What is Wellness Fatigue & What Are the Solutions?

What is Wellness Fatigue?

Have you ever felt like your wellness routine has become more exhausting than energizing? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by all the rules, restrictions, and never-ending to-do lists that are supposed to lead to a healthier life? If so, you may be experiencing wellness fatigue—the exhaustion that comes from trying to keep up with an idealized version of health and well-being.

In today’s world, wellness has become an industry, filled with endless information, routines, and rules that can feel overwhelming. While health, nutrition, and self-care are meant to enhance our lives, many people find themselves exhausted, confused, and financially drained by the pursuit of the “perfect” wellness routine. This phenomenon is known as Wellness Fatigue—a state where striving for health feels more like a burden than a benefit.

Wellness fatigue happens when the pursuit of health turns into a full-time job, leaving you drained, confused, and often feeling like your best is never enough. It can manifest in different ways.

Signs of Wellness Fatigue:

  • Your fitness, nutrition, and wellness routine feels like a full-time job. Keeping up with workouts, meal prepping, supplements, and self-care can feel exhausting.
  • Confused, stressed, and drained by all the things you’re supposed to avoid. There’s always a new food, ingredient, or habit being labeled as “toxic” or “unhealthy,” making it difficult to keep up.
  • Overwhelmed financially and emotionally with all the tasks. Wellness trends often come with a hefty price tag, making people feel like they have to spend more to be healthy.
  • Hard to feel safe and know which sources to trust. Conflicting information from influencers, doctors, and wellness gurus makes it challenging to know what’s best for you.
  • So much conflicting information out there! One expert says one thing, while another completely contradicts it.
  • Never feels like it’s enough. No matter how much you do, it can feel like you’re still falling short of the ideal wellness lifestyle.

If any of these resonate with you, you’re not alone. Wellness should empower and nourish you—not leave you feeling defeated. The pursuit of well-being should not leave you feeling more anxious and depleted. So how do you overcome wellness fatigue and create a more balanced, sustainable approach?

Solutions for Wellness Fatigue

If wellness fatigue is taking over your life, it’s time to shift from exhaustion to balance. The key is to simplify, realign, and listen to your body. The key to overcoming wellness fatigue is balance, simplicity, and self-trust. Instead of chasing perfection, focus on what truly serves you and aligns with your body’s natural rhythms. Here are some practical solutions:

Aim for balanced nutrition, fitness, and self-care – Instead of extreme diets and rigid routines, focus on sustainable, enjoyable habits that support overall well-being. Wellness should enhance your life, not take over it. Find a routine that feels sustainable and enjoyable.

Avoid extremes that limit your life – Health is about moderation—eliminating entire food groups, following rigid fitness schedules, or stressing over perfection can do more harm than good. If your wellness routine is making life harder instead of better, it’s time to step back and reassess.

Find inexpensive, simple options – Good health doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Choose accessible, budget-friendly solutions that work for you. True wellness doesn’t require expensive products or complicated plans. Prioritize lifestyle shifts like eating whole foods, daily movement, and good sleep.

Re-align choices with nature’s rhythms and our human design – Tune into and honor your body’s natural cycles like circadian rhythms and getting sunlight in the morning, seasonal eating, and mindful movement for a more intuitive approach to well-being. Align your energy, activity and goals with nature’s natural seasonal rhythms. Reconnecting to the earth and aligning your life with natural design can be simple yet powerful game changers.

Most information has some bias—trust and listen to your body! – Health trends come and go, but your body’s signals are your best guide. Learn to listen to what it truly needs. No one knows your body better than you do. Experiment, observe, and make decisions based on what feels right while also making safe and informed decisions!

Take a gentler approach—move towards your goals with kindness – Instead of rigid rules and aggressive goals, try a more balanced approach to take daily balanced and loving steps towards your goals. Avoid pushing yourself to exhaustion, allow for flexibility and self-compassion in your wellness journey. Wellness is a journey, not a race. Be kind to yourself and celebrate small wins along the way.

True wellness should feel nourishing, freeing, and aligned with your life not restrictive and exhausting. If you’re experiencing wellness fatigue, take a step back and reassess. Simplify your routine, trust your instincts, and focus on what makes you feel good, not what the latest trend dictates. By shifting your approach, you can enjoy true wellness that is sustainable, intuitive, and stress-free. By taking a more balanced, intuitive approach, you can break free from wellness fatigue and create a healthier, happier relationship with yourself and well-being.

Are you struggling with wellness fatigue? What small changes can you make today to bring more ease and joy into your health journey?

You’ve got this!

XO In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

Alignment – From Somatic Yoga to Life

In yoga we stack the bones to achieve alignment. Within somatic healing yoga practices this alignment of the body is not only to build strength and bone density as it is in traditional yoga. Within somatic yoga we practice stacking and aligning as part of both an energetic realignment as well as a moving meditation to encourage emotional alignment.

But what exactly is living an aligned life or achieving alignment?

Living an aligned life means living in harmony with your true self, values, purpose, and beliefs. It is a state of coherence where your thoughts, feelings, decisions, and actions are consistent with who you genuinely are and what matters most to you. This alignment fosters a sense of authenticity, fulfillment, and flow in life. Here are some key aspects of an aligned life:

  1. Authenticity
  • Being true to yourself and not compromising your identity or values to fit societal norms or expectations. This also means self-imposed or adopted expectations too! Let go of the ‘coulda-shoulda-woulda’s’!
  • Recognizing and embracing your unique strengths, weaknesses, passions, and quirks. Celebrate your uniqueness!
  1. Purpose and Meaning
  • Living with a sense of purpose and direction, where your actions align with your life’s goals and deeper meaning. Aligning your actions with your highest core values leads to not only fulfillment but an aligned and meaningful life.
  • Engaging in activities and relationships that feel fulfilling and contribute to your sense of purpose or contribution. Be of service. Spread kindness and as Ghandi said, ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’.
  1. Emotional Congruence
  • Experiencing a balance between your inner emotions and outer expression, allowing you to act in ways that feel natural and not forced. Of course there are times and places for certain emotional expression… but creating healthy and safe spaces for you to speak your truth is key!
  • Honoring your feelings and intuition as important guides in decision-making and the actions you take.
  1. Health and Well-being
  • Aligning your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health with your lifestyle choices.
  • Taking care of your body, heart, mind and spirit through nourishing practices, rest, movement, and self-care.
  1. Connection and Relationships
  • Building and maintaining relationships that reflect mutual respect, trust, and shared values. AND creating space for acceptance and inclusion for those with different beliefs and values.
  • Surrounding yourself with people who support your growth and inspire you to be your best self.
  1. Living with Integrity
  • Ensuring that your actions match your words, beliefs and even the thoughts you think. Your thought life should also reflect your highest values.
  • Upholding your commitments and staying true to your principles even when it’s challenging. My father always says, ‘your word is your bond’.
  1. Inner Peace
  • Cultivating a sense of contentment and acceptance in the present moment. Practice finding the beauty in the moment you are currently in. Just BE.
  • Releasing unnecessary stress, guilt, or shame by letting go of what doesn’t serve you. Somatic healing practices are an amazing way to process and release negative emotions and stress from your mind, body, heart and spirit.
  1. Flow and Fulfillment
  • Experiencing “flow” states, where you feel deeply engaged and connected to what you’re doing. This takes mindful practice to develop.
  • Finding joy and satisfaction in daily living rather than constantly seeking external validation. Celebrate all the wins and the perceived losses because those too are learning experiences.

An aligned life requires self-awareness, ongoing reflection, intentional choices and aligned actions. It isn’t about perfection but rather about consistently striving to live in a way that feels true and meaningful to you.

Somatic Workout? What makes it different?

Any form of exercise can be practiced as a form of ‘somatic exercises’ or as a ‘somatic workout’. Almost any movement can be beneficial for somatic healing and emotional release when done with very intentional mind-body techniques that are somatically focused.

Somatic exercises focus on awareness and feeling the sensation of the body during movement to help relieve tension and promote overall physical and mental wellbeing. This approach to bodywork utilizes the mind-body connection.

A workout is considered “somatic” when it emphasizes a deep focus on internal bodily sensations and awareness during movement, prioritizing the mind-body connection rather than achieving specific fitness goals, often involving slow, gentle movements with the intention of listening to how your body feels throughout the exercise.

