Blog2022-04-19T00:42:55+00:00

News and Information

A New Approach to Treating Eating Disorders

When modern medicine doesn’t have an obvious “best approach” to treating a disorder, the condition can become all-consuming due to lack of direction. And when it comes to eating disorders, there’s no exception. It’s estimated that around 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder and that number is on the rise. Considered one of the most life-threatening of mental illnesses, it’s the second highest cause of mental health related deaths (opioid addiction being the first). That’s incredibly significant…especially since there isn’t an agreed upon, well-supported by research, standard treatment. But help may be closer than you think. Over the past few years, I have taken an in-depth look into eating disorders. Everything from diagnosis to bio-chemical causes to naturopathic treatment is now part of my repertoire and I want to share knowledge that may surprise you. 1. Eating disorders may be caused by a nutrient insufficiency. What does that mean? In addition to body image [...]

May 11th, 2022|Categories: Diet and food, Mental Health, Mind & Body|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on A New Approach to Treating Eating Disorders

Functional Psychiatry: Treating the root cause of mental illness

Mental health is becoming a mainstream topic these days and for good reason. It’s estimated that over 50 million adults and 5 million children in the United States suffer from mental illness, making it a serious issue for our growing population and the happiness of it. So what can we do about it? One answer may surprise you and it’s called functional psychiatry. A type of functional medicine practice, functional psychiatry searches for the root cause of an individual’s mental illness and then treats that underlying issue in addition to symptoms. It maintains that a bio-chemical imbalance in the body (sometimes paired with genetic pre-disposition) may be responsible for the development of an individual’s mental disorder and that addressing the cause(s) properly can lead to a more successful outcome. This customized care affirms that there are many different things that can manifest mental illness such as, but not limited to:           - genetic pre-dispositions     [...]

March 31st, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, Mind & Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Functional Psychiatry: Treating the root cause of mental illness

What to do when you don’t feel normal but tests say you are

You have unusual symptoms that aren’t normal and you aren’t feeling yourself. So, you go to your primary care physician, possibly even a specialist, and are told that your test results are normal so there’s nothing wrong, or, you are given a pill to take without much explanation as to why. And those answers just don’t sit well with you. If you’ve ever experienced this (or are currently), you’re not alone. Many of my clients find me when they are in the midst of this situation - feeling written off by traditional western medicine and not knowing who to turn to or what to do. Fortunately, most times there are many things we can do to investigate and treat further thanks to specialized testing and naturopathic medicine. But let’s start at the beginning. Why may you still feel unwell if your test results are normal? There may be a variety of reasons, however, one major reason may be due to [...]

March 1st, 2022|Categories: Longevity, Mental Health, Mind & Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on What to do when you don’t feel normal but tests say you are

What is help? Supporting others through trauma
It’s happened. Again.

As of late, our Boulder County community has been rocked by another devastating event - leaving some with profound loss and others with a loss of what to do. And it can leave any of us asking…what should we do now? While the recent wildfire destruction is a moment in our collective history, fortunately, it does not define our will to become stronger - individually and as a region. Each of us is a source of support and has the ability to mindfully contribute to the way forward. So how do we help those who have suffered such tremendous trauma? Focus on supporting through not taking away First and foremost, it’s important to understand that pain is natural part of life. It can be difficult to think about and even harder to accept, but pain is not something we can avoid nor relieve. This means that as much as we may want to take others’ pain away, we can’t. A [...]

January 31st, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, Mind and Body|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on What is help? Supporting others through trauma
It’s happened. Again.

Naturopathic Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Dementia

In 2019, more than 50 million people suffered from some sort of dementia. By the year 2050, it is estimated that number will triple to 150 million. These statistics are staggering (there are many cases that go undiagnosed in which these numbers are reflective) and possibly numbers you haven’t seen before. I hadn’t either until I began researching this field more intensely. This interest led me to further my knowledge with Apollo Health’s ReCODE 2.0 training, which focuses on the Bredesen protocol for prevention and treatment of cognitive decline. And this newfound knowledge? It’s made me realize that naturopathic medicine cannot only be therapeutic through one’s journey with dementia, but it also may prevent it. The traditional approach to diagnosing dementia is a check list of criteria (signs and symptoms) that needs to be met. Unfortunately, diagnosis usually occurs in a later stage and, while treatable with the Bredesen protocol, prevention is easier and always better. Alzheimer’s disease as well [...]

