Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines

Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines Dr. Sarah Outlaw, BCDHH - Holistic Doctor - Safe, natural solutions for many health concerns. What is Nutrition Response Testing? GREAT NEWS!

Our Health Improvement Program Uses a Specific Method of Muscle Testing Called Nutrition Response Testing® to Create Designed Clinical Nutrition for each individual client. Who can this program benefit:

*Do you have one or more health conditions that have become chronic?

*Have you tried conventional medicine or even alternative practitioners without seeing or feeling an improvement in your health?

*Have you experienced a negative impact in your personal life, in relationships you’re your spouse or children, at your job, and/or in personal finances as a result of health issues?

*Are you afraid that in time your health issues are not going to get better and will probably continue to worsen unless effective changes are made? If you answer yes to any or all of these questions, and you are ready to commit to making the changes necessary to begin your journey to wellness, we invite you to participate in our Health Improvement Program here at NHIC. This program incorporates the process of Nutrition Response Testing® to effectively find the source of the health problem and gives us the tools to help you correct it. Health Improvement Program

Our Health Improvement/Nutrition Response Testing® Program requires your commitment to taking charge of your own health and your commitment to following recommendations faithfully in order to optimize your potential health benefits. In order to do this effectively we need to make sure that you are aware of what Nutrition Response Testing® is and upon what we expect of you. If you want to get healthy and stay healthy, and you are ready to take control to restore your health and wellness, then you are a candidate for this program. Nutrition Response Testing is very precise and scientific. However, if you were to be analyzed using Nutrition Response Testing before it was explained to you, you might find it strange, or simply not believable – only because it is probably very different from anything you may have experienced before. Nutrition Response Testing® is a non-invasive system of analyzing the body in order to determine the root cause of ill health. It uses muscle strength testing to communicate with the body’s own innate intelligence to evaluate the body’s response to a broad variety of substances that may be affecting health and function. Through our analysis we are testing your body’s neurological reflexes. These reflexes are the body’s way of telling us what and how the nervous system is doing. We test organs, glands, joints, muscles, etc. The body responds to these procedures reliably and consistently. This feedback is so precise that it opens the door to a safe and lasting recovery, even in cases where everything else has failed. YOUR BODY has the potential to fully repair most anything for itself, given the right nutrients and care. It is very important that you understand what Nutrition Response Testing® is and appreciate how it works. Otherwise, you are less likely to follow through and actually do what you need to do to get well. If you do not follow through, you will not experience the benefits you seek. In Nutrition Response Testing® we do not diagnose or treat disease. There are two parts to the program

Part 1 - Analysis – the assessment of your body’s current health status

*The analysis is done through testing the body’s own neurological reflexes and certain acupuncture points. Nutrition Response Testing® analyzes the different points and areas on the surface of the body that relate to the state of health and to the flow of energy in each and every organ and function of the body.

*The neurological reflexes are derived from the part of the nervous system whose job it is to regulate the functions of each and every organ. The acupuncture points are selected from the ancient Chinese system of acupuncture, which is thousands of years old.

* Each Nutrition Response Testing® reflex represents a specific organ, tissue or function, and it indicates the effect that energy or lack of energy, is having upon the body. By testing these reflexes, we have a system of monitoring your body at each visit that has proven to be extremely accurate clinically and that helps us identify exactly what the body needs and how well we are meeting that need. How Do You Do The Nutrition Response Testing® Analysis? Think about a common medical test called the electrocardiogram [EKG] that is used to test the neuro-electric activity of the heart. Like an EKG but instead of using a machine, the Nutrition Response Testing® practitioner tests the reflex areas through contact with his / her own hand. With the practitioner’s other hand, he / she will test the muscle of your extended arm. If the reflex being contacted is “active” the nervous system will respond by reducing energy to the extended arm and the arm will weaken and drop. This drop signifies underlying stress or dysfunction which can be affecting your health. Part 2 - Implementation – personalized health and nutritional recommendations and supplementation.

*Our next step is to test specific, time-tested and proven, highest-possible quality nutritional formulas against those weak areas, to find which ones bring the reflexes back to strength.

*Decades of clinical experience tell us that when we have found the correct nutritional supplements, as indicated by this procedure, and have worked out a highly personalized nutritional supplement schedule, we have identified the most important first step in correcting the underlying deficiency or imbalance that caused the reflex to be active in the first place. By following the program as precisely as possible, you are well on your way to restoring normal function and improving your health.