Key aspects of a somatic workout:

  • Intentional awareness:

Paying close attention to how your body feels during each movement, noticing tension, release, and subtle sensations.

  • Gentle movements:

Avoiding forceful or strenuous motions, instead opting for slow, controlled movements.

  • Mind-body connection:

Actively connecting your mental focus to your physical sensations.

  • No specific goal:

Focusing on the quality of movement rather than achieving a certain outcome like lifting a specific heavy weight or reaching a specific range of motion.

Examples of common exercises practices that are more naturally ‘somatic practices’:

  • Yoga: When practiced with deep awareness of breath and body sensations
  • Tai Chi: Slow, mindful movements with emphasis on body awareness
  • Pilates: When done with a focus on internal sensations and alignment
  • Somatic Stretching: Gentle stretches designed to release tension and connect with the body
  • Body scans: Deliberately scanning your body to identify areas of tension or discomfort

However, you can also turn any type of exercise like strength building or a cardio workout into a form of somatic exercise by doing the following:

  1. Intentionally take the approach that it is a ‘moving meditation’
  2. Focus on connecting each breath with each movement, moment to moment
  3. Align your inhale and exhale with force and flow – Exhale against force (example exhale as you light the weight, inhale as you release it)
  4. Focus your mind on the specific muscle you are working – build your mind-body connection

When you practice this form of embodied exercise and increase your mind-body connection with each movement the results are (over time) that you not only experience somatic healing benefits such as stress reduction and more mindfulness but also develop a stronger, more balanced physique that is also less prone to injury.

If you want to learn an expansive set of tools to practice somatic healing for your own body and loved ones, or to start a career as an Integrative Somatic Practitioner visit: Integrative Wellness Academy

Somatic Healing Through Medicinal Baths

Bathing is an ancient practice of self-care. From Thailand to India to Russia to across the expanse of time, culture, history and the entire globe, the art of the bath has been practiced for health benefits. Not only does a good warm bath aid in relaxation and stress reduction, but it can also have profound somatic healing and medicinal benefits.

What are some of the benefits and uses of the medicinal bath? There are many, but here are a few:

  • Reducing somatic symptoms & reducing pain.
  • Trauma
  • Stress reduction & mindfulness
  • Depression & anxiety
  • Balancing and grounding

Remember that our skin is our largest organ and the largest one we absorb things and expel things through. Drawing yourself a bath with specific herbs, minerals and medicinal natural elements can bring about healing for many ailments and/or facilitate the healing process.

Stress being the leading cause of ALL illness, it is the thing that breaks down our immune system the fastest and creates gaps in our wellness or balance. Stress decreases the ability to properly digest and absorb nutrients which can lead to deficiencies and to weight gain, fight off infection and disease and regulate our systems (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual). Chronic stress also leads to mental and emotional imbalances and somatic symptoms of all types.

So a relaxing medicinal bath has the capacity to boost your immune function, emotional capacity, and somatic healing significantly when practiced regularly. I say ‘practiced’ because for me the art of the bath, especially medicinal baths are a central part of my somatic healing, self-care, and wellness practices.

Ok, what exactly is a medicinal bath and how do you incorporate it into your somatic healing, wellness, and self-care practice… let’s dive into what medical baths are, how to do them and even a few delicious recipes!

Medicinal means ‘tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain’ and I am also using it in reference as substances or plants having healing properties. Being that our skin is our largest organ for absorbing and expelling we can draw in many medicinal properties through the medicinal bathing experience… and yes, it is an experience! Just like homeopathic, natural medicine and other holistic or alternative treatments, the medicinal bath has many, many different recipes to support different needs your body and mind may have.

With my medicinal bath recipes, I draw from my many years as an Integrative Wellness & Life Coach, studies of natural medicine, Ayurveda, tribal healing, and through my doctorial training and PhD in Integrative & Natural Medicine. I use herbs, minerals, vitamins, raw plants and flowers, crystals, and stones as well as essential oils.

The three favorite more simple and basic medical bath recipes that I have created and used over time are:

  • The Renewal Bath
  • The Detox Bath
  • The Stress Reduction Bath

Before we dive into these three recipes, I want to share more about creating ‘your space’ and setting the atmosphere for medicinal baths. Your environment should be calm, peaceful and promote wellness. You may be able to create such an environment within your own home, or if you do not have a bathtub you can opt to go to a spa for a medicinal bath.

Here are the basics to an environment that promotes the optimal healing benefits of a medicinal bath:

  • Calm music
  • Low light
  • Candles
  • Essential oils
  • Plants

Now for the recipes…

Medicinal Bath Recipes

The Renewal Bath

¼ cup Arnica oil

5-10 drops Eucalyptus oil

Frankincense oil

10-15 drops Myrrh oil

1 cup Colloidal oatmeal

Fresh rose petals (red or pink are preferred, or you may use rose water)

1 Hematite stone

1 capsule of vitamin B complex

4 small Amethyst stones

3-5 drops of cinnamon oil

3-5 drops of Grapefruit oil

1 cup Epsom salts

 

The Detox Bath

1.2 cup Bentonite clay

½ cup Red Moroccan clay

2 small Shungite stones (known to reduce EMF’s and other toxins)

4 tablespoons of Manuka honey

4 small Amethyst stones

5-10 drops of Bergamot oil

Ginger (you can juice some ginger root, use ginger tea bags, or ginger essential oil – use only a small amount)

1 cup Epsom salts

 

The Stress Reduction Bath

Magnesium (add about ¼ cup of liquid magnesium)

Lavender oil (10-15 drops)

1 capsule of L-Lysine (to boost the immune system)

4 small Rose Quartz crystals (or one larger one)

2 small Fluorite stone

2 small jade stones

4 small Amethyst stones

Chamomile (you may use either the fresh flowers or 4 chamomile tea bags)

5-10 drops of Bergamot oil

1 cup Epsom salts

For a powerful addition to your medicinal bath rituals add:

  • Dry brushing prior to your medicinal bath.
  • An Abhyanga self-massage. This is a type of Ayurvedic massage that’s done with warm oil. You can easily find free videos online (or mine) with simple instructions of how to do the massage technique. But simply put, the warm oil is applied on the entire body, from the scalp to the bottoms of your feet and massaged in upwards circular motions.

The food problem

Nature is perfect. Each food is perfectly designed. It contains within it the exact things needed to break down and digest and to absorb its nutrients properly. The problem is NOT with any specific foods. The problem lies within what is done to foods. Nature is perfect. The problem lies into what is done to food – from start to finish.

The genetic modification of foods creates a lack of balance & digestibility. The soil foods are grown in often has been leeched of nutrients which leads to foods low in nutrients. The chemicals foods are treated with, including the ones that the animals we eat are ingesting, contaminate them. The plastic foods are stored in absorb into the foods and are toxic. The way we process foods becomes harmful to our bodies.

Eating healthy is not about extreme restrictions or eliminating types of foods from your diet. It is instead finding healthy (natural and nature made) clean sources of foods and consume them as whole and unprocessed as possible. Foods that from start to finish are grown, treated, fed, harvested, packaged, transported, prepared & stored by you in ways that optimize, and honor nature and the natural food cycle. This promotes balance and health.

If you live is the US you may not be able to eat grains or grain-based foods without feeling bloated, putting on weight & experiencing stomach discomfort BUT you find that if you travel to Paris, you can eat all those tasty croissants. Or if you travel to Italy, you can enjoy bowls full of delicious pasta and experience NO symptoms. This is because of not only the highly processed grain-based products in the US that rob nutrients your body needs to effectively process them, it also has to do with US grains being genetically modified to be higher in protein. Between the processing and the genetic modification US grains no longer have the perfect natural balance and high levels of fiber that the body needs to properly digest, absorb, and put to work (effectively) the food as energy. This is not the case in European grown grains.

Similarly, the soils that food are grown in are often barren of nutrients, they have been over-used and under nurtured. They have been treated with chemicals or had environmental toxin exposure. Beyond this, once foods are harvested, they are often treated with chemicals and preservatives to enable them to stay ‘fresh’ longer and therefore travel across the country or even the world before being sold and consumed. Some of these preservatives and chemicals are applied AFTER harvest enabling them to still be sold and labeled as organic. Additionally, foods are stored and transported in plastics and containers that have chemicals within them that can completely disrupt the human endocrine system, gut health, and build toxic levels of elements that cause illness, disease, and systemic inflammation.

