St. Charles Functional Medicine

12/19/2025

💊 Supplement Hot Seat: NAC

Everyone talks about antioxidants and glutathione…
👉 But NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) is the supplement that actually builds it.

Glutathione = the body’s master detox molecule.
NAC = the fuel that makes it.

Who NAC Helps

✔️ Chronic fatigue / “wired & tired”
✔️ Mold exposure / chemical sensitivity
✔️ Histamine issues
✔️ Persistent mucus / chronic sinus problems
✔️ PCOS + insulin resistance
✔️ Brain fog, anxiety during detox
✔️ Smokers / ex-smokers / poor lung function
✔️ Autoimmune or inflammatory patterns

Why It Works

🧬 Precursor to glutathione
— boosts phase II detox, clears oxidative stress

🫁 Mucolytic
— breaks disulfide bonds → thins thick mucus in lungs, sinuses

🧠 Neuro-protection
— modulates glutamate → reduces anxiety/compulsions
— supports mitochondrial resilience during stress

⚡️Improves insulin sensitivity
— reduces inflammatory/free radical damage to beta cells

🔥 Reduces cytokine storms
— huge in respiratory infections & chronic inflammation

🕒 How to Take It

600–1200 mg daily (split AM/PM)

For upper respiratory / sinus / lung support:
👉 600 mg 2–3x/day

For detox & antioxidant support:
👉 600 mg 1–2x/day

Take away from food if possible — better absorption.

🧠 Clinical Pearls

1️⃣ Pair NAC with glycine → makes glutathione production explode
2️⃣ Pair with B2, B6, selenium → cofactor support
3️⃣ NAC + PCOS → lowers insulin, improves ovulation
4️⃣ NAC + anxiety (esp. compulsive patterns) → game changer
5️⃣ NAC + mold → protects mitochondria from oxidative collapse

🚫 Who Should Avoid or Be Cautious

⚠️ Asthma (can paradoxically tighten airways in some)
⚠️ Active GI ulcers
⚠️ Taking nitroglycerin (can alter BP)
⚠️ Very low histamine tolerance → start low

12/12/2025

💊 Supplement Hot Seat: MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE

Everyone asks if they need magnesium.
👉 The real question is: what TYPE?
Because some forms go straight to your toilet…
and some go straight to your nervous system.

Magnesium glycinate = nervous system support + sleep + muscle recovery.

Who It Helps

✔️ High stress / insomnia
✔️ Tight traps, calves, or jaw clenchers
✔️ Anxiety / panic / racing thoughts
✔️ Peri/menopausal sleep disruption
✔️ Chronic fatigue / adrenal burnout
✔️ Migraine + tension headaches
✔️ Constipation from IBS

Why It Works

🧠 Binds to GABA receptors → calm the brain
🚪 Blocks NMDA overstimulation → decreases anxiety
💪 Muscle relaxation → less cramps / tension
🩺 Cellular magnesium repletion → ATP production
😴 Parasympathetic shift → deeper restorative sleep

It’s not “sedating.”
It tells the nervous system to stop fighting itself.

🕒 How to Take It

👉 200–400 mg elemental magnesium nightly
Start low → scale up

Best time:

60–90 min before bed

With protein or a light snack

Stack: Magnesium Glycinate + Ashwagandha or L-Theanine = 🔥 sleep / anxiety combo.

🚫 Who Should Be Cautious

⚠️ Severe kidney disease
⚠️ Taking meds that slow heart conduction
⚠️ Already on high-dose magnesium combos

🧠 Clinical Pearls

Low vitamin D makes magnesium harder to absorb.

Magnesium is a cofactor for thyroid conversion.

Glycinate improves HRV and sleep architecture — not just “lights out.”

12/05/2025

💊 Supplement Hot Seat: CREATINE

Everyone thinks it’s a “gym bro” supplement.
👉 But neurologists, cardiologists, and anti-aging researchers quietly use it…
Because creatine fuels ATP — your body’s energy currency.

It’s not a muscle drug.
It’s a mitochondria upgrade.

Who Creatine Helps

✔️ Men 30–70 who want strength, muscle, libido
✔️ Women with low energy, brain fog, weak recovery
✔️ Peri/menopausal fatigue & muscle loss
✔️ Vegans/vegetarians (lowest natural creatine)
✔️ Patients rebuilding after metabolic burnout
✔️ People with concussion history or migraines

What It Actually Does

🧠 Brain fuel — better working memory + cognition
💪 Muscle ATP — more reps, more power
💧 Cell hydration — protects muscle + nerve tissue
🔥 Glucose control — improves insulin sensitivity
🛡️ Neuroprotection — reduces inflammatory damage
😴 Recovery — less soreness, quicker bounce-back

🕒 How to Take It

👉 5 g daily
No cycles. No loading phase needed.
Can be morning, pre-workout, or post-workout — consistency > timing.