*In Nutrition Response Testing® we use Designed Clinical Nutrition to correct the cause of the problem, so that the body can regain the ability to correct itself. What is a Designed Clinical Nutrition? Designed Clinical Nutrition is what it says . . .

*Designed (specially prepared, based on a specific plan)

*Clinical (pertaining to the results gotten in clinical use or actual practice on huge numbers of patients over many years)

*Nutrition (real food, designed by nature to enable the body to repair itself and grow healthfully). Designed Clinical Nutrition is concentrated, whole food in a tablet, capsule, powder or liquid, prepared using a unique manufacturing process that preserves all of the active enzymes and vital components that make it work as Nature intended. These real food supplements have been designed to match the needs of the body, as determined by the positive response shown when tested against the active Nutrition Response Testing® reflexes that were found on your individual Nutrition Response Testing® analysis. These are nutrients you are simply not getting, or not assimilating, in your current diet. Designed Clinical Nutrition does NOT employ Over-The-Counter vitamins. O-T-C vitamins are pharmaceutically engineered chemical fractions of vitamin structures reproduced in a laboratory. O-T-C vitamins are not “genuine replacement parts” as they lack many of the essential elements normally present in WHOLE foods. SUMMARY

Through an analysis of your body’s reflexes, we help you to determine the exact nutrients you need to supplement your diet in order to bring about balance and better health. We make these highly concentrated therapeutic formulations available to you in tablets, capsules, powdered or in liquid form to “supplement” your current diet. That’s why they are called “food supplements.” Depending on your individual situation, we might also require that you make some specific changes in your diet & eating habits and in your routines, in order to bring about the best possible result. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Re-Introducing Myself to All the New Faces Here.Hi, I’m Dr. Sarah Outlaw. If you are new here, welcome!I am a board cert...
01/15/2026

Re-Introducing Myself to All the New Faces Here.

Hi, I’m Dr. Sarah Outlaw. If you are new here, welcome!

I am a board certified doctor of holistic health, master herbalist, clinical nutritionist, and functional bloodwork specialist. I am also an advanced muscle testing practitioner trained across multiple modalities. I became a health coach in 2006 and I have been helping people ever since.

I began seeing patients in a brick-and-mortar clinic in 2014 and since then my practice has expanded into multiple states and virtually worldwide. Today, I care for patients through both my Iowa clinic and my virtual clinic. I am honored to have seen over 100,000 patient visits and to have helped thousands people find real answers. I have spent twelve years in post-graduate education between degrees, certifications, and specialization in functional nutrition, muscle testing, herbalism, homeopathy, flower essence therapy, emotion code/body code, bloodwork interpretation, and root-cause clinical care.

My reason for becoming a practitioner was personal. At twenty years old I was misdiagnosed and told nothing was wrong even though my body was falling apart. I remained sick for over fifteen years. I experienced multiple miscarriages, hypothyroidism, neurological symptoms, overwhelming fatigue, and other issues that were constantly dismissed. It was not until I discovered the root cause of my symptoms including toxic metals, mold, Lyme, parasites, and viral burden that I finally began to rebuild my health.

As a mom of five, my mission became to make sure no one had to walk that journey alone or be dismissed the way I was. That mission is why I specialize in complex cases and why I work heavily with women and children. More than half of my practice is pediatric and I am deeply passionate about helping families thrive.

My approach blends multiple tools from the holistic healthcare toolbox. Functional bloodwork, muscle testing, nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, detox support, peptides, and nervous system support allow me to get to the root of what is actually driving symptoms instead of masking them. If someone wants real answers and real solutions, that is where my work shines.

If you are looking for a practitioner who listens, investigates, and treats you like the individual that you are, I would love to see you in my practice in 2026! We are currently located in Des Moines and moving to Waukee in March. Virtual care is also available for patients throughout the United States and select patients internationally. Please tell others about us! We’ve been in the Des Moines area for eight years and people still don’t know we’re here! We would love your help spreading the word!

You are always welcome here!
If you want to work together, send a message to apply for care.

-Dr. Sarah Outlaw, Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines

01/14/2026

A friendly reminder from the NHIC team to please be on time for your appointments whether they be telehealth or in person. We are rarely behind schedule but the reason we get behind is because the previous appointment was late. Please be considerate of the person whose appointment is next. Thank you! 

