often have.?For some, that claim sounds unattainable. I was one of them given my experience with baby number one? During my first pregnancy, I suffered from horrible constipation. Those little, tiny rabbit pellets that took forever to come out. I also didn?t go every day.

3 Natural Eczema Remedies to Start Healing

Have you tried the drug store potions, over the counter (OTC) medications, or even prescriptions only to have little to no improvement in your eczema? This is a common theme in my virtual clinic. We see many people that?ve tried everything, including things we recommend like diets or supplements, only to have a small change in their eczema. So, what?s going on??

7 Interventions to Stop the Eczema Flare Before It Erupts

I believe it?s possible to teach old dogs new tricks. Yes, I?m referring to myself as an ?old dog? even though I?m not that old! However, it?s a fitting phrase to describe when I decided to retrain myself not to get stuck in the cycle of stress-eczema flare-clear skin-repeat. Is your life causing your eczema flares? Read on to find out if it is...

Is Your Favorite Morning Beverage Causing Eczema

Who doesn?t love their morning cup of caffeine? Coffee and tea consumption have become a significant part of American society. But do these beloved brews contribute to eczema?

Eczema: The Autoimmune Disease Everyone Seems To Be Overlooking

I've always been a questioner. This is why I believe eczema can be healed and reversed (and new science backs this). When I was a little kid, I asked lots of questions because I wanted to know how and why things worked.

Strict Elimination Diets are Possible- Part 4 of 4 (High Points, Personalization, & The Next Phase)

My 28 day Autoimmune Paleo Rotation diet is complete! This was a great learning experience for me since I haven?t done an elimination this long in 2 years, and even more, never one this strict. Here are my overall thoughts.

Strict Elimination Diets are Possible- Part 3 of 4 (Supplementation and Keys to Success)

Completing 3 full weeks of this elimination diet has definitely enlightened me. This process is getting more and more interesting as I go through it!

Strict Elimination Diets are Possible- Part 2 of 4 (Working Out and Adjusting Your Program)

Week number two of my strict Elimination Diet in the books! There was definitely less drama on the skin side (no hives or red bumps= win), but there were definite peaks and valleys.

Strict Elimination Diets Are Possible- Part 1 of 4

As a rule I try to practice what I preach. I also like to try everything that I can before I recommend it to a client, because if I can?t do it, I?m surely not going to recommend it to my clients. Following my own advice, I decided it was time to embark on the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) rotation diet. Here are my thoughts.

10 Tips to Minimize Healing Frustrations and Time

The truth about healing is that it?s hard and often very frustrating for those going through it. I get questions from my patients on a daily basis about the progress of their healing journey. There are ways to make the journey easier, saving time, energy, and money. Here are a few tips to do just that.

Three of the Most Underappreciated Keys to Health

To experience true health you need some fundamental components: true stress reduction and mitigation, a clean environment, and connections with nature and people.

7 Steps to Make Your Resolution Stick (or Just Don?t Make One at All)

When you decide to make a change or want to reach a goal, you can do it when you are ready. There?s no rule that says it has to be on January 1st or even at the beginning of the year. Have a wonderful new year whether you chose to have a resolution or not!

Boost Adrenal and Mood Health with Light

Winter has arrived in most parts of the country which means less exposure to one of the components essential to life- sunlight. If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, lack of energy, sleep problems, or seasonal mood changes, then getting proper exposure to light and darkness is key in rebalancing the hormone symphony. Here are 5 steps to achieve this.

4 Simple Ways to Kickstart the Battle Against Inflammation

Inflammation may be the most common term used in all arenas of health and deservedly so since we know that it?s the underlying cause of almost every chronic disease on earth.

8 Ways My Toddler Showed Me How to Heal From Adrenal Fatigue

I have always been an observer and an analyzer. The other day I was watching my 33 month old son play and thought to myself, ?I wish I had that much energy, joy, and creativity in my life.?

Why We Must Overcome the Chronic Disease Epidemic for our Children and Simple Solutions to Get Started

The evidence that we are in an epidemic of chronic disease is overwhelming. According to a 2014 NIH study, life expectancy for the average American could decrease by as much as 5 years if the epidemic of obesity and chronic conditions aren?t addressed.