Holistic Health By MK

Why can't I sleep?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Why are my hormones affecting sleep?

One of the most common complaints women have during perimenopause and menopause is poor sleep. Many women say they suddenly struggle to fall asleep, wake up frequently, or wake up at 3–4 AM and cannot

Testosterone for women

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Why Some Women Need Testosterone Therapy — While Others Need It lowered

Testosterone is often thought of as a “male hormone,” but it is also an important hormone for women. In fact, women produce testosterone in their ovaries<

How does DIM work for estrogen dominance

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Supplements come with side effects and may have drug interactions including HRT. It is important to discuss with your health care provider whether DIM is safe for you.

DIM: Supporting Healthy E

What to Expect at Your BHRT Appointment

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

What to Expect at Your BHRT Appointment
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) appointments are designed to understand your symptoms and create a personalized plan to help you feel your best.

Weight Loss Medications

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Many patients come into their BHRT appointment not only wanting their hormones balanced, but they are interested in trialing a weight loss medication. Lifestyle changes alone may not be effective in achieving weight loss goals, and sometimes a me

Normal Is Not Optimal in Hormones

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Many times patients will go to their primary care provider believing they have a hormone imbalance only to hear that everything is “normal”. Normal is not optimal, and when looking at normal reference ranges

Insulin resistance hormones and weight loss

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Many patients with PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, and men with low testosterone often complain about how difficult it is to lose weight and wonder about their metabolism. Patient’s describe putting weight on in their mid-section and despite being active and watching their diet, they still cannot lose weight. When the thyroid gland is not optimized and/or there is insulin resistance, losing weight can seem impossible. In lab work with...

Berberine

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 02:00:00 +0000

I recently took a course in Functional Medicine, vitamins, supplements, and nutrition through the Elite Nurse Practitioner. The course is supported by the American Nurse Practitioner Academy for Continuing Education, offering CME hours for education ho

Medical Weight Loss

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0000

I recently went to Toronto and did another course with Dr Neil Rouzier, an expert in hormone therapy. Dr Rouzier was hard fast on correcting insulin resistance and encouraged weight loss medication in those who need it, along with hormone therapy

Bioidentical Progesterone Cream: A Treatment For Acne

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000
I had an excellent opportunity to work in an acne clinic with dermatologists where I learned about the various types of acne and their treatment. While Accutane is the ultimate cure for cystic acne, with hormonal acne, bioidentical progesterone can also be an efficient treatment or adjuvant. Progesterone can be taken by mouth, or it can be applied as a cream. In hormonal acne, high androgens are the culprit, while high androgens may not be found in the blood of those suffering fr...

Do hormones help in weight loss?

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000
While exercise and diet play a crucial role in weight, there are many hormones involved and estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are no exception. Estrogen has a significant role in cholesterol metabolism, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. On the same token, progesterone has an effect on carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. As we age, the way adipose tissue (fat) is stored shifts from the hips, bottom, and thighs to being distributed around the abdominal ar...

What does BHRT Cost?

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000
Does Alberta Health Cover BHRT? Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is not covered under Alberta Public Health. If you have a health spending account, you can submit your receipts and be reimbursed for the consult and follow-up appointments, otherwise, it is an out-of-pocket expense. What does a BHRT consult consist of? Understanding your symptoms, and your lab work is the top priority of BHRT, you will receive an intake form that asks questions about your health history (it is ...

Could it be estrogen dominance or just not enough?

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000
Estrogen is important in both men and women. It is pivotal in glucose and lipid homeostasis, it supports the immune system, bone health, cardiovascular health, fertility, and also brain function. However, estrogen can also be the cause of many illnesses that people experience, both acute and chronic. As we age, estrogen typically decreases, which leads to tissue degeneration and some of the effects of low estrogen begin to manifest. Because of life processes an...

Hormonal Headache

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Headaches, particularly migraines are common in perimenopause, some women only begin to experience them in the phase leading to menopause. Many women (up to 40 %) report that they typically occur in the last half of their menstrual cycle.

Pregnenolone Steal Syndrome

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000
With Christmas here, it isn’t a pleasant experience for many, and some people find it an extremely stressful time, so I thought blogging about pregnenolone steal syndrome would be appropriate. While Christmas stress may be short-lived, many other stressors are prolonged. In response to stress, our adrenal glands begin to increase cortisol production in order to help the body cope. Pregnenolone is considered the “grandparent” hormone because it helps to prod...

Hair Growth Solutions Prescription Formula

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000
I advertised a prescription hair growth solution that I offer through a pharmacy I work with in Ontario. There is a lot of interest in this hair growth solution considering how common androgenic alopecia is. Given the fact that 50 % of men will experience the condition by the time they are 50 years old and with the number of women who also experience androgenic alopecia, it wasn't a surprise to me; thankfully, there is a solution. There are a number of diagnoses rel...

Menopause

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000
Perimenopause and menopause can be a positive stage in life, but for some women that are experiencing physiologic symptoms, it can be a very challenging time. Perimenopause/menopause can naturally begin as early as age 35. A woman is in menopause when she has not menstruated due to surgical removal of the ovaries, or due to the normal age-related process for 12 consecutive months. Some women experience hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, insomnia, ...

Low Testosterone in Men: AKA Andropause

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000
Andropause happens in men, is often not talked about, and is the result of decreasing testosterone and DHEA levels in the blood, and ultimately the tissues/organs. Andropause causes physical and psychological problems including but are not limited to: weight gain and uneven weight distribution, depression, mood changes, anxiety, fatigue, decreased concentration, decreased muscle strength, and hot flashes. Not only does it correlate with the development of chronic diseases such...

Adrenal Fatigue Support

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 21:00:00 +0000
Adrenal fatigue is a common disorder that is stress related and is marked by circulating cortisol levels along with signs and symptoms. If cortisol levels are below optimal levels signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue appear, if they are too high, metabolic syndrome signs and symptoms manifest (e.g weight gain, insulin resistance). In the modern world, numerous stressors affect people that are often prolonged, intense, and abundant. During these stressful periods of high-str...

Integrative Medicine Includes Dietary Supplements

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Integrative medicine includes dietary supplements, something I support in my practice as a primary care provider, I see that patients want to use this form of therapy in their quest for health and wellness. It is my opinion that advocating for patients who want to use integrative medicine is one of the most important things we can do as practitioners. While I certainly believe in conventional medicine, and do not support alternative medicine as a treatment or a cure for disorders or dise...