Dr. Yao has truly changed my life. When I was first diagnosed with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), an IVF clinic doctor told me that having a child naturally would be nearly impossible--and that IVF was my only option. I felt devastated and overwhelmed. I wasn't emotionally ready for IVF and couldn't stop thinking about the physical and emotional toll it might take on me. Around that time, I found Dr. Yao while searching for fertility support on Yelp. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Dr. Yao took a holistic and deeply personalized approach. She ordered comprehensive lab tests--not just focused on fertility, but on my entire body's well-being. She helped me understand that fertility is not isolated; it's part of a complex, interconnected system. Through her care, I discovered that in addition to POI, I also had insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances. Dr. Yao addressed each of these issues with a customized treatment plan, one step at a time. After every visit, she would give me clear, practical, and actionable steps to improve both my fertility and my overall health. Over the course of six months, we closely monitored my hormones and lab markers while I worked on building a healthier lifestyle. And then--I got pregnant naturally. Throughout my pregnancy, Dr. Yao has continued to support me with regular check-ins, lab monitoring, supplements, and medications as needed. Her advice is always backed by the latest research, and her knowledge is incredibly up-to-date. I've felt confident and reassured every step of the way, knowing I'm receiving the best possible care for my unique situation. In fact, I've felt more energetic and healthier during this pregnancy than I did during my first one. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Yao and credit her for so much of this journey. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for real, root-cause solutions to infertility or any women's health issues--not just band-aid treatments. She is compassionate, insightful, and genuinely invested in your long-term well-being. Thank you, Dr. Yao! read more

Dr. Yao made our dreams of having a baby come true! A good friend of ours referred us to Dr. Yao after three pregnancy losses. I would lose my pregnancies around 11-13 weeks and we could not get an answer. We were told by our other doctor "you're both healthy, keep flipping the coin." But we both knew something wasn't right and we couldn't keep going through those loses. Dr. Yao took the time to figure out the root cause. She is amazing, patient, kind, and understanding. She followed my pregnancy very closely and gave me reassurance the whole way through. We are so lucky to have found her and I truly believe she is the only reason we get to hold this sweet little girl in our arms. If you are struggling to find answers to infertility or pregnancy losses, you came to the right place. read more

I truly believe Dr. Yao saved my second pregnancy! As soon as I became pregnant again, I reached out to Dr. Yao who had me do labs right away and it turned out I was low in both estrogen and progesterone. We got started right away on a supplement to support my estrogen production and also did injections of progesterone daily. She consistently monitored my levels so I always knew I was taking the right dosage. I am beyond grateful for Dr. Yao and her expertise and believe that my baby is here today because of her. If you on the fence about whether to book an appointment with Dr. Yao, I say just do it! She is knowledgeable, professional, and kind. I couldn't recommend her more! read more

I originally went to Dr. Yao to help manage a hormone imbalance and intense period pain. She worked with me to find the right supplements to help mitigate the issues I was facing - fatigue, exhaustion, cramps, anxiety, etc. We got to a great place. A year later my husband and I were trying to conceive. Due to short menstrual cycles and the hormone imbalances multiple western style doctors told me it's highly unlikely I'll ever conceive and carry to term. Dr. Yao looks below the surface using blood tests, vitamin supplements (pharmaceuticals when absolutely necessary) and diet plans. She put us (husband included since it takes two to tango) on a paleo like diet and had me take progesterone and estrogen which I was majorly lacking. Within 8mo we conceived and she worked closely with me throughout the pregnancy doing what she could to get her here safely. We welcomed our beautiful baby girl in early May 2025. Dr. Yao is creative and flexible with treatment plans and she is a problem solver. I'm so thankful we found Dr. Yao and were blessed to get pregnant as natural as possible. read more

