Your hormones aren't the problem. Your foundation is.
In this episode of Common-Sense Wellness, Dr. Gary Martin discusses the root causes of hormonal imbalance and chronic symptoms in women with integrative health practitioner and eCornell Certified Nutritionist Mikayla Mersereau. Mikayla explains how gut health, adrenal function, and nervous system regulation form the upstream foundation that hormones depend on, and why treating hormones directly without fixing the foundation rarely leads to lasting results. She walks through how functional lab testing, including organic acid tests and hair tissue mineral analysis, uncovers hidden root causes that standard blood work misses entirely. The conversation also explores the emotional dimension of healing, including how timelines of life events, bitterness, and self-worth are often the missing pieces in a woman's recovery.
Key Takeaways:
→ Your sex hormones are way downstream: healing must start with gut health, B vitamins, and nervous system support before hormonal balance is even possible.
→ Functional lab testing looks for optimal ranges, not just "normal," and uncovers hidden root causes like mold exposure, mineral deficiencies, and yeast overgrowth that standard blood work misses.
→ A two to three week liver detox often produces dramatic hormonal improvements before lab results are even back, because the liver is essential for clearing excess estrogen.
→ Your body is like a rain barrel: when it overflows with accumulated stressors like toxins, nutrient deficiencies, poor sleep, and unresolved emotional triggers, symptoms appear.
→ Eating a nutrient-dense breakfast every morning is one of the most powerful and overlooked steps a woman can take to stabilize her hormones, energy, and cortisol throughout the day.
Mikayla Mersereau is an Integrative Health Practitioner (Level 1 & 2), eCornell Certified Nutritionist, and founder of Modern Holistic Wellness. After 16+ years working behind the scenes in emergency medicine and trauma care, Mikayla left conventional healthcare to pursue a root-cause approach to healing. Trained in functional lab interpretation, muscle testing, hormone health, gut function, detox, and metabolic repair, she now works virtually with women across the country — helping busy moms and women reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and resolve chronic symptoms that conventional medicine has left unanswered. Her approach blends modern functional science with integrative medicine, meeting each client where they are and building a plan that fits their real life.
