News and Information
Finding Beauty in Imperfections
These days, it can seem as though you have to go all-in or nothing is worth it. Whether it’s backing your favorite political candidate, making sure your child gets into a good college, or cleaning up your diet, our culture strives to win - and for many of us, that means perfection with no room for failure. But what about when our choice isn’t victorious, our child comes home with a less-than-average score, or we just want a chocolate chip cookie in the middle of the afternoon? It can lead to frustration, disappointment, and the thought of giving up. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. While some doctors may prefer a zero to 100 approach, I believe that small, realistic changes can not only help you achieve your long-term goal(s), but beauty and love can be found in imperfections along the way. Following, I discuss three areas of life where flexibility can provide growth and joy while still [...]
Stress, Hormones, and a Pandemic
You’ve been on birth control for years without any issues, but now all of a sudden, your period is starting a day later than usual. You typically suffer from mild PMS, but lately it’s been debilitating. Or, even though you are staying home more now, you have fatigue that is completely draining you of doing anything. If any of these, or similar situations, sound familiar, it’s not surprising given the times we are in. Chronic stressors, including those of the pandemic, can cause female hormone disruptions that can wreak havoc on our daily lives. During times of stress, the endocrine system can become unbalanced, leading to: - abnormal bleeding - breakthrough bleeding - heavier monthly flows - extra ovulations - irregular cycles - PMS - hot flashes - menstrual cramps - anxiety - nervous energy - moodiness - fatigue - sleep disruption - heart palpitations - weight gain in addition to other symptoms caused by thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive hormone [...]
Naturopathic Medicine and Concussions
Concussions can be common, yet serious conditions, especially in a state with popular activities such as skiing, biking, and other outdoor sports (in addition to effects of motor vehicle accidents and falls). But what we once knew about these traumatic brain injuries and how to treat them is changing, and it’s important to know what to do if you or a family member suffers from one. What is a concussion? A concussion is a brain injury resulting from severe shaking or a hit to the head that affects the brain and its function. It is more severe than whiplash and although a CT scan is helpful for ruling out internal structural damage (such as an internal bleed or a fracture), a concussion does not show up on a radiology test. Generally, concussions are not necessarily difficult to recover from as long as proper healing is allowed to take place before returning to normal work or exercise. However, what was once [...]
Making Sense of School and Struggle
Discussions are endless and emotions are running high. Decisions are being made and questions still remain. What we once knew and came to expect is fleeting at best and now we are left in a state of wondering what is going on, who is to blame, and what to do about it. Welcome to trying to make sense of struggles, especially school, during a pandemic. On any given day, many of us struggle with life situations - poor grades at school, a job we are unhappy at, relationship issues, health concerns, etc. But when a global crisis so much larger than any of us is looming over our usual trials and tribulations, and we lack unified and consistent leadership working towards creative and meaningful solutions, we can feel overwhelmed, angry, and simply at a loss of how to navigate it all. And I know that feelings about school are at the top of the list for many right now. We [...]
Supporting Recovery & Nourishment from Quarantine
How has life been the past few months since staying at home more? Have you indulged a bit with sugary, carb-loaded, salty foods and alcohol? Has there been less exercising? How about a more loose sleep schedule? If any of these are true, don’t feel guilty! Life has been altered from the pandemic and the stress and restraint may have led to less-than-ideal choices. However, summer is here and it’s a new season to shed the poor habits that have sprouted during quarantine and embrace the responsible and healthy choices you once knew. Why? While we still don’t know everything about COVID-19, we do know that it is not straight-forward. There may be lingering effects that we are not fully aware of at this time; even though some infections may be or have been asymptomatic, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can get away without any health consequences. In addition, stress, low-movement, altered diet, and improper sleep can all have damaging [...]
10 Ways to Curb Sensory Deprivation During the Pandemic
It’s been a while. For a lot of things. Over the past two months, our culture has gone from doing pretty much whatever we wanted at whatever time we wanted to isolating ourselves and our families from life as it once was. It’s been a long while since we’ve lingered at dinner with friends, enjoyed a massage, or simply hugged an aging parent and now we are starting to feel the effects. “Pandemic Fatigue” is a current concept being coined by researchers which refers to many things that we are getting tired of. One of those elements is the lack of eye contact and physical touch which can lead to a loss of empathy during a time when it may be needed most. Sure, online meetings and Facetime calls are wonderful, but they don’t fulfill our need for actual in-person interaction - what many of us need in order to fully flourish and continue to be compassionate and sensitive to [...]
3 Changes for Better Health
This new normal is inviting many of us to reconsider the meaning of discomfort and pain in our lives...
Pandemic Update
This new normal is inviting many of us to reconsider the meaning of discomfort and pain in our lives...
Discomfort and Pain
This new normal is inviting many of us to reconsider the meaning of discomfort and pain in our lives...