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Health library

Stay informed with the latest insights & resources

Our team of experts shares valuable tips, success stories, and practical advice to support you on your wellness journey.

Articles written by our clinicians, led by Julie McDonald, PA-C.

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Tired woman in her 40s holding a mug of tea at a sunlit kitchen table in the morning, looking drained despite having slept
Lab Testing

Low Ferritin Normal Hemoglobin: Causes & Next Steps

Low ferritin normal hemoglobin may indicate iron deficiency without anemia. Learn possible causes, testing, and next steps from a Michigan PA-C.

Nov 5, 2026
Two plain supplement jars, one with capsules and one with powder, beside pumpkin seeds, almonds and spinach on a cream surface
Supplements

Magnesium Glycinate vs Citrate: Which Form Fits Your Goal?

Magnesium glycinate vs citrate: how they differ for sleep, digestion, and daily use, plus safety tips and when to look deeper at the root cause.

Nov 4, 2026
Biotin Before Blood Test: When to Stop and Why It Matters
Lab Testing

Biotin Before Blood Test: When to Stop and Why It Matters

Taking biotin before a blood test can skew thyroid, hormone, and heart labs. Learn how long to pause it, which tests it affects, and how much is too much.

Nov 3, 2026
Low-carb meal of salmon, avocado, walnuts and olive oil on a kitchen counter beside a folded cholesterol lab report
Metabolic Health

Cholesterol Went Up on Keto? Why It Happens and What to Do

Cholesterol went up on keto? Learn why LDL may rise, how apoB adds context, and what diet changes and risk factors to discuss with your clinician.

Nov 2, 2026
Flat illustration of a DNA strand with one rung highlighted in gold, showing that an MTHFR variant is a small spelling difference in a gene
Lab Testing

What Does MTHFR Mutation Mean? A Plain-English Guide

What does an MTHFR mutation mean? Learn what C677T and A1298C variants are, what a positive result means, and when it actually matters for your health.

Oct 30, 2026
Simple cycle timeline showing three hormone testing windows: early cycle days 2 to 4, ovulation at mid-cycle, and about seven days after ovulation for progesterone
Lab Testing

What Day of Cycle to Test Hormones: A Simple Timing Guide

Learn what day of your cycle to test hormones: days 2-5 for FSH and estradiol, 7 days after ovulation for progesterone, plus irregular cycle tips.

Oct 29, 2026
Woman in a sunlit kitchen wearing a small continuous glucose monitor sensor on the back of her upper arm
Metabolic Health

CGM for Non-Diabetics Worth It? Benefits, Downsides, Cost

Considering a CGM without diabetes? Learn what it can show, what it cannot diagnose, current OTC options and costs, and how to use readings cautiously.

Oct 28, 2026
Woman at a sunlit kitchen table writing down her cycle and symptoms in a journal after stopping birth control
Hormone Health

Post Birth Control Syndrome: Symptoms and How Long It Lasts

Stopped birth control and don't feel like yourself? Learn post birth control syndrome symptoms, causes, how long it lasts, and what can help.

Oct 28, 2026
Freshly prepared meal of chicken, zucchini, broccoli, rice and blueberries next to an open food and symptom journal on a sunlit kitchen counter
Gut Health

Histamine Intolerance Treatment: What to Know

Histamine intolerance treatment that goes beyond food lists: low-histamine diet, DAO, nutrients, and the gut and hormone root causes. Michigan care.

Oct 27, 2026
A patient and a functional medicine practitioner talking at a wooden table, with lab results and a handwritten symptom timeline in front of them
Getting Started

What to Expect at a First Functional Medicine Appointment

What to expect at your first functional medicine appointment: intake, health timeline, lab review, testing, and next steps, explained for Michigan patients.

Oct 26, 2026
A woman sitting awake on the edge of her bed in soft early-morning light, reflecting the sleep disruption often reported around the luteal phase.
Hormone Health

Functional Medicine and Low Progesterone in Women: Causes and Testing

Why low progesterone happens, how to test it properly, and what actually helps: natural support and bioidentical options, from Monarch FM in Michigan.

