Sacred Vessel Acupuncture & Functional Medicine

Sacred Vessel Acupuncture & Functional Medicine Sacred Vessel Acupuncture offers a unique combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diet and Lifestyle Coaching, as well as Birth Doula and Acupuncture

Sacred Vessel Acupuncture is a locally-owned natural health clinic serving patients in the Fort Collins and Cheyenne areas. We offer a unique combination of acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine, and Doula services to help you achieve your Health and Wellness goals. Our clinic is focused on treating women of any reproductive age, with a strong emphasis on chronic and degenerative diseases, as well as gynecology, prenatal, and childbirth services. Contact us today for more information!

If you have high blood pressure in pregnancy, there is a lab test your OB can order that could help you know if your sym...
06/29/2026

If you have high blood pressure in pregnancy, there is a lab test your OB can order that could help you know if your symptoms are preeclampsia or not.

It's called the sFlt‑1/PlGF ratio.

This blood test helps answer a key question...
..are these symptoms likely to be preeclampsia in the next few weeks, or do we have more time/Is this something else?

This test comes from a research study called the PROGNOSIS trial.

Here is what the research found:

A ratio < 38 is very good at ruling out preeclampsia in the next week (and likely for several weeks).

A ratio > 38 means a higher chance of developing preeclampsia in the next few weeks.

So this is mostly a “rule‑out” tool.

It's especially powerful for saying preeclampsia is unlikely right now. Which means we can make safer, calmer decisions about admission, monitoring, and delivery timing. It also helps us know if we have time to rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as preeclampsia mimickers. Or is this true preeclampsia?

This test assesses the balance between sFlt‑1 (anti‑angiogenic, placenta‑stress signal) and PlGF (pro‑angiogenic, “healthy vessel” signal).

When the anti-angiogenic side dominates, it suggests placental dysfunction, often before symptoms fully show up.

Right now, this testing is usually available only through obstetric clinicians (OBs, MFMs, some hospital-based midwives).

Have you heard of silymarin?This is the active ingredient found in milk thistle, and it has been studied during pregnanc...
06/27/2026

Have you heard of silymarin?

This is the active ingredient found in milk thistle, and it has been studied during pregnancy for its potential to support liver function and lower liver enzyme levels.

Most of the research on the use of milk thistle for lowering liver enzymes comes from postpartum preeclampsia trials... It was more effective than NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)

Milk thistle works as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory liver protector. It scavenges free radicals and reduces lipid peroxidation, which can reduce liver injury. It has also been shown to boost antioxidant defenses, including glutathione and enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.

Some evidence even suggests it may help with liver regeneration by promoting protein synthesis and ribosomal RNA synthesis after liver damage.

Safety reviews report no major toxicity at therapeutic dosages, yet there is still caution during pregnancy due to limited studies. Studies on lactation and reproductive biology have shown that these factors improve breast milk production.

As always, you should consult with a provider before starting any herbal treatments. This may not be the right option for you, and herbal medicine is a form of medicine.

Dr. Brewer is best known for developing his "Brewer's Diet" protocol for preeclampsia prevention and management.Brewer f...
06/24/2026

Dr. Brewer is best known for developing his "Brewer's Diet" protocol for preeclampsia prevention and management.

Brewer focus on:
1️⃣Enough protein (about 80–100 g/day) from meat, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds
2️⃣Enough calories (often 2,500+ per day) so you’re not under-eating while growing a baby
3️⃣Plenty of whole grains
4️⃣Regular dairy and other calcium-rich foods
5️⃣Lots of vitamin A– and vitamin C–rich fruits and veggies
6️⃣Fats from butter, oils, avocado, and nut butters
7️⃣Salting food to taste
8️⃣Drinking to thirst (not forcing or restricting fluids)

Most people hear “Brewer” and think: high protein, end of story.
But when you zoom in, it’s so much more intentional than that.

One of the classic signs of preeclampsia is a drop in albumin, a key blood protein. Low albumin can worsen swelling and reduce how well hormones and antioxidants move through your blood. Eggs and dairy contain albumin proteins (ovoalbumin and lactoalbumin). By encouraging multiple eggs, milk, and other quality proteins, Brewer was (whether he named it this way or not) supporting albumin status and, with it, fluid balance and nutrient transport.

Brewer's push for eggs also meant increased choline intake, with some protocols reaching ~900mg of choline from eggs alone. New research suggests that higher third-trimester choline intake can lower certain preeclampsia markers by 30%...so again, not just protein, but strategic choline loading.

The fatty acid complex is similar to those recommended by researchers, such as Nancy Hart, in balancing cellular fatty acids in reducing endothelial dysfunction.

Calcium intake is another area where we now have research showing that increased calcium intake can be protective against preeclampsia.

He also pushed whole grains, which are high in minerals such as selenium, manganese, and copper.

So, as modern diet culture leans harder and harder into "high protein everything," it's worth remembering that the Brewer's diet, and most recommended diets, look for moderation, not heavy protein intake only.

I think you'll be surprised.Protein is all the rage right now, I keep joking that it is the new Marsha..." protein prote...
06/22/2026

I think you'll be surprised.

