July 2026
“The first wealth is health." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
What Are You Actually Paying For?
Most of us never question what we actually get from our healthcare — until persistent symptoms force us to ask.
Typical provider visits covered by insurance last 10–15 minutes — just enough time to renew a prescription and order routine labs. It’s not because doctors don't care. It’s because the system prioritizes volume over depth.
Health Insurance model = No changes = No results
So when your labs return "normal" but you still feel exhausted, foggy, or not like yourself, there's often nowhere for those problems to fit. You leave with no answers and, often, no hope. That is not a personal failure. It is a structural one. It’s not your fault.
The Real Cost of Staying Where You Are
Here's what rarely gets counted: the cost of staying sick, unwell or out of balance.
What are the long term effects of years on medications that manage symptoms without resolving their root cause? There is a slow erosion that happens when you accept "this is just how it is" as the answer.
Conventional insurance-based care is the right choice for acute illness and emergencies. It has saved many from an acute MI (heart attack) stroke and traumatic injuries. It was simply not constructed to manage the complex, interconnected hormonal and metabolic shifts of midlife for both women and men.
Functional Medicine operates on a very different model, and the difference goes deeper than cost.
What You're Really Investing In: YOU
When patients join my practice, we talk at length about history, patterns, family and what is happening in their lives. Then, we test deeply. It’s not just the standard panel, but a deep dive into how the cells are functioning. We discuss your stress response and how your body is aging at a cellular level.
Membership Model = Being In It Together = Long Term Results
From that, we build a blueprint that belongs to you. A unique plan that unfolds through our time together. We stick with you. As your body responds and testing reveals new information, the plan shifts with it.
This is what makes membership different from fee-for-service care, where each appointment lives in isolation. In a membership, I actually know you well. The care compounds over time.
Most patients, when they add up specialist co-pays, ineffective medications, and unguided supplements, find the difference is smaller than expected. What changes most isn't the number — it's what you actually receive in return.
In the past year, I've moved my practice to this membership model, and the results speak for themselves — weight finally shifting, energy coming back, patients telling me they feel like themselves again. I love being part of my patients' health team by walking alongside them and guiding them to health.
Whether you've been with me on this journey or are just now wondering if it's time to start one, the invitation is the same. I'd love to be the doctor who's actually in this with you.
My passion and my purpose are at your service.
Stress, Hormones, and Health - Live Seminar & Webinar
I will be offering three opportunities to learn more about how stress impacts hormones and overall health. I hope to see you in person or online.
************
- LIVE IN PERSON TALK -
Natural Grocers, Sedona
Masterclass with Dr. Beth
July 9th - 5:30 PM || Natural Grocers, Sedona || Light Snacks Served
Meaningful support and understanding occurs when those we share life with understand our health journey.
Spouse or significant other attendance is encouraged for these events. When those we share life with understand our health journey, it creates meaningful support and understanding. Friends and family members are also welcome.
Join us! No RSVP needed for this event!
************
- LIVE IN PERSON TALK -
Lund Canyon Coffee, Flagstaff
Masterclass with Dr. Beth
July 15th - 6:00 PM || Lund Canyon Coffee, Flagstaff || Light Snacks Served
************
LIVE WEBINAR - ONLINE
July 28th - 5:00 PM || Attend from anywhere
************
Promotional Offer From Paleo Valley
Sleep is the foundation of vibrant health, influencing everything from energy and mood to cravings, recovery, immune function, and longevity. It is one of the health pillars I focus on with most of my patients.
It can be extra hard to fall asleep in Summer. Here is an excellent addition to your night routine that addresses the fact that sleep is not a switch to be turned on but a complex biological process that involves so many different parts of the body.
Superfood Sleep Protein was created to foundationally support the systems that allow sleep to happen naturally — so falling asleep and staying asleep finally is easy. It won’t try to “knock you out” like most sleep aids. This formula is made of multiple whole-food nutrients to help your body gently transition into sleep, stay there more consistently, and wake up feeling restored.
Rooted in Healing - Update
Unfortunately, KAZM Radio lost their building lease and had to vacate. Until further notice, there will be no new episodes of Rooted in Healing.
Re-runs may still be airing. | Saturdays at 9:00 AM |KAZM 106.5 FM / 780 AM
I am exploring new ways to continue sharing this information and will keep you updated.
Past episodes remain available:
-
Saturdays at 9:00 AM (re-runs)
Prior episodes are available in the archives on Apple Podcasts.
Question of the day!
Will you be testing my hormone levels before starting HRT?
The answer is no. Testing hormone levels adds no useful information that I can use. Your current symptoms are the best indicator of what hormones you will be needing.
Menopause is a clinical diagnosis. This means symptoms, history and physical diagnosis provide the evidence needed before prescribing HRT to any woman 45 years and older. Hormone levels fall as ovarian function decreases in mid-life. Also, hormone levels are unique for each person. What is optimal for one may not be enough for someone else.
There are several reasons for this. The condition and number of hormone receptors helps determine how the signal a hormone provides is transmitted to the cell. Everyone's receptors vary. Also, how we break down and eliminate the hormones from our system is unique to each person and is determined by genetics, microbiome, stress and activity level. These metabolites/break-down products are not found in the blood. There is no reason to spend money, time, effort and blood on unnecessary testing.
Now that you understand why ordering tests before is not needed, I still do test levels. The best time to test hormone levels is once symptoms have resolved on a current dose. In my practice, this is usually 3-6 months after starting a new regimen. I use a specific 24 hour urine test for the topical (transdermal/applied to the skin) hormone replacement that I prescribe. The reason for this is to make sure that my patient is on adequate levels to protect bones. (Levels for cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s protection have not been established.) It is also important to know if someone is on higher than normal dosing so they can be closely monitored for adequate hormone detoxification and clearance.
For men, it is a very different type of testing. Currently serum/blood testing is performed before starting HRT. There are certain tests that show how a man is breaking down his hormones and this helps with the overall approach to treatment.
If you are interested in learning more, this article from 2025 explains why (Christakis et al. Menopause Misinformation is Harming Care. The BMJ. 2025;390:r1695. doi:10.1136/bmj.r1695). Paid BMJ subscription needed to access full article.
Recipe for July - Summer Salsa
I love, love this fresh Summer Salsa recipe and so do my daughters! It’s so easy to enjoy after a good day’s work, sitting in the shade with a cool breeze on my front porch. It adds flavor to your grilled fish, chicken, or tofu on top of or with a salad.
INGREDIENTS (Use organic!)
1 Red pepper
1 Mango or peach
½ Red onion
1 Avocado
½ cup Cilantro
1 tsp Fresh lime juice
Pinch of salt to taste
Cumin to taste
Jalapeño (optional - It’s not as spicy as you’d think!)
DIRECTIONS
Finely dice red pepper, mango, red onion, and jalapeño (if using).
Slice avocado in small chunks.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Add fresh lime juice and a pinch of cumin, then mix again.
(Adjust amounts above to your desire.)
Connection Call for Prospective Members
If you feel ready to explore what healing could look like for you, I’d love to connect. For new patients, I offer a complimentary 15-minute connection call to see if this work is a good fit.
Reminder, I serve patients in Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington.
