Cleansing and detoxing are “hot topics,” especially in diet culture and the wellness and fitness industry. Traditionally, therapeutic cleansing has been used for physical and emotional healing; however, if not carefully applied, modern-based practices can be construed as wellness diets in disguise that promote restrictive eating patterns. In my latest post, I discuss the...
Five Essential Oils and Blends for Heart Health

To celebrate heart health month, I am providing a series on how medicine can redefine its approach to cardiovascular disease by incorporating a more personalized and integrative method. In the previous post, I reviewed how essential oils can fit into this more comprehensive perspective. For example, not only do oils physically impact cardiovascular function,...
Essential Oils for Holistic Cardiovascular Health Support- The Mind-Body-Heart Connection

Appropriately, Valentine’s Day occurs during the month of February, which is deemed “heart health month” in medicine. Today, heart disease is still the number one killer. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to change if the way cardiovascular disease is treated continues to focus mostly on fixing the end result, rather than addressing its root cause....
Exploring How Touch Can Be Used to Release Trauma and Anxiety

Last week, I discussed how touch is encoded in the brain and how it impacts cognition, stress, and emotions. I was inspired to explore these connections because of a therapeutic technique I was introduced to, the Havening Technique. This method is claimed to release trauma and balance emotional disorders by combining tactile stimulation with...
A Technique That Uses Touch to Calm the Brain

Due to all the turmoil in today’s world, many people have been experiencing an increase in stress and an exacerbation of anxiety. It has become very evident that effective, accessible, and whole–person-centered psychiatric resources are urgently needed to assist with resiliency and coping. (R, R, R, R, R,R) In previous posts, I explored how...
Transforming Food and Weight Obsession into Body Acceptance, Body Resiliency, and a Holistic Health Focus

As a naturopathic doctor, I believe that food is medicine and that it has many healing properties. However, I do not believe that obsessively focusing on nutritional content and micro-managing biochemical attributes of each ingredient is mentally or physically healthy. The therapeutic properties of eating are much broader than calories and phytonutrients. There are...
The Dangers of Body Stigmatization and Food Shaming & How to Make Peace with Food and Focus on Health Without Obsessing on the Scale

Diet culture is powerful, pervasive, and addictive. It is easy to get bamboozled with the glitz and glimmer of weight loss, the promise of body shrinkage, and the rewards it seems it entail from a society that worships thinness as a status and power symbol. However, these lies of obtaining a better life through...
Why Diet Culture Has No Place in Health Care and Naturopathic Medicine

As a naturopathic doctor, I believe that food can be a form of medicine. In fact, I have previously focused on personalized diets and how certain nutrients can impact mental, emotional, and physical health. I also have discussed how genetic variations in individuals can impact metabolism of certain foods and that taking this into account...
The Top 10 Naturopathic Medicine & Essential Oils Blogs of 2020: Part II

Last week, I began counting down my top ten posts of 2020. Due to the challenging year, the topics highlighted were mood, anxiety, essential oils, and naturopathic medicine. Now, I continue with the final five. These also include posts on how essential oils soothe stress, support mood, and balance hormones. There are also articles...
The Top 10 Naturopathic Medicine & Essential Oils Blogs of 2020: Part I

As we close this year and enter into the new one, most are pausing to reflect on the past twelve months. With the current global condition, it has been a tumultuous year for many. In my latest post I review my top five posts from 2020 based on social media response, SEO hits, and...