Tag Archives: #HormoneHealth

Why Injured Teens Need More Than Just Physical Therapy

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

When a teen gets injured, the first line of treatment often involves physical therapy, rest, and sometimes medication. While these interventions are important, many parents find themselves frustrated when their child’s recovery is slower or more complicated than expected. Why does this happen?

The answer lies in understanding that teen bodies are not just smaller versions of adults. Adolescence is a time of rapid growth, hormonal shifts, and brain development—all of which influence how the body responds to injury and heals.

The Unique Challenges of Teen Recovery

  1. Hormonal Fluctuations Affect Healing
    During puberty, hormone levels such as estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol fluctuate widely. These hormones play a key role in regulating inflammation and tissue repair. Imbalances or stress-induced disruptions can delay healing or increase pain sensitivity.
  2. Stress Levels Can Be Overlooked
    Teens face significant stressors—from school demands and social pressures to the emotional toll of injury itself. Chronic stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight system, leading to elevated cortisol that can suppress immune function and increase inflammation, slowing recovery.
  3. Nutritional Needs Are Critical and Often Missed
    Growing bodies require ample nutrients—especially protein, vitamins D and B-complex, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids—to rebuild tissues and support brain function. Poor diet or undiagnosed absorption issues can undermine healing efforts.
  4. Nervous System Sensitivity and Pain Processing
    Teens may experience heightened nervous system sensitivity after trauma. This can manifest as increased pain perception, muscle tension, or sleep disturbances, which are not always addressed by physical therapy alone.
  5. Emotional and Psychological Factors
    The psychological impact of injury on teens is often underestimated. Anxiety, frustration, or fear about recovery can influence pain levels and motivation for rehabilitation. Addressing emotional health is essential for full healing.

How Functional Medicine Supports Teen Recovery

Functional Medicine looks beyond just the injury site. It considers the whole person—biochemistry, lifestyle, emotional health, and environment—to create a personalized healing plan. For teens, this means:

  • Hormone balancing through nutrition, lifestyle, and when needed, lab testing
  • Stress management techniques including mindfulness, breathing exercises, and gentle movement
  • Nutritional optimization to fill gaps and support tissue repair
  • Nervous system support to calm hypersensitivity and improve sleep
  • Emotional coaching to help teens cope with the mental strain of injury

Together with you and your teen, I work to identify hidden barriers to healing and provide practical tools that empower faster, safer recovery.

Your Teen Deserves More Than a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

If your child’s recovery feels stuck or they are struggling with lingering pain, fatigue, or mood changes, it’s time to explore a deeper level of care. Early intervention can prevent chronic issues and set your teen on a healthier path—not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well.

Initial Functional Health Consultation: $25.00
Click here to book your session

Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Healing Your Gut Can Lift the Fog

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

Do you ever feel like you’re living in a fog? Trouble focusing, frequent mood swings, low energy, anxiety—or just feeling “off”? You’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

As a Functional Health Nurse, I work with individuals every week who’ve been told their symptoms are “just stress” or “all in their head.” But in many cases, those vague but frustrating symptoms are actually connected to something deeper: your gut health.

What Does Your Gut Have to Do with Your Brain?

It turns out, a lot.
Your gut and brain are in constant communication via the gut-brain axis—a powerful two-way highway that links your enteric nervous system (in the gut) with your central nervous system (in the brain).

Think of your gut as your body’s second brain. It houses over 100 million nerve cells and is home to trillions of microbes that influence not only digestion but also mood, memory, focus, and behavior.

When your gut is healthy and balanced, neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA flow more easily—helping you feel calmer, clearer, and more emotionally stable. In fact, about 90% of your body’s serotonin is produced in the gut!

When the Gut-Brain Connection Gets Disrupted

Here’s where things can go off track.
When your gut microbiome becomes imbalanced—due to factors like:

  • Processed food or sugar-heavy diets
  • Frequent antibiotic use
  • Chronic stress or trauma
  • Environmental toxins
  • Food sensitivities

… it can lead to leaky gut, inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and an overloaded immune system. And that often translates into:

  • Brain fog
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Trouble concentrating

You might feel like your brain is “glitching” or that your emotions are on a rollercoaster—but really, your gut is sending distress signals.

The Good News: Your Body Wants to Heal

The best part? Your gut is resilient.
When we start working to heal the gut, many clients are amazed at how quickly their brain fog lifts, energy returns, and mood becomes more balanced. Even small steps like:

  • Adding probiotic-rich foods (fermented veggies, kefir, yogurt)
  • Reducing sugar and processed foods
  • Getting better sleep
  • Managing stress with calming techniques
  • Taking targeted supplements or healing herbs

… can help restore harmony between your brain and your belly.

How I Can Help

If you’re tired of feeling off and ready to uncover the root cause of your symptoms, I invite you to schedule a Functional Health Session with me.
We’ll take a personalized, whole-person approach—looking at your lifestyle, labs, nutrition, gut health, hormones, and emotional stressors—to design a plan that helps you finally feel like yourself again.

🩺 Initial Discovery Session: just $25
👉 Click here to book now

Let’s listen to what your gut has been trying to tell you—and start your healing journey from the inside out.

Dr. Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
📍 Serving Central Florida & Nationwide (Virtual Options Available)
📞 407-760-1662
📧 rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
🔗 www.jrmnurseconsultants.com