By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH, FAAMA When a patient asked me to look into Low Dose Naltrexone for her autoimmune condition back in 2015, I had no idea that moment would reshape the way I practice medicine. What I found was a medication with a remarkable safety profile, an
A Step-by-Step Guide to Lasting Relief Important Disclaimer This handout is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan. What Is SIBO? SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Normally, relatively few
SIBO
What Is SIBO? SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally live in the large intestine migrate and overgrow in the small intestine. The small intestine is designed to have relatively few bacteria. When excessive bacteria colonize this area, they ferment food prematurely, producing gas and triggering a cascade of digestive and
MCAS
Yoon Hang “John” Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine MD www.directintegrativecare.com Abstract Vitamin D has emerged as a pleiotropic immunomodulatory hormone with significant effects on mast cell biology. Mast cells, which are central effectors in allergic disease and increasingly recognized as drivers
ldn
Feb 14, 2026 10:30 am FB Live Session What I’ve Learned from Two Decades of Prescribing Low Dose Naltrexone By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH www.directintegrativecare.com I had a conversation with my LDN community recently—a live session where people brought their real questions, their real
ldn
Why the FDA’s Black Box Warning Doesn’t Apply to Low-Dose Naltrexone Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board Certified in Preventive Medicine | Fellowship Trained Integrative Medicine Physician | Institute of Functional Medicine Scholarship Recipient Direct Integrative Care | www.directintegrativecare.com If you’ve ever Googled naltrexone and liver safety,
On root cause medicine: “I didn’t know that I loved integrative medicine because I thought that’s more of a root cause than conventional medicine.”
gut restoration
5R protocol. It’s elegant, logical, and for many patients, it works. Remove the offending agents. Replace what’s missing. Reinoculate with beneficial organisms. Repair the mucosal lining. Rebalance lifestyle factors.
ldn
Article of interest - Determining Optimal Beginning LDN Dose Abstract A common concern among patients considering low-dose naltrexone (LDN) therapy is whether chronic opioid receptor blockade might deplete endogenous endorphins, potentially causing dysphoria, anhedonia, or increased pain sensitivity. This comprehensive review examines the theoretical mechanisms, clinical evidence, and practical implications
magnesium
Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Abstract Magnesium is an essential mineral required for hundreds of enzymatic reactions, yet nearly half of U.S. adults fail to meet recommended dietary allowances. While various magnesium supplements are available, they differ significantly in bioavailability, gastrointestinal tolerance, and evidence for specific clinical indications. This
ldn
Yoon Hang “John” Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | www.directintegrativecare.com February 2026 Key Takeaways * Autoimmune disease incidence and prevalence rise markedly with age, particularly after age 60, with some conditions peaking around age 70. * Immune aging (“immunosenescence”) drives this trend through thymic involution, T-cell senescence,
hexane
Chronic n-Hexane Exposure: An Overlooked Occupational Neurotoxin