January 11th, 2022|Categories: Longevity, Mind and Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Naturopathic Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Dementia

Bringing Happy to the Holidays

Holidays are meant to unite a community, celebrate its purpose, and bring meaning to life. They can be filled with sacred beliefs and age-old traditions that are well-respected from generation to generation, making this time of year one of the most beloved seasons of all. But as of late, some may be finding the holidays lacking the significance they once held. Everything from dealing with a pandemic and/or grief to extreme consumerism to unreasonable obligations can leave anyone feeling unsure, empty, and exhausted…yearning for happy in the holidays. If you relate to these feelings, this year may be a wonderful opportunity to redefine what the season means to you and your family. Discover what matters most and then find ways to celebrate that are congruent with those ideals. Need inspiration? I’m sharing three virtues that can encourage authentic substance for special meaning at the holidays - for you, your family and community, and the world as a whole. Heed Health [...]

December 1st, 2021|Categories: Diet and food, Mental Health, Mind and Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Bringing Happy to the Holidays

Body Literacy and Connecting with Your Health

HOW IN-TUNE ARE YOU WITH YOUR BODY? Do you fully understand its needs? Are you compassionate about its natural changes? Do you hold a valued sense of appreciation towards it? These days, it can be easy to go through life not wholly grasping what our body does, needs, and is trying to tell us - especially for women. Busy schedules, daily responsibilities, and even a lack of knowledge and/or interest can leave us naive to: - what is normal versus healthy - natural, biological evolutions of the body throughout a lifetime - appreciating its functionality and needs - signs for support and/or change Not only can we live day to day mentally detached from our body, but the efforts we go through to adapt to unusual symptoms in order to keep going can be exponential. And that’s not good. The body is constantly giving feedback. Regularity of energy, mood, digestion, sleep, and menstrual cycles are all signs of health and [...]

November 6th, 2021|Categories: Mental Health, Mind and Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Body Literacy and Connecting with Your Health

Living Seasonally: Honoring the Transition to Fall

Living Seasonally: Honoring the Transition to Fall What is it about that warm pumpkin spice latte? Why does the process of leaves changing color seem so beautiful? How come a cozy blanket and a roaring fireplace is such a draw? The elements of fall (whether natural or societal), can be inspiring, comforting, and joyful - especially in Colorado. It’s almost as though our minds and bodies crave a hike amongst quaking aspens, a mug of hot apple cider, and a good reading nook. And this intuitive yearning for all things fall? It may actually be all about energy. If we consider how the earth changes throughout the year and use nature as our guide, we can see that each season has its own distinct energy:      Spring = Outward energy; warmer temperatures, blossoming of plants, animals coming out of hibernation   Summer = Outward energy; long hours of sunlight, production of crops, animals out and about   Fall = [...]

November 5th, 2021|Categories: Diet and food, Mind and Body, Preventative|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Living Seasonally: Honoring the Transition to Fall

4 Ways to Weather Wildfire Smoke

The hazy skies, the smell of smoke, and even the rain of ash - it’s becoming a summer phenomenon in the West that is more normal than not.   Wildfire season isn’t so much about if it will happen, but when and for how long.  With drier climates and higher temperatures not only are we witnessing devastating environmental disasters but we are also experiencing dangerous health effects in response.   Whether burning here in Colorado or all the way from California, our air can be filled with toxins, chemicals, particles, and smoke in the atmosphere we breathe and can lead to both short- and long-term issues. Common, short-term effects of wildfire smoke include, but are not limited to:   - sinus congestion   - cough   - irritated nasal passages   - headache   - burning eyes   - sinus infection   - asthma attacks     and long-term issues such as:   - lung inflammation   - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)   - heart [...]

September 1st, 2021|Categories: Preventative, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on 4 Ways to Weather Wildfire Smoke

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