Balance Integrative Medicine

08/25/2025

I've been told my informative posts tend to be excessive. But I am an educator..and I've always believed knowledge and wisdom to take precedence over dumbing anything down. Especially in this day and age when our when our attention span is being conditioned for poor endurance (a sign of early neurodegeneration, by the way).
I will not enable the dumbing of society. So here we go...

Did you know your body has a detox superhighway just for estrogen?

Your estrogen isn’t just floating around—it's constantly being broken down and cleared by enzymes. Think of it like a relay race:

CYP enzymes decide one of these three paths:
✨️2-OH estrogens = anti-inflammatory, protective.
✨️4-OH estrogens = reactive + DNA-damaging if not neutralized.
✨️16-OH estrogens = growth-promoting, linked to fibroids + hormone chaos.

Then, COMT steps in to calm the fire—methylating harmful metabolites to make them safer.

Finally, UGT & SULT are the packaging crew—boxing everything up so your liver and gut can send estrogen OUT of the body.

But here’s the catch… 🚨
When SNPs (gene variants), toxins, or nutrient deficiencies slow this process, estrogen can pile up in the wrong lanes—leading to PMS, heavy periods, endometriosis, mood swings, and even higher risk states.

So, how do you support your estrogen detox crew? 👇

🥦 Foods that help:

Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, kale, Brussels) → boost CYP’s protective 2-OH pathway.

Green tea, rosemary → enhance COMT.

Citrus, berries, garlic, onions → fuel UGT & SULT.

High-fiber foods → help carry estrogen OUT through the gut.

☠️ Things that block the system:

Pesticides & herbicides 🚜

BPA & plastics 🥤

Obesogens (chemicals that promote fat gain + store estrogens)

Heavy alcohol use 🍷

Endocrine-disrupting cosmetics 💄

Your genes load the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger. Supporting these enzymes = better hormone balance, mood, energy, and lower risk. 💪

07/29/2025

During the (1644-1912) in China, was going through a big transition.

had come to China and was making an impact. This caused to be placed on the back burner of health. It was considered "low-class" and was not suitable to the wealthy (Boy, how things have flip-flopped compared to today). The wealthy preferred and medications over .

In the early 1800s,
Just like many other important aspects of history that had been destroyed to support the will of individuals, was oppressed. The practice and teaching of was banned, and there were severe consequences to those who went against the law.

During that period, there was an emperor in China who did not want acupuncturists to see his wife naked and insisted on . He banned acupuncture as a part of his agenda.

But it was important for the village people to preserve their culture. They believed in honoring their ancestors who worked for thousands of years to acquire such deep . Therefore, they kept some Acupuncture techniques hidden in the villages to protect the work.

Fast forward to modern day:
When I was interning in a few years ago, I noticed how sacred knowledge was to the doctors.
Textbooks are a great place to start, but health is subjective, and clinical serves to be more valuable -and TCM has thousands of years of clinical experience on human beings.

There was a man who discovered an old Acupuncture technique hidden in the villages and brought it into the common world. The technique is called which translates into . As intimidating as the therapy sounds, it is basically painless as you can see in the video.

Today, the research is thorough. Huo Zhen is used to treat , , etc. My group even experienced its efficacy on . 1 Huo Zhen treatment is equivalent to 10 Acupuncture treatments.

The man passed his knowledge down to his son, .HeLin. Although this therapy is used in the majority of clinics and hospitals, my friends and I were beyond fortunate to learn directly from the lineage of Dr. He Lin.

07/12/2025

July 11 was my Sifu's birthday, ...I like to commemorate his birthday with one of the greatest life lessons I've ever gotten from him..

In 2016 and 2017,
I spent the Summers learning Martial Arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Shaolin Temple in Henan China. It was the only medicine program ever hosted for foreigners by Shaolin Monks.

Learning medicine from Shaolin Monks took me beyond the understanding of health by conventional standards.

Aside from learning about Acupuncture, Feng Shui, Esoteric studies, Tuina, Cupping, Gua Sha, Tai Chi and Qi Gong...
I learned that Chinese Medicine is a way of life.
(Gong Fu has also been tightly intertwined with health from the very early days of Chinese Medicine thousands of years ago.)

It was one thing to experience these wonderful teachings being applied, but it was an entirely different experience living it.

Sifu not only taught us valuable lessons on life, he actually lived them. I am grateful to have learned from someone who also 'walks the walk'.

