There are two types of menopause transitions that I typically see. For some women, it’s relatively smooth sailing. For others, it’s a frenzy of heat, sweating, irritability, insomnia, mood swings and feeling completely fed up. For some, these symptoms only last a year or two. Others feel like they’ve been dealing with these symptoms for… Read More

The way we look at mental health is changing, slowly but surely. We’re used to seeing something like anxiety being handled with a prescription for anxiety medication and no further investigation (except maybe a quick test for thyroid function and anemia status). Anxiety medication can be incredibly valuable for so many people. And sometimes further… Read More

My main focus as a naturopathic doctor is treating mental health conditions like anxiety. For this reason, some of my patients are surprised when they find out that I also do cosmetic acupuncture. Mental health and cosmetic concerns seem like they’re on the opposite ends of the health spectrum. So why do I do it?… Read More

Figuring out the causes of your anxiety and depression can be frustrating. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications and supplements certainly have an important role to play in relieving mood symptoms. But I’m always disappointment when I see that the treatment plan usually stops there. We should be doing a much better job at uncovering and treating… Read More

There are a lot of theories in the wellness industry about the optimal bedtime for adults. Some say that going to bed at 10 pm is optimal for cell repair and renewal. Some say that any sleep after midnight is only worth half the value of sleep before midnight. I used to insist on going… Read More

When I ask patients how they would feel if I suggested they reduce their coffee intake, I usually get one of two responses. Either they’ll say, “sure I’ll give it a try” or they’ll say something along the lines of “don’t you dare try to take away my coffee!” I totally get that second response…. Read More

You’ve heard about acupuncture before. You’ve seen it on TV and you know its origins are pretty ancient. You’ve heard it can help with aches and pains. But did you know acupuncture can help with anxiety and mood as well? If you’re feeling held back from living your life happily because of your mood, I… Read More

It’s a common cliché to think that naturopathic doctors put all their patients on a gluten free diet. The term gluten describes specific proteins in plants like wheat, rye and barley. Gluten gives foods made from these grains a unique texture that is hard to mimic. This is why gluten-free breads taste so different from… Read More

Natural remedies like magnesium are valuable resources to add to your game plan for improving your mood and calming your stress. Some foods that are good sources of magnesium are nuts and seeds, whole grains, dark leafy greens like spinach, beans and lentils. A 2015 survey done in the U.S. found that half of the… Read More