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This is a very common question that I get asked a lot in my natural health practice. Almost daily, in fact, someone will ask me if I have “anything” that can help them with… (insert ailment, condition or symptoms here). Some of more common questions:

• Can you help with my headaches?
• I’m depressed and I have anxiety… Can natural remedies help?
• Can you help with my stomach problems? I’m constipated/have IBS.
• Can you help with my pain? My joints hurt/my back hurts.
• I’m always tired and have lots of fatigue… Is there a natural substance that can help restore my energy?
• I have allergies and don’t want to take allergy shots anymore.
• My child has been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD… Is there something nutritional that I can do to help him or her?
• I don’t sleep very well at all and taking sleeping pills makes me groggy the next day… Is there some natural and safe substance that can help me?

These are just a few of the more common questions I’m asked. And the answer to all of them is always YES. There are natural substances, herbs, essential oils and gentle therapies that can help your body get back into balance and feel better.

The beautiful thing about working with natural health remedies, therapeutic essential oils and whole food nutritional products, is that those items are all very supportive of the human body. They help to restore balance INSIDE the body. While you do your part to work on changing your lifestyle, daily habits and dietary intake, the supplements that I recommend not only support you in that endeavor, but actually FEED your body the essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytochemicals and antioxidants you need. All of the “good stuff” that helps your body repair damage, grow new cells and get back in balance.

The human body is designed to be “in balance.” People are not meant to have all of these symptoms and ailments that, unfortunately, plague so many of us today. Typically, natural substances do not cause side effects like most prescription medications. Instead, they support gentle healing, so you can get back to feeling your best.

So, again, the answer is YES. There are a wide variety of natural and herbal products that probably can help you with your (insert symptom or ailment here). Regardless of your health condition, nutritional, natural and herbal therapies, combined with other safe therapies and treatments, support lasting healing to help you be the best you can be.

As a Naturopath, Health Coach and Aromatherapy Consultant, I am passionate about helping you become the best you can be utilizing natural therapies. Read on to learn more About Me, the various Natural Health Services that I offer, read Testimonials from those I’ve helped and contact me to get started today!

I remember watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show where Dr. Mehmet Oz was talking about America’s addiction to prescription medications. The show was primarily about pain-relieving, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, the primary drugs people get addicted to.

It was an intense show and, although I know that Americans take too many prescriptions, I wasn’t prepared for the statistics. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that more Americans are addicted to prescription drugs than to heroin, cocaine and ecstasy COMBINED! They report more than 6 million people are addicted to prescriptions. YIKES! Those are staggering numbers.

Are you one of them? Chances are that either you, or someone you know, is taking a prescription. Unfortunately, Americans are being brainwashed into assuming, because the drugs are being prescribed by your physician, they are safe. That is simply untrue.

Have you ever read the multiple pages of “Side Effects, Contraindications, Warnings and Interactions” included when you pick up your prescriptions? You should… It will be a wake-up call. We have to do a better job about managing our pain or depression, rather than mindlessly reaching for a drug.

I agree with Dr. Oz when he states, “…..many people taking prescription drugs — legally or illegally — are hiding from their real problems. Instead of addressing painful emotions or aches, addicts swallow a quick fix.” Also, “We use these pills to numb ourselves to what’s really happening in our life, which is often a wake-up call to make a change.”

Of course, one of the main problems with taking all of these drugs: People don’t realize they have options.

While flipping through a magazine, watching TV or even listening to the radio, I’m absolutely certain you have heard an ad about a fantastic new drug that can “cure what ails you.” The media and Big Pharma are constantly bombarding us about drugs… You can’t escape them.

But most people don’t realize there are other ways to deal with what ails them that can be just as effective and far safer for them. Instead of addressing the real cause of the problem, unfortunately, we’d rather mask that symptom with a drug.

That’s not surprising. We do live in a world where we want instant gratification.  We want it fixed now and don’t want to be uncomfortable while we’re fixing it either.

I have met with countless clients over the years who have been addicted to anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs. In my opinion, this is the worst kind of addiction. In the beginning, they thought it was harmless enough. Just a little “help” to get them over the divorce/loss of job/boyfriend troubles, etc.

Then it turned into numbing. I always know when I’m talking to someone who is addicted. When I ask them a question — How do you feel? — they can’t answer it.

