Integrative Medicine in Annapolis MD

Hair/Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

Hair sampling is easy and painless. Hair, rather than serum (blood), can give an indication of mineral status and toxin accumulation. Often, mineral imbalances show up in the hair long before (if ever) they show up in a blood sample.

WHAT IS HAIR/TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS IN ANNAPOLIS MD?

Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) in Annapolis MD is a highly sophisticated test that measures the mineral content in your hair sample. Think of minerals as the spark plugs in our bodies-every cellular function requires them!

WHY USE HAIR?

Hair sampling is easy and painless. Hair, rather than serum (blood), can give an indication of mineral status and toxin accumulation. Often, mineral imbalances show up in the hair long before (if ever) they show up in a blood sample.

WHAT CAUSES MINERAL IMBALANCE?

Diet, soil depletion, stress, certain medications & supplements, pollution, and genetics can all play a role in mineral imbalance.

WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL IMBALANCE?

A mineral imbalance may present with symptoms such as headaches, allergies, high blood pressure, fatigue, anxiety, depression, weakness, arthritis, menstrual irregularities, etc.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Schedule an appointment with our Nurse Practitioner, Liz, to see if HTMA is right for you. After reviewing your HTMA results, Liz will guide you in replenishing the minerals, specific to your unique makeup.

Download a copy of our Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis brochure here!

DUTCH hormone testing is a comprehensive test that assesses your sex hormones, adrenal hormones, organic acids, oxidative stress markers, and more. It is a convenient, at-home urine test that helps provide answers to difficult cases including hormonal causes of infertility, PCOS, PMS or PMDD, migraines, menopausal symptoms, insomnia, stress, adrenal fatigue, and more. DUTCH testing can be used for both women and men, is available in several different kits, and is often used in conjunction with serum testing.

Learn more at https://dutchtest.com/

GI-MAP (GI-Microbial Assay Plus)

As most of us now know, our health or lack thereof begins in the gut. Understanding our gut health really is the first step in getting to the root cause of imbalance, illness, or chronic symptoms, in order to begin the healing process. GI-MAP testing is a comprehensive at-home stool test that assesses microbiome and tests for inflammatory markers, parasites, "leaky-gut", viruses, h-pylori, and much more. GI-MAP testing can be done on children & adults.

Learn more at https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map

Here at Elevate Life, in our attempt to get to the root of illness, we regularly utilize serum testing through Labcorp as well. Serum testing can be incredibly helpful when assessing for endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, blood and metabolic disorders, etc. While we are strategic with our testing, and don't order unnecessary lab work, we are thorough and comprehensive in our ordering. For example, when a patient complains of symptoms suggestive of a poorly functioning thyroid, we will order a full thyroid panel, and not just a TSH. Serum testing is often used as a first step to more in-depth testing.

Ideally, our vitamins, minerals, and nutrients should come first from our diet. Eating nourishing foods is always the most important step in the healing journey. However, because of mineral depletion of our soil, poor gut absorption, and exposure to toxins, many of us are vitamin and mineral deficient, and need additional support.

That's where IV therapy comes into play. IV therapy allows vitamins and minerals to be quickly absorbed into your bloodstream, while being able to bypass your GI system. This means a more efficient and greater effect on your health. IV therapy can be incredibly helpful as part of a treatment plan which also prioritizes nutrition, movement, sleep, sunlight, and relationships.

IV therapy comes in many different formulations and is targeted for various conditions. Here at Elevate Life, we specialize in Myers' Cocktail, Glutathione, and Vitamin B12 injections.

Myers' Cocktail was created in the 1960s and has become the gold standard for IV nutrition. It can be used for a variety of conditions, or just for hydration & maintenance. Specifically, it is most widely used for fatigue, feeling run-down, dehydration, cardiovascular disease, and athletic performance. This infusion can also be very helpful during the postpartum period when dehydration and mineral depletion are so common.

It is a combination of vitamins & minerals mixed with normal saline. These infusions are well tolerated and take about 45 minutes.

Glutathione is our body's master antioxidant and has been shown to slow down the aging process. Oral glutathione is not readily bioavailable, meaning it's hard to absorb, but when it's given through an infusion or injection, can be very powerful. It's commonly used for improving skin glow/tone, elevated inflammatory/oxidative stress markers, athletic performance, or as an immunity booster.

Glutathione injections and infusions, if given alone, take just a few minutes.

B12 injections have become very widely used over the last few decades. They are most commonly used for improving fatigue and increasing energy, as well as treating nerve issues, like neuropathy. B12 is generally given as a quick injection in your muscle, but can also be added to Myers' cocktail infusions. Here at Elevate Life, we only use Methylcobalamin, which some experts suggest is more readily available than other formulations.

Before making a medical cannabis appointment, you must register with MMCC. Please visit Registration for Adult Patients (maryland.gov) and read through the directions on applying as an adult patient for medical cannabis. Once you have been approved, you may call our clinic to schedule a visit with our nurse practitioner, Liz. At that point, the provider will upload a written certification to your MMCC account and you will then be issued a medical cannabis card by MMCC. Feel free to call our office with questions.