Dr. Yao is worth her weight in gold. From the moment I met her, I knew my journey to conception was going to change for the better. Unlike other doctors I previously worked with, Dr. Yao approached my fertility goals with a holistic, data-driven and compassionate perspective. Before meeting Dr. Yao, I was starting to lose hope and felt overwhelmed by my fertility journey. I wanted to understand the underlying root cause of my "unexplained infertility" and couldn't accept that diagnosis as final. I was determined to conceive naturally. Dr. Yao's approach was different. She took the time to understand my holistic history, including my diet and energy levels, as well as my previous attempts to conceive. After doing a lot of different lab and functional testing, she designed a personalized plan that addressed not just my physical health but also my emotional well-being. Working with Dr. Yao (and her holistic nutrition partner Rita), I experienced transformations that I hadn't thought possible. I had more energy, felt less stressed, and noticed improvements in my overall health. But beyond the physical changes, my favorite part of working with Dr. Yao was her unwavering support and empathy. She helped me work through anxiety and fears, providing me with the tools and resources I needed to navigate my fertility journey with confidence. After working with Dr. Yao for 6 months, we got pregnant soon after. I believe anyone who would like extra support would benefit from Dr. Yao's approach to patient care. Her holistic and compassionate approach sets her apart from other doctors, making her an invaluable resource for anyone on the path to conception. read more

Without reservation, I recommend Dr. Elisa Yao if you are looking for a medical doctor who has undergone training to help you conceive naturally by addressing root causes of your health condition for the long-term vs. short-term band-aid solutions... and especially if you have struggled with conventional methods of conceiving, whether naturally or with assisted-reproductive technology (ART). While I have never undergone the process of IVF (thanks to Dr. Yao), I went through 2 timed-intercourse + medication-assisted cycles (letrozole and Ovidrel trigger shot) and 4 IUI's (#1 in March 2021 and #4 in May 2022). Not including 1 cancelled IUI cycle and many tears. And yes, I was doing acupuncture for fertility too (since May 2022). Our fertility journey started October 2020 (~27 yrs old) when we decided to try conceiving, only to be met with a diagnosis of lean PCOS. Ovarian ultrasound showing multiple follicles plus labs showing high AMH, high testosterone, approximately 3:1 ratio LH to FSH, and history of oligomenorrhea. I saw a reproductive endocrinologist at Kaiser from March 2021 to May 2022 and while I'm sure my doctors were well-meaning and overall kind, they seemed to not care for digging deeper for root causes of my "unexplained infertility." It was cycle after cycle, medication after medication, with no success. They even refused to order labs for nutrient/vitamin/mineral deficiencies as this was not considered "routine," but they did offer a nutrition referral which I eventually accepted (did not help much, unfortunately). Even after voicing my concerns for increased risk of insulin resistance with PCOS, the results for my OGTT was not enough to warrant further action. At my last visit w/ Kaiser's repro endocrinologist, we discussed transferring my records to another facility for IVF. All this to say, if you've been through the experience of repeated failed cycles and little to no explanation for the wider range of possible causes for them, you'll find relief in speaking to a doctor like Dr. Yao and partnering wellness coach Rita Johnson. I started with an initial "fertility insight session" w/ Dr. Yao in July 2022 and conceived less than 1 year later in March 2023. While I was pretty hesitant to pay out of pocket for her program since her clinic is out of network with my insurance, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't worth it now that I'm 37 weeks pregnant and baby is kicking away as we write this review. If you can afford IVF, you can afford this. The difference between Dr. Yao and conventional fertility doctors is that Dr. Yao emphasizes empowerment through education and tackling as many factors as possible when it comes to fertility -- including the role of my husband's reproductive health to food sensitivities to hormonal balance to plastics and other teratogens in the home. I believe this root-cause approach is crucial to long-term success. Within about a half year of working with Dr. Yao, I started to see positive changes, including signs of my body trying to ovulate on its own (without the use of ovulation-inducing medications) despite my history of irregular cycles. Throughout the process, it was difficult learning and adjusting to daily cycle charting (basal body temperature, cervical mucus, etc.). However, I had 2-week video check-ins with Rita who is supremely sweet, empathetic, and has 4-5 children of her own (so she knows what she's doing!). This health coach partnership helped keep me on track (and feeling relatively sane) and is part of the package deal with Dr. Yao. On top of all this, even after finishing my work with Dr. Yao, I'm still able to use a discount for the online store from where I purchase the supplements that Dr. Yao recommended (and many of which I continue to take throughout my pregnancy). That includes prenatal vitamins! All in all, if you're hesitating, this is your sign to take the chance and meet with Dr. Yao. Do expect to put in consistent, hard work (both you and your partner, if you have one). Don't expect easy answers. Don't expect to be pregnant during a certain time frame, and realistically speaking, there are no guarantees that you'll conceive and have a live birth by seeing any particular doctor or non-medical professional. I can speak for only my personal experience with Dr. Yao, and the short version is I have no regrets and am happily pregnant now, coming up on 9 months. At the very least, you're likely to be in much better overall health at the end of your experience with Dr. Yao (and that lends to higher chances of conceiving period!). Thank you, Dr. Yao and Rita for being part of my and my husband's success story. read more