We would hope that our governments and the companies around the world would put people over profit and tighten both regulation and internal policy that would lead to safe foods, but this is not the case. We each must become educated, aware, and proactive in protecting our health and this means proper sourcing, storage and preparation of foods that leads towards wellness versus illness. But HOW? This sounds like a full-time job AND a VERY expensive feat to accomplish. Here are a few simpler steps that will help ease this burden. I do also want to communicate clearly that maintaining health and wellbeing is work! There is no way around that. We must be intentional and engaged. However, we can each find a way to do our best through a balanced approach that is both achievable and maintainable. We can’t live in a controlled bubble or create so many restrictions that it leads us deep down the rabbit hole of chronic stress. It’s about balance and what is balanced for one person may not be for another. So when seeking to create your own game plan consider time, energy, resources, accessibility and what feels achievable to sustain long terms

TIPS –

  1. Store food and water in glass containers whenever possible. Work towards sourcing items that come in plastic free, glass or paper containers
  2. Eat whole foods that are grown organically in season. Source them from farms within the region you live in if possible
  3. Do not buy things that seem to have a long shelf life! You may get frustrated that produce goes bad quickly if it is fresh and organic, however fruits and veggies treated with chemicals will last longer. Try to shop weekly and us up smaller amounts of food at a time. The best way to do this is by shopping at a local farmers market or subscribing to a CSA
  4. Avoid heavily processed foods. Do your best to eat minimally processed foods
  5. Cook your own meals – reduce eating out (you can never know where ingredients are sourced from or what they contain)
  6. Read food labels and don’t hesitate to contact companies to inquire about ingredients or where they are sourced. Most labels give company information that with a quick internet search will guide you how to contact them
  7. Do your research!!! Research food sources and different countries, states and regions approach and production. Research soil, pesticides and microplastics. Learn what to be on the lookout for.
  8. With internet access came a more globalized market. Source cleaner options from other countries (example: Manuka Honey and lamb from New Zealand, Olive oil from Italy or Greece, grains from France)
  9. Try to align with nature and natural cycles when possible (example: Eat things grown within their natural seasons locally, try to source things that are not processed – meaning the way they come is the way nature produced them)

Fall Wellness Resource Guide

As summer draws to a close and you are ramping up for the fall, back to school, back to goals and setting plans for the different holiday seasons, it is time for some resources! To save you time and energy, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite blogs, articles and videos to help you thrive this season. It is always important to be both updating and expanding your personal knowledge and the resources you have on deck to support you and your family’s wellness.

Here are some links to helpful articles, resources, studies, and even holistic items that may be of service to you throughout this upcoming season –

Fall Favorite Articles

Fall Favorite Healthy Recipes

Back to School Parenting Resources

Optimizing Health for Fall – Healthy Lifestyle & Functional Medicine

Emotional Wellness & Wellbeing

Career & Finances

Spiritual and Self-Development Gems

Relationship Resources

Videos, Podcasts, and Apps… oh My!

The Era of Digital Wellbeing

Do you ever feel like maintaining your health and emotional wellbeing is a full time job? So often I hear from patients that they have numerous health and wellness apps, a plethora of expensive wellness products, memberships to gyms and or online fitness and yoga classes, numerous expensive sessions with practitioners and doctors, hours of blog researching, reading and resource collection all just to move forward on their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness!

With the power of the digital age and powerful digital resources such as my whole person health platform and memberships, you can get and stay healthy all within one platform and app! Everything you need is at your fingertips..

The Dr. Rachel Online Wellness + Health App Membership will provide you with a customized pathway to getting and staying healthy, optimizing your overall wellbeing, help you optimize your health and avoid future health breakdowns by getting to the root of the things that cause un-wellness. Your custom pathway will take into account your unique health needs and give you the support, guidance, education and daily actionable steps to modify your lifestyle in a balanced and achievable way!

Your membership includes:

• On-demand health education, wellness classes and integrative health programs such as my 12-Week Transformation, Stress Management, Mindfulness & Finding Your Purpose programs
• On-demand fitness, yoga, mindfulness, and stress reduction classes
• Customized workout and fitness plans
• Goal setting and tacking
• Customized meal plans and recipes
• Health data tracking
• Wearable integration
• Support and digital guidance in modifying lifestyle risk factors

For more information on this as well as concierge health memberships click HERE

World Health Day & Why It Matters All Year Long

Today, April 7th is #WorldHealthDay and in honor of this I wanted to build some awareness about global health and the deep interconnectedness between all countries around the world and yours and my individual health…

When there is a crisis, be it natural disaster, war, famine, disease, or any other issue within one country, its impact is felt globally. It effects my health and your health through economy, community, collective trauma, and increased fear, decreases to tools, resources, and items we each need in our own locations in order to manage our health and wellbeing. Crisis does not just cause negative impact at the epi center. The ripple effects are far reaching and do impact you and I personally. The crisis not just happening ‘over there’, it is happening EVERYWHERE.

What we are all doing… the choices we make, the beliefs we hold, where we put our money, what we align with, who we support through our purchases… all of this moves us towards or away from world health or world unwellness.

Here are some things we all can begin taking steps on within our daily lives that will lead towards INCREASES in world health:

  1. Know what companies support, perpetuate, and invest in. Then choose to spend your money with the ones causing positive impacts in the world
  2. Take steps to reduce your carbon footprint, use of plastic and reduce waste
  3. Become more educated on global health issues, policy, and economics
  4. Vote!!!
  5. Continue your own healing and wellness journey
  6. Find ways to support other people in your community, country and globally with their health and wellbeing
  7. Use what is in your hands to make a difference – volunteer, donate and/or support a cause
  8. Help spread awareness on issues that impact global health
  9. Educate yourself on how health and wellbeing is defined differently by different countries and communities.
  10. Educate yourself about wellness accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion
  11. Try to find more ways to live in harmony with nature and natures cycles

Here are some additional pieces of info so that you can become more informed and centered in world health matters –

Top 10 Most Common Health Issues/Health Influencers

  • Physical Activity and Nutrition
  • Overweight and Obesity
  • Tobacco
  • Substance Abuse
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Mental Health
  • Injury and Violence
  • Environmental Quality

Top global health issues:

Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for 70 percent of all deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.

 

 

 

 

Motivation – How To Tips!

For many motivation as well as the state of ‘being motivated’ is a learned behavior. Many people learn (or do not learn) strategies for self-disciple and motivation through the values and lessons learned from family, participating in team sports and school experiences. However, not everyone is taught good strategies or habits that support optimal motivation.

Poor habits, beliefs, fear, self-doubt, negative self-talk and procrastination are also some common reasons why we lack motivation.

Additionally, things like life’s day-to-day energy drainers can block people from moving forward effectively. Lack of inspiration, lack of alignment of values and negative association with ‘tasks’ as work or not fun all contribute to a lack or decrease in motivation.

The good news is, it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks as they say. We can all learn, grow and create positive change in our lives, mindset and habits when we apply intentionality and consistency.

So how do we create a shift in our lives when it comes to motivation? Here are some techniques backed by science and psychology to help you –

The Technique: Identifying Poor Habits, Practices & Patterns

Many of our habits, practices and patterns are things that people do without even thinking, these things are unconscious and they’re on autopilot. If we can gain awareness around them and apply intentionality as well as consistent action, we are able to rewire our habits to remove the things that are keeping you from getting where you want to go. When you notice or identify a habit or pattern that you have, ask yourself: Are these habits supporting me in achieving my goals, or are they distracting me?

No matter the habit you identify, try not to judge it. We all have habits, practices or patterns that are part of our journey, whether we choose them or not, and they are serving some purpose. This is crucial – those habits and patterns are serving a purpose. Either out of convenience or comfort, we make meaning around things in our lives, and these habits and patterns are a byproduct of this. Recognizing this behavior takes a lot of awareness and honest reflection.

The first step towards change is awareness. Try asking yourself some of the following questions and journaling your responses –

– What do you want to do with this particular habit?
– In your big picture, what habits or practices have you let go of, and which ones have you adopted?
– When you envision the future, what has changed, and what did you have to do to get there?
– What new habits or practices do you want to try on?
– Although this habit may not be serving you anymore, what purpose IS it serving?
– What lesson has this habit or pattern taught you?

