Dr. Taylor Krick

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Washington, IL
Dr. Taylor Krick

Dr. Taylor Krick, owner of Washington Wellness Center, practices Functional Medicine, which takes a root cause approach to any health concern.

Helping People Get Healthy. Functional Medicine Practitioner, Chiropractic Physician, host of The Autoimmune Doc Podcast

05/06/2026

The gut is the source of a lot of histamine issues, and I often show this picture when educating clients.
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TOP: when the gut microbiome is balanced, and there is no GI inflammation, the mast cells are behaving.
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BOTTOM: when the gut microbiome is imbalanced and the gut is inflamed, the mast cells release histamine and other inflammatory mediators, which inflames the vagus nerve (the red river on the bottom), which is in close proximity. In order to decrease histamine and mast cell activity, you have to balance the gut and decrease GI inflammation!

05/05/2026

Histamine is a natural compound involved in immune responses, digestion, and the nervous system. But for some people, especially those with histamine intolerance, everyday foods can quietly build up histamine levels and trigger symptoms like headaches, skin irritation, digestive issues, or congestion. The tricky part is that many of these foods are considered healthy or are commonly eaten, making them easy to overlook.

Common high-histamine foods and triggers:

🐟 Fish (especially not fresh): Sardines, mackerel, tuna
🦐 Shellfish: Shrimp, crab, lobster
🧀 Aged cheeses: Cheddar, parmesan, blue cheese
🥓 Cured meats: Salami, sausage, bacon
🥬 Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, soy sauce
🍲 Bone broth (long-cooked)
🍅 Tomatoes & acidic foods
🍊 Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, limes (can trigger release)
🍫 Chocolate (can stimulate histamine release)

05/04/2026

The Unified Barrier Theory proposes that the body’s protective linings—such as the gut, brain, skin, and lungs—operate as an interconnected defense network rather than independent systems, meaning dysfunction in one can influence the integrity of others.
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These barriers share similar structural components, like tight junction proteins (e.g., occludin and claudins), and are regulated by overlapping immune and inflammatory pathways, which explains why increased permeability in the gut (“leaky gut”) can coincide with disruption of the blood-brain barrier or skin barrier. For example, when the gut becomes permeable, substances like lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can enter circulation, triggering systemic inflammation that weakens distant barriers and promotes neuroinflammation or skin conditions.
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This cross-talk is reinforced through axes like the gut-brain and gut-skin pathways, as well as by the microbiome, whose metabolites—particularly short-chain fatty acids like butyrate—help maintain barrier integrity across multiple systems. Overall, the theory frames barrier health as a unified, whole-body phenomenon driven largely by inflammation, microbial balance, and immune signaling.

05/02/2026

Understanding Histamine and Its Role in the Body
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Histamine is a hot topic. Histamine is more than just a mediator of allergic reactions—it’s a powerful modulator in various systems throughout the body. This diagram highlights how histamine affects different organs and functions, from the cardiovascular and nervous systems to the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Imbalances in histamine can lead to a range of symptoms, including headaches, vertigo, arrhythmias, skin issues, and digestive disturbances.
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Different histamine receptors (H1, H2, H3, and H4) influence diverse bodily responses:
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⚡️H1: Involved in allergic responses, vasodilation, and smooth muscle contraction.
⚡️H2: Plays a role in gastric acid secretion and cardiovascular effects.
⚡️H3: Modulates neurotransmitter release and is associated with the central nervous system.
⚡️H4: Found in bone marrow and impacts immune cell activity.
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So I know you will ask - - what do you do besides antihistamines?? There are a LOT of potential strategies that are crucial - supplements, stress management, gut health, etc. That’s the tricky part - you have to figure what’s FILLING your histamine bucket, and you have to find ways to EMPTY your bucket!

05/01/2026

Essential oils are pretty cool, and there is actual science backing many of their benefits.
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GABA is really important as the primary inhibitory or "calming" neurotransmitter. When GABA pathways are disrupted, it can lead to neurological problems including anxiety.
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Essential oils don't "treat" any neurological disease, you need to seek appropriate medical care of course, but essential oils can be useful, and this isn't just wives tales or anecdotes, the science is out there, so I love sharing it!