Elisa Yao, MD - 20 week ultrasound of our healthy baby girl! - Naturopathic/Holistic Near Me - Mountain View, California

I highly encourage anyone with fertility issues to work with Dr. Yao. She completely changed our lives and without her, we wouldn't have our beautiful baby girl. We were TTC and were not getting any help from our doctors. I had to push my OB to draw bloodwork and look into why we couldn't get pregnant and I was told everything looked normal. They suggested to pursue IVF. I had a completely different experience once I met Dr. Yao. She focuses on discovering the root cause and comprehensively helps to come up with a solution. She helps you to learn more about YOUR body instead of what is perceived as standard for all women. I worked with Dr. Yao for 6 months on testing, detox, gut health, supplementation, etc. She helped to create an environment that was less stressful and positive. We got pregnant very quickly once we completed her program and got support throughout the pregnancy. If you are looking for a fertility physician, you are in amazing hands with Dr. Yao. read more

Dr. Yao changed my life! I came to doctor Yao wanting to expand our family but also needing to improve my overall health. With the help of Dr. Yao, we welcomed our son and made key lifestyle changes that have improved mine and my husband's health well beyond our goal of conceiving. Dr. Yao is knowledgeable, thorough, honest, and understanding. Her health plan is robust and tailored for each patient's specific needs. I feel blessed to have worked with Dr. Yao and can't recommend her enough. read more

Dr. Yao was a wonderful doctor to work with before and during my last pregnancy. She was very knowledgeable and thorough in treating my fertility issues. She was also able to look for root causes and treat other issues that were connected to my fertility, which helped us to conceive our baby eventually. I found it relatively easy and convenient to meet with her via telehealth, a major plus! I definitely recommend her for any fertility-related concerns, or just general problems related to one's cycle/irregularities. read more

Dr Yao has been of great help accompanying me on my rehab journey following a miscarriage. She listens with attention and care.... to the end; she takes all your symptoms into consideration. She is the only doctor I've seen who carried out a series of thorough tests and brought me some thorough and real answers. I felt she approached my difficulties not only from a physical but also from a human/hollistic point of view. I recommend Dr Yao to any woman - and their partner - who have been struggling with infertility issues and need a doctor who will study all the options to help them out. read more

Dr. Yao is a wonderfully thoughtful practitioner. She has a kind and soft demeanor, listens well, and takes the time to answer questions thoroughly. I found her sort of by accident when my OB/GYN wasn't listening to my concerns about trying to get pregnant with PCOS. I was looking for someone who would listen to me and understand how to help me on my journey towards natural conception. She took the time to help me learn more about my cycle and teach me how to set myself up for success. I felt empowered and supported through out the journey. She really took my personal case by the hand and made suggestions truly based on what I was going through. I even asked her about some common things prescribed to women trying to get pregnant with PCOS and asked why we weren't doing those things. She showed me my lab results and the work we had been doing together and explained what those prescriptions are for. She helped me understand that just because I had PCOS didn't necessarily mean that those were the best course of action for me. I truly enjoyed working with her and think that anyone struggling with infertility should at least meet with her and see what she has to offer. Just finishing my 1st trimester with a healthy baby on the way and I can't be more thankful that I stumbled upon Dr. Yao and her practice. read more

I went to Dr. Yao initally as a hot mess-- incredibly distraught over irregular periods for most of my life and just overall anxiety. Dr. Yao was such a great help in taking the time to really diagnose the problem and treated me like an actual human being. I really appreciate the time and care that Dr. Yao gives to help me on my road to being the best me and listening to my body's needs! I also really appreciate that Dr. Yao didn't rush to prescribe anything until after looking at things from a holistic perspective. You won't regret seeing her :) read more