For a deeper understanding of habits read: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits

The Technique: Reduce Energy Drainers

You may find that you want to be more present and motivated but have too many energy drainers in your life keeping you from doing this. When we address energy levels, we’re at least bringing some awareness to how we are making space for those drainers and keeping them in our lives.

To increase your awareness around the energy drainers in your life, ask yourself these powerful questions:

– What energy drainers are you contending with right now?
– How will releasing these drainers change your energy?
– On a scale of 1-10, where do you think your energy level needs to be in order to feel great in the session? Where is it today? How can we bring that number up by one?

Once you identify your personal energy drainers take steps each day to try to reduce these drainers in your life.

For a deeper dive into energy drainers read:
https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/if-youre-feeling-drained-heres-why-12631

The Technique: Positive Motivation – Rewards

Far too many of us beat ourselves up as a strategy to create change. This is not helpful. Negative reinforcement diminishes long-term motivation whereas positive reinforcement inspires sustainable motivation. So how can you lean into positive motivation? Celebrate the small steps along the way! Instead of focusing on how much more you need to do, focus on taking small steps to MOVE towards your goals. Celebrate each tiny win along the way. This will not only inspire motivation it will fuel your energy and increase your odds of successfully achieving your goals. Negative feedback may give you an initial ‘kick in the pants’ but doesn’t provide motivation long term. Also, negative feedback leaves you feeling worse, not better.

For more insight on positive motivation read:
https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2018/06/motivation
and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5364176/

The Technique: SMART Goals

Many times, we are clear about what we want, yet not clear in setting goals correctly or taking effective actions to achieve or reach our desired outcome or goal. This causes significant setbacks and drains motivation. When we set a goal, it’s important to know what an effectively set goal looks like. One of the most effective ways to set a goal is to set a “SMART” goal. The SMART goal will help bring clarity to what steps will help you reach your goals, and to be a benchmark for effective versus ineffective actions.

So, what exactly is a SMART goal? A SMART goal is a specific format to setting a goal that’s used very frequently in business and coaching. The formula looks like this:

S: specific and simple.
M: measurable and meaningful to you.
A: achievable.
R: realistic
T: timed and moving towards what you want rather than focusing on what you’re moving away from. “I don’t want to feel ___” is not a “move towards,” that’s a “move away from.” (Example: I want to achieve ____ by [specific timeframe].)

I recommend taking the following steps to help the goal setting and goal getting be successful –

1. Write out your goal in a SMART goal format.
2. Set an intention towards that goal and meditate or visualize what it will be like once it is achieved.
3. Create tasks lists based on your SMART goal.
4. Take action daily.
5. Let go of the outcome.

More on goal setting can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318390296_Why_written_objectives_need_to_be_really_SMART

LGBTQ+ Wellbeing

June is Pride Month and I wanted to weigh in and share some information as well as a few tips for those within the LGBTQ+ community (and those who are allies) on whole person health and wellbeing for the LGBTQ+ community.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, ‘Research suggests that LGBT(Q+) individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBT persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders,1 substance abuse,2, 3 and suicide’. As allies it is important that we create safe spaces and support for those within the LGBTQ+ community to heal and thrive’. For those who identify as LGBTQ+, learning additional tools to support whole person wellbeing in a way that feels helpful, inclusive and safe is key. Below are a few tips to increasing whole person wellbeing for those within the LGBTQ+ community:

1. Self-Acceptance, Self-Love & Self-Care

Acceptance, unconditional love and care is something that many people within the LGBTQ+ community have unfortunately not been given. Growing and practicing self-acceptance, self-care and self-love is a powerful support to mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual wellbeing. When it comes to making progress in this area it takes intentional actions, it is a process. Self-care, self-acceptance and self-love may look different in different seasons of life. Sometimes finding your way to the next version of yourself after a huge transition is bumpy, it is supposed to be, life is a grand experiment.

Love yourself and practice unconditional acceptance of yourself right where you are. Try hanging a metaphorical ‘under construction’ sign on yourself and give yourself permission to BE IN PROCESS. This stuff takes time. Remember that you are not broken. You do not need to fix yourself or change yourself in order to be worthy of love & acceptance. Your true self is perfect. Be kind to yourself.

2. Mental & Emotional Health Support

Mental and emotional strains on the LGBTQ+ community are real and often significant. Getting a system of helpful and effective support around you (or a loved one experiencing challenges) is so important to overall wellbeing. Don’t wait until you are in crisis, create the support you need and be proactive and increasing wellbeing!

Symptoms of mental and emotional challenges can be as mild as low energy or not feeling like yourself or as severe as loss of interest in activities, problems sleeping, feeling sad or depressed most of the day, changes in appetite, social and emotional distancing (withdraws or hibernating), weight gain, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, feelings of hopelessness or increased negative self-image and even thoughts of death or suicide.

If you are experiencing one or many of these symptoms your body and emotions are sending you a message… it is time to get support through mental health practitioners trained to diagnose and treat depression as well as practitioners who specialize in changes in diet, mindset, exercise and even other lifestyle changes that either a life coach or wellness coach can help you with.

Get tools to address mental and emotional health and wellbeing by working with a therapist, life coach or mental health practitioner – to schedule a session online with one of the practitioners on the ModiHealth platform visit Modihealth.com

Get Immediate Help Now…
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the toll-free TTY number at 1-800-799-4TTY (4889). You also can text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741) or go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

3. Creating Safe Community & Chosen Family

Unfortunately for many LGBTQ+ the family and community that they are born into proves to be less than a safe and loving space. This is why iyt is even more important for those within the LGBTQ+ community to build and create their own tribe, their own chosen family and safe community.

Create the time and space to connect with safe and accepting people in order to participate in safe community and chosen family in a true, meaningful positive way. Do this in a way that works for you and helps you feel connected, loved, accepted and included.

4. Honoring Your Boundaries

A yes or a no can have a significant effect on how we create what we experience in life. Often this is approached unintentionally from a place that is not rooted in self-love or honesty with oneself. When we say yes to something, we are aligning ourselves with that. A yes is also an invitation for it to be in your life and in a sense, it is agreeing with it. A person, place, thing or situation such as a request or voiced expectation from a loved one, diagnosis from a doctor or even an invitation to go on a date, gives us the opportunity to be intentional about what we allow and create in our lives.

We have all heard the famous saying ‘be true to thine self’ – however many of us don’t realize the consequences and disconnection from self we experience when we choose to say yes when our truth is a no. Boundaries are helpful in managing this effectively.
Setting healthy boundaries and honoring them in a loving and kind way leads to decreased stress, which in turn supports optimal immune system function. When you are setting and honoring boundaries you are practicing self-care and self-love, not only for your emotional well-being but also for your health.
Keep in mind that setting boundaries is not listing rules for someone else to follow. Boundaries are most healthy and effective when we set them with yourself. For example, if you set a boundary with yourself to not lose your temper and blow up at loved ones, it is up to you and you alone to honor that boundary. Maybe you honor that boundary by noticing when you are approaching the end of your rope and choosing to take a walk and calm down before speaking.

I used to think boundaries were something you told people and were things that expressed what they could and could not do within a relationship with me. This could not be further from the truth, what I just described is ‘being controlling; not ‘setting a boundary’. Boundaries are the perimeters we set for ourselves with ourselves. It’s the agreements we make in order to lovingly take care of ourselves in the world and in relationships with others.

5. Self-Advocating

I wish that we lived in a world where LGBTQ+ were completely accepted, treated equally and did not have to advocate for basic human rights. Unfortunately, we are not there yet and both advocating for yourself and advocating for others is key to achieving progress.

Advocating for yourself is a critical life skill, one that will serve you in all areas; health, relationships, career, etc. Speaking your truth in love and confidence is not only something that will produce results of increased wellbeing, but it is also very impowering. It is ok so say, ‘I hear what you are saying, however, it is not helpful’ or ‘That does not feel true to me’ or ‘Your opinion on my life is unimportant and should not dictate my human rights and equal treatment’ are completely acceptable responses when coming in contact with someone else projecting their beliefs, opinions and unconscious biases at you. Ask for what you need.

