Catholic Brain Rewiring Specialist? Meet Cristy Murray the personal trainer for your brain AND your hormones at the same time

This interview of Cristy Murray was conducted by Amy Brooks.

Catholic Women want better medical care

Amy Brooks interviewed Cristy because she has noticed that women across North America are tired of traditional medical practitioners treating the symptoms of female patients. Women desire medical doctors and professionals to focus on the underlying causes of their symptoms to achieve better overall heath. Cristy Murray works to do just that.

In your listing on our website, you describe yourself as a Neuro Coach and Nutritional Endocrinology Practitioner that offers a holistic approach to healing. Can you explain what a “Neuro Coach” is and tell us more about your work?

Think of me as a “brain rewiring specialist” who helps women break free from the mental and physical patterns keeping them stuck. I use the science of neuroplasticity – your brain’s ability to literally change itself – to help you optimize and get to your goal..

Example 1: The Perfectionist with Adrenal Fatigue

Someone who is exhausted, with sky-high cortisol and zero energy. Through neuro-coaching, we discovered her brain was stuck in “never good enough” mode from childhood. We used specific techniques to rewire this pattern while supporting her adrenals nutritionally. Result? Her cortisol normalized AND she stopped the mental hamster wheel.

Example 2:  The People-Pleaser with Thyroid Issues

Someone who couldn’t say “no” and her thyroid was tanking. Her brain was wired to believe her worth came from making others happy – a pattern that was literally suppressing her thyroid function. We rewired this belief system while optimizing her thyroid nutritionally.

 The Simple Formula

Old Pattern → New Neural Pathway + Targeted Nutrition = Real Healing

Instead of just treating symptoms, I help women:

– Identify what’s really driving their health issues (usually it’s deeper than diet)

– Rewire their brain for health instead of survival mode

– Use food and supplements strategically to support the new patterns

It’s like being a personal trainer for your brain AND your hormones at the same time!

Follow Cristy and Blue Veil Wellness on Instagram here!

Next question: What do you notice about traditional medicine’s approach toward women’s health? How does this approach under serve – or even hurt – women?

Here’s what I see a lot – and honestly, it breaks my heart:

Quick Fixes Over Root Causes:  Traditional medicine loves to slap a band-aid on symptoms instead of asking “WHY is this happening?” Got PCOS? Here’s birth control. Struggling with fertility? Straight to IVF. Exhausted and gaining weight? Here’s an antidepressant. They’re treating the smoke, not the fire.

Completely Faith-Blind:  Your spiritual life and relationship with God? That doesn’t even register on their radar. They treat you like a broken machine instead of a whole person created in God’s image with inherent dignity and worth.

One-Size-Fits-All Protocols: Every woman gets the same cookie-cutter treatment regardless of her unique biochemistry, life circumstances, or values. It’s like giving everyone size medium shoes and wondering why they don’t fit!

How This Actually HURTS Women

Example: The Fertility Struggle

Traditional approach: “Your numbers look off – let’s do IVF immediately.” 

What they miss: Maybe her thyroid is tanked, she’s insulin resistant, or chronic stress has shut down her reproductive system. Address those root causes first, and many women conceive naturally – without the physical, emotional, and financial trauma of IVF.

Example: The Exhausted Mom

Traditional approach: “You’re just tired because you have kids. Here’s some Prozac.”

What they miss: Her adrenals are shot, she’s nutrient-depleted, and her nervous system is stuck in survival mode. Fix the biochemistry and nervous system, and her energy (and joy) return.

Example: The “Difficult” Patient

When women advocate for themselves or ask questions, they get labeled as “anxious” or “difficult.” I’ve seen women gaslit for YEARS before getting proper diagnosis and treatment.

Women deserve so much better than this assembly-line, symptom-suppressing, soul-ignoring approach. They deserve to be seen, heard, and treated as the complex, beautiful, whole human beings God created them to be.

That’s exactly why I do what I do – to give women the comprehensive, faith-aligned, root-cause healing they deserve!

Talk to us about Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition.  How has it impacted your life as well as the lives of others?

