Dried Urine Hormone tests provide detailed answers to all your hormonal questions

DUTCH Hormone Testing – Get to the Root of Your Hormonal Mayhem

Hormones — those tiny chemical messengers that run the show. When they’re in balance, life hums along. When they’re out of whack? Cue the mood swings, mystery weight gain, acne breakouts, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, and “why am I crying over a tortilla commercial” moments.

While fertility struggles, menstrual issues, and menopause symptoms are the obvious hormone red flags, the truth is that hormonal imbalances can cause a wide range of sneaky symptoms. That’s why I love using DUTCH testing (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) in my practice — it’s like a full detective work-up for your endocrine system.

What’s a DUTCH Test?
You’ll collect 5 little urine samples in one day (easy peasy — no needles, no awkward lab visits). From those, we get a detailed map of your estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and even your estrogen detox pathways. It also shows how your body is converting and using stress hormones, which is huge for figuring out why you might feel wired, tired, or both.

Why it’s so useful:
You don’t always need to jump straight to hormone replacement therapy. Many imbalances can be corrected naturally with targeted Chinese herbs, supplements, acupuncture, and nutrition. DUTCH testing lets me pinpoint exactly which hormones are misbehaving — and why — so we can get them back in line without the guesswork.

Hormonal issues that benefit from DUTCH testing:

• Endometriosis

• PCOS

• Menopause & perimenopause symptoms

• Infertility (female & male)

• PMS & PMDD

• Erectile dysfunction

• Hair loss

• Acne

• Migraines

• Insomnia

• Chronic fatigue

• Anxiety

• Difficulty losing weight

The bottom line: DUTCH tests are simple, affordable, and insanely helpful for figuring out why you’re feeling off — and how to fix it naturally. I keep them stocked in my clinic for in-person patients, and I also offer phone consultations for those who live outside Durango.

Your hormones don’t have to be the boss of you — let’s get them behaving again.

Get Back to the OG you.

Why Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Might Be Your New BFF in Perimenopause

You know that moment when you’re standing in the kitchen, fridge wide open, and you have no earthly idea why you’re there? And then later, you burst into tears because your partner forgot to buy oat milk, followed by lying awake at 3am wondering if you should start an alpaca farm?
Yeah. Welcome to perimenopause.

Perimenopause is like that one friend who “just drops by” and overstays her welcome. She shows up anywhere from your late 30s to your mid-50s, rearranges your hormones without asking, and leaves you wondering if you’re losing your mind, your metabolism, and your ability to sleep — all at once.

The Symptom Parade 🎪

Here’s just a taste of what she brings to the party:

• Hot flashes that make you want to stick your head in the freezer
  
  

• Mood swings that rival a telenovela plotline
  
  

• Weight gain that laughs in the face of your kale smoothies
  
  

• Brain fog that makes you forget your kids’ names (briefly… probably)
  
  

• Night sweats that require middle-of-the-night sheet changes
  
  

• Vaginal dryness (oh yes, we’re going there)
  
  

• Insomnia, low libido, and the sudden urge to throat punch people for chewing too loudly
  

But here’s the kicker…

These symptoms aren’t just annoying. They’re signs that your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are doing a slow-motion conga line out the door — and that’s not just bad for your mood, it’s bad for your long-term health.

Estrogen, for example, is like the Beyoncé of your hormones — she’s involved in bone health, heart health, brain function, skin elasticity, and yes, vaginal lubrication. Lose too much of her too quickly and you’re at higher risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and cognitive decline. Add to that the fact that your brain is so dependant on estrogen that it will actually make you pack fat (estrogen stores in fat) onto your waistline to feed it like that carnivorous plant from little shop of horrors.

Why Bio-Identical Hormones are the Upgrade You Deserve

Bio-identical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones your body naturally makes — which means your body recognizes them as “self,” not as some weird synthetic imposter trying to crash the party.

The big perks:

• Better symptom relief without the side effects some women get from synthetics
  
  

• Support for bone density so you’re less likely to snap a hip trying to roller skate at your granddaughter’s birthday party
  
  

• Brain protection — estrogen is neuroprotective, meaning it helps keep your memory sharp and your mood stable
  
  

• Cardiovascular health — helps maintain healthy cholesterol and arterial flexibility and aids in weight loss.
  
