Health Conditions > See the Complete List

Infertility is defined as not being able to conceive (get pregnant) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex. Typically, biological women under 35 are the general population associated with this condition. General causes are quality of the woman’s eggs, smoking, weight, sexual history, hormone imbalances, alcohol, and chronic illnesses. Psychological conditions can also have an impact. Signs of infertility are chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, back pain, fatigue, nausea, irregular periods or spotting, bowel problems or pain with bowel movements. In men, infertility can be related to impotence, or unhealthy sperm counts related to genetics, disease or hormone imbalances.

Integrative medicine will approach infertility from many points of view for both partners, utilizing hormone testing, and addressing other possible causations.  Acupuncture at the Stram Center has been shown to be very effective in the absence of disease.

Insomnia is considered persistent problems falling and staying asleep. Typical causes are related to depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, poor diet, chronic illnesses, Lyme disease, or reactions from certain medications. At the Stram Center we will explore the causes and treat accordingly. Complementary therapies can be included to medical treatment such as acupuncture, and medical massage- including craniosacral therapy.

Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues. Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. The causes may include genetics, and one’s environment, specifically exposure to ultraviolet light (UVA/UVB) and chemical toxicity exposure. Lyme disease can often mimic the symptoms of Lupus and therefore properly differentiating these conditions is important for treatment. The Stram Center looks to identify the causes, differentiate this disease from others and understanding all factors that can trigger this autoimmune disease.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by a deer-tick bite that infects an individual with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Lyme disease sometimes causes a “bulls-eye” rash around the site of the bite which can be a classic bullseye pattern or simply a large red blotch. Such a rash, is a clinical diagnosis of Lyme. However, since most patients do not ever get the rash, diagnosis can be more complicated since testing is often unreliable. Presentation of this infection, untreated, leads to a multitude of symptoms which can potentially affect every organ of the body. For some individuals, no symptoms can present for as long as years after their first tick bite. More often, symptoms are misdiagnosed for other illnesses and therefore appropriate Lyme infection treatment is delayed. Some of the more common symptoms are fatigue, joint pain, flu-like symptoms, weakness in the limbs, and neurological distress (memory loss, brain fog, confusion). 

The Stram Center has been diagnosing and treating Lyme and other tick borne illnesses since 2003 and has seen more than 15,000 Lyme patients. This extensive clinical experience allows the Stram Center providers to recognize and properly diagnosis. In addition, we understand that testing alone is not a sole diagnostic tool, as currently the tests available can present with unreliable results. While we may use labs that offer better, more sensitive tests than what is conventionally used, the clinical diagnosis is paramount and in line with the CDC’s recognition of this fact. We do not follow the outdated guidelines for diagnosis and treatment set by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) which is what most health insurance companies align with. For this reason, among others, we do not contract with insurance which allows us to diagnose and treat properly using specific antibiotics, sometimes for extended periods, other medications, along with supplementation and dietary interventions, IV therapies and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, when indicated. We are proud to say that we have helped 1,000’s of patients regain their lives from chronic untreated/misdiagnosed Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. 

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels) that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The causes are typically the result of an unhealthy, inflammatory diet; lack of exercise weight gain, and smoking. Integrative medicine will approach this condition with many tools: lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, laboratory monitoring, supplementation therapies such as those that help lower cholesterol, blood sugar modulation, and decrease inflammation are added to every wellness plan. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are excellent options as well. 

A migraine is considered a recurrent throbbing headache that causes nausea, vertigo, and disturbed vision. Migraines are typically triggered by stress, food additives (artificial sweeteners, MSG), nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), physical factors, sleep issues, chronic illness, Lyme disease, head injuries etc.

Integrative medicine will explore the root cause of the migraine and treat from that perspective. Complementary therapies such as medical massage, craniosacral therapy, and acupuncture are part of the effective migraine treatment plans.

The exposure to toxic molds can lead to mild or extreme symptoms. Mild symptoms include stuffy nose, wheezing, coughing, red or itchy eyes, and respiratory issues. Severe symptoms include long-term memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and trouble concentrating. The Stram Center will keep mold toxicity in our differential diagnosis for most patients as we recognize the commonality of mold exposure. We utilize blood, urine and stool testing to reveal the activity of the condition. Treatment of mold toxicity will be approached with a combination of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and hyperbaric oxygen therapies.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of the nerves. MS results in damage of communication between the brain and the body. The symptoms include pain, vision loss, fatigue, impaired coordination, loss of balance, and potential loss of walking ability. The symptom severity, and duration depend on the individual. The cause of MS is rather unknown. However, there are similar symptoms in patients with chronic illnesses such as Lyme. Lyme is often considered an imitator of MS and therefore properly differentiating between these two diseases is paramount to appropriate treatment strategies.

Neuropathy is characterized as a disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves which causes numbness or weakness, tingling and pain. The causes are typically the result from traumatic injuries, metabolic problems, infections, chronic illnesses, such as Diabetes, Lyme disease, and exposures to toxins and chemotherapy.

Our approach above all else is to determine the root cause of one’s neuropathy and treat the problem. Complementary therapies including acupuncture and medical massage can be beneficial in remediating neuropathy symptoms, but the cause must be treated in order to achieve long term resolution. That is our goal.

Osteopenia is a condition that occurs when the body does not make new bones as quickly as it resorbs old ones. Therefore, your bones become brittle from a loss of bone mineralization. This condition typically develops as you age and can increase your risk for developing osteoporosis. The cause typically is failure to peak in your bone mass which can result from genetic predisposition, nutrition insufficiency, inadequate or improper exceeded, or extreme low body weight.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle and is the result of progressive osteopenia. Typically, this can be caused by hormonal changes, eating disorders, calcium and Vitamin D deficiency, old age, and chronic illnesses. Symptoms include back pain, loss of height, stooped posture, and bones that break easily.

At the Stram Center we will examine these contributing factors and  develop a lifestyle and dietary modification wellness plan customized for the patient.