Let me tell you – discovering functional medicine literally saved my life and transformed how I practice. It’s the difference between putting a piece of tape over your “check engine” light versus actually looking under the hood to see what’s wrong!

 What Functional Medicine Really Is

Root Cause Detective Work: Instead of just managing symptoms, we dig deep to find WHY your body isn’t working optimally. We are able to look at everything – your genetics, environment, stress levels, nutrient status, gut health, toxin load, and hormone patterns.

Systems Thinking: Your body isn’t a collection of separate parts – it’s an interconnected masterpiece. When your gut is inflamed, it affects your thyroid. When your adrenals are shot, it impacts your sex hormones. Functional medicine sees these connections.

Personalized Precision: We use advanced lab testing to see exactly what YOUR body needs – not what worked for your neighbor or what’s trending on social media.

 How It Changed My Life

I suffered with infertility in my early 30s. Before functional medicine, I was told everything was fine. Keep trying. Traditional medicine is as pointing me to IVF.  What turned out is that I had thyroid issues, PCOS and even endometriosis. 

I also had a high toxin load due to being in the military. 

Once those were addressed, here we are. 2 sons. No IVF. 

Targeted Supplementation: Based on what my body needs. not what’s popular on Instagram.

Timing and Combinations: Understanding how nutrients work together and when to take them for maximum absorption and effectiveness.

Why This Matters for Catholic Women

Here’s what I love most – functional medicine aligns perfectly with Catholic teaching about human dignity and the body being a temple of the Holy Spirit. We’re not just throwing chemicals at problems; we’re working WITH how God designed our bodies to heal themselves when given the right building blocks.

It’s medicine that honors the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. And it empowers women to participate actively in their healing rather than being passive recipients of treatments.

Functional medicine gave me my life back, and now I get to watch it transform other women’s lives every single day. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching a woman rediscover her vitality and realize she doesn’t have to settle for “just surviving”!

Talk to us about hormones and nutrition.  What are some foods women eat that directly impact their hormone levels?

Nutrition plays a crucial role in hormone production, metabolism, and balance. The foods we eat provide the building blocks for hormones and influence how our bodies process them.

Foods That Support Healthy Hormone Levels:

Healthy Fats

• Avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds provide essential fatty acids needed for hormone production
• Omega-3 rich foods like salmon, sardines, and flaxseeds help reduce inflammation and support hormone balance

Fiber-Rich Foods

• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) contain compounds that help metabolize estrogen
• Beans, lentils, and whole grains support gut health, which is essential for hormone processing

Protein Sources

• Quality proteins from fish, poultry, eggs, and plant sources provide amino acids necessary for hormone synthesis
• Help stabilize blood sugar, which directly impacts insulin and cortisol levels

Phytoestrogen Foods

• Flaxseeds, soy products, and legumes contain plant compounds that can help balance estrogen levels
• May be particularly beneficial during perimenopause and menopause

Foods That Can Disrupt Hormone Balance:

Processed Foods and Sugar

• Cause blood sugar spikes that stress the adrenal system
• Can lead to insulin resistance and inflammatory responses

Caffeine and Alcohol

• Excessive amounts can impact cortisol and disrupt sleep patterns
• May interfere with liver’s ability to process hormones

Conventional Dairy and Meat

• May contain added hormones that can interfere with natural hormone balance
• Choosing organic when possible can reduce exposure

Key Nutrients for Hormone Health:

• Vitamin D: Essential for hormone production
• B vitamins: Support adrenal function and neurotransmitter production
• Magnesium: Helps with stress response and sleep quality
• Zinc: Important for reproductive hormone synthesis

The timing of meals also matters – eating regular, balanced meals helps maintain stable blood sugar and supports healthy cortisol rhythms throughout the day.

Tell us about Blue Veil Wellness and how you would like to help women.

At Blue Veil Wellness, we’re passionate about empowering women to truly care for and honor their bodies as God designed them. We take a holistic approach because, frankly, we believe in going deeper. Instead of quick fixes and bandaid solutions, we’re committed to uncovering root causes and providing you with meaningful, long-term strategies for optimal health.

Want to work with Cristy? Check out her services here and here!