  

• Better sleep, skin, and sex (you’re welcome)
  

The Myth Busting Section 🕵️‍♀️

Myth #1: “Hormones cause cancer.”
The Women’s Health Initiative study that freaked everyone out? It was based on synthetic hormones from pregnant horses (yes, really) combined with synthetic progestins — not bio-identical hormones. Later research shows bio-identicals do not carry the same risks and, in many cases, are safer.

Myth #2: “I’m not menopausal yet, so I don’t need hormones.”
Perimenopause can last 4–10 years. Waiting until you’re officially menopausal is like waiting to water your plants until they’re crispy.

How We Figure Out Your Hormone Story

Here’s where we ditch the “one size fits all” approach. At my clinic, I use saliva and urine testing through ZRT and DUTCH labs to get a complete picture of your hormone patterns — not just estrogen and progesterone, but cortisol rhythms, testosterone levels, and how your body is actually metabolizing these hormones.

From there, we work through a whole-body approach:

1. Support the HPA axis — Using targeted supplements and Chinese herbs to restore balance between your hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals (because stress is often the puppet master behind hormone chaos).
   
   

2. Nourish and detox — Making sure your liver pathways and hormone receptors are open so you can process hormones safely. Ensure that your microbiome is a happy little ecosystem.
   
   

3. Compounded hormone options — If needed, I can connect you with a compounding pharmacy for personalized progesterone and testosterone prescriptions in the exact dose and form your body needs.
   
   

4. Lifestyle shifts — Because no hormone works in a vacuum. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management all play a starring role.
   
   Bottom Line

Perimenopause doesn’t have to be a slow, sweaty, brain-fogged slide into the abyss. Bio-identical hormone replacement — combined with smart testing, HPA axis support, and targeted herbal/supplement therapy — can smooth the ride, protect your long-term health, and make you feel like you again.

If you’re tired of feeling like a hormonal crime scene, let’s test your levels and create a plan that has you sleeping, smiling, and remembering why you walked into the kitchen.

Call the clinic at 970-442-0284 or click “Schedule Now” — because you deserve to feel amazing in this next chapter.

"Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic" – Hormones Gone Wild

If, like me, you were a flannel-decked teen in the '90s, chances are you’ve blasted the Red Hot Chili Peppers' “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” on your discman on your walk to school, while pretending to be in a music video. These days, the song is more than a nostalgia trip—it’s the oddly perfect anthem for what I see in my clinic: the hormonal chaos linking female fertility patients and older male veterans.

What could they possibly have in common? Insulin resistance. It’s not sexy, but it is powerful—and it’s messing with everyone’s hormones.

It All Starts with Blood Sugar

Thanks to genetics, stress, and a diet heavy in processed carbs and sugary drinks (yes, even “healthy” ones like Vitamin Water), insulin resistance is now practically a rite of passage. When patients wear continuous glucose monitors, they’re shocked to find that pizza and bagels spike their blood sugar more than candy.

And that sugar rollercoaster? It’s not just about diabetes—it’s hijacking your hormones.

Ladies First and the HOrmone Spiral

In women, insulin resistance often fuels PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which is more metabolic than gynecological—despite the name. Here’s what happens:

• Elevated androgens like testosterone lead to acne, facial hair, and hair loss.

• That testosterone then converts into estrogen, causing estrogen dominance, weight gain, and a higher risk of fibroids and cysts.

• Meanwhile, progesterone drops, periods get irregular or disappear altogether, and ovulation takes a hit—bad news for fertility.

Now the Fellas, The Estrogen Belly suprise!

In men, insulin resistance does the reverse. Belly fat becomes a factory for converting testosterone into estrogen. The result?

• Less muscle,

• More fatigue,

• Disappearing libido,

• Elevated risk of heart dieasee.

• And Body hair fading like your memory of the 90”s.

  Basically, your belly is working against your masculinity.
  
  Cortisol: The Hormone Saboteur

  Stress makes everything worse. Chronically high cortisol levels spike blood sugar just as much as dessert does. (Ever worn a CGM during tax season?) Many of my patients—especially those with PCOS—show sky-high cortisol on lab tests, making hormonal balance nearly impossible.

