For Clinicians

We’ll lay the foundation for better treatment success.

We all see patients with myriad complaints in multiple organ systems for whom tests and treatments have not identified a clear diagnosis or effective treatment plan – the complex, mystery patients. I know from experience the frustration when the same patient is in the office again and again and you’ve run out of recommendations, but see they’re suffering.

— Jessica Jimison, FNP-C, IFMCP

OCC’s Functional Medicine approach prioritizes regulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Polyvagal Theory explains the physiologic impacts of chronic stress, developmental trauma, and social determinants of health; immune systems are dysregulated away from healing because the ANS is in a state of protection.

We work with people one-on-one and in small groups to foster social connection and relational safety, which lays the groundwork to bring the immune system back online for health, growth, and restoration via regulation of the ANS. This foundation optimizes the effectiveness of our Functional Medicine interventions for improving heart rate variability, nutritional status, mitochondrial efficiency, elimination patterns, intestinal microbial diversity, healthy sleep, and exercise tolerance.

Our patients have histories of poorly understood symptoms and either no diagnosis or a multitude of diagnoses.

Recent research suggests that many of these patients have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) (either primary or secondary) or Mast Cell Disease (MSD) as an underlying factor that creates an environment of chronic inflammation. Typically, these patients complain of symptoms in multiple organ systems (often including anxiety and/or depressive patterns) and have sought care in a variety of disciplines, which is consistent with an MCAS presentation. (Afrin, LB, Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity, 2016)

These challenging patients often respond unusually to treatment attempts; their reactions can be paradoxical, they can have no response at all, or they don’t tolerate even low doses of medications. Until their mast cell membranes are stabilized, they often cannot tolerate the treatments they need. We work with patients to stabilize the mast cell membranes via autonomic nervous system regulation as well as dietary, supplement, and medication interventions.

We specialize in supporting patients with complex, chronic inflammatory conditions.


We require our patients to have a PCP and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with providers of other disciplines.

Diagnoses we support by specialty

Many of the symptoms causing a person with autonomic nervous system dysregulation to be referred to a specialist do not meet diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis. These patients have often had this same experience in multiple organ systems and with multiple specialists, and are often not receiving treatment because of lack of diagnosis, or are responding oddly to treatments.

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

    Oral Allergy Syndrome

    Hives: idiopathic or chronic

    Allergy Test inconsistencies

    Adult Onset Asthma

    Eczema

    Angioedema without any obvious trigger

    Anaphylaxis without any obvious trigger

    Immune Deficiencies

    Chronic rhinitis

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

    Chronic fatigue

    Fibromyalgia

    POTS

    Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

    Gastrointestinal issues

    Adult onset asthma

    Excessive allergy and food intolerance issues

    Chronic hives

    Chronic Lyme and coinfections

    Mold toxicity/illness

    Chronic yeast infections

    Autoimmune diseases

    Interstitial cystitis

    Pelvic pain

    Unidentifiable musculoskeletal pain

    Migraines

    Rashes that don’t seem to follow a classic pattern

    Immune deficiencies

    People who just have “weird health stuff”

    (Usually with features of anxiety and/or depression present also)

  • POTS

    Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, hypermobile type

    Palpitations without identified pathology

    Varicose veins in young people

    Idiopathic chest pain

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

    Chronic fatigue

    Fibromyalgia

    POTS

    Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

    Gastrointestinal issues

    Adult onset asthma

    Excessive allergy and food intolerance issues

    Chronic hives

    Chronic Lyme and coinfections

    Mold toxicity/illness

    Chronic yeast infections

    Autoimmune diseases

    Interstitial cystitis

    Pelvic pain

    Unidentifiable musculoskeletal pain

    Migraines

    Rashes that don’t seem to follow a classic pattern

    Immune deficiencies

    People who just have “weird health stuff”

    (Usually with features of anxiety and/or depression present also)

  • Hydradenitis suppurativa

    Hives: idiopathic, autoimmune, or chronic

    Eosinophilic rashes

    Pruritis without rash

    Eczema

    Psoriasis

    Skin tags (more than a couple)

