Sleep is foundational, and when it’s off, even the most elegant therapies and advanced natural interventions will fall short.

Where do you go when all the world is awry and there’s very little room for clarity? I turn to nature. She’s the best healer. Humans, by design, are meant to shift and flow with the cycles of the Earth. When we reconnect with intention, it can have a powerful healing effect by aligning us with what is real.

We’re heading into my favorite season. The crisp mornings, the colors of the leaves changing, and all the pumpkin-flavored offerings are just some of what I love about Autumn.  Fall is more tolerable temperature-wise and it invites us to prepare for the colder shorter days of the introverted season of winter.

Hygiene and distancing are one part of the equation for our current times. Supporting immune resilience through natural methods is JUST as important. So WHY are we hearing NOTHING about this?!

We’ve been learning about our complex immune system, and we’re all set to dive into the adaptive immune response this week. But I often like to take a step back, take a breath, and look at the larger picture (like I do with my paintings).

Knowledge is truly empowering. As I’ve dug deeper into the ins and outs of our adaptable and robust immune response, I’m becoming more confident in my body’s ability to defend itself. We’re in the long haul right now, and when the body is in constant fear, it works against our resilience. Today I want to highlight some of the stealth signaling molecules behind the scenes who are responsible for keeping you well.

One of the primary tenets of naturopathic medicine is the ‘vis medicatrix nature’ or ‘the healing power of nature’ – which we possess as an inherent part of our being. Back in the times of Hippocrates, it was noted that if an injured or wounded individual was left alone, healing would often happen on its own over time without intervention. Our bodies do know how to heal.

Did you know that our bodies are naturally equipped with both physical and physiological defenses against infection? If you’re following the media closely during this time, you may be led to believe that a pathogen can just merely enter the body. Nothing is farther from the truth! Our skin barrier is constantly working on our behalf to prevent microbes and pathogens from entering.

You may be wondering about the connection with our adrenals and our ancestors. On different levels, these two aspects of our human experience – the adrenals on a physical level, and our ancestors on an energetic and spiritual level – both influence how we cope with stress.

I felt like sharing some support and information during what feels like an unusually ‘weighty’ time. Last week, it felt like all I needed was more breathing room, so I have been tuning in quite a bit less to media and I’m feeling so much better!  For those of you who are currently tuning-out and happily going about your day, I applaud you – there is no need to read the rest of this post.

I now have very important new information from immunology research that I wanted to share as it could be extremely helpful – for prevention and treatment. I think it’s critical to share this information widely and as quickly as possible as it has the potential to turn the course for those who are immune compromised and elderly.

At a time when we are receiving the coronavirus death toll on the daily, I thought I’d chime in with some of what I know about strengthening the immune system. If you are interested in epidemics and the current coronavirus situation, here is a blog by a widely respected and well-seasoned naturopathic doctor, homeopath, author, and epidemiologist – Dr. Paul Herscu.

After living 2.5 yrs on the beautiful Northern CA coast, I honestly had had enough  🙂  Hard to believe – California is a beautiful and healthy place to live, but after 2.5 years in a small sleepy coastal town, I was ready for more activity – I had also had enough of the cold weather and fog.  (Think UGG boots and puffy jackets year round !)

After living 2.5 yrs on the beautiful Northern CA coast, I honestly had had enough  🙂  Hard to believe – California is a beautiful and healthy place to live, but after 2.5 years in a small sleepy coastal town, I was ready for more activity – I had also had enough of the cold weather and fog.  (Think UGG boots and puffy jackets year round !)

In traditional Mayan culture, the ‘womb’ or uterus is considered to be the center of a woman’s power. If her womb was out of balance, her life would also be out of balance.

Doesn’t it seem like life only gets busier and that there is more and more information coming at us all the time? There is too much information out there to take in and process!

A couple of weeks ago, I volunteered with two colleagues in one of the most underserved areas of Appalachia – through a mobile nonprofit called the Health Wagon.

“Our bodies don’t just have energy flowing through them – our bodies are energy condensed.”

It all begins with an idea.