You can find this full study review linked in my bio!

04/30/2026

A phased approach to the Paleo diet—particularly the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)—is designed to move from a strict therapeutic intervention to a more flexible, sustainable way of eating.
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In the initial phase, the goal is to reduce inflammation and calm the immune system by removing common dietary triggers such as grains, dairy, legumes, and processed foods.
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This period is not meant to be permanent, but rather a short-term strategy to help the body stabilize and create a clear baseline.
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As symptoms improve—whether it’s digestion, energy, or skin—this provides valuable feedback that the intervention is working.
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Once stability is achieved, the focus shifts toward personalization and long-term sustainability.
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Foods are gradually reintroduced in a structured way to identify individual tolerances, allowing for a more diverse and less restrictive diet.
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The ultimate goal is to find the least restrictive approach that still maintains symptom control.
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As health improves, the intensity of dietary restrictions can be reduced, and adjustments can be made based on ongoing feedback.
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This balance between strictness and flexibility ensures both clinical effectiveness and long-term adherence.

04/29/2026

N-Acetylcysteine helps in endometriosis primarily by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation, which are central to the disease.

It acts as a precursor to glutathione, the body’s main antioxidant, allowing it to neutralize excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage tissue and promote lesion growth.
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At the same time, NAC reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and limits processes like abnormal cell proliferation and adhesion that drive endometriotic lesions.
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By improving the cellular environment—especially in the pelvic cavity—it may also protect oocyte quality and support fertility, making it a useful non-hormonal adjunct in managing endometriosis.

04/27/2026

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, often referred to as “Indian ginseng,” that helps the body manage stress and support hormonal balance. In subclinical hypothyroidism—a condition where thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is elevated but T3 and T4 remain in the normal range—ashwagandha may help by stimulating the endocrine system and improving thyroid hormone production.
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Research suggests it can lower TSH while increasing T3 and T4 levels, likely through its effects on reducing oxidative stress and modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. By improving this hormonal signaling and protecting thyroid tissue, ashwagandha may help normalize thyroid function, particularly in early or mild case

04/24/2026

Quercetin and luteolin are plant-derived flavonoids that are often used together for their effects on mast cells, which play a central role in allergic reactions and conditions like mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Both compounds act as natural mast cell stabilizers by helping prevent degranulation—the process where mast cells release histamine and other inflammatory mediators.
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Mechanistically, they interfere with calcium signaling inside the cell, which is a key trigger for this release, and they also reduce the production of inflammatory substances such as cytokines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins.
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Luteolin is sometimes noted in research for having particularly strong anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, while quercetin is more widely studied for general allergy support. Together, they may help reduce symptoms across respiratory, skin, and food-related allergies, although most evidence comes from laboratory and early clinical studies, so their effectiveness can vary depending on the individual and should be considered as part of a broader treatment approach.

04/23/2026

Most autoimmune patients are handed a diagnosis and told to just "manage their symptoms."

No roadmap. No real answers. Just... good luck.

In this episode, I break down the exact step-by-step framework I use with my patients to get real, lasting results — covering the labs I run first, how I structure supplements, and the mindset shift that I believe predicts who actually heals.

If you're stuck, plateaued, or just starting your journey — this one's for you.

Comment "85" and I'll send you the direct link.

04/21/2026

The link between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and autoimmune diseases like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is strongly supported by scientific evidence, though EBV is considered a contributing factor rather than the sole cause.
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Nearly all SLE patients are EBV-positive, suggesting a strong epidemiological connection. Mechanistically, molecular mimicry allows the immune system to confuse viral proteins with the body’s own tissues, leading to self-attack.
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Additionally, individuals with SLE often show poor control over the virus, with higher viral activity and reactivation rates. Overall, EBV appears to act as a major environmental trigger, but the disease typically develops only when combined with genetic susceptibility and other factors such as hormonal influences or nutrient deficiencies.

Address

Washington, IL

Telephone

+13094235751

Website

https://www.autoimmunedocpodcast.com/

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