Tag Archive for: functional medicine

Podcast Spotlight: Cristina McMullen on Integrative Lyme Solutions 

Longevity Health Center’s Bioenergetic Practitioner Cristina McMullen recently sat down with Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, host of the Integrative Lyme Solutions podcast, for an in-depth discussion on pediatric neuroimmune conditions and integrative healing.

In this compelling conversation, Cristina dives deep into PANS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections), shedding light on how these often-misunderstood conditions intersect with Lyme disease and chronic infections.

Understanding the Root of Complex Pediatric Symptoms

Children with PANS or PANDAS can experience sudden and dramatic changes in behavior, mood, cognition, and physical health. Cristina explains why these symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked and how infections such as Lyme, strep, and other immune triggers can play a central role in driving neuroinflammation.

Drawing from her own professional journey, she shares the realities of diagnosing and treating these complex conditions, especially when conventional approaches fall short. Her insights offer both clarity and validation for families navigating confusing and often overwhelming healthcare paths.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

This jam-packed episode offers practical, actionable information, including:

  • Key symptoms and red flags of PANS and PANDAS
  • The role of infections, including Lyme disease, in triggering neuropsychiatric symptoms
  • How immune dysfunction and inflammation impact the developing brain
  • The use of bioenergetic testing to uncover hidden stressors
  • Integrative treatment strategies, including herbal and natural remedies
  • Why individualized care is essential for meaningful recovery

Cristina emphasizes a whole-child approach that looks beyond symptoms to address underlying immune and infectious drivers, offering a roadmap rooted in both science and compassion.

A Message of Hope for Families

Perhaps most importantly, this episode delivers something every parent and caregiver needs: hope. Cristina shares why recovery is possible and how the right combination of testing, treatment, and support can help children regain their health and quality of life.

If you’re a parent, practitioner, or advocate seeking deeper understanding of PANS, PANDAS, and their connection to Lyme disease, this episode is a must-listen.

Tune in on Apple Podcasts     Listen on Spotify      

By Savannah Bailey, Integrative Health Practitioner, Longevity Health Center

 

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

The organic acids test is an advanced, quantitative, at-home urine test that evaluates 76 organic acid metabolites, biomarkers that reflect key metabolic processes in the body.  Since organic acids are byproducts of cellular activity, they provide unique insights into how well various systems are functioning, long before imbalances might appear on standard bloodwork.

What the OAT Measures:

The OAT provides quantitative data on:

  • Intestinal Microbial Overgrowth: Detects waste products of yeast, fungus, and bacteria indicating imbalances that can drive digestive and immune dysfunction.
  • Oxalate Metabolism: Identifies oxalate-related issues (often yeast, mold, or diet related) that can contribute to kidney stones, inflammation, and joint pain.
  • Mitochondrial & Energy Function: Evaluates Krebs cycle intermediates and amino acid metabolites to reveal how efficiently your body is turning food into cellular energy (ATP). If your mitochondria are sluggish, you may feel tired, weak, or foggy no matter how much rest you get.
  • Neurotransmitter Metabolites: Evaluates the metabolism of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, providing keys into mood, focus, and sleep regulation.
  • Pyrimidine Metabolites & Ketone and Fatty Acid Oxidation Markers: Provides insights into folate status, cellular turnover, and mitochondrial utilization of fatty acids for energy production.
  • Nutritional & Vitamin Status: Highlights deficiencies in key vitamins, antioxidants, and metabolic pathway cofactors. Find out if you are absorbing and utilizing necessary nutrients from your diet.
  • Detoxification Markers: Assesses oxidative stress through glutathione markers to understand how well your body is clearing toxins.

Who is the OAT for?

Everyone can further understand and optimize their health with OAT results. For anyone with the following symptoms, the OAT is an essential tool to help uncover root causes:

  • Digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, reflux, bloating, gas)
  • Brain fog or poor focus
  • Muscle weakness or fatigue
  • Inflammation or joint pain
  • Skin rashes or eczema
  • Immune dysfunction or autoimmune challenges
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Mood imbalances (anxiety, depression, irritability)
  • Learning or memory difficulties
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Poor growth in children
  • Stone formation
  • Unexplained or lingering health issues

Few functional medicine tests provide as comprehensive a snapshot of cellular and biochemical function as the OAT. Whether you’re dealing with stubborn symptoms or just want to optimize your health, the OAT helps guide personalized, targeted interventions by identifying dysfunctions at the root level. Since the OAT provides quantitative and reproducible results, you can retest in 3-6 months to measure progress and fine-tune your health plan.

At Longevity Health Center, we combine your OAT results with a one-on-one health coaching review by Integrative Health Practitioner, Savannah Bailey, ensuring you receive actionable steps to restore balance, boost energy, and improve long-term vitality.

 

VIEW THE SAMPLE TEST HERE

Trauma, Terrain, and Triumph: A Journey of Healing

We’re thrilled to share a powerful podcast episode featuring our very own Anna Powers, Bioenergetic Practitioner at Longevity Health Center, on a recent episode of Lyme & Beyond with Tanya.

In this heartfelt conversation, Anna opens up about her personal and professional journey, one shaped by trauma, resilience, and a deep passion for helping others heal from chronic illness. She and host Tanya dive into the connection between emotional trauma and physical health, the importance of supporting the body’s internal terrain, and the holistic, patient-centered approach that guides Anna’s work at Longevity.

Whether you’re navigating chronic Lyme, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the mind-body connection, this episode offers validation, insight, and hope.

 

Tune in on Apple Podcasts     Listen on Spotify