Since the 19th century, we have been obsessed with germs. When scientists linked infectious diseases to certain organisms, the desire to combat them became a major goal in medicine. Armed with inoculations, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics, and antibiotics, researchers set out to win the war against bugs. Alas, we soon learned that in our desire to...
Enjoying the Health and Mood Boosting Benefits of the Sun While Naturally Shielding from its Harmful Rays
It’s that wonderful time of year! Temperatures are rising, there are longer daylight hours, and late-night campfires are sparking up outdoors. Summer offers more time in the sun and nature, which provides us with many advantages. Unfortunately, there’s also some downsides. Too much sunlight can lead to excess ultra-violet radiation (UVR) exposure. UVR has...
The Power of Peppermint Oil- A Strong Ally for Digestive Health, Brain Power, Relief of Head Discomfort, and Much More
Consistent headaches are likely not a cause for immediate concern. Still, they could be an indicator of a deeper problem brewing. In the long-run, if they are not probably resolved, this imbalance could increase your risk for a disease. In my series on headaches, I reviewed their classifications, common types, causes, red flags, and...
Addressing the Root Causes of Headaches with Naturopathic and Functional Medicine
Headaches can be a real pain! Literally. In my previous post, I provided an overview on headaches. I discussed their classifications, common types, causes, red flags, and functional medicine tests to consider when the underlying reason for them is hard to determine. In my latest article and video, I review the major causes of...
Essential Oils to Help Support Healthy Hearts and Cultivate a Sense of Belonging
Modern medicine is missing the mark in cardiovascular care by simply treating symptoms and lab markers. Even with all the advances we’ve had in science, research, and treatments over the past few decades, heart disease remains the top cause of mortality globally. Worse yet, it’s prevalence is projected to increase by 30% by 2035....
The Heart of Medicine: What’s Missing in Traditional Cardiovascular Care for Women and Men?
Heart disease is the number one killer in men and women and it continues to take its toll on the population. Previously, I reviewed some alarming statistics regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks for women, highlighted traditional risk factors, and stepped into the controversies surrounding cholesterol levels and statins. I also explored how risk factors...
Is it Hormones or Heart Disease? Hot Flashes, Digestive Imbalances, and Other Underrecognized Symptoms of Heart Problems in Women
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for all genders, across every race and ethnicity. Yet, only a little more than half of all women are aware of this. This may be due to the fear of breast cancer and the fact that healthcare has focused a lot on its prevention in...
Exhausted? Adrenal Fatigue: Symptoms, Triggers, Testing, and Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Support for Low Cortisol
“Adrenal fatigue” is a hot button term in medicine. Many doctors take issue with the personification of an organ and the imprecise reference to its suboptimal functioning. Therefore, it is now becoming more vogue to refer to this syndrome of symptoms as “adrenal dysregulation.” Regardless of what it is called, it is not a...
Using Naturopathic and Functional Medicine to Support Digestive Health and Alleviate Stressed-Out Guts
Stress affects everything, including your brain, body, emotions, productivity, self-care, and even relationship interactions. Your gut is one area particularly vulnerable to stress and the connection is bidirectional. Emotional and physical triggers can impact the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and digestive distress can cause or perpetuate stress symptoms. Many have experienced a “nervous stomach” because...
How Stress Affects Your Gut
When your stressed-out your whole body is affected, from your brain to your hormones. It is necessary to have these physiology shifts to effectively respond to threats and ensure survival. Thankfully, when the stress is removed, you can recover. Interestingly, your body can’t tell the difference between the mind’s perception of stress and true...