According to the American Psychological Association, over 75% of Americans report symptoms of stress, 80% experience stress at work, and 20% report their mental health has declined in the past year. When it comes to stress management, 62% of Americans don't talk about stress because they don't want to burden others, 61% report those around them expect them to "get over" the stress, 47% would like help with stress, and 33% feel completely overwhelmed even after trying to manage stress. These statistics are alarming, clearly showing that America is in the midst of a mental health crisis that only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the many effective stress modulating therapies offered at ICM is acupuncture. Acupuncture's effect on stress has been well-documented and is scientifically supported by evidence. Studies show acupuncture works through various mechanisms to treat stress, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (commonly referred to as the "fight or flight" response), heart rate variability, release of endorphins, and the hypothalamus.

If you're interested in trying acupuncture for stress management, speak to your provider if they're an acupuncturist or schedule with Dr. Julie Booker, DATCM, LAc, FABORM.

• Sanesco 4-Point Cortisol test: salivary samples self-collected 4 times during the day to measure your body's pattern of cortisol release.
• NeuroMag by Designs for Health: highly bioavailable form of magnesium threonate that travels through the blood-brain barrier to support cognition and memory.
• RelaxMax by Xymogen: all around nervous system support from mood to neurotransmitters, nerve health, and blood pressure.
• Stress Factors by Nutra Biogenesis: GABA, 5-HTP, passionflower, hops, and lithium work to support the parasympathetic response and promote calm.

• Kickstart a cleanse, combat brain fog and fatigue, and support detox pathways and your immune system.
• Includes a powerful combination of vitamin C, electrolytes, B vitamins, glutathione, and EDTA.
• Duration of appointment: 1 hour
• Cost: $175
• Speak to your provider to find out if the ICM Detox IV is right for you or call 206-726-0034 to schedule.

Do any of these sound familiar? Fatigue, brain fog, headaches, inflammation, cravings, poor sleep, digestive issues, or overall sluggishness. If so, you may benefit from a detox program! It may come as a surprise, but everyone can benefit from a detox from time to time. We accumulate toxins endogenously (having an internal cause or origin) and exogenously (relating to or developing from external factors), which can lead to suboptimal physiological function and the aforementioned symptoms. Detoxification can come in many forms, including anti-inflammatory diets, sauna, fasting, elimination diets, and more.

This month, we're featuring two Metagenics products that can help simplify your spring detox routine: Clear Change 10 Day Program and Clear Change 28 Day Program. Clear Change is a dietary supplement powder that works alongside an elimination diet to bolster your body's natural detoxification processes. Both products provide antioxidants and nutritional support for all 3 phases of detoxification. The protocol is straightforward to implement and it comes with a guidebook of foods and sample recipes to eat during your detox. As always, consult your provider if you have additional questions.