Dr. Yao is your doctor if you have trouble conceiving or suffering from health issues and other doctors don't know how to help. She is a healer like every doctor should be but most of them unfortunately are not. She looks at the root causes of the issues not only at the symptoms. My story is very long. I am only 37 y.o. and I suffered from extreme pain in bones, joints, muscles, endometriosis, autoimmune issues, pms , extremely painful menstryations that nobody was able to diagnose(except dr yao) and what's worse I had severe digestive issues that made me so sick most of the time I could not function, work etc. it was a nightmare. I went to so many best doctors, had surgeries, endoscopy etc done and no one was able to help. I received looks of: I am sorry, but I can't help many many times. In the meantime I forgot to mention I tried to conceive for almost 5 years! I did so much of my own research while trying to help myself that I knew when Doc.Yao ordered tests they were exactly what I needed. She prescribed me herbal supplements that healed my belly very quickly, then added other supplements to assist in regulating my cycle. I never NOT suffered during my menstruation until last month! Dr.Yao nurtured me back to health enough so I can start trying have a baby again, I can go back to being active and I am even going back to work now! It took about 3months and I am so grateful to Dr.Yao. I will highly recommend seeing her. If you have issues with painful menstruations and conceiving she is specializing in a NaPro/Creighton model which is highly successful. Every woman should be educated about it. We don't need to suffer, be out of balance with hormones(pms etc), we just need Dr.Yao:). Thank you wonderful doctor!!!! read more

Dr. Yao is a godsend!! My husband and I are so thankful that I was under her care during the coarse of my pregnancy. She is certified Napro doctor and the only one (to my knowledge) in the Bay Area, if not, then in San Jose. We went to Dr. Yao back in September 2018 in hopes that she could help us figure out why we were having difficult conceiving. Naturally, due to the fact that it took us awhile to get pregnant, we were scared of the possibility of a miscarriage. With her additional help, we have a perfectly healthy baby boy. Also, She is attentive to her patients during the appointments and makes sure she is able to provide resources and educate you about your fertility and pregnancy. We love her and I'm sure any women struggling with fertility would benefit from her wholistic and natural approach because her main goal is to determine the root cause of the problem that that could affect infertility. read more

I have been going to Dr. Yao for over a year now, and I have seen such a difference in my health and menstrual cycle! I have had an irregular cycle for most of my adult life (I am in my mid-20s), and I just figured it was because I "synced up" easily to others. A Creighton Model System teacher referred me to Dr. Yao when she noticed how irregular my cycle was. Dr. Yao has helped to determine what the problem was, and my cycle is now very regular! It feels so good to know my body better and to have an idea of what is going on now! Also, I love that Dr. Yao uses holistic medical practices. I have been to many different doctors before who used medication to cover up problems, instead of getting to the root of it all. Dr. Yao uses safe, beneficial, and holistic medicine and practices to help heal your body and help you feel so much better naturally. It is amazing. Whether you have fertility troubles (my heart goes out to you!), struggle with low energy, struggle with dieting and remaining healthy, or have a deficiency in something, I believe that Dr. Yao can help you and will give you her full support. read more

I have suffered from headaches and migraines for years. I saw many doctors, none of whom were able to find the cause or a solution other than large doses of Ibuprofen or other medications. My wife was successfully treated by Dr. Yao for pain that her doctors could not diagnose or cure. So we decided to give Dr. Yao a try with my headaches and migraines. Dr. Yao listened intently to my description of my pain and suggested some tests that no other doctor had used. In this way she was able to find the root cause of my headaches and migraines. I followed her guidance on food and supplements and can happily say that I have been headache and migraine free for the past 3 months. Thank you Dr. Yao. read more

Thanks to Dr. Yao, I now have a healthy baby in my 40s, despite having previously failed IVF twice before meeting Dr. Yao. Before seeing Dr. Yao, I was already taking all sorts of supplements and my RE told me all my tests were normal. I had regular cycles, and I was told I have "unexplained infertility." I am so glad that I did more research and came upon Dr. Yao, a functional medicine doctor who specializes in fertility. Upon meeting, Dr. Yao ordered a much more comprehensive work up and found many issues that I can work on to improve my reproductive health. I really appreciate that Dr. Yao provides thorough explanations, and patiently answers all my questions. I also like her whole person approach. Within months of working with Dr. Yao, my brain fog was gone and I felt much more calm. I think part of why we were successful in maintaining our pregnancy this time was that Dr. Yao also saw my husband and provided holistic advice on helping him optimize his overall health. She is very knowledgeable, and I could trust her recommendations. Like most functional medicine doctors, Dr. Yao does not take insurance. But I think it is so worth it because I felt Dr. Yao also helped me reclaim my health, which you will not find the typical OB or RE help you with because that is just simply not part of their training. If you have trouble getting or staying pregnant, I highly recommend you see Dr. Yao. read more

