Blog

Breast Health Awareness Month: How to Care for Your Hormones, Breasts, and Whole Self in Midlife By Dr. Jena Hullman, Functional Wellness Practitioner, Traverse City, Michigan There’s something about October in northern Michigan. The maples turn gold and red, the air gets crisp, and life naturally starts to slow down. It’s a beautiful reminder that change is part of every season, including the ones our bodies move through. October is also Breast Health Awareness Month, and it’s close to my heart. So often we think of breast health as a single appointment, but it’s really part of how we care… Read More »

The Oxytocin Advantage: Why This Hormone Is the Key to Women’s Health, Mood, and Hormonal Balance   What Is Oxytocin and Why Does It Matter for Women? Oxytocin is a neuropeptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. Often called the “connection hormone” or “bonding hormone,” oxytocin plays a far more complex role in women’s health than most conventional medicine acknowledges. For women specifically, oxytocin is a primary regulator of the nervous system, emotional wellbeing, hormonal balance, and stress response. When oxytocin levels are adequate, women feel connected, grounded, and safe — states that are not… Read More »

If you’ve been Googling your symptoms at midnight wondering if you’re losing your mind — welcome. You’re probably not. You might just be in perimenopause. And before you say “but I’m only 38” — yes, it can start that early. Most women expect perimenopause to arrive somewhere around 50 with a dramatic entrance and a hot flash. In reality, it tends to sneak in the side door years earlier, wearing the disguise of anxiety, bad sleep, and jeans that no longer fit the way they used to. So what does it actually look like in the beginning? Your Sleep Goes… Read More »

Every single person on this planet came from a mother. It’s one of those truths so obvious we rarely stop to consider it. Whether your relationship with your mother was nurturing or complicated, absent or all-consuming, the archetype of “mother” lives inside all of us. It’s the energy of care, nourishment, protection, and unconditional love. But here’s what I’ve noticed in my years of practice: most of us are terrible at mothering ourselves. What Mothers Know About Care Mothers do extraordinary things. They notice the slight change in temperature that means a fever is coming. They know when to push… Read More »

Why Heat and Cold Are Powerful for Recovery, Brain Health, and Hormone Balance Fresh out of a challenging yoga class, I was already thinking about my next move. Not water. Not a protein shake. The infrared sauna. Since when does a Vinyasa class make your muscles tremble like you’ve just climbed Everest? My arms were shaking, my water bottle was empty, and my mind was already drifting toward my favorite recovery ritual: stepping into a cocoon of heat and letting my body do what it does best—repair. Here’s the delicious truth about infrared sauna therapy: One of the most indulgent… Read More »

Last updated: June 2026. Nobody talks about the mud. We talk about the breakthrough — the moment the brain fog lifts, the night sweats stop, the weight starts moving again, the anxiety finally quiets. We hear about the women who found their answers and feel like themselves again. But the stretch right before all of that? The part that’s exhausting, confusing, and honestly a little demoralizing? That part tends to happen in private. And that’s exactly why you need to hear about it. If your perimenopause symptoms feel worse before they get better — you are not doing it wrong…. Read More »

Last updated: June 2026. You’ve done everything right—filled your plate with rainbow-colored vegetables, chosen quality plant-based proteins, included healthy fats, and maybe even invested in premium supplements. Yet that vibrant energy and glowing health you expected? Still frustratingly out of reach. What if the mystery behind your persistent health concerns isn’t about what’s on your plate, but what’s happening after you eat it? Your digestive system is nature’s most sophisticated processing plant. It’s not enough for nutrients to simply enter your body; they must be broken down, transported across your intestinal barriers, and successfully delivered to hungry cells throughout your… Read More »