Rooted In The Wild

04/16/2026

I like to consider myself a human guinea pig. When a new health product is available, I’m going to try it on myself before recommending.

Nervous system regulation is critical to healing. But asking a busy mama to meditate, do breathwork, or take a yoga class daily is sometimes another task on an overbooked schedule. AND, it’s necessary to create more calm when healing. What can we do?

The device I am wearing in this photo is called a Pulsetto. It is a vagus nerve stimulator designed to use electrical stimulation to induce calm and reduce stress for pain relief, optimal sleep, and relaxation. I love that I can wear it and make dinner simultaneously.

Feedback on the Pulsetto coming soon. I am using my Oura ring to measure my heart rate variability and sleep cycles for objective evidence of effectiveness.

Next up, I may uplevel and bring my red light into the kitchen for maximum results🤣

04/13/2026

For me, the quiet solace of nature is vital to my soul.

AND, it is so much easier for me to camp out under the stars in a sleeping bag in the desert with rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and tarantulas than tiny ticks. I’m learning to co-habitate.

This desire to trust nature and the smallest of arthropods has lead me on a path of deepening research into Lyme and co-infections. Not to avoid, but to prepare myself, my family, and the clients I serve to live in and love nature. All of it.

Western medicine would have us believe that a simple 10-28 day course of oral antibiotics is enough. I still remember my first hospital patient with Lyme. Paralyzed from the neck down with central nervous system involvement after a year-long course of IV antibiotics.

Here’s what I’ve learned after treating Lyme for years:

1- Killing off the bacteria is important, but it’s more challenging than it seems as it loves to live in hidden niches throughout the body

2-Supporting collagenous tissues (joints, brain, spinal cord, meninges) is vital

3- supporting the immune system is essential as the spirochete morphs

4- Individually supporting the patient with symptom management is required as every person manifests Lyme differently.

This isn’t about scaring anyone. It’s empowerment. Check yourself, your kids, and pets daily.

www.rootedinthewild.org

04/10/2026

As a child of the 80’s, growing up on hot pockets, canned soup, and a plethora of antibiotics, my gut microbiome was a complete mess.

Sick all the time. Brain fog. Fatigue. Bloating. Break outs. Weird rashes. Hormonal shifts.

Sound familiar?

Once I began testing my gut microbiome for yeast, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and probiotic load, I created an individualized protocol for myself including fasting, bone broth, cleanses, increasing protein, and antimicrobial herbs, among many other things.

Recently, I began adding lymphatic gut detoxification with Alchemy Esthetics incredible team (Jordyn and Avery) and the results are next level. The photos below show my abdomen after one SlimSage treatment. My clothes fit better and I can see the definition I’ve worked for at Crossfit that were previously hidden by lymphatic congestion.

Healing can happen. Start your own journey with an individualized approach to understanding your gut health. It makes all the difference.

www.rootedinthewild.org

www.alchemyestheticstudio.com

03/12/2026

The Functional Forum of Grand Rapids. A room full of medical doctors, pharmacists, naturopathic doctors, nurses, and estheticians sharing ideas and case studies around the power of healing rather than medicating.

My dinner table included a pharmacist who specializes in de-prescribing, a surgeon turned gut-brain specialist, and a nurse transformed into acupuncturist.

We all shared a common story thread - working in the hospital for too long and witnessing no change OR rapid decline.

So throughout the year, we gather. This wily group of rebellious medical practitioners. We remember why we do what we do. We share ideas, case studies, and dreams of a new paradigm in healthcare.

www.rootedinthewild.org

Pictured below: KPS organic skin care deep detoxification protocols demonstrated live. The models lost INCHES off their midsections in a very short period of time!

03/10/2026

My favorite brand of colloidal silver is on sale for a few days!

Silver is a staple in my home first-aid kit. When I worked in the hospital, we used silver-laced bandages (honey too!) because it prevents infection.

As an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal agent, here are a few of the ways I'm using colloidal silver:

*A few drops nebulized with distilled water for respiratory illness

*Rinsing out wounds as an antimicrobial wash

*In a small spritz bottle with water as a natural hand sanitizer (most hand sanitizers contain hormone disrupting Triclosan)

*Adding to home-made cleaning products

*Topically for acne, breakouts, or skin inflammation

*Added to a salt-water gargle for sore throats or dental infections

*Drops added to my chickens' or dog's water if I suspect something off (I'm not a vet so please check with yours first!)

I have a feral barn cat that recently had a likely fight with a raccoon, judging by the deep gash on her neck. We caught the cat long enough to douse it in colloidal silver, and off it ran. (She's doing quite well!).

A well-stocked natural first aid kit is essential in my family full of adventurous kids and farm animals. What are your favorite ways to use colloidal silver as a home remedy?

If we don’t preserve the power of our living nutrients throughout the manufacturing process, then what’s the point? Verifying the uncompromised potency of our products, from the farm to your family, makes all the difference.

03/04/2026

Sending out my Oxidative Stress panel today. Stay tuned for results!