Hydration matters.
Creatine pulls water into cells — not your ankles.

🚫 Who Should Be Cautious

⚠️ Chronic kidney disease (get labs + physician oversight)
⚠️ Severe dehydration habits
⚠️ Very high caffeine intake

Creatine does not raise liver enzymes.
It does raise creatinine, which is a lab artifact, not kidney damage.

🧠 Clinical Pearls Most People Miss

Creatine + resistance training = metabolic reset

Creatine + women (esp. 40–60) → less sarcopenia, better mood

Creatine + concussion = improved brain recovery

Creatine + vegans → game changer for strength & cognition

12/02/2025

11/28/2025

💊 Supplement Hot Seat: Berberine

Everyone calls it “nature’s Ozempic.”
👉 But that’s not actually why it works.

Berberine changes cellular metabolism and insulin signaling — it’s fixing the engine, not just stepping on the brakes.

Who Berberine Helps

✔️ Insulin resistance
✔️ Prediabetes / Type 2 diabetics
✔️ PCOS with carb cravings or stubborn fat
✔️ Belly fat with high fasting glucose
✔️ High triglycerides or LDL-P
✔️ Constant crashes after meals

What It Actually Does

🧠 Activates AMPK
— “cellular switch” that improves metabolism and fat oxidation
⚡ Slows glucose absorption
— fewer blood sugar spikes
🍯 Improves insulin receptor sensitivity
— better fuel use, less storage
🦠 Reduces overgrowth bacteria in the gut
— yes, this is why some people feel better digestion on it

🕒 When to Take It

Best timing:

250-500 mg before meals (1-2x/day)

Take with your biggest carb meal

Or split breakfast/dinner if meals are moderate

Most people feel results in 2–4 weeks.

🚫 Who Should Avoid It

⚠️ Pregnant or breastfeeding
⚠️ On diabetes meds without supervision (it can drop glucose HARD)
⚠️ Gallbladder removal + bile problems (go slow)
⚠️ Taking antibiotics → space them out
⚠️ Extremely low blood sugar patterns

Who Berberine DOES NOT Work For

People who:

Don’t eat enough protein

Under-eat all day then binge at night

Are severely sleep deprived

Have cortisol dysregulation

Are chronically inflamed

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful patients, soon to be patients, and supporters.

11/25/2025

Read the full post here: https://stcharlesfunctionalmedicine.com/whats-in-edwardsville-il-water/

11/21/2025

Why “Normal Labs” Keep People Sick

Conventional medicine misses thousands of problems because it relies on disease ranges — not optimal health ranges.

That’s why people are told “everything looks fine” while they’re still dealing with fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, bloating, and hormone issues.

“Normal” doesn’t mean healthy.
It just means you don’t meet criteria for a diagnosis yet.

Functional medicine looks at OPTIMAL — the ranges where your body actually works.

If you feel terrible but your labs are “normal,” the problem isn’t you… it’s the interpretation.

11/19/2025

Enjoying your daily low-dose cocktail?

Read more here: https://stcharlesfunctionalmedicine.com/blog/

11/17/2025

Why Are So Many Women Struggling With Hormones Right Now?

It’s not “just aging.”
Women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are seeing more:
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• PMS
• Anxiety
• Low libido
• Hot flashes
• Sleep issues

So what changed?

1️⃣ Xenoestrogens: Chemicals in plastics, fragrances, and products act like fake estrogen and throw hormones off balance.
2️⃣ Stress + Cortisol: Chronic stress drains progesterone and disrupts cycles, mood, and sleep.
3️⃣ Gut/liver dysfunction: A sluggish or inflamed gut and liver can’t clear estrogen properly → symptoms flare.
4️⃣ Nutrient Deficiencies: Magnesium, B vitamins, and healthy fats are lower than ever.
5️⃣ Earlier Perimenopause: Stress and toxins are pushing hormonal shifts earlier than past generations.

The good news:
Functional medicine identifies the root cause—hormones, gut, stress, detox, and nutrients—and builds a plan to rebalance everything naturally.

11/14/2025

A New Perspective on Menopausal Hormone Therapy

For years, hormone therapy was misunderstood — but new research is changing that. Reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative and updated 2024–2025 guidelines from ACOG, NAMS, and the FDA show that:
✅ Estrogen therapy may reduce breast cancer risk and mortality in many women.
✅ Continuing therapy beyond age 65 can lower risks of heart disease, dementia, and even mortality when properly prescribed.
✅ Transdermal and bioidentical (isomolecular) options offer lower risk than older synthetic forms.
✅ Supporting hormone metabolism and detoxification (via nutrition, methylation, and gut health) can further enhance safety and results.

It’s time to rethink menopause support — safely, naturally, and in tune with each woman’s needs.