Have you ever felt like your brain is glitching? You walk into a room and forget why. You can’t find simple words. Your body aches. You’re tired but wired. And then the doctor says everything looks fine.
In this episode, I talked with Amber Ratcliffe, founder of Arbor Health, and this conversation struck a deep chord.
Amber isn’t a provider herself. She comes from the world of biotech startups, and after years of high-performance work and nonstop stress, she experienced a full-body crash. Her brain fog, crushing fatigue, and sleepless nights were dismissed with a “maybe it’s just depression.” But she knew something else was going on.
That turning point led her to functional medicine and ultimately to start a clinic that addresses what she calls a “silent epidemic”: adrenal fatigue.
Here’s what stood out most for me:
Mental health symptoms are often physical signals. Before you write off anxiety, depression, or brain fog as “just stress,” dig deeper. Amber’s clinic finds that many of these issues have roots in gut health, inflammation, hormones, or even mold.
Standard labs might miss what saliva can show. A four-point cortisol saliva test revealed that Amber’s energy molecule—cortisol—was flatlined. No wonder she felt broken.
Salt, lemon, magnesium = not a wellness gimmick. One of the simplest remedies she used to rebuild her energy was a mineral-rich sea salt + lemon + magnesium drink. Think hydration plus adrenal support.
Sometimes “doing less” is the healing. Boot camps, saunas, fasting… all the well-intended fixes were making her worse. What did she need? Gentle movement, sleep support, and a slower pace.
Quote that stuck with me:
“I thought I was losing my mind. But I wasn’t broken. I was burned out.”
This conversation is a reminder that if you feel off, it’s worth digging deeper. You’re not making it up. And there are people out there ready to help you heal.
Hang in there,
Angela
Ready to connect with Amber? Her website is: https://www.arbor-health.com/
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