Poplife

What does Poplife mean?

It is the state of living in joy and fun. You have it when there is something you are looking forward to or have an exciting secret.

What is hormone balancing?

This refers to restoring the levels and ratios of our natural hormones closer to their optimal levels, as they were during younger adulthood, and resolving symptoms of hormone deficiencies and imbalance caused by aging and stress.

What are bioidentical hormones?

These are prescription hormones for support or replenishment which are chemically (molecularly) identical to the hormones produced naturally by your body. Your body cannot distinguish bioidentical hormones from those it makes for example, in the ovary. This is in contrast to synthetic, nonbioidentical and branded hormones which are different from those made by the body. They bind to your cellular receptors differently and therefore have different effects from your natural hormones. Drug companies cannot patent a natural hormone, and therefore must change it in a fundamental way or design a unique delivery system in order to patent and profit from it. That is why conventional drug company products are not always bioidentical. More recently, they are catching on! I can help you determine if and which branded products are the best for your health goals.

Does everyone need hormones?

No. Most young people tend to have optimally balanced hormone ratios and are without significant hormone symptoms and deficiencies. Also, there are methods of hormone balancing which do not involve actual hormone replenishment, which may be appropriate for some. We review your symptoms, patterns and labs to determine if you can benefit from hormone replenishment.

Can hormone balancing help my libido?

Absolutely! The most common reason for low libido and loss of sexual activity is hormone deficiency in both men and women. We evaluate and replace hormones as needed. This is tremendously successful in restoring libido and sexual satisfaction. Balancing can also help with energy levels, menopausal symptoms and stress.

What is wellness?

Just what it sounds like: the state of being well physically, mentally and spiritually. In practical terms, it means attaining a healthy weight, managing stress and eradicating chronic illness such as hypertension, diabetes and autoimmune disease.

Can you be my primary care provider?

No. Dr. Soucy and the Poplife team will be a important adjunct to your Family Medicine practitioner’s or internist’s care. Dr. Soucy is a specialist in hormone balancing and anti-aging techniques. Our team will work with your chosen provider or help to establish one for you if needed. The goal of our wellness programs is to cure your chronic diseases to prevent further complications and reduce the need for medications which would ultimately minimize visits and intervention from your PCP.

What is functional medicine?

It is the future of medicine, available now. It seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and treats the body as one integrated system as opposed to separate parts. There is a focus on prevention of disease by avoiding the root causes of common illnesses. It also aims to cure chronic disease, by reversing the underlying processes that caused it (often inflammation).

What is integrative medicine?

This refers to the practice of medicine that uses all available tools known to help prevent and treat disease. It integrates the traditional approach such as Western or American medicine which can include drugs and surgery (often helpful in a crisis) with complementary medicine techniques. These include attention to nutrition, detoxification, fitness and mindfulness and can encompass Eastern medicine techniques. This type of practice offers the best of both worlds, a larger armamentarium to fight disease and promote wellness.

What is a root cause?

Root cause refers to the underlying reason for symptoms, illness and disease. The most common root causes are environmental as opposed to genetic: long-term exposures to the food we eat, chemicals we deal with, nutritional and hormonal deficiencies we have and physical responses to stress. There are also less common and shorter-term environmental direct causes for symptoms. The goal of finding root causes is to eliminate those and ultimately resolve health issues.

For a wellness program, do I have to give up my favorite things?

Each person is an individual with unique issues that stand in the way of optimal health. We work with our clients to discover what can safely and should not be consumed. There are many things in the standard American diet that promote harmful inflammation and therefore have deleterious effects on many body systems. Whatever the root cause of YOUR health concerns, once you restore the health of your liver, your natural detoxification processes can handle certain non-ideal foods and toxins in small amounts and therefore those can be eaten in moderation. There are some things which I hesitate to call foods, that we consume out of habit and a better plan is to adjust them out of our lifestyles. We also teach you how to eat AND ENJOY whole, natural foods like your grandparents and ancestors enjoyed.

Will I have to take supplements?

Each person is an individual and not everyone will need supplements. Typically, those seeking a wellness program or hormone balancing are missing something and we may recommend a supplement while they are restoring cellular health. Most people benefit from a high-quality multivitamin, a probiotic and omega-3 fatty acid.

How long is the program?

Our wellness programs are typically 3 to 9 months, to learn our wellness curriculum and integrate the methods into your life. Your program length depends on your goals and current state of health. Sicker people will need more mentoring, adjustment and time to reach goals. Clients who need hormone balancing may need an ongoing relationship if they require continuous hormone replenishment.

How much does the wellness program cost?

This depends on the length and level of your program, which will be individualized. We offer discounts for payment in full, as well as payment plans. We do not accept insurance as payment, since our wellness plans are not covered by insurance in any case.