‘Tis the Season for Gratitude Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones to share our blessings. It signifies a day of appreciation for the gifts that we have received in the year passing. For some, the holiday season is a time of great joy. For others, it leads to feelings of anxiety,...
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Can Hormones Mess with Your Gut? The Gut-Hormone (and Stress) Connection and How Your Monthly Cycle Impacts Your Digestion
Hormones have a widespread impact on many biological processes, so it makes sense that various issues can become more prominent when these powerful chemical messengers fluctuate in their levels. In fact, up to 90% of women report an aggravation of symptoms before and during their period, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Interestingly, it is estimated that...
The 8 Most Common Digestive Issues That Occur with Aging: A Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approach to Staying “Young at Gut”
Keeping Our Bodies and Minds Healthy Over Time… by Focusing on the Gut There are certain biological changes that occur and impact our body’s biological functioning over time. Some general wear and tear on the body is inevitable, but it can eventually lead to an accumulation of damage. This can result in lowered physical...
A Case Study on Using Essential Oils to Soothe Anxiety and Support the Mind and Body
Many people underestimate the influence that odors have on our mental and physical health in comparison to our other senses. Yet, imagine life without them… It would be a world without the scent of grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. There would be an absence of the volatile compounds emitted from...
The 3 Ways a “Woman’s Change” into Menopause Impacts Brain Health & Cognition
Recently, I may have shocked a few people when I discussed the important role of hormones on mood. I explained how these chemical messengers can impact emotions so intensely that variations in their levels can lead to extreme irritability, even rage. These outbursts can occur anytime a biological woman’s hormones fluctuate; however, they are...
My Four Favorite Essential Oils to Fortify the Mind and Body and Decrease Stress During the Fall
Although there is a lot of turmoil and trauma coming at us in today’s world, there also exists some tenderness and means to regain our balance. With the world events exerting a large amount of mental and physical toll on all of us, I’ve made it a priority to provide resources to you so...
Resources for Integrative Mental Health Support & Coping with Back-to-School Stress
In the previous article, I explored the extreme stressors children and adults are up against this school year. Due to current events, the economy, and shifting technology, parents, teachers, and kids are dealing with so much more than the usual back-to-school jitters and academic pressures. Unfortunately, these chronic, excessive pressures have negative emotional, mental,...
The Many Benefits of Elemi Essential Oil
Elemi essential oil is often overlooked because it is not well-known. Unlike members of its botanical family (Burseraceae), such as frankincense and myrrh, elemi doesn’t get the attention to its benefits it deserves. I tend to befriend the underdog essential oils, and elemi oil is no exception. In my latest post and video, I...
Some Less Common Eating Disorders & A Holistic Approach to Recovery from Eating Disorders
Understanding Eating Disorders Educational Series (Part 6)
Over the course of this series, I have discussed a wide range of subtopics surrounding one’s relationship with food. First, I started with an overview of diet culture. This is because it is important to understand the underlying psychology of our society’s beliefs around food that affect eating behaviors. Concerningly, diet culture’s harmful messages...
Two Types of Eating Behaviors that Look Healthy, but Could be Dangerous
Understanding Eating Disorders Educational Series (Part 5)
Here I go again… In this post, I’m continuing the topic of eating disorders (ED). It may be an unpopular subject and not very trendy, but I’m still going to talk about it. Why would a naturopathic and functional medicine doctor who specializes in mood, women’s health, and gastrointestinal issues still be so focused...