As a naturopathic doctor who has a special focus in hormone health and perimenopause, one of the most common symptoms I see in women in their 40s is: Previously manageable periods that suddenly turn into flooding, clotting, “gushing” bleeding, and significantly interfere with work, sleep, exercise, and social activities. Heavy bleeding in perimenopause is extremely common. During perimenopause, hormone production becomes more erratic. Cycles start to be become anovulatory

Acne is often treated as a “skin-deep” issue—something to manage with topical products or medications. But from a naturopathic perspective, acne is rarely just about the skin. Instead, it is often a reflection of what’s happening inside the body, particularly in the gut, liver, and hormonal systems. As a naturopathic doctor, I view acne as a sign that the body is asking for deeper support. Let’s explore how the gut microbiome, estrogen-containing birth control pills, and live

Bloating, gas, heartburn, and irregular bowel movements are some of the most common concerns I hear from patients in my practice. Many people have been told they have IBS, sensitive digestion, or that they simply need to “manage stress.” But for many, there is an underlying cause that has never been properly identified. What Is SIBO? SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. It's a condition where excessive amounts of bacteria grow in the small intestine—an area

Hair loss or thinning is mentioned by many of my patients, whether they are dealing with recent hair fall or hair fall in the past that never really grew back. It is normal to lose about 100 hairs a day and it is normal to see hair changes with hormonal shifts like during pregnancy. In women in general, hair fall tends to start at the top-back then moves to the top/middle, then the front. Each of our hair follicles are in 1 of 3 phases at any given time: Anagen Phase (2-7

As a naturopathic doctor working with women, I often meet patients navigating a phase of life that isn’t talked about nearly enough: perimenopause. It’s a time of transformation—physically, emotionally, and hormonally—and one that can be empowered through education, support, and a holistic approach to health. What is Perimenopause? Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, typically beginning in a woman’s 40s (but sometimes as early as the mid-30s). It

What is Insulin Resistance? Simply put, IR is a disease before a disease (diabetes). It is linked not only to obesity, but also to...

Lately, I have been seeing more patients with odd immune symptoms in my practice. Hives itchy rashes Sudden sensitivities to foods like gluten and MSG Joint swelling and pain Diarrhea that’s better when avoiding gluten Often, the patient notes their symptoms started after a bad cold or flu or after a stressful life event. Sometimes, it's a gradual worsening of symptoms. Why does the Immune System react this way? Our body’s immune system is designed to be on the constant loo

Iron deficiency is quite common amongst women I treat. The main cause for this is low red meat intake, heavy menstrual bleeding and poor iron absorption due to digestive issues like food sensitivities and bacterial overgrowth (H. pylori & SIBO). The obvious sign of iron deficiency is always feeling tired but this is a general symptom that is common in many other conditions such as thyroid disease, high stress immunodeficiency or vitamin deficiencies. Other signs of iron defic

As a species, we humans are deeply domesticated. The lack of nutritionally dense foods, increase in processed foods, lack of sleep, low grade inflammation as well as sedentary lifestyle is literally killing us. We’re also seeing a lack of quality protein in our diet, mainly due to the abundance of processed foods taking over our diets. Low protein means loss of muscle mass, which is directly correlated with many lifestyle disease including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular

Skeletal muscle is the organ of longevity and the more healthy muscle you have, the greater your survivability against disease. There is palpable excitement about the amazing health benefits of skeletal muscle mass especially for issues relating to weight loss, and the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes. Our muscle mass decreases by approximately 1.5% yearly after the age of 50, and by 2.5-3% yearly after the age of 60. Women over the age of 40 who don't prioritize

We already know how important sleep is. It’s when our body heals and rejuvenates. Yet, health sleep habits are always placed on the back burner, because we forget about it all day until it’s time to go to bed! The importance of cultivating a proper sleep hygiene cannot be stressed enough! It actually starts the moment you wake up: Even if you haven’t slept well, never take the attitude that you are too tired to begin a full day’s activity. Don’t assume that you need to stay i

The birth control pill was popularized in the 1960’s when women didn’t have a lot of power in their relationships or within their work places. It revolutionized women by allowing them to get college degrees and was a factor in increased pay in the workforce. Recent surveys estimate that 100 million women worldwide use the pill, 11 million of which are in the USA. Most women are not using it for pregnancy prevention, but instead for management of symptoms such as painful or he

Tahini Date Chocolate Fudge is a healthy yet satisfying treat that can be eaten guilt-free: - To support progesterone the week leading up to your menses - To curb sugar and chocolate cravings - Anytime, really! You’ll need: 3/4 cup dates (either Deglet, Medjool or both). If dates are dry and hard, cover them in warm water and soak for 1 hour. 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (unsweetened, unprocessed) 1/4 to 1/3 cup tahini (enough to make it into a fudgy paste) 1/2 tsp vanilla extrac

Find and treat the root cause. This is the most important principle of naturopathic medicine that I follow. If we only treat the symptoms, they initially improve but eventually come back after the treatment is stopped. Hormonal symptoms themselves can provide huge clues as to the root cause of the issue. However, the hormone system is extremely complex due to: the number of hormones our body makes (sex, adrenal, thyroid, vitamin D) the intricate interaction between them all h

Tracking your hormone cycle may seem foreign to you and for a good reason; most of us grew up in homes where discussing the menstrual cycle was not encouraged and we often felt embarrassed or ashamed. Simply put, tracking allows you to become more in tune with your body. Why track your cycle? You get a bank statement every month, which provides insight into your banking history. Similarly, your period is an indication of the last 3 months of your life – how you’re eating, sle

Homeopathy is my Passion! My love for homeopathy was sparked in 2006 when I had the opportunity to travel to the foothills of the...

I’ve noticed some of my recent patients hadn’t heard of homeopathy and were very surprised at how tiny white pills had the ability to...