An endogenous lipid mediator for neuroinflammation and chronic pain — mechanism, trial data, and where it belongs in an integrative plan Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Most supplements marketed for pain have a story but no trial data. Palmitoylethanolamide is unusual: it has both. It is a molecule the human body already makes, it has a defined nuclear receptor target, and it has now been through more

Association Is Not Causation Looking Deeper into the Melatonin–Heart Failure Study Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Meet Yoon Hang Kim MD Important: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement regimen. The H

By Yoon Hang "John" Kim, MD, MPH — Board-Certified Preventive Medicine Physician specializing in Integrative and Functional Medicine | www.directintegrativecare.com Abstract Creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied dietary supplements available, with over three decades of clinical trial data supporting its role in improving strength, lean mass, and high-intensity exercise capacity. Despite this, confusion between creatine (the supplement) and creatinine (it

By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is often discussed as though there is one standard dose, one predictable response, and one straightforward way to use it. In clinical practice, it is rarely that simple. People differ dramatically in sensitivity, diagnosis, immune function, nervous system reactivity, medication tolerance, and response to dose changes. This becomes especially

By Yoon Hang "John" Kim, MD, MPH I can't tell you how many patients walk into my office already taking melatonin — sometimes way more than they need — and still not sleeping. They're frustrated. They did the "natural" thing. It didn't work. Now what? That's usually when I bring up saffron, and I get the look. The cooking spice? Sort of. We're not talking about pinching threads into your rice. We're talking about a concentrated, standardized extract that's been put through leg

When Eating Feels Like a Minefield: A Story of MCAS, Ketotifen, and Low-Dose Naltrexone By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician 🎥 Watch the short version: MCAS, Ketotifen & LDN — a client story For people living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), eating can feel like a minefield. A food that was fine last month triggers flushing, hives, gut pain, or brain fog today. Over time, many people respond

Functional Medicine in San Antonio: A Root-Cause Approach with Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician If you've spent years cycling through specialists, tests, and prescriptions — and you still don't feel well — the problem may not be you. It may be the model of care. Conventional medicine excels at acute crises, but chronic, complex illness often demands a different question: not "What is the diagnosis?" bu

An Evidence-Graded Review of Over-the-Counter Botanicals and the Two FDA-Approved Prescription Options Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a substitute for individualized care. Supplements and prescription medications carry real risks and intera

Low Dose Naltrexone in San Antonio: Why It Works, and Why Dr. Kim Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Living with a chronic condition can feel like working through a to-do list that never quite ends. You try a medication, a symptom quiets down for a while, and the thing underneath it never really moves. If that sounds familiar, Low Dose Naltrexone — usually just called LDN — is worth understanding, beca

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician www.directintegrativecare.com Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented reflects general principles of integrative and functional medicine and is not intended as a substitute for individualized care from a qualified healthcare provider. Al

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician www.directintegrativecare.com Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is used off-label for essentially all of the conditions discussed below; it is not FDA-approved for any of them. Always consult with a qualified clinician before st

www.directintegrativecare.com The Layered Approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Integrating Dr. Afrin's Framework with Functional Medicine Therapeutics LDN, Ketotifen, Methylene Blue, Quercetin, and Luteolin in a Stepwise Clinical Model Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Medical Disclaimer This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Why Choose Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH for Functional Medicine in San Antonio Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician www.directintegrativecare.com If you have been searching for a functional medicine doctor in San Antonio, you have probably noticed that every clinic's website sounds the same: root cause, personalized care, advanced testing. Those are the right words — but words alone do not tell you whether a provider will actually del

Why Work With Dr. Yoon Hang Kim for LDN Therapy: The Membership Model Advantage for Complex Conditions Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician If you're living with a complex, multi-system condition — Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, POTS, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic Lyme, CRPS, or a cancer diagnosis where you're looking for evidence-informed adjunctive support — you've probably already learned a hard truth: conventiona

Beyond the Blue Pill: A Functional Medicine Approach to Erectile Dysfunction Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Erectile dysfunction can be a sign of serious underlying health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before star

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) can feel like navigating a maze with no clear exit. Symptoms vary widely, and traditional treatments sometimes fall short. That’s why I want to share insights into holistic MCAS treatment—an approach that looks beyond symptoms to address the whole person. By combining conventional medicine with lifestyle changes, nutrition, and mind-body techniques, we can find a more balanced path to relief. What Is Holistic MCAS Treatment? Holistic MCAS

Direct Integrative Care Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) therapy should only be initiated under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. Always consult your physician before starting, stopping, or modifying any treatment. Living with chronic health issues

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician Berberine has moved from a centuries-old botanical remedy to one of the most studied supplements in metabolic health. This guide reviews what the evidence actually supports, how berberine works, who may benefit, and — just as importantly — what it cannot do. It is written for readers exploring berberine for a specific health goal and who want a clear, honest, clinically

Innovative Integrative Treatments for MCAS: A New Path to Healing Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician For people living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), the search for relief can feel like chasing a moving target. Symptoms flare unpredictably, span nearly every organ system, and rarely respond to a single medication. The most meaningful progress I have seen in clinical practice does not come fro

Yoon Hang “John” Kim, MD, MPH, FAAMA Board-Certified Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine | LDN Research Trust Presenter The short version If you’ve been told LDN will make you better but every dose so far has made you worse, you aren’t broken and you aren’t a “bad responder.” You may be a canary patient — exquisitely sensitive, with a depleted endorphin reserve.For canary patients, the standard 1.5 → 4.5 mg climb is too much, too fast. The fix isn’t abando