The drug has numbed them so much they are unable to get in touch with their emotions and express themselves. Whether it’s mad, sad, happy, or even depressed, they can’t feel anything at all. Of course, when they are ready to get off the drug, the predominant emotion people feel is FEAR. They are scared to FEEL. They don’t know it at the time, but that’s what it boils down to.

I strongly believe it’s those very emotions that can actually HELP people get better. The anger they feel is there for a reason: To tell them something about their life. If they are depressed, they need to look at WHY and work on fixing that problem. Drugging yourself so you don’t have to FEEL anything is not the way to handle it.

If you’re on prescription meds, you can get off them, but you will need help. Doing it on your own is not advised. You will need nutritional help, as your diet plays a huge role in the way your brain chemistry works. Naturopaths and holistic healers can help you slowly and safely wean off of dangerous prescription drugs.

As you start to feel withdrawals from a drug, your brain chemistry will be affected and eating certain foods (and not others) can make this process significantly easier. You will also need nutritional supplementation to help your body physically deal with the damage from the drugs and help to boost your immune system.

And, of course, talking to a qualified therapist or priest can help you with the emotional side of this problem and help you work through whatever it was making you anxious or depressed in the first place.

The important thing is to remember this: You do have options to help yourself heal from addiction to prescription medications.  There are MANY different natural healing modalities that work as well (if not better!) than prescriptions.

Before taking a single step, however, you must be able to answer all of the following questions with a simple Yes.

• Are you willing to work on yourself?
• Are you ready to address the real problem?
• Can you face what’s uncomfortable about your life and make changes?
• Can you put yourself, your body and health first in your life and do what’s in YOUR best interest?

If you are, it’s time to have a talk with your regular physician and discuss their approach for very slowly weaning yourself off of the meds. The next conversation should be with a qualified natural health practitioner who can give you the nutritional support so you can make this transition as easy for yourself as possible.

I have wonderful Natural Health Services that can help you manage this transition. Be sure to read my Testimonials to discover what others have said about working with me regarding their emotional and physical health.

And, lastly, get in touch with a good therapist or priest. It must be someone you trust and with whom you can discuss your innermost thoughts.

You don’t have to be addicted nor take the medications forever. There is help and hope out there for you.

Bring a natural travel kit for healthy travels

Many of my clients ask me about healthy remedies to take when traveling, so I’ve put together a list of some essential items for your consideration. I recommend that you always take these items with you just in case.

1. Homeopathic Arnica — You can find it in pellets, drops and ointment. Good to use in ANY injury to calm down inflammation.
2. Bach Rescue Remedy and Bach Rescue Remedy Cream — This product is one of my all time favorites. Bach Rescue Remedy itself helps in times of stress, so you can use it before a flight or boat trip if you get nervous and stressed out. The cream can be used for scrapes, skin abrasions, rashes and cuts. Click on the link to learn more about the various Bach Flower Remedies.
3. Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract — Take this extract as a preventive measure to protect your body against foreign invaders. Mix 10-15 drops with 4 ounces of a strong juice like grape juice, stir well and drink 2-3 times per day. Also, I use this amazing product to clean fruit and vegetables. If you’re camping or cooking in your hotel room, this product is essential to keep your food clean and fresh.
4. Probiotics — Good to keep your digestive system in running order!
5. Ginger Capsules — Great for preventing and treating nausea.
6. Essential Oils — There are several essential oils I never travel without:
   
   • Pan Away soothes any muscular inflammation that I might incur while hiking.
   • Peppermint Oil eases headaches and nausea.
   • Lavender treats bites, burns, or inflammed skin and also to help you sleep in strange places.
   • Purification cleanses the stale air in hotels or musty cabins.
   • To learn more about these therapeutic grade essential oils, click here.

I consider these items essential for traveling, and don’t leave home without them! Also, remember to drink plenty of water while traveling to keep your system hydrated, especially if you’re going to be on a plane.

Getting plenty of sleep is also essential to keeping your immune system healthy! And, remember not to go crazy with your diet. Eating plenty of fresh whole foods with the occasional splurge will result in you feeling your best while having fun traveling!