Mold exposure is far more common than most people realize. It is often the missing piece for the tired, inflamed, overwh...
01/14/2026

Mold exposure is far more common than most people realize. It is often the missing piece for the tired, inflamed, overwhelmed, and chronically unwell.

Symptoms can include:
• Fatigue and burnout
• Brain fog or memory issues
• Shortness of breath or chest tightness
• Chronic cough or sinus issues
• Dizziness and imbalance
• Anxiety or depressive symptoms
• Muscle and joint pain
• Histamine reactions and allergies
• Hormone disruption
• Temperature issues
• Poor stress tolerance
• Sleep issues
• Digestive complaints
• Frequent infections
• Unexplained inflammation
• Weight changes
• Neurological symptoms

Long-term or high exposure can progress into mold illness or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). CIRS is a persistent inflammatory state triggered by biotoxin exposure when the immune system is unable to clear the toxins properly. These patients tend to be the ones who do everything right and still feel unwell. They are told their labs are normal or their symptoms are unrelated, yet nothing improves.

Mold rarely appears alone. We routinely see co-factors like:
• Parasitic imbalance
• Lyme and co-infections
• Heavy metals
• Chemical burden
• Viral reactivation
• Autoimmune tendencies
• Hormone and thyroid changes
• Nervous system dysregulation

This is why mold patients often get misdiagnosed, dismissed, or passed from specialist to specialist with no answers.

At NHIC, we specialize in the tough cases. Mold illness, parasitic imbalance, Lyme, CIRS, chronic inflammation, and complex chronic illness have been our wheelhouse for well over a decade. We look at the entire system, do in-depth testing, address the root contributors, and support the nervous system and mitochondria so the body can actually handle the biotoxin load and move forward.

If you are struggling with unexplained symptoms or suspect mold exposure, do not ignore it. Your environment matters and your symptoms make sense.

If this sounds like you, apply to become a patient at the Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines either in person or virtual. We help people get answers that they have never been given before and we specialize in real solutions for complex cases.

Living with severe eczema can take over your entire life. It interferes with sleep, confidence, and comfort.Brian came t...
01/13/2026

Living with severe eczema can take over your entire life. It interferes with sleep, confidence, and comfort.

Brian came to NHIC miserable and itchy around the clock. After completing his initial four month program he is 95 percent improved and finally feels like himself again.

This is what root cause care looks like. When we support detox, drainage, immune modulation, nutrient density, and identify hidden triggers, the body often responds beautifully.

If you are struggling with skin issues, chronic symptoms, or feel like no one has looked for WHY your body is reacting, we would love to help.
Booking is open for new patients in January. Message me!

Dr. Sarah Outlaw
Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines

Modern kids are growing up nutrient deprived and immune overwhelmed and parents are paying for it.If your child keeps st...
01/13/2026

Modern kids are growing up nutrient deprived and immune overwhelmed and parents are paying for it.

If your child keeps struggling with allergies, eczema, digestion, focus, chronic colds, mood instability, or growth issues, you are not alone. This is not because moms are failing. The world your child is growing up in is different. The food supply is different. The exposures are different. The stressors are different.

In my practice, half of my patient base is pediatric. I am highly trained in pediatric nutrition and functional care and have seen more than 100,000 patient visits over the past decade. Kids respond incredibly well when we identify what their bodies are stressed by and what they need more of. As a mom of five, I understand both the clinical and day to day realities that families face.

Here is what we are seeing more of in kids today:
• Allergies and asthma
• Eczema and skin issues
• Chronic colds and ear infections
• ADD and ADHD
• Anxiety and depression
• Digestive issues
• Growth and focus struggles
• POTS
• PANS and PANDAS
• Parasites
• Lyme and post-infectious patterns

Medication can play a role in certain cases, but most of these patterns are driven by nutritional deficiencies, immune burden, toxicity and environmental stressors. Kids are not broken. They are overwhelmed.

With non-invasive muscle testing we can uncover food sensitivities, immune challenges, metal and chemical toxicity, and mold or environmental sensitivities. From there we build a personalized nutrition program to support the child’s systems at the root cause level.

Kids are designed to thrive. When we remove stressors and give them the right support, they often do.

If you want a different approach for your child’s health, you can book a pediatric consultation at the Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines.

We are officially accepting new patients for the new year and I have appointments available this week for both in-person...
01/13/2026

We are officially accepting new patients for the new year and I have appointments available this week for both in-person and telehealth.

