Immune System

Nourishing Your Qi During the Winter Months

December 12, 2018 | Acupuncture

“When one stays in the darkness long enough, one begins to see.”  -C.G. JungWinter is a time of stillness and quietude, when nature’s energy has turned in during this most inward-looking of all the seasons. We call it the most Yin of the seasons.  Trees have dropped their leaves, the sap of the tree has retreated to its roots, outward signs of life have disappeared and the landscape can be covered in snow.  There is still work going on, but is in-doors.  In this state of rest, energy is collected and held in reserve.  It’s cold and dark, which are the qualities that preserve and store.  It is this concentrated, internal force of winter that enable a seed to burst forth in Spring.  A time for internal work, we use this season for rest and the filling of our reserves, gathering strength for the year ahead.  Abundant reserves within us … Continued

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TLC for a Healthy, Happy Gut

November 27, 2018 | Naturopathic Medicine

The digestive system is the power center of the body. There are more organs in this system than any other system. It keeps things moving in the right direction. Regular bowel movements are the cornerstone of good health as can ensure proper detoxification and absorption of nutrients. Anything interfering with these processes interferes with energy, sleep, mood, immune function and more. Therefore chronic constipation may lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, yeast overgrowth (candida), migraines and allergies. As a naturopathic doctor, chronic constipation is a common issue that I help address. After each meal, you should produce a bowel movement. Although it is very common, finding the underlying cause can be complex and differ from person to person.  Blanket treatments such as laxatives often do not address the true issue and long term use can come with side effects. The body is very complex and the root issue must be found for overall health.   Constipation is usually a symptom of other issues caused … Continued

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Homeopathy for Your Family During Cold & Flu Season

October 22, 2018 | Naturopathic Medicine

 Everyday in my practice, I help adults and children to address chronic conditions such as allergies, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances.  A major part of addressing health concerns is dealing with the little flus and viruses that come and go.As a Naturopathic doctor who practices homeopathy, I team up with natural bodily functions in order to help the body’s innate ability to heal itself, which is the cornerstone belief of homeopathy.  According to homeopathic medicine, symptoms can be alleviated by small doses of substances which produce similar symptoms in healthy people.  What is Homeopathy?The word homeopathy is a Greek term that means means “like disease.”  Homeopathy can be traced back to the Greek Father of Medicine, Hippocrates.  It was the German physician Dr. C. F. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) who tested and refined homeopathic practices and remedies.  Homeopathic medicine is founded on two major principles: that “like cures like” and “law of minimum does.”Like … Continued

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NAET for Children’s Top 7 Icks & Aches

October 11, 2018 | NAET

Kids are always running.  Running in the kitchen, to the car, on the playground, into your arms.  One of the greatest joys of parenthood is watching your child play and laugh.  But while they are running from one place to the other, it seems there is a seemingly constant battle with runny noses, tummy aches, and sleep problems.  A box of tissues in every room is a crucial staple to your home’s decor. Many over-the-counter medications offered to children come with undesirable side effects, such as drowsiness, and they only provide short bursts of relief.  Especially for children with severe allergies, drowsiness effects their school, social, and play time.  There’s no time to be sick when there is fun to be had!  As a Naturopathic doctor, I use homeopathic and natural remedies to help children through icky symptoms and to build strong immune systems.  One of my favorite treatments is NAET.  NAET … Continued

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Are Allergies Causing You Anxiety?

June 1, 2018 | Naturopathic Medicine

Is your sleep disturbed?  Are you tossing and turning, or maybe having a hard time falling and staying asleep?  Are you feeling more stressed out than normal? Do you feel depressed but don’t know why? There are many factors that cause insomnia, depression and anxiety, but one of the most overlooked causes is allergies.  While taking an antihistamine can treat runny nose and itchy eyes, long term use can exaggerate sleep disturbances and mood issues. What are histamines? Histamines are stimulatory neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). Our bodies naturally have histamine circulating, which helps control energy levels, motivation, and the sleep-wake cycle. Histamine is an important neurotransmitter but when it increases due to a toxin or insect bite, other neurotransmitters such as epinephrine (adrenaline) may be affected.  Epinephrine helps lower large increases of histamine.  While allergies often present as itchy eyes or sinus congestion, anxiety and insomnia are also common symptoms due to the increase … Continued

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Homeopathic Fever Fighters

January 19, 2018 | Naturopathic Medicine

 The human body is amazing.  I love learning about it, discovering how to work with it to ease issues that come along with especially chronic health conditions.  As a homeopathic doctor, I team up with natural bodily functions in order to increase healthy responses and decrease symptoms associated with illness.A natural survival technique that Homeopathic doctors consider to be one of the most important natural defense mechanism against viruses is a fever.  During a fever, interferon, an antiviral chemical, is released and T-cells and B-cells increase. How Do T-Cells and B-Cells Fight Fevers?Helper T-Cells: These cells are the drivers and the coordinators of the immune defense. They activate B-Cells and Killer T-Cells.Killer T-Cells: Specialize in attacking and killing cells infected by viruses and possibly bacteria.B-cells: Search for substances called antigens that have stimulated the immune response; B-cells divide and produce antibodies that will directly: Destroy antigensNeutralize toxins Incapacitate virusesA fever is a call … Continued

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Detoxing with Yoga

October 24, 2017 | Naturopathic Medicine

I’m addicted to yoga.  As a naturopathic doctor, business owner, wife, mother, and friend, my life can be very full of both happiness and pain.  When life gets hectic, stress can cause anxiety and weaken the immune system, and if we aren’t careful, toxins from the environment, our food and stress can overwhelm our bodies.  Yoga is a great way for me to reconnect to my body and slow down.  If you are interested in regular detoxing, a consistent yoga practice is a great way to keep up.What is a toxin and how do they affect you? A toxin is any substance or thought that has harmful effects on the body.  Toxins can come from the environment, lifestyle choices, or from emotional baggage such as chronic stress and negative thought patterns.  Overtime, build up can result in:Digestive IssuesElevated CholesterolWeight GainAllergiesSkin DisordersFatigueMuscle, Joint PainAnger, DepressionDark CirclesHormonal ImbalancesPoor Immune SystemInsomniaand Chemical SensitivitiesBreathing is an often … Continued

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SWEAT SWEAT SWEAT! 6 Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

August 11, 2017 | Infrared Sauna

Sweat.  Not cool. If I could avoid getting sweaty, I totally would.  I’ve never liked steam saunas.  I don’t understand the attraction to actually wanting to sweat.  My personal record was about five minutes, which was a major triumph of the will for me.  The infrared sauna is totally different.  I sweated more in that 30 minute session than I ever have before (including 101 degree temperatures during cross country season), and I found that I was really enjoying it!   Because the infrared sauna uses dry heat, it warms from the inside-out, instead of the other way around.  No suffocating, sticky blanket of sweat like in a steam sauna or when exercising.  Just soothing, dry heat.

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