6. Safe & Supportive Healthcare

Instead of healing, many healthcare institutions, doctors, hospitals, and medical information have left the LGBTQ+ community misinformed, underserved, and unwell due to inequality and unconscious biases. In order to be healthy today, we MUST all take personal responsibility for our own health and wellness, and the management of ALL its pieces. For those within the LGBTQ+ community finding safe and supportive healthcare providers is incredibly critical. To take ownership of your health means finding the right care team. Interview doctors, mental health practitioners and other wellness practitioners to make sure that they have experience working with LGBTQ+ and will provide excellent care, understanding and support. It is absolutely ok to fire your doctor and seek out treatment from one who honors and respects you.

At ModiHealth ALL practitioners are vetted and hired to provide safe and inclusive care for all people no matter what gender, religion, race or sexual orientation that they are. To find a practitioner to support you virtually visit Modihealth.com

Cited articles:

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/june-is-pride-month-2021-lgbtq-events-parades-and-more/

A Transparent Discussion About Women’s Health & Natural Remedies

I recently sat down (virtually) with the amazing Ali Landry to talk about common issues many women are facing in their health and lives, including the ones that Ali herself faces. We dove deep into natural approaches at both bringing support and healing around those issues. We talked about everything from hormones, stress, sleep and even chronic pain as well as many natural approaches to resolving them. If you missed our video conversation, you can watch the replay of it HERE.

 

Here are a few more general take-aways from our chat…

 

Honoring The Chapter, You Are In

 

We are facing stressors and life challenges that we collectively have never before faced. Every time we turn on the news we are inundated with stressful messages and images. Many of us are facing loss, transitions and increases of stress and anxiety due to the pandemic and state of the world.

 

I have had so many of my patients and also people reach out to me on social media expressing frustration that they don’t seem to either have the energy for the level of self-care that they used to or that they are unable to take effective actions to move their health and wellbeing forward in positive ways. The overall feeling many people have expressed is feeling the need to need to ‘force themselves’ forward.

 

Right now, is a time when we are grieving and processing. During this time, we need to honor where we are, honor the season or chapter that we are in, while also taking balanced actions that feel HELPFUL.

 

Start With Balance

 

Balance leads to wellness and increases our wellbeing. The issue right now is that what was a balanced approach before may no longer be balanced during this time. We must shift our expectations and our plans to honor where we are while also discovering what our new normal will look like, and what balance looks during these times. Start with some self-discovery and most importantly, listening to your own body, heart, emotions and spirit.

 

Where To Begin

 

I often ask my patients, ‘If you could change one thing that would have the biggest positive impact on all of the other challenges you are facing, which thing would that be?’. That is often the answer for the best place to start, otherwise it can become overwhelming and even confusing. This is where working with a good natural, holistic or functional doctor can be hugely beneficial.

 

 

Get To The Root

 

Here is the west we are taught from an early age to treat symptoms versus root causes. Often the solutions include ONLY suppressing the symptoms or things that feel uncomfortable. We reach for a quick fix or a pill. While I definitely think it is important to treat symptoms, I believe that the symptoms we experience in our mind, body and emotions are feedback. If we simply suppress the feedback without ALSO addressing the root issue, we are unable to create (or sustain) positive changes in our health and wellbeing. It is important to listen to the feedback from our body, mind, emotions and even spirit and then work on resolving the root or core issue from the inside-out while also addressing the symptoms from the outside-in.

 

Supplements Are Supplementation

 

Supplements are to support needs that the body has such as daily vitamins and minerals that we are unable to get enough of through our food sources. Supplements that consist of specific herbs, vitamins and minerals that are geared towards naturally treating or supporting health conditions can feel overwhelming for many people. There are so many different ones on the market and you can often feel (based on their descriptions) that you need them ALL. Remember I mentioned starting with one specific focus? I believe it is important to have a balanced approach to your supportive supplements as well instead of overwhelming your system with a ton of different supplements. Focusing on the issue that when resolving it will have the largest positive impact on other issues or areas is key. It is also very beneficial to work with a natural or functional focused healthcare provider to ensure the proper supplements for your health needs.

 

A few of the health issues that Ali and I dove deeper into within our chat were –

 

  • Hormone imbalances, symptoms and solutions
  • Sleep hygiene and its importance as well as ways to achieve better sleep cycles
  • Stress
  • Chronic neck, shoulder and back pain

 

For detailed information, solutions and recommendations please be sure to watch this video as we do discuss much detail about the above issues. Again, you can view the video HERE.

 

Within these conversations I mentioned a few supplements. Below are links to those:

 

  • Stress Master & Sleep Master by Nupeutics Naturals

https://nupeuticshealth.com

 

  • Evening Primrose Oil

https://www.amazon.com/Primrose-Softgels-Cold-Pressed-Artificial-Ingredients/dp/B00NH5AK2S/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=evening+primrose+oil+organic&qid=1594507306&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUjFYVjUwU0hCNExPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzQ2ODEwMzBPTkhTOEhXUUhQUSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTI3NjQ3MzM5R0pWWEtQS1RFSCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

  • L-Theanine

https://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research-L-Theanine-Supplement-Relaxation/dp/B0797BLW59/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=l-theanine&dchild=1&keywords=l-theanine&pd_rd_i=B0797BLW59&pd_rd_r=ab7f4801-d3d2-4d63-9ad6-dd57d34a6e69&pd_rd_w=pQeCM&pd_rd_wg=CCAzH&pf_rd_p=1da5beeb-8f71-435c-b5c5-3279a6171294&pf_rd_r=1M9JKZQS47QG7ADB6JGK&psc=1&qid=1594507336&sr=1-1-70f7c15d-07d8-466a-b325-4be35d7258cc

 

  • Magnesium Powder (mix with warm water)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPUY3W0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Coronavirus – 6 Tips to Protecting Yourself

Coronavirus & Immunity – How To Protect Yourself

The Coronavirus… is this a serious virus? Absolutely! Should you be cautious and take precautions to remain safe, definitely! There is a lot of misinformation going around and I want to help you by providing information that is directly from The Center for Disease Control and The World Health Organization to ensure that you have the facts. There are also some effective preventative measures that you can take to additionally protect yourself and your family. 

What we know about the Coronavirus –

  • ‘CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the U.S.’. – The Center for Disease Control (CDC)

How is it spread?

  1. Person-to-person
  2. Contact with infected surfaces or objects

*Read more HERE

What this means is that it is absolutely important to take mindful precautions and also, that those precautions can reduce risks. I will go into this more later and give you the top 6 ways to protect yourself.

How deadly is it???

Though the Coronavirus can lead to death in some cases and it has, the majority of strong, healthy adults are able to fight it off and experience a severe flu at most. Those with compromised or fragile immune systems such as those with another serious illness or disease, those who are elderly and those who are immune compromised are more prone to contracting the virus and well as experiencing more severe symptoms and a higher risk.

‘Both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to cause severe illness in people. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, study out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people with certain underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, seem to be at greater risk of serious illness.’ – The CDC

*Read more HERE and HERE

Let’s take a deeper look at how deadly and dangerous this virus is in comparison to other epidemics and infectious viruses and illnesses so that you can get a better sense of the situation as a whole and to what level you or your loved ones may be at risk –

As of early March, the coronavirus outbreak had infected more than 90,000 people and killed more than 3,000 people globally, the majority of whom live in China, where the illness was first detected in December. More than 100 people in the United States have been diagnosed, including at least nine people who have died. By comparison, influenza — known as the common flu — has infected as many as 45 million Americans since October and killed as many as 46,000. Both the coronavirus and influenza are respiratory illnesses. Both have similar symptoms. Both are contagious. Both can be deadly according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you want to see more statistics on this issue but delivered in a fun, less stress inducing way, one of my favorite comedic educators, John Oliver shared all about the Coronavirus on last week’s episode. You can watch it HERE

So, What Do We Do?

Now that we have covered details about the virus itself, let’s talk solutions!

Each one of us is able to boost our immune system to its optimal capacity, each person’s optimal capacity is different, but no matter where your immune function lays (low or high) you can support it in being its best and most effective. Having your immune system operating at the most optimal level is an incredibly important aspect of protecting yourself from the Coronavirus in addition to taking other critical preventative measures.