Current openings:
• Telehealth Wednesday at 1 PM or 2 PM CST
• In person Thursday at 2:50 PM CST

If you have been thinking about investing in your health or finally getting to the root of what has been slowing you down, now is a great time to start. I build new patient consultations with muscle testing and functional lab analysis, so we avoid the guesswork and get a clear picture of what your body is telling us.

January New Patient Special:
• $197 for the Initial Consultation + Muscle Testing + Report of Findings + MVX Metabolic Vulnerability Index blood test
Includes the LabCorp requisition so you can run the MVX panel easily. This gives us deeper insight into metabolic resilience, inflammation, and why symptoms may be showing up.

If you prefer to start without the MVX panel, the initial visit is $175.

We are scheduling both in-person and telehealth appointments and do our best to keep new patient start times within two weeks so you can begin your health journey quickly.

Call 515-243-0173 to schedule. We would love to support you in taking your health back in 2026!

Got gut issues that no one seems to figure out? Read this.She came in after more than a year of bloating, burping, right...
01/12/2026

Got gut issues that no one seems to figure out? Read this.

She came in after more than a year of bloating, burping, right upper abdominal discomfort, brain fog, weight gain, and feeling unwell. Her doctor ran imaging, told her nothing looked “wrong,” and sent her home with an acid blocker. Her symptoms never improved and her quality of life kept declining.

Thirty seconds into muscle testing and the picture was clear. Gallbladder stress. Bile congestion. Digestive disruption between the gallbladder and pancreas. Large intestine involvement. And the kicker. Parasitic imbalance.

This is one of the most overlooked contributors to chronic digestive symptoms that I see. If bile is sluggish and the gallbladder is struggling, digestion goes off the rails and everything downstream pays the price. You get the bloating. The burping. The gassy discomfort. The food reactions. The fatigue. The brain fog. The weight that just will not budge.

If this story sounds familiar, you are not alone and it is not in your head. Your body is giving you clues and it is asking for help, not suppression.

If you are tired of feeling sick to your stomach all the time, tired of getting brushed off, tired of being told “everything looks normal,” and you want a root cause approach, you can apply to work with me at NHIC Des Moines.

New patient openings are available in January and February. Virtual options available.

Dr. Sarah Outlaw
Natural Health Improvement Center of Des Moines

Run. Don’t walk, to Kava DSM!
01/11/2026

Run. Don’t walk, to Kava DSM!

01/11/2026

Women are getting shamed right now for micro-dosing peptides by people who should know better, but obviously don’t. :/
Shamed for wanting better energy.
Shamed for wanting to lose inflammation weight.
Shamed for wanting metabolism and hunger cues to make sense again.
Shamed for wanting their bodies to feel like home.

Practitioners shaming other practitioners and patients for using micro-dosed peptides.
The narrative is that no one “holistic” would ever put something synthetic in their body.
Some are even comparing micro-dosing peptides to getting a vaccine.

Here is the reality.
Peptides are not vaccines.
Peptides are not immune programming.
Peptides are the language the body already uses to communicate.

Here is what a lot of the online commentary is missing.
Insulin is a peptide.
The body makes peptides all day long.
Peptides are not foreign. They are signaling molecules.

Synthesizing something does not make it bad. It simply puts it into a form that the body can use.

The body uses peptides every second to regulate hunger, metabolism, repair, hormones, and brain chemistry.
Micro-dosing peptides is not anti-holistic.
It is pro-biology.

Pharmaceutically-dosed peptides can override.
Micro-dosed peptides communicate.
There is a difference and it matters.

What I am seeing in the holistic space are very loud opinions being shared without understanding the science or the distinctions. To me it’s like tell me you really don’t know anything about peptides without telling me you really don’t know anything about peptides! The ignorance is very obvious based on the postings. 
If someone wants to speak on peptides, my suggestion is to get educated on what you are actually saying before shaming people who are trying to feel better.

Holistic care should not be about purity culture or performing perfect health.
It should be about honoring how the body actually works and helping people get better in the most intelligent way possible. It’s about what tools are needed in the toolbox to help people live well and thrive. 

If you are tired of being shamed for exploring tools that could help you thrive, welcome. You are in the right place.

💚Dr. Sarah Outlaw

Address

403 SW 8th Street
Des Moines, IA
50309

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 1pm - 6pm

Telephone

+15152430173

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