Moving Forward

It is almost the New Year.  That’s right, time to make resolutions that promise great beginnings, only to be left in the dust by Valentine’s Day (or by the second week of January!).  What if you could make lasting changes in 2012, changes that would not wane with the coming of the next indulgent holiday, but changes that would endure and serve you no matter the stress level or meal you are faced with at a fancy restaurant?

Now, I’m not necessarily talking about dietary change, here, but more about how to get what you want out of your life, out of your health care, out of your interactions with others.  Without feeling guilty about the changes you should have made, could have made, at the beginning of the year.  How does that sound?

A few years ago, I gave up the annual ritual of the New Years Resolution.  I got tired of feeling like a failure for not doing what I had set out to do on January 1st.  And, in the process of giving up, I found a lot more than I bargained for.  Peace of mind.  Confidence in myself.  Commitment to my health on all levels.  I very much enjoy setting goals for myself, but I now do that throughout the year.  It works for me, and maybe it will work for you.

Have health challenges or goals you’d like to work on?  I’d be honored to assist you in reaching your goals!  Contact me for a free consultation to find out how my own special brand of naturopathic medicine can help you achieve more than you thought possible on the road to optimal health.

Change and the unknown

I generally like change.  New clothing, new haircut, new information, new treatment options – I love them!  I am moving my office, as you may know.  Beginning Monday, October 3rd, I will be at Kwan Yin Healing Arts in NW Portland.  I am so excited to become a part of this fantastic healing space.  But, as I clean, sort, recycle, and get ready to move into my new space, I find that I am unsettled.  Read more »

Breakfast!

I love breakfast foods, but the typical high carbohydrate, high sugar weekend breakfast will leave me feeling bloated and exhausted in a few hours. Check out what I cooked for my family this morning – so much more nutritious and filling than the standard weekend breakfast options. We are lucky here in Portland, Oregon to have a local market, New Seasons, that has fantastic bulk turkey sausage that does not contain sugars.

Read more »

Food Sensitivities

What is a food senstivity?

Reactions to foods can come in many forms – digestive disturbance, mood change, chronic pain, and other symptoms. While a severe allergic reaction to foods, such as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening, other food reactions are more subtle and less easy to identify. Conventional allergy testing can identify potential life-threatening allergies, but it is less able to identify foods that contribute to an overall sense of dis-ease in the body and mind.

Read more »

New Years Solutions

I like to think about solutions, as opposed to resolutions.  To me, if I am unsatisfied with an aspect of my life, it is far easier to remedy if I can come up with a solution.  A resolution, on the other hand, smacks of failure before I even start.  I read recently that most Americans abandon their New Year’s Resolution within a week of the start of January.  Resolving to do something without coming up with the solution will result in failure.  So, join me – stop resolving and start solving!

Read more »

Adrenal Fatigue – What Is It?

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, and produce many hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and DHEA, among others.  These glands are responsible for our fight-or-flight stress response, and are commonly functioning at suboptimal capacity in our modern society.  As our stress continues year after year, our adrenal glands become, well, tired.  We may see high or low cortisol and DHEA output, depending upon how the adrenal glands are responding to the daily stresses of modern life.  With our crazy lives, adrenal fatigue is very common!