Protein is all the rage right now, I keep joking that it is the new Marsha..." protein protein protein"

But do you know how much protein you actually need to consume during pregnancy?

The current guidelines on protein intake are not based on large-scale pregnancy-specific trials. The U.S. Institute of Medicine set pregnancy needs by adding estimated protein requirements for fetal and maternal tissue accretion and for the maintenance of gestational weight gain to the nonpregnant requirement.

The problem is that these values rely heavily on assumptions rather than direct measurements in pregnant humans. And these original assessments were conducted mostly on non-pregnant adult men, not pregnant women.

In 2014, the first study to directly estimate gestational stage-specific protein requirements in healthy pregnant women (yes, that is just sad), estimated average requirements between 1.22 g/kg/day in early gestation and 1.52 g/kg/day in late gestation. These estimates exceed the current RDA by roughly 15–27%

For a 150-pound woman, this would be about 83g of protein/day in early gestation and 103g of protein/day in late gestation.

Here's where it gets interesting. Going over 100 g of protein per day in pregnancy shows no clear benefit, and potentially harm. What we start to see is a U-curve in protein intake.

We need to hit our protein goals, but going too far and overconsuming protein may actually increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

It's also important to remember that the benefits of high-protein diets observed in research mainly occur when the starting intake is low, and women are undernourished. The benefits come from balancing protein intake, not from the high-protein diet alone.

So, are you getting enough protein? Where do you fall in the U-Curve?

What you eat, or don't eat, can have a huge impact on your kidney health during pregnancy. During pregnancy, your kidney...
06/19/2026

What you eat, or don't eat, can have a huge impact on your kidney health during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, your kidneys are being asked to do 40 -50% more work, making them sensitive to burnout and inflammation.

Here are 3 dietary guidelines to help protect your kidneys during pregnancy.

1️⃣Get Protein from More than Animal Sources
I'm not anti-meat...I raise my own cows...But I do think that the current dietary movements are pushing an imbalance toward high-heme-iron proteins and neglecting variety. In research, we see that higher red meat intake during pregnancy (not balanced) can increase pressure on the kidneys. The goal is 80-100g/day of protein from a VARIETY of protein sources. Fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, seeds, and red meat are all part of a balanced protein intake.

Need ideas? Download my Protein-Packed Pregnancy eBook.

2️⃣Lower Oxalates
Oxalates are compounds found in plants that bind to minerals, such as calcium, to form crystals. During pregnancy, both oxalate and calcium excretion by the kidneys are increased, making them more sensitive to higher oxalate levels. Higher oxalate excretion is associated with a faster progression of kidney disease. A typical western diet provides 200 -300 mg/oxalates/day. A low-oxalate diet is defined as keeping intake below 100mg/day. High-oxalate foods include spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, and certain beans. Lower-oxalate legumes (like chickpeas, lentils, and cowpeas) and lower-oxalate greens like arugula are preferred.

3️⃣Increase Fruit Intake
Fruit is considered kidney-friendly, especially low-glycemic fruits like cherries. Diets higher in fruits and veggies usually have lower acid loads and healthier kidney function. Trials show that people with kidney disease who add 2-4 cups of fruits/veggies per day reduced markers of kidney damage and improved blood pressure. Fruit is high in fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols, and other antioxidants that help protect the kidneys from inflammation.

Need more individual guidance? Reach out to our office and schedule a free 15 min call to get started.

Imagine your white blood cell count like an army on patrol, not just a single number on a page.🪖The total WBC = the whol...
06/08/2026

Imagine your white blood cell count like an army on patrol, not just a single number on a page.

🪖The total WBC = the whole army

This is the total number of soldiers you have available

👉🏼Neutrophils = Scouts and Frontline Fighters

These are the soldiers sent out first. They look for bad guys, attack fast and hard, and kick up a lot of "smoke and fire" (inflammation) while they fight. When they run into something big, they call for backup.

👉🏼 Lymphocytes = Strategists and Specialists

These are your memory and precision team. They remember past battles/enemies and help you mount a more targeted, intellectual response the next time, so your body has a better chance of success.

👉🏼Monocytes = The Clean-up and Repair Crew

These are the cleanup crew that helps remove dead cells and clean up the damage left behind from the battle.

👉🏼Eosinophils = Border Patrol

They protect the body's borders from invaders.

👉🏼Basophils = Signal Flares

They carry powerful weapons called histamines that, like flares, sound the alarms to direct the rest of the army.

In this analogy, we often group neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils as the fast-acting combat troops. They react quickly and release powerful weapons that sometimes injure not only the enemy but also the host. Lymphocytes are more like the command team, and monocytes are more like the medics and rebuild teams.

During pregnancy, this whole army shifts to allow for an invader to take hold (AKA your baby). When the army is dysfunctional, the placenta, baby, or even your own body can be attacked like collateral damage or friendly fire.

In Preeclampsia, too many scouts firing constantly, no command team, border guards wiped out, etc, can be an early sign that your body is under stress, or is fighting an epic battle...which can be part of the preeclampsia story.

