Wellness

Living With Epstein-Barr Virus: Exploring a Functional Medicine Perspective

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Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is one of the most widespread viruses in the world. Most people contract it at some point—often during childhood or adolescence—and for many, it passes with little more than flu-like symptoms. But for others, EBV seems to linger, showing up again later in life with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or swollen lymph nodes.

In recent years, more people have turned to functional medicine to explore why this happens—and what can be done to support their immune systems.

What is Epstein-Barr Virus?

EBV belongs to the herpesvirus family. It spreads primarily through saliva and is perhaps best known as the virus behind mononucleosis, or “mono.” But once someone contracts it, the virus stays in the body in a dormant state.

Most of the time, that’s not a problem. But under certain conditions—such as stress, poor sleep, or other immune challenges—it may become active again. This reactivation doesn’t always lead to noticeable symptoms, but for some, it’s associated with ongoing health issues.

How It’s Typically Managed

In conventional settings, EBV is usually approached with supportive care. This might include rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications to reduce fever and body aches. There are no medications specifically approved to eliminate EBV, and because it’s a virus, antibiotics won’t work.

For many people, these supportive strategies are enough. But for those dealing with long-lasting or recurring symptoms, it can feel like a never-ending cycle.

Functional Medicine: A Broader Lens

This is where functional medicine comes in. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, functional medicine looks at the whole picture—lifestyle, nutrition, stress levels, environmental exposures, and more. The goal is to better understand what might be affecting a person’s immune resilience.

This approach often starts with a deep dive into a patient’s history and daily habits. Are they sleeping well? Eating in a way that supports immune health? Dealing with high levels of stress or hidden inflammation? These questions help shape a more personalized view of what might be contributing to symptoms.

Dr. Anju Mathur of Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles says, “From my viewpoint, Functional Medicine is something that you use to estimate the current status of the person functionally. Because think about it — a body is used to function. “

While functional medicine does not claim to cure or directly treat EBV, it may offer supportive strategies aimed at optimizing overall well-being.

Dr. Mathur goes on to say, “In Functional we’re not using a symptom to give a drug to the person like a band-aid. We discover what systems in the body are not in balance, so that we can then bring them into balance — and the symptoms drop away. We’re actually addressing the underlying pathology that leads to the manifestations of disease in a person.”

Tools and Therapies Some Clinics Use

Some functional medicine clinics offer therapies that are less familiar in traditional settings. One example is Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Therapy (UVBI)—a treatment that involves exposing a small amount of a patient’s blood to UV light before returning it to the body. Some providers describe this as a way to help support immune function, though it remains a niche and evolving area of research.

Other supportive strategies often include nutrient optimization, stress management techniques, and individualized nutrition plans. These are not EBV-specific treatments, but may be part of broader efforts to help the body function at its best.

A Holistic Conversation

At the heart of the functional medicine approach is curiosity: Why is this happening? What might be making things worse—or better? It’s not about replacing conventional medicine, but complementing it with a broader view of health.

That said, it’s important to approach any new health strategy with care. Not all therapies are backed by large-scale clinical studies, and what works for one person may not work for another.

If you’re struggling with fatigue or other lingering symptoms and wonder if EBV could be part of the picture, it may be worth having a conversation with a medical professional. Functional medicine offers one perspective in a growing, evolving dialogue about how best to support long-term health.

Sources

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): EBV and Associated Conditions
  • Angel Longevity Medical Center: Functional Medicine Insights on EBV
  • American Academy of Environmental Medicine: Overview of UVBI
  • Mayo Clinic: Epstein-Barr Virus Overview

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health or wellness routine. 

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PR and SEO Best Practices for Law Firms, Dentists, Wellness Companies, and Chiropractic Offices

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PR and SEO best practices for law firms, dentists, wellness companies, chiropractic offices

These days, your reputation often begins online before a client ever walks through your door. Whether you run a law office, a dental practice, a wellness brand, or a chiropractic clinic, people are searching the web to find answers, compare options, and decide who they can trust. That is where public relations and search engine optimization come together.

PR shapes your story and builds credibility. SEO makes sure the right people actually see it. When the two are aligned, they create a cycle of trust and visibility that fuels growth.