In my experience, many Americans don’t understand the positive aspects of choosing natural treatments and alternative medicine over conventional therapies. With that in mind, consider these key points when you’re looking for the best and safest solutions for your health:

Alternative medicine…

Is Safe, Natural and Gentle. Most forms of alternative therapies are safe and non-invasive. Most herbs, homeopathic remedies, nutritional supplementation and options like massage, Reiki and acupuncture are all wonderful therapies that Naturopaths would considered safe and gentle. By the way, one might argue that acupuncture is an “invasive” procedure with the use of needles. As an advocate of acupuncture (and having benefited by the many sessions I’ve had), needles are used, but they are very tiny and you can hardly feel them at all. Certainly, they’re not as invasive as a surgeon’s knife! Of course, please be sure the supplements you’re taking are safe for you too.

Offers more choices. Since most health insurance companies do not cover natural therapies, you’ll have many more choices available to you when searching for help. Often, insurance companies regulate who you can and can’t see, but because they’re out of the picture, you are free to choose what type of natural therapy you would like and which practitioner to see. Because each state has different licensing and laws, however, always check a therapist’s credentials before using him or her.

Ensures you are heard. Most alternative medicine practitioners will take the time to really “listen” to you and evaluate your symptoms. In the typical conventional medicine scenario, sometimes, all you’ll get is a quick appointment. I’ve had patients tell me, in some cases, their visits with their doctor were timed and lasted only 3 minutes! Yikes! Most Naturopaths and Chiropractors will take significant time with you (especially the first visit) to really assess you and your health. We take into account the health of your whole body, not only your physical symptoms, but the emotional ones too.

You’re In Charge. Whether you decide to take some herbs or homeopathy for yourself or make that Reiki appointment, you’re in charge of what goes into your body and what happens to it. Of course, for serious illnesses, I always recommend you partner with a natural health care practitioner who can assist you directly. But if you just have the sniffles or some allergies, there are LOTS of alternative remedies you can learn about, then try them for yourself.

There are some wonderful natural healing books that I recommend to help you in your quest to better your health. Although I don’t have this book on my list, for those of you who want to try homeopathy, this book and homeopathic kit are my favorites to have in your home.

Also, essential oils are some of my favorite things to try to use for allergies, insomnia and other minor ailments.

Don’t be afraid to try some natural therapies. The benefits far outweigh any risks that you may have heard about.

Of course, you’re always welcome to Contact Me with questions.

I’ve already discussed the importance of taking natural supplements to support your body and immune system. But which supplements do you take, and how do you know which supplements are the best ones? Americans spend billions of dollars every year on supplements, and it’s very important to understand that not all supplements are created equal. Sometimes, there are vast differences between products.

So let’s talk about the difference between whole food supplements and synthetic supplements – a.k.a. isolated or fractionated supplements.

A great example would be just to simply look at almost any multivitamin. When you scan the nutritional content fact and ingredient label, you’ll see quite an assortment of vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, etc.). Here is a portion of a label for a common multivitamin:

There are a lot more vitamins listed on this label than I had room for, but I think you get the idea. Look at the items listed under “Ingredients.” Those are what we call “Isolated” vitamins and other chemicals. There are no foods or herbal ingredients listed, only partial vitamins and other chemicals.

Nature intended for us to consume food in its WHOLE form because all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes are bound together in one package and work synergistically to deliver the nutrition your body needs.

Synthetic supplements give you isolated or fractionated pieces of the whole. It is simply not the same – you’re not getting the full benefit nature intended. The other problem is, by taking isolated vitamins, sometimes we are getting massive doses of some vitamins, but not enough of others. This imbalance this can cause health problems too. Aren’t we trying to get healthier – rather than cause more problems?

Whole-Food based supplements are different, as those will, typically, list the foods the supplement was made from. What follows is a partial example of what to look for when searching for a Whole-Food based product. Notice that under the supplemental facts, you still see all the vitamins listed, but there’s a huge difference in the ingredients.

What a difference this second product will make in your body vs. the first product! You’ll actually be gaining benefits from the WHOLE food and all of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes that occur naturally in the food or plant.

Another way that might make sense is to look at the source. When “Vitamin C” is listed on a multivitamin label, look for any natural sources, like citrus fruits, papaya or bell peppers. If you see a listing for “Ascorbic Acid,” that means it is an “Isolated” product, so you must keep searching for ones that list whole foods.

In summary, be sure you read your labels! It is important to educate yourself about what you’ll be putting into your body and supplements are no different than anything else.