  Don’t Forget Your Gut

  Constipation is another common link, especially in PCOS. If you're not pooping regularly, you’re not clearing out excess estrogen—it's just getting reabsorbed. Add in microbiome imbalance, and you've got the perfect storm for hormone dysfunction.

So What’s a guy or gal to do?

1. Calm the Heck Down

Stress spikes cortisol. Cortisol spikes blood sugar. Find your zen: walk, meditate, laugh, delegate. And if that fails, hug your dog.

2. Cut the Sugar

No soda, sweet tea, juice, or sneaky “health” drinks.

• Eat more protein (grass-fed meat, nuts, legumes).

• Get at least 5 servings of real veggies daily (V8 doesn't count).

• Hydrate like it’s your job.
  
  

3. Try Acupuncture

It helps with hormone balance, gut health, stress reduction, and calming the nervous system. Bonus: it’s nap therapy with needles.

4. Use Plants, But Wisely

I’ve had great success with berberine, myo-inositol, DIM, vitex, and spore-based probiotics. But this is not a DIY project—what works for one patient may backfire for another. Hormone, blood sugar and microbiome testing is key, all of which I offer in my office.

Final Thought

Whether you're a woman struggling with fertility or a man watching his energy and libido fade, blood sugar isn’t just about diabetes—it’s at the root of a lot of hormonal misery.

So yeah, maybe “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” was never meant to be a hormone anthem. But if it gets stuck in your head every time you reach for a donut... I won’t be mad about it.

I get asked this question quite a lot and, unfortunately, there’s no real universal answer. In the grand scheme of things, our approach to health and wellness here in America is a bit backwards compared to many other parts of the world.

From a fireman’s perspective, we tend to concentrate more on the drama of putting out the flames that are engulfing our living room (or gallbladder) rather than focusing our attention on not playing with matches in the first place. To our credit, we in the Western world have some pretty amazing and inspiring ways of putting out fires when it comes to health. We are fortunate to have incredible life saving medications, surgeries and diagnostics at our fingertips, which are wonderful but can often be relied upon in ways that create a pretty unhealthy approach to health. And I get it, putting out fires is sexy, surgeons don’t spend 8-10 years in school and residencies so that they can tell you to eat more apples and go for a walk, they are in it for the love of the heroics behind the surgery.

In China, at least in the good ol days when Chinese Medicine was the only medicine; you paid your Acupuncturist when you were well. What a novel idea right? Imagine if we paid our physicians for keeping us well, for helping us avoid illness and disease rather than for saving us from the very thing that might have been prevented in the first place. Kind of crazy to wrap your mind around, isn’t it?

We don’t operate that way, most of us have grown into a society that waits until things are broken to fix it, rather than thinking about how we can prevent the break in the first place. I get it, we’re busy, we don’t always have time to eat right, work-out, meditate and visit our Acupuncturist, chiropractor or massage therapist regularly.

In my practice, I do quite a bit of putting out flames, but I always search for the underlying cause, the secret pyro that lit the fire in the first place. While we can often achieve results after one treatment, it usually takes 3-10 treatments to really resolve the issue. Because we are so used to taking a pill to mask our symptoms without ever addressing the underlying root cause, this approach can feel a bit daunting to some. Getting to the root takes time, and the longer you’ve been battling pain or disease, the longer it can take to unearth the underlying catalyst. Fortunately, I’m a pretty impatient Acupncturist, I like to see results and make them stick fast. Over my past 12 years of practice, i’ve discovered that the closer we can cluster those first 3-5 treatments, the more effective and efficient our results will be. Once we get you to a place where you feel human again, we can then stretch the time between treatments farther and farther apart until you are no longer in need of my services. At that point, you can switch to a more preventative approach to healing, by coming seasonally or at the very beginning stage of pain or illness, at the point where we can set you straight with just one or two treatments.

Feeling triggered?  Acupuncture can solve your Trigger Finger

If you’ve ever had your finger get stuck in a bent position and then snap straight you’ve experienced first hand, the annoying and painful condition known as Trigger finger.  

What is Trigger Finger?

When inflammation narrows the space within the sheath that surrounds the tendon of an affected finger it can result in the locking of that finger in a permanent or semi-permanently bent position.  Repetitive gripping actions through work or hobbies are often the culprit and this condition is seen more often in women or those with diabetes.