Two recent studies looked at whether a higher WBC count in early pregnancy could be linked to higher preeclampsia risk l...
06/05/2026

Two recent studies looked at whether a higher WBC count in early pregnancy could be linked to higher preeclampsia risk later (especially late onset).

In one study, women whose WBC stayed above the top of the typical normal range at both 10-12 weeks and 24-26 weeks had the highest rates of late-onset preeclampsia.

In a larger 2025 study, women who later developed PE tended to have higher WBC and other blood cell markers in early pregnancy, even when they were still technically "in range."

What does this mean for you?

When WBC and other blood counts are running on the higher side in early pregnancy, it may be a sign that the immune system is under extra stress.

This doesn't always mean an increased risk of preeclampsia, but as a provider, I would want to do my due diligence and make sure we identify any inflammatory causes and treat them before they cause more stress on your body.

Pregnancy is a stress test for the body. If the system is already working overtime at the beginning of pregnancy, it may be more vulnerable to the normal increase in stress that occurs during pregnancy.

If your early pregnancy labs show a higher WBC or borderline changes, you don't have to figure this out alone.

Our clinic can help you and your care team look beyond the results and ask the real question, "Why do your numbers look the way they do," so you can understand your risk and make a plan.

We offer free 15-minute calls with the provider to get you started.
(970) 631-8119

Every pregnant woman gets routine blood work at the end of the first trimester. The way it gets interpreted may help pre...
06/04/2026

Every pregnant woman gets routine blood work at the end of the first trimester.

The way it gets interpreted may help predict preeclampsia (and other pregnancy complications) risk, and your provider may not be looking at it this way.

Around 12 weeks, your provider should be running an Obstetric (OB) Panel. This usually includes blood type and Rh factor, an antibody screen, infection screening, immunity checks, and a complete blood count

Count with Differential (CBC w/diff). The CBC is one of the simplest, most affordable tests in pregnancy, but when you know how to read it, it can reveal a lot about how your body is handling pregnancy long before symptoms show up.

Not every value on a CBC is equally informative for predicting PE risk. Research suggests that a few specific values are powerful predictors.
👉🏼 WBC
👉🏼 Neutrophils
👉🏼 Hemoglobin
👉🏼 RDW

When the early-pregnancy CBC is paired with a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, it provides a broader view of maternal physiology.

Read as a story of maternal physiology, these "basic" labs can help you and your care team spot patterns and guide better diet, lifestyle, and supplemental support.

...it has different subtypes and even look-alike conditions.⁠⁠There are a few different patterns that can present like p...
06/03/2026

...it has different subtypes and even look-alike conditions.⁠
⁠
There are a few different patterns that can present like preeclampsia but are physiologically distinct. ⁠
⁠
1️⃣ Early Onset Preeclampsia (EOPE)⁠
⁠
Associated with impaired placentation - shallow trophoblast invasion, angiogenic imbalances, and significant placental lesions on pathology. ⁠
⁠
This is the "classic" preeclampsia pattern that tends to show up before 34 weeks and is strongly associated with placental disease that originated in the early pregnancy. This form is frequently associated with fetal growth restriction. This is true placental disease and death.⁠
⁠
2️⃣ Late Onset and Postpartum Preeclampsia (LOPE/PPPE)⁠
⁠
More often reflects underlying maternal cardiovascular, metabolic, or immune dysregulation that becomes visible during pregnancy's physiological stress. The placenta may appear relatively normal or small on pathology; the baby is often normal in size, and the lab picture may more closely resemble chronic vascular disease than primary placental failure. This form is more associated with maternal physiology that causes placental dysfunction, but outright placental disease. Pregnancy is a maternal stress-test, and this is mom's body struggling to handle the stress of pregnancy...don't worry, we'll cover the whys behind this. ⁠
⁠
3️⃣ PE-Mimickers⁠
⁠
Thyroid disease, lupus flares, chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, NAFLD, infections, certain forms of anemia, and nutritional deficiencies. These can all produce PE-like symptoms without true placental pathology. These patterns demand a different workup and different treatment choice than classic preeclampsia patterns.

Knowing your pattern can help you prevent a future pregnancy complication. Need help?

Our office specializes in Preeclampsia prevention, management, and treatment. Call and set up a Free 15min-call to get started. (970) 631-8119

Preeclampsia is more than just "high blood pressure in pregnancy."Clinically, it is defined as new‑onset hypertension af...
06/02/2026

Preeclampsia is more than just "high blood pressure in pregnancy."

Clinically, it is defined as new‑onset hypertension after 20 weeks with proteinuria, and/or maternal organ dysfunction, and/or uteroplacental dysfunction such as fetal growth restriction.

With "true" preeclampsia, this pattern arises from damage to the placenta, from either maternal or fetal origin.

But, here's the catch....sometimes a pregnancy looks and behaves like preeclampsia on the surface...yet the placenta is not the problem.

These are preeclampsia-mimicking conditions. They trigger similar symptoms and even similar lab changes, but follow a biologically different story and require a unique clinical approach.

Over the next few weeks, this series will look at standard blood work that can help clarify whether you are dealing with true preeclampsia and empower you to advocate for better care.

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