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How to Do a Functional Medicine Fall Reset

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

Simple Ways to Support Your Body This Season

Is it time for a fall reset? Yes! I love fall. With the season change comes readjustments in our routines, energy levels, sleep patterns, and even the foods we naturally crave. So, fall is the perfect opportunity to pause, reset, and give our bodies the support they need before the busier, holiday-filled months of the year arrive.

In my functional medicine practice, we look beyond isolated symptoms and consider the bigger picture: nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, digestion, environmental exposures, and the unique needs of each individual.

Having a plan for fall can help you create sustainable habits that will carry you through the busy holiday season in your best health.

How Can I Get Enough Sleep?

By Keesha Ewers

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

The Functional Medicine Approach to Trouble Sleeping

Many of my clients say they have trouble sleeping. They aren’t getting enough restorative sleep and that is impacting their ability to deal with their autoimmune diseases and everyday life. Conventional approaches to sleep issues often focus primarily on the symptom: “I can’t sleep.” Functional medicine asks: “Why can’t you sleep?” to figure out the root causes of your sleep issues.
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The Functional Medicine Guide to Circadian Health

By Keesha Ewers

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

Have you ever wondered why you feel energized some days and exhausted on others—even when you get the same amount of sleep? The answer may lie in your circadian rhythm.

From a functional medicine perspective, circadian health is one of the foundational pillars of wellness. Your body’s internal clock influences nearly every organ system, affecting everything from hormones and metabolism to digestion, immune function, and brain health.

When your circadian rhythm is aligned, your body knows when to wake up, digest food, produce hormones, repair cells, and prepare for sleep. When it’s disrupted, you may notice symptoms that seem unrelated—but often have the same underlying cause.

Do Microplastics Affect Your Health?

By Keesha Ewers

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

One of the biggest hidden health “expenses” I see today? Microplastics. Microplastics may be impact your health hormones, metabolism, and inflammation, daily without you even knowing.

Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size, are now found almost everywhere: in drinking water, food packaging, household dust, and even the air. As exposure has increased, so have questions about what they might be doing inside the human body.

Do microplastics actually affect hormones, metabolism, and inflammation? The short answer: there’s growing evidence they might.

How Does Outdoor Movement Affect Brain and Metabolic Health?

By Keesha Ewers

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

I hike every morning. Why? One of the biggest hidden stressors I see in my autoimmune patients is resistance to self-care. You might be resisting going to bed when you’re tired, resisting stopping work to stand up and stretch your legs, or resisting going outdoors to move at all. Resisting self-care, especially outdoor movement could be affecting your brain and metabolic health.

That’s why I break through resistance everyone day with a hike with my dogs—even when it’s hot, humid, cold, or icy. My daily walk supports my metabolism, resets my circadian rhythm, reduces stress, and improves my mood.

And my dogs? They have no resistance—only joy in movement. They remind me daily to get up and go so I can enjoy all the side benefits of getting outside and moving.

How to keep your sanity and health through death, divorce, and disease.

By Keesha Ewers

By Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP, IFMCP

I am no stranger to life crises. I’ve experienced loss of family, friends, and treasured pets. I’ve been divorced. I’ve had cancer and live with autoimmune diseases. Right now, one of my dearest family members is dealing with a diagnosis no one wants to receive.

Chances are you’ve experienced a lot in your life, too. You might be going through a crisis right now.

These experiences don’t just affect your thoughts and your emotions. They ripple through your entire being—your body, your nervous system, your beliefs, your energy, and your sense of identity.