Symptoms

• Finger stiffness, especially first thing in the morning

• Popping or clicking with movement

• Tenderness or nodules in the palm at the base of the finger

• Finger catching or locking in bent position

• Finger locked in bent position and unable to straighten

Western Treatment

Your MD may recommend NSAIDs, splints, steroid injections or surgery.  All of which can further complicate the issue.   

Get Trigger Happy with Acupuncture

Acupuncture works surprisingly well for trigger finger, in fact, I’ve helped dozens of patients reduce or even resolve their issue completely.  By needling points around the affected area we are able to gently release the constriction or stagnation that’s blocking the smooth motion of the tendon.  Additionally, by injecting homeopathic Traumeel into the affected area, we can reduce inflammation and pain while promoting healing.  Moxibustion, a form of herbal heat therapy can be applied to the hand and finger as well to help increase blood flow and warm away arthritis. 

Five steps you can take right now to reduce your trigger finger:

1. Schedule an Acupuncture treatment

2. Start taking vitamin B6. B6 Pyridoxine has been shown in studies to significantly reduce trigger finger in many adults, especially those with swollen hands. Take the P-5-P version of B6 to avoid toxicity at 25-50 mgs daily.

3. Take magnesium: magnesium not only amplifies the effects of B6, but also encourages muscle relaxation and calms the nervous system.

4. Try some stretches; check out a few here.

5. Self massage the palm and any nodules along the finger joint.

And why can't my health practitioners stop talking about it?

After years of flinging this mystical myofascial word around in the office and at the studio, it recently occurred to me that the majority of my clients have no idea where or what their myofascia is and why I can't shut up about it.  Therefore, I've decided to compose a series of newsletters detailing the different myofascial lines, how their imbalances can manifest in your body and how Acupuncture and yoga can help. So, fasten your seat belts folks, for numero uno in a series of 6 newsletters where we will tackle the big question, what is myofascia?

Were you aware that you have super powers?

 
Well, maybe not in the way that you're thinking, but underneath the skin, your entire body is held snuggly in what resembles a spiderman suit. This web of myofascia surrounds and supports all of your muscles in a flexible yet strong silk threaded sweater  that resides just beneath the skin.  This web of tissue comprises your very own spidey suit and forms as a highly intelligent and sensitive network of microscopic cords which connect every part of the body to each other via tensegrity.  This tensegrity or interconnectedness is what gets all of your health practitioners and body workers so excited.  It means that just Like a snag on a sweater, damage to a single area of your fascia can affect distant areas in the body, sometimes even after years.  

When fascia gets in a kink it can be a real drag

Healthy fascia is soft and supple, but prolonged sitting in cars, desk jobs, over exercise (without stretching) and physical trauma can cause the fascia to become inflamed and lose its pliability, turning our fishnet body sock into a tangled up superglue nightmare. Over time, the  result can be an endless feeling of stuckness and pain experienced in a variety of places, from headaches and neck pain to sciatica, tight or torn hamstrings, hip issues and plantar fasciitis with numbness and tingling, breathing difficulties, inflexibility and very poor posture.  
 

Tom Meyers and Ida Rolf

You can't talk about myofascia without sighting the brilliance of these two.  Dr. Ida Rolf, developed and introduced the therapy of Structural Integration as a way of correcting the health issues resulting from poor posture. She understood the importance of a neutral spine, core strength and the vital role supple fascia play in proper alignment.  Tom Meyers took things further, by outlining in great detail (details that make it difficult to keep your eyes opened when reading his manuals) the different pathways these myofascial trains take and their relationship to the body. 
 

The unsticking of you

Don't let you super hero underwear get into a bunch.  There are a variety of ways to help your fascia recover it's limber and sleek self.   Acupuncture can help rehydrate fascia by activating the trigger points (pulls in the sweater) that refer pain to other parts of the body.  I work with the myofascia every day in my office by releasing  muscle tension and increasing blood flow to the affected area.  I can also help by recommending diet and supplement prescriptions to aid in reducing inflammation.  There'll be no time for slouching either, as you'll be expected to take an active role in your recovery.  I'll give you insights into your own postural habits and strategies to rectify those imbalances with specific therapeutic yoga poses tailored to meet your needs.