Why PR Matters for Professional Services
Public relations is not just about getting your name in print. It is about shaping perception. A thoughtful media mention, a quote in an article, or a published expert opinion can position you as someone worth listening to. For a lawyer, this might mean explaining a high-profile case in plain language for the public. For a dentist, it could be offering preventative care tips during National Dental Health Month. Chiropractors might focus on wellness and posture awareness, while wellness companies can shine by connecting their products to lifestyle conversations.

“PR is about storytelling,” says Mike Falkow, CEO at Meritus Media. “For industries like law and healthcare, it is often the difference between being just another listing online and being recognized as a trusted voice.”

How SEO Brings People to You
PR helps you look credible. SEO makes you visible. If you want new clients to find you when they type into Google, you need smart SEO strategies. That includes clear keywords, easy-to-navigate websites, local business listings, and reviews.

A law firm in Los Angeles that wants more personal injury clients has to show up when someone searches for “Los Angeles personal injury attorney.” A Tampa chiropractor has to be easy to find when someone types in “back pain relief near me.” It is not just about ranking higher, it is about meeting people right at the moment they need you.

Blending PR and SEO
Here is where the magic happens. When you land a feature in a credible publication, that mention often includes a link back to your website. Google sees that link as a vote of confidence, which boosts your search rankings. On the flip side, a blog post that is written with SEO in mind can get picked up and shared if it is timely and tied to bigger conversations in the media.

According to Meritus Media, “The mistake many professionals make is treating PR and SEO as separate projects. The truth is they amplify each other. Press mentions bring credibility and backlinks, and optimized content helps that coverage travel further.”

Best Practices for Each Industry

  • Law Firms: Build authority through thought leadership. Comment on relevant legal issues and create content around the cases and topics people are searching for.

  • Dentists: Focus on education. Share preventative care tips, encourage reviews, and make sure your practice shows up in local searches like “dentist near me.”

  • Wellness Companies: Lean into education-driven PR. Announce new research, highlight expert voices, and optimize for lifestyle searches such as “natural ways to boost energy.”

  • Chiropractic Offices: Become the go-to local expert. Host workshops, engage with local press, and use SEO to highlight treatments tied to specific conditions and locations.

The Takeaway
A strong digital presence requires more than just a website. It requires being seen, being trusted, and being remembered. For law firms, dentists, wellness companies, and chiropractic offices, the smartest approach is one where PR and SEO are not competing, but working together.

As Meritus Media puts it, “It is not enough to have an online presence. You need to be discoverable, credible, and memorable. That is the sweet spot where PR and SEO intersect.”

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Wellness

Andropause: The Silent Hormonal Shift Men Can’t Afford to Ignore

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andropause

Men do not have a menopause moment. There is no dramatic, all-at-once hormonal cliff like women experience in midlife. Instead, there is a quieter, slower change, a gradual decline in testosterone that can take decades to unfold. For many men, it creeps in so subtly that it is brushed off as “just getting older.” But this stage of life has a name, and it can carry serious consequences: andropause.

Testosterone levels naturally drop about 1% a year starting in a man’s 30s or 40s. That might sound insignificant, but over time it can mean a major difference in energy, mood, strength, and overall health.

Dr. Anju Mathur, Medical Director at Angel Longevity Medical Center and a specialist in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, says the misconception around “male menopause” keeps too many men from seeking help. “Andropause is real, but it is not the male equivalent of menopause. It is a gradual process that can span decades, which is why so many men suffer in silence. They notice they are not feeling like themselves: less energy, decreased motivation, changes in body composition, but they are told it is just part of getting older. The truth is, optimal hormone levels are crucial for men’s health and vitality at every age.”

Beyond the Bedroom

While loss of sex drive is often the headline symptom, andropause affects much more than libido. Men may experience:

  • Decreased muscle mass and strength
  • Increased belly fat
  • Lower bone density
  • Fatigue and poor sleep
  • Mood changes, depression, or irritability
  • Brain fog and memory issues

Some men even get hot flashes and night sweats, symptoms they never expected to share with women in menopause.

Why It Matters for Long-Term Health

Untreated low testosterone is not just uncomfortable. It is linked to higher risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and even premature death. A large Veterans Affairs study found that men who restored testosterone to normal levels had a lower risk of heart attack or stroke, while those left untreated faced a 56% higher mortality rate.