A valuable lesson he taught me was that life entails the balance of 3 things:
1. Work
2. Rest
3. Play

When you work, work hard. So that when you rest, you rest deeply.
And when you play, play hard. So that when it is time to work, you will be rejuvenated, and you will be able to work harder.

Until I see you again..
Thank you Sifu.
Amitoufo
🙇🏾‍♂️🙏🏾

07/04/2025

Like many, Kate Middleton takes advantage of Acupuncture for its many health benefits

Kate Middleton said that she had acupuncture during her recovery from cancer, according to a new report about her meaningful visit to Colchester Hospital.

06/02/2025

I gave this mountain man of muscle his first Acupuncture treatment... Which was an absolute honor. has been making me cry with laughter for years. His genius level of sarcasm is in a league of its own. But after getting to know him, we learned how heart centered he is. From what i experienced, he is a man of faith who carries the light.

I learned something from him..
I asked him, does it ever bother you when people come up to you and ask you for pictures all the time?
He responded with, everytime someone comes up to me, I see it as little sprinkles of God's blessings that they want to celebrate me. I am grateful for them.

He really anchored me into a more positive perspective on life. Spiritual biohacks 😉
Im lucky to call him a friend now.

Shout out to Sandy for creating this expo, which keeps health care professionals like me at the forefront of the most fascinating advancements in the wellness industry.

05/19/2025

You’ve probably had a cholesterol test before, right? Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL… all those numbers. But here’s the thing—they don’t always tell the full story. That’s where the NMR Lipoprofile comes in, and why I incorporate it as a standard panel in all of my blood tests for my patients.

This test looks at the size and number of the particles that carry cholesterol in your blood—not just how much cholesterol you have floating around. Why does that matter? Because two people can have the same LDL number, but one might have big, fluffy particles (less risky), while the other has small, dense ones that can sneak into artery walls and cause inflammation. That’s the stuff that builds up into plaque—aka atherosclerosis—which is what really causes heart attacks and strokes.

So it’s not black and white. Risk isn’t just “you’re fine” or “you’re not.” There are levels to it—and this test helps you actually see what’s going on under the surface before things go sideways.

Knowing this earlier gives you a chance to shift gears by taking the preventative approach, whether that’s with personalized interventions toward your genetics with food, supplements, and lifestyle—before meds or major problems ever enter the picture. And even if meds do enter the picture, taking the preventative approach is also a reversal approach, something medications can not do.

Your heart’s talking. The NMR Lipoprofile helps you actually hear it.

05/02/2025

When Albert Einstein died, the endeavor to study his brain led to the loss of medical license mainly in part to his request to be cremated and not studied. Against his will, his brain was sliced 240 times and distributed to researchers. Although it was not ethical what took place, there was a lot discovered that gave us a lot of insight.

Relative to this post, it was discovered that Einstein had PROFOUNDLY higher astrocytes in the areas of the brain associated with learning and memory. are 1 of the 3 kinds of glial cells. The glial cells are immune cells that have many functions that make sure the neuron cells are functioning properly. 90% of the cells in our brain are immune cells, and they are there to help and support the optimal function of the neurons.

Here are some relevant factors when it comes to health and longevity:
- We only have a certain amount of astrocytes, and they die off with chronic inflammation, which can occur from TBI, autoimmune disorders, and brain aging. This is different from neuroplasticity, in which neurons can be regrown. The astrocytes help neurons function the way they do, and once gone, they are gone forever. Einstein abundance of astrocytes explain why he was one of a kind.

- Primed glial cells refers to a microglial cell that has been damaged and has lost its immune supporting functions. Once primed, they are also stuck that way forever. We will see primed "patterns" in a person's behavior. When we say a person "is stuck in their own way" that is what we are referring to. Through the study of Einstein Brian, we learned we can only see priming with brain slicing.

- Gut messenger pathways DIRECTLY ACTIVATE ASTROCYTES. This is HUGE. If you have gut inflammation, you potentiate inflammation in the brain, which can destroy astrocytes in the process. This is why the mothers microbiome in pregnancy is incredibly important (second photo).

My goal is to be aware of all of this, and create the circumstances to have a healthy body. The good thing is, it isn't hard to do. It just requires discipline and consistency.

03/25/2025

This is one of my most favorite lessons. A tool I feel many people can benefit from.

03/18/2025

Repost from

Despite acupuncturists being the true needling experts, PTs and chiropractors get loopholes to practice “dry needling” (a rebranded acupuncture technique) with minimal training. To make it worse, insurance companies often favor these professions over acupuncturists for reimbursement.

