In today’s world, we’re exposed to toxins from nearly every angle—polluted air, processed foods, household cleaners, and even personal care products. Over time, these toxins can accumulate in our bodies, potentially contributing to fatigue, inflammation, and a weakened immune system. While our bodies are equipped with natural detoxification systems, such as the liver and kidneys, they can become overwhelmed. This is where infrared sauna therapy offers a powerful and supportive solution.

How Infrared Saunas Enhance Detoxification
Sweating is one of the body’s primary methods of eliminating toxins, and infrared saunas amplify this process by encouraging deeper, more productive sweat. Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas penetrate your skin and heat your body from within. This deep, cellular-level heat stimulates sweat glands to release stored toxins, including heavy metals like lead and mercury, and environmental pollutants such as BPA.

Infrared sauna...

 When was the last time you really thought about what’s in your skincare? If you check the ingredient list on most products, the first thing you’ll likely see is water. While that might seem harmless—or even beneficial—it actually dilutes the effectiveness of active ingredients. Even worse, the reliance on water often means more synthetic preservatives are added to maintain shelf life, which can irritate sensitive skin and disrupt your skin’s natural balance.

Oliveda is changing the game. This revolutionary European skincare brand has reimagined what skincare should be by eliminating water entirely. Instead, they focus on nutrient-dense, bioavailable ingredients that work harder and smarter for your skin. Every product is powered by the olive tree, nature’s ultimate healer, to target fine lines, wrinkles, redness, dryness, and even inflammation. The result? Skin that looks and feels better, naturally.

As a functional medicine physician, I’m meticulous about the products I use and rec...

 Infrared sauna therapy has become a popular wellness tool, but what sets it apart from traditional saunas? The secret lies in its unique ability to heat the body directly using infrared light, bypassing the need for excessively high temperatures. This approach not only creates a more comfortable environment but also delivers a range of health benefits that go deeper than the surface. Understanding the science behind this therapy is the first step in appreciating its transformative potential.

How Infrared Saunas Work
Infrared saunas use invisible light waves to gently heat your body from within. Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air around you to induce sweating, infrared saunas penetrate up to 1.5 inches below the skin. This deep heating activates your body’s natural processes, increasing circulation, relaxing muscles, and stimulating a detoxifying sweat. By raising your core temperature, infrared therapy mimics the effects of moderate exercise, boosting cardiovascular functi...

Our liver doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. Sure, it’s known as the body’s “detox center,” but from detoxification to digestion, immunity, and energy production, its functions extend far beyond what we might initially consider.

The liver’s health (or lack thereof) can impact everything from sluggish digestion to fatigue and even low immune resilience. Let’s dive into why liver health matters way more than just flushing out toxins and how you can support it in a way that makes a real difference in your overall well-being.

Why Your Liver Is Doing More Than You Think

The liver isn’t just a detox machine – it has to-do list that’s never-ending. Here are just a few of the key roles it plays:

1. Detoxing: The liver filters toxins from the blood, metabolizes medications, and breaks down environmental chemicals. It converts toxins into water-soluble compounds, which are then excreted via the kidneys or bile. This keeps us from being weighed down by harmful chemicals, but it’s just o
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The following blog is about our previous Women's Retreat and our vision behind its inception. If you're interested, stay tuned in your emails about any retreats in the near future!

Over the course of my almost 25-year wellness career I’ve worked with patients individually, I’ve led workshops of fifty and I’ve lectured to hundreds in a corporate setting. I’ve discussed health with toddlers (thanks to Parker’s preschool), taught stretching to the elderly and infirmed and even worked with attorneys looking to live healthier, happier lives.  I have had the opportunity to work with clients from Chicagoland to Austria (unfortunately not in person - yet!). But something was missing…

For those of you that have had the chance to visit our clinic in the Chicago suburbs it was envisioned fifteen years ago while I was finishing up Chiropractic school. I wanted somewhere clients would feel comfortable. Somewhere that didn’t scream “doctors office”. If we were to be someone’s first introduction to...

