Category: Articles

In Part 1, we explored why long COVID following COVID-19 can be so persistent and complex. Now, let’s turn to what matters most: how to recover safely and effectively. The nickname "Long-Haul COVID" bears some truth; a slow, steady, systematic treatment plan wins this race. Functional medicine clinicians like ourselves, and Dr. Paul Anderson—particularly in…

You walk into a room and forget why you're there. You're mid-sentence, and the word just disappears. You've slept eight hours but feel like you haven't slept at all. You read the same paragraph three times, and none of it sticks. If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Brain fog causes are real,…

Months—or even years—after an initial infection with COVID-19, many patients continue to experience lingering symptoms, or even develop new ones. This condition, often called “long COVID,” is increasingly recognized in both conventional and functional medicine. Clinicians like Dr. Paul Anderson and Dr. Mark Hyman have helped clarify what can otherwise feel like a confusing and…

Most of us think of bacteria as simple, independent organisms—but in reality, they behave more like a coordinated community. Through a process called quorum sensing, bacteria communicate with one another, sense their population size, and act collectively. From a functional medicine perspective, this microbial “group decision-making” has important implications for both health and disease. What…

Puffed foods—whether made from corn, rice, quinoa, or even vegetables—are often marketed as light, healthy, organic, non-GMO, and convenient. But much like something (or someone) that’s a little too “puffed up,” there may be more "show" than real substance. To create that airy, crispy texture, whole foods undergo intensive industrial processing (ultra-processed foods, or UPFs).…

For decades, ibuprofen and acetaminophen have been the go-to remedies for everyday aches and pains. Found in nearly every household medicine cabinet, these drugs are considered safe when used as directed. However, growing research has raised concerns about the long-term effects of relying heavily on over-the-counter medications, especially when chronic pain is involved. A recent…

Mushrooms are having a moment—and for good reason. Long valued in traditional healing systems, these fascinating fungi are now gaining recognition in functional medicine for their wide-ranging benefits. From supporting immune balance to enhancing cognitive function, mushrooms offer a unique combination of nutrients and bioactive compounds that can nourish and protect the body in powerful…

Many people think carefully about what they eat—but far fewer stop to consider what they put on their bodies every day. Your skin is your largest organ and home to a rich ecosystem of microorganisms that make up the skin microbiome, a key part of your immune defense. From an integrative medicine perspective, protecting this…

Most people today have heard about the gut microbiome. But the gut is only one part of a much larger microbial ecosystem that protects and regulates the body. A microbiome refers to the community of beneficial microorganisms—primarily bacteria, but also fungi and viruses—that live on and inside us. These microbes are not just passive passengers.…