Sep 5, 2026
Flat illustration of scattered dots resolving into one clear connecting line, representing autoimmune flare confusion becoming clarity
Autoimmune Health

How Functional Medicine Finds Autoimmune Flare Root Causes

Learn how functional medicine find autoimmune flare root cause through a health timeline, symptom tracking, targeted testing, and coordinated care.

Sep 2, 2026
A woman in her forties holding a mug in a sunlit kitchen in the morning, looking tired despite the calm surroundings.
Energy & Fatigue

Functional Medicine and Mitochondrial Support for Energy

Fatigue with 'normal' labs? See how functional medicine links low energy to mitochondrial health, and which nutrients, foods, and habits help restore it.

Sep 2, 2026
Flat vector illustration of a simplified inflammation lab panel with rounded marker tiles, labelled CRP and ESR, one tile highlighted in gold.
Lab Testing

Functional Medicine Inflammatory Markers: What Gets Tested

Learn which inflammatory markers may be tested in functional medicine, including hs-CRP, ESR, ferritin, and gut markers, and how results are interpreted.

Sep 2, 2026
An unopened at-home cheek-swab genetic test kit and return envelope arranged on a cream linen surface beside a mug of herbal tea in soft daylight.
Lab Testing

What Is Genetic Testing in Functional Medicine?

Learn what genetic testing in functional medicine may reveal about nutrient, hormone, and stress-related pathways, and what these tests cannot diagnose.

Sep 2, 2026
A woman in a sunlit cream kitchen holding a printed lab report and looking away, unconvinced that her results explain how she feels.
Hormone Health

Functional Medicine Approach to Hormone Imbalance in Women

Learn about a functional medicine approach to hormone imbalance in women, including testing, nutrition, lifestyle, and personalized care in Michigan.

Sep 2, 2026
A woman sits with a mug in a sunlit kitchen in the early morning, awake but drained
Hormone Health

How Functional Medicine Addresses Cortisol & Stress Hormones

Learn how functional medicine evaluates cortisol patterns, stress, sleep, hormones, and related health factors, with personalized care for Michigan patients.

Sep 2, 2026
A patient and a functional medicine practitioner reviewing a lab report together at a wooden table in a sunlit consultation room
Metabolic Health

How Functional Medicine Approaches Insulin Resistance

Learn how functional medicine approaches insulin resistance with testing, nutrition, movement, sleep, stress support, and personalized care in Michigan.

Sep 2, 2026
Woman resting a hand on her stomach at home, reflecting on digestive symptoms
Gut Health

Functional Medicine Testing for Gut Issues: What to Know

Jul 31, 2026
Flat illustration of a human torso with a glowing gut linked by looping lines to hormone and brain icons, titled Gut and Hormones
Gut Health

The Gut–Hormone Connection: Why Fixing Your Digestion May Balance Your Hormones

Jul 31, 2026
Side-by-side comparison of a gastroenterologist's tools and a functional medicine approach for chronic gut issues
Gut Health

Functional Medicine vs Gastroenterologist for Gut Issues

Jul 30, 2026
Flat illustration of a person with a bloated belly and a foggy head linked by a glowing line, showing the gut-brain connection
Gut Health

Can Bloating and Brain Fog Have the Same Root Cause?

Jul 29, 2026
Why conventional medicine misses leaky gut diagnosis: a doctor reviews test results with a patient during a consultation in a clinic office.
Wellness

Why Does Conventional Medicine Miss Leaky Gut Diagnosis?

Why does conventional medicine miss leaky gut diagnosis? Learn why tests can look normal and how root-cause care checks gut health.

Jul 17, 2026
Functional medicine gut healing protocol explained: a practitioner and patient review a document together at a desk during a consultation.
Wellness

Functional Medicine Gut Healing Protocol Explained

Functional medicine gut healing protocol explained: learn the 5R gut protocol, leaky gut support, testing, diet, and when to get help.

