Testimonials for Roots of Health Team
"It is my great pleasure to document my experience working with the entire staff at Roots of Health in Santa Cruz, California.
In Fall of 2019, I signed onto the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website (IFM.org) to locate a Functional Medical Doctor/ Practitioner in my area, the Monterey Peninsula on the Central Coast of California. I was living with series of chronic medical issues (serious/chronic inflammation, pre-Diabetes, four decades of gut issues, and cognitive decline due to the side effects of drugs that had been prescribed to me for two decades). Years before, I had followed Dr. Mark Hyman’s 10 Day Detox Diet for three months, lost 25 pounds, and felt great. But due to my sugar addiction, I went back to my old ways, gained back all the weight and felt horrible again. Dr. Hyman was one of the first doctors in the nation to educate the public about Functional Medicine by writing books and creating programs on PBS.
I have gone on most of the diets out there over the years, but I finally got it. I started watching webinars on my computer to educate myself by listening to all of the experts in Medicine, Science, Nutrition, Fitness, and more. You don’t need to do all of this. Just know that dieting alone does not work, and you cannot succeed in a vacuum without guidance. You need to commit to a life change and be guided by an integrative medical team who has years of experience, deep knowledge of the human body and its systems, and the tools needed to determine your current medical conditions from lab tests so that a plan can be formulated for you. We are so lucky to have Roots of Health in our community. I committed to a six month program of diet, exercise, study, and intermittent labs to track my progress, with regular support and oversight from Functional Medicine Doctor Dr. Lonna Larsh, Physician’s Assistant/Acupuncturist Amber Weiss, and Life Coach Ali Altmann. In the six month program, I have lost 45 pounds, eliminated 40 years of inflammation, normalized my blood sugar, and got off the drugs that were creating cognitive issues for me. You would not be reading this if you weren’t seeking this kind of support. This is the real thing. It is a life-changer, but you are the one who needs to create the destiny for yourself by committing to changing your patterns for the rest of your life. You can do this too!
Wishing you lifelong health and happiness,
– Suzi Randall
Letter of Recommendation for Roots of Health
"For several years I was experiencing exhaustion, moodiness, ocular migraines and panic attacks. After many doctor visits, an MRI and sleep test, I had a slight improvement with iron supplementation and a CPAP machine. I was running 3 miles every other day, weighed less than before my children were born and yet the mood swings and ocular migraines were still present as well as random dizziness and still some exhaustion.
I reached a point of such discouragement, that I thought it was hopeless. I was scared everyday, wondering if I was going to have an ocular migraine and have partial vision loss while driving my children around. I was not present in my life with my immediate family or extended family. Everything seemed to take all my energy. My enjoyment was clouded with my worries, so I never fully immersed myself during my time with my children, which made me feel even worse. Although some of the doctors tried to help, there were a couple that were very discouraging and condescending to the point that I felt like I was bothering them. I had nowhere to turn.
I discovered Roots of Health through a friend and attended one of their informational dinners. I went in very skeptical, but was looking forward to the free meal. I came out of the dinner with more questions and set an appointment to meet with Amber regarding my condition. During that appointment, I felt hope for the first time in a while. My 6 month Wellness Program started with a 2 hour appointment with both Amber and Lonna who each asked me questions that none of my other doctors had ever asked. They were questions pertaining to me as an individual. I felt like I was part of my health team, rather than a mere spectator. Within the first couple of weeks, I started sleeping through the night, 7-8 hours. Previously, I would wake up every 2-3 hours and be up for an hour. Going to bed used to be a chore, but after starting the program I was looking forward to each night. Within the first 2 months I noticed I had less “bad eye” days (days in which I felt slightly dizzy, not able to focus and had sensitivity to light). I was able to decrease my iron supplementation to one-fourth the dosage with the same rate of increase as my previous dosage. It was hard work. I had to change many things in my life including my food. When I hit a wall and got frustrated, I would talk to Amber and Lonna. I always felt listened to and we worked together to find the best path for me.
I started playing soccer again. I am traveling to visit family more and actually enjoy the high energy gatherings, rather than worry about the stress of them. I am playing with my kids more and have found a great balance in my work and home environment. I have to work hard at it, but Roots of Health has given me a great start and a set of tools to use on my own so that I can maintain this lifestyle. I have not had a migraine since starting the program and no longer live in fear of them. I feel very fortunate that we have our own little “Mayo Clinic” here in Santa Cruz."
