Parkinson’s disease (PD) is most commonly known for its effects on movement (tremors, stiffness, slowed mobility), but for those living with it, the effects often extend far beyond affecting mood, sleep, digestion, cognition and overall vitality. A naturopathic approach to managing the disease symptoms involves digging deeper: identifying underlying contributors, addressing nutrient imbalances and promoting… Read more »
We are all giving birth each moment. We manifest a new idea or inspiration with every breath. There is little we need to do for this creative act to move through us. We merely need to listen more to hear a deeper voice and respond accordingly. The creative act is constantly trying to express itself… Read more »
The largest gathering of naturopathic doctors is coming to the Coachella Valley this July 10-12 as the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) holds their 2025 annual convention in Indian Wells. Although the profession of naturopathic medicine has been around for 150 years and is well integrated on a global scale, the AANP is celebrating… Read more »
The amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth varies with the phases of the moon and appears to correlate with human behavior. Observations show an increase in 911 calls and a rise in psychotic behavior on the day of the full moon, higher suicide rates with the waning moon and peak death rates two days… Read more »
As described by Sigmund Freud, our dreams can be complex inner conversations between our id, ego and superego.1 Our evening slumber is often when our inner divas, movie and rock stars appear to help us navigate situations that are hard to address in waking hours. What might a dream mean if our inner rock star… Read more »
Plastics are a large part of our daily life for good or for worse. Plastic contamination has been a growing topic of concern for both health organizations and environmental groups globally. In 2009, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA) standardized sampling and defined microplastics as a fragment with size less than 5mm (333μm micrometers). … Read more »
Access to safe, stable and affordable housing is a fundamental pillar of good health. In the Coachella Valley, housing availability remains a challenge, but many local organizations and community leaders are working toward solutions. By expanding access to homeownership and improving living conditions, these efforts are helping to create a healthier future for residents. … Read more »
In their Wheel of Wellness, a popular model used for conceptualizing dimensions of wellness, researchers Jane E. Myers, PhD, Thomas Sweeney, PhD, and J. Melvin Witmer, PhD, define wellness as “a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being… ideally it is the optimum state of health and well-being that each individual is capable… Read more »
Chances are, at some point in your life, you will need to make a career shift. Whether you’re transitioning by choice or external circumstances, this period of change can feel overwhelming. However, it’s also a great time to reassess your purpose, align your work with your passions and create a more meaningful professional life. During… Read more »
Friendship is one of the most significant aspects of a fulfilling and healthy life. It provides emotional support, companionship and a sense of belonging — all of which contribute to our overall well-being. Friends play a critical role in both difficult and joyful times, offering encouragement, perspective and shared experiences that enrich our lives. Whether… Read more »
“Dailiness” is one of the most important cyclical patterns we perform regularly. Life happens in acts of repetition, over and over. It is the thousand small eye blinks of routineness that make up our lives. Nature awakens daily and shows us slight visible and invisible variations carving throughout the terrain of our world. Our personal… Read more »
Since 1991, the HeartMath Institute has researched heart-brain communication and its relationship to managing stress, increasing coherence and deepening our connection to ourselves and others. One of the most interesting research areas has focused on the heart’s magnetic field. Each time the heart beats, a magnetic field is produced that travels out from the body,… Read more »
Like the desert wildflowers pushing through the sunbaked earth, awakening from winter’s quiet slumber, we too might feel an internal stirring. This annual rhythm of renewal can inspire us to emerge and bloom. As a yoga teacher, I’ve witnessed countless students recognize this moment — when something within them is ready to emerge and expand.… Read more »
Daily, the phrase “To human is hard” enters my thoughts. This reality becomes even weightier with Oxford Dictionary’s 2024 word of the year, “brain rot,” defined as a “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially from consuming too much trivial online content.” Just one more complexity to work to ward off as… Read more »
Shingles is a brutally painful infection from the varicella-zoster virus known as chicken pox. As the acute infection from chicken pox fades, the virus remains dormant in the body, sleeping inside nerve cells. Later in life the virus can reactivate in the form of shingles. The condition is most likely to develop in people with… Read more »
January seems to scream “time for healthier habits!” Everywhere you turn, you hear advice on the latest trend certain to whip you into shape: Go vegan. Cut out carbs. Try high intensity training. Fast. Take up pickleball. Is all of this advice truly motivating? How do you know what activity or diet is best for… Read more »
Craniosacral therapy uses a gentle, non-invasive technique for a multitude of conditions, including the prevention and treatment of dementia. This treatment focuses on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) and permeating the fascia. On its own, CSF is tightly regulated, released in a pulsing rhythm from ventricles… Read more »
How do dreams, snakes and medicine relate to the new year? Let’s take a look back as we move forward into 2025. On Jan. 29, we close the door to the Chinese Year of the Dragon and open the door to the Year of the Wood Snake, representing introspection, intuition and adaptability. The snake is… Read more »
When we think of nourishment, we tend to think of only food. What about nourishing the rest of ourselves? While we all try to eat healthy, make the right choices and stay balanced, we can falter from time to time and find ourselves trying to get back on track. Many of us set New Year’s… Read more »
Another year. We made it! Every new year, we are hopeful that our most promising ideas await and our best lives are yet to come. We reflect on the past year’s joys, triumphs, heartbreaks and disappointments and look forward to the following chapters of our lives, hoping to gain more insight and experience as we… Read more »