Diet and lifestyle are important for overall emotional and physical health. There are many publications devoted to how impactful they can be for alleviating chronic health symptoms. For example, the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research has a database of studies that support the concept that “food is medicine.” The most recent SMILES trial [...]
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, essential oils have become my favorite naturopathic and functional medicine “brain hack.” Throughout the past thirteen years in practice, I have found them indispensable for promoting emotional health and supporting those with psychological disorders. In this article, I will explore the basis of emotions and different theories on their [...]
Connecting Your Brain and Gut This week, I continue on my mission to end the stigma associated with “mental health.” In this post I provide you with more tools and proper education on this very tender topic. If you’d like a recap of previous posts, please click here. In this article you will [...]
The topic of brain health is both an important and tender topic to me, which is why it has been a focus on my blog for the past several months. I have witnessed many who have had emotional struggles for years and were hesitant to seek help. By providing a safe space for individuals [...]
The Sweet Scents and Spices of October This week’s post continues with the list of my favorite essential oils for the fall. Last week, I covered two of my top picks. First, I discussed the benefits of the “King” of essential oils, frankincense. Frankincense, like all essential oils, comes in many varieties. Due [...]
October is here. A time for wandering through pumpkin patches, getting lost in hay mazes, tasting hot apple cider, and enjoying autumn’s spectacular, colorful array of fall foliage. Besides “leaf crunching” and cider-sipping, this is the time of year when the warming, sweet scents of spices begin to fill the air and that will [...]
A Wholistic Look at Mental Health Oftentimes, psychiatric disorders have their beginning in childhood, or even in utero, and continue through the lifespan. With the alarming rates of people with diagnosed and undiagnosed psychological struggles, when they finally do get addressed, usually it is only at the surface level. (source, source) If we [...]
For several months now, I’ve been focused on optimizing brain health. After a whole series on using essential oils for psychiatric issues, I discussed how specific essential oils could be used to keep cognition sharp in later years. Recently, I have transitioned to the importance of starting to support emotional imbalances earlier beginning prenatally [...]
In the previous article, I highlighted some of the changes that occur during cognitive development. I will dive into more details about the evolving adolescent brain. With a basic understanding of these processes, both parents and their teenagers will be better able to appreciate what is reasonable to expect from the other. In this [...]