– Stephanie Tran
Letter of Recommendation for Roots of Health
Testimonials for Lonna Larsh, MD
“My family have been patients of Dr. Lonna Larsh for many years. We are blessed to have a doctor like her. Her integrative health care practice reminds me of doctors long ago where care is collaborative and supportive; she listens deeply, takes the time to understand and know me, and personally answers calls and emails the same day! This type of medical practice is a rare gift in these times. She has helped me heal and continues to help me stay balanced and well from some serious health conditions, using both conventional and complimentary medicines. Dr Larsh is a compassionate, kind and talented MD that can help you navigate the “system” and brings her vast knowledge of many different healing systems to her practice. Thank you Dr. Larsh for choosing an ideal medical practice model, for making it affordable and for always being available. I know I would not be this healthy and strong without your care.”
– E. H.
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“Finding a knowledgeable, non-judgmental, available and caring physician these days is a difficult task. Even if physicians want to be all of those things, they are constricted by the way our current healthcare and insurance systems function. Dr. Larsh, with her private practice, is able to provide all of the above and more. Since our family has joined Dr. Larsh’s practice, we have received the best and most attentive care I have ever experienced from a physician. And we have been able to save money by not having to pay for the extra costs of a large physician group. Dr. Larsh is almost always available, and when she is not, she provides alternatives. Dr. Larsh understands the importance of seeing the whole person in her practice and accepting various modalities of care. Our family could not be more happy with her as our family care physician.”
– S. K. J.
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“I have been seeing Dr. Lonna Larsh for 7 years, mostly for acupuncture. I went to her on the advice of my father, who was also seeing her for chronic pain relief. Lonna has been great. I have seen her for acupuncture for chronic pain, but she also advises me on Holistic ways to stay healthy. It’s nice seeing a Doctor that really has the time to listen to what is going on, to help you decide what course of action to take concerning your health.”
– S. P.
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“Dr. Larsh always goes above and beyond the status quo for the care of her patients, combining the best holistic-based care with excellent bed-side manner. She is extremely reliable and knowledgeable for both acute conditions or general wellness needs. Thank you Dr. Larsh for your top-notch care of myself, my wife, and our two children!”
– S. D., D. D. & M. D.
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“Being in Dr. Lonna Larsh’s practice has been a comfort because I know I’m in good hands. Every time I come in, whether it’s a check-up or a concern, I know that I’m related to as a whole person and not an object of care. Lonna asks me pertinent questions about how I’ve been physically and emotionally and considers more factors than just the physical to evaluate before making a plan. When Lonna explains any concerns or a course of action, she explains what’s happening in a way that I can understand that reactivates my enthusiasm for stepping up more in caring for myself. When I leave her office, I feel revitalized, understood, cared for, and always ready to meet a new goal. It’s a blessing to be partners in care with Dr. Lonna Larsh.”
– H. A.
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“I'm a big fan of the Dale Bredesen, MD, program to halt the progress of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline and I've read both his books. I found Dr. Lonna Larsh online and I was thrilled that she was trained by Dr. Bredesen. She knows his program very well and has been instrumental in helping a family member in Santa Cruz, CA, follow the very difficult Bredesen protocol. Dr. Larsh has been an invaluable support in recommending and interpreting many bodily tests to determine nutritional and detoxification needs; prescribing high-grade supplements; providing a nutritionist to help with the strict Keto diet and food choices; interpreting results from daily home blood tests for glucose and ketones; recommending the Apollo website for further information, support and cognitive testing; and following up on exercise, stress-reduction, and other additions to the program. She had met with us both in person at her office in Santa Cruz and online by Zoom, so I've been able to attend California appointments, even though I live in Colorado. Dr. Larsh has always been positive and supportive in helping us deal with this health issue, and I highly recommend her services for anyone struggling with cognitive decline or dementia-related conditions. I'd love to hear from other individuals who are following the Bredesen protocol, so please feel free to email me if you wish to discuss it further.”
Lafayette, CO
– Beth Kuper
Testimonial for Lonna Larsh, MD
“Dr Larsh has been my doctor for almost ten years. I actually met her when I was admitted to the hospital by ambulance for diabetic ketoacidosis. She immediately took great care of me. The nurse told me she wanted to know my status every 2 hours throughout the night. After this experience I became Dr Larsh’s regular patient. She has taken care of me with both Conventional Western medicine and Integrative medicine. This is the first doctor I have ever been to whose visits I look forward to. She is also the greatest acupuncturist in the world. Every time I have acupuncture I fall asleep immediately. She cares about the whole patient and is a great listener. I truly trust her with my life, my husband’s life and my son’s life.”