As the weather is changing and you are spending more time outdoors, you’ll be noticing those pesky critters biting your exposed skin. Especially after a nice rain, mosquitos are everywhere and it’s hard to find a good repellent that keeps them away!

If you are tired of putting chemicals all over day after day, you are in luck! There are some natural remedies out there that actually work!

If you are an essential oil pro, or novice, there are some great ways to use them to avoid bug bites. The first way to keep the mosquitos at bay is to create your own bug spray. Grab or buy any glass spray bottle, add witch hazel, water, and a tbsp of vodka as your base. Then you can add a combination of oils that not only smells great but that bugs hate! A good combination is Rosemary, Peppermint, Citronella, Lemongrass, and Cedarwood. 

If you currently use or have thought of using an essential oil diffuser at home, they are fantastic to take outside! You can diffuse the same oils you use in a spra...

Now that summer is wrapping up, lets talk exfoliation.  Skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays an important role in elimination.  Fall is a great time to set the refresh button and remove that dead skin, unblock pores due to sweating and sunscreen, and get in a little bit of self care. 

The best way to start is with a good dry brushing session. The mechanical action of dry brushing is wonderful for exfoliating dry winter skin. It also helps detoxify by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage. Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also stimulates your nervous system, which can make you feel invigorated afterward. 

The best way to dry brush is to always move upwards and in towards your heart. This shouldn’t take long, a few minutes max. That’s when we get to move on to the fun part.  I love mixing up my own sugar/salt scrubs with some essential oils and coconut oil. Hop in the shower, give yourself a nice rubdown, inhale those o...

Working with a functional medicine professional can be exciting and rewarding. At the beginning of your journey, your doctor may start with a few simple tests to see what contributing factors are responsible for your current situation. Later on if you find that you have implemented lifestyle changes and you are not seeing the results your doctor expects, testing may be exactly just what the doctor orders!! Below are the four tests most frequently used by Dr. Jordan Leasure at her clinic in Illinois. If you’ve completed any of these please share your experiences below.

1. ORGANIC ACID TEST

This is one of Dr. Jordan’s favorite tests for a variety of reasons. It’s easy to complete - just pee in a cup at home! It gives a TON of information - Dr. Jordan calls it the “poop of the poop”. Essentially it measures metabolites - a fancy word for the end products of your metabolism - when you create energy and eliminate waste. It gives an overall look at your health. People with chronic illnesse...

For many people the word detox sounds scary, depriving and unnecessary.  The reality is we are inundated with toxins on a daily basis and they are wreaking havoc on our systems.  Every second of every day our bodies work on eliminating toxins that we are exposed to and it is extremely effective in doing so.  Problems arise when we overload the system.  

We eat chemically laden, processed foods.  We use products in our homes and on our bodies which contain plenty of toxins.  We breathe in toxins, and follow it up with our alcoholic beverage of choice at night. All of these items independently of each other won’t cause a system crash, but when you combine them, over the months and years, your body is crying for help.

Many symptoms that are considered common or normal most likely are signs of toxic overload.  Headaches, fatigue, brain fog, gas, bloating, pain and even difficulty losing weight may all be due to an inability to detox properly.

This may all sound daunting, but there is a ...

Do you ever feel tired, run-down, or experience low energy and you’re not sure why?? Have you considered what you eat and drink on a daily basis? Because we are so busy, we don’t take the time to think about what goes into our bodies. I am guilty of all of the above. Since I work in the medical profession, I know what I should be doing to take care of my body, but as Salt N Pepa would say, “Girl’s what’s my weakness!! FOOD!” If you ask Dr. Jordan or Dr. Jade they will tell you that there might be some things I can change in my diet. My biggest weakness is drinking pop. I try to not drink it every day, but you can’t have pizza and water!! (I like to tell myself that so I don’t feel guilty.) However, if I’m going to start feeling better, I need to make some changes. Dr. Jade hosted a seminar called: To Detox or Not to Detox, so I decided to stay and learn a few new things, and boy did I ever. After the seminar, I decided to take the 6 day detox challenge to see for myself. Therefore, dur...