I visited Dr.Yao when I was suffering from severe pain in my lower back and leg so much so that it was affecting my ability to walk. The doctor I was going to before her just kept on increasing my pain medication and I was not getting any better. Dr. Yao examined me thoroughly and took time to listen to me explain about my problem. She explained to me the various possibilities that could be causing the pain and also her plan for narrowing down the root cause of the problem. I really liked that she focused on finding the root cause of the issue instead of just treating the symptoms. She was good at responding to my queries and in the follow-up meeting she was able to isolate the cause of the problem and suggest the line of treatment. She has good communication skills and is a good listener. I like that she takes a holistic approach to treatment instead of just focusing on giving medication. I have been having follow up visits for the last 2 months now and am almost fully recovered now. I feel so fortunate that I found Dr.Yao and I would definitely recommend her. read more

I came to see Dr Yao 16 months ago for musculoskeletal and chronic pain issues. Dr Yao is a very thoughtful and caring physician who desires to get to the root cause of your symptoms and then give the most appropriate treatment. She did a thorough evaluation of my symptoms and used specialized lab work to help pinpoint the underlying cause. So far I have had good results with her treatment options. Dr Yao is also an exceptionally good listener and communicator; she is also very willing to field all my queries. I am very grateful to have found Dr Yao and feel confident in her care of me. It's worth the three hour round trip to go and see her! Joanna B read more

I came to Dr. Yao in nearly unbearable pain. Pain meds were offering very little relief. She told me straight up that my pain would continue if I did not loose weight. She also pointed out that taking so many meds for so long was taxing my liver. She recommended a liver detox flush and I promptly lost 10 lbs. She showed me exercises that helped me find movement that I thought was gone for good. Dr. Elisa is the best thing to happen to me (medically speaking) in a very long time. I have not had to reach for my opioids since I lost the weight and regained my liver function. God bless you Dr. Yao!!! read more

I am so grateful to Dr. Yao for helping me with my neck & shoulder pain. I feel so encouraged by my visit. Dr Yao gave me a variety of strategies to manage the pain and its cause. It's been a couple weeks since my visit and I'm feeling better than I had in a very long time. She is knowledgable, effective and generous with her time & talents. Many thanks! read more

gem of a person, take good care of the patient, highly recommemnd

I am very happy with the care I get from Dr Yao. It is good to find a doctor who is dedicated to caring for the whole person. She takes her time with me. She is bright, knowledgeable and compassionate. I am taking her suggestions to improve my health in all areas, as well as the specific areas of pain that took me through a long list of specialists without help before I found her, read more

