Dr. Michael Lehman, ND

11/19/2025

🌲 Honoring the Hard Seasons of Healing 🌧️

Not every chapter of the healing journey is easy. Some seasons feel marked by setbacks, symptoms, and unexpected obstacles. Yet even in the midst of hardship, there is beauty, growth, and a quiet kind of strength taking root.

This season may have demanded more patience, more courage, and more self-compassion than you ever expected. But it may also have invited you outdoors—to breathe deeply, to feel sunlight warming your face, to move your body gently through forests, mountains, or open trails.

Adventure does not always look like grand summits. Sometimes it’s the simple act of stepping outside, letting nature steady your nervous system, and remembering that you are still moving forward.

If you are in a difficult stretch of your healing journey, may you find moments of joy in the wild places, grounding in fresh air, and reassurance in the slow, steady progress that is happening—often beneath the surface.

Your resilience is real. Your story is still unfolding. And you are not alone.

11/19/2025

One of the biggest myths in homesteading is that you need acreage. 🏡 You don’t. You can start building skills and confidence right where you are.

We hear this all the time from homesteaders:
“I wish I had started sooner.”

So what’s stopping you?
Join us at the 2026 Modern Homesteading Conference and get the inspiration, skills, and community to take your next step.

Tickets are $49 OFF for a limited time. 👉 https://modernhomesteading.com/buy-early-bird-tickets-2026/

11/12/2025

💪 Book Review: Forever Strong by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, DO 📖

This book is a refreshing and science-backed call to action: muscle is the organ of longevity — not just for athletes, but for everyone seeking lasting vitality and resilience.

As an integrative naturopathic doctor, I deeply appreciate Dr. Lyon’s emphasis on protein adequacy, resistance training, and metabolic health as foundations for preventing chronic disease and aging well. She challenges the “frailty model” of aging, encouraging readers to build strength—physically, mentally, and nutritionally—through deliberate daily choices.

What stands out most is how her recommendations align beautifully with holistic medicine: nourishing whole foods, movement as medicine, restorative sleep, and intentional recovery. It’s a valuable read for anyone ready to take proactive stewardship of their health.

🌿 Takeaway: Longevity isn’t found in a pill—it’s built through consistency, nourishment, and strength from within.

Have you read Forever Strong? What insights have most shaped your approach to healthy aging?

11/08/2025

💫 Testosterone | It’s Not Just for Men

When you hear “testosterone,” most people think men’s health , but did you know it plays a vital role in women’s health too?

Just as men have estrogen, women have testosterone, and this powerful hormone supports:
💪 Energy & muscle tone
🧠 Mental clarity & focus
💃 Libido & motivation
😊 Mood balance

It’s all about balance — too much or too little can affect how you feel day to day.

👉Stay tuned as we explore how testosterone impacts women’s health.

11/02/2025

10/31/2025

PART 5: The Road to Recovery from CIRS

(Yes—healing is possible!)

The good news? CIRS is treatable. With the right guidance, people often experience huge improvements in energy, mental clarity, and quality of life.

The most well-known treatment is the Shoemaker Protocol—an 11-step medical approach designed to:
✅ Remove the source of exposure
✅ Clear toxins from your body
✅ Calm inflammation
✅ Restore brain and hormone balance

🌿 Other supportive treatments often include:
• Anti-inflammatory diets
• Supplements for mitochondrial and gut health
• Nasal sprays to remove resistant bacteria
• Hormone and hydration support
• VIP nasal spray (for eligible patients) to help restore brain function

💡 The key? Don’t try to DIY this. Working with a trained practitioner is crucial—self-treating without labs or a plan can actually make things worse.

🎉 Many people describe CIRS recovery as "getting their life back."
If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of symptoms with no answers, this might be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.

💚 Think You Might Have CIRS?

Take the free risk quiz here:
👉 https://www.edenenergetix.com/moldillnessquestionnaire

10/31/2025

PART 4: How Is CIRS Diagnosed?

(Spoiler: It's more than just a blood test)

Diagnosing CIRS isn’t about one simple test—it’s about putting the whole puzzle together.

Here’s how a trained practitioner figures it out:

🧠 Symptom questionnaire – A special form screens for patterns linked to mold illness
👀 VCS test – A quick eye test (done on a screen) that checks your visual contrast—often affected by neuroinflammation
🧪 Targeted lab tests, such as:
• HLA-DR genetic testing
• Inflammatory markers (C4a, MMP-9, TGF-β1)
• Hormone imbalances (like low MSH or ADH)
• MARCoNS (a resistant staph in the sinuses)

🏠 Home testing for mold exposure using dust samples (ERMI or HERTSMI-2)

📸 Brain scans sometimes show changes like amygdala swelling or brain thinning in people with CIRS—which helps explain the anxiety, memory loss, or sleep problems.
These tools give a clear picture of whether CIRS is behind your symptoms.

👉 Coming next: How do you heal from CIRS? Part 5 is all about treatment options and the road to recovery.

10/28/2025

😅 Apparently I made a pretty good impression on my team last year as the “woodsman physician.” Their recreation is spot-on if you ask me. 😂

🍁 Gratitude in the Season of Harvest 🌾

As the days shorten and the air turns crisp, we’re reminded to pause and give thanks — for the fruits of the earth, the work of our hands, and the gift of community that sustains us.

This season invites us to gather around tables, share nourishing food, and celebrate the rhythms of life that connect us all. Whether it’s a harvest meal with family, a neighborhood potluck, or quiet moments of reflection, gratitude deepens our sense of belonging and joy.

May this harvest season fill your heart with warmth, your body with wholesome food, and your days with meaningful connection. 🍂

10/28/2025

PART 2: What Is CIRS—and Why Do Only Some People Get It?

(Hint: It’s in your genes)

CIRS stands for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome—a long-term illness triggered by exposure to certain toxins, like:
• Mold (from water-damaged buildings)
• Lyme disease or other infections
• Contaminated fish or lake water
• Even spider or tick bites

But here’s the twist: not everyone gets sick. About 1 in 4 people have a genetic type (called HLA-DR) that makes it hard for their immune system to remove these toxins. Instead of clearing them out, their body stays inflamed—causing all kinds of symptoms.

What’s happening behind the scenes?
• The immune system gets “stuck on”
• Toxins build up
• Inflammation spreads to the brain, gut, hormones, and more
And because this happens slowly over time, it’s often mistaken for something else.

👉 Next: Could CIRS be what’s behind your symptoms? Find out in Part 3.

10/28/2025

PART 1: The Mystery Illness That Doctors Often Miss
(Is this what’s really behind your fatigue, brain fog, or anxiety?)

Have you been to multiple doctors, run test after test, and still don’t feel like yourself?
You're not imagining things.

Symptoms like:
• Constant fatigue—even after rest
• Brain fog or forgetfulness
• Anxiety or mood swings
• Body aches or gut issues..could all be signs of something called CIRS—Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. It’s a real condition caused by your body getting stuck in "fight mode" after being exposed to certain toxins—like mold.

The tricky part? Standard lab tests often come back “normal,” and many doctors aren’t trained to recognize it. That’s why CIRS often goes misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, or even autoimmune disease.
But there's hope. CIRS is real, and it’s treatable, once you know what you’re looking for.

👉 Next up: What exactly is CIRS, and why does mold trigger it in some people but not others?
(Stay tuned for Part 2)

10/26/2025

We were never meant to do this alone. 🧑‍🌾👩‍🌾 Community is shared skills, helping hands, and friendship.

That’s why we gather every year to build the kind of community that lasts.