Here are my top 6 tips for protecting yourself against the Coronavirus. I have then provided even more details as to how you can protect yourself from both contracting the Coronavirus as well as better positioning yourself for a positive outcome if you do contract it:

  1. BE SAFE – WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR A MASK & GLOVES & PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Since Coronavirus is spread not only person-to-person but also through surfaces and objects, be sure to both practice social distancing (6-foot rule), wear protective gear such as a mask and gloves as well as wash your hands immediately after touching something. Avoid touching anything else before washing your hands, especially your face or even worse, rubbing your eyes or sticking your finger in your nose.  You must wash your hands WITH SOAP for 20-30 seconds in order to get germs off.

  1. STAY HYDRATED

Our bodies are up to 60% water! Most Americans are operating at low levels of dehydration. When we are dehydrated the body is not able to flush out germs, viruses and bacteria as easily as when it is properly hydrated. This means you should be drinking a minimum of ½ your body weight in ounces of pure filtered water each day (and a maximum of your full body weight in ounces – be sure to take electrolytes if you are drinking your full weight in ounces).

  1. STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

This might be the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself! The top immune system drainers are; mental emotional and physical stress, not enough sleep, processed foods, toxins and chemicals, allergens, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration, overworking and not resting.

Here are a few specific things additional that you can do to increase your immune function in addition to limiting or avoiding the disrupters I mentioned above:

  • Taking Supplements such as L-lysine, Vitamin D, Colostrum, Chaga Mushrooms, Ashwagandha (to decrease impact of stress on the body), Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Zinc, Echinacea, Turmeric (to decrease internal inflammation which can lead to decreased immune function), Oregano Oil and Lavender Oil. You can also take supplements that have many of these ingredients and target immune support and function such as Immunity Master
  • Ginger, garlic and manuka honey all have antibacterial and antiviral properties
  • Avoid antibiotics whenever possible (sometimes they are necessary, but they are often over used. Also, antibiotics cannot help with any virus!!
  • Sleep for 8 hours per night
  • Make sure to schedule a day of rest and recuperation each week! Relax and have fun!
  • Process and release negative emotions. Try finding a safe loving person to talk to or write in a journal
  • Practice mindfulness and meditation, it has been scientifically proven to reduce stress!!
  • Stay hydrated
  • Give yourself permission to do less and also to say no when you need to
  1. AVOID IMMUNE DEPLETING FOODS

You may have heard the saying ‘Food is medicine’, and I agree with this wholeheartedly. I would also add to that that FOOD CAN ALSO BE YOUR ILLNESS. The wrong foods can make you sick and most definitely deplete your immune system. Processed foods filled with chemicals and preservatives, fast food, chemically treated foods, refined sugar, animal products treated with antibiotics and hormones, excess high glycemic index carbohydrates and dairy products put un-necessary pressure on your immune system. Wouldn’t you rather have the little invisible soldiers that make up your immune system battle to conquer viral or bacterial intruders versus to battle to process the junk in your food?

  1. WEAR PROTECTION (MORE ON MASKS & GLOVES)

So many people have been rushing out to buy masks that they are sold out in many locations. The CDC WAS saying the following about wearing masks and respirators in the prevention of Coronavirus:

‘CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators outside of workplace settings (in the community). Most often, spread of respiratory viruses from person-to-person happens among close contacts (within 6 feet). CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as avoiding people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes or nose, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue. People who are sick should stay home and not go into crowded public places or visit people in hospitals’.

However, late March they shifted this position and released the following statement:

‘We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.’ To read the full report click HERE

While a mask may not be helpful in large open spaces such as the grocery store or mall if you are staying at least 6-feet away from EVERYONE, however gloves certainly are since any surface you touch may be infected. Yet if you are in close proximity, within 6 feet of others who may be ill, a mask can be helpful as ONE of the ways to protect yourself.  When it comes to protective gear, after reading this, determine what you feel is best for you, for myself and my family’s health I personally will be wearing a mask and gloves if I must go out. However, staying HOME is the best preventative step you can take for your health and the health of others.

We don’t want to hoard masks and limit the amount available to healthcare providers but we do need to be protected. Here is a link to instructions as to how to make your own mask at home – CLICK HERE TO READ

If you are a healthcare professional who may be treating patients infected with the Coronavirus this image shows the recommended protective gear by the CDC –

To read the details of protective gear for healthcare practitioners click HERE

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html

In regards to influenza viral transmission they had previously released a guide for effective use which included the following, ‘A surgical mask or fit-tested respirator should be worn by healthcare personnel who are within 6 feet of a suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza patient’ and further described their use in non-health care settings as, ‘Adults can shed influenza virus 1 day before symptoms appear and up to approximately 5 to 7 days after onset of illness; thus, the selective use of masks (e.g., in proximity to a known symptomatic person) may not effectively limit transmission in the community. Young children, immunocompromised persons of any age, and critically ill patients with influenza can shed influenza viruses in the respiratory tract for prolonged periods. Moreover, because no single intervention can provide complete protection against influenza virus transmission, emphasis should be placed on multiple strategies’. The full guide can be read HERE

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm

I am not fearing the virus, but I am taking precautions! That means that anytime you are out and about be mindful and safe, but STAY HOME as much as possible. There are wonderful grocery delivery services through Instacart & Amazon Fresh, also direct delivery from CSA’s or farms such as Farm Fresh To You

  1. RELAX, DON’T STRESS!

Since stress is at the root of over 85% of all illness and disease, you can make yourself HIGHLY susceptible by worrying about this! Stress and anxiety break down the immune system and increases your chances of picking up a virus when exposed to one. So, take a deep breath and try to approach the whole Coronavirus issue from a responsible and preventative way while also being VERY intentional not to get on the negative-thought-hamster wheel of worry and despair – it definitely will not help and in fact, it can hurt.

For those who are highly susceptible to the Coronavirus (elderly, immune compromised or those with other underlying health conditions) limiting exposure means staying home and self-isolating when possible. If you who still have questions or are having a hard time moving past worry, let’s burst a few more myths about the Coronavirus –

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images provided by The World Health Organization

May you be healthy, and may you take action to create your own health!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

 

Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep: Natural Skin Beauty & Health

Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep: Natural Skin Beauty & Health

By Dr. Rachel Eva Dew, DNM

In this blog I am taking a deeper look (and comparing) skincare products. I know that many of us can easily get swept up into all of the promises of youth and perfect skin that many products out there offer. But guess what?!? Most of those products are completely counterproductive because they have harsh and toxic chemicals which have negative long-term effects on the skin and on your health. The toxins we encounter (and absorb) on our face and skin can disrupt hormones, decrease our immune system, inflame allergies and even cause the skin to age!! Guess what else… there are actually natural options that work much better.

STOP AND PAUSE.

Think about this… many people are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars trying to have healthier looking skin while actually making their skin sicker, more worn and weathered AND throwing off their health such as their gut health and skin microbiome.

To be perfectly honest, drinking at least ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day would have a more positive impact on wrinkles than most $250 anti-aging creams, and water is FREE!

Your Skin Is Your Largest Microbiome. What’s Happening on The Outside Is A Reflection of The Inside

Skin problems are feedback and when we suppress feedback without healing the root problem, we can make the root problem even worse! When we have dry skin, increased appearance of aging, sun spots, melasma flair ups, eczema, breakouts or rashes we need to first look inward. Here is the real question we should each ask ourselves, ‘What is out of balance in my body? Then, we need to take steps to resolve and rebalance those.

The first places I look when it comes to skin issues are:

  • Hydration
  • Nutritional choices
  • Toxins (exposure through foods, skincare, beauty, home products and environment)
  • Hormones
  • Stress
  • Gut health
  • Sleep pattern

Healthy Skin from The Inside-Out & The Outside-In

When we address outer skin issues through taking steps towards increasing inside health at the same time as taking steps to support our skin health natural from the outs-side in we create a win-win situation. We get healthier, more youthful and vibrant looking skin while also getting healthier skin. Our skin is our largest organ as well as the body’s largest microbiome. Our skin serves many functions as an organ beyond being the attractive wrapping paper we come packaged in. Here are a few of the things your skin does (when it is healthy):

  • ‘Protection: against pathogens. Langerhans cells in the skin are part of the immune system.
  • Storage: stores lipids (fats) and water.
  • Sensation: nerve endings detect temperature, pressure, vibration, touch, and injury.
  • Control water loss: the skin prevents water from escaping by evaporation.
  • Water resistance: it prevents nutrients from being washed from the skin
  • Thermoregulation: by producing sweat and dilating blood vessels, the skin helps keep the body cool. “Goosebumps” and blood vessel constriction, help us retain heat’.

