What modes of treatment do you recommend for chronic Hepatitis C?

We do treat people with hepatitis at our center. We use a holistic approach with emphasis on liver and gastrointestinal cleansing through diet, juicing, and herbs.

It is important to get high levels of anti-oxidants. This can be attained through diet, supplementation, and IV therapy. The best anti-oxidants given IV for hepatitis are glutathione, alha-lipoic acid, and vitamin C. During a consultation, a more personalized plan will be developed for your health concerns.

Is there a holistic, natural approach to addressing vitamin D deficiency without supplements…

​or medications?

Vitamin D can be obtained in two ways, through dietary intake and sun exposure. The foods with the highest amount of vitamin D include fish and halibut and cod liver oils.

​Smaller amounts of vitamin D are found in pork, egg yolks, lamb, beef, and mushrooms. Some foods are fortified with vitamin D such as milk, cheese, butter, and most cereals. The greatest source of vitamin D production comes from the sun. In the summer time, one can make up to 15,000iu vitamin D in 10-15 min of sun exposure without sunscreen. However, this is dependent on the intensity of the sun light. For example in Boston, no vitamin D can be produced from November through February. So the body uses stored vitamin D and dietary vitamin D during the winter months in northern climates. This is the main reason we recommend supplementing with vitamin D during the winter months. A level of about 50ng/mL is thought to be the most optimal for health.

Almost 50 & experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, what holistic treatment options are there for me?

​My mother died of breast cancer therefore hormone replacement therapy would not be indicated, correct?

Perimenopausal symptoms are very common in older women and can include hot flashes, night sweats, poor memory, brain fog, and fatigue.

​The slow decrease in hormone levels can also affect metabolism and bone density. Hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated with breast cancer and not generally recommended with family history of breast cancer. There are many natural options that we use that include herbal and nutrient remedies and dietary modifications. The goal is to increase healthy estrogen metabolism through the intestinal tract and liver, and to support the adrenal glands in the production of hormones.

What would the remedy be for fungus under fingernails?

​Nail fungus can be very difficult to treat. The typical first signs of a nail fungus may be white or yellow spots under the nails, followed by nail thickening, brittleness, dullness, and color changes.

​Since fungi like to grow in dark, moist environments, it is more common to have toenail fungus than fingernail fungus. Ways to prevent toenail fungus are to change socks often, especially if perspiring or exercising, wearing open-toed shoes more often, keeping the feet dry as much as possible. Other causes may include lack of exercise, older age, or even diabetes due to poor circulation. Treatments may include natural oral anti-fungal for 3 months with modifications in diet and the use of a topical natural anti-fungal salve.

What are your thoughts on Lyme disease and its treatment?

​Lyme disease has increasingly become more prevalent in the Capital District. Unfortunately, there is much confusion regarding the testing and treatment of Lyme disease.

​At the Stram Center, we offer more extensive Lyme testing to often include co-infections and specific immune markers. For treatment we believe in an integrative approach that includes conventional medications and herbs and supplements that act as natural antibiotics, natural anti-inflammatory agents, and natural immunosupportive agents.

It has been my experience that 2 labs can give different results for the same test.

What labs do you use for food sensitivity, stool analysis, cortisol and neurotransmitters and how do you know their results are accurate?

At the Stram Center, we offer a wide array of non conventional tests including food allergy tests, comprehensive digestive stool analysis, adrenal testing, saliva hormone and neurotransmitter testing, urine heavy metal tests, specialized blood Lyme testing, and many more.

Some of the companies we use include Metametrix, Genova Diagnostics, Neuroscience, and IGeneX. We do look at reputation and experience of the labs, but more importantly, we look for accurate, reproducible results. For example we have sent in multiple samples from one patient to different labs to get initial results, and then sent them again to see if we get similar results. Also, as clinicians, we look to see if the results correlate with the patient’s history and symptoms. We have used many of these tests for about 8 years, and overall we are pleased with the accuracy of the tests that we offer.

I have recently been diagnosed with Hasimoto Disease…

​for which I have been given Synthroid but feel that my many disturbing symptoms are a result of more than just thyroid problems. How can you help me?

At the Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, we take a whole body approach to your health, rather than only addressing your symptoms.

​The thyroid gland does not work as a single entity in your body, but is connected to your brain and also interrelated to other hormones in your body. We can offer more specific testing to see your current hormone levels, and offer recommendations that include dietary modifications, nutrient and herbal supplementation, and other therapies such as acupuncture.

What is your approach in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease at the Center?

​Alzheimer’s disease can be very difficult to manage once symptoms begin, and typically effectiveness of treatment may be dependent on the severity of symptoms.

​There is no known cause of Alzheimer’s, but current theory includes a possible combination of factors including advancing age, obesity, insulin resistance, circulatory factors, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and inflammation. Conventionally, the first line drug therapy includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept, that act to provide more acetylcholine in the brain. At the Stram Center for Integrative Health, we look to use natural agents that stimulate the production of acetylcholine, and natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Indirectly, we offer natural herbs, vitamins, and antioxidants to assist in vascular and circulatory support, decrease inflammation, and provide neurologic support.

My husband has extremely high triglyceride levels (867)...

​Is there any type of natural treatment for this? He cannot tolerate niacin.

High triglyceride levels are often hereditary, or caused by poor diet and lifestyle, or both.

​A triglyceride is a fat, and can be produced in the body or absorbed through diet. Elevations therefore, may be due to certain metabolic disorders such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, or a high fat and high carbohydrate diet. For treatment there are many options besides niacin. We offer specific and detailed nutritional advice to lower triglycerides and specific nutritional supplements to assist in lowering triglyceride levels.

I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes…

​Besides changing my diet and loosing weight, I would like to know if acupuncture and homeopathy are an option.

The best thing that you can do for diabetes type 2 is diet, exercise, and losing weight.

​At the Center, we can guide you through this process, as sometimes it is confusing to know what exactly to eat. We can also recommend the best herbs and nutrients for helping to reduce sugar cravings and appetite, lower blood sugar, and increase insulin sensitivity. Acupuncture can assist with appetite control, sugar cravings, and weight loss.

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