about
Restore your health, feel your best. You deserve it!
Beyond the Mountain Wellness takes an integrative approach to bridging the philosophies of ancient Chinese Medicine and modern Functional Medicine to precisely diagnose the root cause of your illness and customize natural treatments to heal it. Both Chinese and Functional medicines view the body as one working system, instead of a collection of independent organs divided up by medical specialties. From here, they treat the whole body system, not just the symptoms, providing long-term relief. Functional Medicine uses advances in scientific testing of your saliva, urine, blood and/or stool to find important markers that outline the underlying causes of your health issues. A combination of both Chinese herbs and Western natural supplements, modified healthy diets and lifestyle improvements are the most effective way to see positive health changes quickly.
It’s time to feel amazing, for good.
michelle specializes in:
Digestive Problems
Insomnia
Adrenal Fatigue & Weight Management
Fertility & Hormone balancing
Pain & Inflammation
Anxiety & Depression
Mycotoxins
common functional tests ordered to your home:
Adrenal Panels
Hormone Panels
GI Stool Tests
Organic Acids Tests
Genetic Tests
Test pricing ranges from $105-$550 per test.
Most health issues are the result of underlying biological imbalances that have been in place for a long time, and the healing path can get confusing at times. While Michelle offers her expertise in diagnosing and treatment, she is also a fully present advisor for you along the entire journey. Free quick emails for the 3-4 weeks between check-in appointments are welcomed and answered within 48 hours. Please note that these services are not meant to replace regular check-ups with your primary care doctor.
appointments
All appointments are conducted with Michelle via video chat. Check-ins appointments are via video chat or by phone. Please start by booking an initial consult. In your first session we will decide which functional tests to order and once they are sent back to the labs, you will book the appropriate test follow-up appointment about three weeks later. Check-in appointments are required every 4-6 weeks after you begin your protocol. A typical functional workup with Michelle averages around six months. Super-bills are available upon request. All appointments have a 3% credit card fee at booking. Feel free to contact Michelle with any questions.
Initial
ConsulT
50 minutes $280 (email Michelle if you would like to be added to the waitlist after you book this appointment)
Detailed review of your relevant health history
Discussion on what might be happening in your body through a functional medicine lens
Prescribe in home functional tests tailored to your body’s needs- note that these tests add up to an average of $300-$900
Start to discuss a personalized diet plan for you
Lessons on how to do the at-home-test-kits
(One-Two) Tests Result
Follow-Up
50 minutes $280
Scheduled 2-3 weeks after you complete your one prescribed functional test
In-depth review of your test result for one to two completed tests (for more than two tests, please choose the “three or more test results” time slot
Design a personalized treatment protocol using supplements and herbs
Generate a diet and lifestyle plan to support the protocol
Create timelines
(three or more) test results
follow-up
75 minutes $390
Scheduled 2-4 weeks after you complete your prescribed functional tests
In-depth review of your test results for three or more completed tests
Design a personalized treatment protocol using supplements and herbs
Generate a diet and lifestyle plan to support the protocol
Create timelines
other services
50 minutes $280
Fertility coaching
Weight management coaching
Pediatric health
Design an in-home natural pharmacy as a first line of defense for preventing illness
Longer check in sessions
Check-ins
25 minutes $140
Scheduled every 4-6 weeks after test review appointments
Go over progress on your current protocol
Modify diet, supplements, and herbs if appropriate
Troubleshoot if necessary
Discuss retesting
supplements & PEMF devices
Many supplement protocols are available through Fullscript. Simply click on the ‘Place Order’ button below and set up your personal account. Michelle has researched supplement and herb companies in great detail and only prescribes the most effective and routinely tested natural medicines.
PEMF (pulsed electro-magnetic field) therapy uses technology to help restore cellular function, stimulate healthy blood flow, calm the nervous system, and supports overall wellness. Michelle works closely with the two companies that offer the highest standard of products and will train you without charge on how to use them. Please contact us for more questions about PEMF devices or follow these two links for more information.
BEMER Group:
https://michelle-hirsch.bemergroup.com/
Centropix:
michelle’s bio
Dr. Michelle Hirsch is a Functional Medicine Doctor, California State Licensed Acupuncturist, and Chinese Herbalist. Prior to her studies of Chinese medicine, she spent 13 years devoted to organic farming and sustainable community agriculture. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1997 with a major in Women’s health where she began to understand that a balanced, nutrient rich diet is the foundation to a healthy body. She has farmed organic vegetables, flowers and herbs in Michigan, New Zealand, New Hampshire, and Northern California. In 2007, Michelle started a neighborhood community garden in Berkeley which continues to flourish, providing fresh organic produce and eggs to her community.
