Blog - Dr. Alexandra MacKillop

Understanding and Reversing PCOS Hair Loss

Among the many shared health conditions between men and women, hair loss is one with few resources available for treatment. Like any symptoms, hair loss can be caused by many reasons, ranging from nutritional imbalances to autoimmunity, and everything in between. For women in particular, one of the biggest reasons…
What Are Functional Medicine Tests and How Can They Help Your Health?

Have you ever felt dismissed by your doctor? One of the most common stories I hear from my patients when they come to me for functional medicine treatment is that they primary care doctor told them they were “fine.” In some cases, their doctors even ran a blood panel, reviewed…
The Truth About “Natural Flavors”

Prior to becoming a functional medicine doctor, I started my career in the field of food science working as a flavor chemist to make natural flavors. Frankly, I loved it, but much of what I learned and saw there ultimately led me to exit the field and transition to working…
Psoriasis vs Eczema: Functional Medicine Treatment

There’s nothing like scratching an itch. But when it comes to psoriasis vs eczema and vise versa, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. In many cases, you scratch it and then it just continues to itch even more until the scratching becomes wounds and those wounds struggle to heal,…
How to Get Pregnant After 40 (Without Fertility Treatment)

Let’s be honest—when it comes to fertility, 40 is not the new 20. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Or even unlikely. Quite the opposite, actually. One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing patients get better, but the icing on the cake is when they have a…
Did Your Doctor Say Your Thyroid Is Fine? (Three Reasons for a Missed Diagnosis)

“Your labs look fine!” My patients share this nearly famous quote from their primary care providers all the time. That’s how they end up in my office, of course. Because they’re not fine. They feel terrible, with their hair falling out, gaining weight for no reason, freezing all the time,…
Herbal Supplements for Low Progesterone

Have you been diagnosed with low progesterone? Or maybe you have symptoms of low progesterone, like a short luteal phase, spotting before periods, heavy bleeding, fertility struggles and more. In a world of hormone drugs and providers who are too quick to prescribe the birth control, it’s natural to wonder…
How to Survive The Mirena Crash

If you’ve been on social media lately, you might have come across the term “Mirena Crash.” If you’ve ever considered a Mirena IUD or another type of IUD, of you already have one in place, you might (understandably) be wondering, what is the Mirena Crash and How do I prevent…