It’s important to read food labels so you know what you’re eating. But it’s just as important, if not moreso, to be sure you’re reading all of your supplement labels too! You want to be consuming supplements that have actual whole foods, plants or herbs listed on the label. That way you know it is as close to natural as possible!

And lastly, understand that no supplement alone will help you achieve the level of health you desire. You will have to make lifestyle and behavior changes as well as taking supplements to achieve ultimate health.

It happened again recently when I met a new client coming in with lots of health problems…

One of the biggest misconceptions people have when visiting a Natural Health Practitioner is that they will only get one or two “medicines.” Their other mistaken belief: They might only need these “medicines” for a month or two to get over whatever serious symptoms that brought them to me.

Those are the misconceptions. Here are the facts.

By the time a new patient sits in front of me for the first time, he or she has allowed their bodies to get to such a state they are now experiencing uncomfortable symptoms. Generally, it’s taken years for their bodies to reach this breaking point. It’s also important to understand that it’s going to take many months, if not years, to help them out of it.

Natural and herbal supplements can help to restore the body to a place of balance. But, it’s probably going to take more than one thing, or even two. In fact, it might take between 5-10 supplements to restore your health. If there is a “serious” health issue on the table, it will take much more time and effort than that.

But for this article, I want to discuss why we need to take supplements at all. Most people who aren’t in a health crisis wonder why they need to take a supplement. “I feel fine…why would I need to take anything?”

Here are the top reasons why it is important for everyone to take natural, whole food supplements:

1. Depleted Soils. Even if you eat a healthy, predominantly plant-based diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, chances are good (unless you’re consuming everything organic) the food comes from soils that have insufficient mineral content. When foods are grown over and over again in the same soils, the mineral content of that soil becomes depleted over time. This is ANOTHER reason why it is so vitally important to consume organic foods as much as possible. Organic farming practices include “crop rotating” so that soil depletion does not occur. Unfortunately, even buying organic doesn’t always mean you’re going to get superior foods. Although organic soil can get depleted, buying organic remains the better, healthier choice for you and the planet!

2. Long Transit Time for Delivery. Have you noticed an increasing amount of produce finding its way to your grocery store comes from other countries? If you think your favorite mango or pineapple (from Hawaii or the Philippines) was just cut at its peak ripeness, then immediately boxed, rushed to the airport and shipped overnight to your favorite grocery store, you’re sadly mistaken.  Sometimes, foods are picked weeks and even MONTHS before we see it on our shelves. So much for obtaining the maximum amount of nutrition! I always suggest that my clients buy as much of their food as possible from local growers to reduce transit time and improve the nutritional value of the food they’re eating.

3. Overcooking Our Foods. Americans have a bad habit of cooking our food “to death,” resulting in a massive loss of nutritional value, meaning far fewer vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes to go around. What’s more, eating these depleted foods over time creates its own set of health problems. Cooking does “kill” the food, resulting in lost nutrition. As far as fruits and vegetables, consuming them in as close to a raw (uncooked) state as possible is always the best way.

4. Not Eating Regular Meals. So many people skip meals. Grabbing a bagel or doughnut while slamming down some coffee and rushing to work does NOT constitute a meal. Making up for it later in the day at an “all-you-can-eat” buffet is not in the best interest of our bodies either, as it puts much undue stress on the digestive system and will eventually cause a lot of uncomfortable symptoms.

5.  Normal Aging = Digestion Issues. As we age, our bodies produce fewer enzymes, including all the important ones needed to properly digest and assimilate the foods we eat. Eventually, this results in “common” stomach complaints, like reflux, heartburn, upset stomach and chronic constipation.

6. Stress + Stress, + Stress = Compromised Immune System. No question, we all lead busy lives and some of us are busier than others! Between commitments to your family, school, work, community, faith and other obligations, our lives are stressed to the max! All of this stress takes a toll on your body and weakens your immune system. Taking supplements can help to bridge that gap and give your body some of the nutrition it needs to function optimally.

Of course, nothing will take the place of eating a good and healthy diet. But taking quality, whole food-based natural supplements can go along way towards helping you maintain a better level of health. Besides, if you’re still working through some bad habits (skipping meals and not eating organic foods), you need them even more! For more information, read my other articles on whole food supplements vs. synthetic supplements and Can natural remedies help me with…?