*Source Link 

5 Tips for Inner Care That Produces Healthier Skin

  • Drink more clean water (filtered & not stored in plastic), it’s the best antiaging and skincare thing you can do!
  • Dry brushing to remove trapped toxins
  • Going organic, clean & green with your skincare, beauty & home products
  • Focusing on creating more gut health (pre & probiotics are a great start) – check out my 3-part blog series on gut health for more tips, you can read the first blog HERE 
  • Try Abhyanga Ayurvedic self-massage for lymphatic drainage & increasing circulation (you can find some great how to videos on Youtube)
  • Remember that food is food for your skin as well! Making healthier nutritional choices will show on the outside as well as the inside.

My Top Natural Skincare Products Ranked

These are not products I am paid to endorse; they are actually what I use on my own skin every single day!

#1 Argan & Emu Oil:

Why this is my favorite: Pure organic Argan Oil mixed with organic pure Emu Oil (at a 50/50 ratio – buy each and then mix together) is all natural, no chemicals, cost effective, doesn’t clog pours and can usually be found in eco-friendly glass containers (this is also better for your health since there are no carcinogens leaching out of the plastic and into your skin care/beauty product). I have not found a better every day moisturizer than this!

#2 Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist:

Why I love it – Sun protection is CRITICAL and should be part of everyone’s daily skincare routine!! I always had a hard time getting my daughter to use sticky gooey sun protection. This one is the first non-toxic spray that I have found! Find it HERE

#3 Primal Derma –

Why I love it – A completely pure, natural and toxin free deep moisture support for eczema and extremely dry or chapped skin. Another reason I love it is that this small company is eco-friendly, low waste, animal conscious and packaged in glass. For a really good read on skin health, tallow (aka the magic ingredient) and how they are reducing animal product waste to be more sustainable and reduce their footprint check out their website. Find it HERE

#4 – Yarrow Palm Oil by Doterra –

Why I love it – Yarrow has powerful bioactive compounds and skin-protecting proteins that promote the appearance of firmer, smoother, younger-looking skin. Again, this oil does not clog pours and has a base of Jojoba and Argan oil. I use this on my whole body. Find it HERE

#5 – Araza Coconut Charcoal & Seagreens Treatment Mask –

Why I love it – This is a powerful treatment! My skin always looks completely revived after using it and the best thing is it is a woman owned company and feature not only toxin and chemical free ingredients but is also a paleo certified ingredient-based company. Find it HERE

#6 – Tambra Age Defying Stem Cell Line (Stem Cell Night Cream & Stem Cell Serum) –

Why I love it – Plant stem cells are so incredibly regenerative to the skin and I have not come across another non-toxic and chemical free line that has them within their ingredients along with other powerful anti-aging ingredients. I also love this line because it is woman owned, they are fully transparent about every single ingredient on their website, made in small batch and comes in glass containers! These two products also contain Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) which only the top end beauty and skin care products use. However, if you have a flushing reaction or allergy to Niacinamide be sure to patch test on your arm before applying to your face. Find it HERE

#7 Cellfood Oxygenating Skin Care –

Why I love it – This product is really a face supplement and restores the ph and skin microbiome. It hydrates and also renews. Another reason why I love it is that it is one of the more inexpensive non-toxic skin care products out there. Find it HERE 

#8 Haters Say It’s Photoshopped by Apothekary

Why I love it: Chocked full of antioxidants, adaptogens and collagen, this is a new approach to beauty from the inside out. This powder beauty supplement gets sprinkled into your morning juice or smoothie to help you optimize your butter beauty from the inside-out. Find it HERE

I am a big believer that wellness, natural beauty and optimal health should be more accessible to all! We are getting down a rabbit hole of privilege-only access with $150 yoga mats, spending thousands of dollars on a billion costly supplements and $200 anti-aging wrinkle creams. So, my commitment to you is to always try to offer a wide range of resources and information that is within your reach. This is why I will be including DIY home recipes for those of you who are cost conscious and/or trying to live more sustainable eco-friendly lives.

DIY Home Recipe for Healthy Skin: 

Here are two of the DIY skincare products I use at home –

Avo-Love Moisture Mask

1 whole avocado mashed up, 1 teaspoon of colloidal oatmeal mixed into 1 teaspoon of warm water, 1 teaspoon of raw unrefined coconut oil and 1 egg yolk. Mix well and then apply thick paste onto face. Allow to soak in and dry for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

DIY Age Defying Face & Body Moisture Serum

What you will need:

  • Argan oil (100% pure, unscented organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Argan oil is beneficial to the skin by providing deep moisture without clogging pours. It is literally food for your face with vitamin A, vitamin E, antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid.
  • Emu oil (100% pure, unscented organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Emu oil prevents the skin from prematurely aging. It Decrease inflammation, helps with scars, and sun damage. Emu oil is rich in DHEA.
  • Frankincense essential oil (100% pure, organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – this powerful essential oil has been known to combat certain types of cancers, including skin cancer. It is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin discoloration. It stimulates the growth of new cells and therefore is beneficial in anti-aging.
  • Myrrh essential oil (100% pure, organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Myrrh has been used for thousands of years for its healing and beautifying properties. It helps fade blemishes on the skin and can reduces symptoms of eczema.

Instructions:

 In a glass bottle mix 3 ounces of Argan oil, 3 ounces of Emu oil, 15 drops of Frankincense and 15 drops of Myrrh oil. Cap the bottle and shake well to thoroughly mix. Then apply a quarter size amount to your face and neck in upwards circular motions. You may also apply liberally to your entire body. Make sure to avoid your eyes and genitals.

Here’s to your skin health!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

 

What The Heck Is Natural Medicine???

Natural Medicine is a distinct system of non-invasive health care and health assessment in which neither surgery nor drugs are used, dependence being placed only on education, counseling, natural medicine modalities and natural substances. This includes, without limitation, the use of foods, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, digestive aids, botanical substances, topical natural substances, homeopathic preparations, air, water, heat, cold, sound, light, the physical modalities of natural non-manipulative bodywork and exercise to help stimulate and maintain the individual’s intrinsic self-healing processes.

I am a board certified Doctor of Natural Medicine with a focus on whole person health – that includes the mind, body, heart & spirit. Through natural medicine, lifestyle, mental and emotional healing and other complimentary and alternative approaches, I support patients in achieving whole person wellness, wellbeing and move towards their fullest potential.

Natural medicine approaches include the following –

Nutrition and diet:
Natural Medicine Practitioners understand that nutrition is one of the foundations of health. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Many health challenges can be reversed with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, with fewer complications and side effects. Practitioners may use specific individual diets, fasting, and nutritional supplements to support their clients.

Herbal preparations: 
Plants have healing properties known since the age of man and were one of the first forms of medicine. Many pharmaceutical drugs have their origins in plant substances. Plant substances are used for their healing effects and nutritional values.

Homeopathic preparations: 
Homeopathic medicines are very small doses of natural substances that can stimulate the body’s self-healing response without side effects. Some conditions for which conventional medicine has no effective treatments will respond well to homeopathy.
Natural (Nature’s)Medicine Practitioners are not specialists in homeopathic diagnosis but are allowed to dispense combination homeopathic remedies.

Manual techniques:
Natural (Nature’s)Medicine practice includes methods of manual techniques of; soft tissues, joints, and bones, including, but not limited to instruction on exercises, aromatic (body) application, laser therapy, micro-current therapy, acupressure and other non-invasive manual techniques, hydrotherapy, electrotherapies, and ultrasound.

Health Coaching:
Natural (Nature’s) Medicine Practitioners are trained in counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback techniques. They also attend to environmental and lifestyle factors that affect their client’s health.

*As defined by the Board of Natural Medicine Doctors & Practitioners

With my additional certifications my scope of practice also includes mental and emotional health, physical fitness, life and self-development coaching. I draw upon all of my educational background and years of clinical practice and research to provide education, tools and support to those that come along the journey towards wellness with me.

