Health Conditions > See the Complete List

Eczema is a skin condition in which patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, cracked, rough, and blistered. The main cause of eczema is diet, skin irritants (soaps, detergents, wool, skin infections, low humidity), dust mites, pollen, molds, and stress; food allergies and chronic illness can also present side effects associated with eczema. The root cause must be delineated in order to have a successful treatment plan, which can include dietary and supplementation therapies, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to name a few. Medication is prescribed only if needed. We will examine all aspects of one’s environmental exposures to determine the root cause. 

Fibromyalgia is characterized as widespread muscle pain and tenderness. Typically, it is accompanied by fatigue, sleep issues, memory, and mood. Fibromyalgia may be caused by persistent bacterial or viral infections (such as Covid -19 -otherwise known as long haulers syndrome), including but not limited to Lyme disease, and tick born co-infections, other chronic illnesses, physical stress, and injuries. Emotional stress may also contribute or exacerbate fibromyalgia. Determining the root causes of fibromyalgia is paramount to successful treatment strategies and long term remediation.

Food sensitivities are characterized as digestive problems that occur after the consumption of a certain food. Common foods that trigger this reaction are gluten, dairy, FODMAPs, fructose, sulfites, corn, soy and caffeine. Some typical symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, gas, cramps, bloating, vomiting, heartburn, headaches, irritability, and diarrhea. The Stram Center will identify these triggers through advanced food sensitivity testing, elimination diets and supplement therapies. A healthy microbiome is essential to proper digestion of foods, therefore the Stram Center will use stool tests, inflammatory markers and enzyme deficiency testing to elucidate the status of the gut microbiome.

Gastric reflux occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophageal tube connecting your mouth and stomach. Dietary response to certain food is the primary cause of gastric reflux, especially excessive alcohol intake, black pepper, garlic, chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee, high fat/high sugar, dairy and processed foods. The symptoms include a burning sensation in your chest after eating, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food or sour liquid, and nausea. Typically, we can treat gastric reflux without any pharmaceutical intervention quite successfully. A healthy intestinal microbiome, food allergies and sensitivities determined by testing and food elimination programs can reduce or eliminate all symptoms. Medical massage and acupuncture are also beneficial in reducing the physical components. 

Hair loss is the thinning of the hair on the scalp. General causes include vitamin and mineral deficiencies, weight loss or weight gain, cancer, chronic illness, depression, high blood pressure, hormone imbalance, and arthritis. Our success from treating hair loss comes from finding the root cause of the problem. 

Hashimoto’s is characterized as an underactive thyroid, with autoimmune antibodies directed against the thyroid gland causing the thyroid gland to  not produce enough hormones.  Issues associated include metabolic, heart rate, and body temperature disfunctions. Common symptoms include fatigue, cold sensitivity, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, unexplained weight gain, and mood swings. Common causes stem from diet, untreated infections that can trigger an antibody response to the thyroid, and genetics. A high gluten diet can sometimes trigger hypothyroidism.   At the Stram Center the root cause must be determined. Is it a problem directly with the thyroid? The brain? The adrenals? Extensive testing is available at the Stram Center to elucidate the etiology and thereby selective management of the condition. Our success with thyroid issues comes with much clinical experience utilizing specific supplementation therapies, and medications when indicated

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance found in the blood. Cholesterol is made by the body and is essential for hormone building cell and wall infrastructure and in excess can lead to disease such as cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.   High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease due to the fatty deposits in your arteries. Typically, high cholesterol is caused by a family predisposition or dietary indiscretions such as an unhealthy, inflammatory diet and lack of exercise.

The integrative approach at the Stram Center in treating high cholesterol will include dietary intervention, lifestyle modification, nutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical strategies when appropriate.

Hormone imbalances occur when there is either too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Even small hormonal imbalances can affect bodily function. Common symptoms include weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle aches, tenderness, pain, heartrate abnormalities, fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings. The general causes include consuming an unhealthy, inflammatory diet, thyroid conditions, stress, imbalance in the microbiome of the intestines, the unexpected side effects of certain medications such as birth control, diabetes and antibiotics meds, and menopause. There are many natural remedies for bringing hormones in balance, depending on the etiology, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can also be appropriate for certain patients. Judicious and cross referencing tests including conventional lab testing, urine and saliva testing for hormone levels  are utilized in order to get an accurate assessment for our patients.

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is too high. Hypertension is characterized as blood pressure where systolic pressure (the measure of blood pressure pumping away from the heart) is greater than 140 and diastolic pressure (pressure of blood returning to the heart) is above 90 (140/90).  Hypertension is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120. Hypertension can increase risk of heart disease and stroke. The main causes are an unhealthy, inflammatory diet, lack of exercise and genetic predisposition. The symptoms include fatigue or confusion, chest pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, headaches, nosebleeds, and vision problems.

At the Stram Center we utilize advanced risk assessment testing, incorporate dietary and lifestyle changes to our treatment plans, and use nutraceutical and pharmaceutical intervention when necessary in our integrative approach. Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can be excellent additions to wellness plans resulting in lowering one’s blood pressure.

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is an intestinal disorder that causes gas, diarrhea, constipation, and general pain in the stomach. IBS is typically triggered by your diet, specifically dairy, processed grain including gluten and corn, fiber-filled foods, and highly processed, high sugar foods. Another cause could be a previous bacterial infection, or a bacterial overgrowth, that affects the intestines.

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is defined by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Prolonged inflammation is serious and can be life threatening if it does not go untreated. Symptoms of IBD include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and uncontrolled weight loss. IBD is typically triggered by your diet, as is IBS, as well as stress.

At the Stram Center we look at what component nutrition and diet and stress play as well as other factors with the intention to treat the root cause. We have advanced testing available including microbiology DNA testing, food allergy panels and more. Each patient has unique history and circumstance that contribute to the strategy of treatment. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is incorporated as an adjunct strategy to medical treatment as it can be effective in treatment of IBS/IBD.