03/04/2026

I’m sending out my Vibrant Wellness Oxidative Stress Profile sample today.

What exactly is oxidative stress? Basically, it’s like rust in your mitochondria, DNA, proteins, and lipids that contribute to aging, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.

Specifically, it measures:

*Genetics that influence detoxification and susceptibility.

*DNA and RNA oxidation

*Glutathione and Alpha-Lipoic Acid levels to determine the body’s detoxification processes

*Damage to cell membranes

*Glycation End Products which accelerate aging and increase the risk of metabolic disorders

Testing myself on a regular basis helps me see where I’m at, where I’m falling short, and how I can continue to improve my health.

I’ll be sharing my results live in a few weeks. Stay tuned.

If you’re interested in testing for yourself, email me at mel@rootedinthewild or book an appointment to determine which functional tests are right for you.

02/26/2026

Testing hormones is complex. This is where genetics come into play.

As a woman with a slow COMT and MTHFR genetic variant, I metabolize estrogen slower, making me prone to estrogen dominance and at a higher risk for estrogenic cancers.

For me this means being aware of synthetic estrogens (plastics), avoiding foods with added folic acid, taking magnesium and methylated B vitamins, exercise, and restorative practices like parasympathetic-inducing acupuncture are important.

Blood tests for hormones are not enough.

Our power lies in our knowledge of prevention.

www.rootedinthewild.org

Pictured: my ears with acupuncture treatment by the talented reiki master and acupuncturist Jen Chulski

02/24/2026

Only in New Orleans can you drop-in to a CrossFit gym and walk straight into a parade handing out syringes full of Jell-O shots for medical professionals.

I’ll be back in office on Thursday, but until then, I’ll be dancing to jazz with my daughter in the French Quarter.

And yes, the mysterious blue-dye in the syringes went to the trash. Injections by mouth from a stranger on the street is never a good idea 🤣

02/19/2026

Women’s hormonal testing requires more than estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels.

It needs to encompass DHEA, the building block of s*x hormones.

We need to understand the estrogen metabolism pathway to know if the liver, glutathione levels, or gut microbiome need support to process estrogen.

How are the adrenal glands and stress impacting s*x hormones? Is your body stealing all of your DHEA to make cortisol instead of s*x hormones?

DUTCH testing offers answers. We can learn about s*x hormone production, metabolism, and methylation all in one test.

Are you making enough?

Do you have the building blocks to make enough?

Are you experiencing Adrenal stealing of s*x hormone building blocks?

Are you metabolizing estrogen properly or is estrogen it headed toward a destructive path (estrogenic cancers, DNA damaging)?

Is your gut microbiome healthy enough to process the second stage of hormone breakdown?

Blood tests for hormone levels are not enough. These metrics let us know what the body has in the blood, not how it’s being used.

I would be honored to work with you on normalizing hormones. One test, many answers.

www.rootedinthewild.org

02/13/2026

My kids adore daredevil sports - like ski terrain parks, black diamonds, and jumping horses over rails. My inner former traumatic brain and spinal cord injury nurse self longs to look the other way.

Last week, one of my adventurous sweethearts hit his head on a mogul run, resulting in a concussion.

Here’s what we are doing:

Low stimulation environment, as much as possible for a teen (no screens, low lights, quiet sounds)

Hand-eye coordination projects (all the Legos!)

Omega-3 fatty acids for the brain structure

Vitamin B-complex for neurochemicals

Vitamin C and D to lower inflammation

Neuro-Pregnenlone for neuro plasticity

10g of Creatine for improved brain function

Asura Brain for resetting the glympatic system

Pineal Code homeopathic to establish circadian rhythm

Ginkgo to drive oxygen to the brain

CellCore IFC to lower inflammation

Electrolytes and minerals to rehydrate

Red light therapy, chiropractic care, and acupressure

We’ve got one brain. And this kid is absolutely headed back out to the ski hill and football field for another round of “scare his mama”.

01/27/2026

Genetic variant testing for methylation. An affordable cheek swab test with an information-packed punch.

What is MTHFR (also endearingly called the mother-f* gene)?

MTHFR is a necessary enzyme for utilizing B vitamins for detoxification, neurotransmitter production (think serotonin, dopamine, GABA otherwise known as our feel good, rest well, and mood stabilizing helpers), as well as gene activation.

When there is a genetic variant in MTHFR we can feel sluggish due to low levels of the master antioxidant glutathione. The body struggles to detoxify from everyday pollutants such as pesticides, herbicides, PFAS, heavy metals, mold, opportunistic infections, etc.

MTHFR testing is a lifelong answer. The result never changes like traditional labs that vary week-to-week. Simple changes to supplementation and diet offer a lifetime of protection and health.

Prevention over chasing.

MTHFR testing by cheek swab is $115 through Rooted in the Wild. The test is sent to your home with thorough instructions for collection. We’ll set up a virtual appointment to discuss results and create a plan together to suit your lifestyle and health goals.

To pursue testing, email Dr. Mel at mel@rootedinthewild.org