Mel Wardhaugh Functional Wellness

The pain medication industry is HUGE

🔥Inflammation is a root cause of all disease

🕵️‍♀️Pain of "unknown" origin requires deeper investigation

Why?

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💊 over the counter pain meds , such as NSAIDS (ibuprofen) actually erode the mucosal lining in the gut- creating further nutrient deficiencies, overgrowths and metabolic chaos 

👉This can be felt as muscle pain, joint pain, anxiety, depression, headaches, insomnia, ulcers, gastritis , stomach pains

Have you heard of the the gut-pain connection?

Forget traditional hormone testing!

The future of hormone testing is upon us 🫶🏻

The DUTCH (dried urine test for comprehensive hormones) is an easy AT HOME test that can help you find the missing pieces to your health puzzle ladies🙌

Unlike a single blood draw , the DUTCH uses 4-5 urine samples through the day to help get a good snap shot of your:

✅ cortisol (your stress hormone)
✅ the way you are metabolizing cortisol
✅ your circadian rhythm pattern
✅ your reproductive hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and how your liver is metabolizing these)
✅ melatonin
✅ oxidative stress
✅ Neurotransmitter metabolites
✅ and nutritional organic acids

SO MUCH good insight can come from this easy at home test.

Who is the DUTCH good for? Anyone dealing with :

👉 Fatigue
👉 Weight gain
👉 Mood swings
👉 Low libido
👉 Hot flashes
👉 Depression or anxiety
👉 Insomnia
👉 Hormone imbalance
👉 Unwanted hair growth or loss
👉 Acne
👉 Low stress tolerance

7 Signs of Gut Inflammation-

1️⃣ Bloating and gas

✨Frequent bloating or distension may signal disrupted digestion from an inflamed gut lining.

2️⃣ Chronic diarrhea or constipation

✨ Ongoing irregularity often reflects inflammation interfering with normal bowel function.

3️⃣ Abdominal pain or cramping

✨Inflammation can cause discomfort, especially after eating or during elimination.

4️⃣ Food sensitivities or intolerances

✨An inflamed gut barrier can allow partially digested food particles to trigger immune responses.

5️⃣ Fatigue and brain fog

✨Poor nutrient absorption and low-grade systemic inflammation often lead to tiredness and mental fog.

6️⃣ Acne and rashes

✨Skin issues like acne, eczema, or hives can reflect immune system dysregulation linked to gut inflammation.

7️⃣ "Creepy” or tingling skin

✨Some people with leaky gut or systemic inflammation report unusual sensations like tingling or crawling skin (paresthesia), often related to nervous system involvement.

Gut inflammation is largely ignored in conventional medicine, yet it holds the key to many issues... that is why assessing the gut is the cornerstone of my work

Curious what is going on in your gut??

If you think histamine intolerance is just about allergies , rashes and food sensitivities think again .... histamine may be playing games with your mood

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What’s the Connection?

Histamine isn’t just about sneezing or rashes-

it’s a powerful neurotransmitter that directly affects your brain and mood.

When histamine builds up in the body (because you have too much in circulation or not breaking it down well), it can overstimulate the nervous system and lead to mood symptoms like:

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1. Anxiety & Panic
• Histamine can activate the amygdala, the fear center of the brain.
• This can make you feel on edge, hyperaware, jittery, or even trigger panic attacks.
• You may notice racing thoughts, heart palpitations, or sudden waves of anxiety- especially after eating.

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2. Depression & Burnout
• Chronic histamine overload can exhaust the nervous system and lead to:
• Low motivation
• Fatigue or brain fog
• Feeling numb, flat, or hopeless
• This often happens after long periods of high anxiety or stimulation, like an internal crash.

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3. OCD Tendencies & Intrusive Thoughts
• Histamine affects glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors.
• It can lead to:
• Perfectionism
• Ruminating thoughts
• Mental looping (replaying conversations, over-checking, overthinking)
• Many people with histamine intolerance feel like they’re “stuck in their head” or can’t stop analyzing or worrying.

✨Learning to listen to your body:

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Clues Your Mood Is Linked to Histamine:
• You feel worse after wine, chocolate, leftovers, or fermented foods
• Your mood shifts with your cycle (histamine rises with estrogen)
• You also have symptoms like skin flushing, allergies, bloating, insomnia, or headaches
• You’re highly sensitive to smells, stress, or changes in routine