The Diagnostic Gray Zone

Pinpointing andropause can be tricky. Symptoms overlap with stress, depression, poor sleep, and chronic illness. Blood tests help, but testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day and can be affected by illness, medications, and lifestyle. The best evaluations go beyond total testosterone to include free testosterone, SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), and other hormone markers that influence function.

Treatment: More Than a Prescription

For some men, lifestyle changes such as more exercise, better sleep, and improved nutrition can make a meaningful difference in hormone balance. When testosterone therapy is necessary, it is available as gels, injections, patches, or pellets.

Dr. Mathur stresses a whole-body approach. “I do not just prescribe testosterone and send men on their way. I look at adrenal function, thyroid health, insulin sensitivity, vitamin D levels, and lifestyle factors. Sometimes optimizing those areas can naturally improve testosterone production. When replacement is needed, I use bioidentical hormones and monitor closely to ensure we are achieving optimal levels safely.”

The Functional Medicine Edge

Addressing andropause from a functional medicine perspective means getting to the root of hormone decline and addressing overall wellness. That can mean correcting nutrient deficiencies, improving sleep, reducing inflammation, and managing stress. Zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium play a particularly important role in testosterone production.

Reclaiming Vitality

Andropause does not have to signal the beginning of decline. With proper diagnosis, targeted treatment, and smart lifestyle shifts, men can maintain strength, focus, and energy well into later life.

If you are feeling unusually tired, unfocused, or unlike yourself, do not chalk it up to age. It could be your body’s way of telling you something important. Addressing andropause is less about turning back the clock and more about making the years ahead some of your best yet.

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Wellness

The Shift Toward Holistic Medicine: Why Preventative Care Is Gaining Ground

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A woman meditating in a peaceful natural setting, representing holistic wellness

The modern patient is changing. Walk into any health clinic today, and you’re just as likely to hear questions about inflammation, hormone balance, or gut health as you are about blood pressure and cholesterol. What’s driving this shift? A growing desire for healthcare that doesn’t just treat symptoms, but aims to prevent illness altogether.

Holistic medicine, once seen as alternative or fringe, is now finding its place in mainstream conversations. More and more people are asking not just, “What’s wrong with me?” but “How can I stay well in the first place?”

Dr. Anju Mathur, founder of Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles, sees this change every day in her practice. “People are tired of quick fixes and long-term prescriptions that don’t get to the root of their health concerns. They want a path that looks at the full picture: lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and environment. Not just a pill for the problem,” she says.

Functional and integrative medicine clinics are growing in number, and with them, a shift in mindset. Patients are prioritizing sleep, hormone balance, stress management, and immune support. They’re investing in regular lab work and diagnostic screenings not because something feels wrong, but because they want to make sure things stay right.

It’s not just a personal health decision. It’s a financial one too. Preventative care has the potential to reduce the long-term costs of chronic conditions that develop silently over time, like diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders. And with more wearable tech, at-home tests, and functional health platforms available than ever before, people have the tools to take control of their health in a way that wasn’t possible a decade ago.

One standout area drawing increased attention is peptide therapy. Peptides, short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in the body, have become a key tool in regenerative and preventative wellness. Medical-grade peptides are used to support muscle growth, improve cognitive function, repair tissues, and modulate immune response. At the same time, plant-based peptides are being explored for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-aging properties.

Dr. Mark Bartlett, Chief Science Officer at MAKE Wellness, sees peptides as a natural evolution in the holistic health movement. “Peptides offer highly targeted support for the body’s own healing mechanisms,” he explains. “Whether derived from natural sources or produced synthetically, they can play a powerful role in optimizing performance and restoring balance, especially when combined with foundational practices like proper nutrition, sleep, and movement.”

This isn’t about turning away from traditional medicine. It’s about expanding the definition of what care looks like and when it starts.

As Dr. Mathur puts it, “The best medicine is proactive. If you wait until your body is yelling at you, you’ve already missed the quiet signs it was giving all along.”

The future of health isn’t just in the treatment room. It’s in the choices we make every day, and in a growing number of people, those choices are leaning toward a more holistic path.

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© 2025 Good Life Guide | The information provided on Good Life Guide is for general informational and editorial purposes only and is not intended as professional or medical advice. Readers should consult appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on the content. Site by Meritus