Michelle received a Masters of Science in Chinese Medicine in 2009 at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences (ACCHS). Before graduating, she co-founded Octagon Community Acupuncture where she continues to provide services to hundreds of people, all having unique and interesting health concerns. She has been devoted to deepening her study of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture with a special interest in digestive and fertility issues. After teaching several Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) review courses, in 2012 she became a professor at ACCHS teaching classes in advanced acupuncture techniques. Michelle completed her doctorate degree in Integrative Chinese and Functional Medicine at Five Branches University.
Over the last decade, Michelle realized there was a missing element in what she could offer her patients who were presenting growing rates of fatigue, digestive issues, increased toxin levels and other health challenges, so she dove into the world of Functional Medicine. Michelle completed her degree in Functional Medicine through The Kalish Institute and is now able to bridge the gap between ancient Chinese medical wisdom and the great advances in modern scientific testing.
Michelle lives in Berkeley with her husband, two energetic youngsters and two pups. In her free time she loves listening to and playing live music as well as connecting to the abundant nature of the West Coast.
testimonials
A few kind words from clients…
“Michelle is amazing. She completely healed my digestive troubles including SIBO and IBS. She also improved my sleep and energy levels. Working with her changed my life in a matter of months and the results have lasted. Prior to seeing Michelle, I saw multiple GI specialists and worked with a nutritionist specializing in SIBO treatment and nothing worked. They were stumped. Michelle immediately got to the root of it and provided the supplements to cure it. She's extremely smart and tremendously knowledgeable while also being deeply kind and caring. I am grateful. She has also done wonders for my wife's health.”
Adrian, Shasta, CA
“Michelle has been a lifesaver following my breast cancer treatment (one year of chemotherapy) which severely affected my gut health. I was experiencing severe gas, bloating, an unexplained rash, and general discomfort. Michelle diagnosed me with SIBO and possibly Candida and treated me for both simultaneously. She was incredibly responsive with my multitude of questions during the three month cleanse and provided constant guidance and support. I am now feeling 100% better and fully attribute my state of health and well being to Michelle's knowledge, counsel, and attentive care.”
Meredith, Bishop, CA
“After seeing multiple doctors and having many tests done with no answers, I was concerned and worried about what was happening with my body. After one conversation, Michelle quickly identified my Candida overgrowth and gut imbalance. She developed a diet and supplement protocol unique to my symptoms and was thorough in explaining the process of healing. Michelle is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and truly cares for the overall well being of her patients. She is easy to work with and very responsive to questions and concerns. I highly recommend working with her!”
Cara, Oakland, CA
“Michelle is an extraordinary healer. She is prompt, warm, accessible, compassionate, and passionate about the miracle of the human body. Her tests led me to uncover that my fatigue issues were not only adrenally and hormonally based, but also based in a deficiency in my cellular mitochondrial production, a process that had been compromised since my days as a high school track star. The supplements she placed me on not only boosted my immune system dramatically, they gave me energy I haven't had since I was young. I sent someone I love to her who has early stage heart disease. She was able to assess that a supplement called carnitine might help keep him off statins. Sure enough, his calcium scores a year later showed no further plaque build-up. Michelle is a miracle-worker and I am blessed to have discovered her gifts of understanding of the human organism. I have found my forever healer.”
Brea, Santa Cruz, CA
“Michelle saved my life! I had been dealing with issues related to my gut for almost 8 years. Kasier docs gave me meds that only addressed symptoms but never the root cause of my condition. Once COVID hit, my symptoms got really bad and I finally decided to find a functional doctor to help address what was really going on. Michelle was everything I was hoping in a doctor: empathetic, practical, easy to talk to about "embarrassing" things, thorough with explanations, and responsive. We started with a stool test and adrenal test to figure out what was going on. And the results gave me a sense of hope and relief because i finally got a grasp of what was causing all the symptoms. We began a 6 month program and diligently worked on each issue. She was good about trying not to overload me and gently guided me through the process. She was also really conscientious about cost of different supplements and would always offer a range of options. I emailed her a lot and she always responded within a few hours. I changed my diet during the 6 months and I appreciated how she was flexible with how strict I had to be with the diet, given that I am a mom to a toddler. In the end, all my symptoms have gone away, and 8 years of suffering is over. I'm able to eat everything as I used to but with a lot more understanding of what my lifestyle needs to be, given my condition. I am so grateful for Michelle and all her knowledge and guidance.”
Lisa, Oakland, CA