In Wholeness,

Dr. Rachel

 

Developing A Gut Health & Care Ritual

Keep in mind that your gut health and care ritual will look different than someone else’s. What works for your gut health may not work for another person and vice versa. Give yourself permission and space to experiment in order to discover what the right balance looks like for you.

Here are some cute care ritual elements to consider trying out:

  • Stress management, stress reduction and increasing your capacity to deal with life’s stressors
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Processing & releasing negative thought patterns and negative emotions
  • Proper hydration!!
  • Balanced intentional eating (and serving sizes)
  • Exercise
  • Gut supporting supplements 

Keep in mind that any self-care practice will not be beneficial unless you practice it with consistency. So be sure to create a balanced game plan that will work for your life and commit to that plan!

Do you love to research? Take a deep dive into the research and sources from this blog and my gut health blog series:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works

 

https://med.nyu.edu/medicine/gastro/about-us/Gastroenterology-news-archive/your-gut-feeling-healthier-digestive-system-means-healthier

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451

 

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-human-microbiome-project-defines-normal-bacterial-makeup-body

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-gut-bacteria-improve-your-health

Prebiotics & Probiotics

Is everyone you know on the probiotic band wagon? Here’s why… they are the power houses of gut health & even your wellbeing! You may be confused about what probiotics are and what they do. You may have even heard of probiotics and now find yourself even more confused.

What is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?

Probiotics are live (good) bacteria

Prebiotics are food that support the good bacteria in your gut, this is like fertilizer for a garden. They serve as food for the probiotics (good bacteria). They are indigestible fibers (by humans) that are fermented (by bacteria) along the GI tract.

Do you need both? Yes! They both work together and support the human body’s production and maintenance of healthy bacteria and microorganisms.

Foods rich in prebiotics

  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Oat Groats (whole), and steel-Cut Oats
  • Dandelion Greens
  • Flaxseed
  • Leeks
  • Garlic

Foods rich in probiotics

  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickles
  • Pickled beets
  • Kombucha
  • Yogurt
  • Acidophilus Milk
  • Kimchi
  • Kefir

May your gut be filled with health and proper amounts of both pre and probiotics!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

Foods That Support Gut Health

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in your gut health and overall wellness of your microbiome. The saying ‘food is medicine’ is true AND good food is great preventative medicine!

Here is a little cheat sheet for good foods (and drinks) for your gut –

  • Probiotics & Prebiotics through foods and supplementation
  • Raw Green Fibrous Veggies
  • Fermented Foods
  • Water, Water & More Water
  • Prebiotics Rich Foods; Bananas, Asparagus and Artichoke
  • Polyphenols Rich Foods; Olive Oil, Berries, Nuts & Green Tea
  • Pineapple – For digestive enzyme properties
  • Peppermint – For digestive properties

Since gut health is dependent on your unique microbiome, be sure to listen to your body when it comes to food choices. Using my Wellness Journal Template can be helpful in tracking what works and does not work for YOUR body. You can download that template within the FREE Cleanse & Create 30-Day Whole Person Wellness & Detox Program. Visit cleanseandcreate.com to enroll!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

Gut Health – Part 1

Understanding Gut Health

by Dr. Rachel Eva Dew, DNM

We have all heard the phrase ‘Trust your gut’. But is following that actually a health practice that is also backed by science? Yes, it sure is!! You may think that your brain has the most nerve endings and receptors, but it doesn’t… your gut does! This means that your gut is responsible for receiving more signals then your brain and is deeply interconnected to the healthy functioning of the entire body, including the brain.

‘According to Dr. Ganjhu, the gut serves as a communication center for the brain, not only to ensure optimal digestion but also other important health functions. “I often refer to the brain as a part of the gastrointestinal system, because the brain and gut are in constant communication,” she said.’ – NYU Division of Gastroenterology Department of Medicine

What does this mean for you and your health? It means that taking intentional steps towards creating the optimal healthy gut is a health and wellbeing game changer!

Let’s dive into WHAT IS YOUR GUT?

Your gut is not just the stomach and intestines as many believe. According to The National Institute of Health ‘The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract—also called the GI tract or digestive tract—and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system’. The entire ‘gut’ is a complex and interconnected system.

Your whole gut is actually made up of the following:

  • Mouth & Salivary Glands
  • Esophagus
  • Digestive System – Stomach, Small intestine, Pancreas, liver, gallbladder
  • Colon & Rectum

The Importance of Gut Health –

The health and proper balance of your gut contributes to both health and illness in significant ways. No matter what health issues someone is facing, adding intentionality and effective actions towards increasing gut health will make a positive impact.

Your gut health effects every organ and system in your body, especially the following:

  • Your immune system
  • The balance of neurotransmitters in your brain
  • Your digestion & absorption of nutrients
  • Your Ph levels
  • Your microbiome (more on this below)
  • Brain function
  • Internal inflammation (inflammation is associated and present with all illness & disease)
  • Mental and emotional health
  • Hormones

Begin making healthier choices when it comes to your gut health and stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog series!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

A Dose of Healing… From Nature?

That’s right, nature delivers a power packed shot of medicine! We are wired to spend time moving our bodies, breathing fresh air, being around trees, grass and beautiful landscapes. But so often us modern busy-bees spend time outdoors, away from computer screens WAY less frequently then our health and wellbeing calls for.

Did you know that most Americans have lowered levels of vitamin D which can lead to depression, lack of energy and even a decreased immune system? That’s right we NEED sunshine. We also need nature. Being in nature reduces anxiety, anger, fear, and stress and increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness. All of which increase our immune system function AND support our parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes called the rest and digest system, the parasympathetic system conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and increases gut health, digestion, decreases internal inflammation and acidity.

Exposure to the outdoors not only makes you feel better mentally and emotionally, it increases your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones in addition to the benefits of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Research shows that being in nature can reduce stress significantly, which in turn also positively impacts our bodies wellness through how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working. Furthermore, there is a body of evidence, proving what we all know to be true: nature is good for us and has both long and short term mental and physical health benefits.

Some additional health benefits of being out in nature”

  • Produces feelings of calmness & clarity
  • Boosts energy
  • Positively impacts your vision
  • Sunlight helps reduce pain
  • Stimulates brain function

Being in nature for only 20-30 minutes a day has a hugely positive impact on physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. It fights depression and anxiety and improves inner peace.

For all of these reasons, as a Doctor of Natural Medicine I highly recommend that people spend more time outdoors, in nature. Try to make it a daily practice. Incorporate nature into your mindfulness and spiritual practices as well as your health and self-care rituls.

Balance Inside the Bubble: 5 Tips to Transform Your Work-From-Home Experience

Creating whole-person balance for the modern day work-from-homers

Working for yourself from home or even working for a company virtually has many benefits… more freedom, flexibility and of course, working from a more comfortable and casual environment (even in fuzzy slippers!).

But what about the down side? Time management challenges, bleed over from work-life into personal life, isolation and work taking over EVERYTHING!

Here are some simple tips that when applied with consistency will help you THRIVE, not just survive in a balanced bubble.

Tip #1

Create a budget for your time, energy and resources. Proactive and intentional approaches to time management, money management and energy management will pay you back a thousand fold!!

Tip#2

Create work-life balance through setting healthy boundaries around your work life, work schedule and career in general (physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually). Then it is up to you to honor those boundaries!

Tip #3

Create a separate work space – clock in and clock out. When you exit your work area leave ALL of the work behind. Do not carry it out with you (mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually).

Tip #4

Do take a ‘lunch break’… take 45 minutes to 1 hour in the middle of the day for a little siesta! Take a walk, meditate, exercise or whatever act of self-care will replenish your mind, body, heart and spirit.

Tip #5

Connection… we all need it! Find other work-from-homers to connect with, bounce ideas off of, get (and give) support and share community with. Consider a monthly meet-up or even an online google hang out over coffee.

Give it a shot! Apply these 5 simple tips to your work-from-home life for 30 days CONSISTENTLY and see how much balance they will bring! May your work-from-home life be fruitful, joyful, impactful… and BALANCED! Enjoy your beautiful bubble!

Copyright Dr. Rachel Dew 2019-2021. All Rights Reserved
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