Beautiful skin comes first from a healthy body. In this week’s blog we talk beyond fillers and botox and look to nature for the motivation to move!

May was National Bike Month, and a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling. In the summer of 2011 and entering the second year of Naturopathic medical school,  I resolved to bike. For the next four years, I rode 14.6 miles most days of the week, rain or shine. I felt strong physically and mentally and proud about the carbon neutral impact. I have excuses why I don’t commute by bike today, but these are excuses. This week I highlight the benefits of biking aimed to encourage you and I to bike. 

My practice is VERY needle heavy, using them to inject: botox, fillers, kybella, and sculptra. I draw blood out and then inject it back for PRP treatments. I set catheters for IV therapy and needle into muscles for vitamin injections. With needles comes risk of bruising; not a rare occurrence. One study estimated a 19-24 % chance (1) with filler treatment and another as high as 68% (2)! There are ways to minimize risk, but nothing to eliminate it (3). This week I talk about what a bruise is, what to expect over time, and how to care for it.

The day Edith was born was the best day of my life. I went into labor on a Friday night and slept through most of the night. The next morning, her dad Jeff and I took a long neighborhood walk. We stopped at our neighborhood cafe where I was given a cookie for my labor. We walked to a diner and heard women share their birth story. The contractions were intermittent and were mild enough to be in public. Each contraction would stop me in my tracts to breathe. We walked and paused and walked again; chit chatting with the neighbors along the way.

Valentine’s day is upon us and who better to love than YOURSELF? Give yourself the gift of movement. Hands down, moving your body on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for your health. Beauty truly stems from a healthy body, and exercise is foundational to health. Dedicating time each day to moving your body in dynamic ways with activities like stretching, walking, weight lifting, etc. can potentially add years to your healthspan.

This week, I explore the balance of female and masculine energies. This reflects my recent personal experiences of working to balance these energies. Like many women, I connect heavily to the masculine energies of working hard and achieving goals, while neglecting my inner feminine. For some past months I have been bringing these energies into balance, and this has been transformative. This week I identify what these energies are and talk about changes you can make for better balance. 

The time between winter solstice and the new year is one for reflection and setting intentions. We are nature, not separate from it and just as nature retreats inward, so do we; cultivating and planning for the up and outwards energies of spring. To ritualize this time and play with the magic of plants, I recently made a Fire Cider. Inspired by a gift of fire cider by Shire City Herbals from my aunt, I have been taking daily shots to support my health. This week I share with you what fire cider is, how to make this immune supporting tonic and highlight some science backing it all up.