Digesting Emotions: What’s Gut Health Got to do with it?

According to ancient Taoist philosophy, we literally digest emotions. We have to process them. Starting in the mouth, we take in information from the outside world through taste and chewing. In the stomach and small intestines, we break stuff apart and sort through it to understand what’s there. Then, in both the small and large intestines, we differentiate what to assimilate and what to discard. We acknowledge this concept in our language: upsetting emotions can leave a bad taste our mouths or we simply can’t stomach something.

Scientific knowledge validates ancient wisdom. We are beginning to understand the profound role of gut neurotransmitters and gut flora in influencing emotions. The science on the gut-brain connection articulates how stress and emotions influence digestion, and how imbalances in the digestive tract can also impact mood. 

Read more

Addressing Chronic Stress

Practices for Building Resilience

We are in the midst of a pandemic of stress. It’s not just Covid-19. It’s climate change, economic insecurity, and the continual erosion of the political landscape. And then it’s whatever we might have going on personally, with health or relationships, with our families and our jobs. There’s a lot to process.

Under stress, our brains are wired toward negativity. The limbic system, a primitive part of the brain, developed the negativity bias to keep us safe. It evolved to help us detect and escape danger. It helps us remember information and experiences that threaten our safety. It heightens stress responses and increases vigilance. Unfortunately, sometimes the limbic system can get stuck in the on-position, and it can be hard to regain a sense of safety and come out of hyper-vigilance.

Read more

Tools for Immune Defense

When it comes to contracting respiratory viruses, it’s certain that avoidance and good hygiene are the most essential tools for prevention, and nothing can replace that. It’s also almost universally accepted that both the pathogen virulence and the health of the individual influence susceptibility to illness and disease severity.
Immune health and resilience depend on many factors, and while each infectious disease is different, in many cases a person’s total burden of inflammation probably plays a role in susceptibility. Inflammation is involved in most chronic diseases, and accumulated stress, whether it’s physical or emotional stress, likely exacerbates it.

Read more

Supplements for Lung Health

If you’re into natural medicines, you might already be familiar with glutathione, or it’s more famous precursor, N-acetyl-cysteine. Or maybe you’ve never heard either of these strange words. Either way, now would be a good time to tune in.

What is glutathione?

Glutathione is produced in organs throughout your body, like the lungs, liver and kidneys. It is best known for its role as the “master antioxidant.”

Read more

Naturopathic Hydrotherapy: The Short Wrap

Here’s a short guide to the Short Wrap.

The Short Wrap is a hydrotherapy technique for increasing blood circulation to the central organs. It is calming to the parasympathetic nervous system and can enhance digestive function and detoxification.  Although it involves wrapping a cold, wet towel around your torso, it is so relaxing.

Read more