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The Hormone Clarity Guide
Fatigue, stubborn weight, hormones that feel off, brain fog, gut trouble that keeps returning. You’ve probably been given a separate explanation for each. I look for what connects them. I’m Dr. Laura Paris, and I investigate the microbiome most panels never check, then build your care around what we find.
Many of my patients come to me after months or years of that. The standard panel just isn’t looking in the right place.
These usually get treated as separate problems. In my experience, they’re often connected and the connection tends to run through the gut.
The microbiome doesn’t stay in the gut. It shapes systems all over the body, which is why one imbalance can show up as several different symptoms.
The estrogen link
A group of gut bacteria (the estrobolome) helps regulate how estrogen is metabolized and cleared. When that system is off, PMS, cycle changes, and perimenopause symptoms often follow.
Inflammation’s home base
A large share of your immune system lives in the gut wall. Ongoing dysbiosis — an imbalanced microbiome — keeps it activated, which shows up as flares, allergies, and aches.
Energy and blood sugar
The microbiome influences blood sugar, appetite signaling, and how you store energy. It’s often the missing piece behind fatigue and weight that won’t shift.
This work isn’t one-size-fits-all, and I won’t pretend the gut explains everything. But it’s the first place I look because it so often explains more than one thing at once.
Step 1: Submit a new patient interest form; tell me your symptoms and goals
Step 2: We’ll meet for a short Introductory Call
Step 3: Ongoing treatment based on your custom protocol — food, herbs, supplements & lifestyle
My approach blends the best of modern science with the wisdom of traditional healing. Over the last 30 years, I’ve studied biochemistry, herbal medicine, clinical nutrition, Chinese medicine, and functional lab analysis, out of deep curiosity and care for the women I serve.
I am board-licensed in acupuncture and hold multiple certifications in functional medicine, and I stay current through ongoing study and collaboration with leading integrative practitioners.
This diverse training has shaped the toolkit I use today: advanced testing like comprehensive hormone panels and microbiome analysis, alongside therapies like acupuncture, botanicals, and tailored nutrition.
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A clinician’s guide to saving what’s left and bringing back what we can
This guide explains:
Allergies trigger an immediate immune reaction (like hives or anaphylaxis), while sensitivities can cause delayed issues like fatigue, headaches, or gut upset. Intolerances (like lactose intolerance) often result from enzyme deficiencies.
In functional medicine, we assess all three — and often find that healing the gut reduces or resolves them over time.
The Tiny Health test analyzes your gut microbiome using shotgun sequencing DNA technology. It tells you exactly what microbes are thriving in your gut — the good, the bad, and the mediocre. It’s often the key to unlocking stubborn symptoms — especially in IBS, SIBO, or unexplained bloating.
Yes! These are hallmark signs of an unhealthy microbiome or poor digestion. We’ll look at root causes like SIBO, food triggers, or microbiome imbalances — then use personalized strategies like herbs, prebiotics, probiotics, and diet shifts to get your digestion back on track.
Absolutely — though it takes the right steps and time. First, we test to see if you have increased intestinal permeability. If so, we apply a 6 month protocol to repair your gut lining. This is especially helpful if you’re dealing with autoimmunity, food reactions, skin issues, brain fog, or a lot of chronic inflammation.
Many people think gut issues only show up as bloating or diarrhea, but poor gut health can also manifest as fatigue, skin rashes, brain fog, joint pain, or anxiety. That’s because the gut influences your immune system, mood, and even hormones. If you’ve been chasing mysterious symptoms, your digestive system might be the missing link.
Not always — especially if you’re blindly using unidentified strains with no research behind them. Researched strains of probiotics, when chosen wisely, can do beneficial tasks for you as they travel through your GI tract. However, if you have low populations of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, or Akkermansia, then you need prebiotics to feed them. Probiotics won’t do this job.
IBS is often labeled as a “functional” disorder, which means there’s no visible damage, but your symptoms are real. We treat IBS by looking deeper: Is there SIBO? Food triggers? Gut motility problems? An unhealthy microbiome? You deserve more than a vague label — you deserve a clear plan and lasting relief.
Great question! SIBO is a condition where bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, causing gas, bloating, and irregular stools. Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) happens when the small intestine lining becomes too porous, allowing food particles and toxins to enter the bloodstream. They’re different issues — but often happen together, and both can be addressed with a functional medicine approach.
824 Bay Ave, Ste 20, Capitola, CA, 95010
Email: office@parishealingarts.com
Call/text: 831.655.9611
Fax: 831.886.1629
Local to:
Capitola | Santa Cruz | Soquel | Aptos | Scotts Valley | Watsonville