Jun 25, 2026
Functional medicine approach to SIBO treatment: a nurse takes notes while a woman clutching her stomach in discomfort sits on an exam table in a clinic.
Wellness

Functional Medicine Approach to SIBO Treatment That Lasts

Explore the functional medicine approach to SIBO treatment, including breath testing, gut repair, motility, diet, and root-cause care.

Jun 11, 2026
Patient consulting with healthcare provider at desk, with headline "Can Functional Medicine Treat Leaky Gut" by Monarch Functional Medicine
Wellness

Can Functional Medicine Treat Leaky Gut? What to Know Before You Guess

Can functional medicine treat leaky gut? Learn symptoms, causes, tests, and root-cause treatment options for gut repair.

Jun 3, 2026
Heart 3d image with pulses on paper in the background
Wellness

The Subtle Health Signals Women Are Told to Push Through

Cardiometabolic disease doesn’t appear overnight. For most women, it develops quietly, years or even decades before a diagnosis like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease is ever mentioned.

Mar 17, 2026
Woman at a caffee with a cup in her hands
Hormones

The Missing Link Between “Normal Labs” and Persistent Symptoms

You’ve done the labs. Your estrogen looks “fine.” Your thyroid numbers are “within range.” Your insulin and glucose are technically normal.

Feb 5, 2026
Graphic for how to build a daily routine with text and images
Hormones, Wellness

How to Build a Daily Routine That Actually Supports Your Hormones

Your hormones follow patterns. Cortisol rises in the morning. Melatonin rises at night. Insulin responds to food timing. When daily habits fight those rhythms, symptoms show up.

Jan 30, 2026
graphic for 5 simple ways to support your adrenal health
Gut Health, Hormones, Oxidative Stress, Wellness

Adrenal Health 101: How to Restore Energy and Beat Burnout

It’s 2025, and chronic stress, poor sleep, and overstimulation are leaving many people feeling drained and burned out. At the core of this issue?

May 14, 2025
graphic for 6 wats to reduce histamine intolerance
Wellness

It’s Not Allergies: It’s Histamine Intolerance!

If you’ve ever felt like your body is playing a cruel game of ‘guess what’s wrong now,’ you’re not alone. One day, it’s a pounding headache; the next, your skin is breaking out in hives, or your stomach is in knots after a meal you’ve eaten a hundred times before.

Apr 30, 2025
Graphic for hormones that influince your libido
Hormones

Lost Your Spark? How Hormones Impact Your Libido (and How to Fix It!)

Libido, or sexual desire, is a complex interplay of hormones, neurotransmitters, and overall health. While many factors influence sexual desire, one of the most significant is hormonal balance.

Apr 16, 2025
Graphic for symptoms of leaky gut
Gut Health

Leaky Gut: The Hidden Cause of Your Fatigue, Bloating, and Brain Fog

Many people experience persistent bloating, fatigue, brain fog, and food sensitivities without realizing these symptoms could stem from an underlying gut issue.

Mar 27, 2025
Woman smilling while holding a book
Hormones

Your Hormone Reset Plan for 2025

If you’ve been feeling tired, moody, and stuck in a cycle of stubborn weight gain, it’s time to stop blaming yourself.

Jan 16, 2025
The Gift of Glow: A Winter Wellness Edit
Wellness

Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas: Trending Essentials for Wellness in 2025

The holiday season is a time for giving, connection, and celebration. Gifting thoughtfully selected wellness products can have a lasting impact on our loved ones’ health and happiness.

Dec 4, 2024
Woman pictured close on a desk
Oxidative Stress

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Aging and How to Prevent It

Aging is an inevitable process, but how we age—and the speed at which our bodies deteriorate—can be influenced by many factors, including oxidative stress.

Nov 7, 2024

Tired of being told your labs are normal?

The 12-Week Reset looks at hormones, gut health, stress and nutrition together.

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