This isn't about opinion—it’s about fairness and patient safety. Why are those with the least training getting the most access and coverage? Be informed and recognize who the real experts are.

💬 Drop a 🔥 in the comments if you agree!

03/10/2025

We are happy to share that we have a new Acupuncturist, Dr. Carolina (Nelly) Pinzon. She has been interning with us for over a year and has been seeing patients for a few months now.

Dr. Carolina is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 14 years of experience in patient care. She earned her medical degree in Bogotá, Colombia, where she worked as a general practitioner, gaining expertise in diagnosing and managing complex conditions. After moving to the U.S., she shifted her focus to internal medicine, deepening her clinical knowledge.
Her passion for research led her to pursue a Master of Public Health, during which she contributed to liver cancer research at the University of Miami. Seeking a more integrative approach to healing, she later earned a Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine, blending Eastern and Western medical perspectives.

Now a licensed acupuncturist, Carolina specializes in internal medicine, women’s health, and pain management. She combines her background in Western medicine, research, and acupuncture to provide holistic, patient-centered care, empowering individuals to achieve optimal health.

We believe in providing the highest level of care rooted in quality clinical experience. We are proud to say that Dr. Pinzon is a part of team!

02/19/2025

13 years ago when i was interviewed for this paper, I was naive, but I was also ahead of my time.

I had this idea that pairing personal training with Dietetics and Nutrition would be the ultimate combination to put a dent in the declining health of the US population.

I was forward-thinking in understanding that nutrition was the foundational component in achieving optimal health, but I was naive because I did not know how destroyed the system really was.

What system? All of them.
I didnt know that the education I was getting was sub-par, and was also being funded by the Dairy Council. We never once learned about the inflammatory effects of dairy. Gluten and dairy were key suggestions in the Food Pyramid and My Plate.

I followed the directions like a good institutionalized student. And guess what? It didn't help. I was always sick. My patients did not do so well either. It wasn't until I eliminated gluten and dairy and furthered my education in functional medicine that I began to see tangible change in my health and my patients

I didnt know that the fitness industry was conditioning me to learn and implement exercises that lead to musculoskeletal risks and injury later on. It wasn't until I furthered my own knowledge and developed unconventional skills with neuromuscular reprogramming that I started to see change in myself and my patients.

I didn't know that the soil in our country was so depleted of its nutrients. The food that was accessible lacked nutritional value. I didn't know about so many things. There is not enough typing space in this post for it all.

I liberated myself by learning chinese medicine and realized that there was a machine put in place that conditioned my mind, and those around me, to believe that nothing else could work except the conventional model of health.

It is not working. Obesity has gone up almost 10% since this article was written. Metabolic diseases and mental health issues have skyrocketed.

I was naive then, but I am not anymore. I am a testament to what health can be when done the right way. My patients are testaments. My business is a testament. Check my status. My win-loss ratio.. its crazy.
We won't stop.

02/14/2025

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! ❤️
Here is something applicable. There are issues in the world, and I like to create solutions. So let's explore a big one in .

I've been coaching my patients in relationships for some time now. I'm no longer surprised that the and that they are feeling is rooted in their relationships. The rate of divorce is an epidemic in itself. These days, there are so many distractions that destroy intimacy. It seems very few people know how to maintain one rooted in love and commitment.

The four horsemen of the apocalypse were created by Dr. at . After spending a few minutes with a couple, he was able to predict with a 90% accuracy rate which couples would split up. He went on to develop the and has been lecturing all over the world. He does AMAZING research. In one study he was able to show how could shift a person into a pathway. This is the pro inflammatory pathway of the immune system that can lead to many diseases, including cancer. I found that one very impressive.

As far as love and relationships go, here is some great insight that could help us understand why intimacy can get diminished.

1. The majority of us have had no healthy role models for communication.

2. The beginning of a relationship, the romance period, often dies off within 2-4 months. At that point, the relationship becomes a cycle of redundancy.

After studying over 40,000 couples, Dr. Gottman discovered ONE THING that made relationships successful...turning toward your partner. (Google this) By doing this, you acknowledge their desire for connection... It's always the little things, isn't it?

I once had a teacher who shared the secret to creating a lasting romance period. There was another research study that was completed on over 1000 couples that had been together for over 50 years. The one thing that all of those couples had in common was doing an act of service for their partner at least once a day. This could be something as simple as putting the dishes away. Or giving a 30-second foot rub. With this tool, Love no longer diminishes. It grows deeper over time. 🙏🏾❤