Hidden Gems: Meet Carrie Ballas of Boulder Integrative Health

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Ballas.

Hi Carrie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Through Hard work and perseverance – the Midwestern way (I am from Iowa) I graduated from Regis University with a Nurse Practitioner degree in 2006 and had interned with a Boulder Local provider- Pam Chandler NP/Midwife, who was a very progressive clinician, prescribing Bio-Identical Hormones. I felt a calling to help women and men replace hormones, rebalance homeostasis and support healthy aging. In 2007 I began my education with the A4M (https://www.a4m.com/) and have never looked back! In 2008 I started my own business and worked along side of other clinicians and then in 2010 I officially “hung my own shingle”. My Functional Medicine training continued over the years, as I could afford it, and I kept layering my new knowledge to help patients peel away their disease states to regain a healthy optimal state. When my patients reclaimed health, they would spread the word, and that is how I have grown my practice. I also have a wonderful relationship with other experts in their field in Boulder and we refer to each other to build a healthy community together as well.<span style=”white-space-collapse: collapse;”>&nbsp;Today, having achieved my functional medicine certificate I don’t stop there, I continue to educate myself to bring the most current research and knowledge to my patients so that we can all be healthier together.</span><div class=”EditableText” style=”border: 1px solid rgb(106, 130, 251); font-family: Times; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;”><div class=”PreviewContentStyle Preview-Line-Height” style=”outline: 0px; line-height: 36px; white-space-collapse: preserve;”></div></div>

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is not linear and neither is having a medical practice. Having a small business is not easy, especially without having any education in Business Management and it has taken me a lot of “trial and errors” along the way to get a smooth running practice. Managing humans and our complexities have been some of my biggest challenges, I have very high standards when it comes to my staff and who my patients are engaging with every day. I believe we all need to be unified and with a common purpose in helping patients to be truly successful. I am proud of my current team as they are all very dedicated, bright and lead with their hearts, which permeates into every aspect of the practice. Patients can tell when it feels cohesive and authentic. I get compliments every day on my current team. We are managing the IV clinic, the Integrative Weight loss Program and my medical clinic and we do it proudly together.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Boulder Integrative Health?
Boulder Integrative Health is my flagship business where I practice Functional Medicine. Within that model of helping patients, I have incorporated IV therapy (IV Boulder) since 2016 to exponentially up level the healing possibilities. Giving nutrients intravenously bypasses our digestion and so we get 100% absorption of those nutrients for optimal healing. We use medical grade IV treatment protocols that actually work! My Registered Nurses mix the nutrients and deliver the IV’s with precision and also give council on treatment protocols and education on other ways to support a client’s health. I believe this separates us from IV “bars” and our clients find this very valuable in their healing goals.
I have recently added a BioFeedback treatment to the clinic called the Shiftwave. This is a zero gravity chair that synchronizes whole-body vibration with guided breathwork and immersive audio to support relaxation, mindfulness, performance, focus, energy and more. There are 10 to 60 minute programs and can be an “add on” to the IV treatment or as a solo treatment. This is a MUST TRY experience and no other clinic in Boulder has the Shiftwave.

I also have designed a Weight Loss Program (Integrative Weight Loss) unlike any other out there- it’s incorporating the Peptide therapies (GLP-1 / GIP) that have profound results WITH guidance and support on lifestyle changes with clinical data to drive the change and motivation needed to stay on the forward path in change. I believe anyone prescribing the GLP-1 medications should be implementing Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) monitoring. One of the biggest challenge in losing weight quickly is also losing muscle mass, which is concerning, therefore guidance and monitoring is critical in supporting a healthy weight loss. We have the EVOLT BIA system at the clinic and it’s fast and easy to track progress. Anyone interested in getting this data can use the EVOLT BIA, you will find it very motivating to see numbers as they relate to your health.

In my medical practice I have a strong focus in Bio-Identical Hormonal Therapy (BHRT) for women and men. Hormones are an art, not a science, as we are all unique and our cellular receptivity and symptoms can be vastly different. I incorporate testing and symptoms together in my management of hormones, but something else I do that is unique and I believe critical, is to combine saliva and urine testing to get the complete picture. Saliva testing will show us “tissue” levels of hormones not just circulating blood levels and urine testing is critical in evaluating how a person metabolizes hormones and which liver pathway they are converting those hormones. We know certain pathways are at more risk of causing oxidative stress, which is concerning. When taking on BHRT, which is one of the best ways to support healthy aging, one should consider their unique situation and making sure they are safe and effective.
Of course a Functional Medicine provider must do their due diligence in unraveling other aspects of imbalances, which is why I also work a lot on testing and removing toxins, stool testing and treatment for immunity, supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health, and more!
I am grateful every day to have this education on how to help my patients regain health and vitality!

What does success mean to you?
Success is when a patient tells me they are feeling amazing again.! When a patient has regained their vitality and engagement in their life and their community, this brings me the greatest joy and helps me fulfill my life’s purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boulderintegrativehealth.com/. https://www.ivboulder.com/. https://www.integrativeweightloss.org/.
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boulderintegrativehealth/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boulderintegrativehealth/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-ballas-bsn-ms-fnp-c-abaahp-99833021/

Image Credits
Josiah Ferguson Pippa Sorley