What Is Integrative Medicine?

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Thyroid and Adrenal Problems - Many patients that Dr. Vaughan sees have hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid). This can be diagnosed by blood tests that check the free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and TSH levels. Sometimes these levels will be normal. Then we look to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Vitamins D and A, Selenium, Zinc, Iron, Tyrosine, and Iodine are all critical cofactors for the hormones to work. Without these nutrients, the hormones cannot deliver the message to your cells and tell your cells to make more energy. Environmental toxins, heavy metals like mercury, high stress, progestin drugs, steroids, and a pre-diabetic state can all slow down your body, even though your thyroid hormone levels are "normal". We take a more holistic approach, examining every factor that may play into your body's ability to produce energy. The thyroid hormone levels are only one aspect.

We also treat adrenal fatigue. As our lives get more hectic and more stressed, so do our adrenal glands. Patients may have overactive or underactive adrenals, or adrenal glands that alternate between these two extremes. We use a saliva test to measure levels of cortisol throughout the day, along with other conventional tests of cortisol if indicated, to determine how well one's adrenals are working. Treatment includes supplements, dietary changes, and learning to better handle stress with breathing techniques, meditation, and lifestyle changes.