I was referred to Dr. Yao by a physician at Good Samaritan's ER. After 8 months of neck, should, arm and back pain, the physical limitations were becoming minor compared to the depression that had taken hold of me after so much pain for so long. Background: I woke up to a stiff neck and headache back in July 2014. I immediately sought massage therapy and 2-3 weekly visits to my local chiropractor for several months. I later visited my general physician who ordered xrays, etc., etc., which only showed moderate degeneration in my neck area. No major issues with my spine / discs. I was then referred to a physical therapist which I religiously attended 2-3x / week, PLUS the manipulation from a new chiropractor. I continued with intense massage therapy and after $1,000's of dollars and hours spent, by February 2015, I still had no relief. In fact, I was admitted to the ER (as mentioned above) for vertigo. As it turns out, my last (ever) chiropractic appointment landed me at Good Sam because three crystals in my inner-ear had been knocked loose from my neck adjustment earlier that day. During my ER visit, the doctor gave me a referral to Rehab One for my neck / shoulder pain. Post ER visit, I couldn't drive for 6 weeks, was prescribed Xanax, had 3 manipulation visits to an ENT doctor and now had to switch my focus to vestibular therapy. I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Yao in late March and after a thorough initial visit, exam and 5-page questionnaire, Dr. Yao explained to me that she believed I had areas of my infraspinatus that were the source of my pain. This was the first time anyone ever mentioned this particular muscle to me or had even the slightest hint that this could be the problem. Dr. Yao recommended "trigger-point" injections as the first step to recovery in addition to some therapy work using a lacrosse ball. I received the first set of two injection appointments and while uncomfortable, it was very tolerable. Three days later, the feeling in my right pinky came back, my headaches were gone and my neck / shoulder were 80% improved. I followed-up with Dr. Yao for a 2nd set of injections and after a week or so following, I was completely healed 100%. Dr. Yao's ability to map my pain points to a very specific muscle area was unbelievable to me. Looking back, I don't understand how two chiropractors, physical therapists, several massage therapists, a neurologist and general physician couldn't make the simple connection to a few "knots" in my back as the source of all my issues. I could have avoided so much wasted time and money - not to mention the induced vertigo - if I would have just visited Dr. Yao first. Since my last visit to Dr. Yao, my life is completely back to normal. I have moved by daughter out of her college dorms and into an apartment. We traveled to Italy in May where we shuffled luggage and walked miles everyday. And in the last 6 weeks, I'm back to my regular workout routine including weights, running, etc. I have yet to wake up with a stiff neck or back but if I do, I'm going right back to Dr. Yao. Sidenote: I continue to see Dr. Yao for general health issues. Based on her questionnaire I completed, it prompted her to order several blood / hormone tests only to find out my body was totally out of balance. Dr. Yao prescribed a couple of vitamins / minerals and I'm feeling great now and I know my body is totally on the road to wellness! I couldn't be more grateful for Dr. Yao. read more

i went into doc yao's office with hip xrays and a spine mri. her feeling was to solve arthritus pain problems nutritionally, rather than have a hip replacement. so now i'm on her plan and her suggestion for yoga and healthy living. she has a passion for her work, is very knowledgeable in her expertise, and is enthusiastic about solving my hip pain problem. also, she's a good communicator, explaining the benefits of each aspect of her program. i feel very lucky that i found her! read more

I met Dr. Yao in June 2017 when a friend recommended I go listen to her speak about natural fertility. At that time, I had already had 2 miscarriages after trying to get pregnant for almost a year. Dr. Yao had an incredible story she shared with other women in similar situations that I was in. She gave us tangible and scientific information of all the things that need to go right and how things can go wrong when trying to conceive. I took her words and advice to heart, went out and made some lifestyle changes (including what I ate, beauty products I used, detergent I used, packaging for food, etc), and made an appointment to see her. When I saw her, she ordered some blood tests for me and gave me some supplements to take. In every explanation she gave, she was clear but also sensitive and understanding. She was a wonderful resource and support for me. I am now 5 months pregnant, due in February 2018, and incredibly thankful for the guidance, important information, and hope that Dr. Yao gave to me. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Yao's for the past year. I have had ongoing shoulder pain and while it wasn't an instant fix, Dr. Yao offered many solutions, working with me through each one. The pain isn't gone but I am have significantly less pain. What I appreciate most about Dr. Yao is the research she does. She didn't just offer a cortisone shot and shrug when it didn't work. She sent offered many alternative remedies which ultimately helped the pain subside to a much more manageable level. Simply put, she did not give up on me. I am so glad I found her! read more

I went to see Dr. Yao for chronic fatigue, digestion issues and allergies. I have been under the care of various physicians over the years and was typically prescribed medications which usually did not work and if they did, came with side effects. I consider myself fairly healthy in that I exercise frequently and thought I ate a healthy diet but I continued to have these symptoms that had a significant impact on my health. Finally, I decided to look for a new approach and found Dr. Yao. She was able to make a connection between all of my symptoms ( allergies, GI problems and fatigue). She began by ordering specialized lab work and immediately made changes to my diet. Within two weeks, I became a NEW PERSON! I no longer had to have an afternoon coffee to get me through the day, my allergy symptoms were drastically reduced and my digestion issues began to improve. I continue to follow this regimen and continue to reap it's benefits. I would highly recommend Dr Yao for those, like me, who are tired of being given prescription medications to alleviate symptoms. Dr Yao's approach is to PREVENT the symptoms! read more