    Angular cheliltis (refractory)

    Perioral dermatitis

    Seborrheic dermatitis

    Nonspecific rashes (often change over time)

    People who tend to be rash-y, but often no trigger is identified

    Keloid tendencies

    Inclusion cysts/sebaceous cysts

    Folliculitis, recurrent

  • Chronic rhinitis

    GERD, especially refractory to treatment

    Vocal Cord Dysfunction

    Sinus infections, chronic/poor resolution

    Ear infections, chronic or recurrent

  • GERD that is refractory to typical treatments

    Nonspecific gastritis

    Diarrhea/constipation/abdominal pain that doesn't seem to have any predictable pattern or other explanation

    IBS with diarrhea that recurs after treatment with rifaximin

    Mucus in stool that isn't associated with colitis on exam

    Oral allergy syndrome

    Pruritus ani

    Unexplained pelvic pain

  • Unexplained pelvic pain

    Vulvar or vaginal itching without fungal or bacterial explanation

    Interstitial cystitis

    Allergic-type reaction in the vagina

    Dyspareunia

    Excessive leukorrhea

    Hives/other histamine-related reactions that occur in the last few days of the menstrual cycle

    Idiopathic endometritis

    Excessive endometriosis

    Fibroids in young women (mast cell mediators can influence toward excess tissue growth, so people often have incidental findings on scans of polyps, cysts, and other growths in any organ or on the skin)

    Hydradenitis suppurativa

  • Migraines

    Tinnitus without loud noise etiology

    Small fiber neuropathy

    Paresthesias

    Symptoms consistent with MS, without meeting diagnostic criteria

    Brain Fog

    Chronic Fatigue

    Sensory processing issues

  • Joint pain without finding or arthritis

    Arthritis earlier in life than anticipated from clinical history

    Sprains that take longer than normal to heal despite appropriate care

    Poor healing at surgical sites (including what looks like infected surgical site but doesn’t grow anything on culture—excessive inflammation caused by mast cells)

    Keloid formation at surgical sites

    Tendonitis that takes longer to resolve than expected, or needs steroid injection to heal

  • Chronic fatigue

    Fibromyalgia

    POTS

    Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

    Gastrointestinal issues

    Adult onset asthma

    Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

    Excessive allergy and food intolerance issues

    Migraines

    Interstitial cystitis (urinary frequency without infection)

    Unexplained hematuria

    Chronic hives

    “Chronic Lyme” and coinfections

    Mold toxicity/illness

    Chronic yeast infections

    Autoimmune diseases

    Pelvic pain

    Unidentifiable musculoskeletal pain

    Rashes that don’t seem to follow a classic pattern

    Immune deficiencies

    People who just have “weird health stuff”

  • Adult-Onset Asthma

    Tightness in Chest without pulmonary or cardiac explanation

    COPD without a history that explains the development of the pathology

    Dyspnea on exertion without pulmonary or cardiac explanation

  • Fibromyalgia

    Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobile type

    Seronegative Rheumatoid findings

    Autoimmunity: + ANA but without diagnostic criteria for disease

    Chronic Tendonitis

    Hypermobility

    Connective Tissue issues: tightness or laxity

  • Interstitial cystitis

    Unexplained frequency or urgency of urination

    Kidney or bladder pain without findings of calculus or infection

    Sterile cystitis

    Unexplained hematuria

    Unexplained inflammation of the bladder

“As a trauma therapist with some (not extensive) exposure to Polyvagal Theory, I was stunned by the presentation “Removing Obstacles to Healing” with Jessica and Micaela. I had never before understood the relationship between stress/trauma and the immune system which they laid out so clearly. But then, I was completely blown away with their [experiential group education and practice] series on the Polyvagal Theory. I learned about my own system as well as how to recognize dysregulation in my clients at a much more subtle level than before.”

— Joan C., PsyD

We welcome provider questions anytime.

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